ABOVE - Providing More Space in Space
ABOVE provides a thoughtful path to more space in space for commercial organizations and governments, so they can benefit from new, critical on-orbit platforms and realize the promise of a thriving space-based economy.
We provide more space in Space™
Space is infinite. So is the opportunity it offers. ABOVE: Space Development Corporation is creating a future fleet of commercial platforms scaling to planned space stations deployed on orbit, in cislunar space, and throughout the solar system — enabling humanity to live, work, play, and profit in space. How? First, by drawing upon six decades of humankind’s knowledge and experience in space flight, as well as the commercial off-the-shelf components developed in those efforts. Second, by assembling a core team with a proven heritage of multiple space flight achievements — a collective 150 years of missions, designs, science, and entrepreneurial spirit. And third, when necessary, or economically advantageous, by developing our own proprietary applications technologies. The goal: More space in space.
ABOVE SERVICES
Left: ABOVE technician testing flight hardware.
Right: MISSE platform on ISS, operated by Aegis Aerospace. Image courtesy NASA
Hosted Payload and Data Services
Leverage our state-of-the-art satellite buses equipped with the latest in space technology, on-orbit code testing, and our bundled services for missions to the ISS.
We assist you from mission concept through flight, serving a wide range of applications. Your payload reaches its destination not just safely, but prepared for success.
ABOVE Mission Ready Consulting™
Transition from concept to mission operations seamlessly with ABOVE Space's Mission Ready consulting services. Our experts guide you every step of the way, ensuring your venture into space is clear, straightforward, and profitable.
We are here to guide you from concept to results.
ABOVE PROGRAMS
Prometheus
A fleet of free-flying on-orbit platforms offering code testing, on-orbit AI, data services, imaging, and hardware validation.
Archimedes
Large rapidly deployable orbital platforms for applications such as on-orbit energy beaming, solar power, communications. Recognized by DARPA and the DoD.
The Future
Much of what we do is designed to improve our odds as a space-faring species.
Team
Rhonda Stevenson — CEO, President
Space industry leader, technology visionary and hands-on manager are just some of the attributes of Above: Space Development Corp. CEO and president Rhonda Stevenson. With more than 20 years of business leadership and entrepreneurial experience in aerospace and other industries, Stevenson is currently one of the few women CEOs of a revenue-generating space company.
She leads a team with over 100 years of space heritage, space technology development and mission planning. Using her entrepreneurial skills, Stevenson is focused on developing and commercializing ABOVE proprietary technology, systems and industry partnerships to create more space in Space as customers demand for low earth orbit facilities increases. ABOVE is designing and developing adaptive, versatile space architectures for commercial customers and the U.S. Department of Defense. She joined ABOVE in 2021, refocusing and rebranding Orbital Assembly, after initially being appointed to the executive advisory board to drive sustainable, gravity capable, commercial innovation in the space habitation and construction industry.
Already, during her brief tenure, she has leveraged her industry connections to build an initial customer base as well as successfully compete for SBIR contracts which will advance commercialization of several rapidly deployable technologies for low earth orbit platforms. ...
Stevenson is a sought-after industry speaker ... She has also been asked by the U.S. government ... heads the non-profit organization, Tau Zero Foundation ...
In 2013, Stevenson founded Blue Elysium Enterprises which provided strategic executive consulting to technology companies.
Stevenson is pursuing an M.B.A. and has studied aerospace science at Metropolitan State College.
Dr. Tom Spilker — CTO, Vice Chair of Board — Decades of space-flight mission experience at NASA, JPL and ABOVE.
Few executives in the space industry today have the depth of experience and space heritage as Dr. Tom Spilker, co-founder of Above: Space Development Corporation (ABOVE).
Dr. Tom Spilker, a co-founder of ABOVE: Space Development Corporation (ABOVE), leads the space systems architecture and design developments for several projects, including Prometheus as well as the Pioneer and Voyager Space Stations.
His experience is a significant asset to ABOVE, which is focused on developing more space in Space with proprietary technologies and commercial, off-the-shelf solutions (COTS) that can be deployed in low earth orbit.
Prior to joining ABOVE, Dr. Spilker worked as an independent consultant on planetary and solar system science investigations, space flight mission architectures, and provided high-level feasibility assessments and spacecraft system engineering for scientific space flight missions.
He served as both a scientist and engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for more than 20 years, including a decade as a Principal Space Flight Mission Architect. Dr. Spilker worked on NASA's Voyager, Cassini, and Genesis missions, and was a co-Investigator for the microwave instrument on the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to a comet.
He also was involved in space flight mission architecture and system engineering; mission formulation and planning; and high-level space flight mission systems design and analysis.
Dr. Spilker earned an M.S.E.E and Ph.D.E.E. from Stanford University, working with the Voyager Radio Science Team, and a dual Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in Geophysics and Computer Science, from Kansas State University.
Robert Miyake — Senior Thermal Engineer, Director — More than 60 years of experience in aerospace and space operations.
After 60 years in space and aerospace operations, Robert Miyake was excited to extend his unparalleled space heritage and join Above: Space Development Corporation as senior thermal engineer and director.
Miyake spent over 30 years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he was lead thermal systems and systems engineer, working on design, test, and flight operations of spacecraft and flight instruments. He has built many thermal components including MLI blankets and incredibly complex solar thermal systems Solar Probe enabling approach within four solar radii.
While there, he worked on NASA missions including SeaSat, Topex MGS, IAE, WF/PC, and other flight instruments.
Prior to joining JPL in 1978, he worked at Lockheed Missile and Space Company on commercial and military aircraft. He began his career at Boeing, where he worked on many projects, including the 727 aircraft.
Miyake completed graduate studies in mathematics, bioengineering, system engineering and computer science, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a thermal/fluids and nuclear emphasis at San Jose State College.
Career Mission Highlights
- Air Force Spacecraft: Supported multiple classified orbital flight systems to LEO, MEO, and GSO. Thermal system lead, providing input to the spacecraft system design to support test and flight for flight systems and earth entry systems.
- SeaSat: Demonstrated microwave oceanographic remote sensing. Lead thermal systems engineer for the thermal design, with critical support to the integrated flight system design. Served as thermal lead during in-space mission operations.
- Mars Global Surveyor: Mapped, provided vital data about the Martian surface, atmosphere, climate. Thermal system lead, input for spacecraft system designs, input to support test and flight operations.