Stellar Exploration: Based in the EU with a parent company in the USA

We are a small aerospace company spanning both the EU (Prague, CZ) and USA. We have a decades long history in executing ambitious while inexpensive space projects on two continents.

Energy Management

The power supply and management on your spacecraft is safely handled by our team.


Spacecraft Propulsion

We deliver the best quality, performance and reliability in bipropellant and monopropellant propulsion systems for demanding missions.

We Are Hiring

We always need creative & versatile engineers for our office in Prague

Feel free to send your CV to hr@stellar-exploration.eu


Mission Design & Execution

We have experience in designing and managing missions from idea to spaceflight


Hiring / Koho hledáme

Looking for creative passionate engineers for our development lab in Prague.

Hledáme české ruce a technické mozky do pobočky americké kosmické firmy Stellar Exploration Inc.

Junior Space Engineer(s)

Engineers of various specialties are wanted for an EU branch of a small U.S. aerospace company which is being established in Prague.

We are looking for enthusiastic creative people with these engineering skills:

  • electronics

  • mechanical

  • RF analog engineering

  • software

  • 3D design and printing

  • ... or any other art which can help our hardware go to space.

The best candidates will be versatile — With deep excellence at their speciality but also flexible with broad interdisciplinary understanding of multiple technologies. After all, every satellite is inherently a complex assembly of electronics, mechanisms, software operating in challenging physical environment. It is also essential that candidates are comfortable moving between conceptual design, detailed engineering, hardware fabrication and system testing of actual spacefaring components ("český kutil” is the perfect model). In our view, diversity of engineering experience is essential to develop capable and well-rounded engineering talent.

The job: You may work remotely with the US team or locally on EU projects. You should expect to be able to travel on business and occasionally spend a few weeks with the US team in California.

The process:

After initial shortlisting you will go through several interviews (mostly video) including a psychological evaluation which will assess your abilities and your match with current project needs.

Remote work is a realistic option.

Energy Management

Microsatellite Battery with High Power Capability: Affordable Solution with Proven Reliability


  • This combination of performance and reliability at affordable price is achieved by deliberate adoption of selected industrial state-of-the-art power technologies (to support specific missions requirements) AND rigorous qualification test program

  • Reliable satellite power systems require robust fault detection and reset/recovery architecture, assuring satellite survival even in presence of multiple faults and unexpected contingencies. This implementation must be validated through extensive testing

  • COTS li-ion cells provide high peak power capability (~500 W/kg), suitable for mission like SAR

  • Multi-year mission lifetime can be achieved with careful control of cells charge and discharge. Integrated hardware provide control of charging, discharging, cell balancing and power distribution

  • Over 20 units launched (more delivered, now in the system integration pipeline)

Download Power Datasheet in PDF

Propulsion for Small Satellites

Affordable, practical, near-term solution for agile space missions requiring high-thrust maneuvers

  • For missions with demanding propulsion requirements (>1 km/sec)

  • Pump-fed hypergolic bipropellant (hydrazine and NTO)

  • Proven propellants with predictable properties, assured long-life reliability, and well-understood handling requirements

  • Isp >285 sec

  • Propellant mass fraction ~70% (configuration dependent)

  • Propellant pump is enabling technology for launch safety approval (no stored gas) and system performance (efficient lightweight tanks)

  • Cubesat/ESPA-compatible scalable tanks maximize system ∆V (efficient volume utilization is essential for secondary launches)

  • Single or multiple thruster configurations for 3-axis control

Download Propulsion datasheet in PDF

Mission Design & Execution

Payload-centric design is the core of our systems engineering process, resulting in mission-specific system configuration relying on standard components

  • Satellite functionality is driven by payload requirements

  • Payload 10–100 W (OAP), with peak power ~5 kW

  • Attitude control < arc min (mission dependent)

  • Data processing uses embedded Linux and modern software tools, development environment, and libraries

  • Telecommunications interface with major existing ground networks using COTS SDR hardware/software

  • System configuration matched to Cubesat/ESPA standards to provide frequent and flexible space launch access

  • Rapid delivery often matters more than low-cost. Our goal is repeatable system delivery in one year

  • Eliminate unnecessary constraints from rigid bus classes (Standard buses commonly fail to deliver cost savings)

    • Suffering from accelerating components obsolescence

    • Inability to incorporate rapid improvements & lessons

    • Mismatch between mission requirements & capability

Stellar core capabilities

  • Payload-driven systems engineering process

  • Established processes for development and I&T

  • Proven suppliers of standard components (focus on items with steep learning curve)

  • Experience-based mission assurance processes (careful balance between heritage vs ad hoc approach)

Mission success is often determined by project intangibles — ‘under the hood’ matters more than specific satellite configuration

Once committed, then streamlined set of processes is strictly enforced