Privateer Space

History

2021: Building a space debris company

In mid-October 2021, it became known about the creation of a new company Privateer Space, which will focus on the search for space debris. This is a joint project of the co-founder of SoundCiv Wozniak and the founder of the robotics company Ripcord Alex Fielding.

According to TechCrunch, the activities of Privateer Space will fully begin in February 2022 with the launch of satellites into Earth orbit, with the help of which detailed maps will be created for the search for space debris. The main goal of the company is to help other enterprises effectively combat space debris.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak created Privateer Space to search for space debris

The launch of the first Pono 1 satellite is expected to be carried out on February 11, 2022, the second satellite called Pono 2 - at the end of April 2022. The size of the device is just over 15 cm in diameter, it will be equipped with 42 sensors, 30 of which will be non-optic cameras, and the remaining 12 - optical cameras. Neoptic sensors will have an accuracy of up to 4 microns. According to Fielding, the satellite body will be printed on a 3D printer, and carbon fiber will be used as the material for its production. The rigidity of the structure will be similar to titanium products, Pono-1 will only work for four months, after which the satellite will be withdrawn from orbit and sent back to the Earth's atmosphere. Privateer Space has already selected a partner for launches and has received all the necessary permissions.

Privateer Space is already collaborating with Astroscale, a startup that is engaged in orbital logistics and is developing a satellite for cleaning space debris. According to Fielding, abandoning the development of Google Maps of space can be not just negligence, but can have fatal consequences, in particular, accidents involving humans in orbit in space are inevitable.^[1]

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