Episode Details

Main Topics

Optical Comms

* Rheinmetall withdrew from the acquisition bidding for Mynaric. [source]

* ESA has awarded Mynaric with a contract to build a laser communications demonstration system for its High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) project. [source]

* Shanghai-based laser communications startup BlueStar Optical Domain has raised a $72M Series C to localize production and scale to 1,000 units per year. [source]

* SSC Space inaugurated their second next-generation optical ground station in Santiago, Chile for high throughput space to ground communications. [source]

Defense

* OHB, Airbus, and Rheinmetall partnered in a bid for a Bundeswehr military communications constellation worth up to $10B. [source]

* B2Space’s stratospheric balloon platforms partnered with Airbus GeoTech for a data acquisition and intelligence HAPS platform. [source]

* Anduril announced their acquisition of space-tracking firm ExoAnalytic Solutions in a deal that adds the ground-based telescope network and space surveillance data capabilities to the defense tech company’s expanding space business. [source]

Propulsion

* Firefly Alpha successfully returned to flight delivering a Lockheed Martin demonstration satellite, and demonstrating Block II upgrades including second stage relighting, and upgraded avionics and thermal management subsystems.. [source]

* AVIO has been awarded a $65M contract for the development of a solid rocket motor just days after shareholders approved contentious changes to the company’s bylaws. [source]

* Enpulsion raised $26 million for the development and production of their field effect electronic propulsion product. [source]

Business Moves

* Lux Aeterna closed a $10M oversubscribed seed round led by Konvoy to develop and deploy their reusable spacecraft platform. [source]

* Diffraqtion received another investment round as part of their pre-seed raise, valuing the quantum imaging company at over $100M. [

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