Blue Skies Space, a London-based company, has raised more than £2 million in finance to hasten the delivery of its fleet of satellites. It will be able to launch its first stargazing satellite in 2025 thanks to the funds.
The world’s research community, which was previously solely supported by government entities, can now access satellite-acquired data on stars, planets, and other scientific disciplines thanks to Blue Skies Space. Government organizations (NASA, ESA, etc.) have historically supplied academics with access to space data, but these satellites are in high demand and frequently have long waiting lists. With yearly memberships, Blue Skies Space makes data sharing easier for any scientist in the globe.
The financing will allow Blue Skies Space to launch Mauve, their first tiny satellite, to monitor the activity of neighbouring stars. This will aid in the understanding of how strong stellar flares affect exoplanets and the likelihood that they support life.
The corporation wants to operate a fleet of satellites to support research efforts using data from national space agencies. Eleven universities and organizations, including the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and Cardiff University, have already signed up.
The members of the Blue Skies team are alumni from University College London (UCL), Airbus, NASA, Surrey Satellite Technology, and California Institute of Technology (Caltech). SFC Capital in the UK and Japanese sponsors SPARX have invested in the fundraising round.
Blue Skies Space CEO and co-founder Dr. Marcell Tessenyi stated, “We think great science doesn’t always need large satellites. By monitoring the activity of neighbouring stars, our first tiny satellite Mauve will aid scientists in their understanding of the effects of strong stellar flares on exoplanets and their potential to support life. With the support of SPARX and SFC Capital, this money allows us to launch Mauve by early 2025 and expedite the deployment of succeeding satellites that are already in development.”
