Rendering of Rendezvous in-space manufacturing tiles. Photo: Rendezvous

Rendezvous Robotics, a new startup focused on space infrastructure emerged from stealth mode this week with $3 million in pre-seed funding. The company is started by a team with experience at SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Nokia, and is focused on a new way of in-space assembly using modular tiles. 

Rendezvous plans to scale and commercialize a technology called TESSERAE, modular tiles invented by co-founder Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, who is also founder of Aurelia Institute. The TESSERAE tiles have been tested in two orbital demonstrations in partnership with NASA, where they demonstrated autonomous docking, self-correction, and reconfiguration in space. Rendezvous plans to launch the fifth-generation system to the International Space System (ISS) in 20226. 

The company’s other co-founders are Phil Frank, a former Nokia and AT&T exec; and Joe Landon, former Lockheed Martin executive who recently led Lockheed subsidiary Crescent Space. 

“No one has done this before — intelligent assembly in orbit, proven in space and now ready to scale,” said Joe Landon, Co-Founder and President of Rendezvous. “This is the technology that will enable antennas larger than football fields, reconfigurable systems for defense, orbital solar farms, and even data centers in space. Launch opened access to space; Rendezvous is building what comes next.”

Aurelia Foundry and 8090 Industries led pre-seed funding, with participation from ATX Venture Partners, Mana Ventures, and a group of other angel investors.