North America

Virgin Orbit is close to merging with a SPAC, valuing Richard Branson’s company at $3 billion, Sky News reported. Virgin Orbit is close to finalising a deal to combine with NextGen Acquisition II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) set up by George Mattson, a former Goldman Sachs banker, Sky News reported.

This Thursday’s Space Café "Moriba’s Vox Populi" was hosted by University of Texas academic Associate Professor Moriba Jah, an American astrodynamicist, space scientist and aerospace engineer known for his work in spacecraft navigation, space sustainability and space situational awareness.

ESA goes to Venus with EnVision, the European Space Agency said. The mission was selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth Medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan, targeting a launch in the early 2030s, ESA said. EnVision follows ESA’s Venus Express (2005-2014)

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) will support and service Intuitive Machines (IM) for all its Moon missions, the company announced. KSAT has entered a long-term agreement with IM to support every stage of IM’s missions to the Moon, from launch and early operations, through transit, including lunar operations, KSAT said. IM will use KSAT services for its 2022 IM-1 mission.

Kepler Communications raised $60 million to fund its satellite communications network, the company said. This Series B fundraising round was led by Tribe Capital and includes participation from existing investors like IA Ventures and Costanoa Ventures and new investors like Canaan Partners.

Sierra Space, a subsidiary of the aerospace and security group Sierra Nevada Corporation, announced a memorandum of understanding with Spaceport Cornwall in South-West England. The memorandum paves the way for sustained operations with UK’s horizontal launch spaceport at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The UK Space Agency is funding Sierra’s Dream Chaser concept.

During this week’s SpaceCafé, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Cassandra Steer, a space law researcher from the Australian National University’s Institute of Space and College of Law. With an international (and intergalactic) academic career spanning two decades, Dr Steer specialises in space law, space security and international law,...

The 3D rocket printer Relativity Space raised another $650 million to fund its new fully reusable, entirely 3D-printed Terran R rocket. Relativity Space closed a $650 million Series E equity funding round led by Fidelity with participation from investors including Baillie Gifford, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Centricus, Coatue, K5 Global, Soroban Capital, ....

Space race between billionaires: “It looks like Richard Branson could beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos to space next month”, Parabolic Arc reported. Citing “a source who requested anonymity”, Parabolic Arc reported that Virgin Galactic is working on a plan to send Branson on a suborbital flight over the July 4 holiday weekend.

The launch company Astra wants to acquire Apollo Fusion for up to $145 million, the company said. Apollo Fusion manufactures electric propulsion engines. The acquisition allows Astra to provide launch and space services beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), to medium Earth orbit, geosynchronous, and lunar orbits, Astra said.