WASHINGTON — York Space Systems announced July 18 that its parent company is acquiring Atlas Space Operations, a move aimed at bolstering the vertically integrated capabilities of the satellite manufacturer and giving it direct access to a global communications ground network.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction is pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission, which must sign off on mergers involving holders of satellite communications licenses such as Atlas.
The acquisition brings together two key pieces of the satellite value chain: York, a Denver-based spacecraft manufacturer known for delivering small satellites, and Atlas, a Michigan-based ground segment provider whose network and software platform serve a broad cross-section of space customers.
Atlas will continue to operate independently under its current brand, a move intended to preserve its existing customer base and allow it to pursue new business beyond York. “York shares our vision for a future where space systems are faster, smarter, and seamlessly integrated,” said Atlas CEO Corey Geer.
Founded in 2015, Atlas is known for its Freedom platform, a software-defined ground communications solution that shifts complexity from hardware to cloud-based APIs. The system connects a global network of over 50 antennas across more than 20 countries, many through partnerships with Viasat and Amazon. This federated approach allows satellite operators to tap into idle ground station capacity on demand.
Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems, said the addition of Atlas enhances York’s ability to deliver “mission-ready systems on the timelines our customers demand while continuing to support the broader space ecosystem with best-in-class ground solutions.”
By combining spacecraft production and the ground communications layer, York and Atlas would seek to streamline the customer experience — a value proposition aimed at defense and intelligence agencies requiring secure and rapidly deployable space systems.
For York, the move deepens its push into end-to-end space infrastructure and turnkey services for commercial and government customers. AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in York Space Systems in late 2022.
Atlas last year raised $15 million in a round led by Luxembourg-based NewSpace Capital and has raised $50 million to date. The company’s Freedom Space Technologies subsidiary is working with defense contractor Omni Federal on a ground system supporting U.S. Space Force missile-warning satellites.