Innovation
NYCST grants boost New York state space tech industry
From new facilities and tools for testing space technology to programs for inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, a new round of grants from the Cornell-led New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development (NYCST) will advance aerospace research, manufacturing and workforce development in New York state.
Technology
What the Space Force Is Eyeing for Its Future GPS Enterprise
After years of talking about the issue and a few fits and starts, the Space Force is refining its plans to bolster its legacy GPS architecture amid fears that its satellites and ground systems are increasingly vulnerable to threats like jamming, spoofing, and even kinetic attack.
Reston space technology company expands to Merrifield
A Reston company that makes technology for satellites has zeroed in on Merrifield for an expansion.
Scout Space will open a 2,650-square-foot manufacturing facility in the still-industrial area south of the Dunn Loring Metro station, while maintaining its existing headquarters in the Summit office buildings at 2002 Edmund Halley Drive.
Scout Space Announces $1 Million Investment to Expand Manufacturing Capacity in Fairfax County
Scout Space, a technology company specializing in sensors and software deployed on satellite systems, today announced plans to invest more than $1 million to expand the company’s operations in Fairfax County, creating 31 new jobs. Expanding its footprint beyond its existing location in Reston, Scout Space will add 2,650 square feet of space with its new manufacturing facility in Merrifield.
SpaceX IPO Surge Fuels China Space Race Despite Persistent Tech Gap
The record $75 billion SpaceX initial public offering has intensified momentum in China’s commercial space industry, with startups accelerating fundraising and IPO plans to tap into rising investor enthusiasm for reusable rockets and satellite constellation technologies.
VC
VCs Predict the SpaceX IPO Will Lift the Entire Industry
SpaceX ($SPCX) is set to go public today in what is gearing up to be the largest IPO in history. But after the public markets initiate their newest whale, what happens to the rest of the space industry still reliant on private capital?
Payload spoke with nine VC firms invested in space startups to see how they expect the IPO to impact venture capital markets. Their response was overwhelmingly bullish.
Europe
Lithuania and Luxembourg Strengthen Space Defense Ties
Lithuania and Luxembourg are looking to forge closer ties in the area of space defense after a successful meeting between Lithuania’s Minister of National Defense Robertas Kaunas and Luxembourg’s Minister of Defense, Yuriko Backes.
The countries have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) that paves the way for co-operation on satellite communications and other space capabilities. Ministers also discussed the possibilities to avail of the future EU space investments to strengthen security and defense capabilities of the countries. Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defense revealed details of the meeting, June 10.
What the SpaceX IPO Means for Europe’s Space Industry
All eyes are on New York today for SpaceX’s IPO, but the moment represents more than just a record-breaking exit by a US space company.
For leaders in the European space sector, the IPO stands as a unique learning opportunity about how to build their region’s space economy—at least according to the European Space Policy Institute.
Investment
NASA Award Boosts Space Technology Research Capabilities
NASA is introducing a new funding opportunity to accelerate academic research and technology development. The Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research (M‑STAR) application window opened Thursday and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
SpaceX officially prices shares at $135 in the largest IPO ever
For once, SpaceX is ahead of schedule: Elon Musk’s space and AI conglomerate officially confirmed that it has raised $75 billion from the sale of its shares to its underwriters, who are set to begin marketing the company on the Nasdaq stock exchange Friday.
SpaceX priced its 555.6 million shares at $135 each, the company said in an update on its website. That makes SpaceX officially the largest IPO in history, easily eclipsing the $24.9 billion in funds raised by Saudi Aramco during its 2019 public markets debut. At this price, the deal also looks set to make Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
Quantum Space's military SPAC is trying to catch SpaceX's IPO wave
Quantum Space, a startup with plans to build highly maneuverable spacecraft for the U.S. military, announced plans to go public through a $1.2 billion merger with a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.
Indian space-tech firm GalaxEye eyes $10 million orderbook
Suyash Singh, Co-founder and CEO of GalaxEye, talks about space tech ahead of SpaceX’s IPO - highlighting the company’s mission to advance satellite and specifically Earth observation technology following the company’s breakthrough with Mission Drishti.
Launch
SpaceX Launches Starship V3 for the First Time
SpaceX launched its Starship V3 launch vehicle for the first time on Friday, unveiling a full suite of upgrades during the rocket’s twelfth test flight.
Starship lifted off the newly built pad in Starbase, TX, at 6:30pm, and proceeded to hit nearly all of its milestones, despite losing a few engines along the way.
Policy
Lawmakers Pave Way for Space Force to Dissolve SDA, Space RCO
Tucked into the Senate Armed Services Committee’s annual defense policy bill is the legal backing the Space Force needs to dissolve the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office as part of its acquisition reform efforts.
Startups
Polish SpaceTech startup Sybilla exits bootstrapped orbit with over €8 million to strengthen space monitoring
The round was led by TCEE Fund IV, advised by 3TS Capital Partners, with participation from Vinci’s venture capital fund. The founders and existing shareholders retain a majority stake and continue to play a leading role in the company’s future development. This marks Sybilla’s first external funding round, since the company has been entirely self-funded since its inception.