by LINAS JEGELEVIČIUS
BLACKSWAN SPACE, founded in 2019, is a Vilnius-based startup building advanced in-space autonomy solutions designed to shape the next decade of orbital operations. With backing from venture capital firms, partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA) and expansion into the United States, the company is setting its sights on global leadership. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shook Europe’s security architecture and accelerated interest in dual-use technologies. While the geopolitical shock did not alter day-to-day operations for BLACKSWAN SPACE, it did transform the financing landscape. “The space sector, and especially our niche of in-space autonomy, is not directly affected by the war. Operationally, nothing has changed. Financially, there have been positive developments. Defence and dualuse companies suddenly became very attractive, and we successfully raised €760,000 in a pre-seed round in early 2024,” Tomas Malinauskas, Chief Commercial Officer (COO) at BLACKSWAN SPACE, told the Baltic Business Quarterly.
Lithuania has only a handful of pure space companies, but it is BLACKSWAN SPACE that is among the most specialised. Its focus is not on rockets or satellites themselves, but on the intelligence that makes complex missions possible. The first flagship product of BLACKSWAN SPACE is the Mission Design Simulator (MDS Solaris). Originally commissioned by ESA in 2019 to simulate space debris removal, it has since evolved into a real-time mission design platform. Unlike traditional software, MDS Solaris allows parameters to be adjusted midsimulation, delivering immediate visual feedback. It also supports multi-user functionality, enabling teams to simulate satellite constellations or even adversarial scenarios for training purposes. The second core development is VisionBased Navigation (VBN). This is a hardware payload that, once mounted on a satellite, enables autonomous manoeuvring and supports in-orbit services such as refuelling or repair. “We are not just another software company,” Malinauskas emphasises, adding, “Our solutions are designed to enable the in-space economy of the future – missions that go beyond launch and into autonomous operations.” Notably, the company’s partnerships extend across continents. With ESA’s backing, BLACKSWAN SPACE is advancing its VBN product for launch in early 2028. Together with Kongsberg NanoAvionics, it is adapting MDS Solaris for constellation management. Collaboration with the University of Adelaide in Australia is also enhancing the firm’s computer vision algorithms. “We see ourselves as a bridge between cutting-edge academic research, institutional programmes, and commercial space operations,” Malinauskas says confidently.
The roadmap is ambitious. BLACKSWAN SPACE has recently opened an office in the United States to access the world’s largest space market. Over the next decade, it wants to be counted among the top global providers of autonomy solutions. “In ten years, we want to be recognised as one of the world leaders in in-space autonomy. That means not only developing technology, but scaling it for real missions,” the COO underscored. Malinauskas takes pride in the fact that the sector – with BLACKSWAN SPACE as a significant player in it – has grown rapidly from virtually nothing a decade ago to a community of early-stage startups and established players today. “Lithuania’s associate membership of ESA has been pivotal, providing funding and technical support. Yet risks remain,” he says, acknowledging, “Our growth is fragile. Without stronger national contributions to ESA, companies may relocate to countries with more robust support.”
