First Mode

First Mode is a design, engineering, and technology production company developing engineered solutions for industries on and off the planet. This includes developing tools and technologies for deep space exploration and critical solutions for extreme environments. The company has developed technologies for exploration projects on Earth, Mars, and the moon, with the expectation to expand to other planetary bodies.

First Mode takes a technology-agnostic approach to design and deliver the necessary system. The company builds complex systems, with the belief that complexity can create competitive advantages for applications in harsh environments.

First Mode works to help companies, governments, and individuals solve engineering challenges. This includes problem definition to identify the problem, the costs, the risks, and the root-cause identification in the case of developing solutions. This leads to the concept and architecture of developing a solution. This is based on the definition of operations and solution architecture, which includes comprehensive trade studies and analysis to ensure the solution takes in the entire field of solutions.

The company then offers creative design, engineering, and scientific work to develop whatever solution for the problem—be it a mechanical, thermal, electrical, software, firmware, embedded, instruments, applied science, or geological solution. From there, the company builds concepts to demonstrate the solution and moves into the company's dedicated lab to develop the prototype solution or product. Testing is the final stage of the company's service to ensure the solution and system is validated and verified.

The company has provided its design, engineering, and system development services for projects including NASA's Mars rover, the Psyche mission to an iron-rich asteroid, the Europa Clipper spacecraft, and a proposed moon rover. The company also announced an agreement with mining company Anglo American to develop terrestrial technologies for the development of a hydrogen-powered mine haul truck to increase Anglo American's sustainability initiative.