Tag: startup
-
Mission Drishti Launches Indian Earth Observation Startup to Orbit
What capabilities does Mission Drishti bring to India’s commercial space sector? Mission Drishti, an Indian Earth observation startup, successfully deployed its first satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on May 3, 2026, marking another milestone in India’s expanding commercial space ecosystem. The launch represents a strategic move by the startup to establish operations in…
-
SkyFi Raises $12.7 Million to Expand Satellite Imagery and Analytics Platform
Austin-based startup SkyFi has raised $12.7 million in a Series A funding round as demand grows for faster access to satellite imagery combined with analytical insights, the company said. SkyFi operates a digital marketplace that aggregates imagery from more than 50 geospatial data providers, offering customers near real-time satellite images alongside tools that allow users…
-
ESA and ClearSpace Launch Prelude In-Orbit Proximity Operations Demonstration
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland-based startup ClearSpace have begun the Prelude technology demonstration mission, a step aimed at validating close-proximity spacecraft maneuvers needed for future satellite inspection, life-extension and debris-removal operations. Planned for launch next year, Prelude will test navigation and control technologies that allow two small spacecraft to maneuver together at close…
-
China’s Landspace Secures Launch Contracts for Guowang and Qianfan Megaconstellations
Chinese commercial launch startup Landspace has secured formal contracts to launch satellites for China’s two main low Earth orbit megaconstellation projects, a move expected to help ease launch capacity constraints as deployment accelerates. Chinese media reported on Jan. 7 that Landspace had won launch service contracts for the Guowang constellation, led by state-owned China Satellite…
-
MaiaSpace Says 2026 Maiden Flight Will Test ‘Minimum Viable’ Rocket Configuration
French launch startup MaiaSpace said an initial flight of its Maia rocket planned for 2026 will focus on validating core flight phases using what the company described as a “minimum viable product,” as it works toward commercial launch services from 2027. MaiaSpace, founded in 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup, is developing a…
-
Enabled Intelligence Secures Up to $708 Million NGA Contract for AI Data Labeling
Artificial intelligence startup Enabled Intelligence has secured an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) valued at up to $708.3 million, aimed at supporting large-scale data labeling operations across government agencies. The seven-year contract, known as SEQUOIA, was awarded in September but announced later following the resumption of federal…
-
UK Startup B2Space Completes Key Rockoon Launch Test in Canary Islands
Welsh launch startup B2Space has completed a major test of its rockoon launch system, which uses a high-altitude balloon to lift a small rocket before ignition. The Newport-based company, founded in 2016, is developing the system to provide low-cost orbital access for small satellites. In an update on 17 November, B2Space said it carried out…
-
HyPrSpace Secures €21 Million to Advance Baguette One Suborbital Launcher
French launch startup HyPrSpace has raised €21 million in a Series A round to accelerate development of its Baguette One suborbital rocket, which is targeting a first flight in late 2026. The financing increases the company’s total backing to more than €57 million, including earlier funding under the France 2030 initiative. The latest round was…
-
SBQuantum Wins ESA Contract to Develop Enhanced Quantum Magnetometer for Earth Observation
SBQuantum has secured a new contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to deliver a next-generation prototype of its quantum diamond magnetometer for Earth observation missions, the Canadian company said. The agreement, valued at nearly $1 million, is funded through ESA’s FutureEO programme and follows an earlier contract in which SBQuantum produced a custom magnetometer…
-
Varda Gears Up for Fifth Reentry Mission, Managing Two Spacecraft in Orbit for the First Time
Varda Space Industries is preparing for its fifth reentry mission, marking the first time the company will operate two spacecraft simultaneously in orbit. The mission is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15 rideshare, joining the firm’s existing W-4 spacecraft already circling Earth. The California-based startup is ramping up operations to increase its launch cadence, with…