Space Technology: Lithuania’s promising space start-up

I am leading through a series of solid corridors at Villanius University, Lithuania; The murals give a Soviet-era vibe, and it seems an unexpected place for a high-tech laboratory working on a laser communication system.

But this is where you will find the headquarters of Astrolyte, a six-year-old Lithuanian space-tech start-up that has just raised € 2.8M ($ 2.3m; £ 2.4m), which is called “Optical Data Highway” to make.

You can think of technology as an invisible internet cable, designed to connect satellites with Earth.

70,000 satellites with expected To launch in the next five years, it is a much higher capacity market.

The company hopes that the traditional radio frequency-based communication will be part of a change, rapid, more secure and high-bandwidth laser technology.

Astrolyte’s space laser technology may also contain defense applications, which is given on time Russia’s current aggressive attitude To your neighbors.

Astrolyte is already part of NATO’s Diana Project (Defense Innovation accelerator for North Atlantic), an incubator, established in 2023 to implement civil technology for defense challenges.

In the case of Astrolyte, NATO is eager to take advantage of its sharp, hack -proph laser communication to broadcast important intelligence in NATO defense works – some Lithuanian Navy is already doing.

It contacted the astrolite three years ago, looking for a laser that would allow ships to communicate during radio silence.

“So we said, ‘All is well – we know how to do this for space. It seems that we can do it even for terrestrial applications”, “Astrolyte’s co -founder and CEO Laurinus Maciulis, which is located in Villonius, the capital of Lithuania.

His company’s technology for the army is attractive, as it is difficult to stop or jam the laser system.

It is also about “low identity”, Mr. McIlis says:

“If you turn your radio transmitter in Ukraine, you are immediately becoming a goal, because it is easy to track. So with this technique, because the information travels in a very narrow laser beam, it is very difficult to find out.”

Regarding £ 2.5bn, Lithuania’s protecting budget is small when you compare it to big countries like UK, which spends around £ 54bn a year.

But if you look at defense spending as a percentage of GDP, Lithuania is spending more than many big countries.

About 3% of its GDP is spent on defense, and it increases to 5.5%. Comparatively, the UK defense spending is the value of 2.5% of the GDP.

Astrolyte’s lasers are recognized for their strength in the top technologies, 30% of Lithuania’s space projects have obtained the European Union funding compared to the national average 17% of the European Union.

“Space technology is rapidly becoming a rapid integrated element of Lithuania’s broader defense and flexibility strategy,” investing says Lithuania’s šar ofnas genis, who is the head of the body of the manufacturing, and experts in the defense sector.

Space tech can often have citizens and military uses.

Sri Genis Lithuanian life science firm gives an example of Delta Biosyinses, which is preparing a mission for the International Space Station to test radiation-resistant medical compounds.

“During developing for spaceflights, these innovations can also support special operations forces working in the high-viki environment,” they say.

He says that Kongsburg Nanovionics based in Villnius has received a major contract for the manufacture of hundreds of satellites.

“While mainly commercial, such infrastructure, in the eastern flank of NATO, lies the ability of encrypted communication and real -time intelligence, monitoring and reconnaissance,” Sri Genis says.

Astolite’s laser technology has developed a hand-to-hand autonomous satellite navigation system Fellow Lithuanian space-tech start-up Blackson space.

The “Vision Based Navigation System” of Blackson Space allows satellites to be rejected and reproduced independently of humans based on a ground control center, which its founders say, will not be able to live with a sheer volume of satellites launched in the coming years.

In a defense environment, the same technique can be used to destroy the enemy satellite from a distance, as well as to train soldiers by creating war simulation.

But the Lithuanian military does not necessarily do the sale pitch that the Blacksman’s Chief Commercial Officer of Space accepts Tomas Malinouskus.

He is also worried that government funding for the region is not matching the level of innovation innovation.

He explains that instead of spending $ 300m on American -made drones, the government can invest in a constellation of small satellites.

“Build your own ability for communication and intelligence of enemy countries instead of a drone, which is being shot in the first two hours of the conflict,” Mr. Malinouskus argues that also located in Villanius.

“This would be a major boost for our small space community, but at the same time, it will be a long-term, permanent value for the future of the Lithuanian army.”

Eglė Elena šataitė, Lithuania’s government is the head of the Villnius-based agency Space Hub LT, supporting space companies as part of the innovation agency funded by the government.

“Our government, of course, is aware of the reality of where we live, and we have to invest more in safety and defense – and we have to accept that space technologies are those who are enabling defense technologies,” Ms. šatitė.

The country’s economy and innovation minister, Lucas Savikas, says that he understands the concern of Mr. Malinuscus and is looking at government expenses on developing space technology.

“Space technology is one of the highest coupled areas, as it is known for its horizontality; many space-based solutions are in line with Biotech, AI, new materials, optics, ICT and other areas of innovation,” Sri Sikas says.

Whatever happens with government funding, Lithuanian hunger remains strong for innovation.

“We always have to prove to others that we are on the global stage,” says Domincus Milasius, co-founder of Delta Biosyinses.

“And whatever we do is also geopolitical … We will have to create important values, science and other important techniques to understand that it is probably good to protect Lithuania.”