ONDO Space

ONDO Space is Mongolia's first space startup, founded to expand the country's capabilities in satellite technology and earth observation. The company develops and operates the ONDOSAT-OWL series of 0.5U CubeSats, small enough to be deployed from the ISS Kibo module via the J-SSOD system. ONDO Space's first satellite, BIRDS-5 / ONDOSAT-OWL-1, was developed through JAXA's BIRDS multinational CubeSat program and successfully launched in 2022.

ONDO Space's core commercial offering combines satellite operations experience with mission-driven applications for Mongolia's unique geography and economic context. The company's IoT livestock tracking service leverages satellite connectivity to monitor free-ranging herds across Mongolia's vast steppe terrain — a pressing practical problem given that 60% of Mongolia's land is used for herding with millions of animals moving over territory where terrestrial cellular coverage is unavailable.

Beyond Mongolia-focused applications, ONDO Space provides ground station as a service for other satellite operators, leveraging its UHF/VHF ground station infrastructure. The company also offers co-launch rideshare coordination for nanosatellite customers, drawing on its experience with the BIRDS program and established relationships with launch brokers. In January 2025, ONDO Space signed an MOU with Japan's ispace Inc. for lunar mission collaboration, signaling ambitions that extend beyond LEO.

ONDO Space operates at the intersection of space technology development and Mongolia's national ambitions in the new space sector, with support from international partners including JAXA and Kyushu University.