Led by Alpine Space Ventures Partner and former SpaceX VP, Bulent Altan, company to leverage funds to meet increased demand of smallsat focused solutions

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2022 (Morpheus Space PR) — Morpheus Space, the leading provider of in-space mobility systems, today announced the close of a $28M Series A funding round led by space exclusive VC, Alpine Space Ventures. Alpine was joined by Morpheus Ventures, and existing investors – Vsquared Ventures, Lavrock Ventures, Airbus Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Pallas Ventures, and Techstars Ventures who returned from the company’s Seed Round.

Morpheus Space will leverage the financing round to expand and improve its manufacturing capabilities, namely, with a new factory in Dresden, Germany. The decision was prompted by a rapidly increasing demand for electric propulsion devices as brands mobilized around the creation of small satellite focused constellations. In just two years, the number of small satellite launches has jumped up nearly 450% from what it was in 2019, now sitting close to 1,800 annually.

UK government determines transaction poses no risk to UK’s national security

CARLSBAD, Calif., and LONDON – September 16, 2022: Viasat Inc., (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, and Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced the receipt of approval of the proposed combination of their businesses by the UK Government under the National Security & Investment Act.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced that the transaction does not pose a risk to the UK’s national security.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Very sad to report that SpaceShipOne astronaut Brian Binnie passed away on Sept. 15. He was 69 years old. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

After being delayed for most of the past week by weather, SpaceX launched 54 Starlink broadband satellites on Sunday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX has now launched 1,403 Starlink satellites this year on 28 Falcon 9 flights. Elon Musk’s company has launched 42 times this year, or 70 percent of the 60 launches attempted by U.S. companies this year.

• PLD Space successfully completes for the first time in Europe a flight mission test of a microlauncher
• The objective has been to ensure that all the components of its suborbital space vehicle work correctly or, if not, to fine-tune the parameters for the first flight unit
• During 122-second trial, rocket ‘thinks’ it’s on its way to space
• After passing this test campaign, MIURA 1 is ready for its first launch, scheduled for the end of 2022 from El Arenosillo (Huelva)

EL ARENOSILLO, Spain (PLD Space PR) — PLD Space, the Spanish company that leads the space launch business for small satellites in Europe, has successfully completed the first qualification campaign for its suborbital rocket, MIURA 1. The company once again makes history by carrying out, for the first time in Europe, a complete test flight mission of an integrated space vehicle. After passing all the relevant tests at its technical facilities in Teruel, the rocket is ready for its first launch, which continues to be scheduled for the end of 2022 from El Arenosillo (Huelva).

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA will provide live coverage with commentary of the upcoming Artemis I cryogenic demonstration test beginning at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

The demonstration test will allow teams to confirm the repair to a hydrogen leak seen during an early September Artemis I launch attempt, evaluate updated propellant loading procedures, and conduct additional evaluations. The demonstration will conclude when the objectives for the test have been met.

NEWINGTON, Conn., Sept. 12, 2022 (PCX Aerosystems PR) — PCX Aerosystems (“PCX”), a market-leading producer of advanced mechanical systems for the aerospace industry, today announced the September 2, 2022 acquisition of NuSpace, Inc. (“NuSpace”) from Cornerstone Capital Holdings and members of the NuSpace leadership team. With engineering and manufacturing roots going back to 1907, NuSpace has evolved from a diversified mechanical systems manufacturer into a leading-edge designer and manufacturer of proprietary propellant and high-pressure tanks for advanced satellite, launch vehicle spacecraft, and missile platforms. 

“NuSpace brings a unique capability to design and produce mission critical complex assemblies for the rapidly growing space marketplace which is a fantastic addition to the growing portfolio of flight-critical components and assemblies we supply to the defense aerospace market,” said PCX CEO, Tom Holzthum.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (NASA PR) — NASA is seeking proposals for sustainable lunar lander development and demonstration as the agency works toward a regular cadence of Moon landings. Through Artemis missions, NASA is preparing to return humans to the Moon, including the first woman and first person of color, for long-term scientific discovery and exploration.

Under the solicitation, Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development, NASA has provided requirements for companies interested in developing and demonstrating astronaut Moon landers. These efforts will pave the way for multiple companies to provide recurring Moon landing services beyond the Artemis III mission, which is planned for no earlier than 2025.

BRAMPTON, Ont. (MDA PR) — MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced it has been selected by Airbus OneWeb Satellites, LLC (AOS) to design and build Ka-Band steerable antennas. The MDA antennas will be integrated into the portfolio of Arrow commercial small satellites manufactured by AOS.

“We are pleased to be selected by Airbus OneWeb Satellites to support important applications for space and communications constellations,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. “This contract represents another opportunity to demonstrate MDA’s best-in-class satellite design and manufacturing capabilities.”

Contract awarded based on sole source request from NASA to satisfy the need for multiple spacecraft providers in the 500–1000 kg range

CEDAR PARK, Texas (Firefly Space PR) — Firefly Space Transport Services (STS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Firefly Aerospace, Inc, announced today that the company has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide launch services for the agency’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions in the 500-1000 kg grouping utilizing its Alpha rocket. The fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a five-year ordering period with a maximum total value of $300 million across all contracts.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Rocket Lab PR) – Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”) a leading launch and space systems company, today announced that Dr. Edward Frank has been elected to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Frank joins Rocket Lab’s board following more than 35 years of leadership in innovative technology companies, including serving at Apple, Inc. from 2009 until 2013 as Vice President, Macintosh Hardware Systems Engineering. Dr. Frank also served as Corporate Vice President, Research and Development, of Broadcom Corp, a leading developer of integrated circuits for broadband communication. Dr. Frank was the founding CEO of Epigram, Inc., a developer of integrated circuits and software for home networking, which Broadcom acquired in 1999. Presently, Dr. Frank is Executive Chair of Gradient Technologies, an early-stage company delivering next-generation secure identity overlay solutions based on its proprietary cyber-security mesh. Dr. Frank is a named inventor on over 50 patents.