Muon Space, a Silicon Valley start-up, has sent its first satellite into orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-8 rideshare flight. With the 70-kilogram satellite, Muon intends to demonstrate the technology stack developed since the startup was founded in 2021. In two launches scheduled for 2024, Muon plans to begin testing sensors the company is developing to provide sub-hourly global measurements. Muon plans to launch its first-generation microwave instrument in February to gather weather data for the US Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit. In seed and Series A rounds, Muon has raised about $35 million to date.
On June 12, Silicon Valley startup Muon Space successfully launched its first satellite into orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-8 rideshare flight. The 70-kilogram satellite will be used to demonstrate the technology stack developed by the company since its founding in 2021. According to an article in Muon CEO Johnny Dyer, “The first satellite launch is an important stepping stone for us to demonstrate that we can do things quickly with high performance and reliably.”
Muon Space is building a climate-monitoring constellation and plans to begin testing sensors in two launches scheduled for 2024. The company is developing sensors that will provide sub-hourly global measurements for climate applications. “The constellation will collect a set of measurements at a sampling cadence and a temporal revisit cadence that is unprecedented. Measurements we’ll be making will be extremely impactful for flood and water issues,” said Dyer. Muon plans to launch its first-generation microwave instrument in February to gather weather data for the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit. In October 2024, Muon plans to launch at least one additional satellite with microwave and multispectral infrared instruments.
Muon was founded by former Skybox Imaging chief engineer Johnny Dyer, former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory chief scientist Dan McCleese, former Climate Corp. chief operating officer Greg Smirin, former Loft Orbital chief product officer Paul Day, and former Ball Aerospace principal mission systems and architecture engineer Reuben Rohrschneider. In seed and Series A rounds, Muon has raised about $35 million to date and has established partnerships with key technology companies including Google and nonprofits like the Environmental Defense Fund.
Dyer explained that Muon is unique in focusing on both science and engineering. “We think there’s a lot of need for that connection between science and engineering to be stronger,” he said. Muon also deeply partners with groups to understand where the needs and gaps are. “We can’t be the expert on every application, but we can deeply partner with groups to understand where the needs and gaps are,” Dyer said.
The launch of Muon’s first satellite is an important milestone for the company and demonstrates its ability to quickly and reliably develop a capable spacecraft platform and the infrastructure required to operate it on the ground. Muon’s climate-monitoring constellation will collect unprecedented measurements that will be extremely impactful for flood and water issues, making it a valuable asset in the fight against climate change.
