ATLAS Space Operations to be Acquired, Creating a New Chapter for Traverse City’s Space Innovator
ATLAS Space Operations (ATLAS), the leading provider of Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) for satellite communications, announced York Space Systems’ (York) parent company has agreed to acquire ATLAS, marking a major milestone and successful exit for its investors and founders. This acquisition will validate the vision set nearly a decade ago by founders Sean McDaniel, Mike Carey and Brad Bode, CTO.
Since its inception, ATLAS has garnered strong support from a distinguished group of investors, including Traverse City-based Boomerang Catapult and Northern Michigan Angels, Michigan-based Beringea, Michigan Capital Network, and Wakestream Ventures, Midwest-focused Rise of the Rest, Chicago-based Vcapital, Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co., and Luxemburg based NewSpace Capital.
“This acquisition is a testament to the vision, innovation, and perseverance of the entire ATLAS team,” said Casey Cowell, Chairman of ATLAS and principal of Boomerang Catapult. “We are proud of what we’ve built here in Traverse City and excited about this next chapter, which promises significant growth and opportunities for our community and stakeholders.”
ATLAS will continue to operate independently under its existing brand as a wholly owned subsidiary within the parent’s family of companies and will remain based in Traverse City, focused on growing local jobs and expanding its pioneering satellite ground communications solutions.
Corey Geer, CEO of ATLAS, stated, “This acquisition will mark a tremendous victory for our team, our investors, and the Traverse City community and helps ensure our long-term vision becomes reality, accelerates our growth, and underscores our commitment to creating high-quality local jobs.”
Geer continued, “We owe our success to our incredible investors and dedicated team whose belief in our mission made today possible. We’re excited and determined to leverage this opportunity to continue innovating, expanding, and setting new benchmarks in the space industry. Our best chapter is just beginning, and we’re ready to deliver extraordinary results.”
York Space Systems, based in Denver, Colorado, is a leading defense technology company specializing in rapidly delivering integrated space-based solutions for national security and commercial missions.
“ATLAS’s best-in-class ground solution, commitment to security, and exceptional software capabilities are a perfect complement to York’s mission,” said Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems. “We’re confident this collaboration will unlock significant new opportunities and growth for both organizations.”
The acquisition of ATLAS is pending FCC approval and other customary closing conditions.