Spaceflux, a London-based space surveillance company, has successfully closed a £5.4 million (€6.2 million) seed funding round to accelerate the expansion of its global telescope network and enhance its space situational awareness (SSA) technologies. The financing round, co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, Foresight Group, and Blackfinch Ventures, also saw participation from the Seraphim Space Accelerator, which had previously supported the startup. Founded in 2022, Spaceflux has emerged as a significant player in protecting and monitoring the increasingly congested orbital environment that supports vital government and commercial space missions.

Spaceflux’s core technology integrates proprietary AI-driven analytics with advanced optical sensor systems to track satellites and debris across all orbits. Its ground-based sensors combine visible and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) imaging, allowing the company to perform daylight tracking and characterisation of space objects, thus extending observational capabilities beyond traditional night-time monitoring to provide comprehensive 24/7 coverage. Initially, Spaceflux provided data to the UK Space Agency and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), but it has since positioned itself as a pivotal partner within the international space ecosystem, offering crucial insights to satellite operators, insurance firms, and government entities worldwide.

The rapidly increasing congestion, untracked debris, and potential adversarial threats in space have made SSA services more essential than ever. The fresh capital injection will enable Spaceflux to scale its sensor network globally, upgrade its flagship Cortex analytics platform, and broaden the commercial delivery of its tracking services. Marco Rocchetto, Spaceflux’s CEO and co-founder, emphasised the growing importance of safeguarding satellite infrastructure that underpins essential services such as environmental monitoring, communications, and navigation. He highlighted the investment’s role in reducing collision risks and fostering a safer, more sustainable space environment for future generations.

The funding round co-leads publicly underscored the strategic and security significance of Spaceflux’s offerings. Alex Leigh, Investment Director Defence & Security at UKI2S, noted the convergence of defence and space sectors, where dual-use technologies like Spaceflux’s are critical for strengthening UK capabilities. He pointed out that the technology’s ability to provide resilient insight into orbital assets enhances national security and supports the broader commercial space ecosystem. Similarly, Rubina Singh from Foresight Group expressed enthusiasm for scaling Spaceflux’s AI-driven platform to address both commercial and security space awareness needs, praising the company’s rapid growth and ambitious team. Kimberley Hay of Blackfinch Ventures also underscored the underestimated reliance of everyday life on space infrastructure and lauded Spaceflux’s expertise in space safety.

Beyond this funding milestone, Spaceflux continues to expand its industry involvement. Recently, the company was accepted into the Europe-wide SpaceFounders accelerator programme, designed to boost innovation and growth in the space sector, and is due to start in Toulouse. Furthermore, Spaceflux has secured a contract from the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to develop an infrared telescope testbed aimed at de-risking sensor technology for space domain awareness. This project will be spearheaded by its Spaceflux Labs innovation hub, reflecting the company’s commitment to advancing SSA technologies.

In a crowded and contested orbital environment, characterised by the rising number of active satellites and space debris, Spaceflux’s advanced sensor capabilities and AI analytics position it as a vital contributor to global space safety and security efforts. The company’s expansion plans signal its ambition to meet the growing demand for comprehensive space situational awareness across government and commercial sectors worldwide.

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Source: Noah Wire Services