The Berlin and Munich-based NewSpace startup designs and manufactures customized high-performance satellites. Through a consequent implementation of rapid manufacturing techniques and technologies and processes drawn from the consumer electronics and automotive domain, the company will deliver its products within 9 months at a significantly lower cost and more flexibly than established NewSpace manufacturers today. A further unique feature of Reflex products is that they are free of ITAR parts which entail bureaucratic hurdles making the export times from the US and to international launch sites unpredictable.
Our motivation to support Reflex from its earliest days roots in one key market observation: While the growing need for connectivity satellites by the end of the decade and the importance of autonomous access to high-speed internet constellation, Europe does not have these capabilities today because available satellites do either not meet the performance requirements, take 4-7 years in terms of development, or cost >€30M. Since ITAR regulations restrict European governments and companies from procuring from, working with satellite builders in the US as well as then importing these satellites from the US to an international launch site, we took on the responsibility and opportunity to equip Europe with these both economically and politically crucial in-orbit capabilities.