With LizzieSat-3 (LS-3), Sidus Space has completed bus commissioning of its next small satellite and is now preparing the payloads for continuous operation. The company positions the LizzieSat constellation as an in-orbit data and computing platform designed in particular for safety-critical applications in defense, maritime surveillance and industrial digitalization – including networked manufacturing and 3D printing.
After deployment in space, all subsystems on LS-3 were checked, the power supply, communication link and attitude control were activated, and the SpacePilot software package from CUS-GNC was subsequently uploaded. The autonomous guidance, navigation and control solution is intended to optimize orbital maneuvers and pointing.
“The complete bus-level commissioning of LizzieSat-3 represents more than bringing another spacecraft online. One of the biggest challenges in remote sensing is keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology once a satellite is in orbit. The successful integration and validation of the autonomous GNC software is a significant advancement, improving pointing accuracy to less than 30 arcseconds (approximately 0.008 degrees) to meet stringent defense and space requirements. Our software-defined mindset allows us to update existing assets on the fly and respond quickly to shifting geopolitical and commercial needs,” said Carol Craig, Founder and CEO of Sidus Space.
Like LizzieSat-1 and -2, LS-3 is also designed as a multi-mission satellite. The payloads include optical sensor systems, an AIS module for capturing vessel positions, and an onboard computing environment. Via the Orlaith AI platform and VPX-based edge hardware, sensor data is preprocessed and fused directly on board and made available for downstream applications. For distributed production chains – for example in additive manufacturing – such data streams are of interest, for instance for condition monitoring of infrastructure, logistics routes or energy supply systems on which AM production cells depend.
“This achievement demonstrates the agility and reliability of our engineering and operations teams,” said Lawrence Hollister, Chief Business Officer of Sidus Space. “Each milestone strengthens our ability to support the Department of Defense, allied sovereign partners, and commercial customers who rely on timely, accurate, and actionable data. LizzieSat-3 reflects our commitment to operational excellence and long-term value creation for shareholders.”
Chief Business Officer Lawrence Hollister points out that each successful step in the LizzieSat program strengthens the ability to provide “timely and robust data” to governmental and industrial customers. Sidus is already working on additional satellites scheduled for launch from 2026 onward. For companies that use 3D printing as a scalable production technology, this creates additional opportunities to integrate sensor data from orbit into digital process chains and thus link planning, quality assurance and maintenance more closely with additive manufacturing.
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