Commercial Space News

Space.com

High activity

SpaceX returns first recovered Starship upper stage to Starbase for reusability studies

Ship 40 has returned to Starbase after surviving splashdown and a difficult recovery at sea. Engineers will study the first recovered Starship upper stage for evidence that could inform future vehicle reusability.

Reuters

High activity

SpaceX investor sees $50 trillion valuation in a decade as space startups raise record $20.8 billion

Investor Ron Baron says SpaceX could reach a $50 trillion valuation within 10 years, with Starlink alone potentially valued at $14 trillion to $15 trillion and generating $1 trillion in annual revenue. Separately, space startups attracted a record $20.8 billion in third-quarter funding, with capital flowing to launch providers, manufacturing and other infrastructure, according to Seraphim.

Reuters

Space startups secure record $20.8 billion funding as infrastructure bets surge, report shows

SpaceWatch Global

High activity

CSG takes 9.5% stake in MDA Space, expanding its space-industry presence

CSG has acquired a 9.5% stake in MDA Space, marking an expansion of its position in the space industry. The available report does not specify the transaction’s value, timing or strategic terms, leaving the scale of CSG’s intended involvement beyond its equity holding unclear.

Bloomberg

Sierra Space CFO Departs Company Amid Drive Toward IPO

Bloomberg

Sierra Space CFO departs after six months, raising questions about IPO timing

Sierra Space’s chief financial officer has left the spacecraft maker after about six months in the role, the company said. The departure comes as Sierra Space pursues a long-awaited initial public offering, adding uncertainty around the timing of its planned move to public markets.

Space.com

Varda has two spacecraft in orbit and plans eight more missions over the next year

Varda Space Industries is currently operating two spacecraft in Earth orbit and plans eight additional missions in the coming year, signaling a rapid expansion of its in-space manufacturing and reentry cadence. The plans put execution, spacecraft availability and recovery operations at the center of the company’s next phase.

Bloomberg

High activity

SpaceX seeks approval to conduct 456 Starship launches and landings a year from Starbase

SpaceX is proposing to scale up Starship operations at its Starbase facility in South Texas to 456 launches and landings annually. The plan is under U.S. government review, including a request for FAA approval, and would mark a major increase in the site’s planned flight activity.