Space

MP Space Raises AUD $23M to Scale Satellite Battery Manufacturing

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 27/10/2026, 12:35:26 UTC.

Briefings

Australian startup MP Space secured an AUD $23M seed round led by Blackbird VC to expand satellite battery manufacturing. Founded in 2024 by ex-Tesla engineers Jay Manley and Sam Paterson, the company aims to offer a cost-effective alternative to in-house battery development. MP Space launched batteries for the first time last week with an undisclosed customer on SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 mission, holding orders for 500+ spacecraft. The company plans to produce 5,000 space widgets annually by the end of next year, targeting products for Starship that are approximately 10x larger than current units.

Key points

• MP Space raised an AUD $23M seed round led by Blackbird VC to expand satellite battery manufacturing capacity.
• The company launched batteries for the first time last week with an undisclosed customer on SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 mission.

Context

MP Space was cofounded in 2024 by two ex-Tesla engineers with the aim of providing a new option for satellite operators. The company currently has orders for 500+ spacecraft and plans to grow its facility in Sydney to produce 5,000 space widgets per year by the end of next year.

Limitations

The company's current batteries weigh under 5 kg, but Starship products will need to be approximately 10x larger. Specific customer names are undisclosed, and the company has not yet announced the final cost savings compared to in-house development.

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