NorthStar Earth & Space
NorthStar Earth & Space operates the world's first commercial space-based Space Situational Awareness service via a dedicated constellation of four optical sensor satellites, delivering 24/7 monitoring and collision avoidance analytics for government defense agencies and commercial satellite operators globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What NorthStar Earth & Space does
NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. is a Montreal-headquartered space-data company founded in 2015 that operates the world's first commercial space-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) service via a dedicated constellation of four Skylark satellites with optical sensors, launched in January 2024. The company's flagship SI² (Space Information & Intelligence) platform delivers 24/7 monitoring of resident space objects across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits with demonstrated 10cm object tracking precision, integrating proprietary space-based sensor data with ground-based observations (including the ExoAnalytic telescope network) through a sensor-agnostic multi-source fusion pipeline. Supporting products include the Conjunction Analysis System (CAS) for collision risk assessment and reentry prediction, a patented Concept of Operations (CONOPS) validated in July 2024, and the EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence) platform for hyperspectral Earth observation across agriculture, marine, forestry, and energy verticals.
The company generates revenue primarily through multi-year subscription contracts for SSA/SDA data and analytics, managed services for conjunction risk assessment, and data product sales. Its customer base is concentrated in government defense and space agencies — anchored by a CAD$40M+ 12-month contract with the Royal Canadian Air Force's 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), with additional clients including the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Space Force (JCO Meridian Cell), the European Space Agency (RAMSES consortium leadership), and commercial operators such as Space42 (UAE). Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with a channel partnership through Telespazio/Space Alliance for European government markets and Japan Space Imaging for APAC. The company maintains offices in Montreal (HQ), Luxembourg (European HQ), and McLean, Virginia (US subsidiary), with 51–100 employees. NorthStar is currently pursuing a public listing via SPAC merger with Viking Acquisition Corp. I at a $300 million pre-money valuation, expected to close in Q3 2026 on NYSE under ticker NSTR, with proceeds supporting satellite constellation expansion and analytics platform scaling.
NorthStar Earth & Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NorthStar Earth & Space
- Legal name
- NorthStar Earth & Space Inc.
- Website
- https://northstar-data.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- NorthStar Earth & Space operates the world's first commercial space-based Space Situational Awareness service via a dedicated constellation of four optical sensor satellites, delivering 24/7 monitoring and collision avoidance analytics for government defense agencies and commercial satellite operators globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NorthStar Earth & Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Situational Awareness Services
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space-Based Defense Systems (SSA, Missile Warning, Protected SATCOM) (IMABAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Ground Segment Systems (Ground Stations, TT&C, Mission Ops) (IMABACAJ)
Keywords
Where NorthStar Earth & Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
NorthStar Earth & Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SSA/SDA Subscription Services: Recurring subscription services for SSA/SDA data and analytics. Government and commercial customers pay for continuous space monitoring, collision avoidance warnings, and orbital assessment services. 12-month contract terms (e.g., CAD$40M with 3 CSD).
- Managed SSA Services: Managed services integrating enhanced atmospheric modeling into SSA offerings. Supports conjunction risk assessment, reentry prediction, and mission planning for satellite operators.
- Space Data Products: Sale of space domain awareness data, orbital predictions, and analytics to commercial and government customers. Data services from space-based sensor platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise subscription for continuous SSA/SDA monitoring |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
NorthStar Earth & Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NorthStar Earth & Space operates the world's first commercial space-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) service via a proprietary satellite constellation with dedicated optical sensors, providing 24/7 monitoring of resident space objects across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits. Its SI² (Space Information & Intelligence) platform delivers collision avoidance, conjunction analysis, and space traffic management data to government defense agencies and commercial satellite operators. The company also offers the EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence) platform for Earth observation analytics using hyperspectral imagery.
Product overview
NorthStar Earth & Space offers a dual-platform architecture: SI² (Space Information & Intelligence) is the core commercial space situational awareness platform that monitors near-Earth orbits from space via a dedicated satellite constellation with optical sensors, providing satellite tracking, collision avoidance, and conjunction analysis services. EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence) is the companion Earth observation platform delivering hyperspectral imagery for environmental monitoring across agriculture, marine, forestry, and energy sectors. The SI² platform integrates the Conjunction Analysis System (CAS) for collision risk assessment and the Skylark satellite bus for the sensor constellation. Together, these products enable safe navigation in space and sustainable management of Earth's resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SI² (Space Information & Intelligence): Space domain awareness services providing space traffic data, collision avoidance, and navigation services for the New Space Economy.
- EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence)
Products and services
- SI² (Space Information & Intelligence) Flagship space domain awareness platform that monitors all near-Earth orbits from space, providing satellite tracking, collision avoidance, conjunction analysis, maneuver detection, and space traffic management services. Combines space-based and ground-based sensor data with advanced SSA analytics for government defense agencies and commercial satellite operators.
- EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence) Data-driven Earth observation platform supporting sustainable management of Earth's natural resources through hyperspectral and multispectral satellite imagery analytics for agriculture, marine, forestry, energy, and biodiversity conservation applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Full custody tracking of space objects as small as 10 cm, enabling more precise collision risk assessment
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use NorthStar Earth & Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NorthStar Earth & Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
NorthStar Earth & Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- NATO DIANAcoreSelected by NATO DIANA to advance and commercialize space domain awareness services for allied defense applications.
- Space42majorSpace42 integrating NorthStar's advanced collision avoidance services into its satellite fleet management system. NorthStar provides conjunction analysis for LEO to GEO missions.
- European Space Agency (ESA)majorNorthStar leads ESA-funded RAMSES consortium (with UC3M, ISS Romania) to develop atmospheric drag models improving LEO orbital prediction accuracy for satellite safety.
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA)minorNorthStar selected for CSA SmartEarth program to develop forest species mapping using hyperspectral imagery for biodiversity conservation under Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy.
- ALBATOR European ConsortiummajorNorthStar Europe joined European Commission-funded ALBATOR project (with OSMOS X, UC3M, JLU Giessen, CAU Kiel) to advance space debris removal technology using ion beam shepherd technology.
- Riverside ResearchcorePartnership on DARPA Space-WATCH program to rapidly advance Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities for US defense applications.
- Saudi Space AgencymajorMoU partnership to enhance space sustainability through Space Situational Awareness cooperation. Joint SSA services development for the Middle East region.
- Rocket LabcoreRocket Lab launched NorthStar's SSA satellites via Electron rocket in January 2024, deploying four satellites for the world's first commercial space-based SSA service.
- Spire GlobalcoreLandmark space-as-a-service contract for dedicated satellite constellation. Spire built satellites for NorthStar's SSA constellation. Currently in legal dispute over satellite performance issues.
- TelespaziocorePartnership to provide new Space Domain Awareness Services for European governments. Telespazio provides ground segment, satellite operations, and customer relationships in Europe.
- Japan Space ImagingminorPartnership to promote commercial Space Situational Awareness services to the Japanese market.
- Canadian Coast Guard and INRSminorPartnership to develop Earth Observation Monitoring System for Canada's marine and coastal environments.
- AstroscalemajorStrategic partnership to develop in-space technology supporting space sustainability. Collaboration on active debris removal and on-orbit servicing awareness.
- ExoAnalytic SolutionsmajorExoAnalytic Global Telescope Network (275+ telescopes at 25+ observatories) provides ground-based SSA data to complement and support NorthStar's space-based SI² services.
- KinetX AerospacecoreKinetX is a co-founder of NorthStar and provides satellite flight dynamics and mission operations services for the SSA constellation.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NorthStar Earth & Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LeoLabs: LeoLabs operates a global ground-based radar network providing SSA, tracking, and collision-avoidance services to satellite operators and governments. It is the most direct commercial competitor to NorthStar, addressing the same conjunction-analysis use case with a different (ground-radar) sensor architecture.
- ExoAnalytic Solutions: ExoAnalytic operates a 275+ telescope ground-based optical network providing SSA tracking and is both a NorthStar data partner and competitor. It serves the same defense and commercial customers with a complementary sensor architecture.
- Slingshot Aerospace: Slingshot Aerospace provides space situational awareness, space traffic management, and space domain awareness software and analytics for defense and commercial operators. It competes directly with NorthStar's SI² platform and has raised substantial venture funding.
- COMSPOC (Commercial Space Operations Center): COMSPOC provides space situational awareness and space traffic management software, including conjunction screening and space object catalogs. It competes with NorthStar on the data-analytics layer of SSA.
Emerging players
- Privateer (by Steve Wozniak's space venture): Privateer is building space sustainability and SSA capabilities including space object tracking and data products. It is an emerging competitor in commercial SSA data services, though with a different technical approach.
- Astroscale: Astroscale focuses on active debris removal and on-orbit servicing, with which NorthStar has an existing strategic partnership. It is an adjacent player in the broader space-sustainability category that increasingly converges with SSA.
- HawkEye 360: HawkEye 360 operates a commercial satellite constellation for RF-spectrum monitoring and geospatial analytics. It is a comparable space-based commercial data-services business targeting government and commercial customers with a different sensor modality.
Regional players
- LeoStella: LeoStella is a small-satellite manufacturing joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and BlackSky. While primarily a manufacturer rather than an SSA operator, it overlaps with NorthStar's supply chain in commercial smallsat production for space-based services.
Broad incumbents
- Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT): KSAT operates a global network of ground stations and provides near-Earth and deep-space SSA/STM services. It is a broader incumbent in space infrastructure that overlaps with NorthStar's ground segment and tracking services.
Others
- Orbit Fab: Orbit Fab provides in-space refueling and satellite servicing infrastructure. While not an SSA competitor, it is a thematically adjacent space-services company addressing commercial satellite operator needs in the congested orbital environment NorthStar monitors.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NorthStar Earth & Space social profiles
Digital presenceNorthStar Earth & Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NorthStar Earth & Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
NorthStar Earth & Space subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
NorthStar Earth & Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NorthStar Earth & Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NorthStar Earth & Space
What does NorthStar Earth & Space do?
NorthStar Earth & Space operates the world's first commercial space-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) service via a proprietary satellite constellation with dedicated optical sensors, providing 24/7 monitoring of resident space objects across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits. Its SI² (Space Information & Intelligence) platform delivers collision avoidance, conjunction analysis, and space traffic management data to government defense agencies and commercial satellite operators. The company also offers the EI² (Earth Information & Intelligence) platform for Earth observation analytics using hyperspectral imagery.
Is NorthStar Earth & Space a public or private company?
NorthStar Earth & Space is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was NorthStar Earth & Space founded?
NorthStar Earth & Space was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is NorthStar Earth & Space based?
NorthStar Earth & Space is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does NorthStar Earth & Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SSA/SDA Subscription Services are the primary driver. The others are managed SSA Services and space Data Products.
Who are NorthStar Earth & Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LeoLabs, ExoAnalytic Solutions, Slingshot Aerospace and COMSPOC (Commercial Space Operations Center). Emerging players are Privateer (by Steve Wozniak's space venture), Astroscale and HawkEye 360. LeoStella is listed as a regional player. Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is listed as a broad incumbent. Orbit Fab is listed as an others.
Does NorthStar Earth & Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for NorthStar Earth & Space.
What industry is NorthStar Earth & Space in?
NorthStar Earth & Space's product category is Space Situational Awareness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAH, Space-Based Defense Systems (SSA, Missile Warning, Protected SATCOM), with a secondary code of BPAIAHAF, Space Defense & Missile Warning. Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3760.