Aspect Aerospace

Aspect Aerospace is redefining how constellations are built and operated with a “single-board satellite” (SBS) platform that turns a traditional satellite bus into a mass-producible circuit board. Instead of years-long, wiring-heavy assembly and integration that drive mission costs from $100M–$1B for large satellites or $500k–$5M for small sats (including launch), Aspect’s SBS approach targets tens of thousands of dollars per satellite including launch. A long‑lived host spacecraft acts as an on‑orbit “aircraft carrier,” storing dozens of SBS units that can be independently tasked and deployed on demand.

Each SBS integrates key subsystems—chip‑scale MEMS reaction wheel assemblies, on‑chip arcsecond‑class attitude determination, GaN MOSFET RF amplifiers, solar and battery for eclipse, and drag‑steering capability for maneuvering in very low Earth orbit (VLEO)—with multiple patents pending. Version 1, “V‑Sonde,” uses Aspect’s proprietary TDIP sensor to measure plasma and neutral particle densities at ~0.7 m spatial resolution for high‑fidelity space weather monitoring, supported by a $1.9M Direct‑to‑Phase‑2 SBIR from US Space Force (SpaceWERX) starting December 2025. Roadmapped follow‑ons include “Cohort” (deployable mesh networks and stereo optics for resilient comms and imaging) and “Phalanx” (distributed, phased‑array–like systems), enabling rapid prototyping, in‑orbit component qualification, and responsive VLEO operations. Founded by CEO Drew Russ (satellite startup veteran and GNC/flight software engineer) with CSO Dr. Edmund Spencer and CTO Dr. Sam Russ, Aspect is raising ~$3.5M to complement the SBIR, expand business development, prosecute IP, and reach revenue‑generating launches and ~$7M annual revenue by year 2.