About Us

Company Name

O · D · S

Company Logo

Company Information

- Our company's core business is the specialized design, fabrication, and extensive testing of advanced robotic satellites for interplanetary exploration, leveraging unique propellant-less propulsion technology.

- Our product is a highly capable robotic satellite, designed to investigate other planets, moons, and asteroids across the solar system.

- Our key capability lies in our deep expertise across satellite technologies, from initial concept to rigorous pre-launch validation. Our technical capabilities, staffing, and equipment for this project are detailed in the company information section.

Company Roles

Alice Johnson - CEO

CEO

Alice Johnson

The ultimate visionary and decision-maker. She is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company, managing key partnerships and ensuring the company's business goals are met.


Ben Carter - Financial Controller

Financial Controller

Ben Carter

Him and his team are responsible for managing all financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and providing strategic financial insights.


Jeff Hubble - Technical Manager

Technical Manager

Jeff Hubble

Him and his team oversee the high-level technical integrity, system architecture, and integration for the core technological design and research. Given the company's size, the technical manager is also the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) or Head of Systems Engineering.


Claire Davis - Software Manager

Software Manager

Claire Davis

Her and her team are responsible for all software like creating and running the computational models and simulations for missions. Her team also develops the satellite's onboard software and the ground-based control systems.


Gabriel Hayes - Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager

Gabriel Hayes

Him and his team are responsible for the mechanical, electrical, and propulsion engineering aspects of the satellite's physical build, the design, manufacturing, prototyping, and rigorous testing of the satellite's hardware, housing, and all integrated components. His is the largest team, reflecting the hardware-intensive nature of satellite development.


Chloe Stone - Telemetry Manager

Telemetry Manager

Chloe Stone

Her and her team are specialists in communication with the satellite. Their role involves acquiring signals, monitoring the continuous data streams, and managing the ground-based communication network.


Meet Our Satellite
Orbital 1

Satellite Instruments

Imaging & Sensing Modules

Visible Light Spectrum Camera

Visible Spectrum Camera

This module captures high-resolution imagery in the visible light range. While it can be adapted for specialized applications like attaching to Dobsonian-type optical systems for astronomical observation, its primary role on a satellite is often for Earth observation, planetary imaging, or star tracking.


Infrared (IR) Camera

Infrared (IR) Camera

Designed for thermal imaging and heat sensing, this camera detects infrared radiation emitted by objects. It's crucial for applications like environmental monitoring, detecting heat signatures, and analyzing atmospheric conditions where temperature variations are key.


Ultraviolet (UV) Camera

Ultraviolet (UV) Camera

This module specializes in detecting high-frequency ultraviolet light. It's vital for studying phenomena such as planetary atmospheres, aurorae, and stellar activity, where UV emissions provide unique insights.


Field Measurement Modules

Magnetometer

Magnetometer

A precision instrument engineered to measure and record the strength and direction of magnetic fields around planets, celestial bodies, and in space. It's fundamental for understanding magnetospheres, planetary cores, and solar wind interactions.


Metal Detector

Metal Detector

This short-range induction sensor is designed to detect the presence of metallic elements. With an effective range of less than one meter, it's ideally suited for close-proximity surveys, such as directly engaging with asteroid surfaces to assess metallic composition.


Gravimeter

Gravimeter

This module precisely measures the strength of gravitational fields of planets and other celestial objects. It's crucial for mapping gravitational anomalies, understanding planetary interior structures, and calculating orbital dynamics.


Light Intensity Sensor

Light Intensity Sensor

This sensor quantifies the intensity of incident light, whether from the sun or reflected from celestial bodies. It's used to determine properties like albedo (reflectivity) and to understand the light environment within the satellite's operational vicinity.


Radio Spectrum Receiver

Radio Spectrum Receiver

A specialized receiver that detects and records radio emissions from target objects. It's particularly valuable for studying planetary atmospheres, which generate distinct radio frequency noises through their interaction with solar particles, providing unique acoustic signatures for each planet.


Core Satellite Systems

Propulsion System

Propulsion System

This innovative, propellant-less propulsion unit generates unidirectional thrust through the interaction of orthogonal electric fields. It operates continuously as long as it has an electrical power source. While it lacks the thrust for planetary surface launch, it provides sufficient self-generated thrust to escape Earth's gravity from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and execute deep-space missions.


Enclosure/Housing

Enclosure/Housing

The robust structural shell of the spacecraft, designed to house and rigidly secure all internal components, protecting them from the harsh space environment and maintaining structural integrity.


Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG)

A highly reliable electrical power source that converts heat from radioactive decay directly into electricity. It's ideal for long-duration missions, especially in the outer solar system where solar power is not viable.


Solar Panel Arrays

Solar Panel Arrays

These arrays convert sunlight into electrical power, providing the primary energy source for missions within the inner solar system. Their viability extends to the Asteroid Belt, though very large arrays are required at such distances to generate sufficient power.


Battery Bank

Battery Bank

A critical energy storage unit designed to store electrical charge generated by the RTG or Solar Panel Arrays. These stored reserves provide power for peak operational demands and during periods when primary power generation is limited (for example, in shadows or when solar panels are not optimally oriented).


Expertise

The company prides itself on our design and engineering capabilities, backed by a team of seasoned engineers who bring expertise in every area crucial to satellite development that includes aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering. Our engineers excel at designing highly optimized, robust, and reliable satellite platforms tailored to the specific mission requirements.

Our rapid prototyping capabilities enable us to quickly build and test models/modules of the components and sub-components of the satellite to see how they fit and interact with the system. This is an iterative process, with each prototype we can build upon the success of previous models as well as improve/resolve the issues that pertained to previous iterations.

Strict tolerances in our manufacturing process leads to high quality control assurances via our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, equipped with precision machinery and staffed by highly skilled technicians. It ensures every component we manufacture meets the rigorous demands of the space environment.

We utilise advanced modeling and simulation software designed in-house. Before we create a physical component, we first model it in the computer to see if it fits within the system. Not only can we see how it fits, but also simulate the component working within the system of the satellite and then simulate how the satellite would operate within the environment of space. Doing it right the first time, or in fewer attempts, saves us valuable time and money by avoiding the need to physically recreate components over and over.

We deploy rigorous testing and validation for our satellites to meet industry standards. We subject our satellites to extreme environmental conditions - vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling, radiation testing and more, to mimic the harsh realities of space to ensure absolute reliability and mission success.

What the Company Presently Does

On-going research and development(R&D) is done to find and explore new materials and manufacturing processes to incorporate into the project. We are constantly investigating lighter materials that yield more strength, also known as researching high strength-to-weight materials. Deploying techniques such as additive manufacturing such as 3D printing and/or subtractive manufacturing such as CNC.

We are also working on and fine-tuning the propulsion systems to make them more efficient while also maintaining great maneuverability.

Developing new antenna designs, frequency bands, and data processing to handle more bandwidth in the transmission back to Earth for higher speed and stability of payload telemetry data.

Hardware and Facilities

Manufacturing & Assembly Facilities
  • Cleanrooms (ISO 5, 7, and higher): These are environmentally controlled facilities with meticulously filtered air to prevent contamination during the assembly of sensitive satellite components, particularly optical instruments and microelectronics. We possess various classes of cleanrooms, including modular and fixed structures, to accommodate diverse stages of assembly.
Precision Machining and Fabrication Equipment:
  • • CNC machines: Computer Numerical Control machines provide high-precision cutting, drilling, and shaping of satellite structures and components from materials such as aluminum, titanium, and advanced composites.
  • • Welding and bonding equipment: This specialized equipment is used for joining exotic materials and delicate components, encompassing orbital welding systems for fluid lines and advanced composite bonding stations.
  • • Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) systems: Our industrial-grade 3D printers are capable of producing complex geometries and lightweight structures from metals and high-performance polymers, facilitating rapid prototyping and the creation of specialized components.
Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Lines:
  • • Surface mount technology (SMT) lines: These automated systems enable the precise placement of miniature electronic components onto circuit boards.
  • • Wire bonding machines: Equipment designed for creating electrical connections between microchips and their packaging.
  • • Soldering and inspection stations: Featuring advanced soldering equipment and Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) systems for rigorous quality control of electronic assemblies.
Advanced Testing & Validation Facilities
  • Thermal vacuum chambers (TVACs): These chambers simulate the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature fluctuations experienced in orbit. They are used to validate the performance and durability of our entire satellite or individual components under realistic space conditions.
Vibration and Acoustic Testing Facilities:
  • • Shaker tables (electrodynamic and servo-hydraulic): These powerful machines simulate the intense vibrations and shocks encountered during a rocket launch, essential for verifying the structural integrity and survivability of satellites.
  • • Acoustic chambers: Rooms equipped with high-power speakers to expose satellites to the extreme noise levels generated by launch vehicles.
  • • Anechoic chambers / RF test chambers: These specialized rooms are designed to absorb electromagnetic waves, creating an interference-free environment for testing satellite communication systems, antennas, and payloads. This includes:
  • • Antenna test ranges (near-field and far-field): For precisely measuring antenna radiation patterns, gain, and efficiency.
  • • Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) / Electromagnetic interference (EMI) chambers: To ensure that satellite electronics do not interfere with each other and are immune to external electromagnetic noise.
Propulsion System Test Facilities:
  • • Test chambers: Contain a highly specialized and complex environment designed to rigorously evaluate the performance, reliability, and safety of engines and thrusters across various operational conditions.
  • • Vacuum test stands: For firing thrusters in a simulated space environment and measuring thrust, specific impulse, and efficiency.
  • • Propellant handling systems: For storing and managing the necessary propellants reliably and safely.
Sensor Calibration and Test Benches:
  • • Optical benches: High-precision, vibration-isolated tables for aligning and calibrating optical instruments such as Visible, IR, and UV cameras.
  • • Magnetic helmholtz coils: For creating controlled magnetic fields to accurately calibrate magnetometers.
  • • Gravity gradiometer test stands: For calibrating gravimeters.
  • • Radio frequency shielded rooms: For testing radio spectrum receivers in an isolated environment.
Data Processing & Simulation Hardware
  • High-performance computing clusters (HPC): These powerful computer systems, equipped with specialized processors (CPUs and GPUs), are used for running complex orbital mechanics simulations, finite element analysis (FEA) for structural integrity, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for thermal modeling, and large-scale data processing for mission planning and post-mission analysis.