Denver: In a move set to transform the national security and commercial space communications landscape, York Space Systems’ parent company has announced its agreement to acquire ATLAS Space Operations, a trailblazer in Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) for satellite communications. This strategic acquisition is poised to elevate York Space Systems’ position as a fully integrated provider of cutting-edge space solutions, enabling faster, smarter, and more resilient mission delivery from space to ground.
York Space Systems, a defense technology leader acclaimed for revolutionizing how the United States designs, builds, and operates space-based capabilities, will gain access to ATLAS’s powerful software-driven ground architecture. This acquisition will empower York to simplify satellite operations, break down integration barriers, and significantly increase space-to-ground communication resilience.
Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York, remarked, “ATLAS has built one of the most sophisticated and secure ground communications platforms in the industry. This acquisition will enhance York’s ability to deliver mission-ready systems on the timelines our customers demand while supporting the broader space ecosystem with best-in-class ground solutions.”
ATLAS will maintain operational independence, continuing to serve its diverse governmental and commercial clientele under its established brand while playing a pivotal role in York’s advanced defense initiatives.
Founded in 2015, ATLAS Space Operations has rapidly become an industry front-runner by providing cloud-native, secure satellite connectivity through its Freedom® software platform. Unique as the sole GSaaS provider headquartered in the United States, ATLAS manages a global network comprising over 50 antennas spread across more than 20 countries.
The Freedom platform offers a single API that abstracts satellite communications complexity, enabling:
- Real-time tasking and automated scheduling
- Seamless cloud-based mission data delivery
- Flexible, scalable access to a federated global network-of-networks
This innovative approach transfers the heavy lifting from hardware to software, reducing operational costs, lowering risks, and accelerating the time to orbit and mission readiness for a wide array of customers across government and commercial sectors.
Corey Geer, CEO of ATLAS, shared, “York shares our vision for a future where space systems are faster, smarter, and seamlessly integrated. Together, we are building the infrastructure to meet that future head-on — reducing risk, increasing resilience, and enabling critical data delivery on demand.”
ATLAS’s ground communications capabilities will be instrumental in York Space Systems’ Golden Dome architecture—a sophisticated, next-generation defense solution designed to unify spacecraft, software, and ground operations to deliver comprehensive capabilities across contested environments.
This architecture aims to provide full-spectrum defense, leveraging a proliferated constellation of satellites integrated tightly with resilient ground networks to ensure mission success amid evolving global security challenges.
Together, York’s high-performance spacecraft and software-defined operations, combined with ATLAS’s proven ground platform, will:
- Enhance end-to-end mission delivery and resilience
- Accelerate system deployment timelines
- Improve real-time data transfer from space to ground
- Enable autonomous and adaptive operations for both commercial and national security missions
The acquisition, which is subject to FCC approval and customary closing conditions, solidifies York Space Systems’ leadership in the rapidly growing small satellite and space mission services market. York is recognized for its innovative approach that blends high-rate manufacturing with systems-level integration, delivering high-value, scalable space solutions swiftly.
York currently supports critical national security programs, including contracts with the U.S. Space Force and the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, producing hundreds of satellites to meet urgent defense needs.
ATLAS’s dynamic and scalable ground network management through Freedom® aligns perfectly with York’s mission to optimize space-based defense architectures and commercial space operations.
York Space Systems is a premier defense technology company committed to transforming how national security space capabilities are developed and operated. The company delivers fully integrated, mission-ready spacecraft and operations solutions characterized by speed, agility, and exceptional value. York’s innovations empower a smarter, faster, and more adaptive defense posture for the United States by combining cutting-edge spacecraft engineering, software-defined operations, and autonomous ground capabilities.
ATLAS Space Operations stands as the leading provider of Ground Software as a Service in the space communications industry. The company’s Freedom® software platform offers unmatched cloud-native satellite operations, real-time global antenna access, automated scheduling, and secure mission data handling. ATLAS’s commitment to innovation and excellence continues to redefine satellite ground operations, providing critical infrastructure for government and commercial users worldwide.
This acquisition marks a significant step forward in integrating ground and space operations to meet the growing demands of national security and commercial space endeavors, positioning York Space Systems to lead the next wave of space mission delivery innovation.
