Cascade Space is a space technology company based in San Francisco, California, focused on providing advanced spacecraft design support and ground network services. Cascade Space offers two primary products: Cascade Portal and Cascade Network, both designed to address the evolving needs of modern space missions.
What Are Cascade Space's Main Products?
Cascade Space delivers two core offerings:
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Cascade Portal: An online platform for spacecraft design support, enabling users to access validated software tools, generate custom test plans, and ensure their systems are fully compatible with ground networks. Notable features include:
- RF Designer: Tool for spacecraft RF system design using commercially available components and integrated link margin analysis.
- Test Wizard: Enables the creation of test plans from established templates, supporting efficient and reliable spacecraft development workflows.
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Cascade Network: A ground station network built to meet the demands of missions extending beyond low Earth orbit. The Cascade Network is expanding its coverage rapidly, with milestones including Trans-Lunar Injection (planned for Q1 2026), Geo Transfer Orbit (Q3 2026), and 24/7 Lunar plus deep space coverage targeted for 2027.
Who Uses Cascade Space?
While specific customer names are not publicly listed, Cascade Space's target users are organizations and companies developing or operating spacecraft—particularly those with missions extending to lunar or deep space environments. Their products are designed to support engineering teams, mission planners, and satellite operators seeking seamless integration between spacecraft and ground communication infrastructure.
What Sets Cascade Space Apart?
Cascade Space differentiates itself by combining validated, user-friendly spacecraft design tools with a growing global ground station network tailored for deep space and lunar missions. The integrated approach allows customers to design, test, and operate space systems with greater efficiency, reducing technical risk and accelerating development timelines.
How Was Cascade Space Started?
Cascade Space was founded by a team with deep expertise in spacecraft communications and launch systems:
- Jacob Portukalian (Co-Founder and CEO): Previously designed the Crew Dragon communication system at SpaceX, bringing over 15 years of experience in hardware, software, and team leadership.
- Arlen Abraham (Co-Founder and CTO): Led mission-critical launch systems development at Astra and has a track record in scaling technical operations at startups such as SPAN and Orion Labs.
- Brett Gottula (Principal Communication Systems Engineer): Brings more than a decade of communications systems experience from SpaceX and Astranis, including work on Crew Dragon and Starlink modem development.
Who Are Cascade Space's Competitors?
Cascade Space operates in a competitive segment that includes providers of spacecraft design software, ground station networks, and mission operations support. Potential competitors include companies like Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), AWS Ground Station, and other ground network service providers, as well as firms offering spacecraft design platforms and RF system engineering tools.
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