AstroForge is developing an autonomous control system called Solo, based on transformer models, to manage its spacecraft. The company aims to reduce reliance on ground-based flight control teams, which typically require significant human resources for deep space missions.
The Solo system integrates traditional control algorithms with intelligence layers trained on data from approximately 2,500 onboard sensors. This setup is designed to handle anomaly resolution, such as navigation errors or power issues, without human intervention.
The company plans to launch its first fully autonomous mission, Autonomy-1, in 2027 using a rocket from Stock Space. This mission is supported by NASA and intends to collect scientific data regarding the Sun.
Before the 2027 flight, AstroForge will test Solo in shadow mode on its DeepSpace-2 vehicle, which is scheduled to launch by the end of 2026 alongside Intuitive Machines' third moon mission.
AstroForge was founded in 2022 and has secured $56 million in venture funding. The company previously experienced communication failures with its Odin spacecraft in 2025, which prompted the shift toward onboard autonomous intelligence.
