In the competitive landscape of small satellite launchers, Astron Systems has taken a fundamentally different path aiming for 100% reusability.
Founded in 2021 and based at the UK’s Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, this New Space start-up is developing Aurora, a two-stage launch vehicle designed to deliver 360 kg payloads to low-Earth orbit with complete reusabilityโa bold ambition that addresses both economic and environmental challenges facing the industry.
The vehicle’s design centers on the principle that rocket reusability should encompass the entire system, not just select components. This approach targets the fundamental cost drivers (of which the engines account for half the cost of the rocket) that have historically limited small launcher competitiveness. CEO Eddie Brown emphasizes the system’s role in delivering “dramatically more affordable, flexible, and fast launch services.”
Aurora’s technical foundation reflects a sophisticated integration of advanced propulsion systems based on methane-oxygen hybrid expander electric cycle engines with high lifetimes and reduced refurbishment requirements. The company’s heat shield technology builds upon the European Space Rider program, incorporating a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) aeroshell outer layer combined with specialized insulating blankets. This heritage provides Aurora with proven thermal protection systems adapted for repeated atmospheric entry cycles.
Recovery and precision landing capabilities emerge from an integrated approach combining aerodynamic control surfaces and guided descent systems. Fins positioned at the vehicle’s rear provide active pitch control during re-entry, managing the descent trajectory through the upper atmosphere. Once atmospheric conditions allow, Aurora deploys a steerable parafoil system that enables precise landing site targetingโessential for operational reusability.
The company successfully completed the European Space Agency – ESA BIC UK incubation program, which provided critical validation for its propulsion systems while securing essential co-funding for prototype development. Astron then participated in the Techstars Space Accelerator in 2024, a program backed by the U.S. Space Force and NASA JPL. This transatlantic validation provided the company with credibility while demonstrating the universal appeal of its reusability approach.
Astron Systems represents one of the UK’s most ambitious entries into the global launch market. The company’s focus on complete reusability establishes a framework for sustainable space access while at the same time potentially providing the most cost-efficient solution.
Astron Systems’ Pursuit of Complete Launch Vehicle Reusability
