Eclipse Space unveils three satellite bus platforms for owned constellations
Eclipse Space
Eclipse Space, founded by former SpaceX engineers, unveiled three satellite platforms for customer-owned constellations.
what happened
Eclipse Space unveiled three satellite bus platforms September 9: CitraSat, a direct-to-device platform with a 3.5-meter S-band phased array; SliceSat, a broadband platform with four Ku-band phased arrays; and SurgeSat, a 100 kW-class in-orbit compute platform, per Payload and the company's release. The company, founded by former SpaceX engineers and out of stealth since June, said its first demo mission has slipped from 2027 to 2028 and named Paris-based Gama to develop its power systems. Eclipse Space did not name any customers or disclose funding.
why it matters
Eclipse Space is pitching sovereign and enterprise customers a fully owned constellation rather than a managed service; CEO Derek Huerta said most prospective customers describe wanting 'a Starlink' of their own. The pitch positions the company against other bus makers as more governments and companies seek dedicated satellite infrastructure they control directly, including for in-orbit compute.
for who
Sovereign constellation buyers, satellite bus shoppers
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- Eclipse Space
- Category
- product
- Impact
- noise
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-09-09
- Published
- 2026-09-09 17:33 UTC