by Sandra Erwin
Space Armor tile Credit: Atomic-6
WASHINGTON — Atomic-6, a composite materials manufacturer based in Marietta, Georgia, believes it has found a lighter, more resilient alternative to traditional satellite shielding. Following successful lab tests of its “Space Armor” shielding that protects spacecraft from debris impact, the company is preparing to demonstrate it in orbit and start producing it for the U.S. Space Force and other organizations.
The development of the Space Armor technology was funded by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force under a $1.2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 award and a $3.8 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) agreement that includes private matching funds.
In the increasingly crowded and hazardous realm of low Earth orbit, protecting satellites from debris is paramount. Enter Atomic-6, a Georgia-based composite materials firm, with its innovative “Space Armor”—a lighter, thinner alternative to traditional metal shields. Developed under U.S. Space Force contracts, this technology promises to challenge the 1940s-era Whipple shield, offering better protection without creating dangerous fragments. As of October 17, 2025, lab tests show promising results, with orbital demos on the horizon.
Rethinking a 1940s Invention and Protection
The market is looking for a new type of debris shield as the technology hasn’t changed much since the so-called “Whipple shield” was introduced in the 1940s by astronomer Fred Whipple, said Atomic-6 CEO Trevor Smith.
Atomic-6 believes it has cracked the code for superior debris shielding. Based in Marietta, Georgia, the company is gearing up to demonstrate “Space Armor” in orbit after successful lab evaluations. The technology was funded by the U.S. Air Force and Space Force through a $1.2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 award and a $3.8 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) agreement, including private matching funds.
The SBIR contract focuses on shielding that resists impacts while allowing radio-frequency communications. CEO Trevor Smith told SpaceNews that while current shielding is effective, there’s demand for alternatives. “Most shielding used today is effective but the government and many commercial firms are interested in alternatives,” Smith said.
Space Armor is lighter and thinner than the Whipple shield, introduced in the 1940s by astronomer Fred Whipple, though it awaits flight tests.
Avoid creating more debris
Orbital debris remains one of the defining hazards of space operations. Millions of untrackable fragments smaller than a centimeter zip around low Earth orbit at speeds exceeding 7 km per second — fast enough to puncture fuel tanks or tear through a spacesuit.
The promise of a modular, lighter system that resists fragmentation could be appealing to both the military and the commercial space industry, Smith said.
Atomic-6 is also experimenting with curved Space Armor structures for potential use in astronaut suits. The shielding is also being looked at by defense contractors for use in ground combat vehicles. “This, in theory, should protect from lasers trying to blind a comms device,” Smith said.
Smith declined to discuss pricing but said satellite insurers have shown interest. During a recent trip to meet with underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, he said they told him that “once Space Armor is flight qualified, they would consider offering a discount to their customers if they’re flying the products, because they see it as such a risk mitigant.”
Because Space Armor was developed under an SBIR contract, Atomic-6 retains data rights to the technology — an important advantage as it prepares for commercialization.
Lighter solar panels
The Space Armor program isn’t Atomic-6’s only Space Force-funded project. Under a separate $2 million TACFI agreement, the company is developing Light Wing, a solar array designed to stow and redeploy.
“Our solar array is going through flight qualification as well,” Smith said. An early version is scheduled to fly in February 2026. “That will buy down risk,” he added, as the company completes a one-kilowatt, fully deployable version for a later mission.
The array design seeks to minimize the number of moving parts to reduce deployment failures. “And because it’s retractable and redeployable, if you have any issues on deployment, you can simply retract it and then try to deploy again,” Smith said.
Smith said Atomic-6 is laying out plans to build a production facility for both Space Armor and Light Wing to start manufacturing after the products are qualified.
Product Variants and Features
Atomic-6 offers two variants: Space Armor Lite, for particles up to 3 mm, and Space Armor Max, for up to 12.5 mm. The hexagonal tiles, less than an inch thick, attach to spacecraft to safeguard critical components. “The Space Armor Lite tiles are about 30% lighter and 15% thinner than the Whipple aluminum shields,” Smith explained.
A key advantage is fragmentation resistance—they absorb and contain impacts, avoiding secondary debris that could harm other satellites. This is crucial amid millions of untrackable fragments zipping at orbital speeds, capable of puncturing fuel tanks or spacesuits.
Rigorous Testing
Hypervelocity impact tests at the University of Dayton Research Institute and Texas A&M University involved 3 mm aluminum projectiles at over 7 km/s—orbital velocity. “The results… demonstrated that Space Armor tiles are fragmentation resistant — they absorb and contain debris impacts rather than creating secondary fragments that could endanger other satellites,” Smith said.
Flight qualification is next, with Smith noting, “We do have a verbal offer to fly with a customer next year.”
Broader Applications and Market Interest
Beyond satellites, Atomic-6 is exploring curved Space Armor for astronaut suits and ground vehicles. “This, in theory, should protect from lasers trying to blind a comms device,” Smith said.
Insurers are intrigued; Lloyd’s of London underwriters indicated discounts for qualified products, viewing it as a “risk mitigant.” As an SBIR product, Atomic-6 retains data rights for commercialization.
Related Innovations: Light Wing Solar Array
Atomic-6 Secures $2 Million Space Force Grant for Light Wing Solar Array
Atomic-6’s portfolio includes Light Wing, a stowable solar array under a separate $2 million TACFI. “Our solar array is going through flight qualification as well,” Smith said, with a February 2026 flight to “buy down risk,” followed by a one-kilowatt version. It minimizes moving parts: “And because it’s retractable and redeployable, if you have any issues on deployment, you can simply retract it and then try to deploy again,” Smith explained.
Plans include a production facility for both products post-qualification.
Why It Matters
Orbital debris is a defining hazard, and Space Armor’s modular, lightweight design could appeal to military and commercial sectors. As space traffic grows, innovations like this are vital for sustainable operations.
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