BusinessGEO

Astranis Reveals Higher Capacity GEO Broadband Satellite 

Astranis, a satcom startup, unveiled its Omega micro GEO broadband satellite platform yesterday, designed to offer five times the power of its first-generation models.

Technology

Thales Alenia Space Signs $567M ExoMars 2028 Contract

Europe’s Mars rover mission is getting a new lease on life. 

Civil

Russia Approves New Space Station Designs as it Seeks to Maintain Human Presence in LEO

Russia approved the initial designs for the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) earlier this week, revealing new details as the Kremlin prepares for life in space post-ISS. 

Research

Payload Research: Q1 Space Industry via Charts

The first three months of 2024 was another busy year for the space industry, underscored by continued growth in SpaceX’s launch cadence and a solid VC funding environment. Below are the four charts defining the quarter.

State of the Space Industry 2024

The State of Earth Observation

The Earth observation market is refocusing efforts on profitability, government funding, and addressing niche issues, as commercial demand has not yet materialized to the extent many anticipated.

Satcom

Canadian Government to Back Telesat With $1.6B Loan 

Telesat ($TSAT), a Canadian satcom provider, announced it received a loan proposal of $2.1B CAD ($1.6B) from the Canadian government to help finance its 198-bird Lightspeed LEO constellation.

BusinessEquities

ispace Raises $53.5M for Future Lunar Landers

Japanese lunar lander startup ispace has raised $8.1B yen ($53.5M) in a stock sale to help fund its third spacecraft. 

Research

Inside NASA’s SBIR Phase III Program, By The Numbers: Payload Research

NASA’s SBIR funding—particularly its Phase I & II tracks—has become a vital source of non-dilutive capital for early-stage space startups. At the same time, it has gained a reputation for coming up short in delivering on its larger Phase III programmatic contracts, leaving companies to navigate the “valley of death.”

Civil

Texas Unveils its Space Commission, Names Board

The Texas Space Commission announced its inaugural board of directors yesterday at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which includes a who’s who of industry and academia. 

Business

Intuitive Machines Reports a Moon Cash Boon

Touchdown on the Moon, collect millions of dollars—that’s how Monopoly, space edition is played. We don’t make the rules.

Science

Varda Releases Results of In-Space Pharma Mission

Varda’s space drugs are a-ok. 

Research

Payload Research: Tracking Starship’s Progress with Additional Flights on the Horizon

We have entered the Starship era.

Business

Exclusive: Antaris and SpeQtral Join Forces to Protect Satellite Data

SpeQtral is teaming up with Antaris to develop quantum-safe satellites that keep data and communications secure, the companies announced today.