York Space Systems new production facility in Denver. Photo: York Space Systems

York Space Systems has opened a new production facility in Denver, the aerospace company announced Tuesday. The new space triples the footprint of York’s existing production facility, and will expedite the mass manufacturing of the company’s spacecraft platform. 

By 2021, York expects the expanded manufacturing capacity to reduce satellite delivery timelines from one year to less than two months after the contract is awarded. York also expects the new facility to be capable of manufacturing and testing up to 20 spacecraft per week by early 2021. This news comes after York opened an office in the Washington, D.C.-area for government relations, business development, and satellite mission planning, with in-orbit tasking capabilities in December 2019. 

“The York team is experiencing increasingly high demand for our S-class satellites, and we are growing our production capacity to ensure we meet that demand with further room for expansion if needed,” said Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems. “This new production facility allows us to maintain the superior quality and reliability we’re known for while delivering end to end space solutions in months from contract award to our commercial and government customers.”

In addition, York also announced Dr. Barry Behnken has been appointed Vice President of Engineering. Behnken had a 20-year career in the Air Force career and served as program director in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He was also a technical fellow at Raytheon Technologies and co founded AEye, Inc., driverless car technology startup.