Business
Stories on space business, including company updates, funding announcements, and contract awards.
Bill Weber Steps Down as Firefly Aerospace CEO
Firefly has tapped board member Peter Schumacher as interim CEO while leadership kicks off a search process.
The Growing Space Economy Is Doing Its Part To Fight Inflation
The space sector contributed $131B to American GDP in 2022, according to the most recent and precise analysis by the US government’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Starlink Mini Impact and Rapid Terminal Iteration: Payload Research
Last week, SpaceX unveiled the Starlink Mini terminal, a laptop-sized device capable of delivering high speed internet nearly anywhere in the world.
SIA Reports Record Growth for the Satellite Industry in 2023
The global space economy generated $400B of revenue last year, $285B of which ended up in the balance sheets of commercial satellite companies, according to the Satellite Industry Association’s State of the Satellite Industry Report.
Vast Inks Deal with The Exploration Company For Future Cargo Missions
The agreement opens the door for Europe to begin commercial and research-based missions in LEO.
The US Wants to CHIP In On Rocket Lab’s Solar Cell Factory
Rocket Lab is one of three major players in the Western market that builds space-grade solar panels, and the investment will grow production 50% in the next three years.
Astroscale Shares Surge in Market Debut
Astroscale’s IPO proves there’s value in junk stocks—space junk stocks, that is.
AST SpaceMobile Secures AT&T Direct-to-Cell Agreement
AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) clinched a deal with AT&T to provide satellite-to-cell connectivity through 2030, the two companies announced Wednesday. Public markets cheered the definitive commercial agreement signed with the country’s largest cellular provider, propelling AST’s stock up nearly 70% yesterday and pushing its market cap to $1B+. Customers will be able to opt in to…
Tracking EchoStar’s Subscriber Declines: Payload Research
EchoStar reported another quarter of declining revenue last week as its Hughes Network satellite broadband, TV (Dish + Sling), and retail wireless (Boost Mobile) subscriber base continues to shrink.
Starliner by the Numbers: Payload Research
With Starliner slated to transport crew to the ISS for the first time next week, we’re digging into all the money spent to get here—from NASA’s contributions and seat pricing to the total development expenditures.
Xona Raises $19M Series A
Xona Space Systems is working to build an alternative to GPS in LEO, and it’s just secured an additional $19M to make that goal a reality.
Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance Introduce a New Wildfire Detection Satellite Constellation
Muon Space unveiled plans today for its LEO FireSat Constellation, a wildfire management network the company is building with Earth Fire Alliance.
SDA Is Strengthening Space Industrial Base, Execs Say
A five-year-old agency within the Pentagon founded with a mandate to move quickly is stimulating investments that make the entire small sat industrial base more resilient and scalable, according to half a dozen top industry execs.
