• Spaceflux raised £5.4M (approximately $7.2 million) in seed funding to expand its global optical telescope network and scale its AI-driven space situational awareness technologies for 24/7 tracking of satellites and debris.

• The funding round, backed by UKI2S, Foresight Group, and Blackfinch Ventures, positions Spaceflux as a key provider of orbital safety data for commercial, governmental, and defence customers.

• With strong UK government support, Spaceflux intends to address rising concerns over orbital congestion, debris, and space security through independently verified, sovereign tracking infrastructure.

• Space Insider tracks funding news in real time and delivers trend-driven insights to help decision-makers invest, partner, and innovate in the space industry. See how our data can work for you.

PRESS RELEASE — Spaceflux, headquartered in London, has successfully closed a £5.4 million (€6.2 million) seed funding round, enabling the company to fast-track the growth of its proprietary global telescope network and push forward innovative space situational awareness (SSA) technologies. The funding comes as calls grow for stronger commercial and sovereign space surveillance capabilities, with recent reports warning that a one-week disruption to satellite navigation could cost the UK economy £7.6 billion.

The funding round, co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) (managed by Future Planet Capital), Foresight Group, and Blackfinch Ventures, positions Spaceflux to deliver on its ambitious growth plans. The company has also benefited from early support through the Seraphim Space Accelerator as it seeks to strengthen a vital space safety capability that supports government and commercial missions in a rapidly evolving orbital environment.

Spaceflux, founded in 2022, has emerged as a key player in the space surveillance and tracking domain thanks to its proprietary AI-driven analytics and cutting-edge optical sensor systems. Initially providing data and insights on activity in the geostationary orbit to the UK Space Agency and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the firm has quickly positioned itself as a trusted partner in the broader international space ecosystem.

The company’s ground-based optical sensors track satellites and debris across all orbits, uniquely combining visible and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) imaging, enabling daylight tracking and characterisation of space objects, which expands the observation window beyond night-time operations, delivering true 24/7 coverage.

Space situational awareness services have become increasingly relevant as both governmental and commercial space actors face growing concerns over orbital crowding, untracked debris and potential adversarial interference. The new capital will enable Spacefux to scale its global sensor network, upgrade its flagship Cortex analytics platform and expand commercial delivery of its tracking services to satellite operators, insurers and government agencies worldwide.

Marco Rocchetto, CEO and co-founder of Spaceflux stated, “As space becomes increasingly essential to our economy, environment and daily lives, it is also becoming more congested and contested. This investment strengthens our ability to protect satellite technology that delivers crucial insights to Earth around the clock, reducing collision risks, and supporting a safer, more sustainable space environment for future generations”.

Alex Leigh, Investment Director Defence & Security, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital) commented on the raise: “This investment marks a significant step in the convergence of defence and space, where dual-use technologies are becoming increasingly important to UK capability. Backed by both the UK Space Agency and MOD (Defence & Security Seed – D2S), we are delighted to be leading this round as it underlines the growing importance of resilient, space-based infrastructure.

“Spaceflux’s technology offers critical insights to help monitor and safeguard orbital assets – supporting both national security and the wider commercial ecosystem. The company is well positioned to scale its impact and meet the needs of customers navigating an increasingly complex space environment.”

Rubina Singh, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight Group: “We’re excited to support the Spaceflux team in scaling their breakthrough technology to new markets. Spaceflux is taking on a vital role in safeguarding space assets we all rely on such as satellites, while delivering strategically important space awareness insights for commercial and national security needs. We’ve been impressed by the ambitious team, the AI-powered scalable platform, and rapid commercial growth since launching in 2022 and look forward to working together for years ahead.”

Kimberley Hay, Ventures Director at Blackfinch, added: “Spaceflux really impressed us with its collective experience and expertise in space safety. Many people don’t realise how much our everyday lives depend on space infrastructure. From navigation and communications to weather forecasting and streaming media, space plays a critical role.”

As demand grows for trusted, sovereign space surveillance, Spaceflux is better positioned than ever to deliver the infrastructure, data and decision-making tools needed to keep satellites safe and ensure long-term sustainability in space. With seed investment successfully secured, the company’s full focus is on leading global efforts to reduce space congestion and improve orbital safety through independently verified, AI-powered tracking solutions.

Additional quote for consideration from the UK Space Agency:

Dr Craig Brown, Investment Director at the UK Space Agency, said: “Through our participation in the UKI2S Space Fund, we’ve been able to support Spaceflux and help them attract additional investment to accelerate development of their innovative capabilities.

“Spaceflux’s growth as a leader in space situational awareness is impressive. Their approach to tracking satellites across all orbits delivers exactly the cutting-edge capability needed to tackle growing orbital congestion and space security challenges.

“As space becomes increasingly vital to our economy and daily lives, companies like Spaceflux are crucial partners in ensuring safe and sustainable operations in this critical domain.”

About Spaceflux

Founded in 2022, Spaceflux is a UK-based space technology company specialising in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Traffic Management (STM). Using a proprietary global network of optical sensors and its AI-powered analytics platform Cortex, Spaceflux provides advanced tracking and characterisation of space objects to support satellite operators, insurers, and government clients in preventing collisions, protecting their assets, and ensuring long-term orbital security. Since 2023, Spaceflux has become the exclusive provider of geostationary satellite tracking for the UK MoD and UK Space Agency. The firm is committed to advancing SSA and SDA technologies, while promoting responsible and sustainable use of the orbital environment to secure humanity’s future in space.

Source

Funding alerts like this one are monitored in real-time by the Space Insider intelligence engine.

Space Insider is the go-to intelligence platform for decision-makers seeking to invest in space, partner in space, or apply space technology. By contextualizing this information through trend analysis and structured content, we help our audience stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market. See how our data can work for you.

• Varda Space Industries raised $187 million in a Series C round, bringing its total funding to $329 million, with backing from Natural Capital, Shrug Capital, Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, and others.

• The company has completed three successful orbital missions since its 2023 debut, with a fourth currently in orbit and a fifth scheduled by year’s end, making it the first non-ISS commercial material processing in space.

• Varda is expanding its pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, opening a 10,000 sq ft lab in El Segundo to crystallize biologics like monoclonal antibodies to pursue microgravity-enabled drug development.

• Beyond life sciences, Varda operates a hypersonic reentry testbed for government partners, using its W-series capsules to validate high-performance subsystems at Mach 25 during atmospheric reentry.

PRESS RELEASE — Varda Space Industries announced a Series C fundraising round today, bringing the total amount of capital raised by the microgravity-enabled life sciences company to $329 million. The $187 million fundraise was led by Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, with participation from Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, and Also Capital.

Since launching their first mission, W-1, in 2023, Varda has completed three successful launch and return missions, with a fourth, W-4, currently in orbit and a fifth expected to launch before the end of the year.

Varda’s orbital laboratories are the first to process materials outside the International Space Station and mark the beginnings of commercial expansion into low Earth orbit. Due to the lack of gravity, materials such as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicines crystallize differently than they would on Earth, creating novel drug formulations that would otherwise be impossible.

In addition to its core competencies in the life sciences, Varda operates a hypersonic testbed for government partners, working to utilize the W-series reentry vehicle to advance new technologies. The reentry capsules reach Mach 25 on their journey from space to Earth, offering a valuable, real-world flight environment for testing subsystems such as thermal protective materials, navigation, communication, and sensors.

“With this capital, Varda will continue to increase our flight cadence and build out the pharmaceutical lab that will deliver the world’s first microgravity-enabled drug formulation,” said Varda CEO Will Bruey.

Varda has expanded its footprint terrestrially as well, opening an office in Huntsville, Ala. and a new 10,000 square foot laboratory space in El Segundo, which will allow its pharmaceutical scientists to begin working on developing processes to crystallize biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies. As of 2022, the market size for monoclonal antibodies is estimated to be $210.06 billion.

“Our new lab space is an investment in our belief that in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing will drive the foundation of the orbital economy,” said Chief Science Officer Adrian Radocea. “By expanding, we can support work on more complex molecules and ultimately increase cadence to achieve the turnaround times the pharmaceutical industry expects.”

Varda has hired a world-class pharmaceuticals team that will work at the new lab in El Segundo, including structural biologists and crystallization scientists with decades of prior experience in structural biology and crystallization across top 20 pharmaceutical companies.

“Through multiple flights, the Varda team has proven a repeatable orbital-reentry capability, attracted serious DoD demand, and is now turning that momentum toward a world-class crystallization lab that will unlock microgravity manufacturing for life-changing medicines and other high-value materials,” said Ravi Tanuku, General Partner at Natural Capital and a member of the Varda Board of Directors. “We’re excited to support Varda as it turns this bold vision into reality.”

About Varda

Varda Space Industries is making reentry as common as launch. We are building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy and enabling foundational science, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical hypersonic reentry capsules. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. and also has offices in Washington, D.C. and Huntsville, Ala. Follow Varda on X (@vardaspace), Instagram (@vardaspaceindustries), and LinkedIn.

This news release was sourced by Space Insider’s proprietary news engine.

Space Insider is the go-to intelligence platform for decision-makers seeking to invest in space, partner in space, or apply space technology. By contextualizing this information through trend analysis and structured content, we help our audience stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market. See how our data can work for you.

• The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $509.7 million contract to build GPS IIIF satellites 21 and 22, pushing the program’s total value past $4.1 billion.
• GPS IIIF enhances navigation capabilities with 60x anti-jamming resistance, new search and rescue functions, and a fully digital payload; SV08, the final GPS III satellite, will launch in 2025 as the program transitions.
• Lockheed Martin has completed major assembly on the first four GPS IIIF satellites, with launches scheduled to begin in 2027 to support global coverage and replace aging infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $509.7 million contract to build two more Global Positioning System III Follow-On (GPS IIIF) satellites, extending the company’s production line and pushing the total value of the program past $4.1 billion, according to the DOD.

The contract modification covers GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 21 and 22 and obligates more than $55 million in fiscal 2025 missile procurement funds at the time of award. The additional units are part of a long-term effort by the U.S. military to maintain and enhance the country’s GPS constellation, which provides positioning, navigation, and timing data to both military and civilian users worldwide. Work will continue at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Littleton, Colorado, with delivery expected by late 2031.

The contract comes as Lockheed Martin prepares to launch GPS III SV08, the eighth satellite in the current block, from Cape Canaveral in 2025, according to Lockheed Martin. Shipped in early April from Colorado via a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft, the spacecraft was deployed on short notice to meet mission requirements, highlighting a shift toward faster, more responsive deployment timelines.

“With each GPS III shipment and launch, America’s GPS constellation grows more resilient and accurate,” Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement in April. “We’re proud to continue enabling this critical national security mission through both spacecraft production and maintenance of the ground control segment, bringing a seamless experience to Space Force operators.”

GPS III SV08 will join a 31-satellite constellation that supports essential services including civilian navigation, military operations, and emergency response systems. The arrival of SV08 also marks the final stages of the GPS III block before the program transitions fully to GPS IIIF, a more advanced generation with expanded capabilities, according to Lockheed Martin.

• 60X greater anti-jamming to ensure U.S. and allied forces cannot be denied access to GPS in hostile environments.
• Accuracy-enhancing laser retroreflector array.
• New search and rescue payload.
• Fully digital navigation payload.
• New LM2100 Combat Bus for SV13, providing increased cyber-hardening, improved spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics. Capable of hosting on-orbit upgrade ASPIN software.

The GPS IIIF satellites are designed to strengthen signal security and reliability, the company noted. Enhancements include a stronger civilian signal intended to improve commercial aviation safety and a new feature called Regional Military Protection. This system increases the satellite’s resistance to jamming by as much as 60 times in contested environments, making it significantly harder for adversaries to disrupt U.S. military operations.

Lockheed Martin has begun building the first ten GPS IIIF units, with assembly already completed on key structures for the first four. The company finished mating the core of the first GPS IIIF satellite earlier this year and anticipates launch of the new block to begin in 2027. The continued investment in GPS IIIF follows concerns over aging infrastructure, as nearly half of the current GPS constellation exceeds its intended service life.

According to the Space Systems Command, the expanded GPS fleet is intended to ensure seamless global coverage and provide a long-term upgrade path. Lockheed Martin now remains under contract for up to 22 satellites, providing a steady production cadence for the next several years.

SpaceX is targeting Friday, May 30 for a Falcon 9 launch of the GPS III-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, according to the company. The launch was originally assigned to United Launch Alliance, but was re-assigned to Space-X in April in light of Space System Command’s accelerated launch schedule.

• The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation has invested in NOVI SPACE, a Virginia-based startup developing onboard AI compute systems and a full-stack satellite data platform to enhance access to real-time Earth observation data.
• NOVI’s VISTAsat platform and flight-proven onboard computers are being deployed through SpaceX and other launch partners, supporting a constellation of edge-processing satellites aimed at transforming satellite data accessibility.
• The investment is part of NOVI’s ongoing seed round, which has also attracted backing from Spirit Electronics Ventures, Tyger River Capital, and AIN Ventures, and builds on NOVI’s prior commercialization grant and DoD-funded SBIR awards.

PRESS RELEASE – The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) announced that Virginia Venture Partners (VVP), VIPC’s venture capital platform, has invested in Arlington, Virginia-based startup NOVI SPACE Inc. (NOVI). NOVI is a space AI infrastructure and compute company providing end-to-end technology solutions revolutionizing access to space-based satellite sensor data. As part of their ongoing seed round, NOVI has successfully attracted capital from both in-state and out-of-state co-investors including Arizona-based Spirit Electronics Ventures, North Carolina-based Tyger River Capital, and Virginia-based AIN Ventures, one of VIPC’s Virginia Invests’ fund managers. VIPC also previously awarded a technology commercialization grant to NOVI, which supported its Phase I SBIR award from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and served as an effective bridge to securing a follow-on AFRL Phase II award.

Satellite constellations generate vast amounts of raw sensor data and generally lack on-board processing capabilities. Accessing space-based sensors and processing satellite data remains difficult and prohibitively expensive. NOVI is leveraging its successful demonstration work with the U.S. Department of Defense to fill a critical gap in the U.S. commercial hardware market by providing TRL-9, flight-proven on-board computers (OBCs) for in-orbit satellites. NOVI has previously deployed its satellite compute-on-board into space through SpaceX and other launch partners. In addition, NOVI is developing and deploying a constellation of multi-sensor edge-processing satellites for earth observation (EO), coupled to a full-stack data, algorithm, and intelligence management platform named VISTAsat. This innovative space AI marketplace provides open-access to a growing satellite network, and enables commercial companies, governments and developers to harness real-time space-based sensors, processors and intelligence across numerous industries.

“We are thrilled to partner with the VIPC team and deeply value their support as NOVI continues to expand in the Arlington area and drive the future of space innovation. VIPC has been instrumental in attracting a strong network of investors and accelerating our growth following a successful satellite launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission in January 2025,” said Dr. Amit Mehra, President and Co-founder of NOVI.

VIPC President and CEO, Joe Benevento, said, “NOVI is innovating here in Virginia at the unique intersection of artificial intelligence compute and space hardware infrastructure. Our collaboration with NOVI is a great example of how VIPC seeks to catalyze and leverage public-private investment – through VIPC, the Department of Defense, and now external venture capital funds from the private sector – to accelerate technology innovation in the marketplace.”

“NOVI has successfully developed and de-risked transformative edge AI technology, which they are actively deploying to government and commercial customers in route to creating the first low-cost, open constellation to democratize access to space data,” said Marco Rubin, Senior Investment Director for VIPC’s Virginia Venture Partners. “VVP is pleased to support the NOVI team, and we look forward to exciting growth within Virginia’s strategic aerospace and defense industries.”

• Tianwen-2, launching May 29, 2025, is China’s first asteroid sample return and comet exploration mission, targeting near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa and main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS.
• The spacecraft will collect material from Kamoʻoalewa using touch-and-go and anchor methods, aiming to uncover clues about the solar system’s formation and possibly lunar origins.
• After returning samples to Earth, Tianwen-2 will continue to 311P/PANSTARRS to study its composition and better understand the origins of water and organics in the solar system.

China is preparing to launch its Tianwen-2 space mission on May 29, taking country’s expanding planetary exploration program to its next step.

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the mission will lift off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China using a Long March 3B rocket, which is currently being loaded with propellant. The Tianwen-2 probe and its carrier rocket have completed all necessary technical and mechanical preparations, including assembly, testing, fueling, and integration checks. CNSA stated that each element of the mission has passed inspection and joint systems rehearsals.

The Long March 3B rocket has been fully assembled at the launch site and integrated with the probe inside its protective fairing. Final inspections and control checks have been completed by CNSA’s teams at multiple facilities, including the Beijing Flight Control Center and tracking stations in Xi’an and aboard the Yuanwang measurement ships. These assets provide communication and navigation support during launch and early flight.

According to CNSA, the Tianwen-2 spacecraft was transferred to the launch pad after a series of functional verifications. Engineers completed full system rehearsals to ensure mission readiness. These rehearsals simulate the countdown and flight sequence and verify coordination among all ground systems and tracking stations.

Tianwen-2 is the second in China’s series of deep space exploration missions and follows the successful Tianwen-1, which reached Mars in 2021.

As previously reported by Space Insider, China’s Tianwen-2 mission aims to retrieve material from a near-Earth asteroid and study a distant comet, marking a major step in the country’s planetary exploration efforts. The spacecraft will first target asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, a small object that follows a stable orbit near Earth and may be a fragment of the Moon. Using both touch-and-go and anchor-based techniques, Tianwen-2 will collect surface samples and return them to Earth for analysis.

After completing its sample return, the mission will continue toward comet 311P/PANSTARRS, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Known for its multiple dust tails, the comet offers a rare opportunity to study volatile-rich materials that may contain clues about the early solar system and the origins of water and organic compounds on Earth. This second phase of the mission is designed for remote observation rather than sample collection.

.

• The investment round was led by Founders Fund and included CEECAT Capital, Morphosis Capital, and returning investors.
• The funding will accelerate deployment of EnduroSat’s modular, high-performance 200-500kg satellites designed for rapid constellation development.
• The company plans to build one of Europe’s largest space R&D facilities and scale monthly satellite output to 60 by the end of 2025.

PRESS RELEASE – EnduroSat, a leading provider of satellite constellations-as-a-service, today announced a €43 million investment led by Founders Fund. The funding, which included participation from CEECAT Capital, Morphosis Capital, and other returning investors, will be used to scale production of EnduroSat’s new Gen3 ESPA-class satellites. These 200-500kg software-defined satellites will feature advanced avionics and a fully modular design, making them ideally suited for operators looking for fast deployment of hyperspectral imaging, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), broadband, navigation, and other demanding payloads. This latest investment will also help EnduroSat further scale at its existing European and U.S. locations.

“As the number of satellites in space demanded by a broader set of players grows exponentially, our industry needs to re-think how these satellites are built. Raycho and his team at EnduroSat have taken the massive leap to go from utilizing traditional aerospace supply chains, to consumer electronics and automotive supply chains to build their products,” said Delian Asparouhov, Partner at Founders Fund and Co-Founder and President of Varda Space Industries. “This makes EnduroSat’s cost efficiency and performance above all in the market, and they have a proven flight heritage, with 3,000+ modules in orbit today. Their Gen3 satellites get them into a size class that will allow for almost any space opportunity to be relevant for them.”

The new Gen3 satellite class is based on a decade of in-orbit experience and customer feedback. The modular, high-performance avionics, offering up to 3.5kW of peak power and 2GBPS datarate, make the satellites highly configurable for a variety of advanced applications. The new design philosophy behind Gen3 is especially well-suited for constellations and responsive space applications, because it’s designed from the ground up for fast turnaround and mass production. The cableless satellite bus design, developed entirely in-house, can be assembled and functionally tested in a few hours—orders of magnitude faster than typical satellite builds today. The new Gen3 ESPA-class satellites will complement EnduroSat’s flight-proven line of CubeSat platforms and components.

By covering the full mission cycle, EnduroSat’s constellation-as-a-service model allows operators to focus on their core, value-generating business, eliminating complexity and risk while streamlining costs and timelines for every mission phase, from constellation design to payload integration, launch, and operations.

“Our mission is to make space universally accessible, because this fundamentally improves life on earth,” said Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO of EnduroSat. “We’re taking the complexity out of space missions by building and operating the space infrastructure our customers need, so they can focus on the next wave of innovation in space applications. I’m excited to work alongside and learn from the team at Founders Fund, which brings decades of expertise in scaling companies and redefining industries. By increasing our production and introducing our new generation of satellites, we’ll unlock access to satellite constellations for even more customers—with reliability and price transparency.”

The latest funding will also support the buildout of a new 17,500 m² facility in Sofia, which will be one of the largest space R&D centers in Europe. This state-of-the-art facility will include satellite avionics labs, two assembly lines, significantly expanded clean rooms, and a suite of space qualification equipment, including an anechoic chamber.

By the end of 2025, EnduroSat aims to produce as many as 60 satellites per month at the new facility. The company is also continuing to scale its U.S. operations, building a dedicated U.S.-based cleanroom and supporting customers from the commercial and defense industries around the globe.

• Rocket Lab will acquire Geost for $275 million to expand into payload development for national security satellites, integrating EO/IR sensing capabilities into its space systems portfolio.
• The deal includes $125 million in cash, $150 million in shares, and up to $50 million in earnouts, and will add 115 employees and facilities in Tucson and Virginia to Rocket Lab’s global footprint.
• Geost’s EO/IR sensors support U.S. defense priorities like missile tracking and space awareness, and Rocket Lab plans to scale these technologies for broader defense and commercial missions.

Rocket Lab will acquire Geost, a leading developer of electro-optical and infrared payloads for national security satellites, in a deal valued at $275 million, expanding its footprint into the payload segment.

The acquisition, expected to close in the second half of 2025, includes $125 million in cash and $150 million in Rocket Lab shares, with up to $50 million in potential earnouts based on revenue milestones, according to Rocket Lab.

Geost, based in Tucson, Arizona, provides advanced EO/IR sensor systems for missile tracking, surveillance, and space domain awareness, all of which align with the U.S. Department of Defense’s strategic objectives, including the Golden Dome missile defense architecture and the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer.

“Rocket Lab was founded to disrupt the traditional space industry and we’re doing just that by expanding our ability to deliver complete, mission-critical space solutions,” Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said in a statement.

Beck added that the deal brings critical capabilities in-house, allowing the company to build integrated spacecraft more quickly and at lower cost while minimizing integration risk. By adding payloads to its portfolio, the company said it positions itself as a more comprehensive provider to national security customers seeking rapid, scalable satellite deployments in contested environments.

Geost’s more than 20 years of flight heritage and its existing infrastructure in Tucson and northern Virginia will become part of Rocket Lab’s global operations. The acquisition will also add 115 skilled employees to Rocket Lab’s workforce, which spans facilities in the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand and bring the total to 2,600. These new capabilities support Rocket Lab’s push to offer complete space mission solutions—from launch and satellite platforms to now including onboard sensing payloads.

“Integrating Geost’s advanced optical capabilities is a natural next step for Rocket Lab as the company expands its end-to-end space systems,” Bill Gattle, Geost’s General Manager and CEO of LightRidge Solutions, said in a statement.

The acquisition follows a period of strategic expansion for Geost under the ownership of private equity firm ATL Partners, which had purchased it in 2021 and integrated it into its LightRidge Solutions platform.

Under ATL’s stewardship, Geost expanded into new mission areas, introduced more cost-effective sensor systems, and scaled up its production and engineering capabilities, according to a statement released by Geost on the sale. These efforts allowed the company to become a prominent EO/IR payload provider within the defense sector

“We are incredibly grateful to ATL Partners for its support and strategic guidance over the past four years,” Gattle noted. “With ATL’s backing, we have grown into an industry leader, delivering technologies that address real mission needs for government and commercial customers.” 

With Geost’s divestiture, ATL is reshaping LightRidge Solutions by merging its remaining divisions—Trident Systems and Ophir Corporation—into a new platform called Trident Solutions. This platform will focus on mission-critical electronic systems and processing technologies across space, airborne, and defense applications. ATL plans to support Trident Solutions through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.

Going forward, Rocket Lab said it plans to scale Geost’s product lines for broader defense and commercial use while integrating Geost’s technologies into future missions. The transaction is pending regulatory approval, which is expected by the second half of 2025. Until that time, Geost and Rocket Lab will continue to operate as separate entities.