The notion of space as an uncharted territory to be explored only by global superpowers is outdated and inaccurate. Though the US and USSR competed to break new ground in spaceflight and exploration during the mid-20th century, today’s “space race” includes not only several countries, but dozens of companies in the private sector that are creating new technologies, launching satellites, and offering spaceflights to private citizens.
In the US, NASA has partnered with private companies to create new technologies and recently declared its intention to open the International Space Station to private astronauts. In November 2019, NASA CFO Jeff DeWit credited the commercial sector with driving innovation and lowering costs, particularly regarding satellites.
Space is now seen as such a viable industry that some companies are launching satellites at relatively low costs to enhance global connectivity. Swarm Technologies, a California-based enterprise launched in 2016, is one of those companies.
One of the Most Innovative Space Companies of 2020
Swarm Technologies was ranked №2 on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Space Companies of 2020 list. While acknowledging companies like OneWeb and SpaceX, which are providing a high-speed connection to government clients such as the US Air Force, Fast Company notes, “Swarm’s technology aims to fill in the gaps for less data-intensive communications, assisting organizations that want remote access to a network but don’t necessarily need the speediest, most powerful connection.”
Swarm was listed ahead of other innovative space companies Spaceflight Industries, Space Tango, Capella Space, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, and Momentus.
Working toward Global Affordable Connectivity
Swarm co-founders Dr. Sara Spangelo and Dr. Ben Longmier have extensive experience in aerospace engineering. Dr. Spangelo earned a PhD in the subject from the University of Michigan and also served as lead systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, while Dr. Longmier previously completed a postdoctoral fellowship at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. They embarked on their current venture after hundreds of conversations with business executives revealed the need for affordable connectivity solutions.
Today, Swarm employs a team of engineers, scientists, and startup operators who have worked together to develop what Fast Company referred to as “grilled-cheese-size” satellites. These satellites, called SpaceBEEs, are the smallest in the world, and they allow Swarm to offer network services to a variety of industries at relatively low costs. The company is also supported by advisors who have held executive roles at companies and agencies such as Facebook, Uber, and the Federal Communications Commission.
Industry Applications
Swarm’s network of satellites has the potential to drastically improve the efficiency and capabilities of technologies in industries ranging from agriculture to shipping and maritime. The company received regulatory licenses in 2020 and intends to launch commercial satellite services later in the year. It has market access in international waters as well as in Antarctica, Sweden, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. With ground stations in many of those countries and the US, Swarm has signed partnerships to establish several more.
These low-Earth orbit satellites and ground stations will be especially helpful to commercial farm owners and agtech companies, particularly in rural locations with limited network access. By improving connectivity, these farms and companies can forecast yields more accurately and increase operational efficiencies. Shipping companies, meanwhile, can leverage Swarm’s affordable yet reliable network to see real-time insights on the status, health, location, and safety of each voyage.
The energy sector can also benefit immensely from Swarm’s satellites, which allow stakeholders to receive critical insights, increase monitoring capabilities, reduce cost, and increase productivity.
Working with Ford Motor Company
Swarm’s global network will also be able to support connected vehicles. To that end, Swarm has already partnered with Ford Motor Company to allow for connectivity in the world’s most remote areas.
As part of the partnership, Swarm is developing a constellation of 150 satellites to support Ford’s Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC), which connects various urban mobility system components such as vehicles, city infrastructure, and service providers. Without these satellites, Ford’s TMC wouldn’t be able to provide critical actions, such as sending airbag deployment alerts to monitoring centers, in areas without cell service. The Swarm network of satellites connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices through a solar-powered gateway known as the Gateway BEE.
Partnership with Momentus
In addition to working with Ford Motor Company, Swarm signed an agreement with Momentus in April 2020 to launch 12 of its proprietary telecommunication satellites into space via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rideshare mission is expected to take place in December 2020 and will be the first of several missions Momentus executes on behalf of Swarm. Additional missions will take place in 2021 and 2022. Beginning in 2021, the SpaceBEEs will be transported via Momentus’ Vigoride in-space shuttle, which has the capability of moving the satellites into their most effective positions.
