Aurora Avionics secures TASA rocket contract

Above: The Aurora Avionics team.
Courtesy Aurora Avionics

The deal will see Edinburgh-based Aurora Avionics supply avionics technology to support TASA’s ongoing sounding rocket development, with Aurora’s modular systems initially being deployed as part of a testing and evaluation phase.
 
Successful delivery is expected to create opportunities for further orders and longer-term collaboration between the two organisations and signals a growing international demand for Scotland’s space sector expertise.
 
Aurora Avionics develops advanced avionics systems, effectively the nervous system of a rocket, which act as the electronic control and communications backbone for spacecraft operating in extreme environments.
 
Its modular avionics systems are designed to help reduce cost and complexity for launch providers, supporting faster and more accessible routes to space across a range of mission types.
 
Myles Bax, Commercial Lead at Aurora Avionics, said the agreement reflected increasing international interest in specialist Scottish space technology expertise.
 
He said: “Signing our first Asia-Pacific customer is a major milestone for the business and an important moment for us as we continue to grow internationally.
 
“The work with TASA demonstrates there is strong global demand for reliable, adaptable avionics systems developed here in Scotland. We see significant opportunity across the Asia-Pacific region as we continue to scale the business.
 
“Taiwan is making major long-term investments in strategic technologies and space capability, so it is an incredibly exciting market for us to enter. There is a strong alignment between the type of advanced engineering expertise being developed there and the specialist avionics systems we are building at Aurora Avionics.”
 
The agreement with TASA comes at a time of significant investment in Taiwan’s space sector. TASA, which was formally restructured in 2023, is leading the country’s civilian satellite and launch vehicle development programme, with ambitions spanning low Earth orbit communications, remote sensing technologies and long-term autonomous launch capabilities.
 
Taiwan’s wider national strategy is focused on strengthening its global position across advanced technologies including semiconductors, information technology and precision manufacturing, with long-term investment in space infrastructure forming part of that ambition.
 
Industry analysts have identified the region as a growing opportunity for deep technology and aerospace businesses looking to expand internationally and Aurora Avionics deep tech expertise and specialist avionics capability are well aligned with the needs of the rapidly growing market.

Above: (left to right) Rowland Fraser and Oren Smith-Carpenter, co-founders of Aurora Avionics.
Courtesy Aurora Avionics
 
Oren Smith-Carpenter, co-founder of Aurora Avionics, said the partnership had been a key target for the company.
 
He said: “TASA has been an organisation we have wanted to work with for some time. Their team is highly respected internationally, and the projects they are developing are incredibly exciting.
 
“We have focused on building avionics systems that combine reliability, flexibility and performance in demanding operating environments. That approach is resonating with launch companies and space agencies internationally, and this agreement is an important next step for the business.”
 
The deal adds an Asia-Pacific dimension to Aurora Avionics’ customer base, which until now has primarily focused on Europe. Scotland’s space sector has increasingly been recognised as a leading European hub for satellite and launch technology, with Scottish companies now looking beyond Europe for future growth opportunities.
 
Since launching in 2023, Aurora Avionics has signed commercial deals with leading European launch vehicle and spacecraft developers including ATMOS Space Cargo and Pangea Propulson.



Above: Taiwan Space Agency aims to launch an orbital rocket by 2034. The image shows a 12 scale model displayed at a TASTI event in December 2024.
Courtesy TASA

With the TASA agreement now in place, Aurora Avionics sees significant long-term potential across the Asia-Pacific region as demand grows for specialist deep technology expertise within the global space sector.