Making previously impossible missions possible

K2 Space Corporation

A lot of people associate space with their childhood - at K2 Space Corporation we hope to help make those childhood dreams a reality.
 
We're excited to introduce the next member of our team, Alex Shearer, our Senior Software Engineer who comes to us from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Heliogen

Tell us about yourself Alex

Even as a kid I was always curious, wandering off during field trips to the science museum and pushing the boundaries of what constituted the schoolyard during recess. Although my adventures sometimes caused trouble, my mom encouraged me to explore, which I credit for my tendency to question limits and seek out new ideas. My mom, a self-taught graphic designer, also instilled in me a deep sense of creativity and accomplishment - I would often sit next to her at the computer while she carefully arranged text, shapes and images, sometimes asking 5-year old me for advice. I've carried this design-thinking forward to the present day in my work with computers. Wielding computers successfully requires both the curiosity to explore and daring to make changes: the recipe for creativity.

Like my childhood spent exploring, I found myself working in aerospace by keeping my mind open to new, interesting opportunities. I had previously been focused on more earthly things; yet, I never saw a lifetime of looking up at the stars as a prerequisite for working in aerospace. Thus, when I had the opportunity to join the industry, it was easy to say yes. It's been an exciting and rewarding place to build my career.

What was your first memory of space?

As a kid, I wrote and illustrated a short story (published, printed, and distributed by mom, of course). The story followed a duck on a journey across our solar system, often falling asleep in his rocket ship along the way, who returned to be greeted as a hero in his hometown. I remember feeling amused whenever I drew sunglasses on the Sun and liking the idea of napping in a fantastic and secluded locale such as a rocket ship in deep space.

What space applications are you most excited for?

I am excited for the day that the Psyche spacecraft meets the 16 Psyche asteroid in six years and see what we discover from Percy’s samples of Mars. Since meeting the team at K2 Space, I am impatient to see the science that the next generation of large and cost-effective satellites will empower! 

A lot of people associate space with their childhood - at K2 Space Corporation we hope to help make those childhood dreams a reality.
 
We're excited to introduce the next member of our team, Samuel Kim, our newest Electrical Engineer who comes to us from SpaceX.

Tell us about yourself Sam

I grew up in Atlanta and started college at Georgia Tech studying Chemical Engineering. Near the end of my undergrad, I worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where I picked up an Arduino and made an LED blink for the first time - after that, I was hooked. I finished my degree while learning electrical hardware development as part of the Yellow Jacket Space Program, Georgia Tech’s student-led liquid propellant rocketry team. I then started and finished my masters degree in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech.

After graduating, I started my career at SpaceX working on the Starship Avionics team. I primarily worked on battery electronics hardware development, eventually developing a new high voltage battery for Starship’s electric thrust vector control system. After a few years at SpaceX, I learned about K2 and met the team. I was incredibly excited about K2’s mission and the team’s strength, and I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join!

Outside of work, you can find me playing golf, trying not to crash on my racing simulator, and sending it down the slopes at Mammoth!

What was your first memory of space?

My interest in space developed a bit later than most. Near the start of my undergrad, SpaceX landed its Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, and I remember watching a Youtube video afterwards and having my jaw dropped. Just a short time later, I made sure to catch the first launch and landing of the Falcon Heavy. The moment I saw the two side boosters land in unison was the moment that I decided that space technology was the only thing I wanted to work on!

What space application are you most excited for moving forward?

I’m most excited by the idea of working on platforms that will enable technologies that haven’t been imagined yet. With the increasing ease of access to space, I’m looking forward to all the ways that we can make life on Earth better from space!

A lot of people associate space with their childhood - at K2 Space Corporation we hope to help make those childhood dreams a reality.
 
We're excited to introduce the next member of our team, Han Lin, our Head of RF Systems who comes to us from Epirus, SpaceX, and The Aerospace Corporation.

Tell us about yourself Han

I love working on leading edge technologies! I studied electromagnetic physics in university and started my career at Aerospace Corporation. At SpaceX, I was responsible engineer of many antennas that have flown successfully on hundreds of Falcon 9 launches. After serving as an early engineer on Starlink user terminals and Starship antennas, I moved on to Epirus, a defense startup. There, I led a team of passive microwave engineers that built the highest power solid state phased array antenna in the world for shooting down drones.

In my free time I enjoy foraging for sea creatures to eat, sweating in triathlons, trying to develop a green thumb, and playing drums and percussion.

What was your first memory of space?

I favored dinosaurs over space as a kid (see picture), but love science fiction novels such as Ender's Game!

What space applications are you most excited for?

Hosting some cool payloads on K2 buses. Let's build some great satellites and push human technology forward!

A lot of people associate space with their childhood - at K2 Space Corporation we hope to help make those childhood dreams a reality.
 
We're excited to introduce the next member of our team, Mary Bunting, our Associate Chief of Staff who comes to us from VAST, SpaceX, and Virgin Orbit.

Tell us about yourself Mary

I got my start in the space industry at SpaceX, where I was fortunate to support recruiting efforts across Starship, Starlink, Falcon 9, and Starshield. It was there that I truly embraced my passion for space exploration and recognized the importance of space infrastructure. 

When I learned about K2, I was reminded of the excitement and accomplishment I felt while supporting early stage satellite programs at SpaceX, and knew I had to join!

Outside of work you can find me training for my next half-marathon, playing tennis, volunteering with animal rescue organizations, and spending time with my partner and our 3 dogs.

What was your first memory of space?

My first memory of space dates back to my early childhood when my grandfather would recount his time pioneering a vacuum chamber for testing space-grade greases intended for use on the Apollo program. Although, at the age of 5, I failed to fully comprehend the magnitude of this achievement, my later exposure to science fiction and rocket launches during my time at SpaceX sparked a profound and enduring interest in the space industry. I love that all things space help me feel close to my grandfather.

What space application are you most excited for moving forward?

I'm most excited about the evolution of space infrastructure as a whole. Whether it's the development of advanced space stations, satellite networks, or lunar bases, this progress signifies our growing capability to expand humanity's presence beyond Earth. Enhanced space infrastructure promises transformative opportunities for scientific discovery, technological innovation, and collaboration that will shape a brighter and more informed future for humanity.

Euro

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Co-Founder

Karan Kunjur

Production Manager

Elmer Bonilla

Senior Software Engineer

Brady Lee

Head of Structures and Mechanisms

Drew Miller

Head of RF Systems

Han Lin

Satellite Mechanical & GNC Engineer

Hector Marquez

Electrical Engineer

John Contovasilis

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Kyle McCracken

Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Matt Ales

Head of Software

Michael Saqr

Neel Kunjur

Co-Founder and CTO

Private West Hollywood Companies

Spacecadet Ventures Portfolio Companies

California Seed Stage Companies With Less Than $1B in Revenue

West Coast Companies With Fewer Than 10 Employees (Top 10K)

K2 Space focuses on the latest generation of launch vehicles that will open the doors to the solar system. The company was founded by Karan Kunjur and Neel Kunjur in 2022 and is headquartered in West Hollywood, California.

Alpine Space Ventures

Seed Round - K2 Space

First Round Capital

West Hollywood

California

United States

North America

K2 Space

Germany

Europe

Turkey

India

Asia

Indonesia

Specializes in satellite technology and space architecture

Starfish Space

Provider of aerospace hardware products for space architecture

Atomos Space

Manufacturer of satellite buses for spacecraft

Aurora

K2 Space is a Los Angeles-based startup that aims to challenge the traditional spacecraft design by focusing on building massive satellites using the full capacity of launch vehicles like F9 and Starship. The company believes that leveraging larger spacecraft can break the correlation between spacecraft mass and cost, providing the ability to deploy highly capable satellites at a fraction of the cost.

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