ESA ScaleUp Invest Supports New Partnership between ASRO and Ethereal Space
ASRO – Aboa Space Research Oy and Ethereal Space, Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen global space weather monitoring. Supported by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ScaleUp Invest programme, the collaboration aims to combine advanced instrumentation with next-generation satellite technology to improve forecasts and resilience against solar activity.
The agreement will see ASRO’s expertise in energetic particle instrumentation integrated with Ethereal Space’s satellite constellation. This approach is designed to deliver continuous, real-time data critical for operational space weather forecasting and nowcasting.
Protecting Infrastructure Through Better Forecasts
“Space weather directly affects satellites, aviation, navigation, and even power grids worldwide,” explained Jussi Lehti, CEO of ASRO. “Our particle sensors provide high-accuracy measurements, enabling better protection of essential infrastructure.”
Ethereal Space will host these sensors on its satellite network, creating broad coverage of near-Earth space. “By deploying ASRO’s instruments on our spacecraft, we can provide datasets that are vital for both government and commercial users,” said Shawn Cochran, CEO of Ethereal Space. He added that the collaboration enhances the company’s ability to deliver insights that help safeguard both technology and society.
The instruments will monitor energetic charged particles in situ, a crucial capability for reducing uncertainty in predictive models. With improved data streams, the partnership will help issue timely solar storm warnings and offer services that strengthen resilience against disruptions caused by extreme space weather.
Bridging Science and Commercial Deployment
This initiative marks a significant milestone in linking scientific expertise with private sector innovation. By scaling ASRO’s science-grade instruments through Ethereal Space’s commercial satellite platform, the project accelerates the adoption of operational space weather solutions worldwide.
The collaboration also reflects ESA’s broader mission to support market-driven solutions and ensure Europe remains at the forefront of commercial space innovation.
About ASRO
ASRO is a Finnish company specialising in high-performance scientific instruments for space. With decades of heritage in space weather research, ASRO is now making science-grade instrumentation available to the growing New Space sector, enabling commercial constellations to generate reliable and scalable space weather data.
About Ethereal Space
Ethereal Space, Inc., based in the US, develops and operates a constellation of satellites to provide real-time space weather and Earth observation data. The company combines commercial innovation, reliability, and international partnerships to deliver mission-critical services for government and commercial customers.
