Photon provides stratospheric balloon flight services that deliver payloads to the edge of space and return them safely, supporting high‑altitude experiments, atmospheric research, and brand promotions.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Accessing the stratosphere for scientific experiments, atmospheric research, or specialized communications currently requires costly, complex launch infrastructure and limited payload recovery options, restricting many organizations from conducting high‑altitude missions.
Solution
Photon offers end‑to‑end stratospheric balloon flight services that launch payloads to near‑space altitudes and safely return them via a dedicated return glider. The service includes mission planning, launch execution, real‑time telemetry, and payload recovery, enabling customers to conduct high‑altitude experiments or brand activations without building their own launch capabilities. In parallel, Photon develops a solar‑powered High‑Altitude Pseudo‑Satellite (HAPS) platform that can operate autonomously for extended periods, providing persistent surveillance, mapping, environmental monitoring, and resilient communications in civilian or defense contexts. Supporting both offerings is a proprietary electronics ecosystem built around low‑power STM32 embedded systems, including flight termination units, universal ground transceivers, and high‑altitude flight computers, ensuring reliable operation in extreme conditions.
Target Audience
Primary customers are research institutions, aerospace and defense organizations, and commercial entities that require high‑altitude data collection, testing, or promotional services but lack in‑house stratospheric launch capabilities.
Features
- Stratospheric balloon flights with custom payload integration and guaranteed safe return via a dedicated glider
- Full mission support from launch planning through recovery, including real‑time telemetry and control
- Solar‑powered HAPS platform designed for long‑endurance, autonomous operation in the stratosphere
- Lightweight, low‑power STM32‑based embedded systems tailored for high‑altitude UAVs, including flight termination and ground transceiver units
- Cross‑compatible electronics suite enabling seamless integration across balloon, glider, and HAPS platforms
- Capability to support civilian and defense applications such as surveillance, mapping, environmental monitoring, and resilient communications