Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies

About Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies

Exos Aerospace Systems & Technologies, Inc. is a developer of reusable space launch systems, strategically positioning itself to provide affordable and reliable access to space. Founded in 2014 by John Quinn, Phil Eaton, David Mitchell, and Russell Blink, the company emerged from the foundations of Armadillo Aerospace, a venture by video game developer John Carmack. The founding team, including several veterans from Armadillo, established Exos to advance the development of reusable commercial spacecraft, formally acquiring Armadillo's assets in 2015. Co-founder and CEO John Quinn brings experience from the US Navy's submarine service and a subsequent career in the power industry, specializing in controls and cybersecurity, which has influenced the company's focus on reusable vehicle technologies. President and co-founder David Mitchell contributes a background in business, entrepreneurship, and management, having led family businesses in oil and gas and other ventures.

The company's core business revolves around providing suborbital launch services for experimental payloads, targeting a diverse client base that includes scientific research institutions, commercial entities, educational organizations, and government agencies. Revenue is generated through several streams: payload launch campaigns, the sale of carbon composite tanks and structures, and a distinct wet lease model that allows universities and businesses to operate an Exos rocket for their own missions. This wet lease agreement includes comprehensive training and support, aiming to lower the entry barrier for organizations to conduct their own space missions. Exos serves clients such as NASA through the REDDI program, the Department of Defense for hypersonic vehicle prototyping, and universities like Purdue for research experiments.

Exos' primary product is the Suborbital Autonomous Rocket with GuidancE (SARGE), a reusable sounding rocket built upon the STIG-B platform from Armadillo Aerospace. The SARGE vehicle is designed to carry payloads of up to 50 kg to suborbital altitudes, providing valuable microgravity exposure for testing and research at a fraction of the cost of orbital flights. A key feature is its reusability; the same vehicle has been launched on multiple occasions, demonstrating the potential for rapid and cost-effective turnaround times. The company is one of only three in the U.S. with an FAA license for reusable rocket launches. Strategically, Exos acquired an 18% stake in Scorpius Space Launch Company, with an option to purchase the remainder, to enhance its vertical integration and in-house manufacturing capabilities, particularly for advanced Type 5 carbon composite tanks.