Long Beach-based SpinLaunch has secured a $12 million investment from Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace to support the development of Meridian Space, described as an “ultra-high performance, low-earth orbit satellite broadband constellation,” according to a news release.
The Meridian constellation is designed to deliver global coverage, using just one traditional rocket launch to deploy 250 next-generation microsatellites, which incorporate a suite of advanced technologies.
“SpinLaunch was founded on a bold commitment to deliver a more sustainable, cost-effective approach to launching satellite constellations. Starting in 2020, we accelerated that vision and ramped up development of the constellation, and we are now excited to officially bring our low-cost, dynamic communications service to enterprise customers worldwide,” SpinLaunch CEO David Wrenn said in a statement.
The partnership also includes Kongsberg NanoAvionics, which SpinLaunch has chosen as the exclusive satellite supplier for the initial deployment, according to the news release. NanoAvionics will play a key role in executing Meridian’s phased development plan, with work already underway on an in-orbit demonstrator set to launch in 2026.
