Axios
• Thomas Novelly
Astranis has secured a $468 million loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to expand satellite production, according to an exclusive report. EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic framed the financing as part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S. leadership in space.
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Blackswan Space has raised €2.5 million in seed funding as it prepares to launch its first in-orbit mission for the RPO Kit payload. The demonstration will advance the company’s rendezvous and proximity operations technology in space.
Sophia Space and Redwire have agreed to collaborate on the development and deployment of scalable, space-based computing infrastructure. The partnership targets orbital data centers, signaling continued commercial interest in moving data processing and related infrastructure into space.
High activity
Astranis has secured a $468 million loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to expand satellite production, according to an exclusive report. EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic framed the financing as part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S. leadership in space.
Mission-K’s second day in Kalkar focused on the growing relevance of real threats in orbit, Stark Defence’s call for tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from space, and three defense challenges shaped by lessons from the war in Ukraine.
Lithuania’s Blackswan Space has raised approximately $2.9 million in seed funding to develop a rendezvous and proximity operations payload. Orbit Fab plans to use the technology in what it describes as Europe’s first in-space satellite refueling demonstration, targeted for 2028.
Novaspace’s Satellite Communications for Defense and Security, 2nd Edition forecasts rapid growth in the defense satellite communications market, with commercial defense Satcom service revenues projected to exceed $22.6 billion by 2035. The outlook underscores expanding demand for commercially provided connectivity supporting defense and security missions.
A NASA workshop with satellite manufacturers and operators found that commercial practices for passivating spacecraft batteries—intended to prevent explosions after mission end—often fall short of NASA recommendations. The findings raise concerns as commercial satellite buses become increasingly common across government and civil space programs.
Terran Orbital, the Lockheed Martin company focused on satellite-based solutions for the aerospace and defense sectors, has appointed Jamin Brown as chief operating officer. The move adds a new senior executive to oversee operations at the satellite manufacturer and solutions provider.
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