Startup · Space Economy Hub
The business of space, company by company
Company stories, industry developments, startup news and funding rounds from launch, satellites and in-orbit services, written for founders, operators and investors.
Latest funding rounds Company stories01 · New developments
Space industry news
NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1: SpaceX Wins $1.6 Billion for 18 Launches as Rivals Stay Grounded
In July 2026 the US Space Force raised its commercial-style launch contract ceiling to $17 billion and awarded SpaceX 18 Falcon 9 missions worth $1.6 billion while Vulcan and New Glenn were grounded.
Rocket Lab’s 20-Mission Electron Launch Deal With Synspective: The Business Case
Synspective booked 20 more dedicated Electron launches for 2028 to 2031, taking its total to 47 and Rocket Lab’s launch backlog past 100 missions. We look at the value and the risks.
New Glenn 9×4 Joins NASA’s Launch Contract as the Agency Weighs Bulk Rocket Buys
NASA made Blue Origin’s larger New Glenn eligible for its science and exploration launches on 29 September 2026, days before officials described plans to buy rockets in batches for the Moon Base.
IRIS² Contracts: Europe Commits €15.6 Billion and Names Its Satellite Builders
Between 7 August and 10 September 2026 the EU expanded IRIS² to 348 satellites, raised the budget to €15.6 billion and saw its operators award the main manufacturing contracts.
SpaceX Earnings Report: What the First Quarter as a Public Company Reveals
SpaceX reported $7.8 billion of second-quarter revenue on 4 August 2026, its first results since the IPO. Starlink funds the group, AI absorbs the capital and launch is now the smallest segment.
02 · Seed and venture
Funding rounds
Southern Launch Series A Round: A$25M for Launch and Re-Entry Ranges
Adelaide-based Southern Launch closed a A$25M Series A led by Brindabella & Company, with A$10M from the National Reconstruction Fund, to scale its launch and re-entry ranges.
Letara Pre-Series A Round: ¥2.6B for Plastic-Fuelled Hybrid Engines
Sapporo-based Letara raised ¥2.6B (about $16M) from Headline Asia, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Incubate Fund and ten others to scale hybrid engines from satellites to launchers.
Ravee Optics Seed Round: $6M to Shrink Satellite Laser Terminals
Dayton-based Ravee Optics raised an oversubscribed $6M seed led by BIG Capital, with CincyTech and JobsOhio, to qualify a 2 kg laser communications terminal and fly it in early 2028.
Foundational Pre-Seed Round: £8.2M for Satellite Laser Ranging
London startup Foundational left stealth with an £8.2M pre-seed from Inflection, BACKED, Final Frontier, Adjacent and Type One Ventures to build automated laser ranging stations.
ORiS Pre-Seed Round: €5M to Beam Laser Power Between Satellites
Turin startup ORiS raised €5M (a €4.5M pre-seed led by Earlybird and Pitchdrive plus a €0.5M regional grant) to demonstrate laser power transfer between satellites in 2027.
Flexell Space Series A Round: $20M for Rollable Space Solar Cells
Hanwha Systems spin-off Flexell Space closed a Series A of about $20M to industrialise flexible perovskite and CIGS solar cells for satellites. The round and the risks.
03 · Founders and operators
Company stories
Eutelsat OneWeb: How Europe Ended Up Owning a Starlink Rival
OneWeb went bankrupt in 2020, was rescued by the UK and Bharti, and merged into Eutelsat. Here is how the business is funded and performing as of October 2026.
Spire Global: A Satellite Data Company After Selling Its Biggest Unit
Spire Global sold its ship-tracking business for $241 million to erase its debt. We look at what is left, how it earns money and where the numbers stood in October 2026.
Axiom Space: Can Private Astronauts and Spacesuits Fund a Station?
Axiom Space flies paying astronauts to the ISS, builds NASA’s Moon suits and is assembling its own station. We look at its funding, contracts and open risks in 2026.
AST SpaceMobile: The Business of Connecting Phones From Orbit
AST SpaceMobile is spending billions to beam cellular broadband to ordinary phones. We trace its funding, carrier deals, launch record and finances as of October 2026.
How Firefly Aerospace Went From Bankruptcy to a $1.5 Billion Backlog
Firefly Aerospace failed once, was rebuilt, landed on the Moon and listed on Nasdaq. Here is how it is funded, what it sells and where its numbers stood in October 2026.
How the Starlink Business Became SpaceX’s Revenue Engine
Starlink generated $11.4 billion of SpaceX’s $18.7 billion revenue in 2025. How the service was built, how it earns money and what the 2026 IPO filings disclosed.
04 · Early stage
Space startup news
Orbex Assets Sold: What Omnidea’s PrimeNEO Plan Means for Launch
Eight months after Orbex collapsed, Portugal’s Omnidea has bought its factory, designs and brand. Here is why Orbex failed, what the buyer gets and what investors should learn.
Sovereign Space Programs: Nebex’s US$700M Latin America Framework
Space exchange startup Nebex has partnered with Mexico’s Thrusters Unlimited on US$700 million of planned government space programmes. Here is how the model works and what is still unproven.
Outpost Space Factories: Orbital Manufacturing Sold as a Service
Outpost Technologies has launched a manufacturing-as-a-service offer built on its reentry vehicles. Here is how the model works, who funds it and how it compares with Varda.
Lunar Orbit Compute: Why Starcloud Is Flying a Payload With Firefly
Starcloud signed with Firefly Aerospace to test an AI compute payload around the Moon from 2028. Here is what each side gets, who competes and what could go wrong.
Swift Rescue Mission: What Katalyst’s Failed NASA Reboost Teaches
Katalyst built a servicing spacecraft in under a year to save NASA’s Swift observatory. It failed. Here is what went wrong and what it means for the satellite servicing business.
05 · About this hub
Frequently asked questions
What does the Kurums Space Economy hub cover?
The commercial side of space: how companies in launch, satellites, Earth observation, in-orbit services and ground infrastructure are founded, financed and run. Coverage is split into company stories, industry news, startup news and funding rounds.
How are funding rounds reported?
Each round lists the stage, amount, lead investor and date as announced by the company or its investors. When an amount is not disclosed, it is marked as undisclosed rather than estimated.
Who is this hub written for?
Founders, operators, finance teams and investors who need the business context behind space headlines: revenue models, contracts, capital needs and competitive position.
