ION Satellite Carrier is D-Orbit's orbital transfer vehicle for deploying and hosting small satellites in low Earth orbit.
ION Satellite Carrier is D-Orbit's orbital transfer vehicle product line, designed to carry hosted payloads and deploy small satellites into their operational orbits after rideshare launch to low Earth orbit. It combines last-mile orbital transportation with in-orbit demonstration and hosted-payload services.
Marketed to satellite operators and payload owners, ION competes directly with other commercial orbital transfer vehicles and in-space transportation services that move satellites from their drop-off orbit to final destination.
| Attribute | ION Satellite Carrier | Caravan, Helios, Mira | Elytra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | |  |  | |
| Founded | 2011 | 2021 | 2017 | |
| Sells To | B2B, Enterprise, Government | Enterprise | Enterprise | |
| Pricing Model | Enterprise Contract, Services | Transactional | Transactional | |
| Ownership | Private | Venture-backed | Venture-backed |
Provider
Founded 2011
Sells To B2B, Enterprise, Government
Pricing Model Enterprise Contract, Services
Ownership Private
Provider
Founded 2021
Sells To Enterprise
Pricing Model Transactional
Ownership Venture-backed
Provider
Founded 2017
Sells To Enterprise
Pricing Model Transactional
Ownership Venture-backed
Spacevan is Exotrail's electric-propulsion orbital transfer vehicle for smallsat last-mile deployment.
Orbital Utility Satellite is Pillar Space's reusable LEO host that docks customer payloads and supplies spacecraft services.
OpenOrbit manages tailored satellite missions for government and commercial payload owners from design through disposal.
One-stop satellite launch support from vehicle consultation and selection through integration, launch, and deployment.
Loft Orbital's shared satellite mission service flies customer payloads on its standardized platforms.
Space Service delivers complete satellite missions for payload owners, combining spacecraft provision, integration, launch coordination and in-orbit operations.
Electron is a small-lift orbital launch vehicle designed for dedicated small satellite missions.
Ambassador is Terran Orbital's ESPA-Grande rideshare platform supporting payloads up to 200 kg.
Mission Extension Vehicle is Northrop Grumman's satellite life-extension servicer that docks with client spacecraft to extend their operational life.
Spacevan is Exotrail's electric-propulsion orbital transfer vehicle for smallsat last-mile deployment.
Orbital Utility Satellite is Pillar Space's reusable LEO host that docks customer payloads and supplies spacecraft services.
OpenOrbit manages tailored satellite missions for government and commercial payload owners from design through disposal.
One-stop satellite launch support from vehicle consultation and selection through integration, launch, and deployment.
Loft Orbital's shared satellite mission service flies customer payloads on its standardized platforms.
Space Service delivers complete satellite missions for payload owners, combining spacecraft provision, integration, launch coordination and in-orbit operations.
Vigoride is Momentus' orbital transfer vehicle using water-plasma propulsion to transport and deploy satellites in orbit.
CarryAll is Outpost's reusable orbital return platform, which returns payloads from 100 to 10,000 kilograms in three vehicle classes.
Electron is a small-lift orbital launch vehicle designed for dedicated small satellite missions.
Ambassador is Terran Orbital's ESPA-Grande rideshare platform supporting payloads up to 200 kg.
Mission Extension Vehicle is Northrop Grumman's satellite life-extension servicer that docks with client spacecraft to extend their operational life.
