Company:E-Space
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Satellite constellation |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Greg Wyler |
| Headquarters | Toulouse, France[1] and United States |
Key people | Greg Wyler |
| Products | Satellites |
| Website | www |
E-Space is a satellite communications company.[1] Created by Greg Wyler, E-Space satellites are designed to form a "constellation" of small satellites designed to resist fragmenting if struck in orbit.[1][2]
The company has said that its satellites have also been designed to clean up small pieces of orbital debris,[3][1] as well as to provide communications services to governments and businesses.[3][4]
It launched its first three demonstration satellites in May 2022.[5][6]
History
E-Space was publicly launched in 2022 by satellite and space entrepreneur Greg Wyler, who previously founded OneWeb and O3b Networks.[1][7][3] Based both in France and the United States,[8] the company was created to form a network of inexpensive, small satellites to provide services to governments and businesses.[3][1]
At launch, it raised $50 million from Prime Movers Lab and other investors.[9][10]
In February 2022, Wyler told the Financial Times that E-Space would launch up to 100,000 satellites in orbit within a decade, and that their satellites were the "first to be designed to clean space."[3] He said that E-Space technology enables their satellites to collect orbital debris.[11] He also said E-Space satellites are designed to be resilient to a chain reaction of orbital collisions known as a Kessler event.[4]
E-Space's first three demonstration satellites were launched via Rocket Lab launch vehicles in May 2022.[5][6] As of August 2022, the company had filed for 300,000 satellites through the country of Rwanda.[5] In November of that same year E-Space also became one of the first companies in the world to be listed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's official satellite registry, thus providing legal permission for E-Space to provide land communications traffic in that country.[12]
In December 2022, E-Space announced its first acquisition with the purchase of CommAgility, a unit of the publicly-traded company Wireless Telecom Group that specializes in cellular and satellite signal management.[10][13]
Technologies
E-Space satellites are smaller than most other commercial satellites,[14] and are designed to "crumple" if struck in space.[3][14] The satellites are also designed to collect space debris, and to automatically deorbit at the end of their lifespans to prevent leave additional debris.[3][1][11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Kelvey, Jon (8 February 2022). "OneWeb founder's new venture aims to make satellites that fight space debris". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/space/oneweb-space-debris-satellites-b2009782.html.
- ↑ Fernholz, Tim (10 February 2022). "The entrepreneur behind mega constellations wants to make them safe". Quartz. https://qz.com/emails/space-business/2124595/the-entrepreneur-behind-mega-constellations-wants-to-make-them-safe/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Hollinger, Peggy (2 February 2022). "Founder of OneWeb to join tech's race for space". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/0db57559-a8d0-4e9b-aeef-e3e7d796d635.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fernholz, Tim (10 February 2022). "Greg Wyler's E-Space is a satellite firm expecting a disaster". Quartz. https://qz.com/2125896/greg-wylers-e-space-is-a-satellite-firm-expecting-a-disaster.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Rainbow, Jason (24 August 2022). "Megaconstellation startup E-Space expands leadership team". Space News. https://spacenews.com/megaconstellation-startup-e-space-expands-leadership-team/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jewett, Rachel (4 May 2022). "Rocket Lab Catches Booster With Helicopter After Successful Launch". Satellite Today. https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2022/05/03/rocket-lab-catches-booster-with-helicopter-after-successful-launch/.
- ↑ FitzGerald, Drew (17 October 2022). "The 5G Space Race: A host of aerospace companies and startups are vying to develop satellite networks that can talk to smartphones". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/race-to-win-satellite-based-5g-smartphone-market-11665775234.
- ↑ Rainbow, Jason (7 April 2022). "E-Space sheds more light on sustainable megaconstellation plan". Space News. https://spacenews.com/e-space-sheds-more-light-on-sustainable-megaconstellation-plan/.
- ↑ Jewett, Rachel (7 February 2022). "New Greg Wyler Startup E-Space Raises $50M in Funding". Via Satellite. https://www.satellitetoday.com/business/2022/02/07/new-greg-wyler-startup-e-space-raises-50m-in-funding/.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rainbow, Jason (5 December 2022). "E-Space buys RF hardware developer CommAgility". Space News. https://spacenews.com/e-space-buys-rf-hardware-developer-commagility/.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Alamalhodaei, Aria (27 April 2022). "OneWeb founder Greg Wyler's new startup wants to launch a 'sustainable' satellite mega-constellation". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/27/oneweb-founder-greg-wylers-new-startup-wants-to-launch-a-sustainable-satellite-mega-constellation/.
- ↑ Holmes, Mark (10 November 2022). "E-Space Makes Progress to Offer Service in the Middle East". Via Satellite. https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/2022/11/10/e-space-makes-progress-to-offer-service-in-the-middle-east/.
- ↑ Joosting, Jean-Pierre (6 December 2022). "E-Space buys CommAgility to acquire 5G NTN source code". eeNews. https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/e-space-buys-commagility-from-the-wireless-telecom-group-for-5g-source-code/.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Warwick, Martyn (14 October 2022). "E-Space plans a constellation of 300,000 LEO satellites". Telecom TV. https://www.telecomtv.com/content/access-evolution/e-space-plans-a-constellation-of-300-000-leo-satellites-45686/.
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