Hadrian and Fortastra Put Additive Manufacturing Inside Satellite Design

Fortastra and Hadrian signed a memorandum of understanding to fold manufacturing directly into how satellites are designed.

Fortastra builds spacecraft for national security and commercial missions. Hadrian operates advanced manufacturing facilities and now runs a dedicated additive business. Under the agreement, Hadrian will sit alongside Fortastra engineers before the design locks, not after.

The goal is to find where additive manufacturing, precision machining, and other processes can cut weight and cost from satellite structures. The companies will evaluate metal and polymer 3D printing, directed energy deposition, binder jetting, CNC, EDM, laser cutting, cold spray, friction stir welding, and composite manufacturing.

Mike Smayda, CEO of Fortastra, said the partnership is about delivering capability faster. "This partnership with Hadrian brings world-class manufacturing expertise directly into our engineering process, positioning us to pursue funded prototype efforts that validate advanced manufacturing's impact on satellite development for national security missions."

The collaboration comes as satellite demand climbs and launch costs drop, making it possible to build more spacecraft in less time. The two companies say they will share data on how parts perform in space, with the aim of convincing regulators that additively manufactured components are safe for flight.