SmallSat
98 in indexSatellites under ~500 kg — the size class that drove the post-2015 commercial space boom.
SmallSats are satellites under roughly 500 kg, with sub-categories: minisat (100–500 kg), microsat (10–100 kg), nanosat / CubeSat (1–10 kg), picosat (0.1–1 kg). The category captures the bulk of post-2015 commercial space activity.
SmallSats are how the commercial space industry escaped the multi-hundred-million-dollar GEO-bus paradigm. Standardized buses, COTS components, rideshare launch, and constellation architectures all hinge on small form factors. Most modern space companies build, fly, or service SmallSats.
- Earth-observation constellations
- Comms (broadband, IoT)
- Technology demonstration missions
- University and government science
Companies working with SmallSat
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AAC Clyde Space
SWE
Designs and manufactures small satellite platforms and subsystems, operates satellite constellations, and delivers space-based data services
Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingSatellite Components & Subsystems
Aerospacelab
BEL
Designs and manufactures satellite platforms, subsystems, and Earth observation payloads for LEO constellations, from 50 kg to 5,000 kg
Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingSatellite Components & Subsystems
Aetherflux
USA
Develops space-based solar power satellites that collect sunlight in low Earth orbit and transmit energy to portable ground receivers via infrared lasers
Satellite ManufacturingIn-Space Manufacturing
Albedo
USA
Designs and manufactures flight-proven Very Low Earth Orbit satellite buses for defense, communications, and specialized payload operators
Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite Manufacturing
Antaris
USA
Provides a cloud-based software platform for satellite mission design, digital twin simulation, flight software, and constellation operations
Satellite ManufacturingSpace Software & Mission Tools
Apex
USA
Designs and mass-manufactures standardized satellite bus platforms for commercial and government constellation deployments across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits
Satellite ManufacturingSatellite Components & Subsystems
ArkEdge Space
JPN
Designs, manufactures, and operates micro-satellite constellations for maritime communications, earth observation, positioning, and deep space exploration
Satellite CommunicationsSatellite ManufacturingNavigation & Positioning
Astranis
USA
Satellite CommunicationsSatellite ManufacturingNavigation & Positioning
AstroForge
USA
Develops spacecraft and in-situ refining technology to extract and process platinum group metals from metallic near-Earth asteroids
Planetary ExplorationSpace Resources & Mining
Astrocast
CHE
Operates a nanosatellite IoT network providing bidirectional, low-power satellite connectivity for remote asset tracking and monitoring across maritime, agriculture, and industrial sectors
Satellite CommunicationsSatellite Manufacturing
Axelspace
JPN
Designs, manufactures, and operates microsatellite constellations for Earth observation and provides one-stop satellite mission services
Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
BULL Co., Ltd.
JPN
Develops post-mission disposal devices using drag sail technology to prevent spacecraft and launch vehicle stages from becoming space debris
Space Sustainability & Debris RemovalSatellite Components & Subsystems
Europe Celebrates its Sovereignty Progress at SmallSat
Europe made its most concrete claim yet for sovereignty in orbit this week. The post Europe Celebrates its Sovereignty Progress at SmallSat appeared first on Payload.
European space industry warns EU Space Act could slow competitiveness
AMSTERDAM – European industry representatives and legal experts are worried that the EU Space Act is too slow, too rigid and too bureaucratic. Speaking at SmallSat Europe, panelists said they […] The post European space industry warns EU Space Act could slow competitiveness appeared first on SpaceNews.
Kongsberg NanoAvionics sets sights on building and supporting sovereign constellations
NanoAvionics, founded in 2014, was known for producing individual satellites and small constellations until April 2025, when the company won a 122.5-million-euro contract ($142 million) to build the initial 280 […] The post Kongsberg NanoAvionics sets sights on building and supporting sovereign constellations appeared first on SpaceNews.
Starcloud’s path to 88,000 computing satellites
In November, Starcloud sent a small satellite called Starcloud-1 into orbit via a SpaceX launch. The 60-kilogram spacecraft was the first to carry a compute system with an NVIDIA H100 […] The post Starcloud’s path to 88,000 computing satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.
Spire expands European manufacturing with Munich plant
AMSTERDAM – Spire Global has established a facility in Munich to develop and manufacture as many as 100 small satellites annually. With manufacturing plants in Boulder, Colorado, Glasgow, Scotland, and […] The post Spire expands European manufacturing with Munich plant appeared first on SpaceNews.
OHB Italia S.p.A. @ SMALL SAT CONFERENCE IN AMSTERDAM: INNOVATION, CONSTELLATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL VISION
The surge in military budgets can help Europe’s entrepreneurial space sector — if spending speeds up
AMSTERDAM – The recent surge in European defense spending could bolster Europe’s entrepreneurial space sector, but only if bureaucratic roadblocks are cleared, panelists said at the SmallSat Europe conference. While […] The post The surge in military budgets can help Europe’s entrepreneurial space sector — if spending speeds up appeared first on SpaceNews.