Munich-based space situational awareness company Vyoma has secured an additional €5 million in funding from a fund backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF).
Vyoma was founded in 2020 with the aim of developing a space object monitoring system and automated satellite operations service. The company currently leverages ground-based systems to power its service, but its first space-based assets are expected to be launched in early 2025.
On 10 April, the company announced that it had received €5 million from an EIF-backed fund managed by existing Vyoma investor Atlantic Labs. The new funding brings the company’s total funding raised to date to over €16 million.
According to the company, the new funding will be utilized to accelerate the development of its second-generation sensor technology and expand its team. The new sensor technology being developed by the company will power both its first and second-generation satellites.
In late 2023, Vyoma announced that it had tapped EnduroSat to build the company’s first two satellites. Each satellite will feature an optical payload that will be used to observe space-based objects and map the orbital environment. They will also have on-board image processing capabilities to ensure the company can provide near real-time actionable data. The data will be utilized to provide a range of services, from close approach detection to full automation of collision avoidance.
The first satellite of the company’s space object monitoring constellation will be launched aboard a Rocket Factory Augsburg RFA ONE. The satellite is one of twelve that will be launched aboard the mission as part of the German Space Agency DLR’s Small Satellite Competition. The competition awarded free launch services aboard German microlaunchers with the goal of promoting the development of disruptive new technology.
