PION Labs

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PION Labs Engenharia Ltda.
Company typePrivate company
IndustrySpace industry
Founded2019; 6 years ago (2019)
HeadquartersSão Paulo, Brazil
Area served
Latin American
Products
Websitewww.pionlabs.com.br

PION Labs is a Brazilian NewSpace startup company founded in 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil. The company was established with the objective of reducing barriers to space access for emerging economies, particularly Brazil.[1][2]

History

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In late 2019, PION Labs conducted its first rocket test with the Quark sounding rocket, which utilized a hybrid-propellant motor. The test flight represented an early milestone in the company's research and development program.[3]

By 2021, PION Labs had entered into a partnership with Alba Orbital, a United Kingdom–based launch broker, to obtain a rideshare opportunity on a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission.[4][5] The collaboration enabled the deployment of the company's flagship satellite, PION-BR1, as part of the Alba Cluster 4 mission.[6]

In 2025, PION Labs developed the PION-BR2 - Cientistas de Alcântara, a nanosatellite designed for telecommunications experiments and technology demonstrations, in partnership with the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), and the United Nations Development Programme (PNUD). As one of the payloads for the Spaceward Operation, it is planned to be launched aboard the South Korean Innospace HANBIT-NANO launch vehicle from the Alcântara Launch Center in Maranhão.[7]

Key Projects and Achievements

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PION-BR1 Satellite

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PION-BR1 was launched on 13 January 2022 aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 Transporter-3 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is recognized as Brazil's first satellite to be fully developed and assembled by a private company. Designed as a technology demonstrator, the satellite tested long-distance communication capabilities in low Earth orbit and provided flight-heritage data upon the completion of its mission objectives.[8]

PESL Sounding Rocket

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On 8 December 2023, PION Labs conducted the first sounding rocket launch performed entirely by a Brazilian startup with the successful suborbital flight of the PION Educational Satellite Launcher (PESL). The launch took place at the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (CLBI)) and carried seven educational satellite payloads developed by winning teams of the Brazilian Satellite Olympiad (Olimpíada Brasileira de Satélites, OBSAT).[9]

Educational Initiatives

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The cmpany developed CubeSat and PocketQube-based educational kits designed to support STEM engagement in Brazilian schools and universities.[10] These kits include firmware resources and assembly guides distributed through open-source repositories, enabling practical experience in satellite construction. The company also participates in outreach activities associated with programs such as OBSAT and the Latin American Space Challenge (LASC).[11]

References

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  1. ^ "First Brazilian satellite produced by startup will be launched by SpaceX". Aeroflap. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  2. ^ "PION-BR1". Gov.br. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  3. ^ Costa, B. P. et al (2022). "Simulation and Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Rocket Engine with Self-pressurizing Oxidizer", 26th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering, 10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2021.COB2021-1411.
  4. ^ "PION - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding". Crunchbase. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  5. ^ "Cluster 4 Announcement - PION Labs — Alba Orbital". Alba Orbital. 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  6. ^ "Handbook on Small Satellites - 2023 Edition" (PDF). International Telecommunication Union. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  7. ^ "Operação Spaceward – FAB vai lançar foguete sul-coreano no dia 22. Veja detalhes sobre as cargas úteis" (in Portuguese). Força Aérea Brasileira. 2025-11-21. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  8. ^ "SpaceX to launch Brazilian pocketqube Pion-BR1". SpaceWatch.GLOBAL. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  9. ^ "Startup brasileira lança satélites com foguete próprio - Canaltech" (in Portuguese). Canaltech. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  10. ^ "Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação é tema de palestra promovida pelo PPgEA em parceria com o INPE" (in Portuguese). Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  11. ^ "Jovens brasileiros enviam satélite totalmente nacional ao espaço em foguete da SpaceX" (in Portuguese). O Globo. 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
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