Commercial Space

The Series B will bolster the Albuquerque, New Mexico, startup’s expansion plans for a new solid rocket motor factory in Luling, Texas.

Ovzon says its Ovzon 3 small geostationary orbit communications satellite is ready to start commercial service.

Orbit Fab has successfully demonstrated the automated docking of its in-space refueling technology.

The designation enables Space Florida to tap the Florida Department of Transportation’s Spaceport Improvement Program.

Europe’s Eumetsat agency is turning to SpaceX to deliver its Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) weather satellite into orbit in 2025.

Amazon executives formally opened the company’s Project Kuiper internet satellite factory on June 27.

Starfish Space is to extend the life of an aging Intelsat communications satellite in geostationary orbit using its Otter servicing spacecraft starting in 2026.

Synspective, a Tokyo-based SAR satellite data and analytics solutions provider, announced June 20 it has raised 7 billion yen ($44 million).

DARPA has awarded Redwire a contract, as part of the agency’s Otter program, to be the prime mission integrator for a very low-Earth orbit spacecraft.

Thales and Spire Global are pursuing a satellite constellation aimed at delivering air traffic management services and technology to make them more resilient.

After two difficult years of fundraising for commercial satellite startups, the financial environment may be improving, according to bankers in the sector.

Users of iPhone 14 and newer models will be able to send and receive text messages via a satellite connection, Apple announced at its developer conference.

The agreement will also look at ways European companies can supply subsystems and equipment for future space stations.

Kineis, a startup company aiming to offer IoT services with a 25-satellite constellation, is planning to launch its first five spacecraft on June 18.

Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 as a spinoff of Technical University Munich.

A high-profile, privately financed sortie around the Moon aboard a SpaceX Starship spacecraft has been canceled.

Nara Space Technology, a South Korean manufacturer of small satellites, announced on May 31 that it had raised $14.5 million in a Series B fundraising.

AST SpaceMobile has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Verizon to provide direct-to-cellular service from its satellites.

The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy and Governance plans to host its initial annual Space Piracy Conference Feb. 11-12, 2025.

Venture capital firm Seraphim Space has announced its latest accelerator cohort of nine startups.

SpinLaunch Chairman Dómhnal Slattery described the transition as a “natural progression.”

Unseenlabs, a French startup, plans to launch its Generation NexT constellation of radio frequency detection satellites in 2026.

Startup Danti has raised $5 million to further develop its natural language processing satellite image search engine.

Dark, a developer of a space junk interceptor rocket, has raised a $6 million seed round extension.

Spanish companies will use a microsatellite built by Kongsberg NanoAvionics to test their planned space-based air traffic management (ATM) system.