Tag: space infrastructure
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ESA Delays Space Rider Drop Test After Anomaly During Helicopter Ascent
The European Space Agency (ESA) has postponed a key drop test of its Space Rider reusable spaceplane after an anomaly occurred during a helicopter-assisted ascent phase in May, delaying the final stage of the vehicle’s landing qualification campaign. ESA confirmed that the incident took place during a two-week test campaign that concluded on May 8,…
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Voyager Technologies to Acquire Astrobotic in Deal Valued at Up to $300 Million
Voyager Technologies has agreed to acquire lunar exploration company Astrobotic Technology in a transaction valued at up to approximately $300 million, as the space infrastructure company seeks to expand its role in supporting future lunar missions and long-term Moon operations. The deal, which is expected to close by early July 2026 pending regulatory approvals, will…
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Katalyst Space Raises $12 Million to Advance GEO Satellite Servicing Vehicle
Katalyst Space has secured $12 million in new funding to support the development of its first geostationary orbit (GEO)-capable robotic servicing spacecraft, NEXUS, which is scheduled to launch aboard an Arianespace Ariane 6 rocket in 2027. The funding round was led by Geodesic Capital, with participation from Fortitude Ventures and several undisclosed investors. The capital…
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Optera Raises £3 Million to Expand Space Domain Awareness Technology in the UK
Optera has secured £3 million ($4 million) in fresh funding to support its relocation from Australia to the United Kingdom, strengthening its position in the growing market for space domain awareness (SDA) and dual-use sensing technologies. The funding round was led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), with participation from Blackfinch Ventures,…
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Europe Faces $47B Space Infrastructure Gap Post-Launch
Can Europe Close Its $47 Billion Space Infrastructure Gap? Europe faces a critical $47 billion investment shortfall in space infrastructure over the next decade, threatening its sovereign space capabilities despite recent launch successes including Ariane 6’s debut. ESA estimates current funding covers only 65% of requirements for maintaining competitive positioning against U.S. and Chinese space…
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Quantum Space to Go Public in $1.2 Billion SPAC Deal Backed by Former NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine
Quantum Space has agreed to go public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI in a transaction valuing the combined company at approximately $1.2 billion. The deal includes a $300 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) led by Inflection Point Asset Management and is expected to close…
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ICEYE Raises €450 Million at Valuation Exceeding €10 Billion in Major Defence and Space Funding Round
Finnish space technology company ICEYE has raised €450 million in a Series F funding round, valuing the company at more than €10 billion and marking one of the largest private financings in Europe’s defence and space sectors. The funding round was led by General Atlantic and includes participation from a group of new and existing…
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Infinite Orbits Selects Open Cosmos for ‘Tom & Jerry’ Satellite Inspection Mission
European space companies Infinite Orbits and Open Cosmos have partnered on a new satellite mission designed to demonstrate rendezvous, proximity and inspection operations in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The mission, dubbed “Tom & Jerry,” will involve two satellites that will perform a series of maneuvering and inspection activities after launch, which is currently targeted for mid-2027.…
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Blue Origin to Expand Florida Rocket Campus With $600 Million Investment
Blue Origin will invest $600 million to expand its Rocket Park campus at Cape Canaveral Spaceport, a project expected to create 500 aerospace jobs on Florida’s Space Coast, according to an announcement by Ron DeSantis. The expansion includes plans for an approximately 830,000-square-foot upper-stage manufacturing facility intended to increase the company’s rocket production and orbital…
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Cyprus Becomes First Country To Use EU GOVSATCOM Secure Satellite Communications Service
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) announced that Cyprus has become the first country to operationally use the European Union’s GOVSATCOM system. The announcement, made on March 10, said the service was deployed for safety and security operations along the EU’s south-eastern borders, marking the first operational use of the platform since…