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Payload • Victoria Woodburn

Dawn Aerospace raises $25M Series B to accelerate Aurora spaceplane and pursue in-space refueling demo

Dawn Aerospace has closed a US$25 million (NZ$43m) Series B, lifting its valuation to about US$195 million (NZ$335m). The funding is earmarked to accelerate development of its Aurora spaceplane and to conduct an in-space refueling demonstration.

2026-06-16T15:32:40.480468-07:00

Ars Technica

Arianespace targets record Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch for Amazon Leo on June 17, pushing Ariane 64 to its biggest payload and hi

2026-06-16T14:18:44.502212-07:00

European Spaceflight

Arianespace says Guiana Space Centre strike ends June 16; Ariane 6 launch remains on track

2026-06-16T11:36:20.122431-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Lab to join Nasdaq-100, after 80+ successful launches

2026-06-16T02:43:19.276997-07:00

News Timeline

Payload

Dawn Aerospace raises $25M Series B to accelerate Aurora spaceplane and pursue in-space refueling demo Dawn Aerospace has closed a US$25 million (NZ$43m) Series B, lifting its valuation to about US$195 million (NZ$335m). The funding is earmarked to accelerate development of its Aurora spaceplane and to conduct an in-space refueling demonstration.

2026-06-16T15:32:40.480468-07:00

Dawn Aerospace raises $25M Series B to accelerate Aurora spaceplane and pursue in-space refueling demo

Ars Technica

Arianespace targets record Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch for Amazon Leo on June 17, pushing Ariane 64 to its biggest payload and hi Arianespace is preparing an Ariane 6 “heavy” mission for Amazon Leo on Wednesday, June 17, using an Ariane 64 configuration. The flight is expected to set records by lifting the heaviest payload on an Ariane rocket while deploying Amazon Leo’s most satellites on a single mission, with details including upgraded solid boosters.

2026-06-16T14:18:44.502212-07:00

Arianespace targets record Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch for Amazon Leo on June 17, pushing Ariane 64 to its biggest payload and hi

European Spaceflight

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Arianespace says Guiana Space Centre strike ends June 16; Ariane 6 launch remains on track A strike that blockaded entrances to the Guiana Space Centre ended on 16 June. Arianespace’s CEO said the disruption will not affect Ariane 6 operations, asserting the rocket remains on track for its planned launch.

2026-06-16T11:36:20.122431-07:00

Arianespace says Guiana Space Centre strike ends June 16; Ariane 6 launch remains on track

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Lab to join Nasdaq-100, after 80+ successful launches Rocket Lab says it will be included in the Nasdaq-100 Index, moving into the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the market. The company links the move to operational momentum highlighted by more than 80 successful rocket launches.

2026-06-16T02:43:19.276997-07:00

Rocket Lab to join Nasdaq-100, after 80+ successful launches

newsable.asianetnews.com

SpaceX to launch AST SpaceMobile’s 3 BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites on a Falcon 9 liftoff from Cape Canaveral June 17 SpaceX is set to launch three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites early on June 17 from Cape Canaveral on a Falcon 9. AST SpaceMobile said the spacecraft are secured onboard ahead of liftoff, as company stock reacts going into the mission.

2026-06-15T20:23:34.061844-07:00

SpaceX to launch AST SpaceMobile’s 3 BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites on a Falcon 9 liftoff from Cape Canaveral June 17

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force awards Lockheed Martin $514M to build GPS IIIF SV23-24, adding to a 14-satellite commitment The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $514 million contract to build Global Positioning System (GPS) IIIF Space Vehicles 23 and 24. The order increases Lockheed’s total GPS IIIF commitment to 14 spacecraft and is tied to IIIF modernization features including enhanced anti-jam protection and M-Code security.

2026-06-15T13:39:54.360465-07:00

Space Force awards Lockheed Martin $514M to build GPS IIIF SV23-24, adding to a 14-satellite commitment

Space.com

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg as first post-Nasdaq-debut rocket SpaceX lifted 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 15, marking the company’s first Falcon 9 launch after its Nasdaq debut. The mission deploys 29 V2 Mini satellites within the Starlink 17-54 batch as SpaceX and Starlink scale deployment cadence.

2026-06-15T12:41:33.964041-07:00

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg as first post-Nasdaq-debut rocket

European Spaceflight

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T-Minus Barracuda sound rocket anomaly halts second launch attempt from Spaceport Nova Scotia A T-Minus Barracuda sound rocket experienced an anomaly after launch from Spaceport Nova Scotia, leading teams to abandon a second planned flight. The outcome underscores ongoing reliability challenges for suborbital launch operations and range/mission planning in Canada.

2026-06-15T07:16:19.592545-07:00

T-Minus Barracuda sound rocket anomaly halts second launch attempt from Spaceport Nova Scotia

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Dawn Aerospace raises $25M Series B to accelerate Aurora spaceplane and pursue in-space refueling demo

Arianespace targets record Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch for Amazon Leo on June 17, pushing Ariane 64 to its biggest payload and hi

Arianespace says Guiana Space Centre strike ends June 16; Ariane 6 launch remains on track

Rocket Lab to join Nasdaq-100, after 80+ successful launches

News Timeline