Watch this space! A space odyssey of the 12 startups that are making their move on space (Part 1)
2021 is the year of space. Traditionally space has been the home of research and scientific endeavors, however it is increasingly becoming democratized, promoting the creation of new businesses and business models. The selected startups highlight the benefits that commercialization is bringing to the launch, satellite communication and space servicing sectors. RocketLab and SpaceFlight together are responsible for reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of space launch, enabling many of the other businesses in space. The other startups are following with improving the space ecosystem in orbit, providing better connectivity from the ground (Kymeta) to new Satellite constellations (Kepler). However, this new industry also generates a lot of data which needs to be analyzed (OrbitsEdge) and LeoLabs which ensures that this industry can operate safely and sustainably.
What are they doing:
RocketLab provides launch services with provides able to select between dedicated (access to the whole capacity of the launch) and rideshare offerings. Recently the company started offering satellite management services (provides control of the satellite and support services to the mission payload). RocketLab has successfully launched 97 satellites and was contracted by NASA to launch a CubeSat into the orbit around the moon in 2021.
Why it’s cool:
RocketLab focuses on launching small satellites, capitalizing on the trend of satellite miniaturization. Electron, RocketLab’s launch vehicle, is one of the smallest in the industry and can carry a payload of up to 300 kilograms. By comparison, Starlink satellites weigh around 260 kilograms. With rapidly increasing number of CubeSats (1–10 kg) requiring launch, RocketLab can offer much greater flexibility and frequency in launch scheduling with minimal financial risk in case of failure. In addition, RocketLab is in close partnership with multiple governmental entities, delivering various missions for NASA, DARPA, U.S. Air and Space Force.
Where:
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, RocketLab has facilities around the world with production, launch and tracking infrastructure in New Zealand, another launch site in Virginia, US, and more tracking facilities in Canada.
How long:
It received its first funding from New Zealand government and Khosla Ventures in 2013. In 2015, RocketLab secured Series B funding with Bessemer Venture Partners and Lockheed Martin as the main investors. The same year RocketLab won its first NASA contract for almost $7M for a LEO launch using Electron. On May 25th, 2017 Electron’s test launch successfully made it into space and in 2018 its first payload was delivered into orbit. Since then, RoketLab has raised more funding (totaling for $215M) and completed multiple missions for both public and private clients.
What are they doing:
SpaceFlight is a platform which provides rideshare services on all commercial launch vehicles offering rideshare (within the limits of U.S. export regulations). This includes the U.S.-based SpaceX Falcon 9, Russian Soyuz, Arianespace Vega, Virgin Orbit Launcherone, Rocket Lab Electron, NSIL’s PSLV and SSLV, and others. SpaceFlight is also integrating Mission Management functionality and other services like launch insurance and pre-launch feasibility analysis into its offerings.
Why it’s cool:
Space is becoming increasingly accessible, opening a niche for satellite services. SpaceFlight its capitalizing on this trend to become an aggregator, benefitting both launch providers and the ones who are seeking to put their equipment in space. One of the biggest advantages is that SpaceFlight not only consolidates all options, but provides upfront pricing, allowing it to roughly estimate costs without extensive and complex negotiations with multiple providers. Additional services like insurance and satellite buses are in early stages of development, but with continuing growth of space commercialization, SpaceFlight is attempting to become an end-to-end solution.
Where:
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, SpaceFlight is focused on the locations offered by the launch providers they are partnering with. While majority of partners being US-based, current launch sites are scattered US but also with launch sites all around the world including, New Zealand, Russia, Kazakhstan, and French Guiana.
How long:
Founded in 1999, SpaceFlight launched its first customers (Planet and NASA) in 2013. Since then, SpaceFlight has raised over $200M and launched over 200 CubeSats. In February 2020, SpaceFlight finalized an agreement to sell Spaceflight’s launch business to Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Yamasa Co.
What are they doing:
Kymeta wants to provide mobile connectivity to customers around the world using both its satellite and satellite-cellular hybrid networks. Focused on developing solutions for mobile satellite connectivity use cases, Kymeta serves a wide range of industries: military and governmental applications and commercial solutions, providing satcom terminals for Industrial IoT, commercial fishing and shipping, freight and passenger rail and transportation.
Why it’s cool:
The heart of Kymeta’s technology is metamaterials which allow it to produce flat-panel satellite antennas. Electronic steering and a flat surface means that u8, Kymeta’s product, stays in the same position all the time and no additional movement is necessary. For most of the applications in transport/marine, installation is needed. However, portable u8 GO product is useful for military and disaster response applications where installation is not possible or practical.
Where:
Kymeta’s research facility is located in Seattle and legal offices are in Washington. The company does not focus specifically on any region, providing solutions in all parts of the world. In 2020, Kymeta raised $30M for LEO antenna solutions for South Korea. Earlier, in 2019, Kymeta partnered with Cascadia Rising Solutions — City of Redmond Emergency Management Division. A year before that, the company established a partnership with Turksat to bring land and sea connectivity to Europe, Middle East and Africa.
How long:
Kymeta was formed in 2012 to commercialize metamaterials in satellite communications and build an electronically steerable antenna for satellites using metamaterial science. In 2017, Kymeta introduced its first-generation product, the Kymeta u7 terminal which leveraged the science and technology behind metamaterials. Soon after, Kymeta introduced their flat panel u8 antenna. In August 2020, Kymeta acquired Satellite Service Provider Lepton Global Solutions.
What are they doing:
Kepler is building its own constellation — 13 satellites are already in orbit and it has a goal to launch 140 satellites. Using its network, the company provides connectivity services to the maritime, research, agriculture, logistics, and defense industries. As a data service, Kepler offers to compliment existing satcom links with low-cost routes for data where latency is not critical. One of the advantages of Kepler solution is that it is compatible with most popular OTS VSATs (like Kymeta) and no additional hardware is required.
Why it’s cool:
In addition to the data service offering, Kepler is one of the strongest players in IoT sector. Pole-to-pole coverage and credit card sized hardware makes Kepler an attractive offering. Bidirectional communications are available, allowing firmware updates. In October 2020, Kepler achieved best data rates (150 Mbps uplink and 130Mbps Downlink) for similar sized antennas for maritime satellite terminals over a LEO network.
Where:
Kepler is Canadian company with headquarters and a production facility in downtown Toronto. For its satellite launches, the company uses various contractors: ExoLaunch, Areanespace, ISL and SpaceX, so launch sites vary. From the client’s perspective, Kepler do not have any limitations regarding regions in which it can operate. One of the recent international clients was the German icebreaker Polarstern for the MOSAiC scientific expedition. IoT pre order sales started in Q2 2020, so it is too early to determine where most of the demand is coming from.
How long:
Kepler is a very young startup. Founded in 2015, it is still on its Series A, having raised a total of $21M. For the space company, especially with its own constellation and satellite production facility, Kepler is growing with impressive speed.
What are they doing:
OrbitEdge is building an in-orbit virtualized data infrastructure at the edge of space where it can process and analyze vast amounts of data created in space. Another OrbitEdge’s offering is SatFrame — a satellite bus (an object which encircles the satellite), which can leverage COTS and cut costs of developing new satellite technologies.
Why it’s cool:
Sending satellites into space is not a significant problem anymore. The next biggest bottleneck is sending satellite data back to earth and then processing it in the traditional cloud. Companies, including Amazon, have recognized this challenge, building ground stations to process data, so customers can quickly strip out noise, turning raw data into actionable intelligence. OrbitsEdge is focusing on bringing edge computing to the other side of the link — orbit itself. In addition to the growth of data collected per satellite, there is a remarkable increase in the number of satellites (such as Cubesats) being launched with thousands planned in the following years. Being small, many may lack the processing and memory options that the SatFrame will provide, creating a web service for data processing and analytics for satellites unable to meet their processing needs themselves.
Where:
OrbitsEdge is located on Cocoa Beach, Florida.
How long:
Founded in 2018, OrbitsEdge doesn’t provide any information about recent funding. In November 2019, the company signed an OEM agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprises. In July 2020, OrbitsEdge announced high-performance data centers that will be aboard the SatFrame during the initial launch, which is now planned in late 2021.
Our space odyssey continues next week with another 6 startups with ideas where “space is the limit”. We look forward to sharing them with you next week.
Bradley Kalgovas is a Senior Consultant at Detecon Inc. in San Francisco with a passion for new connectivity infrastructures. He is also part of the Detecon International Networked Infrastructure Practice and is actively working on solving the world’s connectivity issues.