April 4, 2025
AUSTIN, Texas, April 4, 2025 – CesiumAstro, a leader in advanced space communications, has been selected for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) opportunity by AFWERX, with potential funding of up to $55 million. The funding selection supports the continued development of CesiumAstro’s Element satellite, a fully integrated platform designed for next-generation defense and commercial space communications, including missions aligned with the Space Development Agency (SDA).
STRATFI, a key initiative of Ventures, the investment arm of AFWERX, is designed to co-invest with industry partners to accelerate the transition of technologies from prototype to operational capability. The program helps bridge the “Valley of Death” between early-stage development and full-scale deployment, ensuring disruptive innovations reach the warfighter.
“We are honored to be selected for this STRATFI opportunity,” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. “We developed Element specifically to meet SDA’s evolving mission needs. With AFWERX’s support, we are moving rapidly to deliver a multi-band, high-performance spacecraft that will provide connectivity for U.S. defense operations.”
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Engineered from the ground up to support SDA’s tranche-based architecture, Element provides a mission-ready satellite solution that integrates CesiumAstro’s software-defined active phased array communications payloads. With low-latency, multi-user connectivity capabilities, Element is designed to enhance defense, intelligence, and commercial space missions.
This selection for STRATFI funding underscores CesiumAstro’s role in delivering innovative space communication solutions. As the company scales its manufacturing and production capabilities, Element will deliver on SDA’s vision for rapid deployment, flexible mission architectures, and resilient U.S. military connectivity.
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About CesiumAstro
CesiumAstro, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a leader in advanced connectivity solutions for ground, air, and space. With additional facilities in Colorado, California, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the company delivers end-to-end solutions encompassing satellites, high-performance communications payloads, and advanced computing systems.
The company’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software serve diverse commercial, government, and defense applications. CesiumAstro maintains complete vertical integration with in-house design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities certified to AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015 standards.
To learn more, visit CesiumAstro.com.
Media Contact: Aimée Ahiers, Media@CesiumAstro.com
About SpaceWERX
As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 40 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget. Additionally, SpaceWERX partners with Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office (COMSO) as a collaborative program. Since it was aligned under AFRL in Aug. 2021, SpaceWERX has executed 1106 contracts worth more than $897 million to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit spacewerx.us.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com.
