Space DOTS, a pioneering London-based company specialising in “in-orbit material testing,” recently received a sizeable £1.2m ($1.5m) pre-seed investment. The new capital is set to catalyse the commercialization of their innovative product – the Barnacle DOT, an advanced material testing module designed to operate in space. This could potentially revolutionize how space companies conduct testing, ushering in an era of increased efficiency and significant cost savings.
Space DOTS: Commercializing the Barnacle DOT
The Barnacle DOT, an inventive addition to the field of in-orbit material testing, aims to transform the way space companies perform tests. According to Bianca Cefalo, CEO and co-founder of Space DOTS, these companies can place Barnacle DOTs on various types of launchers to conduct anti-gravity testing. “You wouldn’t test a rain jacket in the sun,” she noted, driving home the point about the importance of testing materials in their intended environment.
The Legacy of Space DOTS
Space DOTS, highlighted by UKTN as a pre-seed startup to watch, was the brainchild of Cefalo and James Sheppard Alden. Born out of their experiences working at Airbus Defence and Space, they identified a significant gap in the approach to testing and qualifying materials for space.
“At Space DOTS, we are proposing an evolution to the legacy approach of testing and qualifying materials for space,” added Cefalo, reaffirming their commitment to a more practical and cost-effective strategy.
A Vote of Confidence from Investors
The pre-seed funding round saw participation from an impressive roster of investors, including Boost VC, Sie Ventures, 7Percent Ventures, Blue Wire Capital, Elaine Lau, and Alex Ionescu. Their backing underscores the faith in the potential of in-orbit material testing to revolutionize the space industry.
The Potential Impact
As Dr Aphrodite Tomou, Head of Technical at Goodfellow Cambridge, pointed out, “It is crucial for us to be able to conduct tests on these innovative materials in space, and Space DOTS provides us with an opportunity to achieve this through its in-orbit active testing solution.” With stakeholders eagerly looking forward to testing materials like microwires, nanomaterials, advanced metal alloys, and composites in space, the Barnacle DOT is poised to make a lasting impact.
The Future for Space DOTS
With the current trajectory, Space DOTS is well-positioned to reshape the dynamics of in-orbit material testing, potentially leading to increased efficiency and considerable cost reductions in space missions. As we watch this exciting development unfold, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the impact of the Barnacle DOT on the space industry. Leave your comments below and join the conversation!
