Lacuna Space launches four next-generation satellites in “Wisdom of the Trail” mission

Harwell, Oxfordshire, 1st December 2025 – UK company Lacuna Space announced today the successful launch of four new satellites on 28 November 2025, under their Wisdom of the Trail mission banner. These spacecraft will form the company’s most capable generation yet, delivering the world’s most advanced satellite IoT gateways and further expanding the Lacuna Network – a shared global system for connecting sensors in the most remote parts of the planet.

This launch represents a major milestone in Lacuna’s nine-year journey from UK Space Agency–backed start-up to industry pioneer in direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications and has been supported by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications (CSC) under the Advanced Technology programme, part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES).

“When we started Lacuna, people told us the idea of tiny IoT sensors talking directly to satellites was impossible,” said Rob Spurrett, CEO and co-founder of Lacuna Space. “Today, direct-to-device connectivity has become one of the most dynamic areas of the satellite industry. We’re proud that our early work helped lay the foundations for what’s now a global movement.”

Quiet Innovation, Loud results

Founded at the ESA Business Incubation Centre at Harwell in 2016, Lacuna Space set out to provide low-cost, low-power connectivity for areas far beyond the reach of mobile networks – from rainforests to rivers, from farms to fishing boats. Lacuna Space’s technology enables tiny battery-powered sensors to send short messages directly to orbiting satellites, without the need for terrestrial infrastructure.

From the outset, Lacuna chose an unconventional path:

• Focusing on payloads, not full satellites, and partnering with emerging UK spacecraft operators.
• Using shared spectrum, securing the regulatory approvals that opened new routes for the satellite IoT market.
• Encouraging a community of developers to build their own terminals, accelerating innovation and accessibility.

Implementing this approach helped spark an ecosystem of companies now advancing D2D satellite connectivity worldwide.

Listening to the spectrum

Lacuna Space’s distinctive technology is informed by years of experimental work, including early high-altitude balloon flights that set records for long-range, low-power IoT signals. Through those experiments, Lacuna Space also uncovered how dynamic the use of unlicensed spectrum can be. Every Lacuna satellite has carried a spectrum scanner, continuously mapping how these frequencies are used around the globe. The resulting dataset now provides a unique resource for improving reliability and efficiency.

A Shared Global Network

The company’s Lacuna Network allows partners to fly Lacuna’s satellite IoT gateway payloads on their own satellites, contributing data in exchange for access to shared coverage. It’s a cooperative model that embodies Lacuna’s philosophy of openness and collaboration.

“In an era of growing nationalism, the view from orbit reminds us that networks work best when people collaborate using a common standard,” Spurrett added. “By working together, we can make affordable satellite IoT a globally available.”

Trailblazing Ahead

With Wisdom of the Trail, Lacuna’s constellation grows to fifteen satellites, all built with sustainability in mind and designed to de-orbit cleanly after five years. The new payloads deliver more message capacity than all previous Lacuna satellites combined.

“It might sound outrageous to say we helped build an industry,” said Spurrett. “But seeing how many companies are now following the same trail, it’s clear we were onto something special.”

About Lacuna Space

Lacuna Space delivers direct-to-device IoT connectivity service using ultra-low-power protocols optimised for small, infrequent messages. Built on its proprietary LoneWhisper^® technology, Lacuna Space’s network supports remote sensors across agriculture, environment, utilities, and the oceans — enabling reliable global coverage with no ground infrastructure.

Lacuna Space operates from offices in the UK and the Netherlands, with support from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency.

Press Contact

Kitty Howie, Media Relations

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