Santa Fe firm Solstar reports successful space Wi-Fi data transfer

Solstar Space Co. announced that its internet router completed a major operational milestone by transmitting thousands of data files through orbit. The company, based in Santa Fe, designed the device to provide network connectivity for satellites and other spacecraft. This achievement marks a step toward Solstar's goal of becoming the primary internet provider for missions in space.

The specific test occurred during a proximity operation between two vehicles: NASA's R5-S10 Cubestat and Momentus Inc.'s Vigoride-7. The Deke Space Communicator, mounted on the Vigoride-7, collected more than 2,300 files during a 30-minute window. These files included images, telemetry, and health-status data. The system relayed this information to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston via a link provided by Iridium Communications Inc.

Solstar was founded in 2017 by Brian Barnett, a former NASA employee. The company developed its hardware to withstand extreme temperatures and radiation, distinguishing it from standard consumer routers. Its equipment undergoes test rehearsals at a laboratory in Albuquerque. Barnett noted that standard terrestrial hardware cannot simply be placed on the moon or in a spacecraft without these specialized modifications.

The current demonstration began in 2025 under a $15 million agreement with Momentus Inc. In March, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Momentus-operated spacecraft from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Deke system was powered on once in orbit on April 15. This launch provided the platform for the recent successful data transmission.

The company aims to generate revenue through both hardware sales and network subscription fees. Barnett stated that network fees provide a stable income stream, which helps the company endure market downturns. In July, Encore Technologies Corp. invested $1 million in Solstar through a convertible loan. Barnett acknowledged that while competitors are entering the market, Solstar remains a leader in the sector.

Solstar is currently working to expand its services to the lunar surface. The company holds Small Business Innovation Research contracts to develop space-based relays and lunar Wi-Fi for the U.S. Space Force. It also has a contract to build a Wi-Fi access point for NASA's Artemis mission. Barnett said that SpaceX and Blue Origin are expected to begin building landing systems on the moon in the next one or two years.

The company intends to outfit lunar infrastructure with its New Mexico-made Wi-Fi products. Barnett highlighted the need for connectivity in upcoming lunar rovers and spacesuits. He argued that Wi-Fi offers a more practical communication method on the moon than installing physical wires.