Black Swan

Blackswan Space, a Lithuanian space-tech startup founded in 2019 by Marius Klimavičius and Augustinas Vizbaras, is developing advanced software products for complex space and defense missions. The company is headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The founders, Marius Klimavičius, with a background in robotics and computer vision, and Augustinas Vizbaras, an expert in photonics and space technology, combined their expertise to address the challenges of autonomous operations in space. Their journey began with a vision to make space missions more efficient and safer through automation.

Blackswan Space operates on an Autonomy-as-a-Service (AaaS) business model, providing a platform for space missions that enables in-orbit servicing, inspection, and robotics capabilities. The company serves clients in the space and defense sectors, including the European Space Agency (ESA), with whom they have had successful collaborations. In April 2024, the company secured €760,000 in a pre-seed funding round to further develop its satellite autonomy technology.

The company's flagship product is a digital twin technology that allows for the simulation of complex missions in a real-time, photorealistic environment. This platform can generate synthetic data for AI/ML applications and supports vision-based navigation for intricate maneuvers. This reduces the risks and costs associated with space missions by allowing for extensive testing and validation on the ground.

Keywords: satellite autonomy, digital twin, space missions, Autonomy-as-a-Service, vision-based navigation, space technology, defense missions, mission simulation, synthetic data, in-orbit servicing