Insider Brief
- Kapta Space, a space tech startup focused on developing advanced spaceborne radar technology has emerged from stealth mode.
- The company also announced the completion of a $5 million seed funding round led by MetaVC Partners with support from Entrada Ventures and Blue Collective.
- The funding will accelerate Kapta’s on-orbit demonstrations of its radar-based, electronically steered antenna array using metasurface technology.
Kapta Space, a space tech startup based in Seattle, has emerged from stealth mode, announcing the completion of a $5 million seed funding round. The company, founded by Milton Perque, formerly of Echodyne, and Adam Bily, formerly of Apple and Astranis, is focused on developing advanced spaceborne radar technology. The round, led by MetaVC Partners with support from Entrada Ventures and Blue Collective, will help accelerate Kapta’s on-orbit demonstrations.
Kapta’s innovative approach centers on a radar-based, electronically steered antenna array using metasurface technology. This advancement is designed to provide a more scalable and cost-effective alternative to current systems like Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs), which have limitations for spaceborne use. The company’s goal is to enable high-resolution, around-the-clock Earth observation and target tracking from satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with a particular focus on providing valuable geospatial imagery and defense capabilities.
Kapta’s radar technology leverages Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which allows for high-resolution imagery, and is capable of producing critical data for industries such as commercial Earth observation and defense. The company is also innovating with InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar), which enables precise monitoring of large-scale infrastructure and land displacement. This technology could have a significant impact on sectors like mining, where real-time monitoring is crucial.
Kapta’s system is designed to be versatile, enabling both Earth observation and defense missions like Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI). This advancement could pave the way for space-based radar systems that offer persistent global surveillance, a capability not yet available at scale. The company has already made strides in this direction, securing a $1.8 million SBIR Phase II contract to further develop its technology for defense applications.
The company’s radar technology promises to overcome the challenges associated with existing spaceborne radar systems, providing a low-cost, low-complexity alternative with improved electronic scanning capabilities. According to Chris Alliegro, managing partner of MetaVC Partners, Kapta’s metamaterials-based radar imaging device offers a significant improvement over traditional spaceborne AESAs, reducing costs, complexity, and power consumption.
Image credit: Kapta Space
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