Insider Brief:
- Gravitics has secured a $125 million contract to contribute a pressurized spacecraft to Axiom Space’s upcoming space station.
- The launch is planned for two years from now.
- Following the Axiom deal, the company aims to expand its workforce and initiate a new fundraising round.
Washington-based startup Gravitics has announced it has secured a $125 million contract to contribute to Axiom Space’s upcoming space station. Gravitics will supply a pressurized spacecraft to Axiom’s station. This spacecraft will connect to Axiom’s modules, which are already under construction by Italian aerospace firm Thales Alenia. The launch is planned for two years from now.
Gravitics specializes in creating modular space station components. These modules, ranging from 3 to 8 meters in diameter, are designed to be compatible with various launch vehicles, including SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Blue Origin’s New Glenn. The largest module, named StarMax, will offer the most significant interior volume among standalone spacecraft.
CEO and founder Colin Doughan emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Working with the station operator that will have hardware on orbit soonest is an exciting development.” Gravitics previously raised $20 million in venture funding and now employs nearly 50 people. Following the Axiom deal, the company aims to expand its workforce and initiate a new fundraising round.
NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program, which funds private space station development, has already awarded contracts to Axiom. Gravitics reportedly aims to integrate its modules into various designs under this program. Doughan mentioned, “We hope to be on multiple teams for the second phase of CLD… you’ll start seeing some of the architectures reflect some of our space station modules.”
Gravitics is actively developing and testing its technology. This includes propulsion systems and pressure-tested module prototypes. The company plans to test some components on the International Space Station later this year and aims to launch a subscale spacecraft by 2026.
In addition to the Axiom contract, Gravitics signed agreements with NASA for new spacecraft testing methods and secured an early development contract with the Space Force. Doughan noted the growing budget of the Space Force and its readiness to invest in space technology.
The Axiom partnership is set to accelerate Gravitics’ growth, positioning the company as a key player in the future of private space habitats.
Image credit: Axiom Space
Share this article:
