Satellite communications company Atlas Space Operations in Traverse City has raised $15 million in new funding from investors to support its growth.
NewSpace Capital led the latest round of funding, which will allow Atlas to continue meeting customer demand. Atlas operates the largest U.S. owned and operated global federated ground network, which handles data transmission and reception for spacecraft operators.
“We are thrilled to have NewSpace Capital’s support,” says John Williams, CEO at Atlas, which was founded in 2015. “Their exceptional expertise in the space industry will strongly bolster Atlas in executing and expanding in the U.S., as well as its international growth strategy in the European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) markets. It’s a very exciting time to be working in space. And it’s a very exciting time for our company.”
Atlas provides ground station services for satellite communications, operating a network of more than 50 antennae at 34 locations to provide communication services for satellites in low earth orbit, medium earth orbit, and geostationary earth orbit.
The company’s proprietary Freedom Software allows it to integrate intricate and diverse antenna networks into a single entity efficiently for commercial and government clients.
Freedom Software simplifies spacecraft communication, from single satellites to constellation management, making it faster and more economical for customers, according to Atlas. Freedom promises customers a secure, singular access point to the entire ATLAS network, featuring rapid onboarding capabilities. The software enables customers to manage their spacecraft with automated communications, dynamic flex scheduling, millions of data points, and near real-time troubleshooting capabilities.
Perhaps most appealing to NewSpace is the company’s 100 percent contract renewal rate with customers. As part of the deal, Martin Halliwell, a partner at NewSpace, will join Atlas’s board of directors.
‘We look for companies that really change the playing field,” says Halliwell. “Atlas stood out to us because of the critical importance of what they do for the sector as a whole, the intelligence and industry that was plain to see in their team, and their ambition to grow.
“Atlas solves the problem of fragmented ground communication in the space industry. They provide a smoother, more reliable, faster, and more cost-effective solution. We were confident that with our support, they will really flourish.”
Existing investors, including Michigan Capital Network, Beringea, Wakestream Ventures, and Boomerang Catapult, as well as new investors Michigan Rise and Red Cedar Ventures, also participated in the round.
