Spectrum Astro

{{short description|Aerospace and defense manufacturer in the United States}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Spectrum Astro

| logo = Deep_Space_1_-_ds1logo.png

| logo_size = 200px

| type = Private

| foundation = 1988

| predecessor = Orbital Science Corp.

| founder = W. David Thompson

|location_city= Gilbert, Arizona

|location_country= United States

| industry = Aerospace, Defense

| parent =

| revenue =

| num_employees =

|area_served= Worldwide

|products= {{unbulleted list

|Deep Space 1, MightySat-1, MSTI 1, MSTI 2, MSTI 3,

|Hessi, SA-200B, SA-200HP, SA-200LL, SA-200S,

|Xenon Ion Propulsion,

|AstroRT[https://web.archive.org/web/19990221221701/http://www.spectrumastro.com/Products/Products.asp "Programs and Products"]

|homepage= {{URL|https://www.northropgrumman.com/AboutUs/BusinessSectors/InnovationSystems/Pages/default.aspx}}

}}

}}

Spectrum Astro was a privately held American corporation that designed, manufactured, and sold satellites.{{Cite web|title = Spaceborne Microwave Instrument for High Resolution Remote Sensing of the Earth's Surface Using a Large-Aperature Mesh Antenna|url = https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20020027888.pdf|website = ntrs.nasa.gov| date=September 2001 |accessdate = 2019-11-09 | last1=Njoku | first1=E. | last2=Wilson | first2=W. | last3=Yueh | first3=S. | last4=Freeland | first4=R. | last5=Helms | first5=R. | last6=Edelstein | first6=W. | last7=Sadowy | first7=G. | last8=Farra | first8=D. | last9=West | first9=R. | last10=Oxnevad | first10=K. }}{{Cite web|title = Spectrum Astro Built Coriolis Spacecraft Moves to Launch Pad|url = http://spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=9980|website = spaceref.com| date=December 4, 2002 |accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title = SPECTRUM ASTRO, INC. {{!}} SBIR.gov|url = https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/314819|website = sbir.gov|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title = Spectrum Astro → General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems → Orbital Sciences Corp. → Orbital ATK: SA-200HP → LEOStar-3|url = https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/spectrum_sa200hp.htm|website = space.skyrocket.de|accessdate = 2019-11-09}} Spectrum Astro's, at the time, unique satellite production method was to design and manufacture space satellites, in their entirety, at a single research, design and manufacturing site.{{Cite web|title = Construction Underway on Spectrum Astro's 'Factory of the Future' | url = https://www.buildings.com/news/industry-news/articleid/604/title/construction-underway-on-spectrum-astro-s-factory-of-the-future- |website = buildings.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title = gilbert spectrum - Gilbert Arizona Economic Development|url = https://www.gilbertedi.com/Gilbert%20Spectrum%20ADS.pdf|website = gilbertedi.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title = Development of an Ion Thruster and Power Processor for New Millennium's Deep Space 1 Mission|url = https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980017550.pdf|website = ntrs.nasa.gov| date=December 1997 |accessdate = 2019-11-09}} This novel idea allowed for lower cost and more reliable satellites which were able to be fully tested as a whole before launch.{{Cite web|title = Spectrum Astro's new Gilbert facility is operational|url = https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/02/16/daily44.html|website = bizjournals.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}} The Spectrum Astro plant, located in Gilbert, Arizona, had especially wide hallways and internal bay doors to rooms which allowed for satellites to be easily transported within the building for various stages of design, assembly, and testing.{{Cite web|title = Spectrum Astro opens 'factory of the future' amid uncertain outlook|url = https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/03/01/story7.html|website = bizjournals.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title = Spacecraft Erasable Disk Mass Memory (EDMM)|url = https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2691&context=smallsat|website = digitalcommons.usu.edu|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}

Spectrum Astro was founded by W. David Thompson in 1988, with $5,000 in cash and a credit card,{{Cite web|title = General Dynamics Plans to buy Spectrum Astro {{!}} East Valley Tribune |url = https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/money/general-dynamics-announces-plans-to-buy-spectrum-astro/article_67893660-f4be-58bb-9a48-8b69b7443367.html|website = eastvalleytribune.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}{{Cite web|title=Spectrum Astro Archives {{!}} Space News | url = https://spacenews.com/tag/spectrum-astro/|website = spacenews.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}} and finished its first year in operation with $27,000 in revenue. In 2004, the company was sold to General Dynamics.{{Cite web|title = General Dynamics finishes buy of Spectrum Astro|url = https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2004/07/12/general-dynamics-finishes-buy-of-spectrum-astro.aspx|website = washingtontechnology.com|accessdate = 2019-11-09}}

{{Portal|Companies|Spaceflight|Arizona}}