Startups
Stories about the new players changing the space game.
TRL11, Starris Partner On Better Eyes in Orbit
The two companies have a mutual supply agreement that will allow them to share tech and make mutual introductions among customers, according to TRL CEO and founder Nicol Verheem.
No Smoke, Just Signals: OroraTech USA, Opterrix Launch Fire Intelligence Feed
The US subsidiary of the German satellite startup inked a partnership with risk intelligence platform Opterrix to bring near real-time wildfire data into insurers’ risk platforms. The first pilot customer? USAA.
Redwire to Develop VLEO Constellation for DeepSat
DeepSat, a LA-based startup with dreams of building multiple EO monitoring constellations in VLEO, partnered with Redwire last week to develop the initial phase of its planned constellation.
Rotating Detonation Engine Startup Wins NASA TechLeap Prize
Juno is seeking to build a commercially viable RDE to lower propulsion costs for launch companies and sat operators without sacrificing thrust.
Hubble Network Plans 60 Sat Bluetooth-Tracking Constellation
Hubble Network launched its Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) finding network to track devices anywhere in the world.
SpaceWorks to Fly In-Orbit Manufacturing Tech in 2026
The 2026 mission marks the kick-off of both companies’ commercial offering.
Firefly Files IPO Prospectus
Firefly Aerospace is $FLYing into the Nasdaq with the space industry’s latest exit attempt.
Q&A with Varda’s CEO Will Bruey
Varda Space Industries closed a $187M Series C yesterday. In the wake of the fundraise, Payload sat down with Will Bruey, Varda’s CEO, to discuss how the new funds will be put to use.
CisLunar Industries Raises $1M to Scale Production
The investment marks a step forward for CisLunar’s plans to transform from a small batch producer of PPUs for research and grant projects to a large-scale manufacturer for commercial and defense customers.
Northwood’s Satellite Ground Terminal Is Ready To Talk
“These things get dropped off the back of the truck and turn on.”
LH3M Wins Five Patents for Lunar Helium-3 Extraction
Lunar Helium-3 Mining, LLC (LH3M) secured its fifth US patent last month, covering the company’s end-to-end architecture for He-3 detection, extraction, and refinement on the Moon.
K2 Hotfire Paves a Path to Multi-Orbit Missions
K2 Space has spent the last year buying down risk and burning up fuel in preparation for its first customer mission in February 2026.
Atomic-6 Wins $2M DoD Contract For Solar Array Tech
Atomic-6 won a $2M contract from SSC to continue development of its Light Wing solar array, which collapses to enable RPO and stealth missions.
