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- This Week In Space Industry(27/1/2024)
This Week In Space Industry(27/1/2024)
[5-min read] Mars rover confirms ancient lake & Orbit Fab and ClearSpace Forge Partnership
Greetings Detectives
Welcome to Rocket Roundup, Your favorite space newsletter! This week's in-depth exploration takes us into the dynamic realm of space startups. Our spotlight feature is on Orbit Fab: Fueling the Future of Space Economy, Read it here.
Let's embark on this cosmic journey together! In This Issue:
Orbit Fab and ClearSpace Forge Partnership
Japan praises 'pinpoint' moon landing by its SLIM probe
Mars rover data confirms ancient lake sediments on red planet
(Top Stories of this week)
Orbit Fab and ClearSpace Forge Partnership to Pioneer In-Space Refueling Services
Orbit Fab and ClearSpace have entered into a partnership to develop an in-space refueling service. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines plans to combine Orbit Fab's expertise in fuel transfer with ClearSpace's capabilities in vision systems, rendezvous, and proximity operations. This collaboration aims to establish a competitive, commercial marketplace for turn-key, in-orbit refueling services. Both companies have seen increasing demand for service vehicles and refueling solutions as government and commercial operators seek to optimize the return on investment for their missions and extend operational capabilities.(Read More)
Zeno Power Systems to Recycle Nuclear Waste for Spacecraft Electricity, Transforming Deep Space Missions
Zeno Power Systems has entered into a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to repurpose nuclear waste into electricity for spacecraft. The DOE recently transferred strontium-90, a radioactive material, to a commercial nuclear facility where Zeno Power will recycle it for its radioisotope power systems (RPS). Zeno Power's RPS systems convert heat from the decay of radioactive isotopes, such as strontium-90, into electricity. While NASA's deep space missions traditionally used plutonium-238, Zeno Power aims to leverage strontium-90, which is more readily available and suitable for commercial and civil missions in deep space, such as lunar exploration. (Read More)
(Fundings & Earnings news)
Latitude Secures $30M in Series B Funding
French small launch startup Latitude has secured $30 million in a Series B funding round. The company aims to launch its Zephyr rocket in 2025, offering a light, small, and cost-effective alternative to larger rockets. The Zephyr rocket, standing at 62 feet, can carry up to 100 kilograms of payload to low Earth orbit. The funding will be used to develop the next iteration of Zephyr, a slightly larger launcher capable of carrying 200 kilograms of payload by 2028. The investment comes from existing investors, including Crédit Mutuel Innovation, Expansion, Bpifrance, Blast.club, Kima Ventures, and individual investors. (Read More)
Albedo Raises $35M Series A-1 Round
Albedo, a company aiming to offer aerial-quality imagery from space by leveraging Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), has raised $35 million in a Series A-1 financing round led by Standard Investments. This brings Albedo's total funding to $97 million. The company plans to use the funding to launch its first operational satellite and accelerate the deployment of its satellite constellation, which will collect native 10-centimeter optical imagery and 2-meter thermal infrared imagery. The VLEO platform allows Albedo to provide ultra-high-resolution satellite imagery at a global scale with on-demand coverage at high frequency. (Read More)
Aldoria Raises €10M Series A Round
French space situational awareness (SSA) startup Aldoria has raised $10.9 million in a Series A funding round led by French venture fund Starquest Capital. The funding will be used to expand Aldoria's SSA network, which currently consists of six optical telescopes tracking objects in orbit, to 12 telescopes by 2025. Aldoria plans to enhance its data processing systems and invest in research and development for SSA. The company has received strong demand for its services from governments, including the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking network and the US government's Traffic Coordination System for Space. (Read More)
Expansion Ventures Raises New €100M Fund
European venture capital fund Expansion Ventures has raised €100 million, with a €60 million commitment from the European Investment Fund (EIF). Launched two years ago, Expansion Ventures supports European New Space and New Air Mobility companies from seed rounds up to Series A and B funding rounds. The fund has already invested around €30 million in 13 startups, including Latitude, HyPrSpace, Space Cargo Unlimited, The Exploration Company, and Zephalto. Expansion aims to achieve a final closing of €300 million by 2026 and plans to build a portfolio of around 40 companies. (Read More)
(Other news around the web)
Japan praises 'pinpoint' moon landing by its SLIM probe
Mars rover data confirms ancient lake sediments on red planet
Ingenuity Mars helicopter mission ends after 72 flights
US seeks dismissal of Ligado’s $40 billion roadblocked 5G spectrum claim
FCC reaffirms orbital debris mitigation rules
Virgin Galactic Completes 11th Successful Spaceflight
DISCLAIMER: (Rocket Roundup is an independent publication and is not affiliated with any government agency or space organization)