LEO Aries
Apex
LEO Aries is a highly-configurable, mid-size LEO satellite platform with proven flight heritage, designed for a wide range of missions including remote sensing and communications.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Payload capacity
- 150 kg
- Power
- 175 W
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- Payload mass
- Up to 150 KG
- Payload mass (SpaceX Rideshare)
- 100 kg
- Payload oap (base power EOL (5 yrs.))
- 175+ W
- First flight (In Orbit)
- 2024
- Payload oap (Base Configuration Package)
- Up to 115 OAP
- Delta-v (Base Configuration Package)
- Up to 800m/s
About
LEO Aries is a flight-proven, highly-configurable, mid-size Low Earth Orbit (LEO) platform. It is currently in serial production at Factory One in Los Angeles, with flight units being delivered to customers monthly. The platform offers multiple power, GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), and propulsion configurations to meet diverse mission requirements. It is suitable for remote sensing, communications missions, and rapidly deployable demonstrations. For remote sensing, it can be tailored with precision GNC and propulsion options. For rapid response missions, Apex’s inventory approach allows customers to leverage configurable Aries buses already in stock. Aries also provides an adaptable architecture, making it an ideal platform for rapidly testing, validating, and advancing new space technologies. The platform supports a payload mass of up to 150 kg, with a specific mention of 100 kg for SpaceX Rideshare. It provides 175+ W of payload orbit average power (OAP) at End of Life (EOL) over 5 years. The first flight was in 2024. The platform is part of Apex’s small satellite bus products, ranging from 100 to 500 kg, available in a base model or with easily-swappable configuration packages. The payload OAP is listed as End of Life (EOL) and assumes a 550km circular sun-synchronous orbit with sun-tracking for the duration of the orbit. Communications data rates listed are peak data rates. Propulsion prices do not include propellant. Launch Vehicle Integration (LVI) pricing assumes Apex’s standard service and a US-based launch vehicle. Available payload volume and masses shown assume a Falcon 9 Rideshare envelope. The base configuration package offers up to 115 OAP, communications with peak data rates, and a Delta-v up to 800m/s, assuming standard ESPA volume. Payload Orbit Average Power (OAP) means average power available to the payload during an orbit, quoted at End of Life (EOL) and true for any orbit within the nominal orbit range, assuming a yaw-steering sun tracking attitude leveraging the single-axis SADAs. Communications data rates are listed for 95-percentile atmospheric conditions and 98-percentile worst-earth location. Listed available Payload Volume assumes a SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Plate XL.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.