Tag: California
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Orbital Raises $5 Million to Develop Distributed Space-Based AI Data Center Network
Los Angeles-based startup Orbital has raised $5 million in a pre-seed funding round to support the development of a space-based computing network aimed at providing artificial intelligence processing capabilities from orbit. The funding round was led by Speedrun, the startup accelerator operated by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and included participation from a broad group of venture…
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Impulse Space Raises $500 Million to Expand In-Space Transportation Business
Impulse Space has raised $500 million in a Series D funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to more than $1 billion since its founding five years ago. The California-based company said the new capital will support hiring, expand vehicle development programs and help meet growing demand for in-space transportation services. Growing Demand for Space…
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Observable Space Raises $90 Million Series A to Expand Space Tracking and Optical Systems
Observable Space has secured $90 million in Series A funding to expand production of its optical and laser-based space systems, while also supporting international growth beyond the United States. The funding round was led by Lux Capital and co-led by Upfront Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Island Green Capital and RTX Ventures. BRV Capital Management and…
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Firefly Aerospace Launches Alpha Flight 7, Tests Block II Upgrades Ahead Of Next Mission
U.S. space and defense company Firefly Aerospace successfully launched its Alpha Flight 7 “Stairway to Seven” mission, sending a demonstrator payload for Lockheed Martin into orbit while testing upgrades planned for the rocket’s next configuration. The Firefly Alpha rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5:50 p.m. PDT…
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Startup GRU Space Opens Applications for Planned Lunar Hotel, Targets 2032 Opening
Galactic Resources Utilization (GRU) Space said on Monday it has begun accepting applications from prospective lunar tourists, asking for a $1 million deposit to reserve a place at a planned Moon-based hotel that the startup says could open as early as 2032. The California-based company, founded in 2025, said the deposit would secure a future…
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U.S. FAA Lifts Temporary Restrictions on Commercial Rocket Launches After Government Reopens
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted temporary restrictions that had limited commercial rocket launches to nighttime hours, easing constraints on companies such as SpaceX following the end of the federal government shutdown. The order, issued on Nov. 10, was designed to reduce workload for air traffic controllers during the shutdown by avoiding daytime…
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SpaceX Marks 500th Reused-Rocket Orbital Mission With Launch of EU Ocean-Mapping Satellite
SpaceX launched a European ocean-monitoring satellite from California early Monday, completing the company’s 500th orbital mission using a flight-proven rocket booster. The Sentinel-6B spacecraft lifted off atop a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 12:21 a.m. EST (0521 GMT). “Sentinel-6B rising, extending nearly four decades of the precise sea-level record from space,” NASA…
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Dream Chaser Completes Key Pre-Flight Tests Ahead of 2026 Orbital Debut
one: the spacecraft demonstrated real-time command and control through NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), successfully receiving telemetry and distributing commands between Mission Control in Louisville, Colorado, and the spacecraft. The company concluded the campaign with a post-landing recovery rehearsal, testing procedures for vehicle safing and rapid access to sensitive payloads immediately after…
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Elon Musk says SpaceX and X will relocate their headquarters to Texas
Elon Musk said Tuesday that he will move the headquarters of SpaceX and his social media company X from California to Texas in response to a new gender identity law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Musk’s announcement, made via a post on X, follows his decision in 2021 to move the headquarters of the…
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Smallsat launch providers readying for first missions of 2021
Virgin Orbit technicians complete work with the LauncherOne vehicle’s payload fairing for the Launch Demo 2 mission, which is set to loft 10 NASA-sponsored CubeSats into orbit. Credit: Virgin Orbit/Greg Robinson Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab teams are gearing up for their first missions of the year in the coming days, with Virgin’s air-launched rocket…