Business
Stories on space business, including company updates, funding announcements, and contract awards.
Benchmark Adds New Thruster, Security Partnerships
Benchmark Space Systems added Starlight’s Hall-effect thrusters (HET) and 21SoftWare’s security platform to its partner network.
Rocket Development Costs by Vehicle: Payload Research
In 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately funded, fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to reach orbit. Its development cost? Just $90M ($131M inflation adj.).
Tracking Next-Gen LEO Satcom Constellations: Payload Research
Out are the days of onesie twosies large GEO satcom birds, and in are the mega-constellations in LEO, consisting of an army of hundreds or thousands of smaller satellites that provide ultra-fast connectivity.
Ursa Adds Additive With $14.5M R&D Investment
Ursa Major will buy several industrial 3D printers and hire 15 new employees for an R&D center in Youngstown, OH focused on additive manufacturing.
The $570B Space Economy
For the third year in a row, government space budgets saw double digit percentage increases, driven by the significant militarization of space.
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…
