Antaris has closed a $28M Series A to continue development of its AI-powered platform to help satellite operators plan hardware decisions and missions—before cutting any metal.
WestWave Capital led the round, which also included participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures and other new investors.
“This investment validates our vision for software-defined space missions,” Antaris CEO and Cofounder Tom Barton said in a statement. “We’re now in position to push the boundaries of AI-native mission design and autonomous operations, giving customers the speed, resilience, and confidence they need to succeed in contested and commercial space.”
The power of planning: Antaris is aiming to provide AI assistance to speed up satellite manufacturers working on missions from comms, to EO, to national security. The AI software is designed to assist operators from the earliest planning stages of a mission, to the satellite’s end of life.
The company’s top offering within its Antaris Intelligence platform is TrueTwin, which can create a digital twin of a satellite. That platform allows operators and engineers to simulate updates or operations before carrying out changes in space, reducing costly mistakes.
Antaris, which was founded in 2021, raised a $3.5M seed round in September 2023.
What’s next: Antaris will use the Series A funding to speed up development of Antaris Intelligence, and to expand its global partnerships—an effort that’s already well underway. The company signed an agreement with SARsatX in February to help build a 16-sat constellation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Antaris is also looking at breaking into the Japanese space industry.
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Congress is all in on NASA’s new vision to build up infrastructure on the lunar surface, according to Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), who chairs the House space subcommittee.
Last week, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced several changes to the agency’s long-term vision, including plans to build a Moon base, to launch uncrewed missions to the lunar surface monthly starting in 2027, and to put US boots on the Moon in 2028. Per Haridopolos, the new plans have lawmakers fired up for the US to lead in space exploration.
“What I have heard from colleagues is they’re really rallying behind the idea of going to the Moon,” he told Payload. “Once we establish a base there…that might be the best place to launch to Mars.”
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