North America

The launch company Sierra Space raised $1.4 billion in a Series A capital round, bringing its valuation to $4.5 billion, the Colorado-based builder of the winged and reusable Dream Chaser launcher said. The round is led by General Atlantic, Coatue and Moore Strategic Ventures, with participation from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Private Equity Partners, AE Industrial Partners,

Thumbs up: Astra Space launched its 13.1 meter rocket LV0007 with a test payload from the U.S. Space Force from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska successfully into orbit on Saturday. LV0007 was Astra´s fourth attempt to reach its 500 kilometers low Earth orbit (LEO), after it failed in December 2020 and in August 2021.

NASA selected Intuitive Machines for scientific Moon missions and will pay the Houston-based company $77.5 million, the agency said. The agency picked Intuitive Machines to deliver Moon research, science investigations and a technology demonstration in 2024, NASA said. The commercial delivery is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CPLS) initiative and the Artemis program.

SpaceX can have Starship’s first orbital flight as early as January, pending regulatory approvals, CEO Elon Musk said at a joint meeting of the National Academies’ Space Studies Board and Board on Physics and Astronomy.  According to Musk, the company is in the final preparations of both the vehicle and their new launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Orbit Fab and Dawn Aerospace announced a collaboration to make on-orbit refuelling available to satellites utilising green propellants such as nitrous oxide and propylene. The collaboration was announced at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen. The “Gas Stations in Space” company Orbit Fab offers refuelling services in space and developed a port known as RAFTI.

Rocket Lab acquires Planetary Systems, a spacecraft separation systems company based in Maryland, for $42 million in cash and a 1.7 million share package, Rocket Lab said. The deal includes a nearly one million Rocket Lab share option as a performance earnout. Planetary Systems is a provider of mechanical separation systems and satellite dispensers.

In our next Space Café “Law Breakfast with Steven Freeland”, Host Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, Sydney and Professorial Fellow at Bond University, Australia, and Co-Host Torsten Kriening, SpaceWatch.Global’s Publisher, welcome Joanne Wheeler and Ram Jakhu at the wonderful and cosy Café in London.

One of Blue Origin's astronauts, 49-year-old Glen de Vries, who flew to space last month alongside actor William Shatner, died in a small plane crash in New Jersey. De Vries, was the vice chairman of life sciences and healthcare at Dassault Systèmes and co-founder of the Medidata team.

This Space Café WebTalk will feature Dr. Mathias Link, Director of European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) and Director for International Affairs & SpaceResources.lu at the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), in conversation with Torsten Kriening, publisher of SpaceWatch.Global. Why Space Resources will be driving the future of space exploration.

Nanoracks, the space travel affiliate of the Voyager Space Company group, appointed Amela Wilson as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The former CEO and co-founder Jeffrey Manber will join Voyager Space as President of International and Space Stations and remain Chairman of the Board at Nanoracks, the company said.