York Space Systems Expands into GEO to Support Space Domain Awareness Missions

York owns the full scope of spacecraft design, sensor integration and mission execution for Tetra 3 and 4.

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Tetra 3 and 4 missions clear Delta CDR; on track for Q4 spacecraft delivery

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- York Space Systems (York) (NYSE: YSS), a leading, US-based national defense and commercial prime providing a comprehensive suite of mission-enabling solutions, is expanding its prime integration portfolio into Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) with the U.S. Space Force’s Tetra 3 and 4 missions (referred to by York as Nemesis), a Resident Space Object (RSO) and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) demonstration supporting Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission sets. York is prime contractor on Tetra 3 and 4, delivering a fully integrated sensor suite to a national security customer the company has not previously supported in this orbital regime. The missions have cleared their Delta Critical Design Review (dCDR), the customer's formal sign-off to proceed to build, and remain on track for spacecraft delivery in the fourth quarter of this year.

U.S. Space Force’s Tetra 3 and 4 missions, referred to by York as Nemesis.

Nemesis extends York's prime integration model into GEO in support of SDA, adding a ninth unique mission set to the company’s broader portfolio of national defense capabilities. Across its portfolio, York supports missions ranging from assured communications and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to tactical warfighter support.

"Nemesis shows York can prime, integrate, and deliver against any mission our customers put in front of us, at any orbit," said Michael Lajczok, CTO of York. "That kind of range is what the national security community is asking from industry, and it's where the market is moving."

As prime contractor, York owns the full scope of spacecraft design, sensor integration, and mission execution. Under Tetra 3 and 4, York is integrating a full suite of mission sensors and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) to execute realistic on-orbit threat presentation, independent range data collection, small satellite technology risk reduction, and experimental payload hosting. Integrated payloads include a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) camera, a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor capable of ranging resident space objects at 20 kilometers, and a GEO-qualified Global Positioning System (GPS) Side Lobe Receiver.

The dCDR covered the addition of a new propulsion system required for full mission capability. York accommodated it under an accelerated schedule with no structural, thermal, or power impacts to the space vehicle, no impact to launch vehicle integration, and only minor harness and flight software updates.

"Absorbing a late-stage design change of this scope without cascading impacts is a defining requirement for prime integrators supporting national security missions," said Marc Cordova, VP of Programs at York. "Folding a new propulsion system into the baseline and clearing delta CDR on an accelerated schedule is a direct reflection of how York is architected to execute."

Tetra 3 and 4 will demonstrate capabilities that map directly to the priorities driving next-generation national security space architectures: rapid delivery, prime-level integration of complex sensor suites, and mission execution across orbital regimes. The Department of War (DoW) has signaled increased interest in SDA capabilities extending beyond low earth orbit (LEO) into medium earth orbit (MEO) and GEO. In that environment, the ability to field prime-integrated small satellite missions on accelerated timelines is becoming a defining requirement for industry partners and Tetra 3 and 4 positions York among the small number of providers demonstrating that capability at the prime level today, aligned with the SDA-focused programs shaping the DoW’s next-generation architecture priorities.

About York Space Systems

York Space Systems (NYSE: YSS) is a leading, U.S.-based national defense and commercial prime providing a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions for national security, government, and commercial customers. York is one of the only space and defense primes with proprietary hardware and software capabilities designed to address customers’ complex mission requirements across the critical elements of the entire space ecosystem throughout the mission lifecycle. York is purpose built to address evolving national security space challenges and to adapt to the ongoing shift in the U.S. government’s mission needs and procurement processes.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and we intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by, the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “emerging,” “expand,” “expect,” “feasibility,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. In particular, statements about the use and execution of our production lot, the health of our spacecraft, our growing participation in next-generation space architectures and expanding mission areas, trends in commercial and government customer demand for specific technologies or mission types, our customers’ plans, and our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects, assumptions, or future events or performance contained in this press release are forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include: any failure of our spacecraft systems and related software to operate as intended, resulting in claims for product failures, schedule delays or other problems with existing or new products; significant competition in the global space and satellite market; our failure to establish and maintain important relationships with government agencies and prime contractors; the scarcity or unavailability of critical components used to manufacture our products or used in our development programs; disruptions in U.S. government operations and funding and budgetary priorities of the U.S. government; the inability to comply with any of our contracts or meet eligibility requirements to obtain certain government contracts; and the other factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. We undertake no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of the estimates and other forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. York is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261005989692/en/

Media Contact
Sarah Nickell
Sarah.nickell@yorkspacesystems.com

Investor contact
Christopher Evenden
ir@yorkspacesystems.com

Source: York Space Systems

Key Terms

geo technical

A “geo” is a geographic market or region—such as a country, group of countries, or continent—used to describe where a company sells products, earns revenue, or operates. Investors care because different geos can have very different growth prospects, regulations, costs and risks; thinking of them like separate rooms in a house helps: problems or opportunities in one room don’t always affect the others, so knowing a company’s geo exposure clarifies where its strengths and vulnerabilities lie.

resident space object (rso) technical

An object in Earth orbit or on a trajectory through space that is tracked and cataloged by observational networks; this includes functioning satellites, defunct spacecraft, launch vehicle bodies, spent stages, and fragments of debris. The label describes an identifiable physical object used in space situational awareness and collision-risk assessments, not a legal ownership or operational-status classification.

rendezvous and proximity operations (rpo) technical

Rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) are the maneuvers and procedures by which one spacecraft approaches, matches orbits with, and operates near another spacecraft or object in space—including inspections, docking, servicing, or safe separation. Think of it like a careful car-to-car parking and handoff on a highway: it matters to investors because RPO capabilities enable markets such as satellite servicing, on-orbit repairs, logistics, debris removal and military missions, affecting revenue opportunities, technical risk and regulatory scrutiny for companies involved.

government furnished equipment (gfe) technical

Equipment, tools, or property that a government agency provides to a contractor to use while performing a government contract; the government retains ownership and the contractor is responsible for proper use, custody, maintenance, and return under the contract's terms. GFE is supplied to enable contract performance but does not transfer title to the contractor unless the contract specifically states otherwise, and its use is typically limited to the scope and duration of the contract with accountability and reporting requirements attached.

long wave infrared (lwir) technical

Long wave infrared (LWIR) is the portion of the infrared electromagnetic spectrum whose wavelengths are typically about 8 to 15 micrometres (µm); some sources use slightly narrower bands (commonly 8–14 µm or 7–14 µm). LWIR radiation is emitted as heat by objects at ordinary terrestrial temperatures, so LWIR sensors and cameras form images from thermal emission without visible light; these systems can be either cooled or uncooled detectors and are widely used for thermal imaging, night vision, temperature measurement, and gas/chemical sensing. LWIR performance is shaped by atmospheric transmission (the 'atmospheric window' in this band) and by material properties (for example, common glass blocks much LWIR), so system design and application determine the exact wavelength sub-band used.

lidar technical

Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that uses laser beams to create detailed, three-dimensional maps of the environment. It works like a sophisticated eye that measures distances by bouncing light off objects, helping machines see and understand their surroundings. For investors, lidar is important because it enables advancements in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mapping, which can drive innovation and growth in related industries.