Exos Aerospace

EXOS Aerospace Systems & Technologies, Inc

Company type	Privately held
Industry	Aerospace
Predecessor	Armadillo Aerospace
Founded	2014
Headquarters	Greenville, Texas
Key people	David Mitchell – PresidentTemplate:BrJohn Quinn – CEOTemplate:BrRussell Blink – CTO
Products	Rocket vehicles
Revenue	Not disclosed
Number of employees	12 (2020)
Website	www.exosaero.com

Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies is an aerospace manufacturer situated in Caddo Mills, Texas, specializing in the development of reusable launch systems designed for uncrewed orbital space missions.

History

The foundation of Exos Aerospace draws upon both the technology and team members originating from Armadillo Aerospace, a company established by video game developer John Carmack. Armadillo Aerospace participated in the Ansari X Prize competition and created suborbital spacecraft before ceasing operations in 2013 following a rocket accident. Subsequently, Carmack sought external funding to revive the enterprise.

Established in May 2014 by former Armadillo personnel, Exos Aerospace carries forward the commercial reusable spacecraft vision. Initial activities commenced at the previous Armadillo facility located in Caddo Mills, and by 2015, Exos had acquired Armadillo’s assets.

Operations

Exos Aerospace concentrates on suborbital research rockets with objectives including microsatellite deployment and progressing toward autonomous spaceflight capabilities. The company is advancing the SARGE series of suborbital vehicles. Its Greenville, Texas site manages all aspects of rocket design, manufacturing, assembly, storage, and testing. Rocket engines producing thrusts up to 5,000 lbf undergo testing at this location. Additionally, Exos serves as a NASA REDDI provider and is pursuing qualification as a NASA IDIQ provider within the Flight Opportunities program.

SARGE

The SARGE (Suborbital Autonomous Rocket with GuidancE), also referred to as SARGE M1, is a suborbital rocket initially developed by Armadillo Aerospace as part of its lunar lander initiative, utilizing the STIG-B rocket architecture. Propelled by a LOX-ethanol engine cluster from the LE23000FC series, it delivers approximately 5,500 pounds of thrust. This reusable sounding rocket features a 20-inch diameter fuselage and stands 36 feet tall. Attitude control is achieved through helium cold gas thrusters managing pitch, roll, and yaw. Payloads must conform to a cylindrical volume measuring 20 inches in diameter by 36 inches in height and weigh no more than 50 kilograms. Exos Aerospace envisions evolving this platform into a reusable first-stage launch vehicle capable of placing 100 kilograms into low Earth orbit.

Designed with reusability as a core principle, SARGE had not reached suborbital altitudes successfully as of October 2019 but completed four launches between 2018 and 2019 demonstrating vehicle reuse. Operating from Spaceport America in New Mexico, Exos Aerospace was granted an FAA Reusable Vehicle Mission Launch License on February 14, 2018.

Launches

First

The maiden Pathfinder Mission on August 25, 2018, was cut short due to a malfunctioning GPS receiver, achieving an altitude of only 28 kilometers instead of the intended 80 kilometers.

Second

On March 2, 2019, the second launch attained an altitude of about 20 kilometers influenced by wind conditions and carried multiple small-scale research payloads.

Third

The third flight on June 29, 2019, ended prematurely seconds after liftoff due to loss of control; however, the vehicle was recovered intact. This mission transported educational and scientific payloads from nine clients, including biomedical experiments from the Mayo Clinic and dust aggregation research from the University of Central Florida. The condition of recovered payloads remains uncertain but is presumed intact.

Fourth

During its fourth flight on October 26, 2019, SARGE experienced several failures: loss of attitude control shortly after launch, partial disintegration of the vehicle, and separation from the drogue parachute. Unlike prior missions, it crashed near the launch pad at high velocity after reaching only approximately 12.6 kilometers altitude—far below the planned minimum of 80 kilometers. This flight also carried several small research payloads.

Exos Aerospace attributed this fourth mission’s failure to structural deficiencies and intends to construct a second SARGE vehicle to resume flight activities since all four launches between 2018 and 2019 utilized a single rocket.