{{infobox company | name = Solstar Space Co. | logo = Solstar_logo.svg | founded = March 2017 | hq_location_city = Santa Fe, New Mexico | founders = M. Brian Barnett (Founder), Michael Potter and Mark Matossian (Co-founders) | key_people = M. Brian Barnett (CEO)<br>Mark Matossian (COO)<ref>{{cite news |title=Commercial space travelers will soon be able to send a tweet from space |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/commercial-space-travelers-will-soon-be-able-to-send-a-tweet-from-space |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Fox News}}</ref> | num_employees = 11 (July 2018) | website = https://www.solstarspace.com/ }}
'''Solstar Space Co.''', also known as '''Solstar''', is an American company that provides commercial wireless internet services to space travelers and Internet of Things in space. It also provides a two-way internet link connecting people on earth to technology in space.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Talton|first=Remington Tonar and Ellis|title=To Commercialize Space We Need To Build Infrastructure, Not Just Launch Rockets|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellistalton/2018/12/10/to-commercialize-space-we-need-to-build-infrastructure-not-just-launch-rockets/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> Based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the company was founded in March 2017.
== History == Solstar was founded by M. Brian Barnett in March 2017, with Michael Potter and Mark Matossian as co-founders.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Robinson-Avila|first=Kevin|date=|title=Solstar flying higher on WeFunder investments|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1194124/solstar-riding-on-wefunder.html|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.abqjournal.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Werner|first=Debra|date=2016-12-05|title=An Earth-to-LEO comms revolution in the making|url=http://www.spacenewsmag.com/feature/an-earth-to-leo-comms-revolution-in-the-making/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=|language=en}}</ref> Prior to this, Barnett had developed an initial design of a communication system which was used to successfully transmit the first-ever commercial text message from earth to space in November 2013,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Internet service at a spaceship near you |url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/money/business/2016/11/26/internet-service-spaceship-near-you/94478412/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Las Cruces Sun News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Fe business trying to bring Wi-Fi to space |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/santa-fe-business-trying-to-bring-wi-fi-to-space/article_7b853b10-1e5d-5f57-945f-ad4ae3cf0061.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref> with students from Albuquerque sending 16 messages to a device aboard a UP Aerospace rocket<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=SF's Solstar pioneers space-to-Earth communication |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1129055/sfs-solstar-pioneers-spacetoearth-communications.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Albuquerque students send text messages to space |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/299921/students-send-text-messages-to-space.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref> launched from Spaceport America.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
In 2017, Solstar received a Phase I small business contract with NASA to develop a preliminary design for a commercial router on the International Space Station, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The device is intended for low Earth orbit service<ref name=":3" /> and was named the Slayton Space Communicator (SC-Slayton) after one of Mercury astronauts Deke Slayton who was NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office.<ref name="seeksstrategic">{{cite news |title=Solstar seeks strategic investor for WiFi in Space |url=https://spacenews.com/solstar-seeks-strategic-investor/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Space News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Solstar plans give space payloads access to the internet |url=https://spacenews.com/solstar-plans-give-blue-origin-payloads-access-to-the-internet/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Space News}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Santa Fe tech firm strikes a deal with NASA |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2017/06/23/exclusivesanta-fe-tech-firm-strikes-a-deal-with.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Bizjournals (Albuquerque Business First)}}</ref> The company also signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to test WiFi technologies in space.<ref name="wefunder">{{cite news |title=Solstar Space Company: The first commercial Wi-Fi in space |url=https://wefunder.com/solstar.space.company |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Wefunder}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Test of Satellite Communications Systems on-board Suborbital Platforms to Provide Low-Cost Data Communications for Research Payloads, Payload Operators, and Space Vehicle Operators |url=https://flightopportunities.nasa.gov/technologies/95/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=nasa.gov}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
In April 2018, Solstar tested the Schmitt Space Communicator SC-1x, a three-pound device, in a Blue Origin capsule on a New Shepard rocket<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gibbs|first=Yvonne|date=2018-05-01|title=Wi-Fi in Space, Spacecraft Technologies Launched on Blue Origin Rocket|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/feature/wifi_space_spacecraft_technologies_Blue_Origin_Rocket|access-date=2020-10-04|website=NASA}}</ref> which was launched from the Blue Origin's launch facility near Van Horn, Texas,<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mishra|first=Gourav|date=2018-02-05|title=Here's everything you need to know about Solstar's communicator which will connect space to Earth|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/heres-everything-you-need-know-about-solstars-communicator-which-will-connect-space-earth-759487|access-date=2020-10-04|website=International Business Times, India Edition|language=english}}</ref> and reached a height of 66 miles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Humans Will Bring the Internet to Space|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-humans-will-bring-the-internet-to-space/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Vice.com|date=3 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The test was successful, with the founder Barnett using the on-flight internet connection to send out a tweet. The project's {{USD}}2 million cost was partly funded by NASA as part of its Flight Opportunities program.<ref name="spacewifi">{{cite news |title=Space Wi-Fi startup aims to raise $1M via crowdfunding investment site |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/space-wi-fi-startup-aims-to-raise-m-via-crowdfunding/article_ad343c52-9bb8-5f89-8790-a27fdf39421e.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Selfies from space? Blue Origin rocket tests secret 'space communicator' for orbital tourists |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/the-national-today-newsletter-wifi-space-afghanistan-isis-1.4641253 |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Mexico firm hopes to offer Wi-Fi for space travelers |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/new-mexico-firm-hopes-to-offer-wi-fi-for-space-travelers/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The device is named after Harrison Schmitt, one of the last men to walk on the Moon and Solstar's adviser.<ref name="spacewifi"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Outer space gets its first Wi-Fi-based ISP |url=https://wifinowevents.com/news-and-blog/outer-space-gets-its-first-isp/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Wi-Fi NOW}}</ref> It conducted a second successful test in July 2018, with the flight reaching a peak height of 73.8 miles above sea level.<ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Fe startup calls Wi-Fi space launch test a success |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/tech/santa-fe-startup-calls-wi-fi-space-launch-test-a/article_a3ecfc7f-134f-5998-a6be-1385c79d919d.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=NM firm's WiFi technology takes second suborbital flight |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1198101/nm-firms-wifi-technology-takes-second-suborbital-flight.html |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Solstar Space Tests Commercial Wi-Fi System During Launch |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2018-08-05/solstar-space-tests-commercial-wi-fi-system-during-launch |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref> The device was accepted to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's collection.<ref name="wefunder" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-11-16|title=MSUA Member Interview {{!}} Brian Barnett, Founder & CEO, Solstar Space|url=https://www.msua.org/post/2019/11/15/msua-member-interview-brian-barnett-founder-ceo-solstar-space|access-date=2020-10-04|website=msua|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=That Space Podcast: Solstar Space Co. CEO Brian Barnett|url=https://thatspacepodcast.libsyn.com/wifi-in-space-with-brian-barnett|access-date=2020-10-04|website=thatspacepodcast.libsyn.com|language=en}}</ref>
The April 2018 test footage was featured in a short documentary, ''The Digital Nomad and the Scientist'', detailing the first commercial WiFi service in space. The film was directed by Maclovia Martel and Kristina Korsholm with Michael Potter as the executive producer.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Digital Nomad and the Scientist - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10041180/|access-date=2020-10-04}}</ref> The documentary was selected for the Independent Filmmakers Showcase (May 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|title=May 18 - IFS 2019|url=https://www.ifsfilm.com/Schedule2019/may18.php|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.ifsfilm.com}}</ref> in Los Angeles and got shortlisted to the Ekko Shortlist (Denmark, 2020).<ref>{{Citation|title=Ekko Shortlist præsenterer: The Digital Nomad and the Scientist|url=https://www.ekkofilm.dk/shortlist/film/the-digital-nomad-and-the-scientist/|language=da|access-date=2020-10-04}}</ref>
=== Funding === In June 2018, Solstar sought Securities and Exchange Commission's approval to raise investment capital through the crowdfunding platform Wefunder.<ref name="spacewifi"/><ref>{{cite news |title=New Mexico tech firm hopes to launch an internet connection for space-flight startups' eventual first passengers |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2018/07/06/new-mexico-tech-firm/ |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref> The astronaut Charles D. Walker, who flew on three Space Shuttle flights, joined Solstar as an adviser.<ref name="wefunder" /> By November that year, the company had raised over {{USD}}200,000 through Wefunder and {{USD}}300,000 from other investors.<ref name="seeksstrategic"/> The Wefunder round closed in January 2019 with {{USD}}331,460 raised from a total of 519 investors.<ref name="wefunder"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Companies based in Santa Fe, New Mexico Category:American companies established in 2017 Category:2017 establishments in New Mexico Category:Internet service providers of the United States Category:Satellite Internet access Category:Communications satellite operators Category:Wireless networking Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States Category:Technology companies of the United States Category:Space technology