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StarSpec Technologies is a space-based solutions company committed to lowering the barrier-to-entry to space-based technologies, platforms, and data to help solve the big problems here on Earth. Whether it's building precision space-based imaging systems for next-generation climate monitoring systems or synthesizing satellite-based data to inform on preventative maintenance of critical infrastructure, StarSpec's expertise offers actionable, scalable, and industry-ready solutions that endeavor to bring the benefits of space closer to home.
Unparalleled SmallSat Imaging.
At 100x the precision and imaging quality compared to the current industry standard, the InspireSAT Initiative builds on the successes of sub-orbital platforms, such as EXCITE and SuperBIT, as well as robust technology transfer programmes from the TARDIGRADE Project to bring StarSpec's ADCS technologies to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) competitively and at-scale.
This initiative promotes StarSpec's high precision space-qualified ADCS components, including sub-arcsecond precision star cameras, cogless reaction wheels, and ultra-high-bandwidth controllers.
This initiative is supported by the Canadian Space Agency with mission partners from UC Berkeley and LLNL.
Targeted Advancements in Robustly Designed Instrumentation for Generic RADiation Environments.
The TARDIGRADE project explores a potentially revolutionary approach to radiation tolerance of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) based electronics for space-based applications.
Working hand-in-hand with Canada's TRIUMF radiation test facility in Vancouver, the main goals for the TARDIGRADE project are to not only demonstrate suitability of our Modified-COTS approach for modern applications in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), but to both standardize and streamline the space technology development process with a target 1-3 month timeline from concept to qualification.
On-Demand InSAR Results with AI.
Building on successful implementation of StarSpec's Zero Expectation PHase Retrieval technique employed in the NRC-InSAR project, the ZEPHR Implementation in Northern Areas of Interest (ZinAOI) provides on-demand, actionable InSAR results to northern communities that are sensitive to the effects of climate change.
The ZinAOI Mapper offers a scalable software platform for assessing annual and season changes in permafrost and waterline at the click of a button, providing the on-demand data analytics for addressing changing infrastructure needs due to rising average temperatures.
Employing powerful artificial intelligence, the ZinAOI Mapper quickly assesses how landscapes and urban regions in the north continue to be affected by changing climate on a regional and global scale.
The EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope.
EXCITE is a state-of-the-art, high precision spectrometer-based instrument built and developed out of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA-GSFC).
StarSpec provides EXCITE with a three-axis stabilized balloon-borne platform with the necessary precision for near-space characterization of exoplanet atmospheres, a critical component of potentially life-bearing planets beyond our solar system.
Scheduled to launch from McMurdo, Antarctica in 2025, EXCITE will be carried to the stratospheric environment via a football-stadium-sized balloon as part of NASA's Long Duration Balloon (LDB) program.
State-of-the-Art Cosmology from a Balloon.
TAURUS is a balloon-borne platform designed to make highly precise measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), the echo of the Big Bang and the creation of the early Universe.
With expertise in stratospheric and near-space instrumentation, StarSpec provides TAURUS with rapidly fabricated and flight-vetted components, including star cameras, flight computers, mechanical structure, and power systems, all of which have heritage with NASA.
Utilizing NASA's state-of-the-art Super-pressure Balloon (SPB) platform, TAURUS is scheduled to launch from Wanaka, New Zealand in 2027, with StarSpec providing technical and consulting support from concept through to operations.
Gigapixel-class Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope.
StarSpec is proud to continue supporting innovation in state-of-the-art balloon-borne astronomy as prime contractor for the GigaBIT Project.
As a successor to the highly successful SuperBIT project, GigaBIT boasts an optical quality and facility-class capabilities second only to the James Webb Space Telescope, and all from a balloon!
With nearly three-times the telescope size, GigaBIT's science flight from Wanaka, New Zealand in 2028 will promote StarSpec-enabled high resolution imaging at an unprecedented level, peering into the deepest and farthest regions of space to study the nature of dark matter.
Looking back to where it all started...
March 2024
For over a decade, we at StarSpec Technologies continue to develop and provide core value in technological capabilities and implementation methodologies. It is heartening to realize how much traction and progress StarSpec Technologies has generated in such a short time, and how this traction is continuing to fuel innovation in next-generation scalable space-based applications. As an appreciative reminder of where it all began, today marks the 10th anniversary for the first complete assembly of what would become the highly successful and technologically prolific Super-pressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT). It was from these first initial steps that key technical milestones were surpassed that led to space quality astronomical imaging at a scale and quality matching the famous Hubble Space Telescope, and at a fraction of the total integrated cost and development time from concept to launch. The years that followed showed incredible success with the SuperBIT platform as its capabilities redefined what was possible for space-based imaging at this scale.
It is the seeds of these initial successes that launched StarSpec Technologies several years later, expanding upon and commercially providing this kind of breakthrough value to NASA through the EXCITE and Taurus projects as well as continued innovation with the Canadian Space Agency through StarSpec's InspireSAT Initiative. We at StarSpec Technologies are looking forward to the next 10 years of innovation and space-based scalability as we continue to strive for effective and sustainable use of space-based technologies to contribute to solving some of the big problems here on Earth.
It's Official:
StarSpec's InspireSAT is a GO!
January 2024
StarSpec Technologies is thrilled to announce that the InspireSAT ADCS 12U MVP project with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is officially a GO! Over the next 24 months, StarSpec will be implementing the detailed LEO satellite design conceived in Phase 1 to demonstrate transformative capabilities in sub-arcsecond stabilization for accessible and scalable low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. With applications from imaging in astronomy to SSA/SDA in LEO to Earth observation of critical infrastructure in monitoring the effects of climate change, StarSpec is looking forward to utilizing these technologies to enable a wide range of current and next-generation missions.
All in all, we at StarSpec are excited to take on this ambitious endeavor, and we wanted to take the time to recognize and give our thanks for the continued support from those that have helped us along the way. There's a lot to do and and more to look forward to, so we also wanted this to be a first step in re-engaging with those that have expressed interest and enthusiasm in continuing to be a part of our InspireSAT journey.
Feel free to reach out if you'd like to learn about our project roadmap or if there is anything about the InspireSAT implementation plan that you'd like to become involved with - we'd be happy to hear from you!
Stay tuned to hear more exciting news about InspireSAT's build and development project over the next 24 months!
Official Notice on CSA's Website
Check out SpaceQ's announcement!
StarSpec kicks off 2024 at AAS 243
January 2024
It's a new year at StarSpec Technologies, and 2024 comes with lots to do and even more to look forward to!
Kicking of 2024 in New Orleans, StarSpec makes a splash at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society, meeting with students, professors, and industry leaders in astronomical observation and instrumentation from across North America and around the world. Promoting the capabilities of StarSpec's flagship project SuperBIT and its successor GigaBIT, StarSpec garnered substantial interest in how space-based astronomy and capabilities can be made accessible and cost-effective outside the auspices of larger (and more costly) space-based telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope or James Webb Space Telescope, but with competitive performance and effective science throughput. Not to mention that StarSpec's booth at the AAS Exhibition was a hit: shiny swag and stellar photos were a great introduction to learning more about how StarSpec's vision of accessible space-based astronomy is becoming a reality with projects like GigaBIT, InspireSAT, Taurus, EXCITE, and many more coming down the pipe.
AAS 243 was also a great opportunity to meet with our partners, clients, and colleagues at Louisiana State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Princeton University, the Balloon Program Office, JPL-NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, and many other institutions and agencies in the US and Canada - truly an amazing event to be a part of and to contribute to!
From AAS 243:
"Visit StarSpec Technologies to learn more about how we are lowering the barrier to access space based resources for astronomy and remote sensing applications."
Check out more info on AAS 243 in NOLA!
StarSpec at Space Bound 2023
October 2023
StarSpec Technologies was excited to meet with space innovators across Canada at Space Bound 2023, further supporting and developing the Canadian space sector by encouraging collaboration and innovation from coast to coast.
Hosted by Space Canada in the capital, members from across Canada, key industry leaders, and government officials highlighted key aspects of the Canadian space economy requiring industry support and promotion, the manufacturing, space-qualification, and space data utilization aspects for which StarSpec is proud to be a strong and continuing contributor.
Keynote speakers included the Canadian Minister of Science François-Philippe Champagne, the President of the Canadian Space Agency Lisa Campbell, former Canadian astronauts Marc Garneau & David Saint-Jacques, and representatives from the Canadian defense sector.
Check out more Space Bound 2023!
EXCITE: Fully Integrated and Flight Ready at NASA's Ft. Sumner Launch Facility
September 2023
The EXCITE project has passed a major milestone in declaring Flight Readiness with NASA's launch provider, the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility.
As part of completing this contract with Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC-NASA), StarSpec Technologies has provide key technical support in integrating the StarSpec-built Gondola and cutting-edge Sub-arcsecond Pointing system with NASA's state-of-the-art optical systems and cryogenic detectors, notably one of the flight spares for the James Webb Space Telescope.
This achievement marks the successful completion of StarSpec's primary contract with EXCITE, opening doors for future collaboration with GSFC-NASA in further preparing EXCITE for its fully operational Science Flight from NASA's Long Duration Balloon facility in Antarctica by 2026.
Stay tuned for more developments on StarSpec's continuing support for EXCITE
Learn more about the EXCITE Project!
StarSpec Completes TARDIGRADE-2 Campaign at TRIUMF
August 2023
StarSpec Technologies has completed another successful campaign of the Targeted Advancement in Robustly Designed Instrumentation for Generic RADiation Environments (TARDIGRADE) program.
As a rapid and streamlined approach to space qualification, TARDIGRADE is a bold approach to the effective utilization of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) devices for space-based applications using StarSpec's proprietary Modified COTS technologies.
This round of radiation based testing at TRIUMF's radiation test facility in Vancouver focuses on COTS motor controllers, servos, and next-generation sub-orbital control boards for missions such as StarSpec's InspireSAT Initiative as well as product development for future StarSpec partners at Raven Aerostar.
Building on the success of this campaign and previous TARDIGRADE results, StarSpec has demonstrated effective use of its Modified COTS of space-based applications while showcasing a viable pipeline to space rapidly qualify technologies for StarSpec and its customers.
Successful NASA launch of the SuperBIT payload
April 2023
StarSpec Technologies is proud to announce the successful launch of the Super-pressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT)!
With liftoff from Wanaka, New Zealand at just after 2300h on April 15, 2023, the 1500 kg (3300 lbs) SuperBIT instrument was deployed in the stratosphere at 30-40 km altitude above 99.5% of the atmosphere via a football-stadium-sized balloon.
As a founding enabler of the SuperBIT instrument, StarSpec Technologies commissioned the state-of-the-art stabilization platform that provides imaging capabilities that exceed those of the famous Hubble Space Telescope.
StarSpec Technologies has since taken this image stabilization technology to market for balloon-borne and satellite instruments alike, offering components and systems that provide unprecented imaging capabilities at a fraction of the cost and time of a traditional space-based mission.
Follow SuperBIT on Instagram and with NASA!
Check out extra SuperBIT content!
