Space-tech startup Orbital Matter secures EUR 1 million seed funding from Romanian Early Game Ventures
Orbital Matter: Pioneering Space-Based 3D Printing for a New Era
Orbital Matter, a groundbreaking space-tech startup based in Warsaw, is revolutionizing the space industry with its innovative technology that combines liquid materials with extrusion-based 3D printing for space construction [1][2][3][4]. This approach reduces launch weight by up to 70% and launch volume by a factor of ten, a significant advantage in the microgravity environment of space [1][2][3].
The startup's technology has already achieved a NASA Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 after a successful initial space launch [1][2][3]. With a recent €1 million seed funding led by Early Game Ventures (EGV), Orbital Matter is now poised to reach TRL 8, the "flight-qualified" certification, during its next product launch into space [1][2][3][4]. Simultaneously, the company is preparing to fulfill its first orders.
Orbital Matter's technology offers a solution to the challenges posed by traditional manufacturing methods in space. Volume constraints and launch acceleration have long been significant hurdles, but Orbital Matter's approach promises to overcome these obstacles in the coming years [1][2][3].
NASA's Glenn Research Center has highlighted the inefficiency of current space launches, with only about 1% of a rocket's total mass being payload [5]. Orbital Matter's technology addresses this issue directly, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution for space manufacturing.
The space industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, transitioning from primarily rockets and satellites into a platform for diverse new businesses. Innovations such as reduced launch costs, miniaturized technology, and private sector advances are driving this transformation [6]. Orbital Matter is at the forefront of this change, recognized as one of Europe's few genuine space technology innovators [1][4].
The investment from Early Game Ventures is seen as a bet on the future of orbital construction and space infrastructure [7]. Florin Vișa, Partner at Early Game Ventures, considers Orbital Matter uniquely positioned to bring advanced assembly and materials science to the expanding space industry [7].
Orbital Matter's work has not gone unnoticed. The startup has been highlighted in the latest European Technology Status report and is integral to ESA's major plans for advancing space technology in Europe [1][4]. The company continues to benefit from contracts with European space agencies.
In conclusion, Orbital Matter is progressing rapidly from cutting-edge research on space-based 3D printing toward commercial readiness. This recent funding round will accelerate development toward flight qualification and initial commercial deployment, positioning Orbital Matter as a key player in the emerging in-orbit construction and space infrastructure industry [1][2][3][4].
[1] https://www.orbitalmatter.com/ [2] https://www.egventures.co/ [3] https://www.esa.int/ [4] https://www.nasa.gov/ [5] https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/factsheets/FS-GLN-18-001-Space_Launch_System.html [6] https://www.space.com/ [7] https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/17/orbital-matter-raises-1m-to-bring-3d-printing-to-space/
Science and technology are at the heart of Orbital Matter's mission, as they combine to develop groundbreaking space-based 3D printing technology. This cutting-edge approach is expected to redefine the space industry by offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution for space manufacturing, thanks to the recent €1 million seed funding led by Early Game Ventures (EGV).
The combination of 3D printing in space and advanced assembly methods will not only revolutionize space construction but also open up opportunities in finance, as the emerging in-orbit construction and space infrastructure industry presents a significant investment potential.
