October 14, 2025
Shield Space And Astron Team Up For Space Defence Capability, Present at NATO RSM
By Astron Systems
Shield Space and Astron Systems have announced agreements for the first launches of Shield’s Orbital Sentinel spacecraft targeting 2029. This also kicks of a wider collaboration between the two teams to co-develop a responsive launch concept enabling 72-hour orbital tasking from the UK. The two companies also jointly presented the concept last week at the NATO Research Specialists Meeting (RSM) in Bath focusing on dual-use space technologies to outline their vision for the future of space security.
Shield Space are a UK company focused on providing critical security capability to watch and defend from space-borne threats using their autonomous inspection satellites. The company’s founders, Graeme Ritchie and Dan Molland, come from the UK’s MOD and identified a strong need for improving the UK and her allies ability to secure the peaceful use of space.
By working with Astron Systems, a UK company leading the way globally in bringing 100% rocket reusability to small lift rocket launch services, the two companies want to build a globally leading but also very affordable defence capability for the UK, Europe, and NATO allies. Unlike with today’s small rockets, through the reuse of all vehicle hardware, Astron’s model of operating a fleet of 100% reusable vehicles promises to dramatically reduce the cost of operating dedicated launches to orbit. Further, by eliminating manufacturing bottlenecks, they promise to greatly improve the availability of launch services and the speed at which missions can be planned and sent into orbit. Shield and Astron intend to eventually be able to provide a launch capability that can be tasked within 72 hours in response to identified potential threats, with reusable rocket hardware that can then be rapidly made ready to launch again for the next mission.
Proposed UK tactically responsive capability architecture
On this agreement Eddie Brown, CEO of Astron Systems said: “If you can’t defend and secure access to the area of space above your country, then you no longer have sovereignty. With space being the ultimate high ground and malicious actors becoming ever more sophisticated, having European and UK capability to secure the peaceful use of space is no longer optional.
By combining the high availability and affordable short notice launch capability of our fleet of 100% reusable small rockets with Shield’s platform for RPO and inspection missions we’re giving the UK and allies critical defence capabilities at an affordable price. We’re excited to support this mission to improve UK, European, and NATO resilience in the space domain.”
Harshbir Sangha MBE, Director of Missions & Capabilities, UK Space Agency, said:
“The UK is home to an innovative space ecosystem that not only support high quality jobs and economic growth but also makes the UK a valued ally and international partner of choice.
Partnerships, like the one announced at the recent NATO Research Specialists’ Meeting on Dual-Use Technology, demonstrate that the UK space sector has the ambition to deliver the national security capabilities needed to secure the space domain for the UK, Europe and NATO.”
Astron Systems are an award winning UK company leading developing small-lift class 100% reusable rockets for dramatically more affordable, responsive, flexible, and net-zero carbon capable orbital launch and return of small payloads. Astron Systems is backed by prominent investors including Techstars Space and SFC Capital, and partners with some of the best in the industry.