Celestis Launches Satellite Developer Kit and Raises $50M Seed to Democratize Space Hardware

Tech · 4 min read

The Celestis dev kit comprises plug-and-play avionics modules, a standardized bus, and a cloud dashboard for mission telemetry and command. By offering pre-certified launch interfaces and a library of tested drivers, Celestis aims to shorten the time from idea to orbit for educational institutions and niche payload developers.

Celestis also announced a rideshare marketplace and a ground-station-as-a-service product to manage telemetry across multiple orbits. The company positions itself as lowering both technical and regulatory barriers through templated compliance documentation and launch integration services.

The $50 million seed round, led by AstraBridge and with strategic investor participation from an orbital launch provider, will be used to build manufacturing capacity, expand ground networks, and certify more bus configurations. Celestis plans to ship early kits to universities by year-end.