Rocket Lab Wins $515M Spacecraft Contract
Rocket Lab’s ($RKLB) space systems business got a major boost just before the year drew to a close.
Business
Stories on space business, including company updates, funding announcements, and contract awards.
Apex Reveals Factory One
Apex is getting new digs as it preps to ramp up its satellite manufacturing.
FCC Reaffirms its Decision to Deny Starlink $886M Subsidy
The FCC upheld its 2022 decision to deny Starlink an $886M Rural Digital Opportunity Fund subsidy aimed at expanding internet connectivity into rural areas.
AstroForge Provides an Update on its Brokkr-1 Demo Mission
Asteroid mining startup AstroForge provided a detailed update on its Brokkr-1 satellite demo mission in a blog post yesterday, revealing several hiccups it encountered and a three-month blitz to complete its refinery mission.
Helicity Raises $5M for In-Space Fusion Propulsion
Helicity Space, an in-space nuclear fusion propulsion startup, nabbed a $5M seed round to begin developing its novel engine.
NorthStar Raises $14.7M Series D
NorthStar Earth and Space, a startup building an in-situ space situational awareness (SSA) constellation out of its home base in Canada, announced yesterday that it clinched a CAD $20M ($14.7M) Series D round. Telesystem Space Inc., the Québec government, and the Luxembourg Future Fund participated.
Report Considers Commercial Reinforcements For DoD
What would it look like for the Defense Department to be able to lean on the commercial space community in times of need? That’s the question examined by a new report from the RAND Corporation released last week.
Orbit Fab and Space Machines Company Partner on In-Orbit Servicing
Orbit Fab, a US-based company building in-space refueling infrastructure (i.e., orbital gas stations), announced this morning that it is teaming up with the Aussie-based Space Machines Company (SMC) to attach more efficient docking hardware to SMC’s orbital transfer vehicle, which is expected to launch next year.
Exolaunch Signs Launch Services Deal with Capella Space
Exolaunch will provide integration and launch mission management for Capella Space’s Acadia-5 satellite, which is slated for launch on SpaceX’s Transporter 11 mid-next year.
Amazon Buys Three-Launch Deal with SpaceX to Deploy its Project Kuiper Satellites
SpaceX is set to deliver Amazon’s satellite packages.
Ursa Major Nabs $138M of Funding
Rocket propulsion startup Ursa Major has raised $138M of funding this year to develop its recently unveiled Lynx solid rocket motor production process and support its other propulsion programs, the company announced Thursday.