Astranis

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Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
Astranis
Company typePrivate
IndustrySatellite 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)
Websitewww.astranis.com

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, 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

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,

Falcon Heavy[17]

1 Arcturus / Aurora 4A 163°W[11] United StatesAlaska Pacific Dataport 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]
2024,

Falcon 9[16]

2–5 Andesat-1 Peru Andesat Under construction
Anuvu-1 United States Anuvu
Anuvu-2
UtilitySat United StatesAlaska 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 Mexico Apco Networks Under construction
Apco-2
unknown Argentina Orbith[16]
Philippines Orbits Corp
Thaicom-9 Thailand 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]

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Rainbow, Jason (March 6, 2024). "Thaicom orders small GEO satellite from Astranis for a launch in 2025". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
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