LaunchLunar

IM-1 Lunar Lander is Set to Launch Wednesday Morning

SpaceX is slated to launch the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander aboard Falcon 9 early Valentine’s Day morning as it attempts to become the first commercial spacecraft to soft-land on the lunar surface and the first US vehicle to accomplish the feat since Apollo 17 in 1972. 

BusinessVC/PE

Lunar Resource Extraction Startup Interlune Raises $15.6M

Interlune, an in-space resource mining startup operating in stealth, has secured $15.6M of funding

Research

Predicting SpaceX’s 2024 Revenue

We’re once again dusting off the crystal ball and predicting SpaceX’s 2024 revenue. 

Business

US Seeks to Toss Out Ligado Spectrum Lawsuit

The Ligado spectrum rights saga continues. The US government filed a motion to dismiss Ligado’s lawsuit over spectrum rights last week, challenging the court’s jurisdiction and disputing the satcom provider’s claims. Origin story: In 2020, the FCC authorized Ligado’s use of the L-band spectrum, green-lighting its plans for a terrestrial 5G network. The company said…

Research

Estimating SpaceX’s 2023 Revenue

Payload is back with our SpaceX revenue analysis.

Business

GITAI to Launch a Pair of Robotic Arms to the ISS on Monday

In every corner of GITAI’s bustling factory, a unique and fully operational robotic demo was on display, each preparing for its day in space.

Business

Albedo Raises $35M for its High-Resolution VLEO Imaging

Albedo, a VLEO imaging startup, secured a $35M Series A-1 round to launch the company’s first satellite, accelerate constellation deployment, and further vertically integrate. 

Business

SSA Startup Aldoria Nabs $10.9M Series A

Aldoria, formerly known as Share My Space, clinched a €10M ($10.9M) Series A round to expand its space situational awareness (SSA) offering. 

Lunar

Japan’s SLIM Spacecraft is Set to Attempt a Soft-Landing on the Moon

Japan’s SLIM spacecraft is gearing up for its soft-landing on the lunar surface Friday morning, a milestone that would make the country the fifth to achieve the feat.

Civil

ESA’s 2024 Budget Rises 10% to €7.8B

The European Space Agency budget will increase this year by 10% to €7.8B ($8.5B), the agency announced at its annual press briefing yesterday.  

Business

D-Orbit Raises $110M Series C

D-Orbit, a European in-space logistics startup, secured €100M ($110M) as an initial raise in a Series C round, which will allow it to expand its service offerings and build out operations in the US, Europe, and the UK, the company announced this morning. 

Business

NASA Bumps Up Funding for Blue Origin and Voyager Space Stations

NASA has reallocated a serious pot of funding for the companies still participating in its Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program.

Business

Sidus Space Nabs NOAA Remote Sensing License

Sidus Space ($SIDU) secured a key NOAA remote sensing license for Panchromatic and Shortwave Infrared imaging on its LizzieSat birds, the company announced on Wednesday.