West Coast Solutions (WCS) is supplying cutting-edge thermal management, precision control systems, and auto-alignment technologies for the Lazuli Space Observatory
This program is a great example of the work that can get accomplished when a traditional prime partners with a small company.— Michael DarlingtonHUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — West Coast Solutions (WCS), a creator of sophisticated aerospace electronics and hardware, based in Huntington Beach, California, is generating excitement in the industry by transforming the development cycle of robust, high-performance electrical and thermal management systems for space technologies that are critical to missions.
Today, WCS is pleased to announce its involvement with Raytheon, an RTX business, in delivering advanced thermal management, precision control systems, and auto-alignment technologies for the Lazuli Space Observatory, a high-profile initiative within the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System that is quickly advancing at Schmidt Sciences.
West Coast Solutions is proud to back the high-precision optics being developed by Schmidt Sciences and its collaborators. “This program is a great example of the work that can get accomplished when a traditional prime partners with a small company. Raytheon has been incredibly helpful with supply chain assistance – helping WCS source components to meet the quick program timeline,” said Michael Darlington, Principal Electrical Engineer at WCS leading these integrated efforts.
As part of this undertaking, West Coast Solutions is setting the course for innovation by creating the integrated Modular Processing Control System (MPCS), which comprises electronics for fine steering mirrors and the fully integrated end-to-end thermal control system used in the Lazuli telescope being built by Raytheon.
The company’s engineering methodology focuses on producing electronic, electro-mechanical, and electro-optical modules that are integrated into a durable, high-performance, plug-and-play system on an accelerated schedule. The delivered system will offer precision pointing and thermal stability controls throughout the entire mission lifecycle. By merging advanced rapid-control electronics with mission-specific performance requirements, West Coast Solutions is helping to enable the exact alignment needed for high-resolution and rapid astronomical observations.
"While we are proud of the growth we’ve achieved since our founding in 2015 from consulting and engineering services to now space hardware manufacturing, we are equally proud that we’ve never lost the lean edge we developed to help us survive those early years. We are deploying that lean edge now to meet the challenges of the Lazuli Space Observatory within the promised schedule with what I am confident will be world-class avionics. We are immensely honored to have this opportunity to contribute these technologies which will support the next generation of space-based astronomy," said Dr. Carl Kirkconnell, President of WCS.
About West Coast Solutions
West Coast Solutions was established by Dr. Carl Kirkconnell in 2015 and is a skilled, multidisciplinary team of seasoned aerospace and defense experts committed to solving your hardest challenges in aerospace electronics, cryogenic systems, and space & tactical power. Honored with the prestigious AS9100 Supplier Certificate and recognized as JPL’s Small Business of the Year (SBOTY) in 2024, WCS upholds the highest industry standards while ensuring quality and reliability in everything it does.
About Schmidt Sciences
Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs using the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space—as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
For questions regarding the Lazuli Space Telescope or the Schmidt Observatory System, please contact comms@schmidtsciences.org.
Carl Kirkconnell
West Coast Solutions
+1 (714) 587-4628, ext. 113
carl@wecoso.com
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