Sidereal Logistics — Mission Brief

University & Research Programs · Mission Brief

We handle
the complexity.
You fly the mission.

Space logistics and regulatory compliance, fully managed — so your research program stays focused on what it was built to do.

✦ Founding Client Program OpenUniversity Programs

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The Problem

The science is the hard part.
The compliance shouldn't be.

University research programs are building remarkable things. But getting a payload to orbit requires navigating a regulatory process that most teams were never trained for — pulling researchers away from the work that matters.

Time

12–18 Months

Typical FCC and NOAA compliance timelines when navigated without expertise, delaying mission windows.

Expertise

Outside Core Skills

EAR/ITAR, frequency coordination, launch manifests — none of it is what your team was hired to know.

Risk

Grant Exposure

Compliance failures or launch delays can directly impact grant reporting windows and funding continuity.

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Why It's Hard

It's not one problem.
It's five at once.

FCC / NOAA Licensing

Frequency coordination and remote sensing permits require specific technical filings most teams have never touched.

Export Control

EAR and ITAR classifications determine what can be shared, with whom, and under what conditions — before launch ever happens.

Launch Provider Access

Rideshare manifests, interface documentation, and qualification requirements vary by provider and aren't publicly documented.

Payload Integration

Mechanical, thermal, and electrical interface requirements must be met precisely — documentation errors cause costly delays.

Timeline Coordination

Every element above has its own timeline that must align with launch windows, academic schedules, and funding cycles simultaneously.

None of this
is your job.

03 / 09

The Solution

We own
the layer
between you
and orbit.

Sidereal Logistics takes the entire regulatory and logistics stack off your team's plate — from first filing to final manifest — so your researchers can do research.

What we take on

Regulatory filings, licensing, compliance documentation

What we take on

Launch provider coordination, manifest management

What we take on

Payload integration documentation and qualification

What you keep

Your research. Your team. Your mission.

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Services

Four disciplines.
One point of contact.

Regulatory Navigation

Compliance, Filed.

FCC licensing, NOAA permits, EAR/ITAR classification, and FAA coordination — tracked, prepared, and submitted. You review, we do the work.

Launch Coordination

Manifested & Managed.

Rideshare provider matching, manifest management, scheduling, and launch interface documentation — handled end-to-end on your behalf.

Payload Integration

Interface Ready.

ICD preparation, mechanical and thermal review, and launch provider qualification documentation — so your payload meets every specification, on time.

Mission Consulting

Strategy, Scoped.

Feasibility assessment, mission planning, grant proposal logistics documentation, and post-launch operations support — built around academic timelines.

05 / 09

Process

From first conversation
to orbit.

A structured process built around research program realities — academic timelines, grant reporting windows, and student team transitions included.

01

Discovery

Mission scope, requirements, timeline and budget context.

02

Compliance Audit

Full regulatory gap analysis. We map what's needed and who files what.

03

Launch Match

Provider identification, manifest negotiation, and interface planning.

04

Integration

ICD prep, payload qualification, technical documentation handoff.

05

Launch & Beyond

Launch day support and post-orbit operations planning.

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Who We Serve

Built specifically for
research programs.

Commercial logistics firms are built for commercial clients — fixed pricing, rigid schedules, no patience for grant cycles or student team transitions.

Sidereal is built differently. Our service model is designed around how university programs actually operate.

Pricing built around academic budgets

Timelines that respect grant reporting windows

Support for student team transitions

Docs for grant proposals and reporting

Primary Focus

University Research Labs

Faculty-led programs, graduate research teams, and CubeSat programs developing instrumentation, remote sensing, or technology demonstration missions.

Also Served

Emerging Space Startups

Early-stage companies building their first constellation or demonstration mission without a dedicated compliance team.

Future Focus

Small Commercial Operators

Scaling satellite operators who need logistics support beyond what an in-house team currently provides.

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✦ Founding Client Program

We're building this
with our first
university partners.

What founding clients receive

Direct founder access — you work with me, not an account manager

Founding rate pricing — reduced engagement costs in exchange for candid feedback

Shape the service — your program's needs directly influence how we build our processes

Dedicated attention — we're taking on a small number of programs to do this right

The honest context

Sidereal is new. We don't have a roster of past missions to point to. What we have is a thorough understanding of how research missions are scoped and managed at the ground level, serious preparation, and the transparency to tell you exactly where we're still building expertise.

Founding clients take a small calculated risk. In return, they get a partner who is honest about what they know, invested in getting it right, and genuinely motivated by your success — because your mission is also how we earn ours.

Accepting a limited number of founding university partners.

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After Our Conversation

Here's what
comes next.

Based on what we discussed, Sidereal will prepare a tailored scoping proposal for your program — outlining the engagement structure, regulatory priorities, and a timeline built around your mission and budget.

Step 01

Scoping Proposal

A written proposal within 5 business days — services, timeline, and founding client pricing specific to your mission.

Step 02

Regulatory Assessment

Upon engagement, an immediate gap analysis across FCC, NOAA, and export control for your specific payload and orbit.

Step 03

Mission Kickoff

We align on your launch window, assign your point of contact, and begin working the compliance and logistics pipeline.

Questions in the meantime

Email

garrett@sidereallogistics.com

Website

sidereallogistics.com

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