Commercial
Planet shares begin trading on New York Stock Exchange
Planet completed its merger with special purpose acquisition company dMY Technology Group IV and began trading shares on the New York Stock Exchange Dec. 8 under the ticker symbol PL.
Europe awards study contract for disruptive satellite constellation ideas
A consortium of more than 20 European space companies said Dec. 8 it won a six-month contract to study disruptive ideas for Europe’s planned satellite broadband constellation.
ST Engineering leads $30 million fundraising for satellite IoT startup
Israeli startup hiSky said Dec. 8 it raised $30 million to mass-produce compact terminals designed to connect internet of things (IoT) devices to satellites in multiple orbits.
Op-ed | Space and SPACs: A COVID Romance?
For SPAC investors, the heavy focus on a quick ROI – and overall risk aversion – may ultimately make SPACs and the space sector an imperfect fit.
GHGSat to launch three spacecraft on Falcon 9
GHGSat, a Canadian company planning a constellation of satellites to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, announced Dec. 8 it will launch its next three satellites on a Falcon 9 in mid-2022.
Soyuz launches Japanese private astronauts to ISS
A Soyuz spacecraft launched Dec. 8 carrying two Japanese private astronauts and a Roscosmos cosmonaut on the first flight in more than a decade for space tourism company Space Adventures.
Tomorrow.io to grow weather constellation through SPAC deal
Tomorrow.io said Dec. 7 it stands to raise up to $420 million for its planned network of weather satellites by merging with Pine Technology Acquisition Corp., the latest special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to invest in the space industry.
Valley Tech Systems wins $94 million missile defense contract
Valley Tech Systems, a firm recently acquired by Voyager Space, won a $94 million contract from Lockheed Martin to provide a solid propulsion subsystem for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Next Generation Interceptor.
Andesat taps Astranis for Peru’s first dedicated telecoms satellite
Cellular backhaul provider Andesat has ordered Peru’s first dedicated telecoms satellite in a deal with Astranis, which will build a teleport in the country ahead of the spacecraft’s expected 2023 launch.
Op-ed | U.S. must stop Russia before space turns into a wasteland
The growth generated from investments will be left unrealized if the government falls short in protecting the space domain.
Chinese private firm Galactic Energy puts five satellites in orbit with second launch
Rocket company Galactic Energy launched its second Ceres-1 rocket late Dec. 6, becoming the first Chinese private firm to reach orbit twice.
Rocket engine supplier Ursa Major raises $85 million in new funding round
Ursa Major, a Colorado-based manufacturer of liquid engines for small space launchers and hypersonic vehicles, announced Dec. 7 it has closed an $85 million Series C fundraising round.
The SpaceNews Awards 2021: Meet the nine winners
In such a remarkable year for commercial, civil and military space, picking winners wasn’t easy. In the end, SpaceNews editors, reporters and trusted advisers agreed on nine individuals, organizations and trends deserving recognition.
Astra to perform next launch from Cape Canaveral
Small launch vehicle developer Astra Space announced Dec. 6 that it will conduct its next launch from a pad at Cape Canaveral in January, carrying a set of cubesats for NASA.
Phase Four debuts improved thruster
Satellite electric propulsion company Phase Four has completed testing of a new thruster that it says offers significantly improved performance.
NASA to award SpaceX three more commercial crew flights
NASA announced Dec. 3 its intent to purchase three more commercial crew missions from SpaceX as a hedge against further delays in the certification of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner.
