Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
Loft Orbital and UAE-based Marlan Space plan to develop a 50-satellite constellation combining optical and radar imaging with AI-enabled data products for Europe and the United Arab Emirates, backed by a $1 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group.
Commercial Space
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Loft Orbital and UAE-based Marlan Space plan to develop a 50-satellite constellation combining optical and radar imaging with AI-enabled data products for Europe and the United Arab Emirates, backed by a $1 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group.
Eutelsat has agreed to task Infinite Orbits with extending the operational life of at least one of its geostationary-orbit satellites. The announcement highlights the use of in-orbit servicing to support continued utility from existing satellite assets.
The Exploration Company raised $450 million in a Series C to develop reusable spacecraft, bringing its total funding to about $680 million. Separately, France’s Kepplair Evolution secured €6 million for an ATR 72-based firefighting aircraft, while Viraj Aero raised €4.5 million for steam-injection propulsion technology.
The FCC is expected to formalize its longstanding practice of excluding satellite constellations from environmental reviews as developers advance proposals for more than 1 million orbital data centers. The decision could establish a clearer regulatory baseline for large-scale commercial space infrastructure.
AT&T says it will become the first major U.S. telecom provider to integrate Amazon Leo satellite connectivity with fiber and 5G, offering businesses more resilient broadband. Amazon’s constellation is also slated to replace Viasat as Delta’s next-generation in-flight Wi-Fi provider, although a potential spectrum dispute could complicate the transition.
Hyperspectral imaging startup Pixxel has completed a $100 million funding round to support its expansion in the United States and develop additional sensing technologies. The raise accelerates the company’s growth plans as it builds a larger commercial position in satellite-based Earth observation.
German launch startup Isar Aerospace successfully carried payloads on the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, achieving Europe’s first successful commercial launch from the continent. The milestone marks a step forward for Europe’s independent launch capabilities and access to space from within the region.
The space industry welcomed a new Trump administration policy targeting 1,000 launches annually, but experts questioned whether current launch infrastructure can support that pace. Expanding capacity would require substantial investment, with unresolved questions over who would pay for the facilities and systems needed to reach the goal.
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