Mission Space Set To Launch First Sensors For Space Weather Constellation Aboard SpaceX Transporter 13

Florida's space startup Mission Space is preparing to launch its first Zohar-1 sensors aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission, which is targeting liftoff as early as March 1, 2025.

Building A Space Weather Constellation

Mission Space’s long-term goal is to deploy 24 interconnected Zohar sensors distributed across two orbital planes.

This configuration ensures that one satellite will pass through the Polar Cusp region every hour. The Polar Cusp, located near the Earth’s magnetic poles, is a key region for studying space weather because Earth’s magnetic field dips, creating openings that allow charged particles from the solar wind to enter the atmosphere.

“By strategically positioning these satellites, we’re ensuring comprehensive coverage and continuous data collection...We’re addressing industry and government demand for high-resolution, multipoint space weather measurement data” - Alex Pospekhov, CEO and founder of Mission Space

The data collected by the Zohar constellation could revolutionize space weather forecasting, giving scientists and operators a much-needed edge in predicting solar storms, mitigating risks to sensitive infrastructure, and preventing service outages.

The Zohar-1 Sensor

The Zohar-1 sensor, hosted and operated by Switzerland-based DPhi Space, will monitor critical metrics such as solar activity, radiation levels, and magnetospheric disturbances.

This data is vital to industries reliant on satellite systems, GPS networks, power grids, and aviation, all of which can be severely impacted by solar storms and geomagnetic events.

Zohar-1’s current suite of instruments includes spectrometers and Cherenkov particle detectors designed to measure high-energy particles and radiation. However, Mission Space plans to continually enhance its payloads with additional instruments, including:

• Surface charge monitors to detect the buildup of static electricity on spacecraft surfaces

• X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers to monitor high-energy emissions from solar flares

• Plasma probes to study charged particle flows in Earth’s magnetosphere

This modular approach allows Mission Space to address a variety of space weather phenomena and stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the field.

Mission Space’s Seed Funding

Mission Space recently secured $1.5 million of a $5 million seed funding round, which builds on the success of a 2021 pre-seed round that raised $1.1 million. The startup is leveraging this funding to scale its constellation and further develop its space weather data infrastructure.

“Space weather forecasting is a data monopoly game,” Pospekhov emphasized. “The first to launch the constellation and build the infrastructure will win. Even with half a constellation, in two years, we will generate a thousand times more space weather data than humans have generated in the last 60 years.”

The vast amount of data gathered by the Zohar constellation will be analyzed using machine-learning models to provide real-time and predictive insights for various industries, from satellite operators to power grid managers.

Providing Actionable Data for Operational Decision-Making

The primary goal of Mission Space is not just to gather data but to provide actionable insights that help customers predict and mitigate the impact of space weather on their operations. Many existing space weather data sources are difficult to interpret, creating challenges for industries reliant on clear and timely warnings.

“We see significant opportunities in providing services and selling data...Customers struggle to interpret existing data and need actionable insights to understand potential impacts on their operations.” - Alex Pospekhov, CEO and founder of Mission Space

To address this, Mission Space is developing a mid-term forecasting model that integrates public and private data sources, providing extended notice of solar flares and geomagnetic storms.

The Zohar constellation will also serve as a short-term forecasting tool capable of detecting solar flares in real time and predicting their immediate effects on satellites, power grids, and communication networks.

The Importance of Space Weather Monitoring

As reliance on satellite networks and other space-based infrastructure grows, space weather monitoring has become a critical field. Events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections can cause disruptions to GPS systems, power grids, and satellite communications, leading to costly outages and operational hazards.

Mission Space’s vision aligns with industry and governmental priorities, as space agencies and private companies alike recognize the importance of accurate and timely space weather forecasts. With its cutting-edge technology, scalable constellation, and strategic partnerships, Mission Space is well-positioned to be a leader in this emerging domain.

“We’re not just tracking solar storms; we’re providing predictive, actionable data that can save billions of dollars in damages and downtime,” - Alex Pospekhov, CEO and founder of Mission Space