Founded in 2018, Aerospacelab is a startup satellite manufacturer that has successfully deployed eight satellites in orbit.
Today, the company held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its “Megafactory” in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. The facility could become Europe’s largest satellite factory after it begins production in 2026.
The company’s plant will be able to produce up to 500 satellites, from 150 kg to 1 ton in size, per year. The facility will have 7,000 square meters of production space and 4,000 square meters of cleanroom. The company says it will be the third-largest satellite factory in the world.
According to CEO and Founder Benoît Deper, the facility will help meet the demand for large constellations from commercial and government customers.
Aerospacelab announced the factory in 2022 and has spent the last couple of years finalizing design plans and permits and mobilizing suppliers and contractors.
The company launched its first satellite in 2021 aboard the SpaceX Transporter-2 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket.
Aerospacelab also has offices in Palo Alto, California, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Toulouse, France.