Applied Atomics: powering a new era of in-space logistics
As humans, space has always been a point of fascination. And, as technology has evolved, we are looking to the skies more than ever.
With ongoing discussions of humans making their way to Mars, the Blue Origin NS-31 Mission in early 2025, and SpaceX’s many launches, the discussion around the democratisation of space and making our way to the stars is becoming ever more prevalent.
It seems that startups are blazing the trail in making space more accessible, and speaking with Ashley Modeste Johnson, Founder and CEO of Applied Atomics, he explained: “I founded Applied Atomics with one goal: to remove the barriers that prevent humanity from moving freely in space.”
With a Master’s Degree in advanced aerospace and space systems that had a research focus on nuclear and electric propulsion, as well as a professional background spanning different industries from propulsion research to data and AI, his career has also included the creation of original inventions that have drawn interest from national security agencies. All of this experience has led Ashley to found startup Applied Atomics.
Applied Atomics
Applied Atomics is building the world’s first in-space logistics network, which aims to solve the $300 billion+ bottleneck that begins after launching into space – where moving in orbit is slower, riskier, and more expensive than the cost of getting into space in the first place.
Ashley explained: “Our modular spacecraft combines in orbit to scale its capability, delivering orbital logistics at lower cost, risk, and time than what is possible today. These vehicles are powered by our breakthrough AI-defined multimode propulsion system.”
Looking to the Applied Atomics’ mission, Ashley said: “Our mission is to enable humanity to move freely in orbit – and eventually between planets.
“We believe scalable, low-cost, low-risk, and fast movement in space unlocks the next generation of industries, from energy and communications, to government applications and resource access, with an impact that will substantially improve life on Earth. We’re building the infrastructure layer that makes all of that possible.”
At its core, Applied Atomics is “building infrastructure for a future that moves. That adapts. That defends. And ultimately enables humanity to move, service, and protect – freely across orbit, and between worlds.”
Head in the stars
The idea and inspiration for founding the startup came from a frustrating realisation that Ashley had.
“We’ve spent decades solving launch, but the moment you reach orbit, you’re stranded. Today’s in-space systems are rigid, not designed to scale, and force operators to choose between severe trade-offs,” he explained. “While working on propulsion research, I realised we could break that limitation – not just by improving thrust and efficiency, but by creating a logistics system that takes a network based approach.”
And that is what Ashley has set out to do with Applied Atomics. The startup is aiming to democratise access to space. Explaining what this means for Applied Atomics, Ashley explained: “It means removing the structural barriers – cost, risk, time, and capacity – that prevent most players from participating in-space, but equally prevent the viability of a circular in-space economy.”
Accelerating to today
Applied Atomics has been lucky enough to have been selected for the Airbus UK Space Accelerator, as well as Seraphim Space’s Mission 12. “These programmes were pivotal,” Ashley said. “They didn’t just validate our tech – they helped accelerate its path to orbit. From critical design reviews, access to mission architects, and pathways to international partners.
“With Airbus, we gained access to critical facilities, deep technical feedback through design reviews, and direct exclusive access and insight into deep problems that allowed us to align our solution not only with current mission needs, but with the future mobility and servicing requirements emerging across orbit and beyond.
“Seraphim brought a different kind of force multiplier – helping us sharpen our commercial positioning while connecting us to their global network of operators, primes, downstream customers, and global space industry leaders. Their alignment with both current and frontier markets made it clear that we’re not just building for now, but for the next decades of orbital infrastructure.”
These programmes have been key to Applied Atomics’ success, helping shape its roadmap, and making sure the startup is building what the industry actually needs.
The industry and competition
In every industry, there are competitors. In space technology, you need to have an edge in the industry and that requires seeing the current issues, and how these can be improved upon.
“Space has evolved – but spacecraft and in-space mobility hasn’t kept up. Traditional vehicles weren’t built for today’s fast-moving, mission-adaptive environment. Chemical systems run out of fuel too quickly, and electric ones are too slow to respond. What the modern orbital domain needs is a new class of spacecraft – agile, capable, and built for change.”
Applied Atomics is approaching this challenge, and aims to be the next generation of space technology – looking forward, not back.
“Most in-space mobility solutions are built on inherently restricted architectures. Our approach is different: we remove the trade-offs entirely. By combining AI-defined, multimode propulsion with a modular architecture, we enable a dynamic, network-based system – designed for the way space works now, not the way it used to.”
Ready, set, take off
Working in a world as fast-paced as spacetech, it is important to stop and smell the roses, and appreciate what has been achieved up until this moment.
One of the biggest highlights so far has been “building and validating multiple world-first propulsion breakthroughs, including inventing a new way to move through space,” explained Ashley. This achievement has marked a major milestone for the team, as well as the wider aerospace sector. For Ashley, this process of taking a bold idea from concept to inventing a new way to move through space, encapsulates the very essence of what makes launching a startup so rewarding.
Another highlight of the journey has been the support Applied Atomics has received from the aerospace industry. It has been “backed and supported by global space leaders – Airbus Defence and Space, European Space Agency Bic, Thales Alenia Space, and the UK Space Agency.”
The final, and most recent highlight, having been announced in July at UK Parliament, is that Applied Atomics will be launching its technology into space. As part of the ‘Give Me Some Space’ mission, which will give flight to the next era of space technologies, Applied Atomics will be demonstrating enabling technologies for its fuel-agnostic, AI-defined multimode propulsion system.
After the highs and lows that come with founding a startup, having the all clear to finally demonstrate the technology in space may be one of the most important milestones in the entire journey.
The mission is scheduled for 2026, and until then, we will be keeping a close eye on Applied Atomics and its innovation.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe
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