Weekly Recap #47 + Space Capital Interview

This week we had the privelege of interviewing Justus Kilian, Partner at Space Capital, hear an excerpt in the podcast, and subscribe to be notified when the full video drops later this week! Main Topics Launch * Kepler selected Rocket Lab’s Neutron for their first dedicated launch. [source] * Rocket Lab established a German presence with Rocket Lab Germany. [source] * Rocket Lab unveiled the GHOST Deployable Launch System. [source] * Astra announced plans to raise $250M. [source] * Gitai announced their expansion into solid rocket motors from space robotics. [source] * Chinese iSpace announced the kickoff of their Series E Raise. [source] Comms * Aalyria and ALL.SPACE announced their partnership to bring Hydra MAX terminals into operational deployment for USG hybrid architectures. [source] * Astrolight and ATMOS announced partnership to demonstrate laser link capability from a satellite to a return capsule. [source] * Firefly’s SciTec awarded a $94M USSF contract for ground radar digitization. [source] * Cesium Astro acquired Jariet Technologies for mmWave RF System-on-a-Chip semiconductors. [source] * Intuitive Machines won a $600M contract for 3 GEO satellites. [source] Defense * Impulse selected for Victus SALO Phase III using their Mira spacecraft for rapid orbital responsivity. [source] * Astranis unveiled their Perceptor GEO platform for space domain awareness. [source] * The DIU and SDA have awarded initial Deorbit-as-a-Service contracts to Katalyst, D-Orbit Space, and Firefly. [source] * USSF awarded 5 companies $60M for multi-vendor satellite data network tests: Amazon LEO, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, and York Space Systems. [source] * Space Kinetic won a $50M OTA from the USSF for space maneuverability and architecture technology. [source] Business Moves * Gravitalab entered liquidation. [source] * Blackstar Orbital announced their intent to SPAC at $380M. [source] * Open Cosmos Atlantic won an ESA ERS-EO contract potentially worth €25M. [source] * Galaxeye acquired StarOps for spacecraft engineering skillset. [source] Tech Advances * Matsing detailed a new manufacturing technology to improve satellite antenna performance. [source] Get full access to Space Times at spacetimespod.substack.com/subscribe