Launching heavy satellites into space might be about to get a whole lot easier.
What’s happening:
- K2 Space has raised $50M USD in a new financing round
- The round was led by technology focused venture capital fund Altimeter Capital
The big idea:
- K2 Space is building large satellite buses that are capable of delivering heavy payloads into orbit
- Each satellite bus manufactured by K2 Space has the ability to deploy heavy weight and highly capable satellites into space
- K2 Space has purpose built all their hardware and technology to integrate with heavy and super heavy rockets
Why it matters:
- Many space missions have been limited by the close correlation of the weight of their payload with the cost of launching into orbit, which K2 Space is aiming to change
By the numbers:
- Each one of K2 Space’s large satellite buses cost around $15M USD, which is significantly less than other options that are currently available
- K2 Space’s large satellite buses can deliver up to 1 ton of weight into space and they are currently prototyping a new satellite bus that they believe will be able to carry up to 15 tons of weight
Going deeper:
- K2 Space is founded by former talent from SpaceX and their flagship satellite is purpose built to fit on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets as well as United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket
