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Of course, there weren't any major startup events between Christmas and New Year's that we could cover in the podcast. So, this episode starts right away with the first topic: Spacetech. We address the two questions "How do we get up there?" and "What do we actually want up there?"
New Space
The question of how to transport humans or machines into space currently has only one answer: with chemically powered rockets. While there are a few other ideas, they currently amount to little more than that. However, rockets have one major problem: they are expensive. According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the US space agency), it costs about $10,000 to transport one pound of payload into space. The actual cost depends on various factors, such as where you launch from, what the exact destination is (i.e., whether you want to reach a low, medium, or high orbit, or something else entirely), the size of the spacecraft, and much more. The number of rocket launches is also manageable; in 2020, a total of 114 rockets were launched, 104 of which were successful.
Space agencies like NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) want to reduce these costs and rely on support from the private sector. Startups like SpaceX and Virgin Space aim to make access cheaper by producing rockets and enabling more launches. Isar Aerospace (from minute 4:10) a Munich-based startup is also involved in the process. The startup focuses on small launch vehicles that carry small satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. By comparison, a Starlink satellite weighs approximately 400 kg, while standardized Cubesats weigh just under 1.5 kg. Meanwhile, Isar Aerospace has opened its production facility in Ottobrunn and is eagerly awaiting the first launch of its transport rocket, scheduled for the end of 2021.
Satellites made in Munich
Now that we've clarified how we get into space, the question arises as to what we actually want to achieve there. Generally speaking, this involves topics such as high-speed internet, autonomous driving, industrial connectivity, data encryption, and data retention. The Munich ecosystem also offers a few concrete examples, such as the startup Ororatech (from minute 9:20). The space technology company, founded in 2018, is developing a constellation of nanosatellites with infrared sensors that use algorithms to detect and monitor wildfires worldwide from Earth's orbit. The first satellite is scheduled to be launched into space at the end of this year. However, the startup is already accessing and processing data from other satellites. The results have been available via the Wildfire System since the end of 2019.
Other startups, however, only produce individual components for satellites, for example Mynaric (11:55). Although the company has already outgrown its startup status, it is all the more beautiful Success Story from the state capital. Founded in 2009, Mynaric develops and markets laser communication systems for transmitting large amounts of data where fiber optics aren't possible—for example, in aircraft or in space. This also provides a key technology for satellite internet. After the startup successfully went public in 2017 and secured several major contracts, it now supplies Telesat, one of the world's largest satellite operators. It is also rumored that Mynaric is collaborating with Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite network for internet access from space.
However, even smaller rolls are baked Neosat (Minute 16:35). The spinoff from the Bundeswehr University in Neubiberg aims to close the gap between university research and industry requirements in the field of cutting-edge satellite communications technologies in the 5G era. To this end, the space tech startup aims to transfer 5G's multi-antenna technology to satellite communications.
Spacetech does not necessarily mean your own satellite
Many companies use data from space, but of course, not all of them have their own satellites. Why would they, after all, the data can also be purchased. For example, from the Munich startup Cloudeo (18:20). This company has been collecting data from various satellite providers since 2012 and making it available to its customers. The data includes image files, 3D terrain models, thematic maps, and sensor data – bundled with software and IT. This allows data sets, which are sometimes only needed once, to be viewed on a rental basis rather than being expensively purchased.
Dcubed and Interlink Ventures
The second part of the podcast is also about a new space startup: Dcubed develops and markets actuators, i.e. trigger mechanisms for deployable structures such as solar panels. With this concept, the startup, founded in 2019, recently attracted investor Interlink Ventures The venture capitalist, founded in 2020, sees itself as an active supporter of startups and as a co-entrepreneur. As such, it contributes not only financial resources but also its expertise in establishing and further developing the organization, marketing, and product automation.
