In 2023, Ashi Dissanayake, the co-founder of the in-space fueling startup Spaceium, found herself in a rather unconventional office. She turned the surface of her clothes dryer into a makeshift desk, with her legs tucked inside the drying machine. Her computer was stationed next to Tide Pods, and she was surrounded by disconnected robotic arms, often working late at night alongside her co-founder, Reza Fetanat, from their cramped apartment in Ottawa.
Fast forward to today, the duo has upgraded to a proper office equipped with real desks, completed the Y Combinator accelerator program, and recently secured an oversubscribed $6.3 million seed round, led by Initialized Capital. The company is gearing up for a demonstration mission showcasing their product capabilities later this year, with Dissanayake confirming a “robust pipeline of clients” ahead.
Dissanayake and Fetanat formed their partnership at the University of Ottawa, united by their passion for space, and collaborated on various research projects. “We constructed rockets, rocket structures, propulsion systems, and even parachutes for safe landings,” she explained, noting that they would launch samples as high as 30,000 feet and relay the collected data back to Canadian laboratories.
During their research, they identified a significant challenge in the industry: the scarcity of refueling options in space. Currently, spacecraft must carry all the fuel required for their entire mission. “Once the mission concludes, the spacecraft effectively becomes space debris,” she remarked.
For extended missions or deep space endeavors—like the potential colonization of Mars—companies must establish access to fuel in space. “Our ambitious goal is to create a ‘space super highway,’ featuring multiple refueling stations where spacecraft can dock, refuel, and continue their journey,” she shared.
Spaceium isn’t alone in pursuing this vision: Orbit Fab is also developing in-space refueling technologies, benefitting from several years of head start. Moreover, the Japanese aerospace firm Astroscale recently clinched a $25.5 million contract with the U.S. Space Force to construct a refueling vehicle.
However, Dissanayake is optimistic about their competitive edge. “We have devised a unique system that allows us to store fuel for extended durations, which has not been accomplished previously,” she added, though she refrained from divulging more specifics.
With much work ahead, Dissanayake aspires to one day journey into space, gaze into the vastness, “and actually see our stations from where we are.”
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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