Atomos Nuclear and Space

Every satellite in orbit reached space via rocket launch. However, rockets can only go so far and have limited accuracies, forcing many satellites to complete the “last mile” of their journey independently. This logistics architecture has led to inefficient launch vehicle designs and requires satellites bound for higher orbits like geostationary and geosynchronous orbits (GEO/GSO) to carry up to the equivalent of their weight in additional propellant. Today’s launch architecture, originally created to launch individual payloads at infrequent cadences, is no longer the optimal logistics path in an industry launching hundreds of satellites annually, with thousands of new satellites projected for the next five years. This prevents launch costs from falling and forces over-engineering of satellites.   Space transportation is expensive. For access to GEO, the "last mile" (really, the last 20,000 miles) is at least 60% of the transportation cost.   Atomos is building a fleet of spacecraft to move satellites and other assets between orbits and to other destinations using efficient electric propulsion. Atomos will rendezvous with customer payloads in easily-accessible, affordable low orbits (nominally LEO) and deliver them to their final destinations, reducing launch costs dramatically.