Payload

We’ve officially closed out the first half of 2026—and investments in the space industry are blasting off. More than $6.6B has been invested in the space industry in the first half of the year, according to data compiled by our friends at Payload Pro. Look back: If rounds that used to raise eyebrows now seem commonplace, it’s not your imagination. The largest round raised in 2025 was Stoke Space’s $510M Series D.

Latitude announced an agreement with Oman’s Etlaq Spaceport this week, giving the French launcher clearance to stage the debut launch of its rocket from Omani shores in late 2027. While the international partnership stands out in an era of increasing focus on European launch sovereignty, it’s just the latest in a growing number of partnerships between space organizations in Europe and the Middle East.

True Anomaly has found, approached, and imaged a Rocket Lab spacecraft, marking the successful end of the first VICTUS HAZE mission. The company announced that its Jackal spacecraft—dubbed Panther for the exercise—has so far nailed its orders from SSC, demonstrating what’s possible when it comes to tactically responsive space operations.

Austria is pressing its bet on space. The Austrian Ministry of Defence has selected local startup R-Space to act as the prime contractor for the country’s second military satellite, which is expected to launch in 2027, according to R-Space CEO Carsten Scharlemann.

Exclusive Insights for the Space Industry Unlock premium insights, market analysis, and research to stay ahead in the fast-evolving space sector. Start your subscription for access to Payload Pro's exclusive content! Weekly research articles Quarterly long-form deep dives on critical industry trends State of the industry polls - Exclusive insights from top industry leaders Market trends call - A quarterly analysis of key developments in the space sector ...and more.

Exclusive Insights for the Space Industry Unlock premium insights, market analysis, and research to stay ahead in the fast-evolving space sector. Start your subscription for access to Payload Pro's exclusive content! Weekly research articles Quarterly long-form deep dives on critical industry trends State of the industry polls - Exclusive insights from top industry leaders Market trends call - A quarterly analysis of key developments in the space sector ...and more.

NASA has set out an aggressive plan to build a Moon base, equipped with power, comms, mobility—you name it. But not much attention has been paid to where all of that stuff is going to live. Enter: Lunar Forge. Lunar Forge is a startup working on technology to turn lunar regolith into construction material for housing, and shielding critical technologies on the Moon—specifically, lunar fission reactors. The company emerged from stealth recently, and shared its detailed plans exclusively with Payload.

Blue Origin appears to be recovering well from its New Glenn explosion last month—all thanks to some clever engineering. Blue maintains it will fly again this year. CEO Dave Limp said yesterday that the company will ramp up flights quickly with a new pad design. The company plans to join rocket stages in a facility, ferry an already integrated New Glenn to the launch pad, crane the rocket there to a vertical position, and then mate payloads.

Get in, landers, we’re going to the Moon. Background: NASA established the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program in 2018, in response to the call in Space Policy Directive-1 to return people to the Moon. Under the program, NASA awards contracts for commercial lander companies to bring space agency payloads to the lunar surface. The companies can then sell extra space on each of these NASA-subsidized missions to commercial payloads looking for a ride to the Moon.

Firefly Aerospace ($FLY) announced today that it aims to launch its Alpha rocket from SSC Space’s Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden as early as 2028. The announcement is the result of years of back-and-forth between the US and Sweden: In 2024, SSC Space and Firefly signed an agreement to launch Alpha from Esrange, then targeting a first flight in 2026.