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Gimbal Space Disrupts Legacy Suppliers with Rapid, Affordable Space Component Solutions

Supply Chain Management

Gimbal Space Revolutionizes Spacecraft Subsystems

Business Honor
26 August, 2024

Startup Revolutionizes Spacecraft Subsystems with Faster, Cost-Effective Delivery

In a field that often seems as advanced as space exploration itself, the supply chain for spacecraft components is lagging behind. Gimbal Space is on a mission to change this dynamic by delivering crucial spacecraft parts faster and more affordably than traditional suppliers.

Founded by Dhaval Shiyani, a mechanical engineer with a track record in scaling complex hardware systems, Gimbal Space is targeting the production of attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) — essential for spacecraft orientation in space. Shiyani, who previously helped ramp up Tesla's Model 3 production and designed high-volume medical devices at Ethicon, recognized a significant opportunity in the space industry’s supply chain challenges.

Shiyani’s journey into space technology began at Apollo Fusion, where he refined the design and cost of prototype thrusters. This experience, coupled with his work on the Astra-acquired startup and later at Planet, revealed persistent issues: high costs, long lead times, and an immature supply chain.

“Legacy suppliers are stuck in a cycle of focus, inertia, and outdated approaches,” Shiyani noted. “They exploit the lack of competition and charge high premiums for components that should be more accessible.”

Gimbal Space's first target is the ADCS subsystem, which requires precise components like star trackers and reaction wheels. By addressing these supply chain inefficiencies, Gimbal aims to make critical space technology more affordable and agile. The startup plans to broaden its focus to include additional ADCS components like magnetometers and sun sensors, further challenging the status quo in space component supply.