Astranis unveils geostationary surveillance satellite

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Satellite manufacturer Astranis unveiled a spacecraft designed to monitor and maneuver around other objects in geostationary orbit, expanding beyond communications satellites into the market for space surveillance.

The San Francisco-based company said Aug. 13 that its new spacecraft, called Perceptor, is built on its existing microGEO satellite platform and carries sensors to observe and inspect other satellites while using electric propulsion to reposition itself across the geostationary belt.

Astranis is seeking to expand its business beyond broadband communications into space domain awareness, the military term for detecting, tracking and characterizing objects and activity in orbit.

The company said Perceptor will be able to conduct flybys of other satellites, and multiple satellites could operate together, allowing military operators to observe spacecraft from different locations and making it more difficult for a target to evade surveillance.

Geostationary orbit has become a growing focus for the Space Force as China and other countries develop spacecraft capable of maneuvering near the communications and missile-warning satellites that underpin U.S. military operations.

“There are blind spots that will be used against us if not eliminated,” said Astranis co-founder and chief executive John Gedmark. He said Perceptor is a dual-use platform that could support both government and commercial reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Astranis is entering an increasingly competitive market. In April, the U.S. Space Force selected 14 companies, including Astranis, to compete for task orders under its Andromeda contract vehicle supporting RG-XX, a planned next-generation constellation of surveillance satellites in geostationary orbit.

Astranis builds so-called microGEO satellites weighing a few hundred kilograms, considerably smaller than traditional multi-ton geostationary communications satellites. The company has used the platform primarily to provide dedicated broadband capacity and has sought to adapt it for national security missions.

The Perceptor announcement follows Astranis’ $450 million funding round in May, when the company said it would use the capital to expand manufacturing capacity and prepare for U.S. government procurements.