Pathfinder flights provide rapid, low-cost access to stratospheric, space-representative conditions, enabling research teams, robotics developers, and commercial groups to qualify hardware months or years before full orbital deployment.
The newly secured missions include an ESIS QUT-hosted defence payload on Pathfinder 2 and a robotics experiment from Mexx Engineering on Pathfinder 3.
The early uptake reflects strong market demand.
“By the end of 2027, our goal is to prove that flying with Orbit2Orbit saves companies millions compared to bespoke, single-use satellite missions,” said Orbit2Orbit founder Bradley Hatton-Jones who was recently recognised with SAICA’s South African in Australia Award for Innovation.
Hatton-Jones said discussions are already underway for 2027 flight slots.
“We’re speaking with groups planning two years ahead, so we’re exploring how to increase hosted-payload cadence now,” he said.
The modules flown on Pathfinder, including structure elements, interfaces, power systems, and Orbit2Orbit’s custom flight computer, are the same technologies that will transition into the company’s reusable Mission 0 and Mission 1 orbital vehicles.
Each mission acts as a fast maintenance and qualification cycle, mirroring the company’s long-term operational model.
Orbit2Orbit also confirmed rising interest from defence groups seeking flight access for sensing, autonomy and test-and-evaluation payloads.
“Reusable logistics supports both commercial and sovereign capability needs. Pathfinder gives defence a way to iterate without waiting for rare orbital windows,” Hatton-Jones said.
With commercial momentum building, early defence engagement and Pathfinder now demonstrating core technology in flight, the company confirmed that the message from industry is clear: a reusable logistics layer for space is not optional but inevitable.