Stellar Project

What Stellar Project does

Stellar Project srl is an Italy-based space technology company founded in 2016 as a spin-off of the University of Padua. It develops optical communication and space environment analytics products for the small-satellite (CubeSat and microsatellite) segment of the New Space Economy, with hardware, professional services, and data analytics revenue lines currently in play.

Its core product, LaserCube, is a proprietary and patented 2-way laser communication terminal in a 2U CubeSat form factor (100x100x200 mm, 2 kg) delivering 1 Gbit/s data transmission — a stated >10x improvement over state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions — with claimed immunity to interception and exemption from RF spectrum regulation. A granted patent on a Coarse Pointing System decouples terminal pointing from the host satellite's ADCS, providing operational flexibility. The terminal completed its maiden in-orbit demonstration on 30 June 2021, hosted on D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier and launched onboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 Transporter-2 mission, with ground reception handled by ASI's Laser Ranging Observatory at Matera. Development was supported under ESA's ARTES program in collaboration with the University of Padua and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

The company operates three revenue streams: (1) LaserCube hardware sales targeting constellation operators and integrators building Earth observation, telecom, IoT and weather small-satellite systems; (2) space debris and space weather risk-analysis consultancy serving satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, and the Space Insurance market; and (3) space-environment data analytics for debris monitoring. Distribution is direct B2B via integration partnerships, and no public pricing is disclosed. Headcount is 1-10 with headquarters in Padova, Italy; governance remains with the three original co-founders, including CEO Alessandro Francesconi (University of Padua space systems Professor).

Name

Stellar Project

Legal name

Stellar Project srl

Website

https://stellarproject.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stellar Project is an Italy-based space technology company, founded in 2016 as a University of Padua spin-off, that builds laser communication terminals (LaserCube) for CubeSats and microsatellites and provides space-debris and radiation risk-analysis consultancy to satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, and the space insurance market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite Communication Hardware

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Laser communication terminals
• Small satellite hardware
• Optical communication systems
• Space risk analysis
• Cubesat technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Padua

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. LaserCube Hardware Sales: Sale of LaserCube laser communication terminals - proprietary miniature low-power, high-performance laser communication terminals designed for CubeSats and smallsats.
2. Space Risk Analysis Consultancy Services: Consultancy services analyzing risk of mission deterioration for spacecraft and constellations, including examination of spacecraft design reports for satellite anomaly predictions useful for Space Insurance market.
3. Space Environment Data Analytics: Data analytics tools and services for space debris analysis and monitoring, both for terrestrial applications and space environment.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Stellar Project develops and sells LaserCube, a proprietary two-way miniature laser communication terminal for CubeSats and small satellites, delivering optical data transmission at 1 Gbit/s and more than 10x the communication performance of state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions in a 2U, 2 kg form factor. The company also provides paid space environment risk analysis consultancy services for spacecraft operators, manufacturers and the space insurance market, focused on space debris and space weather threats.

Product overview

Stellar Project offers a portfolio centered on LaserCube, a proprietary optical telecommunication terminal for small satellites that enables high-speed laser communication. The company also provides specialized consultancy services for space debris and space weather risk analysis, helping spacecraft operators assess and mitigate environmental threats. The portfolio is complemented by data analytics tools for space debris monitoring. Founded as a University of Padua spin-off, Stellar Project develops accessible and affordable space technology for the growing New Space Economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LaserCube: A 2-way laser communication terminal for small satellites providing optical telecommunication capabilities, increasing communication performance by more than 10 times compared to state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions.

Products and services

• LaserCube LaserCube is a proprietary two-way miniature laser communication terminal designed for CubeSats (>3U) and microsatellites, delivering high-speed optical communication at 1 Gbit/s with more than 10 times the performance of state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions. The 2U (100x100x200 mm), 2 kg terminal supports intersatellite link and downlink configurations with up to two full duplex optical channels, and includes a patented coarse pointing system that relieves the satellite ADCS. It targets satellite operators and constellation operators needing high-throughput, low-latency, secure optical communication for Earth observation, weather, telecom, IoT and M2M use cases.
• Spacecraft Risk Analysis Services Consultancy service that analyzes the risk of mission deterioration for spacecraft and constellations exposed to the orbital environment, with a special focus on space debris and space weather. Environment analyses are coupled with examination of spacecraft design reports provided by manufacturers to derive realistic predictions and assessments of satellite anomalies for the Space Insurance market, and to advise operators on maximizing environmental robustness of their space systems from early design stages. Target customers are satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers and space insurance underwriters.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10 times improvement in communication performance compared to state-of-the-art radiofrequency solutions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• D-OrbitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2021D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier hosted the LaserCube payload for its maiden flight mission. D-Orbit manages operations and collects relevant mission data according to a test plan agreed with Stellar Project.
• Italian Space Agency (ASI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASI collaborated on the LaserCube maiden flight mission. The Italian Space Agency and its Laser Ranging Observatory located at the Centre for Space Geodesy in Matera, southern Italy, is involved in the in-flight demonstration, receiving and processing mission data.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA supported LaserCube development as part of the ARTES program. ESA is a key institutional partner for the company's technology development.
• University of PaduacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStellar Project was created as a spin-off of the University of Padua, Italy. The university collaboration was instrumental in developing LaserCube technology, with the company's co-founder being a space systems Professor at the university.
• AIPAS (Italian Space Industry Association)minorOthersStellar Project is a member of AIPAS - Italian Space Industry Association, providing industry representation and networking.
• Access Space AllianceminorOthersStellar Project is a member of Access Space Alliance, an industry alliance for space technology companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Open Cosmos: Open Cosmos operates a smallsat-as-a-service model and designs/manufactures CubeSat platforms for commercial and institutional customers. It is comparable as a fellow European New Space startup selling to the same downstream customers that Stellar Project targets with LaserCube.
• Cailabs: Cailabs develops optical ground-station and free-space optical communication technologies applicable to space-to-ground laser links. It overlaps with Stellar Project's optical communication domain at the ground-segment side, addressing the same smallsat optical-communications opportunity.
• D-Orbit: D-Orbit is a partner of Stellar Project that hosted LaserCube on its ION Satellite Carrier for the maiden flight. As an in-orbit transportation and hosted-payload provider, it is partially competitive because both firms sell technology-enabled services to smallsat operators and large constellation primes.

Direct peers

• Mynaric: Mynaric is a direct competitor developing laser communication terminals for airborne and space applications, including smallsat inter-satellite links. Both companies target the same emerging opportunity of optical communications for small satellite constellations and compete head-to-head for the same buyer profiles.
• GomSpace: GomSpace is a commercial supplier of CubeSat and smallsat subsystems with which Stellar Project's LaserCube is integrated at platform level. Both companies sell into the same New Space smallsat customer base, though GomSpace focuses on the platform/bus side rather than optical payloads.
• AAC Clyde Space: AAC Clyde Space supplies smallsat subsystems and full missions, overlapping with Stellar Project's customer base of CubeSat operators. It is a relevant peer for commercial smallsat component sales and constellation services.

Broad incumbents

• Thales Alenia Space: Thales Alenia Space is a major European prime contractor building complete satellite platforms and communication subsystems, including optical inter-satellite link payloads. It overlaps with Stellar Project's addressable market on the satellite-manufacturer side and is a credible European bidder for the same institutional programmes.
• Ball Aerospace: Ball Aerospace develops optical communication systems and space-borne laser terminals for government and commercial customers. It is a broad incumbent in the space-optical-comms category and represents both a competitor and a potential partner/acquirer for specialised startups like Stellar Project.
• Tesat-Spacecom: Tesat-Spacecom is an established German supplier of space-qualified optical communication terminals used on major European data-relay and constellation missions. It competes with Stellar Project's LaserCube in laser comms but operates at a much larger scale and with heritage on flagship institutional programmes.

Regional players

• Leaf Space: Leaf Space is an Italian-founded ground-segment-as-a-service operator supporting smallsat operations and optical/RF communications infrastructure. It is comparable as an Italian New Space company serving the same downstream customer base and is part of the same domestic ecosystem (AIPAS/Access Space Alliance).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stellarproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stellar Project