European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
MaiaSpace has abandoned plans for a suborbital test flight and will instead pursue an inaugural orbital launch attempt in the second half of 2027. The change indicates a shift in how the company plans to validate its launch pathway ahead of its first orbital mission.
Commercial Space
Latest source-backed stories
LatConnect 60 (LC60) says it is executing a multi-geography industrial strategy to accelerate its SWIRSAT constellation. The company plans to anchor core technology development and payload manufacturing in Western Australia while expanding spacecraft production capacity in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
High activity
MaiaSpace has abandoned plans for a suborbital test flight and will instead pursue an inaugural orbital launch attempt in the second half of 2027. The change indicates a shift in how the company plans to validate its launch pathway ahead of its first orbital mission.
Satellite operators are preparing for changes as SpaceX moves to phase out Falcon rocket configurations used for commercial payload rides. The shift raises near-term questions for manifesting, launch availability, and how operators continue relying on SpaceX’s “workhorse” vehicle for routine access to orbit.
Outlier Space has raised $7.35M to develop a microgravity research system paired with a return vehicle for reentry, intended to fly its debut mission in 2028. The funding underwrites development toward a New Zealand-first capability linking microgravity experimentation with controlled return.
Japanese lunar lander developer ispace selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H3 rocket to launch its next mission in 2028, positioning the company to help establish Japan’s first private lunar transportation system.
A new analysis argues that commercial Earth observation is moving from early launches toward a clearer market structure. It outlines where scale is likely to come from, what performance and demand signals to monitor, and which participants are positioned to shape the market’s next phase.
A Beijing-based startup has secured about $14 million in funding to develop a satellite constellation focused on tracking orbital objects. The investment signals continued growth in China’s space situational awareness (SSA) sector as commercial providers expand SSA capabilities.
Create a free account to see more recent Commercial Space stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
