This Week In Space Industry(23/12/2023)

Greetings Detectives

Welcome to Rocket Roundup, Your favorite Saturday space newsletter! We're here to share exciting space news and discoveries with you.

2023 has been an amazing year dedicated to building Rocket Roundup and pushing towards mainstream recognition for the Space industry. Here are some key achievements:

• Successfully completed 16 weeks of consistently delivering this newsletter.

• Reached a milestone of 2,000+ newsletter subscribers.

• Proudly achieved all of this through bootstrapping.

Beginning in the New Year, our newsletter is shifting from weekly to biweekly. Get ready for in-depth dives into hot startups every Tuesday!

This marks the last edition of our weekly newsletter for the year. We'll resume on January 2nd with an exciting deep dive. Happy holidays!

In This Issue:

• Rocket Lab Wins $515M Contract

• Sidus Space announces 1-for-100 reverse stock split

• HawkEye 360 acquires Maxar’s RF Solutions

Space Force’s first six missile-defense satellites in medium orbit to cost about $500 million

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Millennium Space Systems contracts worth $509.5 million for the production and delivery of the first six Epoch 1 satellites for the medium Earth orbit (MEO) network. These satellites are part of the Space Force's constellation designed to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The Epoch 1 satellites are small spacecraft built on Millennium Space's Altair satellite bus.

The full contract also includes additional award options to support launch activities and up to five additional years of on-orbit operations, adding an additional $123.4 million if awarded. (Read more)

HawkEye 360 acquires Maxar’s RF Solutions business unit

HawkEye 360 has acquired Maxar Intelligence RF Solutions, a business unit that was formed after Maxar acquired Aurora Insight. The acquisition provides HawkEye 360 with two additional RF-monitoring satellites, expanding its constellation to 23 satellites. It also broadens the company's RF signal coverage from 26 to 40 GHz.

The acquisition allows HawkEye 360 to quickly scan gigahertz of bandwidth for efficiently mapping active frequencies at a regional level. The deal was completed on December 15, and the financial details were not disclosed. (Read more)

After raising $9.5 million, startup OurSky sees strong demand for space data platform

Following its recent $9.5 million seed funding round, space data startup OurSky is experiencing strong demand for its platform. The platform simplifies tracking objects in space by providing access to a global telescope network. OurSky has attracted hundreds of customers, including satellite operators, government agencies, insurance companies, and scientific and research organizations. The platform aims to reduce the cost of developing space-related products and services by making space data more accessible and easy to use.

OurSky's network includes 30 telescopes at 10 global sites, and it collaborates with amateur astronomers to leverage existing telescope infrastructure around the world. (Read more)

Sidus Space announces 1-for-100 reverse stock split

Sidus Space has announced a 1-for-100 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, effective December 19, 2023. The move is intended to bring the company into compliance with Nasdaq's $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement for continued listing.

Following the reverse stock split, every 100 shares of issued and outstanding common stock will be exchanged for 1 share of common stock, and any fractional shares will be rounded up to the next higher whole share. The company's common stock will continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol "SIDU." (Read more)

Galactic Energy Raises $154M Series C / C+ Round

Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy has raised $154 million in funding for its reusable Pallas-1 rocket. The funding will be used for research and development of reusable launch vehicle technology for the Pallas-1 medium-lift rocket and related infrastructure. Pallas-1 is a kerosene-liquid oxygen launcher with a planned capacity of 5,000 kg to low Earth orbit.

The company is targeting the third quarter of 2024 for the first Pallas-1 flight, with recovery of a first stage using landing legs slated for 2025. Galactic Energy is also planning a triple-core variant of the Pallas-1, capable of lifting 14,000 kg to LEO, with a planned launch in 2026. (Read more)

Rocket Lab Wins $515M Contract to Build 18 Satellites for US Government

Rocket Lab has been awarded a U.S. government contract worth up to $515 million to design, manufacture, deliver, and operate 18 space vehicles. The contract, disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), includes a base amount of $489 million and incentives and options totaling $26 million.

The U.S. government customer was not specified, but the contract involves satellite delivery by 2027 and includes operating the satellites through 2030, with an option to extend to 2023. This contract is a significant win for Rocket Lab's Space Systems segment, which has become a larger revenue driver than launching satellites. (Read More)

Japan’s Axelspace Raises $44 Million in Series D Round

Japanese satellite company Axelspace has raised $44 million in a Series D funding round led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Global Brain Corporation. The funds will be used to enhance Axelspace's Earth observation (EO) business by expanding its five-satellite constellation. Additionally, the company plans to offer comprehensive microsatellite development services to the public and private sectors and build an optical data relay satellite constellation.

Axelspace aims to become a provider of comprehensive microsatellite solutions. The funding round included investors such as Mitsui Fudosan, Yamato Holdings, and Epson X Investment Corporation. (Read more)

• Lynk Global to Go Public With A-Rod’s Slam SPAC

• Satellite navigation startup TrustPoint announces partnership with SpiderOak
  

• Axiom Space Partners with Kepler Space and Skyloom to Operationalize the World’s 1st Orbital Data Center

• UK Space Industry Boosted by Thales Contract Award

• Space Markets: The Year in Review

• Blue Origin Successfully Completes 24th Mission to Space

• Russia arrests head of space equipment maker on suspicion of major fraud

DISCLAIMER: (Rocket Roundup is an independent publication and is not affiliated with any government agency or space organization)