Record-breaking challenge: SpinLaunch wants to overtake SpaceX in 2026
By ForGeeks SpinLaunch, a company known for its unusual satellite launch technology, has announced the creation of a new constellation, Meridian Space. It will consist of 250 compact microsatellites that will be launched into low-Earth orbit in a single launch. If the project succeeds, it would break the record of SpaceX, which sent 143 vehicles in 2021.
Meridian Space: the internet of the future and the challenge of Starlink
Meridian Space is a network of microsatellites designed to deliver broadband internet with “significantly higher bandwidth than current peers.” Funding for the $12 million project was provided by Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, a Norwegian aerospace technology company. The first demonstration launch is scheduled for 2026. It’s not yet clear whether SpinLaunch will use its revolutionary centrifuge or a traditional rocket.
The technology that will shock the industry
SpinLaunch’s main “trick” is the kinetic launch system. Instead of classic rockets, the company uses a giant 33-meter-long centrifuge that accelerates the carrier to ultra-high speeds and “shoots” it into the atmosphere. At altitude, the engines are switched on, reducing fuel consumption and simplifying the design. In 2022, NASA has already tested this technology, launching suborbital experiments together with Airbus and Cornell University. Back then, SpinLaunch proved that its method worked, but getting satellites into orbit is an order of magnitude more difficult task.
How do you fit 250 satellites into one carrier?
An image published by SpinLaunch shows that the Meridian Space microsatellites have a flat hexagonal shape. They stack up to resemble bee honeycombs, allowing them to fit compactly under the fairing. Each vehicle is equipped with solar panels and a modular platform from NanoAvionics, making it easy to scale.
The Meridian Space project could be a breakthrough for several reasons. First, launching 250 satellites at a time will accelerate the deployment of the global internet, which is critical for remote regions. Second, SpinLaunch technology can reduce the cost of launching cargo into space by 70-80%, making it more affordable for startups. And finally, it is a direct challenge to giants like Starlink (SpaceX), Project Kuiper (Amazon) and OneWeb, which dominate the market.
