The Space Logistics Company Trusted By Astronauts
When it comes to space logistics, margins for error are razor-thin, and waiting on hold for a third party customer service representative is not an option. You need a logistics provider with capacity, yet nimbleness and agility. You need a provider that has provided best-in-class aerospace logistics and custom freight forwarding solutions to agencies like JPL for over 50 years. You need Packair.
Investments in the space logistics economy are set to skyrocket, with growth estimates over $20 billion by 2032. You need a space logistics provider that is agile enough for real-time action and responses, yet robust enough to upscale your project scope at a moment’s notice.
Low operational costs
Optimization Programs
Careful handling of valuable goods
Employers uniform standards
Minimal processing times
Space Freight Forwarding & Logistics
When you’re in the business of sending sensitive cargo to the Moon and beyond, you need a forwarding partner who can meet every specification and protect against every condition space travel can throw at it. Before you trust a partner with your precious cargo, it’s essential to find a trustworthy, careful partner.
At Packair, we have been providing aerospace logistics services since 1973, and we understand the importance of finding partners who have our clients’ best interests at heart. We know how important it is to build trust with our clients early on, so that you can count on us when you need us most.
When you work with us, you can rest assured that we’ll take care of your products and make sure they’re handled with the utmost care. We’re committed to providing safe and secure transportation for all of our clients’ goods. Our team is trained in all aspects of aerospace and outer space shipping. We will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your needs are met and exceeded.
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Unique Challenges of Space Logistics
Humidity. Zero gravity. Extreme temperatures. Razor-thin capacity margins. These are just a few of the extreme demands out-of-this-world cargo has that traditional cargo usually doesn’t. When it comes to your space logistics partner, you need a provider that has a proven track record with specialty and custom cargo and is no stranger to aerospace and space logistics demands. You need a partner with round-the-clock access to experienced consultants in case of any issues, questions, or need for status or location updates. You need a logistics provider you can trust with:
Extreme Environmental Conditions: Space operations must account for extreme temperatures, zero gravity, extreme forces, high radiation exposure, humidity control, and severe changes in air pressure. You’ll need a logistics partner with years of experience in providing custom freight solutions in areas like OOG and special project cargo.
Physical Constraints & Limitations: Launch vehicle dimensions and weight restrictions are significant challenges. Limited space availability and weight capacities hinder the cost benefits of economies of scale for space transportation. Transporting a satellite carrier, for example, requires careful planning and customized solutions for ground transport before launch. The capacity of spacecraft for both delivering cargo to space (upmass) and returning it to Earth (downmass) is also a key consideration.
Operational & Market Immaturity: The commercial cost-benefit propositions for space logistics service providers are relatively untested. The industry can involve an ad hoc nature of bookings with short notice and little forward planning, requiring logistics providers to be incredibly flexible, offer malleable solutions, and source capacity effectively. You’ll need a logistics partner that with the capacity to take on your project regardless of size, yet agile and flexible enough to provide you with a custom logistics and freight solution at a moment’s notice.
Regulatory & Governance Complexity: The legal framework for logistics operations in space is not yet set in stone. There are governance and regulation challenges, including licensing requirements like FAA commercial launch/entry licensing and ITAR regulations. Coordination among multiple corporate and governmental organizations can also be challenging. You’ll need a logistics partner with a proven track record in navigating that red tape.
Why Is Space Logistics Taking Off Now?
Satellites are becoming cheaper, multi-use, and more accessible to the commercial market. Civilian transport, or “space tourism”, is an emerging niche market. With Artificial Intelligence becoming more sophisticated and mainstream, companies, NGOs and government organizations can now map the Earth, observe weather patterns, find new ways to slow climate change, and many other exciting and innovative uses.
And then there are NASA’s Artemis missions. Artemis is a series of missions that will establish a permanent presence on the Moon. From there, astronauts and scientists can explore the Moon and conduct scientific research “at will”, in many ways a stepping stone to reach even further into space to Mars and beyond. In other words, space exploration, and the technology making it possible, are now a global priority – and a global industry. And unlike the lunar missions of the 60’s, civilian contractors are just as much a part of it all as governments, making it truly an exciting prospect for business and industry.