Aurora Insight
Aurora Insight was developing technologies to map radio frequency (RF) from satellites, aircraft and on the ground vehicles and fixed ground sensors, to provide the most accurate RF mapping commercially available. RF Mapping is used to plan out telecommunications infrastructure deployments such as 5G, LTE, 3G, 2G, WiFi and TV Signals as well as to model signal propagation and usage to improve radio performance. The company planned to develop an advanced proprietary dataset for next-generation networks as well as using RF patterns to determine industry trends and market opportunities. The company is based in Denver, Colorado USA.
The company launched its first satellite on December 3rd, 2018, a technology demonstration to determine how well the firms proprietary sensor could detect terrestrial communications. When that initial technology demonstration was successful, Aurora Insight hired NanoAvionics to build Bravo and Charlie, both launched in January 2021.
In January 2023 the Aurora Insight was acquired by MAXAR Technologies, after a strategic investment into the company in 2022. Aurora Insight’s radio frequency (RF) spectrum mapping capabilities would complement MAXAR’s best-in-class geospatial data and AI analytics solutions, to deliver an industry-leading multisource GEOINT-solution for government and commercial missions.
Company History
Aurora Insight was founded in Denver in 2016 by Jennifer Alvarez, Brian Mengwasser and Gus Moore, who spent the past decade designing and building airborne platforms, sensor systems, and satellites for communications, which all depend on the radio spectrum. Together, they’ve engineered generations of communications systems. All three co-founders forged substantial careers. Mengwasser has long had a passion for disruptive technology fueled by his background in energy, satellites, and telecommunication. Alvarez has more than 25 years of experience in technology development and system deployment for aerospace and government applications. Moore has 15 years of experience in developing space and airborne sensor systems across all domains of remote sensing.
On June 1st, 2017 the company received its first seed investment round led by True Ventures.
Aurora Insight launched its first satellite on December 3rd, 2018, a technology demonstration to determine how well the firms proprietary sensor could detect terrestrial communications. When that initial technology demonstration was successful, Aurora Insight hired NanoAvionics to build Bravo and Charlie, both launched in January 2021.
In 2019 the company emerged from stealth mode with an 18 million USD investment seed round and Series A, from an investors led by Alsop Louie Partners and True Ventures, backers also include Tippet Venture Partners, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Promus Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group, ValueStream Ventures and Intellectus Partners.
On Jan 13th, 2021 the company launched its first two commercial 6U CubeSats, Bravo and Charlie, both manufactured by satellite manufacturer NanoAvionics with Aurora Insight sensors. The satellites with launched with the Transporter-1 Rideshare mission using a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX.
In 2022 the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) signed an agreement with six commercial providers of space-based RF data in 2022. The contracts were awarded to Aurora Insight, HawkEye 360, Kleos Space, PredaSAR, Spire Global and Umbra Lab.
In January 2023 the Aurora Insight was acquired by MAXAR Technologies, after a strategic investment into the company in 2022. Aurora Insight’s radio frequency (RF) spectrum mapping capabilities would complement MAXAR’s best-in-class geospatial data and AI analytics solutions, to deliver an industry-leading multisource GEOINT-solution for government and commercial missions.
| Satellite | Mission | Launch Date | Launcher | Launch Operator |
| THEA (demo) | SSO-A | Dec 3rd, 2018 | Falcon 9 | SpaceX USA |
| Bravo | VV-18 | April 29th, 2021 | Vega | Arianespace FG |
| Charlie | Transporter-1 | Jan 24th, 2021 | Falcon 9 | SpaceX USA |
| Delta | Transporter-8 | Jun 12th, 2023 | Falcon 9 | SpaceX USA |
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Resources
www.maxar.com
www.newspace.im
www.crunchbase.com
www.spacenews.com edition January 21st, 2021
www.trueventures.com
www.alsop-louie.com
www.cbinsights.com
www.spacenews.com edition September 28th, 2022
www.techcrunch.com
www.lightreading.com edition January 6th, 2023
www.space.skyrocket.de
www.nanoavionics.com
www.nanosats.eu