A bold satellite manufacturer is set to launch one of the most powerful spacecraft ever created in the coming weeks to showcase technology that will be essential for establishing data centers in space.

K2 Space, established by brothers and ex-SpaceX engineers Karan and Neel Kunjur in 2022, has integrated its satellite Gravitas into a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, anticipated for launch as early as the end of this month. Gravitas weighs two metric tons and boasts a wingspan of 40 meters when its solar panels are extended.

The main goal of this substantial satellite is high power: Gravitas can generate 20 kW of electricity for powering payloads such as sophisticated sensors, transceivers, and computing systems. In comparison, the larger and pricier ViaSat-3 spacecraft can produce over 25 kW, while Elon Musk has stated that Starlink V3 satellites will provide 20 kW. However, most satellites typically generate only a few kilowatts.

“The future demands higher power,” explains CEO Karan Kunjur. K2 has secured $450 million to realize this vision, and its valuation reached $3 billion from investors in December 2025. This launch marks the company’s initial venture into genuine space operations — which Kunjur describes as “the beginning of our iterative journey.”

The Gravitas mission will carry 12 unspecified payload modules from various customers, including the Department of Defense, along with a 20 kW electric thruster that the firm expects to be the most potent ever to be used in space.

Kunjur indicated that the demonstration will be assessed based on multiple success criteria — first, can K2 successfully deploy the spacecraft and generate power? Next, can it activate its payloads and test its powerful thruster? And if that goes well, can it utilize the thruster to elevate the spacecraft thousands of kilometers into a higher orbit?

Kunjur understands that launching a new spacecraft is challenging — 85% of its components were designed and produced internally — and acknowledges that markets respond quickly to anomalies. He emphasizes that the priority will be to maximize data collection to inform the next satellite design; K2 aims to launch 11 satellites in the upcoming two years, engaging in a combination of demonstration and commercial missions. By 2028, Kunjur anticipates the company will be manufacturing satellites for clients to expand commercial networks of high-powered space vehicles.

As satellites increasingly contribute to the economy, the provision of power helps to unlock new business opportunities. Kunjur anticipates the initial impact on communications networks — greater power translates to increased throughput and a signal that is less prone to jamming. As data processing in orbit becomes more critical, high-powered satellites will be essential for operating advanced processors.

Nevertheless, the significant hurdle for data centers — and large satellites across the board — is the cost of launching them into space. K2’s original concept involved harnessing the capabilities of Starship, the massive rocket being developed by SpaceX, which may offer substantial reductions in launch costs. However, the timeline for when the vehicle will be operational or begin providing low-cost services remains unclear.

Yet, the rising demand for increased power in orbit shifts K2’s perspective on its distinctive spacecraft. Expansive communication networks like Starlink and Amazon LEO, alongside hyperscalers considering the possibilities of orbital computing, and the Pentagon’s plans for a $185 billion missile defense initiative with thousands of new satellites all indicate a need for satellites with greater electrical capacity.

K2 asserts that its spacecraft continue to be a viable option even in a scenario where launch costs might be around $7.2 million (at customer rates on a Falcon 9) instead of $600,000 (in a future where Starship significantly lowers launch expenses). Kunjur contends that Gravitas, priced at $15 million, is still less expensive than high-powered satellites produced by traditional manufacturers while being more capable than similarly priced smaller spacecraft.

Once the largest rockets commence regular flights, Kunjur mentions that his team will be prepared with even larger alternatives.

“The plan is to construct all the components that we will need to be first movers when Starship and New Glenn become available for everyone else,” he told TechCrunch. K2 has prepared designs for a 100 kW satellite fully mapped out on its factory floor, extending throughout the entire building.

This article has been revised to reflect a more recent assessment of Starlink satellite power generation.