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Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, raises $8M to runAI on satellites

Satlyt, co-founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager Rama Afullo, has raised $8 million to develop software for running AI on satellites. Unlike SpaceX and Google, Satlyt does not build hardware but aims to create a platform that operates across multiple satellites. The company is set to launch its software on a SpaceX rocket soon and aims to enhance satellite efficiency, potentially transforming them into revenue-generating services.

Key points

  • Rama Afullo founded Satlyt after unsuccessful pitches at Google and SpaceX to develop satellite computing.
  • Satlyt received $8 million in seed funding to create software that allows multiple satellites to share computing tasks.
  • The software aims to improve operational efficiencies by processing data onboard rather than downlinking to Earth, which can be costly and slow.
  • Satlyt successfully deployed Google's DeepMind AI, Gemma, on a mission that reduced onboard software error transmissions by over 60%.
  • Upcoming launch will test Satlyt’s technology on a spacecraft constructed by TakeMe2Space, involving NASA and other companies.
  • Satlyt’s goal is to establish a cloud computing ecosystem across satellites, projecting to be on 20% of satellites by the end of the decade.

Why it matters

  • This development aligns with the increasing interest in satellite-based computing as major tech companies explore space data centers.
  • SpaceX’s focus on orbital data centers contrasts with Satlyt's software-centric approach, highlighting divergent strategies in satellite technology.
  • The trend towards utilizing AI in space operations mirrors broader tech industry movements towards efficient, distributed computing solutions.

Satlyt's initiative to provide software solutions for satellites represents a significant step towards harnessing AI capabilities in space, potentially revolutionizing satellite operations and increasing efficiencies in the aerospace sector.