Archives for 2024

The funding round extension included participation from funds managed by Solidium Oy, BlackRock, Seraphim, Plio Limited, and Christo Georgiev. The financing consists of a mix of debt and equity instruments and will increase investment in further developing ICEYE’s leading SAR satellite constellation, its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, and related systems. The extension brings the total amount raised in 2024 to $158 million. In total, ICEYE has raised over $500 million, to date.

ICEYE has achieved considerable growth during the past years and the investment announced today enables ICEYE to continue expanding its ISR capabilities to serve a global customer base while further cementing its market-leading position in the new space ecosystem. 

Susan Repo, CFO at ICEYE, said, “ICEYE has experienced unwavering momentum over the past few years. This extension of our growth funding round further bolsters ICEYE’s investment in its capabilities and enables us to respond even better to the growing demand for space-based technology in the global defense and ISR markets.”

Reima Rytsölä, CEO at Solidium, said, “Extending the growth funding to support ICEYE growth is well in line with our investment strategy. Our view is that ICEYE continues to have strong potential to grow to a nationally significant company and foster a completely new technology cluster in Finland.”

The five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, Luno A, is a $290 million follow-on to the Economic Indicator Monitoring contract, which used machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, and accelerated analytic workflows to manage commercially purchased unclassified geospatial data.

This follow-on contract adds new context to analytic assessments by characterizing items such as worldwide economic, environmental and military activities.

Under the scope of the contract, contractors will use the commercial marketplace to acquire source imagery and data, allowing the agency to leverage the multitude of commercial GEOINT sources that have not been acquired by NGA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), or other U.S. Government entities.

That data will be used to monitor infrastructure on a continental or global scale, survey country-level areas for specific types of activity and facilities, monitor city-sized areas for changes in infrastructure, and provide frequent updates of equipment and objects at installations.

“BlueHalo is proud to expand our support to NGA as one of the vendors selected to the Luno A contract,” said Brian Morrison, BlueHalo Portfolio President and Corporate Executive Vice President. “Our mature intel capabilities – ranging from signals intelligence to open-source threat intelligence – coupled with our deep expertise in utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence in an era of big data, make BlueHalo an ideal partner for NGA as they work to pull actionable intelligence from a deluge of unclassified data.”

About BlueHalo
BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry-leading capabilities in the areas of Space, C-UAS and Autonomous Systems, Electronic Warfare & Cyber, and AI/ML. The company develops and brings to market next-generaHon capabilities to support customers’ critical missions and national security.

Under this agreement, Loft will integrate and operate FLC hyperspectral sensors onboard upcoming Yet Another Mission (YAM) satellites, beginning in 2026. The hyperspectral sensors will image hundreds of bands in the visible and shortwave infrared spectrum, and are designed to support a broad range of applications such as identification of critical minerals, detection of methane leaks, and precision monitoring for industries such as mining, agriculture, oil and gas, and more.

Esper selected Loft as its space infrastructure provider to integrate, launch and operate hyperspectral missions. 

Esper’s FLC constellation is especially well suited to support the sustainable mining industry, which has seen a boom in global demand for critical minerals like lithium and copper in recent years. Esper aims to enable companies to “unlock” these resources by providing insights to guide efficient mineral deposit identification and extraction while minimizing ecological impact. These mineral discoveries are instrumental in supporting renewable energy technologies that drive a fossil-fuel-free future.

Esper’s satellite data also addresses a range of climate-related applications, including methane emissions monitoring, oil spill detection, tailings monitoring, tracking production mining and ore grade tracking. 

Esper’s hyperspectral sensing technology focused on the infrared spectrum can detect and track objects of interest, from detecting camouflage and recently earthed minefields to tracking the movement of allied and adversarial military assets. ensuring national security of nation-states.

With the launch of their mission on Loft’s infrastructure in 2026, Esper’s hyperspectral imaging technology is set to bring actionable insights to customers who rely on precise data. Esper is actively engaging customers in industries that include mining, oil and gas, agriculture, and national security, with the goal of delivering satellite-based data that drives informed, impactful decisions.

Together, Esper and Loft are creating a new paradigm in space-based sensing, with a focus on a sustainable, climate-resilient future. 

“Esper is pushing the boundaries of hyperspectral remote sensing and redefining what can be done at scale with our next-generation hyperspectral satellite missions,” said Shoaib Iqbal. “With Loft’s powerful satellite infrastructure, we’re supporting our customers’ mission critical use cases across mining, agriculture, climate, oil and gas.”

“Esper’s FLC constellation is an ideal fit for Loft’s infrastructure,” said Mitchell Scher, Loft’s Senior Director of Business Development. “We want to let Esper focus on developing a high quality instrument and building new applications using their data, rather than becoming a space company to become a data and analytics company.”

ADRAS-J was selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration. This latest approach, however, was an ambitious goal independently designed by Astroscale, in addition to JAXA’s baseline mission requirements. The objective was to demonstrate highly precise and complex close-range RPO capabilities by advancing to the Capture Initiation Point (CIP), where future debris removal missions start robotic capture operations.

When ADRAS-J was 50 meters behind the upper stage the spacecraft reduced the gap in a straight-line approach then maneuvered to approximately 15 meters below the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) — the planned capture point for the follow-on ADRAS-J2 mission — aligning the spacecraft’s relative speed, distance, and attitude.

ADRAS-J successfully maintained this position until an autonomous abort was triggered by the onboard collision avoidance system due to an unexpected relative attitude anomaly with the upper stage. The spacecraft safely maneuvered away from the debris as designed before reaching the CIP. Astroscale Japan is currently investigating the cause of the abort.

While ADRAS-J did not reach its intended final distance, the mission demonstrated the robustness of its safety measures during simulated capture operations. The onboard Fault-Detection, Isolation, and Recovery system has ensured the spacecraft’s safety during all close-proximity operations, including the successful response and abort maneuver during the first fly-around observation attempt in July.

In addition to achieving the historic 15-meter approach, ADRAS-J successfully completed all observations of the debris required by the JAXA mission, including two fly-around operations that confirmed no major damage to the PAF and a third fly-around from a new angle of the upper stage. These accomplishments have provided critical data to inform the follow-on ADRAS-J2 debris removal mission, further advanced Astroscale’s heritage RPO and inspection capabilities for a wide range of on-orbit services and set a new benchmark for space sustainability.

Key ADRAS-J mission milestones since launch:

• Feb. 18: launch and start of in-orbit operations.
• Feb. 22: start of rendezvous phase.
• Apr. 9: start of Angles Only Navigation and proximity approach from several hundred kilometers.
• Apr. 16: start of Model Matching Navigation relative navigation techniques.
• Apr. 17: approach to the upper stage within several hundred meters.
• May 23: approach to the upper stage within 50 meters and first fixed-point observation completed.
• Jun. 17: second fixed-point observation completed.
• Jun. 19: start of fly-around operation and validation of collision avoidance system.
• Jul. 14: approach to the upper stage within 50 meters. Third fixed-point observation completed.
• Jul. 15: first successful fly-around observation.
• Jul. 16: second successful fly-around observation.
• Jul. 17: first final approach attempt, successfully reaching 20 meters.
• Aug. 13: third successful fly-around observation.
• Nov. 30: final approach, successfully reaching 15 meters.

HyMOVE is designed to enhance the capabilities of small satellite missions, delivering tailored in-space logistics for orbital missions. To mark this launch, HyImpulse has launched a partnership with Spacemanic Ltd., a leading nanosatellite mission provider, for as many as 10 missions over the next decade.

HyMOVE complements HyImpulse’s SL1 small launcher by providing efficient and flexible orbital solutions tailored to the needs of small satellite deployment. Supporting missions such as last-mile payload delivery, orbit insertion, and hosted payload services, the vehicle enables the deployment of multiple satellites into different orbital planes in a single launch.

Using environmentally friendly hybrid propulsion, HyMOVE ensures sustainable and cost-effective space operations to meet the growing demands of the space industry. Developed under the Bavarian Spaceflight Funding Program, HyMOVE will conclude ground testing in 2025 and commence commercial operations in 2029.

HyImpulse’s first commercial HyMOVE partner, Spacemanic, will use HyMOVE and the SL1 small launcher for nanosatellite deployment across up to 10 missions between 2026 and 2036. Both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2024 to collaborate on launch services.

The partnership combines Spacemanic’s expertise in CubeSat platforms with HyImpulse’s logistics solutions, including payload repositioning, multi-orbit deployment, and tailored in-space maneuvers. Powered by HyMOVE’s hybrid propulsion system, these services will enable Spacemanic to deploy and manage payloads with precision and efficiency across various orbital configurations.

With HyMOVE, HyImpulse is strengthening Europe’s capability for independent access to space. As demand for nanosatellites and flexible orbital services increases, the partnership with Spacemanic demonstrates how collaboration can advance Europe’s position in the global space sector.

Dr. Christian Scherer, CEO of HyImpulse, said, “HyMOVE enhances the capabilities of our SL1 vehicle, serving as a key extension of our value chain. It is tailored to meet a wide range of customer needs, providing solutions that complement and expand upon what SL1 already delivers. We are proud to partner with Spacemanic to deliver solutions that enable sustainable and cost-effective satellite deployment and orbital operations, contributing to the future of the European space industry.”

Daniela Jovic, Chief Commercial Officer at Spacemanic, said, “At Spacemanic, we’re proud to partner with HyImpulse on the HyMOVE initiative, a key step in strengthening Europe’s access to space. This collaboration allows us to push the boundaries of nanosatellite deployment and orbital operations, delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions for our customers and the broader space industry.” 

Vodafone, and its own partner telcos, can offer AST’s space-based cellular broadband connectivity in its home markets and for its partner operators in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. It operates in more than 20 markets under its own name and its partnerships operate in more than 40 others.

The deal is said to be potentially more valuable than the Verizon agreement, although financial terms were not revealed in AST’s December 9th announcement. Vodafone has been a financial investor in AST since 2018 and had an initial $25 million (€23.7 million) initial investment in the satellite company.

In April of 2023, AST and its partners completed the first-ever space-based voice call to an unmodified phone. That was followed by the first-ever 4G download speed above 10 Mbps in June 2023 and the first-ever 5G voice call in September 2023. Ultimately, the company and its partners have demonstrated over 20 mbps download speeds to unmodified phones on a 5 Mhz channel.

A Vodafone executive stated that the deal was a “landmark agreement” and would deliver cellular connections directly in Vodafone’s mission to provide space-based broadband connectivity directly to their customer’s and everyday cell phones. The agreement will eliminate “dead zones” and bring “true global connectivity to live and enhancing seamless and reliable service across the Vodafone footprint.”

AST SpaceMobile has also notified the FCC that all five of its Block-1 BlueBird satellites have been successfully deployed into their orbits consistent with conditions set forth in the FCC authorisations.

The task for AST is to now rapidly expand its existing fleet in order to achieve these global ambitions. It is looking to have more than 60 satellites on-orbit by the end of 2025 and thus begin its global coverage. Reach of these new satellites measure some 225 sq meters in area, and significantly larger than the existing first-generation craft, which measured 65 sq meters.

The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have more than approximately 2.8 billion existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, Cisneros Group and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile.

The Series B extension round added new investors, M&G Catalyst and Glade Brook Capital Partners, who join existing backers Google, Radical Ventures, Lightspeed, and others. This funding positions Pixxel as one of the highest-funded space-tech startups in India and the highest-funded hyperspectral imaging company globally, reinforcing its mission to build a health monitor for the planet through advanced earth observation satellites and drive impactful climate action.

The funds will enable Pixxel to accelerate the development and launch of Pixxel’s entire constellation of 18 commercial hyperspectral satellites planned for the near future. The funding will also support the growth of Pixxel’s software offerings, including Aurora, its AI-driven Earth Observation platform, enabling seamless analysis and actionable insights for diverse applications from hyperspectral data. 

Additionally, the funds will drive Pixxel’s plans to expand its satellite manufacturing capacity, scale its operations for upcoming missions, and enhance its capability to provide a full spectrum of satellite manufacturing services—from small satellites to advanced imaging payloads for other organisations and governments.

Pixxel’s hyperspectral satellites are designed to capture data across 250+ spectral bands at an unparalleled 5 meter spatial resolution, spectrally fingerprinting the Earth and delivering details invisible to conventional imaging methods. 

The upcoming Fireflies constellation of 6 commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites, set for launch in early 2025, will provide enhanced global coverage with native 5 meter resolution, a 40 kilometer wide swath and daily revisit frequency anywhere on the planet. With applications spanning agriculture, climate monitoring, resource management, mining, environmental protection, energy, urban planning, and more, Pixxel’s technology equips organisations with the critical intelligence required to make informed, data-driven decisions.

This milestone represents another step forward in Pixxel’s vision of leveraging space technology to drive global progress, create impactful environmental solutions, and facilitate interplanetary travel, paving the way for a better tomorrow on Earth and beyond.

“This funding reflects the bold vision we’ve set out to achieve at Pixxel and echoes the investors’ confidence in Pixxel’s technological capabilities,” said Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Pixxel. “The new infusion of capital will help us launch more satellites quicker, transforming how humanity understands and acts on the challenges of our time. We look forward to building a business that continues to make a meaningful impact for generations, creating a world where industries and governments can act faster and smarter for the greater good through Pixxel’s cutting-edge hyperspectral satellites.”

Praveg Patil, Head of Asia Pacific – M&G Impact & Private Equity, said, “Pixxel’s proprietary technology will be transformational and adaptable to monitor for enhancing crop health, climate change, managing resources more effectively and protecting our environment. This partnership underscores our commitment to support Pixxel’s growth plans and reflects our broader purpose-led strategy, demonstrating how innovative technology can generate positive environmental outcomes.”

Linda Guo, Partner, Glade Brook Capital Partners, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Pixxel as they advance the deployment of their hyperspectral satellite constellation. Awais, Kshitij, and the Pixxel team have demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation, and execution, and we are confident they will play a pivotal role in driving the growth and adoption of the hyperspectral satellite market.“

The “Owl The Way Up” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a launch window that opens on December 18^th NZDT (December 17 UTC). The mission will deploy a single StriX satellite to orbit for Synspective.

This mission will be the sixth in a total of 16 launches booked on Electron for Synspective, a Japanese EO company operating a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites designed to deliver imagery that can detect millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space. Rocket Lab first launched for Synspective in December of 2020 and has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date.

Synspective’s small SAR satellites, StriX, are equipped with a SAR sensor, which can observe the Earth’s surface in any weather condition day or night. Not affected by clouds or rain, SAR is suitable for persistent monitoring of disasters and detailed changes to secure critical infrastructure and other facilities.

Example use cases include the following…

• detecting anomalies in road, rail, energy and other infrastructure, resulting in lower maintenance costs and accident risk
• monitoring crop growth conditions and analyzing soil and vegetation health to help reduce costs and increase efficiency for farmers
• detecting illegal logging and fishing in the most remote parts of the world
• providing rapid damage assessment after flooding, landslides and volcanic eruptions, as well as risk assessment for land subsidence
• enabling the persistent monitoring of maritime traffic, border activities and other potential security threats, and advances maritime domain awareness
• analyzing tree cover to calculate CO2 absorption and carbon credits

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “As the sole launch provider for Synspective to date, we’ve developed an enduring relationship with their team built on trust and reliability across multiple Electron missions. By flying as the dedicated customer, rather than ridesharing, we’ve put Synspective in control of their launch schedule and mission parameters, affording them a level of control over their mission not traditionally afforded to small satellite operators. We’re looking forward to placing another StriX satellite in orbit and supporting Synspective’s vision to enable persistent monitoring of our planet to support disaster relief, agricultural development, maritime domain awareness and much more.”

Rocket Lab has launched 14 missions to date in 2024, besting the Company’s previous annual launch record of 10 missions achieved in 2023.