Astrotech Space Operations LLC (ASO) opened its doors in 1981 as an aerospace consulting business. The company was subsequently purchased by Westinghouse and later Northrop Grumman. In 1997, ASO was acquired by SPACEHAB, which later became known as Astrotech Corporation. ASO became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin in August 2014, reporting to Lockheed Martin's Space Systems business.
Over the last 30 years, ASO has operated from two company-owned facilities in Titusville, Florida and on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Additionally, ASO designed and operated the Sea Launch Home Port payload processing facility from inception until 2011. Within these facilities, ASO has overseen satellite final assembly and checkout, solid rocket motor installation, liquid propellant loading, encapsulation, transport to launch pad, and command and control of the various satellites prior to launch.
Astrotech Space Operations LLC has supported the processing of over 350 major payloads.
