A startup developing a way to assemble structures such as space stations in orbit using modular flat-packed kits and swarms of robots has raised US$3 million of funding.
The pre-seed funding was announced last month, after Rendezvous Robotics, which was founded in 2024, successfully concluded a second demonstration of its TESSERAE technology which was run on board the International Space Station (ISS).
Colorado, USA-based Rendezvous plans to test the fifth generation of the TESSERAE in-space assembly system on the ISS next year.
Rendezvous’ flat-packed modular tiles are assembled into systems and infrastructure in orbit using autonomous swarms of robots, which move in electromagnetic formation. According to the company, the autonomous modules dock, correct mistakes, and can reconfigure over time, and can create infrastructure beyond what is currently available which could be used for national security, commerce and exploration space missions.
TESSERAE was invented at MIT by Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, incubated at the Aurelia Institute, and spun out as Rendezvous, which was co-founded by Ekblaw alongside Phil Frank and Joe Landon. The team brings experience from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Nokia.
Phil Frank, co-founder and CEO of Rendezvous said, “The ISS is about the size of a four-bedroom house, costing over $100 billion to build. It’s a remarkable achievement, but if we’re truly going to scale in space, we need a better way to build.”
Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, co-founder of Rendezvous said, “It’s time to profoundly scale up our ambitions in orbit. We’re launching a new paradigm for in-space construction. This technology makes more room for humanity — space for science, for nations, for life itself.”
The system builds on several years of research, testing and demonstrations – from parabolic flights to Blue Origin’s New Shepard, to two tests conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA support.
This money will be used to fund the company’s transition from proven demonstrations to large-scale orbital platforms, with additional funding announcements expected this year, Rendezvous Robotics said.
Joe Landon, co-founder and president of Rendezvous said, “This is the technology that will enable antennas larger than football fields, reconfigurable systems for defense, orbital solar farms, and even data centers in space. Launch opened access to space. Rendezvous is building what comes next.”
