SAN FRANCISCO – Hedron, formerly known as Analytical Space, has raised $ 17.8 million in a series of Serie A funding. optical / RF data network ‘.
The funding round was led by Fine Structure Ventures featuring Lockheed Martin Ventures, Republic Labs, Lime Street, Explorer 1 and existing investors, including Engine, Flybridge, Yard Ventures, NKM Capital and Space Angels.
“Since our inception, our goal at Hedron has been to provide low-latency access to space data, paving the way for new sensor technologies and time-sensitive applications,” said Dan Nevius, CEO and co-founder of Hedron. statement. “Today we are one step closer to achieving that goal. These additional resources will allow us to move even faster toward the deployment of our global data retransmission network, beginning with our network demonstration.
Since the company was founded in 2016, Hedron has demonstrated its technology in orbit with two cubes and conducted laboratory tests to ensure that it can transmit data obtained from remote sensing satellites.
At the end of 2022, Hedron plans to begin construction of the first spacecraft of its constellation in low Earth orbit and conduct beta testing with satellite operators. The initial satellites will be sent into solar synchronous orbit, crossing the equator at 10:30 a.m. local time, said Catherine Monson, Hedron’s chief commercial officer. SpaceNews.
Because this orbit is popular with Earth observation satellites, Hedron will have ample opportunity to test the company’s software-defined radio stations, which are designed to receive Earth observation data at various radio frequencies.
Hedron’s goal is to create a backbone for transmitting data with nodes in multiple orbital planes to provide customers with almost constant connectivity between satellites and ground stations. Customer data will be directed to ground station providers and customer data via optical and RF beams.
“Real-time space data will develop the art of what is possible for customers and industry partners,” said Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures. “We invest in companies whose innovative technologies have the potential to benefit our core business and customers. Hedron’s planned data network, which has the ability to provide critical information to users, meets this criterion.
The US space force awarded Hedron contract for $ 26.4 million earlier this year for an initial demonstration of the satellite network.
“We’re still fulfilling the space force treaty,” Monson said. Series A funding, combined with the value of the space force contract, “will allow us to start launching this first orbital aircraft; to move from working on proof of concept, validation of the idea and suitable for the product market to really increase the gas on the construction of the satellites, their deployment and the start of the construction of this original backbone. “
With the announcement of the A Series, Analytical Space also changed its name to Hedron, short for polyhedron, a reference to the company’s network topology and the design of the main optical communication technology.
“We are excited to join Hedron as it seeks to build a next-generation data network in space,” said Jennifer Urig, senior managing director of Fine Structure Ventures. “The demand for satellite-generated data is growing rapidly, and Hedron’s vision and technology will address the need to reduce latency and costs.”
NASA is looking commercial alternatives to state satellites for tracking and transmitting data and connected ground stations. Hedron Network will be very suitable for this task, according to the company’s announcement of October 26.