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K2 Space schedules its debut launch as they secure clients for their substantial satellite platform
Date:
WASHINGTON — K2 Space, a startup that has been in operation for two years and focuses on creating large spacecraft buses, is set to send its inaugural satellite into orbit this year. The company is garnering attention from both government and commercial clients.
During an interview, Karan and Neel Kunjur, the founders of K2 Space, mentioned that their debut spacecraft is set to be launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission, which is slated for October.
The mission of the spacecraft is to showcase the capabilities of several components that the company has internally developed for its Mega Class spacecraft bus. According to CEO Karan Kunjur, the primary objective of this mission is to significantly reduce the technical uncertainties associated with the satellite.
This encompasses elements such as reaction wheels, computers, and the software for flight operations. A significant number of these parts were created at K2 Space due to the lack of an appropriate supply chain for a spacecraft bus called Mega Class, which is capable of carrying payloads up to 1,000 kilograms and generating 20 kilowatts of power.
"We need to create an entirely new supply chain tailored to a satellite of our specifications, considering its power and size," explained Neel Kunjur, the chief technology officer and sibling of Karan. "It's crucial to launch that hardware into space early in the company's development."
The business is concentrating on bigger satellites that might be more cost-effective, utilizing economical launch services such as the Falcon 9. A single Falcon 9 or a similar rocket can carry ten Mega Class satellites into space in one go.
“We identified a chance to offer services at the cost and pace typical of small constellation-class satellites, while maintaining their functionality,” Karan explained. “To achieve this, you need to diverge from the current market trend and scale up, which is exactly what we have accomplished.”
K2 Space is drawing attention from both corporate and government sectors for its larger satellite bus. The company has been chosen to receive a $3.8 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) grant from the Space Development Agency and the Space System Command’s Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power program executive office. This funding will support K2 Space in launching multiple Defense Department payloads aboard its inaugural Mega Class spacecraft.
“When we began this project, we identified it as a genuine dual-use technology,” Karan mentioned. He pointed out that various divisions within the Space Force have shown interest in the satellite bus for diverse reasons. Some are attracted to its high power capability, while others appreciate its versatility in operating across different orbits and its ability to support multiple payloads simultaneously.
The company plans to collaborate with the Space Force to determine which payloads will be included in the mission. Neel explained that the satellite bus has ample payload capacity and power, making it feasible to carry multiple payloads simultaneously, including those that are typically unsuitable for traditional small satellites. For the first mission, the company might integrate both commercial and Defense Department payloads.
K2 Space has a distinct partnership agreement for research and development, known as a CRADA, with the Air Force Research Lab. Through this arrangement, the company will work together with the lab on cybersecurity issues, including enhancing cyber defenses and implementing encryption methods.
The firm has secured its inaugural business agreement with a confidential client, which Karan referred to merely as a "major telecom operator." This agreement will explore the creation of an advanced satellite network utilizing K2 Space’s technology platform.
"They were particularly enthusiastic because we demonstrated the potential when the power limitations that troubled earlier constellation designs were eased," he stated. "Integrating our system, which offers a bus with 20 kilowatts of power at a cost of $15 million per satellite, essentially made the business model for such constellations feasible."
He refused to give specifics about the system, such as the quantity of satellites or their orbital paths. However, he mentioned that K2 Space has received significant interest in employing its satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO). According to him, some have remarked that they have essentially created the optimal bus for MEO, citing its high power, affordability, and radiation shielding.
As K2 Space gears up for in-space trials of certain crucial technologies, additional ones are still under development. Among these is a Hall effect thruster that utilizes krypton as a propellant, which the company has recently tested in the laboratory for the first time.
The thruster is set to consume as much as 20 kilowatts of power, which is roughly four times more powerful than any Hall effect thruster previously deployed. According to Neel, the company engineered the thruster to fully utilize the power output of the Mega Class bus. He mentioned that this strategy is more straightforward compared to combining multiple smaller thrusters.
"Combining thrusters can be tricky and expensive, and it often doesn't fit well with a satellite's goal of optimizing performance," he explained. The thruster developed by K2 Space, he noted, can function at power levels as low as two kilowatts, which is suitable for stationkeeping and various lower-power maneuvers.
The sizable thruster aligns with K2 Space's future goals for bigger spacecraft. He mentioned that "a 20-kilowatt satellite is the minimal power level we aim for." He added that all their current investments are made with this future vision in mind.
K2 Space, which secured $50 million in funding last February, currently employs 50 people. They aim to increase their workforce to 90 by the end of this year and to 130 by the same time next year. The company has also leased a 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Torrance, California, which is 12 times larger than their present location in the same city.
“Our clients are inquiring about our production capacity for 2026, so we need to ramp up to mass production,” Karan stated. The company aims to relocate to the new facility in the last quarter of this year and begin increasing production by the third quarter of next year. Their objective is to manufacture 50 satellites annually at that location.
The company continues to strategize for even larger satellites down the line, particularly a Giga Class designed to work with Starship. "Once we observe consistent performance and successful Starlink deployments with Starship," he mentioned, "we will initiate the schedule for the larger satellite."
Once Starship is operational and K2 Space begins developing the Giga Class satellite, Karan anticipates that there will still be a strong need for the Mega Class satellites. He mentioned that Starship could potentially carry up to 50 Mega Class satellites in a single launch. According to Karan, "In the era following Starship's introduction, the Mega Class satellite will essentially become the new standard for small satellites."
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