SpinLaunch, the Long Beach-based space technology company focused on developing a broadband constellation, announced in mid-August it raised $30 million in fresh funding for its series C round.

The new influx of cash comes in part from a previously announced $12 million investment from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, as well as another $18 million from existing investors such as leading funder ATW Partners.

The funding will be used to bolster the development of the Meridian Space constellation, a satellite broadband constellation that will be deployed in low-earth orbit. SpinLaunch announced the constellation in April, along with its capital infusion from Kongsberg. The goal of the constellation is to operate just as well as its competitors, but at a lower cost.

More efficiency and scale

One way to achieve that low cost, according to SpinLaunch, is the multi-band reflectarray antenna that was developed by the company. The proprietary antenna was designed to be more compact, energy-efficient and scalable than traditional satellite antennas, and recently completed full-scale testing.

“Validating our reconfigurable reflectarray antenna through full-scale testing confirms we can deliver multi-band capability without the cost and complexity of traditional designs,” David Wrenn, the chief innovation officer at SpinLaunch, said in a statement. “This is a critical step toward the development of the Meridian Space constellation and achieving both our technical and operational objectives.”

Before the Meridian Space constellation, SpinLaunch was known for designing launch systems that could do away with the first stage of a conventional launch vehicle by relying on a centrifuge to send small payloads into space in a faster, more scalable way. That technology inherently gave way to its constellation project – one that could handle its centrifuge.