Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the 14 global space startups that have been selected to participate in the 2023 AWS Space Accelerator. The program is designed to provide technical, business, and mentorship support to startups to help them accelerate their growth using the cloud. The selected startups are creating innovative solutions to address various challenges associated with space sustainability.
AWS Space Accelerator to drive innovation in the space industry
Today, space exploration has gained immense significance globally, with over 70 countries participating in space activities. To ensure that humans can use space sustainably for generations to come, organizations like the World Economic Forum, the European Space Agency, and NASA are exploring ways to support a safe, prosperous, and sustainable future in space. The AWS Space Accelerator will help selected startups leverage flexible, agile cloud tools that can help power their space missions and innovate faster.
AWS Space Accelerator program benefits
The AWS Space Accelerator provides participants with specialized AWS training, up to $100,000 in AWS Promotional Credit, business development and strategy support, and mentoring from AWS space domain and technical subject matter experts. The startups will also have the opportunity to work with AWS customers and AWS Partner Network (APN) Partners looking for innovative space solutions.
Meet the cohort
A panel of experts from AWS and TechConnect selected this year’s startups from hundreds of highly competitive applicants worldwide. The 14 startups were chosen based on several factors, including the innovative and unique nature of each project, relevance to the space sustainability focus, the overall value the solution may bring to the space industry, the creative application of AWS technology, and the team’s ability to deliver on an identified opportunity.
The 14 participating startups are:
Delta-V Analytics Inc (New Castle, Delaware) – Delta-V Analytics provides a cloud-based platform that automates satellite constellation operations using digital twin technology.
GATE Space (Vienna, Austria) – GATE Space enables the next generation of in-space mobility by providing scalable and cost-efficient plug-and-play mobility to satellites and orbital transfer vehicles.
GRASP (Lille, France) – GRASP’s mission is to develop satellite instruments and products that provide a complete picture of the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. These will be designed specifically to help decision-makers select paths that minimize climate change and improve air quality and human health.
In Orbit Aerospace (Torrance, California) – In Orbit is building infrastructure to support mass manufacturing in space. This startup operates uncrewed orbital platforms and re-entry vehicles, with the goal of providing more accessible and cost-effective service to and from space.
Integrate (Seattle, Washington) – Integrate is building a program logistics platform for complex hardware development and deployment scenarios for the space industry. The company’s collaboration-first approach allows program managers to organically pull together hardware specifications, high level requirements, and schedules into a single collaborative software platform for faster execution.
Kawa Space (San Francisco, California) – Kawa provides space-powered signals intelligence (SIGINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and maritime domain awareness (MDA) as a service.
Little Place Labs (Houston, Texas) – Little Place Labs specializes in providing near-real-time space analytics for both ground and space-based applications, using advanced machine learning algorithms deployed directly on satellites and other space infrastructures. This enables rapid, precise, and cost-effective delivery of critical insights across commercial and national security sectors, with the ultimate purpose of making the world a better place.
Lunasonde – (Tucson, Arizona) – Lunasonde is making the underground world visible, transforming humanity’s approach to subsurface exploration and resource extraction. Using low-frequency radar, Lunasonde can identify objects and materials hundreds of meters underground, resulting in the first three-dimensional map below the surface of the Earth, and eventually the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and beyond.
Nominal (Austin, Texas) – Nominal builds continuous validation software for hardware organizations testing and deploying high-stakes, complex systems. The Nominal platform equips engineering teams to explore, monitor, and enrich mission-critical test data — all in one place.
Raven Space Systems, Inc. (Kansas City, Kansas) – Raven Space Systems is building entirely 3D printed reentry capsules for on-demand cargo return from space. The company’s automated factory will enable cheaper and faster capsule production with adaptability for any mission.
Rogue Space Systems (Laconia, New Hampshire) – Rogue Space Systems provides in-space services through autonomous robotic systems, and aims to support a future vision of growth and expansion in space, including the tools and resources humanity will need to flourish.
Space Kinetic (Albuquerque, New Mexico) – Space Kinetic is turning solar power into low-cost, in-space mobility with a novel electromechanical propulsion system. With several diverse applications across the space domain, the company’s long-term goal is to build a cislunar logistics network for sustainable space operations.
Violet Labs (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Violet Labs is building cloud-based software integration for complex hardware engineering. The Violet platform aggregates data from software tools used across the hardware development lifecycle into a powerful single source of truth.
Xona Space Systems Inc (Burlingame, California) – Xona Space Systems enables modern technologies to operate safely in any environment, anywhere on Earth. Utilizing the efficiency of small satellites, Xona’s PULSAR service is a commercial “Super-GPS” designed to provide unprecedented precision, protection, and availability.
Innovative solutions for space sustainability
The 14 participating startups are working on inspiring and innovative solutions that address various challenges associated with space sustainability. Delta-V Analytics provides a cloud-based platform that automates satellite constellation operations using digital twin technology. GATE Space enables the next generation of in-space mobility by providing scalable and cost-efficient plug-and-play mobility to satellites and orbital transfer vehicles. GRASP’s mission is to develop satellite instruments and products that provide a complete picture of the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. These will be designed specifically to help decision-makers select paths that minimize climate change and improve air quality and human health.
Future of space for all humanity
As organizations are thinking big about how to transform the future of space for all humanity, the AWS Space Accelerator can help startups leverage the latest cloud tools and solutions to develop next-generation space technology. With their innovative ideas and the support provided by AWS, these startups have the potential to drive significant progress in the space industry.
