Aerospace startup CesiumAstro Inc. has successfully secured $470 million to bolster its satellite manufacturing capabilities and enhance product development. The funding was primarily sourced from a significant equity round led by Trousdale Ventures, with participation from notable investors including Airbus Ventures and the Development Bank of Japan. An additional $200 million was raised through debt financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and J.P. Morgan.
As a key supplier of components for low-Earth orbit satellite constellations, CesiumAstro partners with major companies such as SpaceX, Amazon, and Blue Origin, all engaging in the development of these satellite networks. Notably, last November, Google revealed plans to deploy two satellites aimed at advancing artificial intelligence models in space.
CesiumAstro’s offerings include the RDP-23FV chip, which integrates multiple central processing units based on Arm Holdings designs and features 7 gigabytes of memory. This innovative memory module is designed to automatically correct certain data errors, facilitating its use in satellite onboard software.
Another critical component, the RPU chip, manages the communications antenna of a satellite. It utilizes a powerful oscillator to modulate radio frequencies, enhancing signal strength through a technique known as beamforming. Rather than broadcasting signals uniformly in all directions, beamforming allows antennas to concentrate their transmissions toward a specific recipient.
In addition to these components, CesiumAstro produces a software-defined radio, the SDR-2104, suitable for various applications from low-Earth orbit satellites to deep space missions. This module features a field-programmable gate array capable of executing AI applications.
For connectivity, CesiumAstro offers the Skylark device, utilizing an active phased array to establish wireless connections across vehicles, ships, and aircraft. This technology is crucial for users looking to access satellite networks seamlessly.
The company’s product lineup also includes the Element satellite, equipped with multiple antennas and a propulsion system, designed to operate efficiently at altitudes from 310 to 635 miles for five years. With the new funding, CesiumAstro aims to accelerate the production of these satellites and plans to establish a state-of-the-art 270,000-square-foot headquarters to further develop its satellite networking technologies, targeting the launch of over half a dozen satellites in the coming years.
