Satellite data firm contracts Polish startup for microwave-based orbital defense
Lonestar Data Holdings has signed a deal worth up to $6 million with Polish startup Ares Shield to protect its off-Earth data centers. The defense system uses high-power microwaves to neutralize threats without generating space debris. Lonestar plans to deploy this protection for its upcoming StarVault commercial data-storage platform.
Lonestar's StarVault platform is designed to store customer data in orbit, away from terrestrial threats like natural disasters. The company has already flown four test missions, including two lunar attempts, with one device landing aboard Intuitive Machines' Athena spacecraft in March 2025 despite that lander tipping over. The first commercial StarVault payload is slated to launch on SpaceX's Transporter 18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in late October, aboard Sidus Space's LizzieSat-4.
Ares Shield's protection module combines sensors, AI-driven analytics, and a high-power microwave emitter that attaches directly to client satellites. The system detects and classifies approaching threats, then neutralizes them without producing orbital debris — a key selling point for Lonestar, whose business depends on secure data handling. The $6 million contract covers multiple satellites in Lonestar's planned low-Earth-orbit network.
This deal signals a growing commercial market for orbital self-defense as space becomes more congested and contested. If successful, microwave-based protection could set a precedent for how private satellite operators handle threats without adding to the debris problem. However, the broader implications are uncertain — armed commercial satellites may raise questions about escalation, liability, and who ultimately controls force in orbit. Data-dependent industries and government agencies could be affected, as space-based storage becomes more viable but also more complex to regulate.