Say Goodbye To Telescope Headaches — Observable Space Has A Fix

OurSky and PlaneWave have merged to form Observable Space, a new company aiming to revolutionise the way telescopes are operated and managed.

The newly formed venture brings together OurSky’s advanced software platform for space observation data with PlaneWave Instruments’ expertise in telescope manufacturing. By integrating their technologies, Observable Space seeks to eliminate long-standing challenges in telescope usability, making high-end systems more accessible for both institutions and enthusiasts.

Dan Roelker, founder of OurSky and former vice president of software engineering at SpaceX, explained that users often face frustrating technical barriers. “Telescope users have to deal with a mash of integration bullsh–,” he said. By combining PlaneWave’s hardware with OurSky’s software, the company aims to streamline the entire process.

PlaneWave founder Richard Hedrick shared a similar vision. “My dream was to integrate all the components on the telescope, even the parts we don’t sell, and then integrate the control of the telescope,” he said.

A Perfect Match Sparked by a Slow Demo

The idea for the merger was born during a product demonstration at PlaneWave’s Michigan facility. Nick Kim, partner at Upfront Ventures, had just led a $9.5 million seed round for OurSky and was keen to see its technology in action. However, the demonstration was far from seamless.

“It took them quite a long time to get the first image. I’m talking like, multiple hours. And these are the people who make the telescopes!” Kim recalled. Despite the delay, he saw the value in addressing these technical hurdles. “This is why OurSky needed to exist, right? This is the problem. What a perfect match,” he said.

Expanding Markets with Smarter Telescopes

Observable Space aims to tap into new markets by leveraging PlaneWave’s position as the only U.S.-based telescope manufacturer. Existing clients include NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and Georgia State University’s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy.

The company’s integrated platform will enable users to connect multiple telescopes worldwide, simulating the capabilities of a much larger observatory while reducing costs. Hedrick noted that institutions have already expressed interest in the solution. “One institution recently had some one-metre telescopes custom-built elsewhere, and they told us, ‘God, if you had existed, we never would have done that,’” he said.

Meeting the Growing Demand for Space Infrastructure

With space access becoming more affordable, the need for reliable tracking, communication, and observation technologies is growing. Roelker believes Observable Space is well-positioned to support this demand.

Mislav Tolusic, managing partner at Marlinspike — an investor in the new company — highlighted the critical role space infrastructure plays in daily life. “Every day you’re relying on space. If you take out GPS constellations, we’re in trouble economically. A lot of systems stop functioning,” he said.

Tolusic also emphasised the advantage of having manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. “If you want to replicate that [in the U.S.], you have to figure out how to make those fine lenses, how to make gimbals — and not just design them but mass-produce them,” he explained.

Early Success Demonstrates Merger’s Potential

Observable Space’s technology has already proven its worth. Jordan Noone, general partner at Embedded Ventures, attended a live demonstration at Mount Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles, where the combined team swiftly located a satellite that had lost radio contact.

“Many of the world’s most valuable companies, like Apple and Nvidia, are hardware/software platform combos,” Noone noted. “Companies that approach just one of those two can have a lot of inherent value, but the combination of both in today’s world is extremely powerful.”

Growth, Investment, and Company Culture

The merged company employs about 100 people, with manufacturing based in Michigan, engineering in Los Angeles, and an observatory near Washington, D.C. Observable Space has already raised $11 million, including investment from In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s strategic venture fund.

Roelker reflected on the process of merging the two companies: “Going through the merger process itself was actually really valuable. You get a really good sense of how you’re going to work together.”

Asked about internal discussions during the merger, Hedrick joked: “We had to decide on whether [the company] was going to be Star Wars or Star Trek.” Roelker added with a smile: “Battlestar Galactica.”