SpaceX and Google both said no. Now his software is riding a SpaceX rocket next to Google’s
Satlyt wants to be the Android of orbital computing, offering open software that works on many companies' satellites, versus SpaceX's closed, all-in-one iPhone-style approach.
TL;DR
- Satlyt, co-founded by ex-Google and SpaceX engineer Rama Afullo, is developing software for satellites to perform large computing jobs in space.
- The company has raised $8 million in seed funding and its software will launch on a SpaceX rocket, alongside Google's Project Suncatcher.
- Satlyt aims to provide open, horizontally integrated software that can operate on various companies' satellites, comparing its approach to VMware and Snowflake.
- The software focuses on operational efficiencies for spacecraft, enabling AI-driven decisions onboard to reduce reliance on ground control and costly data downlinks.
- A recent demonstration successfully used Satlyt's software to significantly reduce the size of transmissions about onboard software errors.
- Future plans include creating a shared computing system spanning multiple satellites, functioning as a third-party cloud provider in orbit.
- The seed round was led by Non Sibi Ventures, with partner Bernard Harris highlighting the investment's conviction in a novel space-based business.
- Satlyt aims to be integrated into 20% of satellites by the end of the decade, anticipating widespread adoption of advanced processors like GPUs in spacecraft.