Astro Digital runs as a Mission-as-a-Service provider. They design, build, and operate microsatellite systems for all sorts of space applications.
The company carved out its place in the aerospace industry with a modular approach to satellite tech and broad space infrastructure solutions.
Astro Digital jumped into the space industry as a private company focused on microsatellite systems and infrastructure development.
Their team brings together over four decades of combined on-orbit heritage experience.
Right now, they run 10 missions and aim to knock down the big barriers that usually make space missions tough—stuff like high costs, long development timelines, and risky operations.
Astro Digital puts Mission-as-a-Service at the center of its business model. Rather than just selling hardware, they deliver full satellite solutions to customers.
They serve a range of markets: earth observation, communications, scientific research, exploration, and in-orbit demos.
Their platform supports both full constellation deployments and fast proof-of-concept missions.
Astro Digital wants to make space missions more accessible. They use a building block approach to satellite tech—pretty clever, honestly.
They see themselves as mission accelerators for clients who need space-based solutions.
Their core mission? Develop, deploy, and operate space infrastructure that lets customers get to space quickly and efficiently.
This approach cuts down on the usual long timelines but still keeps reliability front and center.
They picture a future full of purpose-built constellations using small satellite tech and standard infrastructure.
Their Landmapper Constellation stands as the technical backbone and first operational system showing off this idea.
Astro Digital mostly targets commercial customers. Still, they keep the flexibility to handle all sorts of missions.
Their modular platform lets clients hit their mission goals faster than traditional approaches.
Chris Biddy co-founded Astro Digital and leads as Chief Executive Officer.
He steers the company’s strategy and oversees the Mission-as-a-Service operations.
Astro Digital set up headquarters in Mountain View, California. That puts them right in the heart of the aerospace tech corridor.
This location gives them access to top space industry talent and resources.
They run with a small-to-medium-sized team. That setup helps them make agile decisions while keeping deep technical expertise in satellite development and operations.
The leadership team brings together decades of space industry experience.
Astro Digital has been active in the commercial space scene for eight years, building a reputation through successful missions and strong operations.
Astro Digital delivers satellite solutions across three main service areas. They handle the whole lifecycle of a space mission.
By combining advanced satellite tech with experienced mission support, they break down traditional barriers like high costs and long timelines.
Astro Digital builds modular satellite platforms for different mission types.
Their focus is on nanosatellites and microsatellites, covering a range of applications.
They manufacture satellites using a building block approach. This modular design lets customers customize their missions without reinventing the wheel.
Each satellite uses components that have proven themselves on previous missions.
Key manufacturing capabilities include:
They put a big emphasis on reliability and cost control in their manufacturing process.
By using standardized components and keeping things flexible, they cut down development time and mission costs.
Their tech supports missions from Earth observation to communications.
Recent projects include the CUBIXSS mission and demonstrating optical communications tech for Sony.
Astro Digital handles complete mission planning and support under their Mission-as-a-Service framework.
They guide every step, from the first idea to final operations.
Mission support kicks off with detailed planning and design. Astro Digital teams up with customers to define objectives and requirements.
They also take care of regulatory compliance, including licensing and approvals.
Mission support services cover:
They work with launch providers to secure flight opportunities.
Astro Digital coordinates timing and technical details to make sure deployments go smoothly.
They offer risk assessment and mitigation strategies, too.
Their team’s 40+ years of combined space heritage helps them spot potential issues early.
This proactive approach helps protect customer investments and mission success.
Astro Digital runs ground control systems that manage satellites throughout their lives.
Right now, they operate 10 active missions, showing off their operational chops.
Ground operations handle satellite health monitoring and data collection.
Teams track performance and jump in if any issues pop up.
Regular maintenance commands keep satellites running smoothly.
Operational services include:
Their ops team uses advanced ground station networks to keep in touch with satellites.
This setup ensures reliable data collection and control.
Mission operations also cover data processing and delivery to customers.
Astro Digital turns raw satellite data into usable products and services.
They send out regular reports on mission performance and data quality, keeping customers in the loop about their assets in space.
Astro Digital builds its aerospace tech around modular satellite systems. These systems support everything from 6U CubeSats up to 400kg microsatellites.
Their innovations range from advanced micro-satellite architectures to flexible payload integration and proven bus platforms that keep things running reliably in space.
Astro Digital manufactures satellites in all sizes, from compact 6U CubeSats to hefty 400kg GEO microsatellites.
This scalable approach lets missions pick the platform that fits their needs and budget.
The Corvus satellite bus platform serves as a flight-proven base for many applications.
This standardized system cuts down development time and costs, keeping reliability high across different missions.
Their modular philosophy means they can quickly customize satellites for various uses.
Earth observation missions get high-res imaging sensors, while communication satellites can carry specialized radio frequency equipment.
Their tech supports both single-satellite launches and full constellations.
This flexibility makes Astro Digital’s platforms work for everything from quick demos to big commercial projects.
Astro Digital’s satellites handle payloads for earth observation, satellite communications, science missions, and tech demos.
Thanks to their modular design, they can swap payloads and reconfigure missions quickly.
Recent partnerships show off their payload integration skills.
Their work with Sony Space Communications brought optical terminals for high-data-rate laser links between satellites and ground.
Their payload bays fit all sorts of sensors—optical cameras, hyperspectral instruments, communication antennas.
Standard interfaces make integration and testing easier.
They also include environmental protection systems to keep payloads safe during launch and in orbit.
Thermal management and vibration isolation help protect sensitive gear throughout the mission.
The satellite bus includes all the essentials: power generation, attitude control, and thermal management.
Solar panels and batteries provide steady power for orbital operations.
Propulsion systems allow orbital adjustments, station-keeping, and safe end-of-life disposal.
These features extend missions and help meet space debris rules.
The bus design uses redundant systems for critical functions, boosting reliability.
Communication systems keep satellites in touch with ground control stations worldwide.
Astro Digital’s tech supports operations from multiple ground stations, so they never lose contact.
This global network keeps missions going no matter where the satellite is.
Astro Digital developed advanced nanosatellite technology that captures detailed imagery and environmental data from space.
Their Corvus-HD satellites delivered multi-spectral imaging at 2.5-meter resolution across five wavelength bands.
Astro Digital’s Corvus-HD satellites collected multi-spectral imaging data through five specialized bands.
These included blue, green, red, near-infrared (NIR), and red edge—each capturing different wavelengths reflected from Earth.
Each 20-kilogram satellite operated at 2.5-meter ground resolution.
That kind of detail lets satellites spot things about 8 feet across on the ground.
The near-infrared and red edge bands gave crucial data for vegetation analysis.
These wavelengths reveal plant health conditions that you just can’t see with the naked eye or regular cameras.
Multi-spectral data lets scientists and analysts create false-color images.
They combine different bands to make ground features stand out more.
Environmental scientists use Astro Digital’s satellite data to track forest changes and deforestation.
The multi-spectral tech helps researchers monitor vegetation health across huge areas.
Water quality monitoring gets a boost from the satellite constellation.
It detects algae blooms, sediment, and other water conditions that impact ecosystems and people.
Urban heat island mapping uses thermal and visible data to spot temperature differences across cities.
Planners use this info to develop ways to cool down hot urban zones.
Coastal erosion tracking relies on regular satellite snapshots to measure shoreline changes over time.
Consistent imaging gives a solid baseline for long-term environmental studies.
Farmers tap into precision agriculture data from Astro Digital’s imaging.
The near-infrared and red edge bands show crop stress, nutrient shortages, and irrigation issues before they’re visible on the ground.
Yield prediction models use the multi-spectral data to estimate crop production weeks ahead of harvest.
That helps ag businesses plan logistics and market strategies.
Mining and resource companies use the imagery for exploration and environmental monitoring.
The tech tracks vegetation recovery in mined areas and can spot mineral deposits through spectral analysis.
Insurance companies fold earth observation data into risk assessment models.
Satellite imagery gives objective proof of crop conditions, disaster impacts, and property changes for processing claims.
Astro Digital builds advanced communications systems that connect satellites with ground operations.
They enable data transmission across space networks.
The company develops specialized antenna tech and comprehensive satellite infrastructure to support mission-critical communications.
Astro Digital integrates S-band antenna systems into their satellite platforms. These systems provide reliable communications links for their missions.
These antennas operate in the 2-4 GHz frequency range. That range gives excellent performance for satellite control and data transmission.
The S-band frequency cuts through atmospheric conditions with strong signal penetration. It’s ideal for keeping in touch with satellites, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Astro Digital designs antennas with compact form factors to fit inside their modular satellite bus systems. The antennas handle both uplink and downlink communications for command and control.
Key S-Band Applications:
This technology lets ground stations talk to orbiting satellites in real time. Mission operators can check satellite status and tweak operations as needed.
Astro Digital offers complete satellite technology infrastructure to support a wide range of communications missions. Their systems cover everything from relaying Earth observation data to demonstrating advanced optical communications.
They recently teamed up with Sony Space Communications Corporation. Together, they’re developing satellites with optical terminal capabilities for high-speed laser communication between satellites and ground terminals.
Infrastructure Components:
Astro Digital’s modular approach lets customers pick and choose the communications capabilities they need. The infrastructure works for both commercial and government applications.
Their systems juggle multiple communication protocols at once. That flexibility means satellites can serve lots of users while keeping data transmission secure and reliable.
Astro Digital’s software forms the backbone of their satellite operations and Earth observation missions. Their platforms manage everything from spacecraft control to processing massive amounts of satellite imagery.
Astro Digital builds mission control software that manages satellite operations from the ground. The technology talks to spacecraft in orbit and keeps tabs on their health and performance.
The mission control systems track satellite positions and help plan imaging campaigns. Operators use these tools to schedule when satellites snap pictures of specific locations.
The software automates a lot of tasks, so teams don’t need to watch every move. Satellites can carry out pre-set commands and react to certain situations without waiting for ground control.
Real-time monitoring displays show satellite status, battery levels, and communication links. Ground teams get alerts when satellites need attention or when data is ready to download.
The mission control tech supports multiple satellites at once. Astro Digital can run whole constellations from a single control center.
Astro Digital’s data processing software turns raw satellite images into useful information. The platform handles the huge flow of data Earth observation satellites collect every day.
Image processing algorithms fix atmospheric effects and geometric distortions. This way, satellite pictures actually show what’s on the ground.
The analytics platform can spot changes over time by comparing new images with older ones. Customers use this to track things like environmental shifts, urban sprawl, or crop conditions.
Machine learning tools inside the software automatically identify objects and features in satellite images. These systems can pick out buildings, roads, crops, and more—no human needed.
The platform delivers processed data through application programming interfaces (APIs). Customers can plug Astro Digital’s Earth observation info right into their own software and workflows.
Astro Digital runs targeted digital ad campaigns, blending precision targeting with data-driven strategies to reach the right audiences. Their Google Ads management focuses on optimizing campaigns for maximum ROI, using constant monitoring and smart adjustments.
Astro Digital crafts digital ad campaigns that zero in on specific customer segments across different online platforms. They mix first-party data analysis with advanced targeting technology to serve up relevant ads to the right people.
They use a bunch of advertising platforms—Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and others—to meet customers where they already spend time. This multi-platform approach helps businesses avoid wasted spend and boost conversion rates through smarter ad placements.
Key platforms utilized:
Astro Digital’s data-driven approach digs into customer behavior to find the most effective channels. They focus on personalized messaging that speaks to audiences, while keeping branding consistent everywhere.
Their tech setup lets them tweak campaigns in real time based on performance. This helps make every ad dollar count, with ongoing optimization and quick strategic changes.
Astro Digital offers full-service Google Ads management, aiming to squeeze the best performance out of every campaign. Their team keeps a close eye on campaigns to get the most from every advertising dollar.
They handle keyword research, write ad copy, and optimize landing pages. Using Google’s ad tech, they target customers actively searching for relevant products or services.
Campaign optimization includes:
Their Google Ads experts adjust campaigns as new performance data rolls in. They tweak bids, update ad copy, and refine targeting to keep campaigns sharp.
Campaign reporting gives clients a clear look at how ads are performing. Clients get regular updates on click-through rates, conversion stats, and cost-per-acquisition so they can see what’s working and what isn’t.
Astro Digital builds strategic partnerships with top aerospace companies and takes part in Colorado’s vibrant space ecosystem. They work with industry leaders like Sony and Astroscale, helping boost Colorado’s reputation as America’s top aerospace hub.
Astro Digital has teamed up with major names in satellite technology and space communications. They signed a deal with Sony Space Communications Corporation to launch laser-linked satellites. Astro Digital supplies the satellite bus and integrates Sony’s advanced Lasercom terminal tech.
This partnership zeroes in on laser communication systems for satellites. Sony’s tech aims to boost data transmission speeds between spacecraft and ground stations. Chris Biddy, Astro Digital’s CEO, said Sony’s technology could really shake up the commercial space industry.
Astro Digital also works with Astroscale, a global leader in on-orbit servicing. Together, they focus on responsible satellite operations and managing space debris. Astroscale brings expertise in satellite servicing and debris removal missions.
These partnerships show how Astro Digital teams up with established aerospace companies to push satellite technology and space infrastructure forward.
Astro Digital operates inside Colorado’s massive aerospace network, which includes about 2,000 companies. The state leads the nation in aerospace workers per capita. Colorado directly employs 55,000 people in aerospace, plus 184,000 in supporting roles.
Astro Digital picked Colorado over Utah and California for its expansion. Colorado’s aerospace industry has grown 26% in five years. The company wanted access to skilled workers and a strong space ecosystem.
They announced plans to expand in Littleton, Colorado, creating 141 new jobs. This move strengthens Colorado’s role as America’s leading aerospace hub. Astro Digital has to meet certain job creation and salary goals to get state incentives.
Astro Digital has built a strong presence in Colorado’s aerospace ecosystem and continues to grow operations to meet demand for satellite tech. They chose Colorado over other states, bringing significant economic impact with high-paying jobs.
Astro Digital set up its headquarters in Littleton, Colorado, marking a big step into one of America’s top aerospace hubs. Their facilities support everything from satellite mission development to flight operations.
The Littleton site gives Astro Digital access to Colorado’s deep aerospace infrastructure. The state is home to over 2,000 aerospace companies and has seen 26% growth in five years. More people work in aerospace per capita here than anywhere else in the U.S.
Astro Digital’s facilities focus on developing micro-satellite systems and supporting full satellite missions. They provide technology for earth observation and communications. Their Colorado operations will serve both commercial and government customers as they ramp up production of larger satellites.
Astro Digital picked Colorado over Utah for its expansion, pointing to the state’s aerospace ecosystem and talent pool as key reasons. CEO Chris Biddy said Colorado’s strengths in talent and the space sector made the decision easy.
They already employ 15 people in Colorado, out of 75 total. By 2025, they expect another 40 employees to join the Colorado team. That’s a big investment in the state’s aerospace sector.
Colorado’s space ecosystem includes major aerospace companies, research centers, and government facilities. The state offers strong support for satellite development and testing. Astro Digital now joins a network of aerospace tech companies working together in Colorado’s space industry cluster.
Astro Digital plans to create 141 new jobs in Jefferson County, with an average salary of $126,589. That’s 170% of the county’s average wage—pretty impressive for aerospace.
The new jobs include accountants, specialists, and engineers across different aerospace fields. These roles support satellite development, mission operations, and business functions. The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $1,910,438 in performance-based tax credits over eight years.
The expansion adds to Colorado’s aerospace workforce of 55,000 direct employees and 184,000 in supporting roles. Astro Digital’s growth helps cement the state’s leadership in aerospace tech and attracts more investment to the region.
Astro Digital has made its mark through strategic partnerships and successful launches that show off their satellite tech. Their collaborations span private sector partners and government contracts, driving earth observation and aerospace innovation.
Astro Digital has built partnerships that go beyond just launching satellites. They work with different organizations to create modular spacecraft platforms for all kinds of missions.
These collaborations center on building reusable satellite technology. The partnerships make it easier and faster for clients to deploy missions and save money.
Flexibility is key in their spacecraft design approach. Partners can customize satellites for earth observation needs or experimental missions.
Recent projects have included work on optical communication systems. These efforts test high-speed data transmission between satellites using laser tech.
Astro Digital has joined multiple SpaceX Transporter missions throughout 2024 and 2025. They’ve launched several spacecraft into orbit on these rideshares.
The company expanded with a new Colorado headquarters in December 2024. This move supports rising demand from government and commercial clients.
One standout mission is the CUBIXSS project with Southwest Research Institute. It uses Astro Digital’s Corvus 16U bus platform for space research.
They’ve also teamed up with Sony Space Communications Corporation on dual micro-satellite missions. These satellites carry optical terminals to test laser communication links between space and the ground.
Astro Digital has secured government contracts, including work with the U.S. Space Force. These projects focus on rapid satellite deployment and flexible platform designs for aerospace applications.
Astro Digital has rolled out several key innovations in satellite technology and communications. They actually hold some impressive patents, including their S-band antenna tech that pushes space-based communications forward.
Astro Digital puts a lot of energy into modular satellite technology platforms, aiming to lower the hurdles for space missions. Their team has focused on micro-satellite systems that help with earth observation, communications, and science.
They’ve built up a pretty broad approach to satellite infrastructure. You’ll find spacecraft simulators, small satellite bus modules, and even tracking, telemetry, and command radio kits in their toolbox.
Their flight computer kits are another area where they’ve made progress. These kits help other organizations launch satellites more smoothly.
The tech supports both government and commercial space missions. That’s a pretty wide reach for a single company.
Astro Digital’s research really tries to cut costs and speed up mission timelines. With their modular approach, customers can mix and match proven parts to build custom solutions.
This method makes space missions more realistic for groups that don’t have massive budgets.
On March 24, 2020, the U.S. Patent Office granted Patent Number 10,601,122 to Astro Digital US Inc. That patent covers their S-band antenna tech for satellite communications.
They originally filed the application as Number 15/995,720. Gordon Hardman, Jan King, and Mike Patton put their heads together on this one.
They aimed to make satellite communications better and more reliable.
S-band antennas work in the frequency range that many satellite systems use. With this tech, satellites can send data to ground stations without a hitch.
This patent really shows Astro Digital’s drive to push communications technology for space.
It’s a good example of their technical chops in satellite communications. They keep finding new ways to solve problems for the growing commercial space industry.
Astro Digital offers careers in satellite tech and space systems for folks who want to move Earth observation and satellite communications forward. Since they work with export-controlled technology, the company keeps employment requirements pretty strict.
Astro Digital stands as an equal opportunity employer and values diversity across all protected characteristics. They don’t discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability.
Employees get to work on satellite tech projects that support Earth observation. The company tries to break down old barriers in space missions, like high costs and long wait times.
Staff members help build mission-proven frameworks for different industries. Agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring all benefit from their work.
The workplace leans hard into technical excellence and innovation. Team members team up on constellation deployment and proof-of-concept missions that push satellite infrastructure forward.
Every position at Astro Digital involves access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, or software. That means candidates need to be U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or protected persons under federal law.
Engineering jobs include senior mechanical designers, system engineers, and technical specialists. Candidates usually have to show off their skills during interviews.
Support roles cover inventory specialists and other operations jobs. They post openings on several platforms, with chances for everyone from beginners to seasoned pros.
Some engineering applicants go through hands-on skills testing. You might work with real parts and equipment used in daily operations.
Applicants sign confidentiality agreements before skills tests. This helps protect the company’s proprietary tech and methods in satellite development.
Digital astronomy keeps changing how researchers collect data, how amateurs explore space, and how teachers explain celestial ideas. Here are some practical questions about using digital tools for astronomy.
Digital platforms give researchers access to huge databases of telescope observations from all over the world. Scientists can dig into decades of data without ever stepping foot in an observatory.
Researchers can now share findings in real time through cloud-based systems. Teams in different places can work on the same datasets at once.
Machine learning chews through massive amounts of data way faster than humans ever could. These systems spot patterns in stars, galaxies, and planet movements that we might just overlook.
Digital storage removes the old limits of film and plates. Now, researchers can keep terabytes of high-res images and spectrographic data for as long as they want.
Smartphone apps guide amateur astronomers to specific objects using GPS. These apps show real-time info about planet locations, meteor showers, and satellite flyovers.
Digital cameras on telescopes let hobbyists snap detailed images of galaxies and nebulae. People can now photograph things that used to be only visible to pros.
Online communities let hobbyists share what they see and plan group viewing sessions. Forums and social sites connect astronomers in different time zones for collaborative projects.
Computerized telescope mounts track objects as Earth spins. This automation means less fiddling and more observing.
CMOS sensors have mostly replaced CCD cameras in today’s astrophotography gear. These newer sensors pick up more light and have less noise in long exposures.
Stacking software combines multiple exposures to make cleaner images. Programs like DeepSkyStacker and PixInsight merge hundreds of frames into one photo.
Artificial intelligence now helps remove atmospheric distortion from ground-based telescope images. These algorithms sharpen details you’d normally only get from space telescopes.
Narrowband filters can pick out specific wavelengths from hydrogen and oxygen. Astrophotographers can pull out nebula details we’d never see with the naked eye.
Virtual planetarium software creates accurate night skies for any place or time. Students can watch how the sky changes without worrying about clouds or weather.
Augmented reality apps overlay constellation lines and object info on the real sky. Just point your device at a star and get instant facts.
Online simulations walk students through tricky ideas like orbits and stellar evolution. Interactive models make it easier to picture how things work in space.
Digital telescopes can stream live images right to classroom screens. Students get to see solar flares, the Moon, or planets during school hours.
Spectral analysis software tells us what stars and planets are made of by looking at their light. Researchers use these tools to figure out temperature, density, and atmosphere.
Statistical programs handle big datasets to find trends in star birth and galaxy movement. Python and R have special astronomy libraries for this kind of work.
Image processing tools bring out faint details in telescope data. Techniques like stretching histograms and reducing noise make dim objects pop.
Database queries let researchers sift through millions of observations for specific traits. It’s now possible to find all stars that match certain criteria across many sky surveys.
Research institutions usually set up access controls to keep their proprietary observations and analysis safe. They rely on multi-factor authentication to block unauthorized people from getting into sensitive telescope data.
Astronomers encrypt data before sending it between observatories. They use secure protocols so nobody tampers with or alters the observations while sharing.
Teams run regular backups to avoid losing precious observational data if equipment fails. They also store data in several places, just in case a disaster or crash wipes out one location.
Researchers use version control systems to keep track of changes in shared datasets and analysis results. With these tools, they help maintain data integrity, especially when lots of people are working together on a project.
