Astron Systems Ltd

Astron Systems is developing a dramatically more affordable, responsive, and net-zero carbon capable orbital launch service onboard fully reusable rockets, designed to have the lowest unit launch cost of any small launcher.

Aurora, Astron Systems' fully reusable two-stage launch vehicle design, enables responsive small satellite launch at an unprecedented and market-leading unit launch cost. This is possible thanks to the combination of full reusability enabling the spreading of the cost of the vehicle over many flights, and key design decisions that enable a low operational cost per flight. The result of this is by a long way the lowest unit launch cost in Europe for any similar vehicle, and also the lowest unit launch cost of any similar vehicle globally. Since the vehicle is fully reusable and a new vehicle does not need to be manufactured for each launch, flights can also be scheduled at extremely short notice (Regulations/licensing allowing). The full reusability (Dramatically reducing embodied emissions, by far the largest factor) and sustainable propellant choice also enables a net-zero carbon capable launch service.

Whilst we've to date been fairly quiet about what we've been working on, the best in the industry support Astron Systems. This includes the UK Space Agency through its accelerator program, the European Space Agency through its business incubation centre program, Innovate UK, and also Hello Tomorrow via their Deep Tech Pioneers initiative. Astron Systems also has a world-class board of advisors featuring Greg Autry, widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the commercial spaceflight industry globally.

Astron Systems is currently raising its second round of private financing. These funds, totalling £2M, will be used to further R&D on the propulsion system, building towards a prototype engine demonstration, and to expand the team. For investors joining this round a return multiple greater than 200x is predicted.