I am thrilled to announce that I have decided to create a new space startup called EraDrive Inc., together with my former PhD student Sumant Sharma (CEO) and PostDoc Justin Kruger (CTO) as a spinoff of the Stanford Space Rendezvous Laboratory. I help them as Chief Science Officer (CSO).
EraDrive intends to revolutionize how spaceflight is done by making every spacecraft autonomous and at the same time aware of its surroundings through vision and AI. Although the idea is not too dissimilar from self-driving cars, EraDrive technology is not optional - it is strictly needed in a time where space safety and security (SSA SDA STM), ever more demanding space applications (remotesensing spacesolarpower ISAM), and growing militarization (goldendome USSF) are priorities!
EraDrive builds on 23 years of R&D in multi-satellite autonomy and 5 distributed space missions successfully deployed and operated, including 13 satellites. The NASA Starling mission is our latest testbed and gave us the opportunity to increase the maturity of our technology to TRL9. Thanks to Roger Hunter and to the NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP).
Stay tuned for updates from EraDrive - the Drive for a New Era of Spaceflight. For now, enjoy this article by Debra Werner.
