Exclusive: Meet Diamondback, Gravitics’ New Orbital Carrier
Gravitics unveiled Diamondback, a smaller orbital carrier designed to fulfill missions from protecting US national security satellites to deploying space-based missile interceptors.
Exclusive: Portal Unveils Starburst, Set for Flight Next Year
The Bothell, WA-based space maneuverability startup has unveiled Starburst, an ESPA-class vehicle that can maneuver payloads in orbit.
LambdaVision Closes $7M Seed Round to Make Retinas in LEO
LambdaVision said the funding will allow it to continue operations through 2027, including scaling up manufacturing in LEO for artificial retinas. Seven Seven Six and Aurelia Foundry Fund led the round, which also included participation by Seraphim Space.
Trump Re-Nominates Jared Isaacman to Lead NASA
“The journey is never easy, but it is time to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible—to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space…and when we do, we will make life better here at home and challenge the next generation to go even further,” Isaacman wrote on X on Tuesday evening following the nomination announcement.
The Artemis Accords By the Numbers
The accords celebrated their fifth anniversary last month. As such, here’s a roundup of where they stand.
Reflex Aerospace Raises €50M Series A
Reflex will use the capital to expand the manufacturing capacity at its facility in Bavaria, which will be able to churn out 60 to 70 highly complex satellites per year, according to CEO Walter Ballheimer.
Canadian Spaceport Co. Attracts Heavyweight MDA Space
MDA Space ($MDA) committed $10M CDN ($7.1M) to Maritime Launch Services (MLS), making MDA an equity owner in the company and strategic partner in the push to establish sovereign, orbital launch capabilities at MLS’ Spaceport Nova Scotia.
Space Station, Data Center Tech Launches on Bandwagon-4
SpaceX’s Bandwagon-4 mission brought 18 payloads to mid-inclination orbit, including demos for Vast’s Haven, and Starcloud’s data center.
NASA Lays Off ISS Workers at Marshall Space Flight Center
In anticipation of the ISS decommissioning and deorbit planned for the end of this decade, NASA has made a sweeping round of layoffs targeting staff working on programs related to the space station at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
Venus Exploration Hangs in the Balance
Earth’s sulfuric, fiery, evil twin has been the subject of study for a long line of spacecraft over decades. But—while Venus remains a fascinating subject for planetary science and a candidate in the search for life away from home—there’s going to be a gap in our up-close study. The last spacecraft studying Venus up close, Japan’s Akatsuki orbiter, is officially out of commission.
ESA Eyes 2028 with European Resilience from Space Program
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher proposed a massive new project this week to bring together European defense capabilities in 2028. The European Resilience from Space program (ERS) would have a budget of €1B and focus on two major capabilities in orbit.
UK Space Agency Sees Budget Growth Under DSIT
this week we got our first indication of what the UK space industry can expect—at least, from a financial perspective—after announcing its joining the UK government’s Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology
