Our History

• • February 2025

    Sphinx Mission Prepares for Launch

    In February 2025, the Sphinx payload was integrated with the SpaceX Transporter-13 launch vehicle in preparation for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

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• • July 2024

    Spinnaker Reaches TRL-8

    In July 2024, Spinnaker completed environmental testing, including vibration testing to SmallSat GEVS standards and thermal cycling.

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• • September 2023

    Vestigo Aerospace Awarded Phase II-S SBIR

    From September 2023 to March 2025, Vestigo Aerospace received a supplement for the Phase II SBIR, working to develop the Sphinx flight demonstration mission.

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• • September 2022

    Vestigo Aerospace Awarded Phase II-E SBIR

    From September 2022 until September 2023, Vestigo Aerospace worked on an extension to the Phase II SBIR, with a focus on establishing the commercial manufacturing process for the Spinnaker product line.

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• • August 2022

    Vestigo Aerospace Raises Venture Capital

    On August 16, 2022, Vestigo Aerospace received $375K in venture capital funding from the asset-management firm, Manhattan West. Vestigo was also awarded an extention to Phase II SBIR for a matching $375K.

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• • September 2021

    Spinnaker3 Prototype Launch on Firefly Alpha

    On September 3, 2021, Firefly Alpha was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. One of its payloads was a Spinnaker3 prototype, developed at Purdue University. An anomaly occured resulting in the termination of the launch vehicle, and it failed to reach orbit.

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• • June 2020

    Vestigo Aerospace Awarded Phase II SBIR

    Starting on June 11, 2020, Vestigo Aerospace conducted a 24-month development period for additional modeling, development of prototype units, and environmental testing, ultimately establishing TRL 6.

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• • August 2019

    Vestigo Aerospace Awarded Phase I SBIR

    Starting on August 19, 2019, Vestigo Aerospace conducted a 6-month study to investigate the safe disposal of spacecraft through the use of aerodynamically stable dragsails.

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• • January 2019

    Formation of Vestigo Aerospace

    Inspired by the success of the LightSail program, David Spencer founded Vestigo Aerospace to advance scalable dragsail technology for the end of mission deorbit of space vehicles.

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