Tag: Space Technology
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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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Telefónica Germany and OQ Technology Test Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity
Telefónica Germany has partnered with Luxembourg-based satellite operator OQ Technology to test direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, marking a step toward integrating satellite connectivity with conventional mobile networks. The companies are conducting trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, using Telefónica Deutschland’s frequency spectrum to evaluate two-way text messaging and voice communication directly between satellites and standard mobile…
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Reflex Aerospace Selects Arkadia Space Propulsion System for 2027 Satellite Mission
German satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace has selected Spanish startup Arkadia Space to provide the propulsion system for a commercial satellite mission scheduled to launch in 2027, marking the first time Reflex will deploy a chemical-propulsion system on one of its spacecraft. Under the agreement, Reflex’s 200-kilogram satellite will use Arkadia Space’s Triton 5N monopropellant engine…
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AstroForge Completes DeepSpace-2 Spacecraft Ahead of Asteroid Rendezvous Mission
Asteroid mining startup AstroForge has completed assembly of the major flight hardware for its DeepSpace-2 spacecraft, positioning the mission for launch later this year as the company pursues its goal of demonstrating asteroid rendezvous capabilities in deep space. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket alongside Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 lunar…
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Apex Space Raises $200 Million at $2.3 Billion Valuation to Expand Satellite Manufacturing
Satellite manufacturer Apex Space has secured $200 million in new funding at a valuation of $2.3 billion, as the company accelerates plans to expand production capacity and strengthen its position in the growing space infrastructure market. The funding round was led by Glade Brook Capital Partners, with participation from Washington Harbour Partners and a mix…
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Planet Labs Secures Expanded NGA Contract for AI-Enabled Maritime Intelligence Services
Planet Labs has received a $22 million contract option from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to continue providing artificial intelligence-enabled geospatial analytics for military and government users. The award expands work that began under a $13 million contract issued last year through the NGA’s Luno B program, which uses unclassified commercial imagery and analytics…
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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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Austrian Startup Tumbleweed Ships First Commercial Satellite Ahead of July Launch
Vienna-based startup Tumbleweed has shipped its first satellite, Oasis Alpha, to launch services provider Exolaunch ahead of a planned launch in July, marking what the company says is Austria’s first fully commercial satellite mission. The milestone comes less than a year after Tumbleweed was founded in 2024, highlighting the company’s goal of simplifying access to…
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SpaceX Launches Starship V3 in Major Test Flight Ahead of Planned IPO
SpaceX has launched its new Starship V3 rocket in a high-profile test flight from Texas after an earlier launch attempt was postponed because of a launch-tower malfunction. The uncrewed rocket lifted off shortly after 17:30 local time on Friday, marking the first flight of the latest Starship configuration, which stands approximately 124 meters tall. According…
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Astrolab to Send Scientific Payloads to Lunar South Pole on FLIP Rover Mission
Astrolab is preparing to send a series of scientific payloads to the Moon later this year aboard its FLIP rover mission aimed at supporting future lunar exploration near the Moon’s south pole. The company said its FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform rover, known as FLIP, will carry multiple research instruments designed to study lunar surface conditions,…