MP Space Secures AUD $23M to Disrupt Orbital Power Economics
Sydney-based MP Space has raised $16.1M in seed funding to scale production of satellite power systems, targeting a high-volume manufacturing rate of 5,000 components annually.
Power Systems Scaled
Australian startup MP Space has finalized an AUD $23M ($16.1M USD) seed round to accelerate the manufacturing of satellite power infrastructure. According to Payload, the round was led by Blackbird VC, with participation from Seraphim Space, Systemiq Capital, Speedinvest, and MFV Partners. The capital injection is designated to expand manufacturing capacity at the company's Sydney facility.
The Third Option
Founded in 2024 by ex-Tesla engineers Jay Manley and Sam Paterson, MP Space aims to bridge the gap between expensive legacy supply chains and the high overhead of in-house development. CEO Jay Manley states the firm can provide power systems at approximately 60% to 80% of current market averages. This price point is designed to match or undercut the internal development costs currently incurred by satellite operators.
Tactical Expansion
The company’s initial hardware debuted last week on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 mission. Current orders already exceed 500 spacecraft. To meet this demand, MP Space is targeting a production output of 5,000 units annually by the end of next year.
While current offerings focus on sub-5kg batteries for small-sats, the roadmap includes a broader power backbone: maximum power point trackers, chargers, and solar-array drive assemblies. The company is also engineering high-capacity power units—projected to be 10x larger—to accommodate the heavy power requirements of the Starship era, aiming to bring Starlink-level unit economics to the wider commercial market.