U-Space has just inaugurated the first French factory dedicated to nanosatellites, marking its ambition in the European space ecosystem. But who is behind this promising young shoot?
End-to-end support
Founded in 2018 by engineers Fabien Apper, Antoine Ressouche and a third partner who has since left the project, U-Space specializes in the design and manufacturing of satellites weighing up to 100 kilograms, providing turnkey services based on new generation modular nanosatellites.
Its offering ranges from preliminary studies to construction, with operational support to maintain infrastructures in orbit, all while relying on modern tools such as a control center, simulators as well as data analysis software. assignment. On the technical side, its nanosatellites integrate electric propulsion systems allowing critical maneuvers such as collision avoidance.
“ At U-Space we believe that the desire for miniaturization continues to progress. We are passionate about these technical and innovative challenges which are at the heart of ambitious projects to improve life on Earth. », writes the startup on its website.
Major projects in progress
Logically based in Toulouse, it currently employs 72 people. She built her experience by participating in the development of the EyeSat nanosatellite for the National Center for Space Studies (CNES). Then, the company won a call for tenders for the design of NESS, again alongside CNES.
Launched in 2023 by Vega, this nanosatellite aims to demonstrate the capacity of a small satellite to monitor the civil radio frequency spectrum on a global scale, by validating miniaturized technologies for the detection and localization of interfering transmitters.
This experience allowed U-Space to land nine contracts with big names in the industry. Among them, the twenty-kilogram Soap satellite, which will have the mission of monitoring space debris, as well as Pandora, whose objective will be to improve the precision of signals for autonomous vehicles.
Big ambitions
Projects which confirm its potential to become a strategic player in the European space ecosystem. Because U-Space has great ambitions, and imagines itself as the most important manufacturer of nanosatellites on the Old Continent. And what better way to achieve this than by owning your own manufacturing plant? Located under its offices, it should make it possible to manufacture one nanosatellite per week by 2028.
The company, which has established itself as a major player in the French new space sector, plans to raise a new round of funding worth 15 million euros next year.
- The startup U-Space inaugurates the first nanosatellite factory in France.
- It won nine nanosatellite contracts.
- U-Space intends to make a place for itself in the European market, and even hopes to dominate it.
