WASHINGTON — York Space Systems plans to launch five missions in 2025 for commercial customers conducting classified experiments for the U.S. military, positioning itself as a bridge between commercial space capabilities and national security requirements.
The Denver-based satellite manufacturer announced March 6 it has completed pre-launch testing for its first mission of the year, Tyndal, an experimental remote sensing national security project scheduled for April launch.
These are classified projects for undisclosed defense agencies, Melanie Preisser, York’s general manager and executive vice president, told SpaceNews.
York is emphasizing how its commercial platforms can serve sensitive national security needs, she said. “We want to let the government know that they do have the capability to leverage commercial assets.”
The company will utilize its LX-class satellite platform for these missions — the same line it employs for the U.S. Space Force’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) low Earth orbit constellation managed by the Space Development Agency.
Under these commercial contracts, York is integrating customer-provided payloads, securing launch services, and handling mission operations from its Denver facility.
“We’re going to be operating four or five missions out of the operations center for different customers, all at the same time,” Preisser said. These are highly automated mission centers that don’t require a lot of personnel, she added. “Our operations center is minimally manned, typically about three operators per shift, plus reach back to subject matter experts when needed.”
The company has expanded its manufacturing capacity while maintaining production for the Space Development Agency. Preisser said the additional capacity positions York to pursue emerging opportunities, including the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile-defense initiative.
“Golden Dome is a really big opportunity,” Preisser said. The program aims to build upon the PWSA with additional capabilities, including space-based sensors and potentially space-based missiles. “The fact that we can do remote sensing and advanced fire control and those type missions makes that attractive to us.”
York, majority-owned by private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, recently completed construction of its fourth production facility in Denver, further expanding its manufacturing footprint.
“We put a lot of corporate investment into state of the art manufacturing,” Preisser said.
