We are living in the age of the so-called microsatellites, which are equipped with thermal cameras and other badges to, for example, alert farmers before crops are damaged, predict droughts and help juggle supply chains. Climate change is making less land available for agricultural food production, leading to strict regulations on water and fertilizer use. Wasted water now costs €220.000 billion a year, by some estimates, and is expected to reach a staggering number of 2 billion euros by the end of the decade.
To address this, the Germany-based company constellr has raised $10 million in seed funding, co-directed by lakestar y VSquared, with the participation of the first and new sponsors FTTF, IQT, Amathaon Capital, Natural Ventures, EIT Food, OHB Venture Capital, Next Humanity and Seraphim.
This space-based water monitoring system checks the Earth's surface temperature and, early, also its chemical composition. The platform will also analyze the availability of water around the world, on a daily basis.
constellr will use the cash to develop its first two satellites, which take measurements beyond infrared wavelengths (8-14 microns) to estimate surface temperature and thus measure water distribution.
The investment shows that there is ongoing investment in space infrastructure coming out of Germany. lakestar y VSquared they are also investors in the space startup Isar Aerospace, which shows that Europe is keeping pace with geographies like the US and China in an era where space sovereignty is more important than ever.
