Investment

• Iridium Communications reported strong Q2 2025 results with $216.9 million in revenue (up 8% YoY), highlighting continued growth in its satellite-based services across commercial and government markets. Space-relevant updates include the ramp-up of its direct-to-device satellite connectivity and expanding applications of its Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) service. The company’s U.S. Space Force EMSS contract, a $738.5M agreement for satellite airtime, continues to anchor Iridium’s government operations, which saw a 1% revenue increase despite subscriber decline. Engineering and support revenue surged 62%, driven by increased government activity.

• Collins Aerospace will expand its manufacturing and R&D operations in Richardson, Texas, creating over 570 new jobs and investing more than $57 million. Supported by a $3.7 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant, the expansion reinforces Texas’ position as a national leader in aerospace and defense innovation.

• Amazon has confirmed that its $139.5 million investment in Florida, including a 100,000-square-foot payload processing facility at Kennedy Space Center, is central to ramping up the launch cadence for Project Kuiper, its 3,232-satellite broadband constellation. The facility supports integration and fueling of Kuiper satellites for missions aboard rockets from ULA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, enabling Amazon to process over 100 satellites per month and manage three simultaneous launch campaigns, helping relieve payload processing bottlenecks on the increasingly crowded Space Coast.

Partnerships

• Turkey’s first domestically built communications satellite, TÜRKSAT-6A, has completed its first year in geostationary orbit. Developer ASELSAN is now expanding its space technology collaboration with Azerbaijan, with an intention to co-develop the Azerspace-3 satellite through a technology transfer model that supports Azerbaijani engineers and lays the groundwork for an independent regional space industry.

• HII has been awarded a $74 million, five-year task order to provide modeling and simulation capabilities for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, supporting the AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base. The work includes developing operational simulations for space unit training, machine-to-machine decision support tools, and readiness solutions for improving space asset survivability in contested multi-domain environments.

• The U.S. Space Force has released its first-ever International Partnership Strategy, outlining a long-term vision to strengthen global collaboration and integration with allies to maintain a secure, stable, and sustainable space domain. Emphasizing that “spacepower is the ultimate team sport,” the strategy sets three main goals: empowering allies as combat multipliers, maximizing information sharing, and integrating coalition forces across design, development, and operations.

Applications

• Researchers at UC Irvine have discovered a new state of quantum matter within a custom material called hafnium pentatelluride, achieved under extreme magnetic fields up to 70 Tesla. Notably, this quantum phase is highly radiation-resistant, making it a candidate for space-based electronics capable of withstanding deep space environments.

• NASA successfully launched the TRACERS mission on July 24 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg, deploying two satellites to study magnetic reconnection in Earth’s polar cusps, a process relevant to both aurora formation and geomagnetic storms. The $170M mission will collect over 3,000 data points in a year, advancing our understanding of space weather and its impact on systems like GPS and satellite operations.

• A Vega C rocket is set to launch tonight from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying five satellites focused on Earth and climate monitoring. The mission, VV27, includes MicroCarb, a French-led satellite that will map global carbon dioxide sources and sinks with unprecedented precision. It also carries four CO3D satellites from CNES and Airbus, which will generate high-resolution 3D maps of Earth’s land surfaces using multispectral optical imaging.

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• The U.S. Department of Defense has selected an architecture for “Golden Dome,” a $175 billion missile defense system that will deploy weapons in space for the first time, combining land-, sea-, and space-based technologies.
• Golden Dome will consist of four defensive layers: pre-launch disruption, boost-phase interception, midcourse interception in space, and terminal-phase defense; initial funding of $25 billion is included in President Trump’s proposed budget.
• The system will build on existing missile defense assets while adding space-based interceptors and sensors, with oversight by Gen. Michael Guetlein and full coordination across NORAD, USNORTHCOM, and USSPACECOM; China and Russia have criticized the initiative as destabilizing and militarizing space.

Golden Dome is expected to cost $175 billion, President Donald Trump said as he announced the Department of Defense has selected a plan for the missile defense system that would put U.S. weapons in space for the first time.

“Today, I’m pleased to announce we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technology across the land, sea, and space, and including space-based sensors and interceptors,” Trump said during the May 20 announcement in the Oval Office. Trump noted the first $25 billion for Golden Dome is part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” budget proposal currently working its way through Congress.

While Trump stated the system, one first proposed four decades ago by President Ronald Reagan, would be fully operational by the end of his term in 2029, U.S. officials indicated that a limited capability might be more realistic within that timeframe, the AP reported.

Golden Dome aims to create a four-layered defense strategy. The first tier focuses on pre-launch disruption, targeting enemy capabilities before a missile is fired. The second stage centers on intercepting the missile during its boost phase, when it is most visible and vulnerable. The third targets midcourse interception in space, while the final layer provides terminal phase defense as a missile approaches its target, according to the AP.

“The Golden Dome is a game changer,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at the announcement.

According to the Department of Defense, the Golden Dome will build on existing missile defense infrastructure but add a new layer of space-based interceptors and sensors, marking a shift in how the U.S. intends to deter and defeat aerial threats. Current systems such as ground-based interceptors and sea-launched missile defense assets will remain in operation. The initiative is being coordinated with NORAD, USNORTHCOM, and USSPACECOM to ensure full interoperability.

In early May, the Congressional Budget Office lowered cost estimates for deploying and operating space-based interceptors over 20 years, citing lower launch costs. The CBO estimates it to be $161 billion (in 2025 dollars) for the lowest-cost option, down from $264 billion, and $542 billion, down from $831 billion, for the highest-cost alternative.

Oversight of Golden Dome will fall to Gen. Michael Guetlein, the vice chief of space operations, reflecting the elevated role of the U.S. Space Force in future defense planning. Guetlein is expected to coordinate across military branches and defense contractors to accelerate development and deployment.

While technical specifications remain limited, at the announcement Guetlein stressed the need for defense systems capable of intercepting the increasingly advanced missiles being developed around the world, including ballistic missiles with multiple nuclear warheads, hypersonic missiles, and cruise missiles capable of avoiding U.S. detection, along with potential space-based weapons of the future.

In March, Guetlein said at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington that China and Russia have developed counterspace capabilities such as jamming, spoofing, cyberattacks and directed-energy weapons. Guetlein also said American adversaries were practicing orbital engagements, including shadowing U.S. satellites and testing anti-satellite weapons.

In a joint statement in early May, China and Russia called the Golden Dome proposal “deeply destabilizing in nature” and that they “oppose the attempts of individual countries to use outer space for armed confrontation and will counter security policies and activities aimed at achieving military superiority.”

• BlackSky Technology has completed commissioning its first Gen-3 satellite one month ahead of schedule, demonstrating rapid deployment capabilities and early delivery of high-resolution imagery.
• The Gen-3 satellite produced imagery within five days and AI-enabled analytics within three weeks, with early samples enabling detailed observations such as sunroofs on vehicles and individual people.
• BlackSky plans to launch its second Gen-3 unit in Q2 2025 as part of a regular cadence to meet growing demand for real-time, space-based dynamic monitoring services.

PRESS RELEASE – BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has successfully completed commissioning its first Gen-3 satellite. The first satellite continues to exceed expectations for tasking-to-delivery performance amid positive customer feedback on early very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery and AI-driven analytics samples.

“BlackSky has demonstrated incredible, industry-leading speed for launch to on-orbit operations, completing commissioning for our first Gen-3 satellite a full month ahead of schedule,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “This pace of performance is a testament to our team’s experience, quality and rigor of our design, production and test practices, giving BlackSky a distinct advantage for scaling this service quickly and reliably for our customers.

“The regular cadence of Gen-3 launches will produce a robust combination of capacity and low-latency, high-revisit capabilities to support near-term, early access customers and long-term demand for real-time space-based dynamic monitoring services,” said O’Toole.

Satellite commissioning processes begin immediately after deployment from a launch vehicle and typically includes initial tracking, making first contact and the sequential activation of critical subsystems. Follow-on activities include calibrating payloads, sensors, communications and control systems, and optimizing automated operations across the entire constellation-to-ground architecture. During the Gen-3 commissioning process, BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite quickly produced imagery within five days and AI-enabled analytics within three weeks of launch.

“BlackSky has received resounding positive customer response to early very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery samples. The crispness and detail have enhanced the utility of these data products by giving users the ability to make observations often accomplished with higher resolution systems. In many instances analysts were able to discern details like sunroofs on top of automobiles or individual people and their shadows. This incredible amount of detail, combined with AI-enabled analytics makes available an expansive new set of mission solutions and reduces the speed of analyses over large volumes of imagery from days to minutes,” said O’Toole.

BlackSky has made final preparations to send its second Gen-3 unit to Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, in anticipation of launch in Q2. The Gen-3 launch schedule is proceeding as planned as the company prepares to integrate high-cadence, very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery into customers’ daily workflows later this year.

• Magna Petra Corp has been granted access to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s lunar-hardened Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO). This is the first time, a commercial company has been authorized to use this cutting-edge technology.
• The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Magna Petra Corp and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center will provide critical data to help the company validate its proprietary lunar “digital twin” – an artificial intelligence model simulating the Moon’s helium-3 distribution over billions of years of solar wind exposure.
• Originally designed to detect water ice on the Moon, the instrument is now being repurposed to assess the presence of helium-3, a rare isotope with vast potential for both clean nuclear fusion energy and quantum computing systems.

Magna Petra Corp., a leader in lunar resources extraction, has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This agreement grants the company access to a specialized mass spectrometer, which was previously flown on government-led lunar missions. For the first time, a commercial company has been authorized to use this cutting-edge technology. Originally designed to detect water ice on the Moon, the instrument is now being repurposed to assess the presence of helium-3, a rare isotope with vast potential for both clean nuclear fusion energy and quantum computing systems.

The collaboration allows Magna Petra to integrate NASA’s lunar-hardened Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) into its mission framework. This technology will provide critical data to help the company validate its proprietary lunar “digital twin” – an artificial intelligence model simulating the Moon’s helium-3 distribution over billions of years of solar wind exposure. The MSOLO will take direct measurements of gases trapped within the Moon’s regolith (its surface layer), marking a significant step toward establishing a scalable, low-impact supply chain for helium-3 from the Moon to Earth.

In a statement, Magna Petra’s CEO Jeffrey Max described the agreement as “a landmark moment.” He emphasized that it represents a crucial step not only for the company but for the broader field of lunar exploration and resource utilization. He noted, “For the first time, a commercial company has been granted the opportunity to deploy a government-developed instrument in pursuit of validating a resource that could fundamentally transform how we power the planet.” Max added that the integration of public-sector expertise and private-sector innovation would help expedite the development of a sustainable helium-3 supply chain for future fusion energy and quantum technologies.

Helium-3, while scarce on Earth, is abundant in the Moon’s regolith. Its potential applications are highly promising. As an energy source, it could power fusion reactors without the radioactive by-products associated with traditional fuels. It also plays a pivotal role in cooling systems necessary for quantum computing and ultra-low temperature sensor technologies.

Michael Baczyk, Director of Investment Advisory at Global Quantum Intelligence, highlighted the strategic importance of helium-3 in next-generation technologies, stating, “Helium-3 sits at the heart of some of the most transformative technologies of our time. As quantum systems mature and clean energy solutions like fusion edge closer to reality, securing a reliable helium-3 supply chain becomes strategically essential.”

Magna Petra’s mission architecture involves a series of reconnaissance missions followed by a return-validation campaign. The data provided by MSOLO will be crucial in confirming the company’s helium-3 predictions and in laying the groundwork for lunar logistics to support future commercial operations. As the company continues to innovate, this partnership with NASA signals an important milestone in the ongoing development of lunar resource extraction capabilities, offering the potential to revolutionize both energy and computing industries on Earth.

Image credit: Magna Petra

• The beginning of the NewSpace era has largely begun, according to the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review, which points out that private companies are now the main engine of space innovation.
• Resuable launch systems and mass production are among the fuels that are sparking this age of innovation in space.
• Despite the many opportunities, challenges remain, according to the report, which details regulatory hassles and simmering tensions as significant hurdles.
• Image: NASA / Blue Canyon Technologies

Private companies have eclipsed governments as the main engine of space innovation, setting off a new phase of lunar competition, orbital logistics, and geopolitical uncertainty, according to the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review.

The Stanford report highlights the rise of “NewSpace” — a term used to describe a more commercially-driven, modular and fast-paced approach to space development. Unlike the Cold War-era programs defined by government budgets and multiyear mission cycles, today’s space industry moves on venture timelines and private-sector incentives. The change is not only lowering launch costs and increasing the pace of satellite deployment, but also creating new dependencies on corporate infrastructure in national security and economic planning.

Reusable Launch Systems, Mass Production

At the center of this shift is the proliferation of reusable launch systems and the mass production of small satellites. According to the report, low-cost launch capabilities pioneered by companies like SpaceX have driven a surge in satellite constellations, enabling global coverage for communications, surveillance, and Earth observation. These platforms are increasingly central to logistics, disaster response, climate monitoring, and even military operations.

The space transportation industry has seen launch costs drop by more than an order of magnitude over a couple of decades to $1,500 per kilogram in 2021,” the analysts write. :Companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have made progress in providing reliable launches and developing new vehicles. SpaceX’s Starship — the most powerful rocket ever built — could dramatically reduce the cost of achieving LEO orbits, aspirationally between 10 and 100 times cheaper than today.”

Stanford analysts warn that this growth is outpacing policy. The regulatory frameworks governing orbital traffic, frequency coordination, and space debris have not kept up with the volume of launches. The report notes a “tragedy of the commons” scenario unfolding in low Earth orbit (LEO), where thousands of satellites now compete for limited slots and contribute to growing collision risks. In-space servicing — such as robotic repairs, refueling, and deorbiting of satellites — is one emerging response, but standards and governance are lagging.

Multi-Polar Lunar Push

The report also flags the Moon as a rising theater of strategic and commercial activity. Where previous lunar missions were scientific or symbolic, the next generation is economically motivated. Water ice, regolith for construction, and Helium-3 — a potential fusion fuel — are attracting serious interest from space agencies and commercial players alike. The ability to extract, process, and use resources in situ is seen as essential to building a permanent off-Earth economy.

NASA’s Artemis program, China’s lunar sample return missions, and India’s growing capabilities signal a multipolar push toward sustained lunar presence. Meanwhile, private firms are developing landers, rovers, and habitats aimed at long-term settlement. The Stanford analysts suggests the Moon is a “logistics hub in waiting, especially for fuel depots and power infrastructure that could support missions deeper into the solar system.

Stanford’s researchers write: “Recent years have seen a renewed desire to maintain a permanent human presence in lunar orbit and on the lunar surface. The abundance of certain materials on the Moon provides opportunities for mining and manufacturing. Such activities would reduce the amounts of material that would otherwise have to be transported from Earth.”

Space Tech Is Rising, So Are Tensions

These developments come with rising geopolitical tension. The Stanford report highlights that four countries — the U.S., China, Russia, and India — have now demonstrated the ability to destroy satellites with kinetic weapons. Anti-satellite (ASAT) tests not only raise security risks, but create long-lasting debris clouds that threaten civilian and military assets alike.

The report points to the increasing entanglement between commercial operators and national defense, raising questions about liability, deterrence, and sovereignty.

Remote Sensing

One of the most commercially promising areas identified in the report is the explosion in remote sensing. Satellite-based Earth observation has advanced well beyond visible imagery. Stanford highlights the growing use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), hyperspectral sensors, and radio-frequency mapping, which can detect heat signatures, chemical compositions, and electronic emissions. These tools are being used to track deforestation, agricultural yields, wildfire patterns, and troop movements in conflict zones.

The report points out that this is one space tech area that is creating immediate impact. The growing utility of this data has opened the door for new applications — including insurance underwriting, precision agriculture, and ESG compliance. Digital twin models of Earth, fed by constant streams of sensor data, are enabling more sophisticated simulations for everything from urban planning to climate forecasting.

Stanford calls these “planetary dashboards” and suggests that governments and industries alike will come to rely on them.

In-Space Servicing, Assembly And Manufacturing

Another future-facing trend identified in the review is the growth of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing 00 collectively known as ISAM. Once the stuff of science fiction, these capabilities are now being demonstrated in orbit. Companies like Northrop Grumman and Astroscale have tested satellite life-extension and debris-removal missions. Modular satellite buses, robot arms, and autonomous docking systems are being built to allow assets to be maintained, upgraded, or recycled in space. The implications are far-reaching: longer satellite lifetimes, lower costs, and a shift toward sustainable orbital infrastructure.

Stanford also explores speculative but potentially transformative energy concepts that could emerge as launch costs continue to fall. These include space-based solar power — where satellites harvest sunlight and beam energy to Earth — and orbital reflectors that could provide targeted lighting or heat. Though these ideas remain in experimental stages, the report suggests they may become viable if material costs drop and in-orbit construction becomes routine.

Actionable Insights For The Space Industry

For industry professionals, the report offers a clear message: the economics, governance, and strategic calculus of space are being rewritten.

Companies will need to navigate a more complex environment of public-private interdependence, regulatory uncertainty, and international rivalry. New business models will emerge around lunar logistics, orbital data services, and ISAM ecosystems. Governments will face growing pressure to modernize treaties and share oversight authority with corporate stakeholders.

Here are some immediate and “Over The Horizon” opportunities.

Immediate Trend

Privatization, Miniaturization, and Reusability

The shift toward private-sector-led development is accelerating space access while compressing technology lifecycles. Reusable rockets and CubeSats have lowered costs and enabled faster iteration, opening the door to real-time innovation. But this rapid privatization also introduces governance risks. Dual-use technologies like debris removal systems may be repurposed for offensive uses. Space agencies and defense officials must now coordinate with a growing number of commercial actors whose interests are not always aligned with national priorities.

The report suggests that industry leaders should proactively engage with regulators to shape standards for dual-use technologies and define protocols for attribution and accountability in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The New Moon Rush

Recent lunar missions by India, China, Japan, and private companies signal the beginning of a sustained lunar presence. The Moon’s regolith, ice, and Helium-3 deposits make it a prime candidate for in-situ mining and manufacturing. Launching materials from the Moon rather than Earth significantly reduces fuel requirements, creating opportunities to build and supply lunar bases, spacecraft, and LEO launch platforms from lunar factories.

According to the report, lunar supply chain modeling could be important investment areas and partnerships with robotics firms for autonomous surface operations might be worth exploring, while governments should develop bilateral and multilateral frameworks for lunar property rights and resource-sharing.

Over the Horizon

Manufacturing in Microgravity

Manufacturing in space offers technical advantages for producing pharmaceuticals, optical fibers, and semiconductors that require contamination-free environments and precise molecular arrangements. Microgravity eliminates issues like sedimentation and buoyancy, making it possible to grow perfect crystals or create advanced materials with fewer defects.

The report indicates that early-stage ventures in biotech and advanced materials should explore pilot manufacturing in orbit, targeting high-value, small-batch markets that justify current launch costs.

Moon and Asteroid Mining

Moon and asteroid mining could yield rare-earth elements critical for batteries, electronics, and defense systems. Helium-3, abundant on the Moon, has potential use in future fusion reactors. Mining lunar regolith and ice is also a prerequisite for sustaining long-duration lunar missions and extending human activity into deeper space.

Mining and energy firms should monitor legal developments in off-Earth resource claims and consider technology partnerships to develop scalable extraction and processing systems for use in harsh lunar conditions, the report suggests.

Space-Based Power Generation

Above Earth’s atmosphere, solar panels can receive uninterrupted sunlight, making orbit a viable platform for clean energy generation. Stanford notes that new concepts—such as orbital mirrors and microwave power beaming—may become economically feasible as launch costs fall.

Energy-sector players should evaluate long-term R&D opportunities in space-based power systems and consider partnering with aerospace primes to pilot small-scale orbital demonstrators.

Space Situational Awareness and ISAM

The orbital environment is becoming dangerously crowded, with tens of thousands of active satellites and millions of debris fragments. Enhancing space situational awareness (SSA) through satellite-based sensing and real-time data analytics will be crucial for operational safety. In parallel, in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities—enabled by spacecraft autonomy and precision docking—will be essential for sustainable infrastructure.

Companies developing SSA or ISAM capabilities should prioritize autonomous RPOD (rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking) technologies and push for integration into international safety standards. National space agencies should accelerate open data sharing and expand debris remediation programs.

A Fragile Framework for a Crowded Orbit

Those are the opportunities, but the report points out some high hurdles in reaching the Space 2.0 era.

Primarily, while the pace of space innovation has quickened, the rules governing its use remain decades behind. According to the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty — the bedrock of international space law — no longer matches the reality of privatized launches, commercial lunar mining, or defensive orbital maneuvers. Designed in an era when only nation-states operated in orbit, the treaty leaves major gaps in areas now critical to economic and military interests.

Among the most pressing concerns is the lack of a coordinated system for managing traffic in low-Earth orbit. With the number of active satellites rising tenfold in the past decade and mega-constellations on the horizon, the risk of collisions is growing exponentially. Yet there are still no globally accepted protocols for right-of-way, emergency maneuvers, or debris mitigation. Stanford warns that without urgent action, a chain reaction of satellite crashes — known as the Kessler syndrome — could render key orbital bands unusable.

The United States faces challenges of its own. Agencies such as the FAA and FCC have struggled to keep pace with the volume and complexity of space activity. Licensing delays, regulatory ambiguity, and poor interagency coordination are slowing private innovation while leaving critical gaps in oversight. Compounding the issue is the fact that U.S. space infrastructure, despite its essential role in navigation, communications, and defense, is not formally classified as critical infrastructure — a designation that would unlock broader security protections and funding.

Meanwhile, the blurred line between civilian and military space assets has eroded long-standing norms. The Stanford review notes that four countries have now demonstrated anti-satellite capabilities, and the possibility of orbital nuclear weapons — though banned in theory — remains a serious risk. A detonation in low-Earth orbit could disable satellite operations for months and trigger global disruptions in everything from financial transactions to weather forecasting.

The regulatory vacuum also extends to the Moon and beyond because there are no enforceable international rules for resource extraction or property claims. Analysts suggest that this means the growing rush for lunar mining and settlement risks igniting geopolitical friction. Stanford calls for urgent leadership in establishing rules of the road for off-Earth activities — especially as private missions begin to intersect with national goals.

Taken together, these challenges form what Stanford terms a “sustainability paradox”: space technologies are increasingly vital for climate monitoring, national security, and economic development — yet their rapid proliferation threatens the very environment they depend on. Without modernized rules, enforcement mechanisms, and shared norms of behavior, the orbital economy may soon find itself trapped under its own weight.

The full report also contains insights into artificial intelligence, semiconductor (quantum) and other emerging technologies. Full review is highly recommended, you can find it available for download here.

The report features experts, including co-chairs Condoleezza Rice, John B. Taylor, Jennifer Widom and Amy Zegart, along with director and editor-in-chief Herbert S. Lin and managing editor Martin Giles.

• A Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket failed to reach orbit on April 29 after a second-stage ignition issue caused the upper-stage engine to lose thrust, sending the rocket and its Lockheed Martin payload into the Pacific Ocean.
• The mishap interrupted the debut mission of Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 Technology Demonstrator, a new satellite bus intended for military, commercial, and civil applications.
• The launch was the first in a five-year agreement between Firefly and Lockheed Martin covering up to 25 missions; an investigation with Lockheed, the Space Force, and FAA is underway to determine the root cause.

A Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket failed to reach orbit on April 29 after a problem during the rocket’s second-stage ignition, sending it and its payload, a Lockheed Martin satellite, into the ocean.

According to Firefly, the Alpha FLTA006 mission lifted off at 11:00 a.m. PDT from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, but a mishap during the separation between the rocket’s first and second stages led to the loss of the nozzle extension on the upper-stage Lightning engine, substantially reducing its thrust.

“Initial indications showed Alpha’s upper stage reached 320 km in altitude,” the company noted in a statment. “However, upon further assessment, the team learned the upper stage did not reach orbital velocity, and the stage and payload have now safely impacted the Pacific Ocean in a cleared zone north of Antarctica.”

Firefly indicated the company is working with Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Space Force, and FAA to investigate and determine the cause.

“We recognize the hard work that went into payload development and thank our mission partners at Lockheed Martin for their continued support,” the company said.

According to Lockheed Martin and Firefly, the LM 400 Technology Demonstrator on board was designed to validate the performance of Lockheed Martin’s newest satellite bus, a modular mid-sized platform tailored for a range of military, civil, and commercial missions. The demo was part of Lockheed’s self-funded efforts to accelerate development of new technologies and prove system reliability for prospective customers.

The flight marked the first in a broader agreement between Firefly and Lockheed Martin, which includes up to 25 launches over five years.

Last week, on April 23, Firefly announced it had been awarded a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base to develop a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) nozzle extension for use in liquid rocket engines.

• TAU Systems raised $20 million in extended seed funding to open the first privately operated laser-plasma accelerator center in Carlsbad, California, aimed at commercial space radiation testing and advanced research applications.
• The new TAU Labs facility will serve satellite manufacturers, defense agencies, and public institutions by offering Beamtime-as-a-Service for radiation testing, x-ray imaging, metrology, and medical research.
• TAU’s technology, based on decades of laser-plasma physics research and recent advances in ultrafast lasers and AI control, seeks to deliver compact, cost-effective, high-energy particle beams for sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors, and biomedical imaging.

PRESS RELEASE — TAU Systems, the company pioneering next-generation ultra-fast compact laser-plasma accelerators, today announces raising $20 million in extended seed funding, bringing its total to $35M. The round was led by Quantonation, with participation from original seed investor, Team Global. Other participating parties include Alumni Ventures, Impact Ventures, UT Seed Fund and a group of private investors.

This new funding round enables TAU Systems to open the doors of the first privately owned and operated laser-particle accelerator in Carlsbad, California, and to begin work with its first customer – a major satellite manufacturing company. The new TAU Labs center will be available for commercial customers as well as public institutions, with first applications focusing on radiation testing for space electronics and other environments, as well as other applications using ultrahigh power laser, electron, or x-ray beams. 

TAU’s groundbreaking technology promises to unlock unprecedented access to ultrafast, high-energy particle beams in a compact form, offering transformative potential for applications across advanced imaging, materials science, and high-energy physics.

“This investment is a major step forward for TAU and for advancing the future of radiation testing for space applications,” said Bjorn Manuel Hegelich, CEO and Founder of TAU Systems. “With the launch of TAU Labs in Carlsbad, CA, our first private laser accelerator center, we can now offer Beamtime-as-a-Service specifically tailored for space radiation testing, as well as x-ray imaging, metrology, and medical research. Our laser-driven accelerator technology enables precise, repeatable, and customizable radiation environments that help aerospace companies, satellite developers, and defense agencies and space centres, such as DARPA and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to validate and harden their systems. We’re excited to provide the space industry with faster, more flexible access to the radiation testing capabilities they need, without the wait times of traditional facilities.”

“TAU is a fantastic example of what we look for in physics tech. The team has deep scientific know-how that builds for customers today in space radiation, and can grow to solve civilization level challenges in next generation semiconductor manufacturing,” said William Zeng, Partner at Quantonation. “We’re thrilled to partner with Manuel and the TAU team as they launch their first commercial facility.” 

“Laser Plasma Accelerators, a cutting-edge frontier technology, holds vast potential to spark new industries and advance human scientific discovery,” added Team Global’s Lukasz Gadowski.

TAU Systems’ technology builds on decades of research in laser-plasma physics and leverages recent breakthroughs in ultrafast lasers and AI-based control systems. Its goal is to create a commercially viable, compact, and cost-effective accelerator capable of delivering beams that previously required massive, billion-dollar infrastructure.

The new funding will also support the company’s upcoming trailblazing research programs with academic and industry partners including DARPA and NASA’s JPL, laying the groundwork for real-world use cases in radiation-testing-as-a-service, semiconductor metrology, biomedical imaging, and materials testing.