Digital Penang and Antaris, a space startup based in Silicon Valley providing a software-defined satellite platform in software-as-a-service business model, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate for capability and capacity building of the local EE ecosystem for the space technology supply chain.
The key objectives of the MOU are to:
(1) facilitate satellite operators/mission owners to readily access the Antaris SaaS for designing, building, and managing their satellites,
(2) provide Antaris Marketplace listing for Penang based qualified suppliers to access
local and global demand and, 3) broaden the ecosystem through open-source led partnerships and training.
“It is a privilege to be working with Digital Penang to bring the existing EEE supply chain participants and new entrants to the space sector, contributing to the state’s and national space economy.
“Antaris is addressing the proprietary nature of the satellite industry dominated by a few established players by open-sourcing a next-generation software-defined satellite platform for satellite lifecycle management. This approach creates a more level playing field for new entrants to the space sector in the region,” said Shankar Sivaprakasam, co-founder and Chief Product and Revenue Officer of Antaris, Shankar Sivaprakasam.
Meanwhile, Tony Yeoh, CEO of Digital Penang said that Penang also known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’ has so far been deeply focused on medical-tech and EEE supply chain.
“This partnership opportunity leverages our engineering prowess to extend into the next fastest-growing adjacent sector in the space technology supply chain,” he added.
Antaris is launching a 6U CubeSat demonstrator satellite with multiple customer demonstrator payloads in Q3, 2022, on an ISRO launch vehicle to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The launch would space qualify (high TRL) Antaris software-defined satellite platform and the payloads.