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• Jason Rainbow
NorthStar Earth and Space plans to expand its in-orbit space-domain awareness network despite heavy investor withdrawals tied to the blank-check company merger that took it public last week. CEO Stewart Bain said the expansion remains on track; the articles provide no revised timeline or funding details.
Space Debris & Traffic Management
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NorthStar Earth and Space plans to expand its in-orbit space-domain awareness network despite heavy investor withdrawals tied to the blank-check company merger that took it public last week. CEO Stewart Bain said the expansion remains on track; the articles provide no revised timeline or funding details.
The Space Development Agency is funding companies developing spacecraft that can approach, capture and move satellites out of orbit. The effort will test whether commercial providers can deliver an on-orbit servicing capability that the Pentagon may need routinely, while helping establish whether satellite removal can support a sustainable business.
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SpaceX stock has climbed to its highest close since June, recovering from its post-IPO slump as investors cite the company’s AI business and Starship progress. The rally followed a bullish Morgan Stanley call; separately, the FAA changed its safety policy to permit more aircraft in airspace with elevated risk from falling debris.
Amazon wants more than 5,000 satellites in orbit, while Blue Origin has proposed another 5,400. Chinese companies have filed plans for vastly larger numbers, and Elon Musk has discussed a constellation of 1 million, intensifying competition for the resources needed to deploy megaconstellations.
The space-based space situational awareness data provider’s shares opened below its $10 pre-IPO valuation and fell 25% on Oct. 2, closing at $4.45. The listing raised $25 million as NorthStar plans a satellite constellation for 2028.
As spacecraft maneuver near one another, operators must assess not only trajectory and collision risk but also whether the other vehicle could be a weapon. The presence of undisclosed U.S. space systems is complicating attribution and increasing the potential for miscalculation during close approaches.
London-based Foundational has raised £8.2 million ($10.8 million; €9.6 million) in pre-seed funding, which it describes as Europe’s largest space-tech pre-seed round. The startup is developing satellite-mounted retroreflectors, automated ground stations and software to improve positioning data for satellites and orbital-debris tracking.
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