"K2 aims to take advantage of a coming abundance of heavy- and super-heavy-lift launch capacity, with SpaceX's Starship expected to begin deploying satellites as soon as next year. Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launched twice this year and will fly more in 2026 while engineers develop an even larger New Glenn with additional engines and more lift capability. Underscoring this trend toward big rockets are other launchers like SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, United Launch Alliance's Vulcan,"
"The company's first "Mega Class" satellite is named Gravitas. It is scheduled to launch in March 2026 on a Falcon 9 rocket. Once in orbit, Gravitas will test several systems that are fundamental to K2's growth strategy. One is a 20-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster that K2 says will be four times more powerful than any such thruster flown to date. Gravitas will also deploy twin solar arrays capable of generating 20 kilowatts of power."
"The company, named K2, announced the cash infusion on Thursday. K2's Series C fundraising round was led by Redpoint Ventures, with additional funding from investment firms in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. K2 has now raised more than $400 million since its founding in 2022 and is on track to launch its first major demonstration mission next year, officials said."
K2 raised $250 million in a Series C round led by Redpoint Ventures, bringing total funding to over $400 million since 2022. The company will expand production at an 180,000-square-foot factory in Torrance, California, and aims to launch a major demonstration mission next year. K2 plans two satellite classes, Mega and Giga, to leverage an expected increase in heavy- and super-heavy-lift launch capacity from vehicles such as Starship, New Glenn, Falcon 9/Heavy, and Vulcan. The first Mega satellite, Gravitas, is scheduled for March 2026 and will test a 20-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster and twin 20-kilowatt solar arrays.
Read at Ars Technica
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