Washington, D.C.-based aerospace technology startup, Rhea Space Activity (RSA), recently secured a NASA research grant, paving the way for significant expansion in New Mexico. The CEO, Shawn Usman, shared details of the company’s for the region.
Shawn Usman is the CEO of Rhea Space Activity, a Washington, D.C.-based astrotechnology startup that last fall set up an office location in Santa Fe. Courtesy of Rhea Space Activity
Established in 2018, RSA received a $750,000 grant from NASA’s Flight Opportunities program for its revolutionary celestial navigation technology known as the Jervis Autonomy Module (JAM). JAM utilizes a combination of hardware and software to offer autonomous guidance and navigation by analyzing images of celestial bodies such as the moon, planets, and satellites. This approach diverges from conventional space navigation, which often relies on satellite communication or systems on Earth, like NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN).
RSA aims to democratize access to deep space by providing an alternative to the oversubscribed and costly DSN. The grant will fund a collaboration between RSA and ispace technologies U.S. Inc., a Denver-based subsidiary of Tokyo-headquartered ispace Inc. Two JAM devices will be tested aboard lunar communications satellites during a Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission scheduled for 2026.
Apart from JAM, RSA is known for its Quantum Lovelace Optical Augmentation Kit (QLOAK), a quantum-encrypted laser communications technology. Despite being headquartered in D.C., RSA expanded globally, opening an office in Edinburgh, Scotland, in early 2023, driven by high demand for its quantum technology.
In October 2023, RSA unveiled its second U.S. location in New Mexico, emphasizing the city’s rich particle physics background and historical significance in the Manhattan Project. The company plans to build a quantum engineering team in New Mexico and anticipates hiring 10 to 15 people by the end of 2024.
While currently employing 17 people, RSA foresees increased collaboration between its offices in New Mexico and Edinburgh, leveraging the expertise in quantum and nuclear physics present in both regions. Usman highlighted the importance of international partnerships in developing RSA’s QLOAK quantum laser communications product.
With preparations for the 2026 lunar mission underway, RSA focuses on fundraising, with its lead investor based in New Mexico. Usman expressed the company’s commitment to advancing quantum engineering capabilities and highlighted the frequent visits to New Mexico, emphasizing the strategic connections with military customers based at Kirtland Air Force Base. RSA’s dedication to innovation and growth is underscored by its recent recognition as the winner of the Ski Lift Pitch competition.
Article Source: New Mexico INNO
