ECLIPSE SPACE DEPLOYS TRIO OF NEXT-GEN SATELLITE ARCHITECTURES
Former SpaceX engineers at Eclipse Space have unveiled three new satellite platforms targeting direct-to-device communications, high-throughput broadband, and high-power orbital computing.
ARCHITECTURE UPDATE: ECLIPSE SPACE
Eclipse Space, a startup established by former SpaceX veterans, has formalized its strategy to decentralize satellite constellation deployment. According to Payload, the firm has unveiled specifications for three distinct satellite platforms designed to provide a turnkey "Starlink-like" capability to commercial operators. The company is pivoting away from vertical integration, adopting an Apple-style model by partnering with specialized suppliers—including a collaboration with French firm Gama to develop 100+ kW power systems.
DATASET: PLATFORM SPECIFICATIONS
The new hardware relies on a flat-pack design to maximize fairing density:
- CitraSat: Optimized for Direct-to-Device (D2D) communications. Features S-band phased arrays, E-band backhaul, and V-band inter-satellite links with 6 kW peak power.
- SliceSat: A high-throughput broadband solution utilizing Ku-band phased arrays and 8 kW peak power.
- SurgeSat: A specialized orbital compute platform. It scales power to 100 kW and integrates a 400 sq m radiator to manage thermal loads generated by intensive data processing.
STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT
CEO Derek Huerta confirmed the demo mission timeline has shifted from 2027 to 2028. Eclipse will prioritize the D2D market via CitraSat before expanding into broadband and edge computing. Notably, the firm is explicitly avoiding U.S. government contracts to maintain commercial agility and avoid the "DNA-altering" overhead of federal procurement. By utilizing a horizontal supply chain, Eclipse aims to provide sovereign and commercial entities the ability to own and operate full-scale infrastructure without the need for bespoke internal engineering teams.