Q1 2026 Rankings
Space tech has a small but distinct engineering footprint on GitHub.
Key Takeaway
In Q1 2026, 1 of 4 tracked space tech startups show positive engineering acceleration. OpenC3 leads with 204 commits over 14 days (+115% change). The dominant signal pattern is "Framework migration". Average sector commit velocity is 114 commits per 14-day window. These engineering momentum signals have historically preceded fundraise announcements by three to six weeks.
Data sourced from public GitHub activity. Read our methodology
| # | Company | Stage | Geo | Commits (14d) | Change | Contributors | Contrib. Growth | New Repos | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenC3 Open Source. Open Architecture. Command, Control and Communication View signal profile → | Series A/B | US | 204 | +115% | 47 | +0% | 1 | Framework migration |
| 2 | DaedalusDockView signal profile → | Growth | Unknown | 23 | -8% | 100 | +35% | 0 | Framework migration |
| 3 | naev Migrated to https://codeberg.org/naev .Naev is a 2D space trading and combat game that combines elements from the action View signal profile → | Growth | Unknown | 171 | -13% | 100 | +0% | 0 | Framework migration |
| 4 | orbiternasspView signal profile → | Series A/B | Unknown | 57 | -30% | 37 | +0% | 0 | Framework migration |
Sorted by commit velocity change (14-day window, descending). Top 3 highlighted. Data last updated Q1 2026.
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Best of 2026
Top Space Tech startups ranked across all 2026quarters →
Q1 2026 vs Q4 2025
How Space Techcommit velocity has shifted quarter-over-quarter →
By signal type in this sector
By stage
In Q1 2026, we are tracking 4 space tech startups with measurable GitHub engineering signals. 1 of 4 show positive commit velocity growth. The most common signal type is "Framework migration", observed in 4 of the tracked companies. The average 14-day commit velocity across the sector is 114 commits, with OpenC3 leading at 204 commits (+115% change). These patterns have historically preceded fundraise announcements by three to six weeks.
OpenC3 leads the space tech sector in Q1 2026 with 204 commits over a 14-day window, representing a +115% change from the prior period. With 47 active contributors and 1 new repositories, OpenC3 is showing a "Framework migration" pattern — one of the more reliable leading indicators of a significant product milestone or fundraise.
Among the 4 space tech startups we track, US accounts for the highest concentration with 1 teams. Startups building launch vehicles, satellites, and space data platforms. Geographic distribution matters for investors because engineering talent clusters correlate with sector-specific domain expertise and proximity to early adopter customers.