Company:Astranis
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Astranis | |
Type | Private |
Industry | Satellite Internet |
Founded | October 20, 2015 |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | |
Products | Small geostationary communications satellites |
Number of employees | 250+ (2023) |
Website | www |
Astranis Space Technologies Corp. is an American company specializing in geostationary communications satellites. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
In 2018, Astranis launched DemoSat-2, a prototype 3U cubesat. The launch aimed to test Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology for future larger communications satellites.[1]
The company publicly disclosed its projects in March 2018, following a funding round that was aimed at the development of geostationary communications satellites.[2][3]
In January 2019, Astranis initiated a commercial program with Pacific Dataport, Inc. to increase the satellite internet capacity in Alaska.[4][5] A 350 kg satellite was launched on April 30, 2023, as part of a multi-satellite payload.[6][7]
Astranis was part of the Winter 2016 cohort of the Y Combinator accelerator program[8] and has raised over $350 million in venture funding from firms such as BlackRock, Venrock, and Andreessen Horowitz.[9]
History
Demonstration satellite
On January 12, 2018, Astranis launched its first satellite, "DemoSat 2", using an Indian PSLV-XL rocket. The satellite was a 3U cubesat measuring 10 cm x 10 cm x 30 cm and weighing less than 3 kg. It carried a prototype of the company's software-defined radio.[1][10]
Geostationary satellites
Block 1
In 2019, Astranis leased its first MicroGEO spacecraft to Pacific Dataport, Inc., a subsidiary of Microcom.[5] The satellite, named Arcturus, initially had an anticipated launch date in early 2022,[11] which was later delayed to April 2023.[7] After the launch, the company confirmed successful communication with the satellite and hardware deployment. Subsequent tests showed the spacecraft could deliver up to 8.5 Gbps, compared to its design specification of 7.5 Gbps.[12]
n July 2023, Astranis reported a malfunction in an externally supplied solar array drive assembly on Arcturus, which affected the spacecraft's ability to provide internet service. According to Astranis CEO John Gedmark, no hardware built by Astranis failed.[13]
Block 2
In April 2022, Astranis signed a launch contract with SpaceX for their "Block 2" MicroGEO spacecraft. The company had previously initiated component orders for these spacecraft, with an initial aim to complete them by the end of 2022.[14]
Block 3
Block 3, consisting of five satellites, is planned to launch mid-2024.[15]
Future
A replacement for Arcturus is scheduled for early 2025.[13] Astranis CEO John Gedmark stated in April 2022 that the company aims to have over 100 satellites in active service by 2030.[14]
Spacecraft
Launch | Number | Spacecraft | Longitude | Customer | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 January 2018,
PSLV-XL[1] |
— | DemoSat-2 | LEO | Astranis | Success |
5 kg CubeSat carrying prototype software-defined radio payload. | |||||
1 May 2023, | 1 | Arcturus / Aurora 4A | 163°W[11] | ![]() ![]() |
Out of service |
First MicroGEO spacecraft, customer designation Aurora 4A. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in April 2023, co-manifested with primary payload Viasat-3 Americas and Gravity Space GS-1. A defect in the spacecraft's solar array drive assemblies in early July 2023 left the spacecraft with insufficient power for its primary mission.[13] Spacecraft remains functional, with Astranis attempting to recover the spacecraft's solar arrays or repurpose it for secondary missions.[13] | |||||
Q4 2023, | 2–5 | Andesat-1 | ![]() |
Under construction | |
Anuvu-1 | ![]() | ||||
Anuvu-2 | |||||
UtilitySat | ![]() ![]() | ||||
"Block 2" MicroGEO spacecraft, with upgraded lifetime and throughput performance.[17] Four spacecraft will be launched by a dedicated Falcon 9 mission directly to geostationary orbit.[14] Manifested are:
| |||||
Mid-2024[15] | 6-10 | Andesat-2 | ![]() |
Under construction | |
Apco-1 | ![]() | ||||
Apco-2 | |||||
![]() | |||||
unspecified | |||||
"Block 3" MicroGEO spacecraft. Manifested are: |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "DemoSat 2". https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/demosat-2.htm.
- ↑ Finley, Klint (March 1, 2018). "Can These Small Satellites Solve the Riddle of Internet From Space?". WIRED (Condé Nast). https://www.wired.com/story/can-these-small-satellites-solve-the-riddle-of-internet-from-space/.
- ↑ Boyle, Alan (March 1, 2018). "With $13.5M boost, Astranis unveils big plan to beam internet from small satellites". GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2018/13-5m-boost-astranis-unveils-big-plans-beam-internet-small-satellites/.
- ↑ Boyle, Alan (January 16, 2019). "Astranis and Pacific Dataport team up on satellite broadband access for Alaska". GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/astranis-pacific-dataport-team-satellite-broadband-access-alaska/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brehmer, Elwood (January 16, 2019). "Microcom founder launches new satellite broadband project". Alaska Journal of Commerce. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-01-16/microcom-founder-launches-new-satellite-broadband-project.
- ↑ Jewett, Rachel (May 1, 2023). "Astranis and Infinite Orbits Confirm Success on ViaSat-3 Launch". Via Satellite. https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2023/05/01/astranis-and-infinite-orbits-confirm-success-on-viasat-3-launch/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "ViaSat 3 Americas, APAC, EMEA". https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/viasat-3.htm.
- ↑ "Astranis". Y Combinator. https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/astranis.
- ↑ Sheetz, Michael (April 14, 2021). "Astranis, with a new approach to satellite internet, raises $250 million from BlackRock and others". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/astranis-satellite-internet-raises-250-million-from-blackrock-others.html.
- ↑ Shieber, Jonathan (March 1, 2018). "Astranis emerges from stealth with a new satellite technology for connecting the world". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/01/astranis-emerges-from-stealth-with-a-new-satellite-technology-for-connecting-the-world/.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Petition for Declaratory Ruling". FCC. 2021. https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-PPL-20210607-00075/8982903.pdf.
- ↑ Michael Sheetz (May 24, 2023). "Astranis says its first internet satellite is working ‘perfectly’ as company prepares to bring coverage to Alaska". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/24/astranis-first-internet-satellite-over-alaska-working-perfectly.html.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Sheetz, Michael (July 21, 2023). "Astranis internet satellite malfunctions before beginning Alaska service, backup planned for spring". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/21/astranis-alaska-internet-satellite-malfunctions-backup-planned.html.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Astranis Space Technologies Signs Contract with SpaceX for Dedicated Multi-Satellite Launch in 2023" (Press release). Astranis. April 5, 2022. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via BusinessWire.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Sheetz, Michael (July 11, 2023). "Astranis to bring satellite internet to 2 million people in the Philippines next year". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/astranis-satellite-internet-coming-to-the-philippines-next-year.html.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "Arcturus (Aurora 4A)". Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/arcturus.htm.
- ↑ Rainbow, Jason (July 15, 2021). "Astranis accelerates production with four more small GEO satellites". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/astranis-accelerates-production-with-four-more-small-geo-satellites/.
- ↑ "Andesat and Astranis Sign Landmark Two-satellite Agreement to Expand Broadband Access in Peru" (Press release). Astranis. December 7, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 – via BusinessWire.
- ↑ Rainbow, Jason (July 27, 2021). "Anuvu orders first satellites for small GEO mobility constellation". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/anuvu-orders-first-satellites-for-small-geo-mobility-constellation/.
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astranis.
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