By Riley Kaminer
In 2019, Alex Pospekhov stumbled upon an article that would change the trajectory of his career. It claimed that non-technical minds were critical for sparking the next wave of innovation in space – much like what happened during the internet revolution.
With a background in software and tech entrepreneurship, Pospekhov decided he could be the one to bridge the gap between the complexities of space science and practical, impactful solutions.
But the journey was far from smooth sailing.
“I spent four years learning about space weather,” Pospekhov told Refresh Miami. “It was four years of crying because my background is in tech, not macular physics.”
Yet, his persistence paid off.
Today, Israeli entrepreneur Pospekhov [pictured above] is the CEO and founder of Mission Space, a startup at the forefront of forecasting solar and geomagnetic storms – phenomena with the potential to wreak havoc on satellites, aviation, agriculture, and more.
Mission Space is building the tools to predict when those stars might disrupt life on Earth. Using a combination of proprietary space weather sensors, machine learning models, and public data, the company aims to provide up to 100 hours’ advance notice for solar storms.
“Our goal is to give customers actionable forecasts,” Pospekhov explained. “For instance, satellite operators can adjust orbits, and farmers can plan around potential weather-related disruptions.”
Pospekhov recounted how, two years ago, Starlink lost 40 satellites to a solar storm, a loss that could have been prevented with better forecasting. Similarly, many U.S. farmers have lost millions of dollars when solar storms disrupted GPS-equipped farming equipment, throwing automated operations into disarray. “These storms are not science fiction – they’re very real and very impactful,” he said.
In February, Mission Space plans to begin deploying a constellation of around 24 satellites, each equipped with their in-house sensors, to collect real-time data. This week, the startup is exhibiting at CES in Las Vegas.
The company currently has a team of 15 spread across Miami, Israel, Luxembourg, and New York. Four of these employees are in Miami, with more to come.
From their Miami base, they’re embracing the city’s growing reputation as a hub for startups and innovation.
“Miami offers a unique blend of favorable business conditions, supportive government, and, let’s be honest, 300 days of sunshine,” Pospekhov shared. He noted that unlike traditional aerospace hubs that require massive facilities, Mission Space’s operations can thrive in smaller labs, making Miami an ideal home.
Mission Space has already closed $1.5 million of a $5 million seed round, following a pre-seed of $1.1 million. These funds will help propel them toward their ambitious goal: not just monitoring space weather but becoming a cornerstone for humanity’s interplanetary future.
“If we’re going to Mars, understanding radiation is crucial,” Pospekhov said. “Mission Space will be the company that helps astronauts navigate these risks.”
Anna Ivanova (PR lead), Alex Pospekhov (founder and CEO), Blumberg, and
Alexey Shirobokov (co-founder).
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