SAN FRANCISCO — Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies announced an agreement Nov. 26 to manufacture satellites and components for D-Orbit USA.
D-Orbit USA, formed by Italian space logistics company D-Orbit, selected Spectrum, a subsidiary of Ocutrx Technologies, because “high-reliability manufacturing is instrumental to our success,” D-Orbit USA CEO Mike Cassidy said in a statement.
Spectrum, founded in 1997 to specialize in high-reliability electronics, plans to manufacture printed circuit board assemblies, manufacture harnesses and perform final assembly of D-Orbit USA satellite buses in a new 700-square-meter facility.
“To do the level of assembly that we’re going to do with D-Orbit takes an ISO 8 class 100,000 clean room, which we’re now designing and renovating,” Spectrum CEO Jeff Gilbert told SpaceNews. “Our focus will be on D-Orbit in the beginning. As the business model matures, we would be looking at add capacity.”
Originally, Spectrum acquired its new facility to produce medical devices. Medical devices and satellites require similar clean rooms.
Prior to the partnership with D-Orbit, Spectrum was looking to expand its space business.
“Spectrum and D-Orbit share the same values of dedication to our customers, commitment to a high quality of excellence, and relentless pursuit in pushing innovation forward,” Gilbert said in a statement. Our partnership is a natural fit and we are happy to dedicate a large portion of manufacturing space for them. We look forward to growing together and making a lasting impact on the burgeoning satellite industry.”
D-Orbit, founded in 2011, has conducted 14 transportation missions with its ION satellite carrier, hosted 48 payloads and deployed 105 satellites.
“We are thrilled to have Spectrum as our manufacturing partner,” Cassidy said. “The Spectrum team has been a longtime leader in the production of never-fail satellite electronics and assemblies, which makes us proud to partner together to meet the needs of our customers.”
