Open Cosmos

Open Cosmos is a private space company focused on making satellite missions more accessible through the design, manufacture, integration, and operation of small satellites. Founded in 2015 by Rafal Jorda Siquier, the company was established with the goal of lowering the cost and complexity of access to space. Its work spans satellite platforms, mission management, Earth observation, satellite communications, Internet of Things connectivity, space-based navigation, and the application of machine learning to data collected in orbit. The company operates across a number of European locations, including bases in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Rather than positioning itself solely as a spacecraft manufacturer, Open Cosmos presents an end-to-end mission capability: it can support the development of a payload or satellite, arrange launch and ground-segment activities, operate the spacecraft, and help customers use the resulting data or connectivity service. This model is suited to public-sector institutions, research organizations, commercial technology companies, and industrial users that need space-derived information without developing a complete space program internally. Open Cosmos has built and supported a portfolio of small-satellite missions with varied purposes. These include atmospheric science through the QB50 program; narrowband Internet of Things connectivity through the Enxaneta mission with Sateliot; sensor connectivity for Lucuna Space through LS2; and Earth-observation missions such as Menut, ALISIO-1, PLATERO, MANTIS, HAMMER, and Phi-Sat-2. Several of these projects combine optical or multispectral imaging with onboard processing and machine learning, reflecting the industry's shift toward extracting useful information in orbit rather than sending all raw data to the ground. Its technology activities also extend beyond conventional imaging. DOVER was intended to demonstrate a satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing capability, while 6GStarLab is designed to evaluate frequencies and technologies relevant to future sixth-generation communications. The company has also been involved in future missions connected with magnetic-field measurement, climate and ocean monitoring, national Earth-observation requirements, and defence-related space infrastructure. Open Cosmos has developed relationships with European agencies, governments, universities, industrial partners, and specialist space companies. It worked with Space Park Leicester on the Elfen project, a mission intended to investigate solar-wind effects in near-Earth space. In September 2023, the company announced a $50 million funding round backed by ETF Partners, Trill Impact, A&G, and strategic investors including Accenture Ventures. In July 2025, it acquired Portuguese start-up Connected, whose technology is associated with 5G and narrowband IoT capabilities for space. The transaction broadened Open Cosmos's communications and connectivity offering. The brand's positioning is therefore built around responsive, lower-cost, software-enabled space missions rather than very large traditional spacecraft programs. Its principal markets are European, but its mission concepts address global applications including environmental monitoring, industrial asset management, connectivity, navigation, climate analysis, and public-sector security. Publicly described future work includes NanoMagSat, the UK Atlantic Constellation Pathfinder, a Greek government Earth-observation constellation, and ORPHEUS, a defence-related mission for which Open Cosmos is a subcontractor and platform provider. As a private company, its ongoing growth depends on institutional contracts, commercial partnerships, investment, and the successful delivery of increasingly complex small-satellite missions.

Open Cosmos was founded in 2015 by Rafal Jorda Siquier with the objective of reducing the cost and barriers associated with space access. The company developed around the proposition that smaller, standardized, and more software-oriented spacecraft could deliver useful scientific, commercial, and public-sector services without the budgets and timelines traditionally associated with major satellite programs. Its early mission portfolio included participation in QB50, a multi-spacecraft scientific program designed to make distributed in-situ measurements of the lower atmosphere. This work established a connection between Open Cosmos and the small-satellite research community. The company subsequently expanded into communications, navigation, and Earth observation. Enxaneta, developed with Sateliot, addressed narrowband IoT connectivity, while LS2 was described as an IoT satellite for Lucuna Space intended to connect ground sensors. Earth observation became a major part of the company's activity. Menut focused on observing the effects of climate change, and ALISIO-1 combined a shortwave-infrared imaging capability with a laser communications module intended to improve the movement of data from orbit. PLATERO was designed to integrate Earth observation, IoT, and machine learning for environmental monitoring. MANTIS, supported by the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, used a 12U CubeSat platform and combined observation with machine learning for applications in the energy and mining sectors. HAMMER was described as a 6U CubeSat intended to combine several technologies for near-real-time analysis and broad geographic coverage. Open Cosmos also participated in Phi-Sat-2, an European Space Agency mission undertaken with partners including CGI, Ubotica, Simera CH Innovative, CEiiA, GEO-K, and KP Labs. The 6U CubeSat was intended to demonstrate how machine learning could be used to process and interpret Earth-observation data. These projects reflect a broader industry trend toward edge computing in space, in which satellite systems analyze imagery or sensor data before transmission in order to reduce bandwidth demand and accelerate the delivery of usable information. The company has pursued capabilities outside imaging. DOVER was a pathfinder for a satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing solution. The spacecraft was lost on the Virgin Orbit launch that failed in the United Kingdom. Open Cosmos has also been associated with 6GStarLab, a 6U CubeSat intended to evaluate frequencies and multi-frequency devices relevant to future communications systems. Open Cosmos has maintained a European institutional and research focus while expanding its geographic presence. Public descriptions identify bases in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. It worked with Space Park Leicester on Elfen, a mission aimed at measuring solar-wind activity and its influence on near-Earth space. The company's customers and partners have included government bodies, space agencies, research organizations, communications companies, and industrial users. In September 2023, Open Cosmos announced a $50 million financing round involving ETF Partners, Trill Impact, A&G, and smaller strategic investors such as Accenture Ventures. The financing provided capital for continued development of satellite missions and space-data services. In July 2025, Open Cosmos acquired Connected, a Portuguese start-up focused on 5G and narrowband IoT capabilities for space. This acquisition strengthened the company's communications and connectivity activities. Its future program includes NanoMagSat, an ESA mission planned to consist of three 16U CubeSats carrying miniaturized absolute magnetometers on booms, with launch described for 2027. Other announced or proposed work includes the UK Atlantic Constellation Pathfinder for ocean, Earth, and climate monitoring; a high-resolution Earth-observation constellation for the Greek government; and ORPHEUS, a Dstl-related defence mission for which Astroscale UK received the prime contract and Open Cosmos is a subcontractor and platform provider. The latter has been described as a successor in mission lineage to Prometheus-2 and CIRCE, which were lost on the failed Virgin Orbit launch in 2023. Open Cosmos remains a private company whose identity combines satellite manufacturing, mission services, and space-data applications. Its development has been shaped by the increasing use of small satellites for environmental intelligence, connectivity, navigation, defence support, and industrial monitoring. The company’s long-term position depends on converting experimental and institutional missions into repeatable commercial and government services while continuing to deliver increasingly capable spacecraft at lower cost.

• 2025

  Connected acquisition

  [1]Open Cosmosen.wikipedia.org

  Open Cosmos acquired Portuguese start-up Connected to expand its 5G and narrowband IoT capabilities for space.

• 2023

  Open Cosmos raises $50 million

  [1]Open Cosmosen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced a $50 million financing round backed by ETF Partners, Trill Impact, A&G, and strategic investors including Accenture Ventures.

• 2015

  Open Cosmos is founded

  [1]Open Cosmosen.wikipedia.org

  Rafal Jorda Siquier founded Open Cosmos to reduce the cost and complexity of access to space.

A European end-to-end small-satellite mission provider that combines spacecraft manufacturing, mission operations, Earth observation, connectivity, and onboard data intelligence to reduce the cost and complexity of accessing space.

• Atmospheric science mission

  QB50

  Open Cosmos's first listed mission involvement was QB50, a distributed small-satellite program for making multi-point, in-situ measurements of the lower atmosphere. The mission represented the company's early engagement with scientific CubeSat programs and demonstrated the use of relatively small spacecraft for coordinated atmospheric research.

• Satellite IoT communications

  Enxaneta

  Enxaneta is a narrowband Internet of Things mission developed with Sateliot. It is intended to extend connectivity to devices and sensors beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial networks, illustrating Open Cosmos's interest in integrating small satellites with emerging low-power communications services.

• Earth observation CubeSat

  ALISIO-1

  ALISIO-1 is a 6U CubeSat combining a shortwave-infrared imaging instrument for environmental monitoring with a laser communications module intended to improve the transfer of collected data. The mission reflects Open Cosmos's emphasis on compact spacecraft with both sensing and advanced communications capabilities.

• Earth observation and machine learning

  PLATERO

  PLATERO is designed to combine Earth observation, Internet of Things data, and machine-learning techniques for environmental monitoring. Its concept links satellite imagery with distributed terrestrial measurements, allowing users to derive more useful environmental information than either source could provide alone.

• Industrial Earth observation

  MANTIS

  MANTIS is a 12U CubeSat supported by the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. It combines Earth observation with machine learning and is aimed at challenges in the energy and mining industries, where frequent monitoring and automated analysis can support operational and environmental decisions.

• AI-enabled Earth observation

  Phi-Sat-2

  Phi-Sat-2 is a 6U European Space Agency CubeSat developed with a multinational industrial and research consortium. Its purpose is to demonstrate how machine learning can be used aboard a satellite to process Earth-observation data, reducing unnecessary transmission and potentially shortening the time between image collection and useful insight.

• Future communications technology

  6GStarLab

  6GStarLab is a 6U CubeSat intended to evaluate frequencies and multi-frequency devices relevant to future sixth-generation communications. The project extends Open Cosmos's work from current IoT connectivity toward experimental space-based communications technologies.

• Space magnetometry mission

  NanoMagSat

  NanoMagSat is an ESA mission planned around three 16U CubeSats. Each spacecraft is expected to carry a miniaturized absolute magnetometer mounted at the end of a boom, enabling measurements of Earth's magnetic environment from multiple small satellites.

• Defence satellite mission

  ORPHEUS

  ORPHEUS is a Defence Science and Technology Laboratory-related mission for which Astroscale UK received the prime contract and Open Cosmos serves as a subcontractor and platform provider. The mission is described as following earlier UK defence and technology demonstration missions affected by the 2023 Virgin Orbit launch failure.

• Elfen project

  United Kingdom · Space science

  Open Cosmos joined Space Park Leicester in supporting Elfen, a mission intended to measure solar winds and investigate their effects on near-Earth space.

  Outcome. The available reference material identifies the collaboration but does not provide a final mission outcome.

  Source

• 2025

  Acquire Connected to strengthen space IoT capabilitiesM&A

  Background

  Open Cosmos sought to expand beyond spacecraft and mission services into satellite-enabled communications, including 5G and narrowband IoT.

  Action taken

  Open Cosmos acquired Connected, a Portuguese start-up focused on 5G and narrowband IoT capabilities for space.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened Open Cosmos's communications technology portfolio. Deal value and detailed integration plans were not provided in the available material.

  Source

• 2023

  Secure growth financing for satellite and space-data expansionStrategy

  Background

  Open Cosmos operates in a capital-intensive market in which spacecraft development, mission operations, and technology demonstrations require substantial investment before commercial returns are realized.

  Action taken

  The company announced a $50 million funding round involving ETF Partners, Trill Impact, A&G, and strategic investors including Accenture Ventures.

  Aftermath

  The financing supported continued development of Open Cosmos's satellite, communications, and Earth-observation activities. The available material does not specify the allocation of funds or subsequent financial performance.

  Funding raised. $50 million (September 2023 announcement)

  Source

1. 1Open Cosmosen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Open Cosmos official websiteopen-cosmos.com