About Us

Founded by Dr. Ben Taylor and Dr. Jason Shore, Frond Space Systems has grown out of the University of Auckland’s Space Institute, Te Pūnaha Ātea at the heart of New Zealand’s emergent and energetic space eco-system.

Frond Space Systems has the benefit of multiple decades of combined experience in delivering systems for flight.

Meet the Team

Ben Taylor
PhD in Space Environment, MPhys Physics with Satellite Technology. Delivered several missions, payloads and subsystems for flight, instrumentation, mechanisms and dragsail systems.
Linkedin

Ben Taylor

CEO/ Co-founder

Jason Shore
PhD in bistable deployable booms. First-class master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Strong track record of structural analysis and deployables development with leading small satellite organisations
Linkedin

Jason Shore

CTO/ Co-founder

Duncan Ledwith
Industry business leader with an exceptional track record of developing innovative companies across the globe, growing international sales channels to enable start-ups to become highly impactful enterprises.
Linkedin

Duncan Ledwith

Partnerships

Quentin Compton-Bishop
Co-founder and Chair of RolaTube Technology, Frond’s technology partner for bistable reeled composite booms
Linkedin

Quentin Compton-Bishop

Non-Executvie Director

Facilities

As a spin-out from University of Auckland, Frond Space Systems enjoys streamlined access to the clean room and world-class National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) founders at Te Pūnaha Ātea. This means that design, assembly testing and qualification is all conducted under one roof, which enables efficient project and product delivery.

  • ISO Class 7 Cleanroom – 40m2 fully equipped flight assembly facilities
  • Vibration testing – Shaker & slip table combo system for standard one axis at a time testing & state-of-the-art multi axis testing for simultaneous 3D vibration testing.
  • Mechanical Shock testing – Resonant plate & shaker, Shock Pulse & Shock Response Spectrum
  • Thermal Vacuum Testing – 1m diameter, -40 to +80°C thermal range, <1×10-6hPa pressure