ABOUT AST
Qualification Complete & Next Generation
Second generation High-Pressure Valves (Gen2) qualified, including test of more than 1,000,000 cycles (and continuing) in blow-down from 310 bar to 3 bar
HP-FCU 2.0 successfully qualified for Krypton at 310 bar and first flight hardware delivered
Delivery of “low-actuation-noise 7mN-Cold-Gas Thruster” for a science mission
Start of High-Pressure Regulator Evolution Program (EPR 3.0) to adapt to high-flow applications
Participation at IEPC 2025 in London, presenting development roadmap on EPR and results of HP-FCU 2.0 qualification
Serial Production & New Developments
Continuous production of Xenon Flow Controller for various customers
First HP-FCU 2.0 flight hardware delivered (Xenon application)
Start of valve upgrade development for continuous operation for Krypton 310 bar
Start of development for “low-actuation-noise 7mN-Cold-Gas Thruster”
Start of development of “Low-Pressure Storage and Feed System” for a new-space customer
Participation at SPC 2024 in Glasgow and IEPC 2024 in Toulouse
Technology Expansion & Qualification Prep
First qualification models of HP-FCU 2.0 produced, environmental tests done and performance confirmed
Development of HP-CGT completed, and results presented at ESA ESTEC
Start of multiple development and implementation projects for HP-FCU, EPR and LP-FCU
Start of multiple valve endurance tests under various operational conditions to validate reliability and failure mechanisms
Next Generation Propulsion Development
Continued production of Xenon Flow System 1.0 for OneWeb Constellation
Start of HP-FCU delta qualification for Krypton applications
Development start for a high-pressure cold gas thruster
Institutional Mission Expansion
Relaunch of series production and delivery of flight hardware for OneWeb mega-constellation in LEO orbit
Development activities for ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter as part of the Mars Sample Return program
Resilience And Process Optimization
Continuation of flight hardware production for OneWeb
Enforced product developments and manufacturing process improvements through the Covid-19 pandemic situation
Entering Serial Production
Start of AST’s series production for OneWeb satellites
Launch of OneWeb pilot satellites
Scaling Production Infrastructure
Move from Stuhr to Osterholz-Scharmbeck
Installation at the new site with 5,400 sqm offices, labs and production area
ISO 8 cleanroom readiness and laminar flow boxes of ISO 5
First Mission Launch
Launch of the Formosat 5 mission with an AST cold gas thruster
Pressure Regulation Capability
EM electronic pressure regulator is up and running
First Commercial Components
First high-pressure components become available, including particle filters, pressure sensors and valves
Expanding The Product Portfolio
Development of cold gas thrusters for FORMOSAT 5
High-pressure components and electronic pressure regulator projects initiated
FCU testing continues on subsystem level
Technology Validation
µFCU performs environmental tests and reaches TRL 5
Relocation To Bremen Region
AST moves to a new site at Stuhr near Bremen
SMF Technology Development
Development of a miniaturized flow-control unit starts with support from the European Commission FP7 program
The foundation for AST’s SMD [Surface Mount Devices, now Surface Mount Fluidics] technology is born
The Beginning
AST Advanced Space Technologies GmbH is founded by Dr. Harmann
The first office is located in Lindau, Lake Constance