Commercial Space

Satellite bus manufacturer Apex is funding and organizing a space-based interceptor technology demonstration within the next year.

Four Japanese companies plan a joint demonstration of laser communications between a satellite and a high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS).

Apex officially opened its new “Factory One” production facility in Los Angeles on Oct. 6.

The first stage of an Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket being prepared for launch on a commercial mission for Lockheed Martin was destroyed Sept. 29.

American Honda Motor Co. plans to study integrating its regenerative fuel cell system with Astrobotic’s Vertical Solar Array Technology for long-term operations on the Moon.

The launch startup Beijing Galactic Energy Aerospace Technology Co. (Galactic Energy) has raised RMB 2.4 billion ($336 million) in a Series D funding round.

Deloitte is using its first internally funded satellite to game out on-orbit cyber attacks with a new system that could bolster the resiliency of current and future spacecraft.

Spacecraft developer Quantum Space has acquired the “propulsion assets” of Phase Four.

Voyager Technologies, which focuses on space tech and defense, has become the latest company to turn to an acquisition to bolster its optical comms credentials.

As demand for satellites and accompanying launches continues to grow, the supply chain in the space industry is having a hard time keeping up.

Seven federal lawmakers have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to encourage the development of commercial spaceports.

South Korean rocket provider Innospace says it has signed an agreement to conduct two satellite launches for Media Broadcast Satellite.

Bluetooth satellite network creator Hubble has raised $70 million from investors in a Series B funding round, the Seattle-based startup said on Sept. 17.

Varda Space plans to bring development of the spacecraft bus portion of its reentry system in-house.

The U.S. Space Force’s CSCO anticipates starting the acquisition process to buy commercially derived maneuverable satellites for use in GEO by early next year.

BlackSky Technology plans to expand its Gen-3 high-frequency monitoring constellation with new satellites designated AROS.

Voyager Technologies has raised $383 million in an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange that values the company at $3.8 billion.

Kymeta says it has demonstrated a new antenna that can simultaneously connect to multiple satellites using Ku and Ka bands.

The latest trend in satellite development is two-dimensional: flat sats.

Highly engineered aerospace products provider Crane announced June 9 that it will buy Precision Sensors & Instrumentation.

Impulse Space said it raised $300 million in a Series C funding round, asserting it is “one of the largest venture rounds in the history of the space industry.”

Voyager Technologies is looking for its initial public offering to underpin construction and deployment of its Starlab low-Earth-orbit space station.

Innovative Rocket Technologies is looking to become publicly traded via a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company backed by Wilbur Ross.

EnduroSat of Sophia, Bulgaria, has raised €43 million ($48.8 million) from venture capital financiers to increase its satellite production to 60 per month.

Spacecraft manufacturer Apex has developed a new satellite bus that the company says could be used as a space-based interceptor platform.