VC/PE

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. 

Policy

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.

StartupsVC/PE

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.

Launch

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.

Civil

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.

Deep Space

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.