Tucson-based space transportation tech startup Phantom Space Corp. has signed a deal to manufacture and launch dozens of satellites for internet-of-things platform maker Ingenu Inc.
The deal calls for the production of 72 satellites. Phantom will be in charge of system integration on the craft and getting them into space.
Financial details of the agreement were not made public.
Once in orbit, the satellites are intended to give Ingenu the ability to offer its internet of things, or IoT, and machine-to-machine products to connect equipment anywhere on earth.
Currently, the San Diego company uses its own low power wide area network technology, which in the past decade has been deployed in more than 50 places on five continents.
The agreement moves Phantom Space further toward its goal of mass manufacturing rockets and satellites and using its technology to lower barriers to space access for companies.
Earlier this year, Phantom Space raised $5 million in seed funding to help it toward that goal.
Phantom Space founder and CEO Jim Cantrell said in a statement that his company is excited to be part of Ingenu’s mission.
"Ingenu prides themselves on turning disruptive innovation into practical application, and we're excited to help them achieve this," Cantrell said in the statement. "By working with a company like Ingenu, we are partnering to deliver Ingenu's value into a space platform where it can have a worldwide impact on their customers. This partnership brings both of us closer to our goal of providing the much-needed disruptive benefits of space technology directly to the consumer."
Ingenu CEO Alvaro Gazzolo said working with Phantom gives it a cutting-edge technology option while also keeping costs under control.
“We'll be able to build and operate a system of satellites that makes it possible for us to offer people full end-to-end solutions anywhere on earth and complement existing customers' terrestrial networks. Nothing of the sort has ever been done up until now," Gazzolo said in a statement.
Ingenu said its initial focus using the system will be on solutions for smart grids; factories; agriculture; oil, gas and mining; and asset tracking and logistics.
Phantom Space said most of the satellites will be sent into space on its Daytona launch vehicle, which is expected to be first launched in 2023.
