NEWS RELEASE
Space ight Inc. Celebrates 10 Years of Business and the Successful Launch of More than 300 Satellites
2/23/2021
Since its founding, the premier global launch services provider executed 36 missions, with more than half coming in the last three years
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Space ight Inc., the global launch services provider, celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since its founding, the company has launched more than 300 satellites across 36 missions on eight di erent launch vehicles, including the Falcon 9, Electron, PSLV, Vega and the International Space Station. During its 10 years in business, Space ight has evolved from launch brokerage to providing comprehensive launch and mission management services for payloads of all sizes, across a wide range of launch vehicles, with integration and logistics services, a portfolio of propulsive orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), and the widest variety of orbital destinations.
Infographic showcasing a selection of Space ight's most noteworthy accomplishments over “This is a monumental milestone the past 10 years. (Graphic: Business Wire) for our company,” said Curt Blake, CEO and president of Space ight. “Ten years ago, rideshare was just a concept. We founded the company to serve the growing need for frequent and a ordable launch options for the burgeoning smallsat industry. Since then, we’ve innovated new services, global launch practices, and OTV technology as well as executed several industry- rst missions. We’re very proud of our pioneering spirit to provide the most exible launch options for customers, helping them get their spacecraft on orbit when and where they want.”
Highlights: 10 Years of Launch Experience
1 After founding the company in 2011, Space ight executed its rst launch in 2013 aboard a Soyuz vehicle. In 2015, it purchased its rst Falcon 9 rideshare mission, and in 2016, its rst PSLV launch. More signi cant stats include:
36 total missions executed in the last 10 years with half occurring in the last two and a half years 327 spacecraft deployed with nearly 70% launching in the last two and a half years Serving 79 unique customers, 75% of those commercial organizations Customers from 29 di erent countries, with more than 24 countries represented in each of the last three years More than 4,000 kilograms of total spacecraft mass launched 50% of launches have occurred on foreign launch vehicles Launches on eight launch vehicles, including Falcon 9, Electron, Vega, Soyuz, Antares and PSLV with agreements to y on new vehicles including Virgin Orbit, Relativity, Fire y, and SSLV, when available
“Space ight has been a trusted partner and our go-to launch service provider for years,” said Kjell Karlsen, Chief Financial O cer at Astrocast. “The team’s expertise provides us with the peace of mind that our mission will be expertly managed. This coupled with the exibility enabled by the company’s diverse portfolio of launch options makes Space ight a preferred provider for us. Congratulations on the 10-year milestone; it’ll be exciting to see what innovations they pioneer and bring to market in the next 10 years!”
Beyond the launches, Space ight has accomplished other noteworthy milestones, including:
Pioneered the Sherpa-NG program, which includes three ESPA-class space vehicles complete with electric and chemical propulsion for last-mile delivery in space; the rst OTV (Sherpa-FX) ew on record-breaking SpaceX Transporter-1 launch. Executed the historic SSO-A mission, the rst Falcon 9 dedicated rideshare mission, which launched 64 satellites from 34 customers from 17 countries. At the time, it was the largest number of satellites to ever launch from a U.S.-based vehicle. Orchestrated the rst-ever rideshare mission to GTO, launching the rst privately funded lunar lander. Opened a new state-of-the-art integration facility in Auburn, Wash. where the team conducts end-to-end spacecraft testing, integration and engineering services. Secured a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contract to o er cost-e ective launch services for U.S. government organizations. Unveiled the rst online booking site for customers to reserve launches and a mission management portal for easy online launch campaign coordination. Acquired by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., in partnership with Yamasa Co., Ltd., enabling deep resources to propel innovation and expand service o erings.
2 In January 2021, Space ight completed the successful launch of Sherpa-FX which carried 15 spacecraft on the record-setting SpaceX Transporter-1 mission. For its next mission, Space ight will be coordinating launch and mission services for several U.S. government spacecraft to the International Space Station on the SEOPS-3/ NG-15 mission. The company plans to launch approximately 10 missions across its global launch vehicle portfolio in 2021.
About Space ight Inc.
As the premier global launch services provider, Space ight is revolutionizing the business of space transportation through its comprehensive suite of launch services and Sherpa® orbital transfer vehicles. The company provides unprecedented launch exibility to ensure customers' smallsats get to orbit exactly when and where they want through a combination of long-standing relationships with a diverse portfolio of launch partners, innovative satellite integration capabilities, including ight and ground support hardware, licensing and logistics management, and extensive mission management expertise. Based in Seattle, Space ight has successfully launched hundreds of satellites and is a part of the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. portfolio, operating as an independent, U.S.-based company. For more information, visit http://www.space ight.com.
Christie Melby, Communiqué PR
[email protected] 206-282-4923 x127
Source: Space ight Inc.
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