When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
UK startup Blue Skies Space is partnering with SpaceX to launch its first satellite, Mauve, in October 2025.
The company plans to provide astronomy data as a service (DaaS) to researchers and institutions globally.
Mauve, which will be launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, will focus on stellar spectroscopy, collecting data on the composition, temperature, and magnetic activity of stars. This information is expected to enhance understanding of stellar flares and their impact on potentially habitable exoplanets. The satellite will operate in low-Earth orbit and is equipped with a 13cm telescope capable of observing ultraviolet and visible wavelengths.
The initiative marks a shift in how space data is accessed, as the company plans to offer its data through a subscription-based model.
“We are delighted to confirm the launch date for Mauve,” said CEO and Co-founder of Blue Skies Space, Dr. Marcell Tessenyi. “It is a crucial step in our mission to accelerate the supply of space science data and make it accessible to any researcher, anywhere in the world.”
This approach to space data distribution contrasts with traditional methods where data is often collected from ground-based telescopes or through government-backed agencies like NASA and ESA.
According to the startup, researchers from institutions such as Boston University, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Vanderbilt University, Rice University, and Western University have already expressed interest in participating in the data collection efforts.
Blue Skies Space’s ambition has been backed by many investors who have helped the startup raise approximately $6.5 million since its inception in 2014. The company is also developing a second satellite, Twinkle, a seven-year space mission that will focus on delivering spectroscopy of thousands of targets, enabling research on exoplanet atmospheres and solar system objects.
