News

CNBC • Lora Kolodny

SpaceX folds xAI into orbit-focused AI unit as founders depart

SpaceX has absorbed Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI — including the Grok chatbot and social platform X — folding the AI team into SpaceX with plans to build space-based data centres. The move prompted departures of several founders and researchers and has raised questions about SpaceX’s IPO plans.

2026-02-11T13:35:23.273851-08:00

Ars Technica

Rocket Lab intentionally destroys engines in 'very nasty' development tests

2026-02-11T14:14:18.612730-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

Via Satellite

Gilat Reports 48% Revenue Growth in 2025 Driven by In‑Flight Connectivity and Stellar Blu Acquisition

2026-02-11T12:35:32.197904-08:00

News Timeline

ch-aviation

Parent of South Korea’s Parata Seeks Funding to Cover Rocket Launch Costs The parent company of South Korea’s Parata has launched a fundraising drive to cover costs associated with an upcoming rocket launch, saying launch-related expenses require new capital. Management has identified launch costs as the immediate reason for seeking external financing ahead of liftoff.

2026-02-11T17:55:46.279334-08:00

Parent of South Korea’s Parata Seeks Funding to Cover Rocket Launch Costs

Ars Technica

❗️

Rocket Lab intentionally destroys engines in 'very nasty' development tests Rocket Lab says it is intentionally destroying engines during ground testing as part of development, conducting 'very nasty' stress tests to expose failure modes and harden designs. The CEO described the destructive regime as a deliberate step to validate hardware before flight qualification.

2026-02-11T14:14:18.612730-08:00

Rocket Lab intentionally destroys engines in 'very nasty' development tests

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding Several commercial space firms have thrown their weight behind the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative, positioning for prototypes and long‑term contracts even as the program's technical scope and funding profile remain unresolved. Companies are making investments and staffing bets ahead of clarified government requirements.

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

CNBC

❗️

SpaceX folds xAI into orbit-focused AI unit as founders depart SpaceX has absorbed Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI — including the Grok chatbot and social platform X — folding the AI team into SpaceX with plans to build space-based data centres. The move prompted departures of several founders and researchers and has raised questions about SpaceX’s IPO plans.

2026-02-11T13:35:23.273851-08:00

SpaceX folds xAI into orbit-focused AI unit as founders depart

Via Satellite

Gilat Reports 48% Revenue Growth in 2025 Driven by In‑Flight Connectivity and Stellar Blu Acquisition Gilat Satellite Networks reported 48% revenue growth in 2025, driven by demand for its in‑flight connectivity technology and the year's acquisition of Stellar Blu. The performance reflects accelerating airline and business‑aviation adoption of onboard satcom hardware and services across commercial and business fleets.

2026-02-11T12:35:32.197904-08:00

Gilat Reports 48% Revenue Growth in 2025 Driven by In‑Flight Connectivity and Stellar Blu Acquisition

SpaceNews.com

Sovereign EO demand spreads across the Earth‑observation stack Demand for sovereign capability is extending beyond national satellite fleets into the full Earth‑observation stack — sensors, hosted payloads, ground segments, data processing and tasking. Governments' push for national control and sustainment is reshaping procurement priorities and commercial productisation across the EO market.

2026-02-11T12:27:21.840166-08:00

Sovereign EO demand spreads across the Earth‑observation stack

Via Satellite

Comtech Satellite & Space president reports positive market reception for the Digital Common Ground modem In a Thursday Morning Conversation, Daniel Gizinski, president of Comtech’s Satellite & Space segment, discusses market reception for the Digital Common Ground modem, outlining customer interest, deployment prospects and the product’s role in evolving ground‑segment strategies for higher‑throughput satellite communications.

2026-02-11T09:19:08.759552-08:00

Comtech Satellite & Space president reports positive market reception for the Digital Common Ground modem

SpaceNews.com

Vertical integration by SpaceX and peers squeezes the smallsat market SpaceX and other vertically integrated space firms are moving beyond launch into satellite manufacturing, services and direct connectivity, compressing margins and addressable markets for independent smallsat builders and operators. The shift raises doubts about whether smaller companies can scale commercially without consolidation or exit.

2026-02-11T08:54:10.342644-08:00

Vertical integration by SpaceX and peers squeezes the smallsat market

Menu

Commercial Space News

SpaceX folds xAI into orbit-focused AI unit as founders depart

Rocket Lab intentionally destroys engines in 'very nasty' development tests

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

Gilat Reports 48% Revenue Growth in 2025 Driven by In‑Flight Connectivity and Stellar Blu Acquisition

News Timeline