Biz Briefs: SES in Merger Talks with Intelsat, Astrolab to Send Rover to Moon (Image Credit: Payload)
FLEX rover drives on the lunar surface. (Credit: Venturi Astrolab)
SES and Intelsat are in merger talks, Astrolab will send a rover to the Moon on SpaceX’s Starship rocket, and D-Orbit has won a $28.3 million contract from ESA.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Satellite operator SES has confirmed that it is in talks to merge with Intelsat.
Contracts
- D-Orbit has won a €26 million (US $28.3 million) contract to build and operate a synthetic aperture radar satellite for the European Space Agency’s IRIDE program.
- Kleos Space has won an extension of its contract to provide radio frequency geolocation data to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
- Redwire has received a $5.9 million contract from NASA to complete design of FabLab, an multi-material 3D printer that will be tested on the International Space Station.
- Impact Observatory has raised a $5.9 million seed round to develop its AI-powered satellite global mapping and monitoring products.
- Starfish Space won a $3 million contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to build its Nautilus electrostatic adhesive docking and capture mechanism.
Financing
- Globalstar sold $200 million in non-convertible senior notes due in 2029.
Missions
- Venturi Astrolab has announced plans to send its Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover to the moon aboard a SpaceX Starship rocket as early as mid-2026.
- Momentus announced it has completed the initial on-orbit test sequence of its Microwave Electrothermal Thrusters, which relies on solar power and uses distilled water as a propellant.
- Spire Global will launch three satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-7 rideshare mission later this month. One satellite will enhance the company’s weather data solutions and the other two will serve customers through Spire Space Services.
Appointments
- Startup accelerator Starburst has hired Rob Ganim to head up its new office in Washington, D.C.
- Momentus has appointed Eric Williams as its new CFO to replace interim CFO Dennis Mahoney.
Legislation
- The Florida legislature is considering bills that would require crew members on commercial spaceflights to waive their right to sue except in cases of gross negligence or intentional harm. Currently only passengers must sign these waivers.
Awards
- Northrop Grumman and NASA have won the prestigious Collier Trophy for their work in designing and operating James Webb Space Telescope.
