Spacety
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Satellite manufacturing |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Changsha , China |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Micro and nano-satellites, Satellite-as-a-service |
Number of employees | 70 (2019) |
Spacety, formally known as Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., is a Chinese enterprise established in 2016 that concentrates on the design, production, and operation of micro and nano-satellites intended for earth observation, scientific investigation, and communication purposes.
History
With the mission to make space more accessible through affordable satellite technologies, Spacety had grown to employ 70 staff members across its offices in Changsha and Beijing by November 2019. At that time, it managed nine missions involving a total of 15 satellites orbiting Earth. By April 2020, the company had expanded its satellite fleet to 18 units.
On December 9, 2023, the launch of two satellites aboard the Zhuque-2 rocket marked Spacety's eighteenth mission, bringing its total number of satellites in orbit to 30.
Technology and services
Spacety excels in the swift design and deployment of micro and nano-satellites, catering to applications ranging from high-resolution terrestrial imaging to space-based scientific experiments.
The company offers a satellite-as-a-service model that allows customers to utilize satellite data without the need to own hardware, effectively reducing entry barriers for organizations seeking space-derived information.
Their product lineup includes small satellite platforms weighing between 10 and 200 kilograms. By 2020, Spacety had attracted approximately $36 million in venture capital investments. The firm targets global entrepreneurs and startups by providing rapid and cost-efficient satellite services, achieving an industry-leading launch preparation period of just four months and 21 days following contract agreement.
Satellite constellation
Spacety is advancing the Laser Communication Aviation Internet Constellation project, which will consist of 288 satellites positioned at an altitude of 1000 kilometers. These satellites are arranged in 12 orbital planes with 24 satellites each. This constellation in high-inclination low Earth orbit is designed to deliver comprehensive global broadband coverage for connectivity during flights.
Furthermore, Spacety contributes to the Gamma Ray Integrated Detectors (GRID) initiative—an astrophysics satellite network comprising 24 units developed in collaboration with the Tsinghua Centre for Astrophysics (THCA). GRID aims to detect electromagnetic counterparts associated with gravitational wave events observed by LIGO.
Developments and partnerships
In September 2019, Spacety launched a subsidiary in Luxembourg as part of its strategy to enhance cooperation with European companies.
The company joined forces with French propulsion startup ThrustMe to evaluate lightweight and economical solid ion thrusters designed for CubeSats and other small satellites. This collaboration seeks to improve satellite maneuvering capabilities while addressing orbital debris issues.
Additionally, a partnership with Hunan University of Science and Technology resulted in the Spacety-33 satellite, intended for scientific experiments in orbit. This satellite incorporated the RROS operating system—a dual-kernel, real-time OS developed using Rust by researchers at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. It represents the first deployment of a Rust-based kernel in space.
United States
In February 2023, Spacety was placed on the U.S. trade blacklist following accusations of supplying satellite imagery to the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner Group.
Luxembourg
In March 2023, Luxembourg’s ministries of economy and foreign affairs launched an investigation into Spacety Luxembourg S.A. concerning alleged connections to Moscow.
As a result of the imposed sanctions, the lease for Spacety Luxembourg S.A.’s office in Belval was terminated. Prominent entities including the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the University of Luxembourg halted their partnerships; LIST had employed Spacety’s high-resolution satellite images for risk assessment purposes, whereas the university collaborated on mechanical technologies aimed at space debris mitigation.
Spacety Luxembourg S.A. firmly rejects all claims related to ties with Russia and accusations of sharing satellite data with the Wagner Group.