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AnalysisCivilMilitary

US Space Agencies Call for Public-Private Partnerships

The US civil and military space orgs got together to suss out the state of the space industrial base, and their conclusions are clear: resilience and speed are top priorities, and commercial partnerships are what will make that possible.

BusinessLEO

Max Space Unveils Expandable Habitat

Shooting a Beyonce music video in zero gravity, farming to feed astronauts on the Moon, and storing fuel in orbit could all become possible with a new expandable space habitat designed and built by Max Space,, cofounder Aaron Kemmer told Payload.

AnalysisBusiness

The $1.8T Space Economy

The space economy could grow to $1.8T by 2035, according to a report released today by the World Economic Forum in partnership with McKinsey & Company.

BusinessVC/PE

Varda Raises $90M Series B

On the heels of its first successful mission returning in-space manufactured drugs from orbit, Varda Space Industries has closed a $90M Series B, bringing the company’s total fundraising to date to $145M.

Civil

Russia Approves New Space Station Designs as it Seeks to Maintain Human Presence in LEO

Russia approved the initial designs for the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) earlier this week, revealing new details as the Kremlin prepares for life in space post-ISS. 

LaunchPolicy

Biden Considers Taxes on Commercial Launchers

As the pace of space launch picks up, the Biden administration is reportedly looking at requiring space companies to pay taxes to help pay for the system that keeps their rockets safe.

Business

Exclusive: Phase Four Secures a $14.9M DARPA Contract for an Air-Breathing VLEO System

Congestion in LEO is on its way up, and in response, the US military is looking to move down.

SatcomState of the Space Industry 2024

The State of Satcom

We’re more connected than ever, and we have the growth of satellite communications technologies to thank. In the past year alone, the satcom industry has made major advances in internet coverage, in-flight connectivity, technology development for direct-to-device, and emergency broadband services…the list goes on.

Research

Payload Research: Q1 Space Industry via Charts

The first three months of 2024 was another busy year for the space industry, underscored by continued growth in SpaceX’s launch cadence and a solid VC funding environment. Below are the four charts defining the quarter.

BusinessMilitary

Pentagon Releases First Commercial Space Strategy

The Pentagon on Tuesday released its long-awaited strategy for working more closely with the commercial space sector, which includes plans to boost cooperation during times of peace and protect commercial assets in times of conflict. 

State of the Space Industry 2024

The State of Earth Observation

The Earth observation market is refocusing efforts on profitability, government funding, and addressing niche issues, as commercial demand has not yet materialized to the extent many anticipated.

MilitaryPolaris

Jamming, Spoofing, and Spying, Oh My!

The Secure World Foundation released its annual update of global counterspace capabilities today, and we dug through it for some of the most significant updates from its 2023 version.