SpaceX · Starlink · Andreessen Horowitz · Fortune Technology
The space economy’s next frontier is in ground infrastructure, Northwood Space CEO confirms
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In the last six years, a surge of satellites in orbit has triggered what Northwood Space Chief Executive Bridgit Mendler called the “infrastructure building era” of space.
Key facts
- Northwood recently closed a $100 million Series B funding round led by Washington Harbour Partners and Andreessen Horowitz
- Mendler is a former Disney Channel actress, appearing in popular TV shows such as Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place
- The burgeoning space industry will get a big boost this week when SpaceX is expected to make its public market debut under the ticker SPCX at a $1.75 trillion valuation
- SpaceX’s Starlink, which beams internet access to customers on Earth, currently has more than 10,000 operational satellites in low-Earth orbit, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper is racing to launch
Summary
Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen, Colorado on Tuesday, Mendler emphasized how massive leaps in launch capacity and spacecraft manufacturing are supercharging the space economy. Northwood is focused on the ground segment, which Mendler described as the networking system linking Earth and space. “For a long time, the space economy has existed, but it’s been pretty niche,” Mendler said. SpaceX’s Starlink, which beams internet access to customers on Earth, currently has more than 10,000 operational satellites in low-Earth orbit, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper is racing to launch its own constellation of satellites.