An alumnus from Aalborg University played a key role in founding Denmark’s first “space shipping company,” Sternula. The company delivers navigation warnings and weather data directly to ships through satellites and coastal stations, improving maritime safety worldwide.The idea began in 2018 when entrepreneur Stefan Pielmeier approached AAU alumnus Lars Moltsen for advice on starting a consulting firm focused on maritime communication. Instead, the discussion evolved into launching a satellite operator using the VDES maritime communication standard, which enables ships to receive real-time alerts about hazards such as icebergs, whales, or sudden storms.With support from partners and a 20 million DKK grant from the Innovation Fund Denmark, the team developed software and launched their first satellite in 2023 using a spacecraft from SpaceX. Sternula now aims to deploy a fleet of 60 satellites over the next six years, preparing for the global adoption of VDES as a maritime communication standard by 2028.The company maintains strong ties with Aalborg’s satellite ecosystem, where several firms such as GomSpace and Space Inventor have roots linked to the university’s long-standing satellite research programs.
Source: Aalborg University
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