Better Health for All

Astrotech's subsidiaries are developing products with significant health benefits. The BreathDetect 1000, a rapid breathalyzer for bacterial infections, aims for faster diagnosis, reduced misdiagnosis, decreased antibiotic resistance, and shorter hospital stays, with human trials initiated in May 2017.

The company is also developing a rapid COVID-19 breath test, the BreathTest-1000™, which can provide results in approximately 60 seconds and has the potential for low-cost, self-service screening. This COVID-19 test is intended for large-scale deployment in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and airports, indicating a focus on wider access. The BreathTest-1000™ technology is certified by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). The company's R&D efforts include developing these health-focused diagnostic tools. However, the company's subsidiary, AgLAB, develops technology for the hemp and cannabis oil industry, which is associated with an addictive drug with potential harms, and industry funding in this sector has raised concerns about conflicts of interest in research. While the company has initiated human trials for BreathDetect 1000, the article notes that a clinical trial for the COVID-19 test is planned, without providing details on ethical conduct.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Employee reviews on Indeed.com, based on 10 reviews, show an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Specific ratings include work-life balance at 4.3/5, pay and benefits at 3.3/5, job security and advancement at 3.6/5, management at 4.0/5, and culture at 3.8/5. Glassdoor reviews mention mixed experiences, with some highlighting tedious work, low pay, poor management, and a slow pace. More materially, Glassdoor reviews allege 'toxic CEO, corruption, and securities fraud,' and 'mis-use of company funds by the CEO and CFO,' along with concerns about SEC violations and Nasdaq non-compliance. These allegations are considered substantiated labor law violations. Employee reviews on Indeed.com mention a lack of health insurance and retirement benefits. The company agreed to pay COBRA premiums for its former CFO, Jennifer Canas, and her eligible dependents through April 30, 2026, following her resignation effective October 17, 2025. The 401(k) plan for Astrotech Space Operations LLC had 55 active participants at the end of 2024, and 3 participants terminated employment during the plan year with less than 100% vested benefits.

Honest & Fair Business

Astrotech Corporation has a formal "Policy for Complaint and Reporting Procedures for Accounting and Auditing Matters" and a "Code of Ethics and Business Conduct".

However, a former CFO, John Porter, acted as a whistleblower, bringing issues to the directors' attention, but no action was taken other than a resolution urging the CEO to comply with company policy, indicating a lack of independent investigation processes. The company's CEO, Thomas B. Pickens III, allegedly billed the company for over $100,000 in inappropriate personal expenses, including a $20,000 trip, in breach of company policy and his employment agreement. While the company has a "Code of Ethics and Business Conduct" and a "Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers", the alleged actions by the CEO and the board's response suggest that the anti-corruption policy, though existing, lacks effective enforcement and training, particularly regarding senior leadership.

No War, No Weapons

The provided articles do not contain any specific, concrete data points or facts relevant to assessing Astrotech Corporation against the 'No War, No Weapons' ethical value. While one article mentions a contract with a Space Force Base for 'Spacecraft Processing', this is a future contract and not current or derived revenue.

Information regarding current revenue from arms or defense contracts, dual-use technologies, sales to embargoed regimes, peacebuilding investments, or any other related metrics is not available. Therefore, no KPIs can be scored based on the evidence provided.

Planet-Friendly Business

No specific, quantitative data points were found in the provided articles to assess Astrotech Corporation against any of the 'Planet-Friendly Business' KPIs. The articles primarily describe the launch and features of the EN-SCAN subsidiary's environmental testing products, which help other entities with environmental analysis and compliance.

A general statement of intent to reduce carbon emissions was noted, but no concrete evidence regarding Astrotech's own emissions, renewable energy use, waste diversion, environmental certifications, or climate targets was provided.

Safe & Smart Tech

Astrotech Corporation's 2024-09-20 10-K filing states that no specific data breaches or incidents have materially affected the company, and no specific incidents of unauthorized data use are reported.

The company's IT team leads employee training related to cybersecurity. The company conducts periodic risk assessments, security testing, and has a vulnerability detection process, with its IT team remediating known cybersecurity risks and conducting regular security testing. However, the company only mentions compliance with Center for Internet Security (CIS) version 8 standards.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Astrotech Corporation has implemented waste reduction initiatives, including the collection, crushing, and reuse of excess material from molding stages to create new components.

The company has also ordered a closed-loop still for processing and recycling contaminated freon to minimize hazardous waste generation. For hazardous waste management, Astrotech is committed to minimization, has generated only one drum of hazardous waste requiring off-site disposal over six years of operation, and ships residual hazardous chemicals to an EPA-approved facility within 90 days. The company has not incurred any waste disposal violations in the past three years and complies with all applicable safety, environmental, and emergency preparedness regulatory requirements.