Space is now a contested domain. Geosynchronous orbit and other high orbits have immense strategic value, and countries like China are building spacecraft capable of approaching, inspecting, and interfering with other nations' satellites. The infrastructure that connects, informs, and protects the world sits in an environment primed for conflict.

Today, Astranis announced Perceptor, a new space domain awareness and maneuverability solution operating in GEO and other high orbits. Perceptor expands Astranis' offering beyond connectivity into a full-stack, multi-mission space infrastructure provider.

Gaps in the current space environment will be used against the US and allies by those with ill intent. Proliferated GEO is the missing piece in our current capabilities. 

"Astranis provides mission-critical infrastructure for strategic higher orbits. What we found is our means to detect and respond to emerging threats to this infrastructure are sorely lacking," said John Gedmark, CEO and co-founder of Astranis. “There are blind spots that will be used against us if not eliminated. With Perceptor, we’re meeting the increasing demand for security in GEO with our proven on-orbit platform and ability to produce at scale.” 

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Perceptor Capabilities:

• Observe and Inspect. An onboard sensor suite means the spacecraft can assess objects and activity in orbit. Multi-angle flybys can assess spacecraft capabilities, help troubleshoot anomalies on friendly spacecraft, and provide additional eyes in a domain where awareness has historically been limited.
• Maneuverability: Perceptor can both respond to nearby activity in real time, and use its electric propulsion system to traverse the full GEO arc, repositioning dozens of times over its mission lifetime.
• Swarm Tactics. Proliferated spacecraft mean new tactics to counter attempts at evasion, with an approach that scales to meet the needs of the mission.
• Speed. Perceptor uses Astranis’s flight proven MicroGEO platform and is ready to be produced at scale, built on the same production line as satellites that are flying today.

Perceptor was designed for both commercial and national security missions in GEO and other high orbits. It's built on the same MicroGEO platform with five satellites already on orbit today, leveraging a proven approach to critical in-space infrastructure.

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About Astranis

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Astranis Media Contact

Kati Dahm: press@astranis.com

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