Payload

Hot on the heels of another productive test flight, two new lunar customers have been added to the flight manifest for SpaceX’s Starship. https://lnkd.in/e6QrFcuc

Inversion, a California startup trying to crack space-based delivery with an autonomous reentry vehicle called Arc, announced a $44M Series A yesterday. https://lnkd.in/eg8Ezeq9

The Netherlands is preparing to boost both its domestic space industry and its national security capabilities in orbit with the launch of its first military EO sat, to be built by a consortium of Dutch companies. https://lnkd.in/edabAUrg

SpaceX launched Starship on its sixth flight test yesterday but called off its Super Heavy booster catch attempt back at the pad, instead diverting the 233-ft-tall vehicle to a controlled water splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. https://lnkd.in/eM27ENKp

The Exploration Company got a little more free ranging yesterday, announcing a $160M Series B that puts the European firm on track to send a cargo space capsule to the ISS by 2028. https://lnkd.in/eScgDrUt

SEOPS, a provider of responsive launch and payload integration services, signed a partnership with Axient Systems to provide launch services to European customers, the companies announced today. https://lnkd.in/e-6MtRAV

Peter Beck and I had a conversation about the future of Rocket Lab on the latest Payload Pathfinder podcast recorded live from their Rutherford propulsion test complex. We discuss: Rocket Lab’s journey from its early days to becoming the world’s third most frequent launch provider, the development of Neutron and its significance in addressing medium-class launch demand, Peter’s philosophy on efficient engineering and capital allocation, insights into launch market dynamics, and much, much more. Listen here: Apple: https://lnkd.in/e7zsUBDi YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e2zTZKkz Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eT_fWvRC

Officials from Texas A&M University and NASA gathered next to the Johnson Space Center on Friday to break ground on a new $200M Space Institute. The 32-acre facility will be located in the Johnson Space Center’s Exploration Park, a 240-acre development of underutilized federal land adjacent to JSC. https://lnkd.in/ezHi-vif

Exolaunch is heading to Space Tech Expo Europe!??? The leading global satellite integrator and launch services provider will be part of the premier event for space professionals this week in Bremen! Check them out at?Booth L21?to discover cutting-edge solutions and engage with experts. Explore Exolaunch's latest tech advancements in satellite deployment, including the CarboNIX shock-free separation ring, EXOpod Nova cubesat deployer, and the Quadro four-point system (learn more in our latest co-branded article?here: https://lnkd.in/eihCmsRX). Whether you're looking to ignite new partnerships or stay ahead of the curve, this is the place to be.? Book a meeting:?[email protected]

The FCC updated its rules for how non-geostationary satellite constellations share spectrum in an attempt to provide more clarity to companies and allow new players to enter the market. https://lnkd.in/eGVjP2Xu