Space Impulse

SatVu, a UK-based thermal imaging company, has raised £20 million in funding to advance its HotSat satellite constellation. The investment includes a £10 million equity round led by Adara Ventures and Molten Ventures, alongside an insurance payout. This marks the inaugural investment from Adara’s newly launched Energy Fund, aimed at supporting technologies driving Europe’s energy transition.

The space economy is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by technological advancements, falling costs, and increased private-sector involvement. While the United States continues to lead in space exploration and commercialization, a growing number of nations are developing their own capabilities, challenging the long-standing dominance of a single superpower.

SpaceX’s Starlink, direct-to-cell satellite technology is moving closer to commercial rollout, following the Federal Communications Commission’s approval for broader operations. The company projects that it will offer text messaging via satellite this year, with voice, data, and internet-of-things capabilities by 2025. The FCC approval comes with conditions, requiring SpaceX to collaborate with other satellite operators and astronomical organizations to prevent interference with existing systems.

Open Cosmos and the European Space Agency (ESA) have finalized a €35 million contract for NanoMagSat, an innovative mission under ESA’s Scout framework. The first satellite is set to launch in late 2027, with the remaining satellites following soon after. Together, the constellation will operate for three years, offering enhanced spatial and temporal coverage. The constellation will orbit at 545 km, with two satellites at a 60° inclination and a third in a polar orbit.

Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space, and Technology Commission has partnered with Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency to advance research in space sustainability. This initiative, unveiled at the 2024 International Forum on Non-Terrestrial Networks, focuses on the sustainable management of orbital resources and the integration of advanced technologies for space data analysis.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has awarded Airbus a contract to deliver advanced modems for its Skynet satellite communications constellation. The new modems will replace the Paradigm Modem System currently supporting the Skynet 5 satellites and will also integrate with the upcoming Skynet 6A satellite. Set for deployment in 2026, the FPM-A modem will include an intuitive Network Management System to optimize spectrum use and ensure seamless monitoring and control.

Atomic-6 has been awarded $3.8 million through a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) to further develop its Space Armor™ shielding tiles, an advanced solution to protect space assets from orbital debris and kinetic energy threats. The $3.8 million TACFI award, supplemented by matching funds from external investors, enables Atomic-6 to transition Space Armor™ from a prototype to a scalable product line.

Slingshot Aerospace has been awarded a $13.3 million contract by NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce to develop the user interface for TraCSS, the United States’ next-generation space safety platform. The contract encompasses a 12-month development phase valued at $5.3 million, with provisions for four additional option years. Slingshot Aerospace will build the Presentation Layer on top of NOAA’s infrastructure, with support from partners COMSPOC and T and T Consulting Services.

By: Julia Seibert You might not see it, but space technology has taken over the world. From farming to communication to warfare, countless Earthly systems would collapse were the space ecosystem to go poof. But Earth isn’t big enough for this ambitious industry; driven by advancements in technology and a healthy dose of geopolitics, colonizing other worlds is once again a hot topic. If it succeeds, life would be forever changed. What is the Space Ecosystem?

Rocket Lab has secured a $23.9 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce to expand its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This funding, part of the CHIPS and Science Act, is aimed at bolstering U.S. leadership in semiconductor production, especially for applications critical to national security and the commercial space sector.