2025 Europe in Review
We built a word cloud based on the 100+ stories Payload ran on the European space industry this year, and one theme jumped out immediately: a lot of forward-looking language.
ICEYE, Rheinmetall Land €1.7B German Defense Contract
The joint venture owned by Finnish EO firm ICEYE and German arms maker Rheinmetall has turned on its money-printing machine.
Trump Signs Space Superiority Executive Order
President Donald Trump laid out a clear vision—and timeline—for America’s next steps in space in an executive order signed Thursday afternoon.
Reentry: 2025 Wrapped
In a magic trick, making something disappear is only part of the act—bringing it back is what earns the applause.
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator
At long last, NASA has a head again. That someone will be Jared Isaacman—now that the Senate has confirmed the billionaire private astronaut and entrepreneur—for whom the second time was the charm. The Senate voted 67–30 in favor of the appointment.
How Space RCO Wants to Go Faster
The Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) was established in 2018 to buy space tech and get it into troops’ hands as fast as possible—but according to its director, it’s not going fast enough thanks to barriers outside the organization.
Common Sense: Avoiding Single-Source Dependency in Government Contracts
Today, as the U.S. Department of War increasingly relies on critical space assets—from satellite communications to reconnaissance platforms—officials should heed Paine’s timeless advice: apply common sense. Entrusting national security capabilities to a single commercial provider contradicts that wisdom, creating vulnerabilities where strategic stability depends on private agendas or individual personalities. Avoiding single-source dependency is not just a strategic choice—it’s a national security imperative.
CLDs: 2025 Wrapped
The space community has long known that the ISS agreement has a 2030 expiration date. But this year, headlines about the end of the station—and debates about America’s presence in LEO—have shifted the focus beyond 2030 to the companies building Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) vying to be the station’s successor.
PLD Space Outlines its Plans for €169M in ELC Funds
The real value of the ELC, according to Raúl Verdú, PLD’s chief business development officer, is the doors the challenge opens for PLD to extract knowledge from ESA.
SatVu Plans to Target Data Center Market with HotSat-2
Even without a satellite in orbit, SatVu is giving investors a behind-the-scenes look at hot spots they’re going to be tracking in the future.
Digantara Raises $50M Series B
Digantara, an Indian startup focused on space surveillance and situational awareness, announced yesterday that it closed a $50M Series B.
A Couple Key Considerations for Venture Capital Investments in Federal Government Contractors
Preserving small business status and understanding foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) disclosure obligations and associated requirements and restrictions are two common early challenges for venture-backed companies. This article outlines these key considerations and risks to keep top of mind for VC investments in early-stage companies that are seeking or have been awarded federal contracts or grants.
