Welcome to Biz Briefs. Inmarsat orders three small GEO satellites, the European Commission approves Inmarsat’s merger with Viasat, Maritime Launch Services signs a multi-mission agreement, Fleet Space and GITAI raise funds, China and Europe eye commercial cargo services, and other industry news.

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Terran Orbital Corporation PR) – Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the United States aerospace and defense industry, today announced it shipped its CENTAURI-5 satellite to Cape Canaveral in preparation for the SpaceX Transporter-5 launch.

BEVERLEY, South Australia (Fleet Space Technologies PR) — Fleet Space Technologies is delighted to announce that the Australian Government has committed $20 million (USD) to the development of the Space Manufacturing Hub in Adelaide, South Australia. This adds to funds already committed by The Government of South Australia ($20 million AUS) and a consortium of leading space, aerospace and advanced air mobility companies including Fleet, Q-CTRL, AtSpace Pty Ltd and Alauda Aeronautics, the manufacturer of the world’s first electric flying racing cars. That total value of the project is therefore $66 million (AUS).

“The addition of this very significant investment from the Australian Government to the funds already pledged by the South Australian Government is affirmation of our nation’s commitment to the development of a rapidly growing industry and innovation in sovereign technological capabilities in space manufacturing. Fleet Space Technologies is proud to lead the Australian space sector. This industry is creating jobs, technological capability and lasting economic impact for Australia. The Space Hub in Adelaide will position South Australia as a true global centre of excellence in the development of space technologies.”

— Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and Co-Founder, Fleet Space Technologies

• Fleet Space Technologies rapid growth continues through first international market HQ
• Houston strategically selected due to proximity to key industries and existing collaboration through NASA’s Artemis programme
• Global expansion follows an oversubscribed Series B funding round. Further global growth planned
• Fleet Space Technologies is Australia’s leading space company

HOUSTON (Fleet Space PR) — Fleet Space Technologies, Australia’s leading space company has established its first international HQ in Houston, Texas. This first phase of the company’s ambitious global expansion plans follows institutional affirmation of its vision and proven commercial model in the rapidly growing space industry.

• Fleet Space Technologies attracts $26.4m (USD) investment valuing company at $126m (USD)
• Series B Round oversubscribed
• Investment confirms confidence in Fleet Space advanced satellite technology 
• Tech drives radical Internet of Things (IoT) efficiencies 
• Investment is firm commitment to Australia’s rapidly emerging space industry  
• Investment creates 70 new jobs, including many desirable STEM positions 

ADELAIDE, Australia (Fleet Space Technologies PR) — Fleet Space Technologies announces that it has secured $26.4m (USD) in investment, valuing the company at $126 million (USD). This represents a major step forward for Fleet Space Technologies, which is committed to creating the world’s most advanced low-power satellite network, securing planet-wide coverage for millions of compatible Internet of Things (IoT) devices by using its in-house Nanosatellite technology. This funding will underpin significant expansion in Fleet Space’s manufacturing footprint and will expand the company’s highly skilled workforce. 

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

There were 27 orbital launch attempts with 26 successes and one failure during the first quarter of 2021. The United States accounted for nearly half the total with 13 launches behind nine flights by SpaceX.

HELENSVALE, QLD, Australia, 31 March 2021 — Two of Australia’s New Space pioneers — Queensland-based rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies, and South Australian nanosatellite manufacturer for the Internet of Things (IoT), Fleet Space Technologies — are joining forces to launch small satellites to orbit.  

“We have signed a contract to launch six Fleet Space Centauri nanosatellites on our Eris rockets in 2023,” said Adam Gilmour, the CEO of Gilmour Space, which is tracking to launch its first commercial payloads to orbit next year.   

BEVERLEY, South Australia (Fleet Space Technologies PR) — Fleet Space Technologies has raised USD$7.35 million (AUD$10.8 million) from global funds including Momenta Ventures and Horizons Ventures, to deliver ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity to remote industries, powered by a global constellation of nanosatellites.

Investors in the funding round also included Grok Ventures and Blackbird Ventures, who re-invested in the company, and the Kennard family, whose equipment hire company Kennards Hire, is a Fleet customer focused on digital transformation. The new funding will enable Fleet to meet the increasing demand for global deployments of private IoT networks, powered by its constellation of nanosatellites, across industries including logistics, resources and energy.

Electron launch (Credit: Rocket Lab)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., 29 October, 2018 (Rocket Lab PR) — US orbital launch provider Rocket Lab has signed a contract with fast-growing Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Fleet Space Technologies to launch two satellites that will form the foundation of a global IoT communications constellation. The two Proxima satellites are the first of a fleet of small, low-cost satellites that will provide internet connectivity for millions of sensor devices based in remote locations on Earth.

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