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VANGUARD SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC

Aerospace · Acquired by SolAero Technologies (2016)

Deployable thin-film solar array system combining flexible solar panels with composite boom mechanisms for compact stowage and high specific power generation

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Updated · vst-inc.com

Sector
Aerospace
Total capital
$23.1M
Federal grants
$150K
1 award · 2015
Rank in peer group#14 of 187
Private capital raised
None on recordNo Form D filings on SEC EDGAR. Some raises are not filed.
Federal contracts
$22.9M
47 awards · Defense, NASA
Rank in Aerospace#138 of 1335
Granted patents
2
1 pending · first 2018
Rank in peer group#34 of 187

Capital timeline

200420062008201020122014FEDERAL ↑EQUITY ↓Cumulative $23.1M2004: $2.1M across 3 contracts$2.1M2007: $1.5M across 3 contracts2008: $2.2M across 4 contracts$2.2M2009: $4M across 7 contracts$4M2010: $4.6M across 8 contracts$4.6M2011: $1.5M across 2 contracts2012: $2M across 5 contracts$2M2013: $731K across 4 contracts2014: $4.3M across 9 contracts$4.3M2015: $150K across 1 grant · $27K across 1 contract
200420062008201020122014FEDERAL ↑EQUITY ↓Cumulative $23.1M2004: $2.1M across 3 contracts2007: $1.5M across 3 contracts2008: $2.2M across 4 contracts$2.2M2009: $4M across 7 contracts$4M2010: $4.6M across 8 contracts$4.6M2011: $1.5M across 2 contracts2012: $2M across 5 contracts2013: $731K across 4 contracts2014: $4.3M across 9 contracts$4.3M2015: $150K across 1 grant · $27K across 1 contract

Latest events

  • Federal grantDefense · Phase I · Advanced Solar Array for Dual Launch GPS$150K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf The Shields 1 Cubesat Missions Are Sponsored NASA Langley Research Center, Research Directorate, Advanced Materials And Processing Branch Technology Development Efforts To Increase The Technology Readiness Levels Trl Of Radiation Shielding, Charge Dissipation Coatings, And Electronics Through Spaceflight Heritage. The Recipients Electrostatic Discharge Esd Clean Solar Panels Esdcps Will Power These Two Planned Missions For Polar Low Earth Orbit Leo Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2015 Or 1ST$27K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf High Power Solar Arrays With Capabilities OF>100KW Are Needed For Projected NASA Missions. Photovoltaic Arrays Using Deployable Membranes With Thin Cells Have Trended To Higher Efficiency Cells To Minimize Deployed Area And Deployment Structure Mass And Complexity, However, The Cost Of High Efficiency Cells Make These Arrays Prohibitively Expensive. Amorphous Cells That Are In Production For Terrestrial Application Have $/watt Cost Less Than 10% Of Space Cells, At About The Half The$124K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Flexible Photovoltaic Array Technologies Require Very Thin And Precisely Controlled Deposition Of The Polymeric Films Used To Fabricate Them. In Most Flexible Blanket Architectures, Optically Transparent Silicones Are Utilized In The Fabrication Of The Arrays, However Due To Their Rheology And Processing Conditions There Are Limitations To How Thin They Can Be Applied. In This Proposal, Vanguard Proposes Thin And Automated Blanket Lamination And Encapsulation Systems (tables) That U$125K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Spacecraft For NASA, DOD And Commercial Missions Need Higher Power, Higher Voltage, And Much Lower Cost Solar Arrays To Enable A Variety Of Very High Power Missions. Power For These Missions Is Envisioned To Reach From 30KW-300KW In The Near Term And To 1MW In The Future. Conventional Solar Arrays Are Simply Not Up To The Challenge For Many Reasons. High Efficiency, Space-qualified Solar Cells Are In Themselves COSTLY,>$250/WATT, And There Is Considerable Additional Cost Associated $125K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf This Project Proposes To Develop/demonstrate Higher Strength, Low Print-through, Low Mass, Discrete Core Joint Design And Analysis Method For Large, Lightweight, Thermally-stable, Composite Sub-mm Reflectors. Two Smls Reflector Demonstrators Delivered By Vanguard To Jpl Were Optimized For Thermal Stability And Specific Stiffness. The Full Aperture Was Divided Into Three Zones Where Core Slots Are Aligned Approximately Perpendicular To The Reflector Skin. This Approach Was Defined An$125K
  • Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf "synchronized Modular Integrated Deployable Array (P-DOD12-003)"$740K
Show 40 earlier federal awards
  • Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Ald-enhanced Durability Of Lightweight Co-cured Solar Array Panels, Phase II$750K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Spacecraft For NASA, DOD And Commercial Missions Need Higher Power Than Ever Before, With Lower Mass, Compact Stowage, And Lower Cost. While High Efficiency, Space-qualified Solar Cells Are In Themselves Costly, Integrating Them Into A High Performance Photovoltaic Assembly (pva) Using Conventional Glassing, Interconnecting, Stringing, Tiling And Laydown Techniques Can Double Their Cost In $/watt. The Cost Of Solar Power Could Be Significantly Reduced If The Design Of The Photovolt$721K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Existing And Proposed Missions With Ambitious Science Goals Demand Ever Larger Primary Mirrors Which, In Turn, Require The Development Of New Light-weight, Low-cost Mirror Technologies. For Phase 2, Vanguard Space Technologies (vst) Proposes To Deliver A 2.5 Meter, Composite, On-axis, Telescope By Building Upon The Success Of The Phase I Effort. The Telescope Wil Be Suitable For Use On The Super Blast-pol Mission. Vst Proposes Building Upon The Success And Leveraging The Lessons L$1.4M
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIRSOL2013.3$149K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Phase III SBIR Contract For 25 Cm Composite Optical Reflector Centered On The Vertex Of The Primary Parabolic Reflector. This Iroc Mirror Will Be Fabricated By Precision Optical Replication Using High-modulus Graphite-fiber-reinforced Composite Materials Or Equivalent Technology. Specific Phase 1 Tasks Include: 1. Perform An Engineering Study To Minimize Substrate Aerial Density And Optimize Stiffness. 2. Replicate A Minimum Of Four Flat Sandwich Coupons. The Results Of The F$257K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf The Phase I Objective Is To Develop A Preliminary Design And Manufacturing Plan For Carbon Fiber Composite Reflectors And/or A Carbon Fiber Telescope That Are Traceable To The Requirements Of Current And Future Cmb Missions. The Phase II Objectives Are To Complete The Design And Manufacturing Planning, Fabricate Necessary Tooling, Manufacture Hardware Components That Include Two Reflector Support Structures, Integrate And Align The Reflectors And Confirm Telescope Optical Performan$200K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf NASA Needs Lower Cost Solar Arrays With High Performance For A Variety Of Missions. While High Efficiency, Space-qualified Solar Cells Are In Themselves COSTLY,>$250/WATT, There Is Considerable Additional Cost Associated With The Parts And Labor Needed To Integrate The Photovoltaic Assembly. The Standard Approach Has Evolved With Only Minor Changes, Sacrificing Cost Because Of Risk Aversion. Integration Cost Can Be As Much As Double The Bare Cell Cost I.E.>$500/WATT. Dramatic Cost S$124K
  • Federal contractDefense · Igf::ot::igf Ald-enhanced Durability Of Lightweight Co-cured Solar Array Panels$150K
  • Federal contractDefense · Solar Panel$181K
  • Federal contractDefense · Synchronized Modular Integrated Deployables Array$150K
  • Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Other Function - Thin, Flexible, And Highly Efficient Solar Arrays Are Needed That Package Compactly For Launch And Deploy Into Large, Structurally Stable High Power Generators. Inverted Metamorphic Multi-junction (imm) Solar Cells Can Enable These Arrays, Offering Higher Efficiencies OF>33% And Lower Mass And Flexibility, But Integration Challenges Of This Thin Crystalline Cell Technology Need Solution. The Thin Hybrid Interconnected Solar-array (thins) Technology Allows Robust A$750K
  • Federal contractNASA · This Project Proposes To Develop An Occulter Optical Edge And Optical Edge Measurement Verification System Suitable For Astrophysics Missions Including Jwst And The Occulting Ozone Observatory (O3). The Optical Edge Has Tight Cross-section Requirements In Order To Produce The Correct Diffraction As Light Passes Over The Edge. It Is Also Of Importance Is The Optical Edge Profile Tolerance. This Requires Precision Machining And That The Optical Edge Be Thermally Stable. Key Technical Challenges Li$125K
  • Federal contractDefense · Flexible Covershield For Thin Film Solar Arrays$750K
  • Federal contractDefense · High Efficiency Modular Solar Array$1.4M
  • Federal contractNASA · Inverted Metamorphic (imm) Solar Cells Have Achieved High Efficiency At Very Low Mass, But Integration Of The Thin Crystalline Photovoltaic Device Into A Flexible Panel Has Been A Challenge. The Objectives Of This SBIR Are To Mechanically Package The Imm Cell Into A Flexible Laminated Panel, And To Assemble Modular Building Blocks Of These Panels Into A Deployable Array Structure. The Thin Module Development Includes Optimizing Multifunctional Materials For The Substrate And Superstrate To Provi$100K
  • Federal contractDefense · Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)$100K
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase III -task Order 0004$2.2M
  • Federal contractDefense · Army SBIR Ph II Contract$730K
  • Federal contractDefense · Interior Design Services$70K
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR I$100K
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR II- Flexible Solar Array Blanket Technolog$749K
  • Federal contractNASA · Future NASA Missions Including The Cornell Caltech Atacama Telescope (ccat) And Global Atmospheric Composition Mission (gacm), Require 1 To 4 Meter Aperture, Submillimeter-wavelength, Primary Reflector (mirror) Segments. Astigmatic Surface Errors In A Composite Primary Reflector And Inconsistent Radius Of Curvature In Composite Reflector Segments Limit Application Of Composites To Instruments. This Project Proposes To Improve Upon State-of-the-art Passive Reflector Surface Accuracy By Characteri$600K
  • Federal contractDefense · Army SBIR Ph I Optio$40K
  • Federal contractDefense · Innovative Composite Structural Concepts For Deep-winged Large Transports (PVSC08-068)$750K
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II Research And Development.$729K
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase III (task Order 0003)$1.7M
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase II$500K
  • Federal contractDefense · Dr Tech SBIR I$100K
  • Federal contractNASA · This SBIR Program Will Identify And Address The Primary Technical Issues That Limit The Current Precision Of Replicated Cfrp Optics. These Issues Must Be Resolved To Bring This Capability To The Sub-micron Range Of Precision Required By The Next Generation Of Flight And Ground Submillimeter And Far Infrared Projects. Were These Issues Resolved, This Capability Would Provide Reduced Cost And Risk And Improved Areal Density, Thermal Stability, And Stiffness To The Large Sub-micron Optics Required $100K
  • Federal contractNASA · Affordable, Precision Reflector Mold Technology (PDRT08-029) Advances In Replication Mold Technology That Reduce Material Costs, Grinding Time, And Polishing Time Would Enable Fabrication Of Large, Precision Molds And Possibly Optics At 50-75% Lower Cost. Mold Cost Savings Could Be Applied To Other Aspects Of A Telescope Mission's Technology Development And Demonstration Efforts To Reduce Large Aperture Far Infrared Telescope Areal Density And Improve Optical Technical Performance.$100K
  • Federal contractDefense · Army SBIR Phase I$70K
  • Federal contractDefense · 3-D X-ray Study$800K
  • Federal contractDefense · Basic Effort SBIR Phase II Award$1.2M
  • Federal contractDefense · SBIR Phase 1 Basic Effort$100K
  • Federal contractNASA · Modular Distributed Concentrator For Solar Furnace Sap Purchase Requisition: 4200228268$600K
  • Federal contractNASA · Lightweight Thermally Stable Multi-meter Aperture Submillimeter Reflectors Sap Purchase Requisition: 4200228341$750K
  • Federal contractNASA · SBIR Phase III Award For The Electromagnetically Clean Solar Array Technology Readiness Development. The Objective Of This Program Is To Increase The Technology Readiness Level (trl) Of The Electromagnetically Clean Solar Array Concept That Was Developed In A NASA Phase 1 SBIR To Trl 4. This Program Shall Target Achievement Of Trl 6 Prototype Panel Tested In Relevant Environments, By Completing The Critical Design Of A Solar Panel And Testing Material Coupons And Modular Panels To A Variety Of$200K
  • Federal contractDefense · 200412!000824!5700!GS05 !det 8 Afrl/pk (supports Vs) !FA945304C0313 !a!n! !y! ! !20040915!20061211!928223494!928223494!838266369!N!VANGUARD Composites Group Inc !5550 Oberlin Drive, Suite !san Diego !CA!92121!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000748496!N!N!000000748496!AC25!RDTE/MISSILE And Space Systems-eng/manuf Devel !A2 !missile And Space Systems !caa !mda Support !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$748K
  • Federal contractDefense · 200412!002495!2100!W9113M!USA Space And Strategic Def Cdr !W9113M04C0068 !a!n! !n! ! !20040902!20050301!928223494!928223494!838266369!N!VANGUARD Composites Group Inc !5550 Oberlin Drive, Suite !san Diego !CA!92121!21082!073!06!EAST San Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000045000!N!N!000000000000!AC23!RDTE/MISSILE And Space Systems-adv Tech Dev !A2 !missile And Space Systems !caa !mda Support !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$606K
  • Federal contractDefense · 200411!000671!5700!GS05 !det 8 Afrl/pk (supports Vs) !FA945304C0021 !a!n! !y! ! !20040729!20061010!928223494!928223494!838266369!N!VANGUARD Composites Group Inc !5550 Oberlin Drive, Suite !san Diego !CA!92121!66000!073!06!SAN Diego !san Diego !CALIFORNIA!+000000375000!N!N!000000743249!AC25!RDTE/MISSILE And Space Systems-eng/manuf Devel !A2 !missile And Space Systems !caa !mda Support !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999$743K

Federal awards are summed by year (47 awards); hover a bar for the split. Form D reports securities sold, which can differ from an announced round; filings are numbered in the order they were made.

1 record has no date or no amount, so it isn’t placed on the timeline.

Standing among 187 peers

Line = median

Aerospace · Device

  • Federal grants#14 · top 7%
  • Granted patents#34 · top 18%
  • Linked publications#1 · top 1%

Cumulative measures favor older companies. Rankings describe position today, not outcome. Below the median, ranks show as a band rather than a number.

Founders and team

No founders are linked to this company yet.

Founders appear once a person is matched to the company through its own patents, grants or filings. We never infer people from social profiles.

Checked: USPTO inventors; federal award principal investigators; SEC Form D related persons · Oct 23, 2026

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What it has protected

USPTO · 2 granted of 3

Recent research by its founders

  • Encapsulated photovoltaic blankets and modules for deployable solar arrays20150 cites
  • Low cost automated manufacture of high specific power photovoltaic solar arrays for space20142 cites
  • Laminated solar panels for space using multi-cell transparent covers20132 cites

Related companies, and why

Regulatory activity · Aerospace

Sector-level, not company-level

Rules are matched to sector, not to company. Recent activity in a sector is context rather than a signal about this business — until rules are matched to what a company actually builds, the section is shown as context and nothing more.

Sources

Federal grants from SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF and DoD records. Federal contracts from USAspending.gov. Private capital from SEC Form D. Patents from USPTO. Publications from OpenAlex. Regulatory activity from the Federal Register. Press matched on company name.

How to read this page

Figures show associations in public records, not causes or predictions. Nothing here is investment advice. An em-dash means no record was found under this company's name, not that none exists.

Data freshness

SEC Form D filings through . SBIR and STTR awards through .