Short description: Satellite manufacturing company
FOSSA |
| Type | Private |
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| Industry | IoT, connectivity, spacecraft design, telecommunications |
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| Founded | 2020[1] |
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| Headquarters | Madrid , Spain |
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Area served | Worldwide |
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Key people | Julián Fernandez Barcellona, Vicente Gonzalez Negro, Sergio Sarasola[2] |
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| Services | Nanosatellites, Satellite Connectivity, IoT Solutions |
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Number of employees | 24 (as of January 17, 2023)[3] |
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| Website | https://fossa.systems/ |
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FOSSA Systems is a company based in Madrid, Spain , specializing in satellite manufacturing and IoT solutions. Their services include space-related technologies and solutions for IoT applications. The company operates within the European market.[4]
The manufacturer offers worldwide IoT satellite connectivity and satellite space services for industrial properties with their assets in outlying regions.[5]
FOSSA Systems builds pico, and nanosatellites launched into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Their LEO satellites carry IoT receivers and other payloads, such as SDRs, which can act as IoT cell phone towers from Space, to attain vertical integration.
FOSSA System's picosatellites provide IoT (The Internet of Things) to remote areas without mobile coverage for low-wattage devices.[6] These satellite communication services are commercialized by FOSSA as Software as a Service (SaaS) for IoT solutions or sold as dedicated satellites and ad-hoc projects.[7]
The company's solution has applications in monitoring and tracking millions of assets in logistics, linear infrastructure, utilities, or agriculture in remote areas with connectivity issues or as a unified mass IoT system.[8]
Agricultural farmers can use LEO constellation global coverage for monitoring the whereabouts of their large groups of livestock, plus tracking the right time to irrigate their crops.[9]
Users can gather data on the productive activity of various industries through the use of Picosatellite technology. Fishing, infrastructure, and agricultural businesses can benefit from this technology.[10]
In 2022, FOSSA Systems was the European company to launch the most nanosatellites into space (satellites under 1kg), totalling 13 through two SpaceX Transporter Missions.[11]
In 2019, they launched the first Spanish picosatellite FOSSASAT-1, which has a size of 5x5x5cm and a mass of 250g, to demonstrate their LoRa IoT Concept.[12]
The company plans to deploy a constellation of 80 satellites by 2024 and has four more spacecraft scheduled for launch in 2023.[13]
FOSSA also manufactures ground stations for operating their constellation and currently has two installed, one in La Linea, Spain, and one in Madrid, Spain.[14] FOSSA satellites receive messages from Space through their sensors and send the gained information to the ground stations on Earth. The sensors and ground stations use LoRa Technology to communicate.[15]
History
FOSSA Systems was initially founded as a non-profit project youth association in 2018 by 16-year-old Julián Fernandez to democratize access to space and the mass adoption of IoT.[16] Their first launch project was sponsored by Everis Aerospace & Defence (later acquired by NTT Data).[17][18]
FOSSA Systems has made contributions to open-sourcing satellite software and hardware. Users can be located anywhere on Earth and communicate with satellites in space. FOSSA's open-source contributions can be viewed on GitHub pages, where they work with software developers, telecommunications engineers & electrical engineers worldwide.[19][20]
Fossa Systems S.L. was officially founded in Spain on July 13th, 2020, by Julián Fernández (CEO) and Vicente González (CTO).[21] They noticed the need for a hardware manufacturer that provided remote IoT connectivity, so they created FOSSA Systems to offer affordable worldwide internet connections to those who need it.[22]
The company grew organically to 6 employees and €160,000 in sales before raising €765,000 in seed funding from their investors, WISeKey (a Swiss cybersecurity company), and Newmind Venture (A venture capital firm in Spain), in early 2021.[23]
The company has signed agreements to launch satellites for Platzi,[24] WISeKey,[25] and others since its foundation.
FOSSA received a €318,000 NEOTEC project grant from the CDTI in 2022[26] to develop an earth-observation and IoT satellite platform.
The company has been recognized for its achievements by various entities based in Europe, such as Best Startup of 2022 by El Español,[27] Most Innovative Startup by the Spanish Journal Expansión,[28] and Best Startup by Alhambra Ventures.[29] The company closed its first financing round in 2021 with over 1M in revenue since its foundation.[3]
In May 2023, FOSSA announced in partnership with WISeKey, it will be launching several new WISeSat-Ready FOSSA-powered satellites with SpaceX. These launches will add to the 13 FOSSA satellites currently in orbit. The satellites are set to be part of the 80-satellite constellation plan by FOSSA, with the goal of providing IoT connectivity in real time for industrial applications. The launch is set to be carried out by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 Vehicle in June 2023.[30]
Launches and Satellite Fleet
FOSSA systems built the first Spanish picosatellite FOSSASat-1, launched in December 2019 aboard an Electron KS rocket. The satellite transmitted LoRa & RTTY messages to amateurs worldwide.[16]
In 2021, FOSSASat-1B and FOSSASat-2 were launched aboard a Firefly Alpha Rocket as part of the PICOBUS mission. The mission failed to reach orbit and was later successfully launched in 2022.[31]
In January 2022, FOSSA launched 6x FOSSASat-2E satellites on board a Falcon-9 rocket to provide IoT services and other earth observation and edge-computing experiments.[32]
In May 2022, FOSSA launched seven PocketQubes[33] called FOSSASat-2E x7, which are picosatellites that provide global IoT connectivity services. The seven satellites were on board a Momentus OTV (orbital transfer vehicle), amongst 52 others, flying on a Space X Falcon-9 ridesharing rocket.[34]
References
- ↑ "Fossa Systems". https://sky-brokers.com/supplier/fossa-systems/.
- ↑ Molina, Ana, and Valeria Ruggiu. “Fossa Systems, by Julián Fernández, Wins the Award for Best Startup at the D+I Innovation Awards.” Area - Campo De Gibraltar, 11 Nov. 2022, https://www.diarioarea.com/2022/11/11/fossa-systems-de-julian-fernandez-premio-a-la-mejor-startup-en-los-di-innovation-awards/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rainbow, Jason. “Spanish Startup to Upgrade Tiny Satellites to Take on Global IoT Market.” SPACE NEWS, 17 Jan. 2023, https://spacenews.com/spanish-startup-to-upgrade-tiny-satellites-to-take-on-global-iot-market/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Lin, Sharon. "SPAIN'S FIRST OPEN SOURCE SATELLITE". https://hackaday.com/2019/08/15/spains-first-open-source-satellite/.
- ↑ Gonzalez, Manuel. "Top 15. The most promising startups in the Aerospace sector in Spain in 2022". https://elreferente.es/startups/top-15-las-startups-sector-aeroespacial-mas-prometedoras-espana-2022/.
- ↑ “FOSSA Systems IoT Smallsat Launch Accomplishment.” Satnews, 20 Jan. 2022, https://news.satnews.com/2022/01/20/fossa-systems-iot-smallsat-launch-accomplishment/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ "WISeKey And FOSSA Systems Present WISeSat At The International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC) For Delivering Secure And Global, Satellite IoT Connectivity". https://aithority.com/security/wisekey-and-fossa-systems-present-wisesat-at-the-international-cybersecurity-forum-fic-for-delivering-secure-and-global-satellite-iot-connectivity/.
- ↑ Weimann, Christine. "#WorldIPDay – FOSSA Systems: a young company conquering space to provide connectivity to remote areas". https://abg-ip.com/worldipday-fossa-systems/.
- ↑ Goedde, Lutz. "Agriculture's connected future: How technology can yield new growth". https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/agriculture/our-insights/agricultures-connected-future-how-technology-can-yield-new-growth.
- ↑ "Julián Fernández and Vicente González, the young Spanish creators of the picosatellites that have revolutionized aerospace engineering". https://www.ondacero.es/programas/julia-en-la-onda/audios-podcast/entrevistas/julio-fernandez-vicente-gonzalez-dos-jovenes-espanoles-creadores-picosatelites-que-han-revolucionado-ingenieria-espacial-futuro_2022012661f18a9b334ddc0001163be5.html.
- ↑ "Momentus to Fly FOSSA Systems PocketPod". https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230206005706/en/Momentus-to-Fly-FOSSA-Systems-PocketPod.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter D. “FossaSat 1, 1b”. Gunter's Space Page. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/fossasat-1.htm. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ “Momentus to Fly FOSSA Systems PocketPod.” Business Wire, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230206005706/en/Momentus-to-Fly-FOSSA-Systems-PocketPod. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Zato, Lola. “WISeKey Completes the Installation, in La Línea De La Concepción, of the First WISeSATS Satellite Station in Cooperation with FOSSA Systems.” WISeKey, 22 Dec. 2021, https://www.wisekey.com/press/wisekey-completes-the-installation-in-la-linea-de-la-concepcion-of-the-first-wisesats-satellite-station-in-cooperation-with-fossa-systems/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ "FOSSA Systems and Momentus to launch nine PocketQube satellites together". https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/fossa-systems-and-momentus-to-launch-nine-pocketqube-satellites-together/.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Allan, Alasdair. “FossaSat-1, an Open Source Satellite for the Internet of Things.” Hackster.io, 2019, https://www.hackster.io/news/fossasat-1-an-open-source-satellite-for-the-internet-of-things-7f31cab00ef5. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Penalva, Javier. “Fossasat-1: the 250-Gram Open-Source Satellite That Emerged from Reddit and Was Made by a Spanish Teenager.” Xataka, 9 Oct. 2019, https://www.xataka.com/entrevistas/fossasat-1-satelite-open-source-250-gramos-que-surgio-reddit-que-ha-fabricado-adolescente-espanol. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Ammachchi, Narayan. “NTT DATA Seals Deal to Acquire Spanish IT Firm Everis.” Nearshore Americas, 5 Nov. 2013, https://nearshoreamericas.com/ntt-data-acquires-latam-firm-everis-group/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ “FossaSat-1.” GitHub, 9 Dec. 2019, https://github.com/FOSSASystems/FOSSASAT-1. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ “FOSSASAT-2.” GitHub, 22 Aug. 2021, https://github.com/FOSSASystems/FOSSASAT-2. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ “Suppliers- Fossa Systems.” Sky Brokers, https://sky-brokers.com/supplier/fossa-systems/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ "The Open-Source Revolution in Outer Space". https://medium.com/blogspacechain/the-open-source-revolution-in-outer-space-2beedf438b50#:~:text=Our goal is to democratise access to space,non-profit project on an online forum in 2018..
- ↑ "FOSSA Systems X Europe Startup Interview". https://www.xeurope.eu/post/fossa-systems-x-europe-startup-interview.
- ↑ Forbes Staff. “The Colombian Startup Platzi Announced That It Will Launch a Satellite into Space.” Forbes Colombia, 29 Apr. 2019, https://forbes.co/2022/04/29/tecnologia/la-startup-colombiana-platzi-anuncio-que-lanzara-un-satelite-al-espacio. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ “WISeKey Successfully Launched Its First IoT Picosatellites WISeSat–1 and WISeSat–2 on January 13th with SpaceX Transporter 3 Rideshare Mission Aboard a Falcon 9 Vehicle.” WISeKey, 13 Jan. 2022, https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/01/13/2366746/0/en/WISeKey-successfully-launched-its-First-IoT-Picosatellites-WISeSat-1-and-WISeSat-2-on-January-13th-with-SpaceX-Transporter-3-Rideshare-Mission-Aboard-a-Falcon-9-Vehicle.html. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ↑ “RESOLUCIÓN DEFINITIVA DE LA PRESIDENCIA DEL CDTI DE LA CONVOCATORIA DEL PROGRAMA NEOTEC DEL AÑO 2021.” NextGenerationEU. https://www.cdti.es/recursos/doc/Programas/Financiacion_CDTI/Subvenciones_NEOTEC/NEOTEC_2021/13118_2512512022144611.pdf.Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ↑ “FOSSA Systems Recognized as the Best Startup of 2022.” Avion Revue, 14 Nov. 2022, https://www.avionrevue.com/espacio/fossa-systems-reconocida-como-mejor-startup-de-2022/. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ↑ “18 Success Stories at the 'IV Expansión Start Up Awards.'” Expansion Barcelona, 15 Dec. 2022, https://www.expansion.com/expansion-empleo/emprendedores/2022/12/15/639b5c9b468aebf10e8b45f0.html. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ↑ “FOSSA Systems, the Andalusian Startup That Conquers Space.” Alhambra Venture, 2022, https://www.alhambraventure.com/en/fossa-systems-la-startup-andaluza-que-conquista-el-espacio/. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ↑ "WISeKey and FOSSA Systems to Launch New WISeSat-Ready Satellites with SpaceX" (in en-US). 2023-05-19. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wisekey-fossa-systems-launch-wisesat-135100241.html.
- ↑ “PAST MISSION FLTA001 DREAM Firefly’s 1st Test Flight.” FireFly Space, https://fireflyspace.com/missions/flta001-dream/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
“PAST MISSION FLTA002 To The Black Firefly’s 1st Orbital Launch.” FireFly Space, https://fireflyspace.com/missions/flta002-to-the-black/. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Kramer, Herbert J. “Transporter-3.” EoPortal, 18 Jan. 2022, https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/transporter-3#transporter-3--third-rideshare-mission-of-spacex. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter D.. "PocketQube". https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/pocketqub.htm.
- ↑ Kramer, Herbert J. “Transporter-5.” EoPortal, 27 May 2022, https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/transporter-5#exolaunch-payloads. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
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