Astranis

Last updated

Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
Astranis
Company type Private
Industry Satellite Internet
FoundedOctober 20, 2015;8 years ago (2015-10-20)
Founders
  • John Gedmark
  • Ryan McLinko
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
U.S.
Key people
ProductsSmall geostationary communications satellites
Number of employees
250+ (2023)
Website www.astranis.com

Astranis Space Technologies Corp. is an American company specializing in geostationary communications satellites. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Contents

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]

In 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, was originally planned to launch in mid-2024 [15] but is now scheduled for 2025. Customers include Orbits Corp of the Philippines, Thaicom of Thailand, Orbith of Argentina, and Apco Networks of Mexico. [16]

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

LaunchNumberSpacecraftLongitudeCustomerStatus
12 January 2018,

PSLV-XL [1]

—DemoSat-2 LEO AstranisSuccess
5 kg CubeSat carrying prototype software-defined radio payload.
1 May 2023,

Falcon Heavy [17]

1Arcturus / Aurora 4A163°W [11] Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Alaska.svg Pacific DataportOut 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]
2024,

Falcon 9 [16]

2–5Andesat-1 Flag of Peru.svg AndesatUnder construction
Anuvu-1 Flag of the United States.svg Anuvu
Anuvu-2
UtilitySat Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Alaska.svg Pacific Dataport
"Block 2" MicroGEO spacecraft, with upgraded lifetime and throughput performance. [18] Four spacecraft will be launched by a dedicated Falcon 9 mission directly to geostationary orbit. [14] Manifested are:
  • One of two spacecraft ordered by Grupo Andesat for "more than $90 million" to provide internet service to Peru. [19]
  • Two of eight spacecraft ordered by Anuvu (formerly Global Eagle) for maritime and aviation connectivity. [20]
  • UtilitySat, a versatile on-orbit spare planned to replace the failed Arcturus spacecraft until a dedicated replacement can be launched. [13]
2025 [16] 6-10
Apco-1 Flag of Mexico.svg Apco NetworksUnder construction
Apco-2
unknown Flag of Argentina.svg Orbith [16]
Flag of the Philippines.svg Orbits Corp
Thaicom-9 Flag of Thailand.svg Thaicom [21]
"Block 3" MicroGEO spacecraft. Manifested are:
  • Two spacecraft ordered by Apco Networks for service to Mexico.
  • One spacecraft ordered by Orbits Corp for service to the Philippines, capacity itself contracted to telecom provider HTechCorp. [15]
  • One spacecraft ordered by Thaicom for service to Thailand [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab Satellite Communications Organization</span> Arab satellite operator

The Arab Satellite Communications Organization is a communications satellite operator in the Arab World, headquartered in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Arabsat was created to deliver satellite-based, public and private telecommunications services to the Arab States, in accordance with International Standards. With 21 member countries, the organization plays a vital role of enhancing communications in the Arab World.

AsiaSat 5 is a Hong Kong communications satellite, which is operated by the Hong Kong based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat). It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 100.5° East of the Greenwich Meridian, where it replaced the AsiaSat 2 satellite. It is used to provide fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, telephone and broadband very small aperture terminal (VSAT) communications, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean region.

Horizons Satellite is a joint venture between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Group. Originally formed in 2001, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between JSAT Corporation and PanAmSat for the launch of Horizons-1, it was renewed for Horizons-2. JSAT later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group and PanAmSat was acquired by Intelsat, but the companies continued with the relationship, with the order for Horizons-3e. Both companies also launched a joint satellite, Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85, but instead of the equal share agreement of this joint venture, JSAT owns a specific payload of 5 transponders out of the 22 Ku band transponders of the spacecraft.

The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) is a Japanese corporation established in April 1993 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellites. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. In 1994, it was ranked by Space News as the world's 19th largest fixed satellite operator.

Thaicom 5 was a geostationary communications satellite operated by Thaicom. It was used to provide communications services to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 in spaceflight</span> Spaceflight-related events during the year of 2019

This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starlink</span> SpaceX satellite constellation and internet service

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to over 70 countries. It also aims to provide global mobile broadband.

Small-lift launch vehicle Rocket able to lift 2,000 kg to low Earth orbit

A small-lift launch vehicle is a rocket orbital launch vehicle that is capable of lifting 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) or less or under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). The next larger category consists of medium-lift launch vehicles.

Horizons-3e, also known as IS-H3e, is a high throughput geostationary communications satellite ordered by Horizons Satellite, a joint venture of Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Group. The spacecraft is designed and manufactured by Boeing on the Boeing-702MP platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kepler Communications</span> Canadian company

Kepler Communications Inc. is an international satellite telecommunications company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with presence in the UK and the USA. The company's stated mission is to create the internet for space and allow-in-space communications for the future space economy. It has also worked on building a satellite network for IoT communication systems.

Intelsat 10-02 is a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Intelsat 10-02 is the first operational communications satellite to have its service life extended by Mission Extension Vehicle-2, while still in service, in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 in spaceflight</span> Spaceflight-related events during the year of 2020

This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2020.

PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) is a private Indonesian satellite telecommunications company.

Kuiper Systems LLC, also known as Project Kuiper, is a subsidiary of Amazon that was established in 2019 to deploy a large satellite internet constellation to provide low-latency broadband internet connectivity. The name Kuiper was a company codename for the project inspired by the outer Solar System's Kuiper belt.

ViaSat-3 is a planned global constellation of three geostationary Ka-band communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 2023. Operated by Viasat, Inc., the satellites are intended to provide broadband connectivity with speeds of 100-plus megabits per second to homes, business and enterprise internet users, commercial, government and business aircraft, as well as government and defense markets, maritime and oceanic enterprises in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 in spaceflight</span> Spaceflight-related events during the year 2025

Spaceflight in 2025 promises to follow the 2020s trend of record breaking orbital launches and increased developments in lunar, Mars and low-earth orbit exploration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2027 in spaceflight</span> Spaceflight-related events during the year 2027

This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2027.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "DemoSat 2". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ Finley, Klint (March 1, 2018). "Can These Small Satellites Solve the Riddle of Internet From Space?". WIRED . Condé Nast. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Boyle, Alan (March 1, 2018). "With $13.5M boost, Astranis unveils big plan to beam internet from small satellites". GeekWire . Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ Boyle, Alan (January 16, 2019). "Astranis and Pacific Dataport team up on satellite broadband access for Alaska". GeekWire . Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Brehmer, Elwood (January 16, 2019). "Microcom founder launches new satellite broadband project". Alaska Journal of Commerce . Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ Jewett, Rachel (May 1, 2023). "Astranis and Infinite Orbits Confirm Success on ViaSat-3 Launch". Via Satellite. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "ViaSat 3 Americas, APAC, EMEA". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Astranis". Y Combinator. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ Sheetz, Michael (April 14, 2021). "Astranis, with a new approach to satellite internet, raises $250 million from BlackRock and others". CNBC . Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ Shieber, Jonathan (March 1, 2018). "Astranis emerges from stealth with a new satellite technology for connecting the world". TechCrunch . Archived from the original on March 1, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Petition for Declaratory Ruling" (PDF). FCC. 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ Michael Sheetz (May 24, 2023). "Astranis says its first internet satellite is working 'perfectly' as company prepares to bring coverage to Alaska". CNBC . Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheetz, Michael (July 21, 2023). "Astranis internet satellite malfunctions before beginning Alaska service, backup planned for spring". CNBC . Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 Sheetz, Michael (July 11, 2023). "Astranis to bring satellite internet to 2 million people in the Philippines next year". CNBC . Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Rainbow, Jason (March 18, 2024). "Orbith orders small Astranis GEO broadband satellite for Argentina". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  17. ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "Arcturus (Aurora 4A)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  18. ↑ Rainbow, Jason (July 15, 2021). "Astranis accelerates production with four more small GEO satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ Rainbow, Jason (July 27, 2021). "Anuvu orders first satellites for small GEO mobility constellation". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Rainbow, Jason (March 6, 2024). "Thaicom orders small GEO satellite from Astranis for a launch in 2025". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.