Home / Technology / Apolink Taps GomSpace for LEO Relay Satellite
Apolink Taps GomSpace for LEO Relay Satellite
15 Dec
Summary
- Apolink's first relay cubesat launches on SpaceX in Q2 2026.
- The satellite will demonstrate receiving signals from other LEO spacecraft.
- Apolink secured $4.3 million in seed funding for its project.
Apolink, a startup based in Palo Alto, has partnered with GomSpace to develop the critical radio frequency subsystem for its initial relay cubesat. This 3U satellite, named IPoS-TDsM, is targeted for a SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare launch in the second quarter of 2026. The mission will demonstrate the capability to receive signals directly from other low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft and relay them to ground stations, a crucial step in reducing satellite reliance on terrestrial infrastructure.
The IPoS-TDsM mission aims to validate receive-only S-band relay capabilities, enabling existing satellites to transmit telemetry packets in real time using their current equipment. This foundational work sets the stage for a planned 32-satellite constellation. These future spacecraft will support more persistent connectivity and eventually incorporate optical links to further improve data transmission performance for LEO assets.
Ultimately, Apolink envisions a space-based relay layer by the end of the decade, designed to be backward-compatible with existing LEO spacecraft. This network will move data through space, significantly cutting latency by eliminating the need for satellites to wait for optimal ground station passes. The company recently closed a $4.3 million seed funding round to advance its ambitious goals in the competitive satellite data relay market.
