Startups
Stories about the new players changing the space game.
ATMOS and Space Cargo Unlimited Target First Reentry Mission in 2026
The mission will be the first of seven where ATMOS’ Phoenix reentry vehicle will carry SCU’s BentoBox platform to orbit and back.
Varda To Operate Two Spacecraft at Once with W-5 Mission
The company has big dreams of launching spacecraft multiple times per week, but to get there, Varda needs to ensure that its workforce of ~175 people can handle the workload.
Reflex Aerospace Raises €50M Series A
Reflex will use the capital to expand the manufacturing capacity at its facility in Bavaria, which will be able to churn out 60 to 70 highly complex satellites per year, according to CEO Walter Ballheimer.
European Startups to Test a New Lightweight Composite
FibreCoat from Germany and Lofith Composites from Spain have joined forces to develop a new composite for satellite panels that aims to be lighter and stronger compared with conventional materials.
Besxar Emerges From Stealth with SpaceX Launch Deal
Semiconductor manufacturing is big business, and a new startup from Washington, DC has plans to take it out of this world.
VC Investors Weigh the Impact of Europe’s Major Merger
Payload spoke with a handful of venture capital firms on the continent, and the overwhelming sentiment was the same: Startups are going to be just fine.
Nyxara is Building Lasers To Pierce the Clouds
In the world of optical communications, cloudy days are bad for business.
Quantum Space Readies its Ranger Spacecraft to Fly in 2026
The first wave of Golden Dome spacecraft is about to start boot camp.
Exclusive: Viridian Wins Air-Breathing DoD SBIR
Air-breathing propulsion works exactly as it sounds. The satellites fly between 150km and 500km in altitude, and use oxygen in the upper atmosphere for fuel.
Inside Astrolight’s Secure Comms Network Plans
Instances of satellite jamming are on the rise, and so are optical communications solutions to defend against interference.
Frontier Preps Next Mission After Mixed Results On ATMOS
Frontier is preparing to fly a second (slightly pared-down) SpaceLab next year aboard Orbital Paradigm’s new reentry platform.
Inversion Space Unveils Arc Reentry Vehicle
The quickest delivery service isn’t coming via drone from an Amazon fulfilment center—it’s coming from space.
UK Space Agency Invests £6.5M in International Projects
The UK wants to build a vibrant sovereign space industry, but it knows it can’t do it alone.
