Rachael Zisk
ESA Performs an Assisted Reentry of Aeolus
ESA successfully tested a new tool to safely deorbit defunct satellites that were designed before the development of current guidelines on reducing debris. On Friday, the agency performed an assisted reentry of its Aeolus wind-monitoring mission, which was not originally designed for a manual deorbit. “These manoeuvres were complex, and Aeolus was not designed to…
Kleos Space Files for Bankruptcy
Kleos Space, a Luxembourg-based company monitoring RF signals from space for defense and intelligence, announced yesterday that it is filing for bankruptcy. The company has not been able to raise the cash needed to progress a converting note advised on June 6, which followed Australia Securities Exchange (ASX) pausing trading on the company on May…
The Space Economy Reaches $546B, The Space Foundation Says
It’s that time again—the Space Foundation has released its report on the state of the space economy through Q2 2023, and it’s reporting big numbers for the past year. According to the authors, the space economy reached $546B in 2022 despite turbulent global markets, and they’re only predicting more growth in the coming years. The…
Space DOTS Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed
Space DOTS, a UK-based advanced materials testing startup, wants to revolutionize the way the aerospace industry qualifies new materials for use in space. The company announced the closing of a $1.5M pre-seed round this morning to build out its mini on-orbit laboratory tech. Boost VC, Sie Ventures, 7Percent Ventures, Blue Wire Capital, and angel investors…
Exclusive: Leaf Space Closes €20M Series B
Leaf Space, an Italian ground-segment-as-a-service provider, has closed a €20M ($22.1M) Series B as well as an additional €15M ($16.6M) in venture debt through a European Investment Bank loan. Leaf Space 101 CEO Jonata Puglia and CSO Giovanni Pandolfi founded the company in 2014 to provide an end-to-end, easy-to-use solution for satellite operators to send…
Astranis’ Arcturus Satellite Malfunctions
Astranis’ first satellite, Arcturus, has run into a snag in its mission to provide internet connectivity over Alaska from GEO. An anomaly with the solar array drive assembly, which is meant to keep the solar arrays pointed toward the sun, has left the craft unable to keep its payload fully charged. Despite the power problems,…
Hyperspace Challenge Partners with USSF Rapid Capabilities Office
The Hyperspace Challenge accelerator announced a new partnership with the US Space Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) just before applications open for this year’s class of startups. Hyperspace 101 The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) launched the challenge in 2018 to recruit small businesses to solve DoD’s problems and make officials more aware of the…
Seraphim Releases Space Index
Seraphim, a leading space VC firm HQ’d in the UK, has released its yearly index on funding and acquisition activity across the space industry. Seraphim’s tracking data shows signs that investment activity is bouncing back from the economic woes and restrained capital markets of last year. Deals, deals, deals: The trailing twelve months (TTM) analysis…
Kall Morris Wins USAF Debris Removal Contract
This morning, Kall Morris Inc. (KMI) announced that it’s notched an agreement with the US Air Force to explore its proposed method to dock with uncontrolled pieces of debris in orbit for removal. TumblEye-ing: Under the contract, Kall Morris plans to test its TumblEye system for active debris removal (ADR) applications for USAF. Removing a…
The Artemis Astrovan Arrives
NASA astronauts are going to be riding in *ahem* style. A brand new fleet of vans destined to carry Artemis crews to the launch pad ahead of their journeys to the Moon arrived at KSC on Tuesday. The vans, built by CA-based Canoo Technologies Inc., are fully electric, zero-emission vehicles designed to fit four fully…
Astra Looks to Raise $65M and Avoid Nasdaq Delisting through Stock Split
After nearly a year of struggling to bump its stock price above the Nasdaq minimum and avoid delisting, Astra ($ASTR) has officially decided to perform a reverse stock split. The company plans to perform a 1-to-15 ratio split and aims to raise up to $65M in an “at-the-market” offering, meaning common stock shares will sell…
Iran Deploys EO Imagery in Court
An Iranian EO satellite launched last year is switching its focus to land mapping. A spokesperson for the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) said Saturday that the Information Technology Organization of Iran (ITO) has teamed up to explore using the satellite’s images as evidence in court cases on land misuse. Iran’s eye in space: When Iran…
Rivada Wins Waiver on First Constellation Deployment Deadline
Rivada Space Networks has been racing against the clock to deploy a secure, laser-linked LEO comms constellation before a deadline imposed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The company was on track to miss the first goalpost, which required 10% of its 576-satellite constellation in orbit and working by September. The ITU has issued a…
