Leaf Space

Based in Italy, Leaf Space provides ground segment-as-a-service (GSaaS) solutions for satellite and launch vehicle operators. It offers an end-to-end service to manage communications between ground stations and space assets. Leaf Space operates a globally distributed network of 17 ground stations supporting ~80 satellites (as of July 2023) in various orbits and frequency bands. The company has tripled its core business revenues since 2020 compared with the previous year. 

Its proprietary GSaaS solutions include the following:

 Leaf Line provides satellite communications that share capacity between missions, support multiple frequency bands and modulation schemes, and cover low Earth orbit satellites. The Network Cloud Engine automates data flow and network operations, providing real-time data transfer from mission control to the satellites.

Leaf Key is designed for operators of medium to large satellite constellations. It offers a cost-effective model that includes network design, procurement, deployment, and ground station operation. Leaf Key supports multiple frequency bands and can be scaled to meet mission requirements, with additional peak load management provided by the Leaf Line network.

Leaf Track is a fully managed service for real-time tracking and telemetry reception of launch vehicles. It deploys dedicated ground stations as required, supported by the global Leaf Line network, and provides real-time telemetry through a single interface with minimal latency. 

These services leverage Leaf Space's unique scheduling strategy, optimized for constellation operations, and are driven by a cloud-based architecture. In March 2023, Leaf Space achieved over 10,000 successful satellite passes in a single month.

Key customers and partnerships

As of May 2024, Leaf Space's customer base included ~45 government and commercial satellite operators across multiple market segments, including Kepler Communications, D-Orbit, NanoAvionics, Sen, and Fossa Systems. The company had supported several SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions, providing services such as payload downlink, satellite operations, LEOP support, and launch vehicle tracking.

In October 2021, the company partnered with Odysseus Space, which develops end-to-end laser communications systems for satellite missions, to develop a hybrid ground station network optimized for optical and RF communications. In July 2022, Leaf Space partnered with Azercosmos, the Space Agency of Azerbaijan, to install a 3.7-meter S/X-band antenna at Azercosmos' Main Ground Control Station in Baku. This long-term agreement expands Leaf Space's global network presence and supports Azercosmos' satellite operations throughout its lifecycle.