Swarm Technologies

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Swarm Technologies, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2016
FoundersDr. Sara Spangelo (CEO)
Dr. Ben Longmier[1]
HeadquartersPalo Alto, California
United States
Websitehttp://www.swarm.space/

Swarm Technologies, Inc. is a private company building a low Earth orbit satellite constellation for communications with Internet Of Things (IOT) devices using a Store and forward design. Social Capital incubated Swarm, Craft Ventures was an early investor. On July 16, 2021, Swarm entered into an agreement to become a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX.[2]

They have an Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licence for low bandwidth communications satellites in low Earth orbit.[3]

In 2018 Swarm became the first ever company found to have deployed satellites without regulatory approval after an FCC investigation into the startup’s launch on an Indian PSLV rocket of its first four picosatellites in January that year.[4]

By December 2020, Swarm had launched 9 test satellites and 36 of a planned 150 low Earth orbit satellites to provide communication with IOT devices.[5]

In February 2021 Swarm announced that its commercial services were now live using 72 commercial satellites providing its global low cost data to customers.[6]

The Swarm Tile is its dedicated satellite two-way data modem designed to be low energy and embedded on the PCB of third party products. Other products include a data plan and development kit.[7]

2018 Controversy and fine[]

As a US corporation, Swarm has to follow US space regulatory procedures. In April 2017, Swarm applied for FCC permission for an experimental radio service license for its initial picosatellites. The FCC rejected the application in December 2018 due to concerns on tracking because of the very small size of the satellites (measuring at 0.25U CubeSat size) but they were launched from India the following month.[8][9]

After the launch was reported, an authorized April 2018 launch of more satellites was immediately delayed when FCC permission was withdrawn. An FCC investigation found that not only had Swarm launched the four unauthorized satellites, it had also unlawfully transmitted signals between them and earth stations in Georgia. The investigation also discovered that Swarm had performed various other equipment tests before the launch without required FCC authorizations, including between weather balloons and ground stations.[10]

Industry reaction was also highly negative, fearing not only disruption from uncoordinated activity but also enhanced future regulation.[11] Spaceflight Inc., which had arranged the Indian launch as a rideshare, changed its processes to check that customers had the proper licenses.[12]

The settlement required Swarm to pay a penalty of $900,000 and to follow a strict compliance plan to prevent future violations. This included submitting additional details to the FCC at least 45 days before a planned launch for the next three years.

While it was noted that the fine was still relatively small, it was increased from an initial amount agreed between the company and the FCC Enforcement Bureau. An FCC Commissioner observed that the negative publicity would probably prevent repetitions by Swarm or others.[13]


Satellite constellation[]

  • SpaceBEE are a constellation of picosatellites predominantly in the (CubeSat 0.25U form factor) intended to reach a quantity of 150.[14] SpaceBEE test models 5 to 9 were larger to assuage concerns abour radar tracking. Swarm's website says satellites have a mass of 400g and measure 110 x 110 x 28mm.
SpaceBee launches
Flight No. Mission COSPAR ID Date and time (UTC) Launch site Launch vehicle Orbit altitude Inclination Number
deployed 		Deorbited Outcome
1 SpaceBEE 1–4 2018-004 12 January 2018, 03:59:00 [15] Satish Dhawan Space Centre, FLP PSLV-XL, (PSLV-C40) 520 km (320 mi) 97.6° 4 Success
Four experimental satellites SpaceBEE, built to the 0.25U CubeSat are to demonstrate two-way satellite communications and data relay for Swarm Technologies Inc.[15]
2 SpaceBEE 5–7 2018-099 3 December 2018, 18:34:05 [16] Vandenberg, SLC-4E Falcon 9 B5, B1046.3 580 km (360 mi) 97.8° 3 Success
Three experimental satellites SpaceBEE.[15]
3 SpaceBEE 8–9 2019-037 29 June 2019, 04:30:00 [17] Mahia, LC-1A Electron 460 km (290 mi) 45.0° 2 Success
Two experimental satellites SpaceBEE.[15]
4 SpaceBEE 10–21 2020-061 3 September 2020, 01:51:10[18] Kourou, ELV Vega 535 km (332 mi) 97.5° 12 Success
Twelve commercial satellites SpaceBEE.[15]
5 SpaceBEE 22–39
SpaceBEE NZ-1 to -6 		2020-085 20 November 2020, 02:20:01[19] Mahia, LC-1A Electron 520 km (320 mi) 97.4° 24 Success
Eighteen commercial satellites SpaceBEE and 6 commercial satellites SpaceBEE NZ-1 to NZ-6.[15]
6 SpaceBEE 40–75 2021-006 24 January 2021, 15:00:00 CCSFS, SLC-40 Falcon 9 B5 36 Success
Thirty six commercial satellites SpaceBEE.[15]
7 SpaceBEE 76–87 2021-015 28 February 2021, 04:53:00 SDSC, FLP PSLV-DL 12 Success
Twelve commercial satellites SpaceBEE.[20]
8 SpaceBEE 88–111
SpaceBEE NZ 7-10 		2021-059 30 June 2021, 19:31:00 CCSFS, SLC-40 Falcon 9 B5 523 km (325 mi) 97.5° 28 Success
Twenty-four commercial satellites SpaceBEE and four commercial satellites SpaceBEE NZ.[21]

SpaceBEE 1 to 4 (4 experimental satellites) were 0.25U cubesat test models, launched on 12 January 2018 on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) launch vehicle.[22]

SpaceBEE 5 to 7 (3 experimental satellites) were larger (1U cubesat) test models, launched on 3 December 2018 by a Falcon 9.[23]

SpaceBEE 8 and 9 (2 experimental satellites) were also 1U cubesat test models, launched on 29 June 2019 by an Electron KS.[23]

SpaceBEE 10 to 21 (12 commercial satellites) were launched by Vega launch vehicle on 3 September 2020 (UTC).[14]

SpaceBEE 22 to 39 (18 commercial satellites) and (SpaceBEE New Zealand) 1 to 6 (6 commercial satellites) were launched by Electron KS on 20 November 2020.[14]

SpaceBEE 40 to 75 (36 commercial satellites) were launched on SpaceX's Transporter-1 rideshare mission on 24 January 2021 by a Falcon 9 Block 5.[14]

SpaceBEE 76 to 87 (12 commercial satellites) were launched on PSLV-C51 rideshare mission on 28 February 2021 by a PSLV-DL.[20]

SpaceBEE 88 to 111 (24 commercial satellites) and SpaceBEENZ (SpaceBEE New Zealand) 7 to 10 (4 commercial satellites) were launched on SpaceX's Transporter-2 rideshare mission on 30 June 2021 by a Falcon 9 Block 5.[21]

References[]

  1. ^ "Our story". Swarm Technologies. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  2. ^ Foust, Jeff (9 August 2021). "SpaceX to acquire Swarm Technologies". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. ^ Coldewey, Devin (17 October 2019). "Swarm gets green light from FCC for its 150-satellite constellation". TechCrunch. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. ^ Grush, Loren (4 October 2018). "Company that launched satellites without permission gets new license to launch more probes". The Verge. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  5. ^ Spangelo, Sara (10 September 2020). "Swarm launches first 12 commercial satellites". Swarm Technologies. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. ^ Spangelo, Sara (9 February 2021). "Swarm is commercially live!". Swarm Technologies. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Products". Swarm Technologies. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ Harris, Mark (9 March 2018). "FCC Accuses Stealthy Startup of Launching Rogue Satellites". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  9. ^ "DISMISSED-WITHOUT PREJUDICE". Federal Communications Commission. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  10. ^ "FCC Reaches $900,000 Settlement for Unauthorized Satellite Launch". Federal Communications Commission. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  11. ^ Foust, Jeff (13 March 2018). "Industry worried about regulatory backlash after unauthorized cubesat launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  12. ^ Grush, Loren (6 August 2018). "Later this year, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch its biggest batch of satellites yet". The Verge. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Statement of Commissioner Michael O'Rielly" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2021). "SpaceBEE 10, ..., 180". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Display: SpaceBEE-1 NSSDCA ID: SPACEBEE1 COSPAR ID: 2018-004AH". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ^ "Display: SpaceBEE-5 COSPAR ID: 2018-099BM". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  17. ^ "Display: SpaceBEE-8". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  18. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "SpaceBEE-10 2020-061AK 46305". Jonathan's Launch Log. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  19. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "SpaceBEE-22 2020-085AA 46953". Jonathan's Launch Log. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  20. ^ a b Chaturvedi, Amit (28 February 2021). "PSLV lifts off with Amazonia-1, 18 other satellites; ISRO says launch successful". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  21. ^ a b Lentz, Danny (29 June 2021). "SpaceX successfully launches Transporter 2 mission with 88 satellites". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  22. ^ Krebs, Gunter (19 November 2019). "SpaceBEE 1, 2, 3, 4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  23. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter (23 March 2021). "SpaceBEE 5, 6, 7, 8, 9". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 August 2021.

External links[]

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