Munich Startup: What problem does your solution address?
Christian Bauer, CEO: Until now, space infrastructure has largely consisted of individual satellites, the vast majority of which operated in the same orbit. However, most satellites launched nowadays are part of larger satellite networks, so-called constellations, in which dozens or hundreds of satellites must fly in precise formation across different orbits. Currently, there is no way to deploy multiple satellites simultaneously in different orbits, which means a separate, small, but expensive launch vehicle is needed for each orbit. We want to change that.
Through the new technology we are developing, we can build a small space transporter with high propulsion power. With this, we can reach any orbit from any launch vehicle and thus fly to multiple orbits in a single launch, bringing constellation satellites to their destination faster and more cost-effectively.
Uniquely miniaturized technology
Munich Startup: What can only you do today?
Christian Bauer: As a true deeptech hardware startup founded from science, our focus is clearly on technical innovation. We use the same highly efficient propellants as, for example, SpaceX’s Starship, but we are the only ones who have managed to miniaturize the technology to the point where we can deploy it even on satellites. We also have a sophisticated concept for permanent storage of these propellants in orbit, which I haven’t seen in this level of detail from any other player.
Munich Startup: What was the trigger for founding the company?
Christian Bauer: During my doctorate at TUM, I worked on new ignition methods for green propellants. Passive resonance igniters have been worked on since around 1955, but until now no one had managed to develop this technology to operational maturity. In 2016, I was able to demonstrate a successful ignition for the first time and filed the design for a patent. At that time, “New Space” effectively didn’t exist yet, and large aerospace companies had no interest in the technology, which they considered not yet “mature.” But nowadays there is a real opportunity for smaller companies in space exploration, so from 2020 onwards I actively worked on founding the company to bring this technology into application.
Munich Startup: Was there a moment when you thought about giving up?
Christian Bauer: The space industry is extremely competitive, often conservative, and sometimes ruthless. Just a few years ago, many experts called our ideas impossible and their feedback was sometimes brutal. That is enormously frustrating, but we never really thought about giving up. And nowadays we demonstrate the “impossible” routinely in our prototype tests.
The real test is deployment in space
Munich Startup: How would you recognize in a year that you are on the right path?
Christian Bauer: Despite all the care in designing and testing our systems, the only truly representative test is deployment in space. If in a year we are in the process of assembling the flight version of our in-orbit demonstrator and have booked flights to the launch site, that’s already a pretty good path.
Munich Startup: Would you found in Munich again and why?
Christian Bauer: I think for deeptech startups, particularly in the fields of space, defence, and hardware, there’s no way around Munich at the moment. The entire ecosystem has developed a dynamic that is hard to find elsewhere. I can visit several customers within a day and on the way to investors I can quickly stop by a few suppliers. For us, TUM in particular is an enormously important factor, not only providing consistently well-trained and motivated engineers, but also providing test infrastructure without which we would not have been able to make such rapid progress.
Munich Startup: Perfection or speed?
Christian Bauer: Space is unforgiving and every mistake can have devastating consequences. Still, a good solution today is better than a perfect solution in ten years. So we have to weigh every day anew how much risk and speed we can afford. We try to be as fast as possible and as perfect as necessary.
