Assured Space Access Partners with Phantom Space to Launch Phantom Cloud Satellite Service

Assured Space Access has announced a strategic partnership with Phantom Space to develop Phantom Cloud, a groundbreaking data-backhaul service for satellites. This initiative aims to revolutionize satellite communications by creating a 66-satellite constellation designed to function as a space-based ground station.

Under the agreement, Assured Space, based in Chandler, Arizona, will be responsible for designing and building the radio frequency (RF) communications payloads for the Phantom Cloud constellation. The two companies will also collaborate on the design, development, launch, and operation of the new constellation.

“We want to put the basic functionality of a ground station in space,” - Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space Co-Founder and CEO.

Since its founding in Tucson, Arizona, in 2019, Phantom Space has focused on mass-manufacturing small satellites and launch vehicles. However, the company has revealed little about Phantom Cloud until now. A 2021 U.S. patent filing by Phantom Space outlines a complex constellation intended for data handling, computation, and communications for both Earth-based and space-based activities.

This constellation architecture consists of six layers: an Earth-user layer, a data-relay layer, a computing layer, a terrestrial-communications layer, a core space layer, and a space-user layer. The design is intended to meet the varying requirements of end users in terms of security, trust, bandwidth, and computation.

“In space, I think the killer app will be movement of bits,” - Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space Co-Founder and CEO.

Assured Space, a company with decades of experience in high-tech products and services, has recently shifted its focus to RF telecommunications and electronics. With technology licensed from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command and innovations developed in-house, Assured Space has created a Luneberg Lens satellite communications terminal. Additionally, the company's engineering team, led by Rick Sturdivant, has developed a range of space-based phased array RF antenna products.

“We anticipate Phantom Space will be the first customer to adopt our technology,” - Sean McDaniel, Assured Space CEO

In a move reminiscent of SpaceX's approach with the Starlink constellation, Phantom Space aims to reduce costs and expedite the deployment of the Phantom Cloud constellation by manufacturing both the satellites and launch vehicles in-house. However, Phantom Space's focus differs slightly.

“We want to be complementary to what Starlink is doing...We want to focus more on the machine rather than the human-to-human market. That’s a perfect place for a relatively small constellation of satellites.” - Sean McDaniel, Assured Space CEO

“an edge over our competitors in the data backhaul and satellite communications markets.” - Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space Co-Founder and CEO.

“an excellent opportunity to advance our line of sophisticated RF communications payloads and sensor products.” - Sean McDaniel, Assured Space CEO

This partnership between Assured Space and Phantom Space marks a significant step forward for both companies in satellite communications technology sector.