Satlyt, led by a former Google and SpaceX manager, secures $8M for satellite AI.
Image Credits:Satlyt under a Satlyt license.
The Vision Behind Satlyt: Revolutionizing Space Computing
Rama Afullo, a Kenyan American engineer, believes he foresaw the future of orbital data centers. With prior experience at Google’s cloud computing division and a brief tenure at SpaceX on the Starlink communications network in 2024, he uncovered a wealth of unexploited potential in space-based computation. Afullo’s conviction grew stronger as he pitched his ideas at both companies, only to face rejection each time.
Establishing a New Venture: Satlyt
Feeling stifled in traditional tech environments, Afullo decided to carve his own path. He left SpaceX and co-founded Satlyt, a tech startup with its main offices in Sunnyvale, California, and Nairobi. The company is focused on developing software that enables satellites to collaborate on completing extensive computing tasks in orbit. As Afullo recently disclosed to TechCrunch, Satlyt has successfully secured an $8 million seed round of funding.
The timing for Afullo’s endeavor appears serendipitous. SpaceX has fully committed to advancing orbital data centers, coinciding with Satlyt’s upcoming software launch aboard a SpaceX rocket that will also transport the inaugural prototype of Google’s Project Suncatcher—a venture aimed at establishing data centers in space.
The Unique Approach of Satlyt
What sets Satlyt apart from other competitors such as SpaceX, Google, or emerging startups like Starcloud and Cowboy Space Company is its strategy. Unlike these companies, Satlyt does not aim to manufacture its own spacecraft. Instead, Afullo and his team focus on building software that facilitates the operation of AI models within satellites. He likens this approach to the role played by VMware and Snowflake in the terrestrial cloud computing space—platforms that allow users to run intricate software without needing to manage the underlying infrastructure themselves.
“Think of SpaceX’s orbital data centers as the iPhone; our goal is to create Android—a horizontally integrated, open ecosystem,” Afullo explained. Essentially, Satlyt’s vision centers on providing software that can seamlessly function across multiple satellite systems.
Demonstrating Success Through Trials
Satlyt has already successfully tested its software on two demonstration missions. The company’s initial focus targets enhancing operational efficiencies for spacecraft, which traditionally rely on ground-based flight controllers to navigate issues that arise. The cost and delay associated with sending data back to Earth—a process known as downlink—can be significant. By harnessing AI for decision-making aboard the spacecraft, Satlyt aims to offer substantial cost savings, whether through resolving anomalies autonomously or processing sensor data in real-time.
Earlier in the year, Satlyt integrated Google DeepMind’s Gemma AI model onboard a spacecraft operated by Momentus. This deployment achieved a remarkable reduction of over 60% in the size of communications sent regarding onboard software errors—an efficiency that Afullo asserts can save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for each satellite.
The upcoming launch will integrate Satlyt’s software on a spacecraft created by Indian startup TakeMe2Space, which specializes in manufacturing computing hardware for satellites. This mission will cater to three clients: NASA, which is funding the project to evaluate cloud computing protocols in space; Stellerian, a burgeoning firm dedicated to space surveillance that seeks to test image processing tasks; and TakeMe2Space, aiming to illustrate that their satellite can effectively host third-party software.
Addressing Current Limitations in Space
At present, the presence of high-powered GPUs in orbit remains limited. Satlyt sees its primary opportunity in the types of workloads it is currently exploring. Afullo’s next ambitious project involves demonstrating the ability to construct a shared computing system—a cloud connecting two different satellites. If successful, this endeavor will pave the way for Satlyt to establish a comprehensive compute cloud in orbit, acting as a third-party service provider for satellite manufacturers.
“Imagine transforming your satellite into a revenue-generating managed service,” Afullo stated, underscoring the potential for monetization in space computing.
The Investment Backing Satlyt
Satlyt’s seed funding round was spearheaded by Non Sibi Ventures, based in Houston. Bernard Harris, a partner at the firm and a former NASA astronaut, played a pivotal role in affirming the firm’s belief in Satlyt’s innovative, space-centric business model. One of the factors that attracted Non Sibi’s investment was the understanding that Satlyt’s success does not hinge solely on a lofty vision of space data centers, which involve challenging economics and potential bottlenecks in launch capacity. “We don’t need data centers in space for Rama to be wildly successful,” remarked Kent Lucas, another partner at Non Sibi. “Satlyt’s growth can simply be propelled by the increasing number of satellites being launched.”
Setting Ambitious Goals for the Future
Afullo sets ambitious targets for Satlyt, aiming for the company’s software to be operational on 20% of satellites by the close of the decade. He anticipates that virtually all spacecraft builders will incorporate GPUs and similar advanced processors in their satellite designs. “If your satellite isn’t equipped with a GPU, you’re doing yourself a disservice,” he asserted, emphasizing the strategic necessity of integrating advanced computing capabilities in modern spacecraft.
A Spotlight at Disrupt
Satlyt is among a diverse array of startups being showcased at TechCrunch’s Disrupt event as part of the Battlefield competition taking place this week in downtown San Francisco. Afullo’s journey, backed by a keen vision and innovative technology, positions Satlyt at the forefront of the emerging field of space computing, as companies begin to explore the uncharted territories of computational possibilities beyond our planet.
As the space industry evolves, the role of companies like Satlyt will be instrumental in shaping how data processing and computing tasks are handled in orbit, paving the way for a new era of innovation in space.
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