Payload
• Douglas Gorman
Spain’s PLD Space and Germany’s HyImpulse have secured significant extension funding rounds to advance development of their respective orbital launch vehicles, underscoring continued investor backing for Europe’s emerging commercial launch sector as both companies work toward bringing new rocket systems to market.
European Spaceflight
Commercial Space
Latest source-backed stories
Spain’s PLD Space and Germany’s HyImpulse have secured significant extension funding rounds to advance development of their respective orbital launch vehicles, underscoring continued investor backing for Europe’s emerging commercial launch sector as both companies work toward bringing new rocket systems to market.
German business-jet MRO provider FAI Technik has been appointed an authorized dealer and installer of SpaceX’s Starlink connectivity service, adding the company to Starlink’s commercial aviation distribution and installation network for business aircraft customers.
Rocket readiness issues have delayed the first privately funded mission to Venus. The mission’s team remains hopeful about the flight and its broader role in demonstrating how private enterprise can contribute to space exploration.
French startup ArcSpace plans to demonstrate its welding technology aboard a host spacecraft in 2027, marking a step toward in-orbit manufacturing capabilities. The test will assess the company’s ability to perform welding operations in space, an enabling technology for future spacecraft assembly, repair and infrastructure development.
Rocket Lab launched the 11th satellite for Japanese radar-imaging company Synspective, reinforcing the customer’s role as one of Electron’s largest users. The mission adds to Synspective’s Earth-observation constellation and highlights recurring demand for dedicated small-satellite launch services.
High activity
Boeing has delivered O3b mPOWER satellites F11, F12 and F13 to SES, completing the initial 13-satellite medium Earth orbit constellation. The spacecraft are scheduled to launch later this month on a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission, expanding SES’ high-speed connectivity capacity and supporting technology relevant to military SATCOM.
French and German associations representing NewSpace companies are asking the European Commission to provide a clear assessment of European government launch demand in the coming years. The groups say greater visibility is needed to stimulate both government support and private investment in European launchers.
Sierra Space says it has secured national security and commercial customers for the first orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spaceplane. The long-delayed vehicle is now targeting a debut mission later this year, marking a planned entry into the orbital transportation market.
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