Saber Astronautics

Saber Astronautics is a space operations and software company with Australian and United States operations. Its Australian business is headquartered in Chippendale, New South Wales, while the United States business is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company operates through two separately incorporated entities, Saber Astronautics Australia Pty Ltd and Saber Astronautics, LLC. The business originated in Boulder in 2007 as a research and development startup and expanded to Sydney in 2008. Its stated purpose was to lower barriers to participation in spaceflight and support what it described as the democratisation of space. Early work combined spacecraft design, contracted engineering, and machine-learning-based diagnostics for satellite and system-of-systems applications. The company demonstrated its diagnostic technology using data from NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer space-weather satellite in 2012. Saber subsequently developed software for spacecraft command, control, and mission operations. Its Predictive Interactive Ground-station Interface, commonly known as PIGI, entered the space-operations software market in 2012 and was used in live operations for Southern Stars' SkyCube mission in 2014. The company also pursued hardware and research projects, including an electrodynamic deorbit tether intended to help remove small satellites from orbit. Saber was accepted into NASA's Flight Opportunities Program for that work, with parabolic-flight testing taking place in 2015 and 2016. A major part of the company's later activity has involved defence and national-security space operations. Since 2017, Saber has supplied Space Cockpit software to the United States Space Force. The company also contributed civilian space operators to the Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell Pacific from 2020. From 2020 through 2022 it led Sprint Advanced Concepts Training wargames for the Pacific timezone; in 2023, the New Zealand Defence Force was selected to assume the lead role. These activities placed Saber at the intersection of commercial space operations, military space situational awareness, and operational experimentation. In Australia, Saber received a Space Infrastructure Fund grant from the Australian Space Agency in 2020 to establish an operations centre in Adelaide. The facility opened in 2022 at Lot 14, near the Australian Space Agency, and includes an operations centre and concurrent design facility. The company also maintains a responsive space operations centre in Boulder. In March 2026, it announced the opening of a research and development facility in Chippendale, Sydney. Saber's product portfolio includes PIGI for satellite command and control, the defence-oriented Space Cockpit Battle Management System, and the Mission Management Board, a collaborative interface for space operators. In 2026, the company announced WINDU, an artificial-intelligence-enabled system designed to automate parts of space-domain-awareness workflows. WINDU had received United States Space Force funding and was integrated into the company's Space Cockpit Battle Management System platform. Saber also announced a controlled demonstration of satellite-link jamming through the SBMS Singularity platform at the 2026 Space Symposium, presenting the software as an interface for coordinating multiple mission effects, including electronic-warfare actions. The company has also undertaken public-facing and experimental projects. In partnership with Australian brewer 4 Pines Brewing Company, it worked on a beer intended to be drinkable in microgravity. The original crowdsourcing effort did not meet its funding target, but the project continued with internal funding and underwent repeated parabolic-flight testing. In commercial satellite operations, Saber won a 2022 contract to support launch tracking and in-orbit operations for AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 prototype and continued supporting later Block 1 and Block 2 missions. Saber's positioning is therefore built around software-defined, responsive, and commercially accessible space operations. Rather than operating primarily as a launch provider or satellite manufacturer, it supplies mission-control technology, operational services, analysis, training, and experimentation for government, defence, and commercial space users.

Saber Astronautics was established in Boulder, Colorado, in 2007 as a research and development startup. It expanded to Sydney, New South Wales, in 2008. From the beginning, the company presented its mission as reducing barriers to spaceflight and broadening access to space capabilities. Its initial technical work included spacecraft design performed under contract and machine-learning diagnostics for satellites and larger systems of systems. In 2010, Saber developed diagnostic software intended to identify spacecraft-system problems. The technology was demonstrated using NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer space-weather satellite in 2012, marking an early application of the company's analytical approach to operational spacecraft data. Saber entered the space-operations software market in 2012 with the Predictive Interactive Ground-station Interface, or PIGI. The product was designed for satellite command and control and was first used in live operations during Southern Stars' SkyCube mission in 2014. Alongside software development, Saber pursued experimental space technologies. In 2013 it was accepted into NASA's Flight Opportunities Program for an electrodynamic tether intended to deorbit CubeSats. The tether underwent parabolic-flight testing in 2015 and 2016. The company increasingly developed defence and national-security applications. Since 2017 it has supplied Space Cockpit software to the United States Space Force. The platform became part of the company's broader space battle-management offering. In 2020, Saber provided civilian space operators to the Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell Pacific. Between 2020 and 2022, it led Sprint Advanced Concepts Training wargames for the Pacific timezone. The New Zealand Defence Force was selected to assume the lead in 2023. Saber also expanded its Australian infrastructure. The Australian Space Agency awarded the company a Space Infrastructure Fund grant in 2020 to build an operations centre in Adelaide. The resulting facility opened in 2022 at Lot 14, near the agency's headquarters, and combined office, operations, and concurrent-design functions. The company's Australian expansion was complemented by its existing Boulder operations centre in the United States. On 4 March 2026, Saber opened a research and development site in Chippendale, Sydney. Commercial spacecraft operations became another important activity. In 2022, Saber won a contract to support launch tracking and in-orbit operations for AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite, a prototype designed to test space-to-ground mobile-phone connectivity. Saber continued to support AST SpaceMobile's subsequent Block 1 and Block 2 missions. The company has maintained a public profile through unusual technology-demonstration projects. In 2010, it partnered with 4 Pines Brewing Company on beer intended to be drinkable in space. A crowdsourcing campaign did not reach its target, but the work continued through internal funding and involved repeated parabolic-flight tests. The resulting Nitro Stout remained available from 4 Pines in an ordinary bottle. Saber's broader public-policy role was reflected in the activities of founder Jason Held. In 2016, Held was assigned to lead a taskforce advocating the creation of an Australian space agency. The taskforce submitted its report in late 2017. In 2018, Held joined a government-appointed expert reference group involved in designing the Australian Space Agency, which was established in 2019. He has also remained associated with the agency's Space Industry Leaders Forum. In 2025 and 2026, Saber extended its software and operational focus into artificial intelligence and electronic warfare. WINDU received United States Space Force funding in 2025 and was announced publicly in April 2026 as an AI-enabled system for automating space-domain-awareness workflows within Space Cockpit. In the same month, the company announced a controlled demonstration of satellite jamming through the SBMS Singularity platform. Saber described Singularity as an extension of its Space Battle Management System for coordinating multiple mission effects through a unified interface. These developments illustrate the company's evolution from a small research-and-development startup into a provider of commercial, civil, and defence-oriented space operations technology.

• 2026

  Sydney R&D facility and new operational technologies

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber opened a Chippendale R&D facility and announced WINDU and an SBMS Singularity jamming demonstration.

• 2022

  Adelaide centre opens and AST SpaceMobile contract begins

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber opened its Adelaide operations centre and won work supporting launch tracking and in-orbit operations for BlueWalker 3.

• 2020

  Adelaide infrastructure grant and JCO Pacific partnership

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber received Australian Space Agency infrastructure funding and became a partner of the Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell Pacific.

• 2017

  Space Cockpit supplied to the United States Space Force

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber began supplying its Space Cockpit software to the United States Space Force.

• 2014

  First live PIGI mission use

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  PIGI was first used in live operations for Southern Stars' SkyCube mission.

• 2013

  NASA Flight Opportunities selection

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  NASA selected Saber for Flight Opportunities work involving an electrodynamic tether for CubeSat deorbiting.

• 2012

  PIGI enters the space-operations market

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber introduced the Predictive Interactive Ground-station Interface for satellite command and control.

• 2010

  Satellite diagnostics and space-beer project

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber worked on machine-learning diagnostics for satellites and began its partnership with 4 Pines Brewing Company on a microgravity-drinkable beer.

• 2008

  Sydney expansion

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded its operations to Sydney, New South Wales.

• 2007

  Boulder establishment

  [1]Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org

  Saber Astronautics was established as a research and development startup in Boulder, Colorado.

A dual-country space operations and software specialist focused on lowering barriers to spaceflight, improving satellite mission control, and providing responsive space-domain-awareness and defence capabilities.

• Satellite command and control software · 2012

  Predictive Interactive Ground-station Interface (PIGI)

  PIGI is Saber Astronautics' satellite command-and-control software. It entered the space-operations software market in 2012 and was used in live operations for the SkyCube mission in 2014. The product reflects Saber's focus on making spacecraft operations more accessible and operationally efficient.

• Defence and space battle-management software · 2017

  Space Cockpit Battle Management System (SBMS)

  SBMS is a defence-focused software platform for satellite command, control, and space battle management. Saber has supplied Space Cockpit software to the United States Space Force since 2017. The platform has also served as the integration environment for newer capabilities such as WINDU.

• Space effects coordination software · 2026

  SBMS Singularity

  Singularity is described as an extension of Saber's Space Battle Management System that allows operators to coordinate multiple mission effects through a unified software interface. In 2026, Saber demonstrated the platform in a controlled environment using an authorised satellite-link jamming capability.

• Mission-management collaboration software

  Mission Management Board (MMB)

  The Mission Management Board is a collaborative communication and coordination tool intended for space operators. It forms part of Saber's software portfolio alongside satellite command-and-control and battle-management products.

• Artificial-intelligence-enabled space-domain-awareness software · 2026

  WINDU

  WINDU is an AI-enabled system designed to automate workflows associated with space-domain awareness. It received United States Space Force funding in 2025 and was integrated into Saber's Space Cockpit Battle Management System before its public announcement in 2026.

• 2020Sprint Advanced Concepts Training Pacific

  Pacific region

  Saber led space-related wargames and advanced-concepts training for the Pacific timezone from 2020 through 2022.

  Outcome. The New Zealand Defence Force was selected to take over the lead role in 2023.

  Source
• 2010Space-drinkable beer project

  Australia

  Saber partnered with 4 Pines Brewing Company to develop beer that could be consumed in microgravity. A crowdsourcing campaign did not reach its investment goal, but the project continued through internal funding and underwent parabolic-flight testing.

  Outcome. The Nitro Stout project continued as an experimental and promotional initiative; the beer was sold by 4 Pines in a conventional bottle.

  Source

• 2026

  Introduce WINDU and demonstrate SBMS SingularityProduct launch

  Background

  Saber was expanding its Space Cockpit platform toward automated space-domain awareness and coordinated mission effects.

  Action taken

  The company announced WINDU as an AI-enabled workflow-automation system and demonstrated satellite-link jamming through the SBMS Singularity platform in a controlled environment.

  Aftermath

  The announcements highlighted Saber's movement into AI-assisted space operations and electronic-warfare coordination.

  WINDU funding. US$1.2 million in United States Space Force funding (2025)

  Source

• 2022

  Expand into AST SpaceMobile mission operationsStrategy

  Background

  AST SpaceMobile required launch tracking and in-orbit operational support for BlueWalker 3, a prototype for space-to-ground mobile-phone connectivity.

  Action taken

  Saber won the contract to conduct launch tracking and in-orbit operations for BlueWalker 3 and continued supporting later Block 1 and Block 2 missions.

  Aftermath

  The work expanded Saber's role in commercial satellite mission operations.

  Source

• 2020

  Build an Adelaide responsive space operations centreStrategy

  Background

  Saber sought to expand its Australian infrastructure and support civil and commercial space operations from a location close to the Australian Space Agency.

  Action taken

  The company accepted a Space Infrastructure Fund grant and developed an operations centre and concurrent design facility at Lot 14 in Adelaide.

  Aftermath

  The Adelaide facility opened in 2022.

  Source

1. 1Saber Astronauticsen.wikipedia.org