Company - In Orbit Aerospace
Product/Service
- Classification
- Cargo Transportation & Landers
- Category
- Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Persistent Platform
Robotic Space Station
- Fields
- Space Capsule
Automated Microgravity Laboratory
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2025
Orbital platforms hosting your factories and labs
Whether you are an independent researcher working make the next big discovery, or an enterprise looking to build at scale in microgravity, our platforms provide unmatched capabilities to support your mission.
Earth re-entry vehicles to safely return your products
Our re-entry vehicles harmonize with our orbital platforms to offer a seamless roundtrip service for your operations. Ride with us to your destination orbit, perform your mission, and get your products back for use on Earth.
- Two-year-old space startup In Orbit Aerospace wants to be the third-party logistics provider for Earth to space commerce — and to get there, the company just closed a new agreement to validate key technical capabilities on the International Space Station.
- The El Segundo, California-based company is developing orbital platforms and re-entry vehicles to enable mass manufacturing and research in space. In Orbit’s plans are more than a little ambitious: The idea is to host customers’ factories or labs on an orbital platform. Uncrewed reentry vehicles would autonomously dock and rendezvous with the platforms, and a robotic system would transfer the manufactured material to that vehicle, which would then bring the products back to Earth.
- To date, the company has raised around $2 million, and the team is currently fundraising to support a demonstration mission in early 2025.
- For that first mission, the company will work with a satellite bus provider that will host a subscale variant of its orbital platform and reentry vehicle. If all goes to plan, the mission will demonstrate transferring material from the hosting platform to the reentry vehicle, and returning it to Earth.
- Under a new space act agreement, In Orbit is partnering with Nanoracks to demonstrate autonomous docking and robotic transfer in a zero-gravity environment. Nanoracks, now owned by Voyager Space, is a long-time commercial resident of the ISS and frequently provides support to newer entrants looking to take advantage of the ISS National Lab. In Orbit’s testing will take place mid- to late-2025 at the earliest, Elliott said.
- On a slightly longer scale, In Orbit is aiming to launch a second mission in 2026 and then partner with a spacecraft provider to host a manufacturing lab on orbit. The eventual goal is to leave hardware in space, and just launch the reentry capsules that would rendezvous and dock with the platforms on orbit.
- In Orbit is expecting that its core customers will be manufacturers, which will want to outsource on orbit hosting. Those customers would be the ones to work with, say, pharmaceutical or semiconductor firms looking to manufacture products in space.
Similar Organizations
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces
Development
Commercial Sample Return, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Concept, Dormant
Asteroid Mining Spacecraft
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Mk-II Aurora, Mk-III
Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Suborbital Testbed
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Foton Spacecraft
Foton
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Retired
Hyperion
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, Orbital Transportation
Early stage
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
MERCAP
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
Nova-C
Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
LEAP
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
VBK-Raduga
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Dormant, Discontinued
Glide2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Hardware
Development
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Ferry, Cargo Ferry
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development, Launched
Space Truck
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation
Cancelled, Development
Olympus, Pythom Spaceship
Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
LASER (Lunar Ascent Sample Earth Return)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Sample Return
Idea, Dormant
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
ARGO
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Dormant, Early stage
Oryx, Mini Space Brake (MSB)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Water, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Dormant
Meteoroid Complementary Descent Module, ASTREO
Space Tug, Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Logistics
Concept
Dream Chaser, Shooting Star
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Ghost
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
RED-25, RED-DATA2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Launched, Demonstrated, Development
Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System
Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point
Development, Launched
Dragon, Dragon 2, Cargo Dragon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Active
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces
Development
Bartolomeo
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Active
The Port, The Cutter
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Bioreactor Express
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service
Active
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Carousel Spacelab
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science
Early stage, ?
Foton Spacecraft
Foton
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Retired
SpaceLAB
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant
SpaceLAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Space Laboratory Equipment
Development
Phoenix Orbital Transfer Vehicle
In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Space Tug, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Kirara
Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Science, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Active
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
Life Sciences Platform
Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
LEAP
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station
Cancelled, Acquired
NanoLab, Bishop
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Commercial ISS Airlock, Microgravity Research Payloads
Active
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Research Payloads
Demonstrated, Launched
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science, Microgravity Research Payloads
Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
Breakthrough
In-Space Assembly, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Space Solar Power
Development
In-Space Production, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Active
REV1
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
BARNACLE DOT, INDY DOT
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Pocket
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Demonstrated
Space Rider
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
TangoLab, CubeLabs
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Active
ST-42
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Science
Demonstrated, Active
RED-25, RED-DATA2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Launched, Demonstrated, Development
DragonLab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
MUSES (Multi-User System for Earth Sensing)
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Hardware
Active
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Launch Service Brokerer
Active
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
ThinkPlatform-1
Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Active
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
Space-Lab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
ScienceTaxi
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Hardware, Microgravity Science
Active
BAM-FX
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant, Development
ASTROLAB SAS
Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics
Early stage
MERCAP
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station
Cancelled, Acquired
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Skylon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Concept
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
Dream Chaser, Shooting Star
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Ghost
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
REV1
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Rider
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
TangoLab, CubeLabs
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Active
ST-42
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
DragonLab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
The Port, The Cutter
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Blue Ring
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
The Port, The Cutter
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Blue Ring
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility
Development
Robotic Arm, Hardware, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station
Early stage
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station
Cancelled, Acquired
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Earthshine-Mini, Earthshine-Robotic
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station
Early stage
STARFAB
Robotic Space Station
.jpg "Space Applications Services"){kind=logo}
Concept
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads
Development