{
 "source": "https://www.spacebandits.io",
 "dataset": "Space Bandits space startup dataset",
 "licence": "Free to use with attribution and a link to https://www.spacebandits.io",
 "generated": "2026-08-20",
 "count": 194,
 "startups": [
  {
   "name": "Abstract Assembly",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "abstract-assembly",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/abstract-assembly",
   "website": "https://abstract-assembly.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "Website dead since late 2022 and no public activity since October 2020; the Nanosats database marks it inactive. No shutdown was ever announced.",
   "one_liner": "3D cubesat models powered by AI",
   "description": "Deep learning agents that work out how to assemble parts into satellites and other complex systems.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Accion Systems",
   "current_name": "Revolution Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Tracker Capital takes a majority stake through the $42M Series C it led",
     "source": "https://www.govconwire.com/articles/tracker-capital-buys-majority-stake-in-satellite-propulsion-maker-accion"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Natalya Bailey"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Louis Perna"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "accion-systems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/accion-systems",
   "website": "https://accion-systems.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-07",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$42M, with Tracker Capital taking a majority stake",
     "investors": "Led by an affiliate of Tracker Capital Management",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/accion-systems-raises-42-million-in-series-c-led-by-tracker-capital/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "An affiliate of Tracker Capital Management took a majority stake in July 2021, alongside a $42M Series C.",
   "one_liner": "Satellite propulsion",
   "description": "Small ion engines for in-space propulsion, designed for the smallsat market.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/accion-systems",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Additive Rocket Corporation",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Partners with UC San Diego, housing its metal printer in the Qualcomm Institute Prototyping Lab",
     "source": "https://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/release/2708?id=2708"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Shows a working 125-pound-thrust chamber 3D-printed in Inconel at a UCSD open house",
     "source": "https://rrs.org/2018/11/21/rrs-visit-to-additive-rocket-corporation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-07",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Selected for the first Techstars Adelaide defence accelerator cohort",
     "source": "https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/techstars-adelaide-first-cohort-accelerator/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Andy Kieatiwong"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Kyle Adriany"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "additive-rocket-corporation",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/additive-rocket-corporation",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "No press-documented funding and no activity found; the domain now hosts an unrelated content site.",
   "one_liner": "3D printing rocket engines",
   "description": "Rocket engines and injectors produced by metal 3D printing, using internal geometries that conventional machining cannot cut.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Aethero",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Orders the Titan mission with EnduroSat to fly its next-generation compute in October 2026",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/aethero-orders-titan-satellite-to-advance-space-based-data-center-ambitions/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "The Phobos CubeSat flies on Transporter-16 running Jetson-based compute in orbit",
     "source": "https://www.aethero.com/news/press-release-phobos-satellite-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises an $8.4M seed led by Kindred Ventures to fund two more demonstration missions",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250610441726/en/Aethero-Secures-$8.4M-to-Build-the-Next-Generation-of-Space-Based-Computing-and-Autonomous-Spacecraft"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Its Deimos satellite reaches orbit on Transporter-11 carrying the first NxN edge computer",
     "source": "https://www.aethero.com/news/press-release-deimos-satellite-launch/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Edward Ge"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Amit Pinnamaneni"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "aethero",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/aethero",
   "website": "https://aethero.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2023",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 8400000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$8.4M, including the $1.7M 2024 pre-seed",
     "investors": "Led by Kindred Ventures, with Neo, Giant Step, O’Shaughnessy Ventures and Alumni Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/06/11/space-computing-startup-aethero-raises-8-4m-seed-round/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Edge AI computers for satellites",
   "description": "Radiation-tolerant edge computers bringing AI inference onboard satellites",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "AI SpaceFactory",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Relocates to Huntsville, Alabama, closer to the space and defence industry",
     "source": "https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2025/05/02/from-skyscrapers-to-space-how-one-company-brought-3d-printing-to-huntsville/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Turner Construction partners to bring the basalt-composite printing tech to terrestrial building",
     "source": "https://www.constructiondive.com/news/turner-ai-spacefactory-terrestrial-project-test-space-3d-printing-technology/646709/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Releases LINA lunar outpost designs with NASA Kennedy Space Center under a REACT collaboration",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ai-spacefactory-and-nasa-kennedy-space-center-release-lunar-outpost-designs/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "MARSHA wins NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, printed in thirty hours from basalt-fibre biopolymer",
     "source": "https://www.designboom.com/architecture/ai-spacefactory-marsha-wins-nasa-3d-printed-habitat-challenge-finale-05-08-2019/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "David Malott"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "ai-spacefactory",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ai-spacefactory",
   "website": "https://spacefactory.ai",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Habitats"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "3D printed habitats",
   "description": "A multi-planetary architecture and technology design agency building for both Earth and space.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/ai-spacefactory",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "AIRMO",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a €5M seed led by Ananda Impact Ventures to fund its first satellite mission",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/airmo-raises-e5m-for-methane-monitoring-sats/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Picks EnduroSat to host its methane sensors for a twelve-satellite constellation from 2027",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/imagery-and-sensing/2026/02/25/airmo-selects-endurosat-to-launch-methane-monitoring-sensors-into-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises €5.2M pre-seed led by Findus Venture, alongside a €3.7M ESA InCubed contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/airmo-raises-5-2-million-euros-for-climate-monitoring-constellation/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Daria Stepanova"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Science Officer",
     "name": "Errico Armandillo"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "airmo",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/airmo",
   "website": "https://airmo.io",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "round": "Pre-seed",
     "amount": "EUR 5.2M including a EUR 3.7M ESA InCubed contract (contract, not equity)",
     "investors": "Antler, Findus Ventures, E2MC and Pi Labs among early backers",
     "source": "https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/03/germanys-airmo-raises-e5-million-to-detect-methane-leaks-from-space-with-satellite-launch-planned-for-2027/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "EUR 5M",
     "investors": "Led by Ananda Impact Ventures, with Unconventional Ventures, kopa ventures, Desai Ventures and existing backers",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/imagery-and-sensing/2026/03/12/airmo-earns-e5-million-in-seed-funding-plans-first-launch-for-2027/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Methane monitoring from orbit",
   "description": "Satellite constellation measuring methane and greenhouse gas emissions in near real time",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Akash Systems",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Delivers the first diamond-cooled Nvidia GPU servers under a $27M contract with NxtGen",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akash-systems-delivers-worlds-first-diamond-cooled-nvidia-gpu-servers-to-nxtgen-ai-pvt-ltd-302694640.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Pivots its lead business toward AI data centers, signing preliminary CHIPS Act terms for a diamond-substrate fab in Oakland",
     "source": "https://www.akashsystems.com/post/akash-systems-signs-non-binding-preliminary-agreement-for-68-million-in-chips-act-funding-to-advance-ai-and-space-with-diamond-cooling-tech"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Felix Ejeckam"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Ty Mitchell"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "akash-systems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/akash-systems",
   "website": "https://akashsystems.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 17600000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2018-01",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$3.1M",
     "investors": "Led by Khosla Ventures, with Social Capital, Data Collective and others",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180130005278/en/Akash-Systems-Raises-3.1-million-Seed-Funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-07",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$14.5M ($10M new equity plus $4.5M converted notes)",
     "investors": "Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, ACME Capital and others",
     "source": "https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/32571-akash-systems-raises-145m-series-a"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Diamond-cooled chips for space and AI",
   "description": "Develops extreme-bandwidth communications gear for satellites, built on gallium nitride-on-diamond material.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Albedo",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "title": "Clarity-1, the first commercial satellite built for very low Earth orbit, launches on Transporter-13 and makes contact",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://albedo.com/post/clarity-1-what-worked-and-where-we-go-next"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Topher Haddad"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Winston Tri"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "AJ Lasater"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "albedo",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/albedo",
   "website": "https://albedo.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-09",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$48M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Shield Capital",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220907005535/en/Albedo-Raises-48M-Series-A-to-Capture-the-Highest-Resolution-Satellite-Imagery"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "round": "Series A-1",
     "amount": "$35M, bringing total funding to $97M",
     "investors": "Led by Standard Investments, with Booz Allen Ventures, Cubit Capital and existing backers",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/albedo-raises-35-million-for-commercial-very-low-earth-orbit-constellation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "close to $100M reported, at a $285M valuation",
     "investors": "Led by General Innovation Capital",
     "source": "https://finance.yahoo.com/news/satellite-imagery-startup-albedo-track-161122625.html"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellites for very low Earth orbit",
   "description": "Satellite buses built to survive very low Earth orbit, where drag is constant and the same sensor sees twice the detail.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Alen Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "GMV acquires a majority stake; the company keeps its brand and management",
     "source": "https://www.gmv.com/en/communication/press-room/press-releases/space/startup-alen-space-consolidates-its-position-joining"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Sateliot's first constellation cubesat launches carrying an IoT payload designed and built by Alen Space",
     "source": "https://alen.space/successful-launch-of-the-first-satellite-of-the-sateliot-constellation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-12",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Lume-1, the wildfire-detection nanosatellite built with the University of Vigo, reaches orbit on a Soyuz",
     "source": "https://alen.space/lume-1-is-already-in-orbit-to-help-against-forest-fires/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Guillermo Lamelas"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Alberto González Muiño"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "alen-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/alen-space",
   "website": "https://alen.space/",
   "country": "Spain",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Small satellite turnkey solutions",
   "description": "Provides consultancy, design, production, and operation of nanosatellites, up to a client's own constellation.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2019-07-08"
  },
  {
   "name": "Altius Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-02",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Passes 300 DogTags launched on OneWeb's constellation",
     "source": "https://www.factoriesinspace.com/altius-space-machines"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "First DogTag grapple fixtures reach orbit aboard OneWeb satellites",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/voyager-subsidiary-altius-space-machines-inc-announces-successful-first-orbital-launch-of-dogtags-aboard-onewebs-satellites/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jon Goff"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "altius-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/altius-space",
   "website": "http://www.altius-space.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 87600,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Voyager Space in 2019.",
   "one_liner": "Developing rendezvous and capture technology",
   "description": "Space robotics for satellite servicing, debris removal, propellant transfer, and on-orbit assembly.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Analytical Space",
   "current_name": "Hedron",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "The Hedron website goes dark with two of a planned 36 satellites ever flown",
     "source": "https://www.newspace.im/constellations/hedron"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Rebrands as Hedron and raises a $17.8M Series A led by Fine Structure Venture",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/hedron-formerly-analytical-space-raises-17-8-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-02",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "US Space Force awards $26.4M to deploy its low-latency data relay network",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005315/en/U.S.-Space-Force-Awards-Analytical-Space-%2426.4-million-Contract-to-Deploy-Fast-Pixel-Space-Data-Transport-Network"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Justin Oliveira"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Dan Nevius"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "analytical-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/analytical-space",
   "website": "https://hedron.space/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "round": "Series A, announced with the rebrand to Hedron",
     "amount": "$17.8M",
     "investors": "Led by Fine Structure Ventures, with Lockheed Martin Ventures, Republic Labs and existing backers",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/hedron-formerly-analytical-space-raises-17-8-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Rebranded to Hedron in 2021, then went quiet: the website went offline in 2024 and the domain no longer resolves. Two of a planned 36 satellites flew.",
   "one_liner": "High-speed data connection",
   "description": "A satellite relay network that helps remote sensing operators get more data down faster with their existing hardware.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Apex",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "title": "Aries SN1 marks a full year of on-orbit operation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/apexs-first-satellite-marks-one-year-in-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "title": "Aries SN1, the first production unit of its satellite bus, reaches orbit a year after clean-sheet design",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2024/10/02/apex-sn1-satellite-launched-in-march-has-anduril-payload/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ian Cinnamon"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Maximilian Benassi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "apex",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/apex",
   "website": "https://apexspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2022",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 600000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$200M",
     "investors": "Led by Point72 Ventures, co-led by 8VC, with Andreessen Horowitz, Washington Harbour Partners and StepStone Group",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apex-raises-200-million-in-series-c-funding-to-increase-productized-satellite-bus-manufacturing-302440649.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "$200M, taking the valuation past $1B",
     "investors": "Led by Interlagos",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/09/12/apex-raises-another-200m-to-expand-satellite-bus-production-capacity/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "over $200M, nearly doubling the valuation to $2.3B",
     "investors": "Led by Glade Brook Capital Partners, co-led by Washington Harbour Partners",
     "source": "https://www.apexspace.com/blog/apex-announces-additional-fundraising-at-2b-valuation-to-scale-high-rate-satellite-production-for-proliferated-constellations"
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   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite buses off assembly lines",
   "description": "Productized satellite buses on assembly lines instead of one-off builds",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Applied Ion Systems LLC",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Presents adamantane-fueled thruster work at the Gaseous Electronics Conference",
     "source": "https://www.particleincell.com/2023/adamantane-plasma-thruster/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "An AIS thruster reaches orbit for the first time on a Rocket Lab rideshare",
     "source": "https://appliedionsystems.com/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Michael Bretti"
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   ],
   "slug": "applied-ion-systems-llc",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/applied-ion-systems-llc",
   "website": "https://appliedionsystems.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": 10000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Low cost electric propulsion systems",
   "description": "Openly developed electric propulsion for nanosats and picosats, priced for teams that cannot afford standard thrusters.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Arinna",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $4M seed led by SpaceCadet Ventures to scale glass-free ultrathin solar cells",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/25/arinna-4-million-seed-round-solar-energy-space-power-problem"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins a $305,000 NSF SBIR Phase I award",
     "source": "https://seedfund.nsf.gov/awardees/phase-1/details/?company=arinna-inc"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Koosha Nassiri Nazif"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Alexander Shearer"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "arinna",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/arinna",
   "website": "https://arinna.xyz",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2024",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Power & Energy"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 4000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$4M",
     "investors": "Founded by Stanford PhDs Koosha Nazif and Alex Shearer; seed to build ultrathin space solar cells",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/25/arinna-4-million-seed-round-solar-energy-space-power-problem"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Ultrathin solar for spacecraft",
   "description": "Ultrathin next-generation solar panels for powering spacecraft at scale",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Array Labs",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Two demonstration satellites fly to validate the distributed-radar concept",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/array-labs-raises-20-million-to-scale-production-of-radar-satellites-for-3d-earth-mapping/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Andrew Peterson"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & COO",
     "name": "Isaac Robledo"
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   ],
   "slug": "array-labs",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/array-labs",
   "website": "https://arraylabs.io",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$5M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/array-labs-raises-20-million-to-scale-production-of-radar-satellites-for-3d-earth-mapping/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-10",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$5M",
     "investors": "Led by Seraphim Space and Agya Ventures",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/array-labs-raises-5m-seed/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "Pre-Series A",
     "amount": "$10M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/array-labs-raises-20-million-to-scale-production-of-radar-satellites-for-3d-earth-mapping/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$20M",
     "investors": "Led by Catapult Ventures, with Washington Harbour Partners, Kompas VC, Y Combinator and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/array-labs-raises-20-million-to-scale-production-of-radar-satellites-for-3d-earth-mapping/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "round": "Strategic round",
     "amount": "$21M",
     "investors": "Led by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation",
     "source": "https://www.tectonicdefense.com/exclusive-array-labs-raises-21m-led-by-mitsubishi-electric/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "round": "Strategic",
     "amount": "$21M",
     "investors": "Anchored by Mitsubishi Electric",
     "source": "https://www.arraylabs.io/updates/1"
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   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "3D radar maps of the whole planet",
   "description": "Formation-flying radar satellites building 3D maps of the entire planet",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Asgard Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Spain",
     "type": "achievement"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Roger Martin"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "German Grimaldo"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "asgard-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/asgard-space",
   "website": null,
   "country": "Spain",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down around 2021; the founder went on to start Valar Space. The old domain now serves an unrelated site.",
   "one_liner": "High accuracy space surveillance and tracking",
   "description": "A passive RF ground system deriving precise orbit data from satellites' broadcast signals for collision avoidance.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astra",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01-20",
     "title": "Ships 110 satellite engine systems in twelve months",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260120050820/en/Astra-Ships-110-Satellite-Engines-Focuses-on-2026-Test-Flight-of-New-Rocket"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-07-18",
     "title": "Take-private closes and Astra delists from Nasdaq",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astra-completes-deal-to-go-private/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03-07",
     "title": "Founders agree to take Astra private at $0.50 per share",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2024/03/08/astra-founders-to-take-the-company-private/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "title": "Cuts a quarter of staff and refocuses on satellite propulsion",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astra-lays-off-reassigns-employees-as-it-refocuses-on-satellite-propulsion/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04-21",
     "title": "Space Force awards a Rocket 4 task order under OSP-4",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spaceinsider.tech/2023/04/24/space-force-awards-astra-new-launch-order-for-rocket-4/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "title": "Cancels Rocket 3 to focus on a larger vehicle",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astra-cancels-rocket-3-to-focus-on-larger-vehicle/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06-12",
     "title": "Upper stage fails and two NASA TROPICS cubesats are lost",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astra-launch-of-nasa-tropics-cubesats-fails/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-11-20",
     "title": "LV0007 reaches orbit on the fourth attempt",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/11/22/astra-reaches-orbit-for-first-time-clearing-way-for-commercial-launches/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-07-01",
     "title": "Completes SPAC merger with Holicity and lists on Nasdaq",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astra-completes-spac-merger-and-begins-trading-publicly/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder, Chairman and CEO",
     "name": "Chris C. Kemp"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astra",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astra",
   "website": "https://astra.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 100000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Went public via SPAC in 2021 and taken private again by its founders in 2024. Still operating and shipping satellite propulsion, with a return to launch planned, but long past startup stage.",
   "one_liner": "Low-cost orbital launches",
   "description": "Small orbital launch vehicles, alongside electric propulsion systems sold to satellite operators and government customers.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astralytical",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Publishes a second book, Becoming Off-Worldly, on preparing for spaceflight",
     "source": "https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4317/1"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Publishes founder Laura Forczyk's first book, Rise of the Space Age Millennials",
     "source": "https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3878/1"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Laura Seward Forczyk"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astralytical",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astralytical",
   "website": "https://www.astralytical.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space analysis and consulting",
   "description": "A research and publishing firm covering space industry and policy analysis, career coaching, and communications.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2019-09-21"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astranis Space Technologies Corp",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "title": "Four MicroGEO satellites launch together on a dedicated Falcon 9",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/four-satellite-astranis-launch-signals-shift-toward-scaled-geo-deployments/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Omega, a next-generation MicroGEO with five times the throughput",
     "source": "https://www.spacevoyaging.com/news/2024/04/16/astranis-introduces-a-new-and-more-powerful-geo-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-07",
     "title": "A solar array drive failure on Arcturus derails the Alaska broadband service; a spare satellite is promised",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.astranis.com/blog/solar-array-drive-issue-causes-delay-to-alaska-service-first-of-its-kind-spare-satellite-to-be-on-next-astranis-launch-579ec"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "title": "Arcturus, the first MicroGEO satellite, reaches geostationary orbit and beams first signals to Alaska",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.astranis.com/blog/first-astranis-satellite-successfully-deployed-to-geo-beams-first-signals-down-to-alaska-257ba"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "John Gedmark"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Ryan McLinko"
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   ],
   "slug": "astranis-space-technologies-corp",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astranis-space-technologies-corp",
   "website": "https://www.astranis.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 750000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "$200M",
     "investors": "Led by Andreessen Horowitz and BAM Elevate, with BlackRock, Fidelity and Baillie Gifford",
     "source": "https://www.astranis.com/blog/astranis-raises-200-million-series-d-fully-funding-omega-development-program-c2dea"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Small dedicated GEO satellites",
   "description": "Small geostationary communications satellites sold whole to a single country or operator rather than shared across many.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astrobotic",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-13",
     "title": "Voyager completes its acquisition of Astrobotic",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/voyager-completes-acquisition-of-astrobotic/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06-30",
     "title": "NASA awards a $298 million order for Peregrine-2",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260713082631/en/Voyager-Awarded-$298M-NASA-Contract-Under-Completed-Astrobotic-Acquisition"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06-02",
     "title": "Voyager Technologies agrees to buy Astrobotic for about $300 million",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2026/06/02/voyager-technologies-acquires-astrobotic-for-300-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-07-17",
     "title": "NASA cancels VIPER but keeps the Griffin task order",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/nasa-cancels-viper-lunar-rover/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01-18",
     "title": "Peregrine destroyed in a controlled reentry over the South Pacific",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.americaspace.com/2024/01/21/peregrine-lunar-lander-reenters-following-dramatic-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01-08",
     "title": "Peregrine suffers a propellant leak hours after launch",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/08/world/peregrine-lunar-lander-anomaly-astrobotic-nasa-scn"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-06-11",
     "title": "NASA awards $199.5 million to deliver VIPER on the Griffin lander",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/11/nasa-picks-astrobotic-to-send-water-hunting-rover-viper-to-the-moon.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-05-31",
     "title": "NASA awards a $79.5 million CLPS order for 14 Peregrine payloads",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/astrobotic-awarded-79-5-million-contract-to-deliver-14-nasa-payloads-to-the-moon-300859958.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2008",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "John Thornton"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astrobotic",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astrobotic",
   "website": "https://www.astrobotic.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2008",
   "sectors": [
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Voyager Technologies in July 2026 for about $300M; now a Voyager subsidiary, as Nanoracks is.",
   "one_liner": "Space robotics hardware and missions",
   "description": "Its Peregrine lunar lander delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, and individuals.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "AstroComm",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Shabbir Parvez"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astrocomm",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astrocomm",
   "website": "https://www.astrocommtech.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Ground Segment & Tracking"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Spacecraft and ground-based hardware",
   "description": "A joint venture of three firms offering consulting and products for satellite communications.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "AstroForge",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "title": "Contact with Odin is lost in deep space; the company publishes a full failure debrief",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.astroforge.com/updates-collection/odint-mission-debrief"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "title": "Odin launches on the IM-2 rideshare, the first private deep-space asteroid-mining scout",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/science/astroforge-asteroid-mining-spacex-launch"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "title": "Brokkr-1 demonstration cubesat reaches orbit, though its refinery payload cannot be switched on",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/hope-is-all-but-lost-for-private-asteroid-probe-in-deep-space-the-chance-of-talking-with-odin-is-minimal"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Matt Gialich"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Jose Acain"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astroforge",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astroforge",
   "website": "https://astroforge.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2022",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 55000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$40M, bringing total funding to $55M",
     "investors": "Led by Nova Threshold, with 776, Initialized, Caladan, Y Combinator, Uncorrelated Ventures and Jed McCaleb",
     "source": "https://468cap.com/astroforge-raises-40m-series-a/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Prospecting asteroids for platinum",
   "description": "Prospecting metallic near-Earth asteroids for platinum-group metals, with two spacecraft flown so far.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astrolab",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "NASA selects Astrolab to provide the lunar rover for Artemis astronauts’ return to the Moon",
     "source": "https://www.astrolab.space/2026/05/26/nasa-selects-astrolab-to-provide-lunar-rover-for-artemis-astronauts-return-to-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "FLIP, its smaller rover, becomes the primary payload on Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 Moon lander",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/astrolab-to-fly-its-flip-lunar-lander-on-astrobotics-griffin-1-lander/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "Wins one of three places on NASA’s $4.6B Lunar Terrain Vehicle contract for Artemis",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.govconwire.com/articles/nasa-awards-3-spots-on-4-6b-lunar-exploration-vehicle-development-contract"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03",
     "title": "Books its FLEX rover onto a SpaceX Starship lunar lander flight, SpaceX’s first commercial lunar cargo contract",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.astrolab.space/2023/03/31/astrolabs-flex-rover-to-be-launched-on-upcoming-spacex-mission-to-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Emerges from stealth, unveiling FLEX with a full-scale prototype driven in the California desert",
     "source": "https://www.astrolab.space/2022/03/10/driving-flex-whats-it-like-to-drive-the-most-advanced-ltv/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jaret Matthews"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astrolab",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astrolab",
   "website": "https://astrolab.space",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Lunar",
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Lunar rovers for the long term",
   "description": "FLEX lunar rovers moving cargo and crew equipment across the Moon's surface",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Astroscale",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "title": "ADRAS-J closes to 15 metres of the rocket body, the closest commercial approach to space debris",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/astroscales-adras-j-to-rendezvous-with-orbital-debris/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "title": "ADRAS-J launches on Electron to inspect a discarded H-2A upper stage, the first commercial rendezvous with unprepared debris",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-astroscale-inspection-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "title": "ELSA-d completes its de-orbit operations, closing the debris-removal demonstration",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.astroscale.com/en/news/astroscales-elsa-d-finalizes-de-orbit-operations-marking-successful-mission-conclusion"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "title": "ELSA-d demonstrates the first commercial magnetic capture of an object in orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.astroscale.com/en/news/astroscales-elsa-d-successfully-demonstrates-repeated-magnetic-capture"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Nobu Okada"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "astroscale",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astroscale",
   "website": "https://astroscale.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing",
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 117700000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space debris removal",
   "description": "Servicing missions that inspect, capture and de-orbit debris, and extend the working life of satellites already in orbit.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/astroscale",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Atlas Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "York Space Systems’ parent agrees to acquire ATLAS, which keeps its brand and Traverse City base",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/york-space-systems-parent-company-to-acquire-atlas-space-operations-to-expand-mission-delivery-and-space-to-ground-capabilities-302508489.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Corey Geer"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Sean McDaniel"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Brad Bode"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Mike Carey"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "atlas-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/atlas-space",
   "website": "https://atlasspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Ground Segment & Tracking",
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$26M",
     "investors": "Led by Mitsui, with Beringea and foundational investors",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/atlas-space-operations-secures-26m-in-series-b-funding-led-by-mitsui/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "$15M",
     "investors": "Led by NewSpace Capital",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/atlas-raises-15m-to-bolster-ground-station-software-biz/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by York Space Systems’ parent company in 2025; keeps the ATLAS brand in Traverse City.",
   "one_liner": "Satellite communications as a service",
   "description": "Its cloud-based Freedom software platform replaces legacy ground systems so customers gather more data, faster.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Atmos Space Cargo",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "PHOENIX 1, Europe’s first private reentry capsule test, flies on Bandwagon-3; the data comes home, the capsule does not",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-space-cargo-tentatively-declares-phoenix-1-flight-a-success/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Sebastian Klaus"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Marta Oliveira"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jeffrey Hendrikse"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Christian Grimm"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "atmos-space-cargo",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/atmos-space-cargo",
   "website": "https://atmos-space-cargo.com",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "EUR 4M",
     "investors": "Co-led by High-Tech Gruenderfonds and the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, with Seraphim Space, E2MC and others",
     "source": "https://atmos-space-cargo.com/milestones/e-3-9m-seed-round-successfully-closed/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "EUR 25.7M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Balnord and Expansion, with Keen Defence and Security and the European Innovation Council Accelerator",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-space-cargo-raises-e25-7-million-to-begin-space-return-operations/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Reentry capsules for orbital cargo",
   "description": "Phoenix reentry capsules bringing microgravity research and cargo home from orbit",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Atomos Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquired by Katalyst Space Technologies, which keeps the Quark line and the Broomfield facility",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/katalyst-space-acquires-atomos-to-accelerate-in-space-services/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Mission-1 launches the Quark-LITE tug and Gluon target craft, recovering from early communications trouble",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/22/atomos-spaces-first-mission-on-orbit-is-a-trial-by-fire/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $16.2M Series A co-led by Cantos and the Yamauchi No.10 Family Office",
     "source": "https://www.builtincolorado.com/articles/atomos-space-raises-16m-space-tech-hiring"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Vanessa Clark"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/COO",
     "name": "William Kowalski"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "atomos-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/atomos-space",
   "website": "https://www.atomosspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 460000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Katalyst Space Technologies in 2025.",
   "one_liner": "In-space transportation service",
   "description": "Orbiting space tugs for last-mile satellite logistics: orbit raising, precision insertion, phasing, and plane changes.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Audacy",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Shuts down after defaulting on its debt, having failed to raise further funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/audacy-shuts-down/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-12",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Demo cubesat Audacy Zero launches on the SSO-A rideshare; contact is never established",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/audacy-zero.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Reports over $100M in pre-service customer agreements across three continents",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2018/10/05/audacy-hits-the-100m-mark-so-now-what/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-06",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "Receives an FCC license to operate the first commercial inter-satellite data relay network",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/audacy-receives-fcc-license-to-operate-the-first-commercial-inter-satellite-data-relay-network-684810361.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ralph Ewig"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "James Spicer"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Sam Avery"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "audacy",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/audacy",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 13100000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Shut down in 2019.",
   "one_liner": "Anytime and seamless space connectivity",
   "description": "A connectivity architecture giving LEO satellites always-on, real-time data access from launch pad to lunar distance.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Australia Space Launch",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Richard Allen"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "australia-space-launch",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/australia-space-launch",
   "website": "https://www.spacelaunch.com.au/",
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "The website is a dead placeholder page and no launches, contracts, funding or filings appear anywhere on the public record.",
   "one_liner": "Helping launch down under",
   "description": "Planning and development of a sovereign commercial space launch capability for Australia.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Axelspace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "title": "Four GRUS satellites reach orbit from Baikonur, growing the AxelGlobe constellation to five",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://news.satnews.com/2021/03/31/four-axelspace-grus-to-launch-at-baikonur-in-march/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013-11",
     "title": "WNISAT-1, a 10 kg Arctic-monitoring microsatellite for Weathernews, reaches orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/wnisat-1"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Yuya Nakamura"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "axelspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/axelspace",
   "website": "https://www.axelspace.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2008",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "about 6.24 billion yen (stated by the company as $44M); cumulative equity through Series D about 14.3 billion yen",
     "investors": "Led by SMBC-GB Growth I, with Mitsui Fudosan, Yamato Holdings, EPSON X Investment, Keio Innovation Initiative and others",
     "source": "https://www.axelspace.com/news/seriesd/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "round": "IPO on TSE Growth (402A)",
     "amount": "listed via Axelspace Holdings at 375 yen per share",
     "investors": "Public offering",
     "source": "https://www.jpx.co.jp/english/news/1031/20250812_01.html"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Public since August 2025 via Axelspace Holdings (TSE Growth: 402A).",
   "one_liner": "Optical microsatellites",
   "description": "Optical microsatellites for Earth observation and custom customer missions.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Axiom Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "title": "Ax-1, the first all-private astronaut mission, docks with the ISS for a 17-day stay",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/first-private-astronaut-mission-takes-flight/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Michael Suffredini"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & Executive Chairman",
     "name": "Kam Ghaffarian"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "axiom-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/axiom-space",
   "website": "https://axiomspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Habitats",
    "Biosphere"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 660000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$350M, bringing lifetime funding past $505M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Aljazira Capital and Boryung",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/axiom-space-raises-350-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "$100M at a roughly $2B valuation",
     "investors": "Co-led by 1789 Capital and Type One Ventures",
     "source": "https://sacra.com/c/axiom-space/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Commercial space stations",
   "description": "An international commercial station adding services at the ISS and taking over when the ISS retires.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Bagaveev",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Goes quiet without an orbital attempt; the NewSpace Index lists the launcher as cancelled",
     "source": "https://www.newspace.im/launchers/bagaveev-corporation"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-01",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Joins Y Combinator's winter 2015 batch",
     "source": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/bagaveev-corporation"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Nadir Bagaveyev"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "bagaveev",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bagaveev",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 655000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down. Y Combinator lists the company (YC W15) as inactive and no activity has been found since.",
   "one_liner": "3D printed rocket engines",
   "description": "A launch effort aimed at flying nanosatellites weekly, with a two-person reusable rocket as a later goal.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Because Learning",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "DreamUp acquires the Because Learning products; independent operations end",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/dreamup-announces-asset-purchase-of-because-learning-stem-education-products/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-09",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Ardusat rebrands as Because Learning, growing from cubesat lessons into a broader STEM curriculum",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ardusat-rebrands-as-because-learning-expands-curriculum-and-adds-subscription-model-for-educators-and-consumers-300519487.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Sunny Washington"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "because-learning",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/because-learning",
   "website": "https://www.becauselearning.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "round": "Seed (as Ardusat)",
     "amount": "$1M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.deseret.com/2017/10/8/20621136/salt-lake-company-expands-into-online-stem-programs-for-teachers-consumers/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "STEM products acquired by DreamUp in October 2021; independent operations ended.",
   "one_liner": "STEM missions to space",
   "description": "Through its Ardusat program, students design and run sensor experiments on satellites to collect real space data.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/because-learning",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "BioOrbit",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Closes a £9.8M seed co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Its first crystallisation unit is lost when The Exploration Company’s capsule fails to land",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/the-exploration-company-claims-partial-success-of-mission-possible-reentry-spacecraft/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Joins the ESA business incubator in the UK with UK Space Agency support",
     "source": "https://esa-bic.org.uk/2023/11/07/uk-start-up-to-develop-tech-for-pharma-factory-in-space/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Katie King"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Leonor Teles"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "bioorbit",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bioorbit",
   "website": "https://bioorbit.com",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2023",
   "sectors": [
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "GBP 9.8M, reported as the largest seed round yet for in-space manufacturing",
     "investors": "Co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega, with Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One Ventures and 7percent Ventures",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Pharma crystals grown in microgravity",
   "description": "Crystallizing pharmaceutical proteins in microgravity for better cancer drugs",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Black Arrow",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Paul Williams"
    },
    {
     "role": "Head of Marketing",
     "name": "Bill Leach"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "black-arrow-space-technologies",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/black-arrow-space-technologies",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "Still legally active at Companies House and filing micro-entity accounts, but the filings show no visible investment or trading, and no operational milestone has ever reached the public record.",
   "one_liner": "Horizon sea launch service",
   "description": "Payload launches of up to 500 kg to polar low Earth orbit from its own seaborne launch vessel.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Blue Origin",
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    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "title": "New Glenn lands its booster on the ship Jacklyn on the rocket’s second flight",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/new-glenn-rocket-nails-landing-on-drone-ship-jacklyn-marking-fresh-milestone-for-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-1.500345580"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "title": "New Glenn reaches orbit on its first flight; the booster landing attempt is missed",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/new-glenn-reaches-orbit-on-first-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Blue Ring, a spacecraft platform for in-space logistics and delivery",
     "source": "https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-unveils-space-mobility-platform"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Announces Orbital Reef, a commercial space station developed with Sierra Space",
     "source": "https://www.blueorigin.com/news/orbital-reef-commercial-space-station"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-07",
     "title": "First crewed New Shepard flight carries Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/blue-origin-new-shepard-first-passenger-launch-reactions"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016-09",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Reveals New Glenn, the reusable orbital rocket named for John Glenn",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-announces-immense-new-glenn-rocket/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-11",
     "title": "New Shepard makes the first vertical landing of a booster that crossed the Kármán line",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.americaspace.com/2025/01/12/after-25-years-of-work-blue-origin-stands-ready-for-new-glenn-debut/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Jeff Bezos"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Dave Limp"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "blue-origin",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/blue-origin",
   "website": "https://blueorigin.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2000",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": 1000000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1000+",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Orbital rockets and spacecraft",
   "description": "New Shepard suborbital flights, the New Glenn orbital rocket, BE-4 engines and the Blue Moon lunar lander.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "BridgeSat",
   "current_name": "BridgeComm",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Voyager Technologies acquires its optical terminal and ground station technology after years of inactivity",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2025/09/22/voyager-acquires-optical-technology-from-bridgecomm/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-09",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $10M Series B led by Boeing HorizonX to build out its optical ground station network",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2018/09/10/boeing-invests-in-optical-ground-stations-through-bridgesat/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Formed by Allied Minds around optical communications work from MIT and Draper",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2015/03/17/allied-minds-announces-the-formation-of-bridgesat-inc-like-minds-think-alike/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO (2017-2022)",
     "name": "Barry Matsumori"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO (from 2022)",
     "name": "Michael Abad-Santos"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "bridgesat",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bridgesat",
   "website": "https://www.bridgecomminc.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2018-09",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$10M of a planned $15M offering",
     "investors": "Led by Boeing HorizonX Ventures, with Allied Minds",
     "source": "https://www.geekwire.com/2018/boeing-bridgesat-laser-satellite-communications/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Went inactive around 2022 without any announcement; Voyager Technologies acquired its optical terminal and ground station technology in September 2025.",
   "one_liner": "Laser communication terminals",
   "description": "An optical network that moves data from LEO satellites to the ground faster and cheaper than radio frequency links.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Bryce Space & Tech",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins about $70M in Department of Defense prime contracts supporting chemical and biological defense",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brycetech-awarded-70-million-in-prime-contracts-to-advance-cbrn-capabilities-for-the-us-department-of-defense-302539046.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Carissa Bryce Christensen"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "bryce-space-tech",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bryce-space-tech",
   "website": "https://brycetech.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space and technology analytics services",
   "description": "An analytics and engineering firm serving space and satellite, cyber, and R&D clients.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Capella Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07-15",
     "title": "IonQ completes the acquisition of Capella Space",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/15/ionq-completes-acquisition-of-capella-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05-07",
     "title": "Quantum computing firm IonQ agrees to buy Capella for $311 million",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/ionq-buys-capella-space-for-quantum-comms-gambit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-09-16",
     "title": "Air Force awards a $15 million AFWERX STRATFI to scale SAR",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240916227948/en/Capella-Space-Awarded-a-15M-Contract-with-the-U.S.-Air-Force"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08-04",
     "title": "Satellites deorbit faster than planned, cutting fleet life",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/04/capellas-earth-imaging-satellites-are-deorbiting-faster-than-expected/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01-11",
     "title": "Raises $60 million from the US Innovative Technology Fund",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2023/01/11/sar-startup-capella-space-raises-60-million-from-new-u-s-innovative-technology-fund/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "title": "Unveils the next-generation Acadia radar satellite line",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/capella-space-unveils-next-gen-acadia-sar-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "title": "Raises $97 million Series C led by NightDragon",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/capella-series-c/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-08-31",
     "title": "Sequoia, the first US commercial SAR satellite, launches on Electron",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/31/rocket-lab-returns-to-service-with-successful-launch-for-capella/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-12-03",
     "title": "Denali pathfinder radar satellite launches on Falcon 9",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capella-space-is-first-american-company-to-send-advanced-commercial-radar-satellite-to-space-300759377.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Payam Banazadeh"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Frank Backes"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "capella-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/capella-space",
   "website": "https://capellaspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 33900000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by IonQ in 2025.",
   "one_liner": "Gathering information from space",
   "description": "Timely Earth observation for commerce, conservation, and well-being, documenting change across the globe.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Cemvita Factory",
   "current_name": "Cemvita",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06-02",
     "title": "Completes a 75,000 litre FermOil run at a European pilot plant",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/cemvita-successfully-demonstrates-75000-liter-industrial-scale-up-of-fermoil-platform-using-crude-glycerin-a-byproduct-of-biodiesel-production"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-18",
     "title": "Sumitomo do Brasil signs a Brazil bio-oil agreement",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://biomassmagazine.com/articles/sumitomo-corporation-do-brasil-and-cemvita-partner-to-integrate-production-of-bio-methane-and-bio-oil-a-precursor-of-saf-in-brazil"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "title": "United Airlines signs an offtake for up to a billion gallons of fuel",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/14092023/cemvita-corporation-announces-offtake-arrangement-with-united-airlines/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "title": "Gold H2 completes its spin-out as a separate company",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://houston.innovationmap.com/cemvita-gold-h2-prabhdeep-singh-sekhon-2668104107.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-09-27",
     "title": "Forms the Gold H2 subsidiary after a Permian gold hydrogen field test",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220927005409/en/Cemvitas-Successful-Field-Test-Demonstrates-Gold-Hydrogen-Production-in-Situ"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "title": "Pivots out of space, dropping in-space biomanufacturing",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://web.archive.org/web/20220812131639/https://www.cemvitafactory.com/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "title": "Closes the first tranche of a Series A led by 8090 Partners",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/houston-based-cemvita-factory-announces-its-initial-closing-of-series-a-led-by-8090-partners-to-accelerate-industrial-decarbonization-301352881.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-08-15",
     "title": "Occidental's venture arm takes an equity stake",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/panorama/oxy-low-carbon-ventures-invests-in-cemvita-20190823/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-10-17",
     "title": "Takes second place in the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre challenge",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://satelliteprome.com/news/mohammed-bin-rashid-space-centre-honours-space-technology-startup-winners-of-innovation-challenge-at-gitex/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Moji Karimi"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Science Officer",
     "name": "Tara Karimi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "cemvita-factory",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/cemvita-factory",
   "website": "https://cemvita.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Biosphere"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": "Pivoted out of space. Its in-space biomanufacturing line disappeared from the company website in August 2022 and never returned; the business today is terrestrial industrial biotech.",
   "one_liner": "Engineered microbes that eat CO2",
   "description": "A platform that mimics photosynthesis to turn CO2 into nutrients, pharmaceutics, and industrial chemicals.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/cemvita-factory",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Chang Guang Satellite",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises about 5B yuan led by state funds and restarts its IPO, with 161 Jilin-1 satellites launched across 30 launches",
     "source": "http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/202607/t20260709_3078237.shtml"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Claims a 100 gigabit per second laser image downlink, tenfold its 2023 demonstration",
     "source": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3293038/china-beats-starlink-hi-res-space-ground-laser-transmission-6g-standard"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Withdraws its STAR Market IPO after two years under review",
     "source": "https://www.jiemian.com/article/12091028.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "A Chinese-record 41 satellites ride a single Long March 2D, taking Jilin-1 past 100 in orbit",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/china-single-launch-record-41-satellites-video"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Demonstrates satellite-to-ground laser image downlinks at 10 gigabits per second",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-changguang-satellite-demonstrates-space-to-ground-laser-links/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "The first four Jilin-1 satellites launch, China's first self-developed commercial remote sensing spacecraft, two of them video satellites",
     "source": "https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/10/china-launches-jilin-1-mission-long-march-2d/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & Chairman",
     "name": "Xuan Ming"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "chang-guang-satellite",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/chang-guang-satellite",
   "website": "https://www.jl1.cn",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "The world's biggest sub-meter constellation",
   "description": "Operates Jilin-1, the largest sub-meter commercial imaging constellation in the world, from Changchun.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ClearSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "ESA and ClearSpace announce PRELUDE, a two-spacecraft servicing demonstration for 2027",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/esa-and-clearspace-announce-prelude-in-orbit-servicing-and-debris-removal-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "UK Space Agency awards £2.35M to accelerate the CLEAR debris removal mission",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2024/09/11/uk-space-agency-awards-new-contract-to-clearspace-to-accelerate-space-debris-removal-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "ESA and ClearSpace retarget the mission from the damaged adapter to the PROBA-1 satellite",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/sustainability/2024/04/24/clearspace-1-mission-changes-objective-in-response-to-space-debris-collision/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "The debris object ClearSpace-1 was built to capture is itself hit by untracked debris",
     "source": "https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Objects_detected_in_the_vicinity_of_ClearSpace-1_debris_removal_mission_target"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a €26.7M Series A led by OTB Ventures and Swisscom Ventures",
     "source": "https://spaceinsider.tech/2023/01/19/clearspace-raises-e26-million-to-cleanup-space-in-a-series-a-round-led-by-otb-ventures-and-swisscom-ventures/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Luc Piguet"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Muriel Richard"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "clearspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/clearspace",
   "website": "https://clearspace.today/",
   "country": "Switzerland",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "EUR 26.7M (about US$29M); separate from the ~EUR 110M ESA ClearSpace-1 mission contract, which is a contract, not equity",
     "investors": "Co-led by OTB Ventures and Swisscom Ventures, with the Luxembourg Future Fund, Lakestar, In-Q-Tel, Happiness Capital and 600 T Space Investments",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/clearspace-raises-29-million-ahead-of-first-debris-removal-mission/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Removing defunct satellites",
   "description": "An EPFL spin-off demonstrating satellite removal technology through its CleanSpace One mission.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ConstellR",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02-10",
     "title": "Closes a €37 million Series A led by Alpine Space Ventures",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/earth-observation-data-provider-constellr-closes-e37-million-series-a/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-23",
     "title": "SkyBee-2 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-14",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/constellr/description"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03-17",
     "title": "Releases first light thermal imagery of Tokyo at night",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/constellr-releases-first-light-imagery-of-tokyo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-14",
     "title": "SkyBee-1 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-12",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.rapidresponse.copernicus.eu/constellrs-skybee-1-satellite-launched-into-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-07",
     "title": "Extends the seed round to €17 million and enters the US market",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/thermal-data-startup-constellr-extends-seed-round-to-e17m/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-11-03",
     "title": "Raises $10 million seed co-led by Lakestar and Vsquared",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/03/satellite-startup-constellr-wins-backing-to-build-out-its-water-monitoring-platform/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Dr. Max Gulde"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Marius Bierdel"
    },
    {
     "role": "COO",
     "name": "Christian Williges"
    },
    {
     "role": "CFO",
     "name": "Christian Mittermaier"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "constellr",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/constellr",
   "website": "https://constellr.com",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Surface temperature monitoring",
   "description": "A space-based system for monitoring crop health daily, globally, and down to a single field.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Deep Blue Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Sells China's first publicly offered space tourism tickets, two seats for a planned 2027 flight, on a Taobao livestream",
     "source": "https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202410/1321797.shtml"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "High-altitude recovery test fails in the final seconds when engines shut down early; the stage falls and explodes",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/deep-blue-aerospace-hop-test-suffers-anomaly-moments-before-landing/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Nebula-M1 flies a kilometre-high hop and lands within half a metre of its target",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/deep-blue-aerospace-completes-kilometer-level-rocket-launch-and-landing-test/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Huo Liang"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "deep-blue-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/deep-blue-aerospace",
   "website": "https://www.dbaspace.com",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Landing rockets before reaching orbit",
   "description": "Has been landing rocket test vehicles since 2021 and has yet to attempt orbit, the reverse of everyone else's order.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Earthcube",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Safran completes its acquisition, folding the company into Safran.AI",
     "source": "https://www.safran-group.com/pressroom/ai-leader-preligens-joins-safran-2024-09-02"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-11",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a EUR 20M Series A led by Ace Management and Definvest, rebranding as Preligens",
     "source": "https://www.clipperton.com/news-transaction/preligens-formerly-named-earthcube-raises-a-series-a-of-e20-million-led-by-ace-management-and-definvest"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Arnaud Guérin"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CTO",
     "name": "Renaud Allioux"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "earthcube",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/earthcube",
   "website": "https://www.earthcube.eu/",
   "country": "France",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 3300000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Rebranded to Preligens in 2020; acquired by Safran in 2024.",
   "one_liner": "Monitoring solutions powered by automation",
   "description": "Automated geospatial monitoring built on computer vision and machine learning for faster, less costly interventions.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Eclipse Orbital",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Joe Zemke"
    },
    {
     "role": "Avionics Chief",
     "name": "Matteo Borri"
    },
    {
     "role": "Biz Dev",
     "name": "Blaze Sanders"
    },
    {
     "role": "Technical Architect",
     "name": "Forrest Dix"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "eclipse-orbital",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/eclipse-orbital",
   "website": "https://www.eclipseorbital.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "Nothing found since 2020, when social activity stopped and the LinkedIn page came down. The NewSpace Index lists its launcher as cancelled and the website no longer resolves, but no wind-down was ever announced, so this is recorded as dormant rather than closed. Not to be confused with Eclipse Space, a separate megaconstellation startup founded in 2025 by former Starlink engineers.",
   "one_liner": "Affordable cube-sat launch service",
   "description": "A launch vehicle pitched on best value and ease of use for CubeSat customers rather than record-breaking size.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ElevationSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs with ispace for Japan’s first private lunar sample return, providing the reentry capsule",
     "source": "https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=7871"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "title": "Signs a co-creation project with JAXA for high-frequency reentry and recovery from LEO",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2023/04/20230427-1_e.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ryohei Kobayashi"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Toshinori Kuwahara"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "elevationspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/elevationspace",
   "website": "https://elevation-space.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 63500000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$2.7M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220307006086/en/ElevationSpace-a-Japanese-Space-Start-up-Company-That-Develops-Satellites-to-Replace-the-ISS-Raises-$2.7-Million-of-Seed-funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "6.4 billion yen (about $40M), taking the total raised to about $63.5M",
     "investors": "SPARX Asset Management, Beyond Next Ventures, Energy and Environment Investment, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Toyoda Gosei and Dai Nippon Printing",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/elevationspace-secures-us-40-million-in-series-b-funding-bringing-total-raised-to-us-63-5-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Bringing orbit-made materials home",
   "description": "Small re-entry spacecraft returning materials made in orbit back to Earth.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Enpulsion",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Secures €22.5M led by Nordwind Growth to expand into the US, its first big outside raise",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/enpulsion-secures-e22-5-million-to-expand-us-market-presence/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "EnduroSat orders 100 propulsion systems, the first 30 within a year",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/endurosat-orders-100-enpulsion-propulsion-systems/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Passes 200 propulsion systems flown, a year after reaching 100",
     "source": "https://douglasmmessier.substack.com/p/enpulsion-passes-milestone-of-200"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Dr. Alexander Reissner"
    },
    {
     "role": "COO",
     "name": "Thomas Wulz"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Dr. David Krejci"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "enpulsion",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/enpulsion",
   "website": "https://www.enpulsion.com/",
   "country": "Austria",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "EUR 22.5M, reported as the company’s first significant outside funding since its 2016 founding",
     "investors": "Led by Nordwind Growth",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/enpulsion-secures-e22-5-million-to-expand-us-market-presence/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Advanced propulsion systems for small sats",
   "description": "Modular smallsat propulsion sold to satellite platform integrators worldwide from its base in Austria.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "EOS Data Analytics",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Releases the first commercial-quality images from EOS SAT-1",
     "source": "https://dragonflyaerospace.com/dragonfly-aerospace-unveils-spectacular-first-images-from-eos-sat-1/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "EOS SAT-1, its first agriculture-focused satellite, launches on a Falcon 9 rideshare",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eos-sat-1.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Artem Anisimov"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "eos-data-analytics",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/eos-data-analytics",
   "website": "https://eos.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite imagery analytics",
   "description": "A global provider of satellite imagery analytics",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2025-02-04"
  },
  {
   "name": "Epic Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020",
     "title": "Article on Forbes",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Ignacio Belieres"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "epic-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/epic-aerospace",
   "website": "https://epic-aerospace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 150000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space transportation network",
   "description": "A reusable space tug intended to connect every point in space.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Epsilon3",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Launches Epsilon3 2.0, one platform for workflows, inventory and quality across 135+ organisations",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epsilon3-launches-epsilon3-2-0--expanding-operational-coordination-across-the-worlds-most-high-stakes-industries-302787785.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "FedRAMP High authorisation clears the platform for US government programmes",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/epsilon3-launches-fedramp-high-authorized-procedure-execution-software/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Builds, Scheduling and Data modules, growing beyond procedure execution",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/epsilon3-unveils-three-new-products/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Awarded a SpaceWERX Orbital Prime contract to apply the platform to Space Force in-space servicing work",
     "source": "https://www.epsilon3.io/behind-the-console/epsilon3-awarded-spacewerx-orbital-prime-contract"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Engineer",
     "name": "Aaron Sullivan"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "epsilon3",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/epsilon3",
   "website": "https://www.epsilon3.io/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-01",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$2.8M",
     "investors": "Lux Capital, Village Global, Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund and others",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/26/epsilon3-lines-up-2-8m-seed-round-to-modernize-space-and-launch-operations/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$15M",
     "investors": "Led by Lux Capital, with Y Combinator, Moore Strategic Ventures and MaC Venture Capital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/epsilon3-raises-15-million-for-space-project-management-platform/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "SaaS for space ops",
   "description": "A web platform where space teams track engineering, assembly, testing, and other complex procedures.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/epsilon3",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Exo-Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquired by Sidus Space, in what its crowdfunding platform Spaced Ventures calls its first exit",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/spaced-ventures-first-exit-sidus-space-purchase-of-exo-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Delivers its FeatherEdge AI processing hardware to Sidus Space for the LizzieSat program",
     "source": "https://investors.sidusspace.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/100/exo-space-hardware-delivered-to-sidus-space-for-integration"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jeremy Allam"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & Lead Mechanical Engineer",
     "name": "Marcel Lariviere"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer",
     "name": "Mark Lorden"
    },
    {
     "role": "Chief Technology Officer",
     "name": "Tate Schaar"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "exo-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/exo-space",
   "website": "https://www.exo-space.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Sidus Space in August 2023.",
   "one_liner": "Edge computing in space",
   "description": "Edge software and hardware built to withstand harsh space conditions and provide data processing services.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Exodus Space Corp",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Unveils the AstroClipper reusable spaceplane concept",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/astroclipper-space-plane-concept-cargo-passenger-flights.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Miguel Ayala"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "exodus-space-corp",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/exodus-space-corp",
   "website": "https://www.exodus-space.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "No public activity since about 2021. The company's domain has lapsed to an unrelated business and its founder has moved on; no dissolution was ever announced.",
   "one_liner": "Reusable horizontal space vehicles",
   "description": "Patented designs for AI-driven spaceplanes that take off and land horizontally and are fully reusable.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "EXOS Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-10",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Fourth SARGE flight fails about 48 seconds after liftoff; the vehicle is lost",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/exos-aerospace-suborbital-launch-fails/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Reflies the same SARGE airframe, demonstrating reuse",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/exos-aerospace-reflies-suborbital-rocket/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-08",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "First flight of the reusable SARGE sounding rocket from Spaceport America, recovered by parachute",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/exos-aerospace-launches-sarge-suborbital-rocket/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "John Quinn"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & President",
     "name": "David Mitchell"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Russell Blink"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & COO",
     "name": "Neil Milburn"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Phil Eaton"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "exos-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/exos-aerospace",
   "website": "https://exosaero.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": 1000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Reusable suborbital space vehicles",
   "description": "Commercial suborbital flights for payload customers who need minutes of microgravity and fast turnaround.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2019-07-05"
  },
  {
   "name": "Firefly Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Lists on Nasdaq as FLY after pricing an upsized IPO",
     "source": "https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-announces-pricing-of-upsized-initial-public-offering/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Blue Ghost lands in Mare Crisium, the first fully successful commercial Moon landing",
     "source": "https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-becomes-first-commercial-company-to-successfully-land-on-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Debuts Elytra, a line of orbital transfer vehicles for on-orbit services",
     "source": "https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-debuts-elytra-orbital-vehicles-with-enhanced-on-orbit-mobility-and-services/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Tom Markusic"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "P.J. King"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Michael Blum"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Jason Kim"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "firefly-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/firefly-aerospace",
   "website": "http://www.fireflyspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 21600000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Small-satellite launchers",
   "description": "An Austin-based maker and operator of launch vehicles giving small payloads economical access to space.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "First Resonance",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06-24",
     "title": "Launches ION Intelligence and the ION Marketplace",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-resonance-launches-ion-intelligence-new-ion-factory-operating-system-and-ion-marketplace-to-accelerate-reshoring--modern-manufacturing-302489268.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12-23",
     "title": "Third Prime leads a round taking total funding to $32 million",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-resonance-secures-major-investment-to-drive-digital-manufacturing-with-ion-factory-os-302338060.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-12-09",
     "title": "Raises a $14 million Series A led by Craft Ventures",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-resonance-raises-14m-series-a-to-fuel-development-of-factory-operating-system-to-help-manufacturers-navigate-unprecedented-supply-chain-challenges-301440988.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-02",
     "title": "Raises a $3.5 million seed led by Blue Bear Capital",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.latechwatch.com/2021/02/first-resonance-factory-operating-system-ion-karan-talati/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Karan Talati"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "first-resonance",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/first-resonance",
   "website": "https://firstresonance.io/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Software for aerospace manufacturing",
   "description": "Gives hardware engineers tools to move fast instead of sifting through spreadsheets, emails, and files.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Fleet",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Opens a 5,300 m² satellite and sensor hyperfactory at Adelaide Airport",
     "source": "https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/business/2025/09/30/liftoff-fleet-space-opens-new-hyperfactory-at-adelaide-airport"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Makes its first acquisition, buying hard-rock seismic company HiSeis",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/03/05/fleet-space-technologies-makes-its-first-acquisition-to-boost-mineral-exploration-tech/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Books SPIDER, a seismic payload hunting lunar water ice, on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2",
     "source": "https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-announces-agreement-with-fleet-space-to-deliver-payload-to-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "First defence contract: A$6.4M from Defence Space Command for the ASCEND2LEO satcom demonstration",
     "source": "https://www.fleetspace.com/newsroom/fleet-space-technologies-secures-australian-defence-space-command-contract"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Launches ExoSphere, satellite-connected seismic sensing that maps mineral deposits in 3D",
     "source": "https://www.fleetspace.com/newsroom/fleet-space-technologies-revolutionises-mineral-exploration-with-launch-of-exosphere-by-fleet"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Proxima and Centauri, Australia’s first commercial nanosatellites, reach orbit on Electron and Falcon 9",
     "source": "https://www.fleetspace.com/spacecraft"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Flavia Tata Nardini"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Exploration Officer",
     "name": "Matt Pearson"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "fleet",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet",
   "website": "https://fleetspace.com",
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-11",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$26.4M",
     "investors": "Artesian, Blackbird Ventures, Grok Ventures and Horizons Ventures, with In-Q-Tel and Hostplus",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/fleet-space-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "A$50M (US$33M)",
     "investors": "Led by Blackbird, with Grok Ventures, Hostplus, TelstraSuper and Pavilion Capital",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2023/05/24/fleet-space-technologies-raises-33m-in-series-c-funding-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "A$150M (US$100M) at a US$525M valuation",
     "investors": "Led by Teachers Venture Growth, with Blackbird, Hostplus, Horizons Ventures and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/fleet-space-raises-100-million-to-advance-mineral-exploration-on-earth-and-beyond/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "IoT Connectivity",
   "description": "A large fleet of small, low-cost satellites connects Internet of Things devices around the world.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/fleet",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "FluroSat",
   "current_name": "Regrow Ag",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-02",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquires soil-carbon modeler Dagan in an all-stock deal and relaunches as Regrow",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/23/ag-monitoring-startup-flurostat-merges-with-soil-carbon-expert-dagan-to-form-regrow/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-07",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises $4.6M led by Microsoft's M12 to scale its FluroSense agronomy platform",
     "source": "https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/agtech-startup-flurosat-raises-4-6-million-to-help-farmers-grow-better-crops/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Anastasiia Volkova"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "flurosat",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/flurosat",
   "website": "https://regrow.ag",
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 8600000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Merged with Dagan in 2021 to form Regrow Ag.",
   "one_liner": "Crop monitoring and analytics",
   "description": "Agronomic tools turn satellite, aircraft, and drone imagery into crop stress and nutrient maps for agronomists.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Galactic Energy",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Ceres-2 is destroyed on its debut; Ceres-1 returns to flight at sea the same week, its ledger at 23 flights and 89 satellites",
     "source": "https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202601/16/WS6969ad6ca310d6866eb34224.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Second Ceres-1 failure: the fourth stage shuts down early",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/china-expands-guowang-constellation-galactic-energy-suffers-ceres-1-launch-failure/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a 2.4B yuan Series D to fund the reusable Pallas line",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/galactic-energy-secures-336-million-nears-debut-of-new-reusable-and-solid-rockets/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "First sea launch by a Chinese commercial company, from a Yellow Sea barge",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-ceres-1-rocket-reaches-orbit-with-first-sea-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "First Ceres-1 failure after nine straight successes, traced to a manufacturing defect in the nozzle",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-galactic-energy-suffers-first-launch-failure/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Ceres-1 reaches orbit on its first attempt, the first private Chinese rocket to succeed on debut",
     "source": "https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/11/introducing-chinas-new-commercial-rocket-ceres-1/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Liu Baiqi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "galactic-energy",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galactic-energy",
   "website": "https://www.galactic-energy.cn",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "China's most-flown private rocket",
   "description": "Flies Ceres-1, the most-launched private rocket in China, while building the reusable Pallas-1.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "GalaxySpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Begins A-share IPO tutoring after a Series C from Beijing government funds",
     "source": "https://www.caixinglobal.com/2026-03-31/chinese-satellite-startup-galaxyspace-kicks-off-ipo-102429536.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Nine of its satellites become the first privately built spacecraft in the state Guowang megaconstellation",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/long-march-12-launches-first-guowang-satellites-developed-by-private-firm/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Runs China's first overseas LEO broadband trial, in Thailand",
     "source": "https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/First_trial_of_Chinas_low_orbit_broadband_satellite_internet_in_Thailand_999.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-07",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Lingxi-03 flies China's first flexible solar array on a stackable flat-panel satellite",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/pair-of-chinese-launches-put-flat-panel-satellite-new-spy-sats-in-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Six broadband satellites launch together, completing China's first LEO internet test constellation",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/03/08/long-march-rocket-deploys-six-chinese-internet-satellites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Yinhe-1, its first broadband test satellite, reaches orbit",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/china-launches-yinhe-1-commercial-low-earth-orbit-5g-satellite/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Xu Ming"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "galaxyspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace",
   "website": "https://www.yinhehangtian.cn/en",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Mass-producing broadband satellites",
   "description": "Mass-produces flat-panel broadband satellites, including the first privately built spacecraft in China's Guowang megaconstellation.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gateway Galactic",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Granted a US patent for a collapsible orbital fuel depot",
     "source": "https://www.freepatentsonline.com/9676499.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Justin Myers"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Floyd Richardson"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "gateway-galactic",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/gateway-galactic",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining",
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 53000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "No website and no meaningful presence found anywhere online.",
   "one_liner": "LEO orbital propellant depot",
   "description": "Antaios, its orbital refueling depot, is meant to cut the cost of missions beyond low Earth orbit for launch providers.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "GHGSat",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Launches Teodor and Laila on Transporter-15, timed to coincide with COP30",
     "source": "https://www.ghgsat.com/en/newsroom/ghgsat-expands-world-leading-methane-constellation-with-two-new-satellites-launching-fall-2025-teodor-c14-and-laila-c15/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Two more satellites launch on Transporter-14, giving daily methane coverage of industrial regions",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2025/06/24/ghgsat-adds-to-their-constellation-with-the-launch-of-two-new-satellites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Closes a C$59.9M Series C1 of equity and debt with Fonds de solidarité FTQ and BDC Capital",
     "source": "https://betakit.com/ghgsat-closes-series-c1-to-launch-more-greenhouse-gas-emissions-monitoring-satellites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Launches three methane-monitoring satellites on Transporter-7",
     "source": "https://www.ghgsat.com/en/newsroom/new-satellites-to-accelerate-the-fight-against-climate-change-launched-into-orbit-with-spacex/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2011",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Stephane Germain"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "ghgsat",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ghgsat",
   "website": "http://www.ghgsat.com/",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2011",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 126000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "round": "Series C-1",
     "amount": "US$44M (C$60M), taking the total raised since 2011 past US$126M",
     "investors": "Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Investissement Québec, BDC Capital, Climate Investment and the Japan Energy Fund, with debt facilities from BMO",
     "source": "https://spaceq.ca/ghgsat-raises-60-million-in-new-funding-round/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Monitoring greenhouse gases",
   "description": "High-resolution satellite monitoring measures CO2 and methane emissions down to individual industrial facilities.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gilmour Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "title": "Eris TestFlight 1, the first Australian-made orbital rocket to fly from Australian soil, lifts off and is lost 14 seconds in",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/australias-1st-orbital-rocket-gilmour-spaces-eris-fails-on-historic-debut-launch"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "Receives Australia’s first orbital launch permit, clearing Eris to fly from Bowen",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/gilmore-space-secures-license-for-first-orbital-launch/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Adam Gilmour"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "James Gilmour"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "gilmour-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/gilmour-space",
   "website": "https://gspace.com",
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 245000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$46M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/30/rocket-startup-gilmour-space-raises-46m-series-c-to-take-small-launch-vehicle-to-orbit"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "$55M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/gilmour-space-raises-146-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Series E",
     "amount": "A$217M (US$146M), making Gilmour Australia’s first space unicorn",
     "investors": "Co-led by the Australian federal government's National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Hostplus",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/gilmour-space-raises-146-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Low-cost hybrid rockets",
   "description": "An Australia and Singapore-based company developing hybrid rockets for small satellites up to 400 kg.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "GITAI",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "title": "S2 dual robotic arm completes a fully successful servicing demonstration outside the ISS, reaching NASA TRL 7",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2024/03/19/gitai-completes-fully-successful-technology-demonstration-outside-the-iss/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "S2 robotic arm completes an external demo outside the ISS, reaching NASA TRL 7",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2024/03/19/gitai-completes-fully-successful-technology-demonstration-outside-the-iss/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "S1 robotic arm completes an autonomous assembly demo inside the ISS Bishop Airlock",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2021/10/28/iss-tech-demo-ja/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Sho Nakanose"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "gitai",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/gitai",
   "website": "https://gitai.tech",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Rovers",
    "Debris Removal & Servicing",
    "Lunar"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 83000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$30M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2023/05/24/space-robotics-startup-gitai-raises-us30-million-in-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "round": "Series B extension",
     "amount": "$30M",
     "investors": "Global Brain CVC funds, DCI Venture Growth Fund and others",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/space-robotics-startup-gitai-raises-us30-million-in-funding-301832557.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "round": "Series B extension",
     "amount": "$15M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2023/08/29/space-robotics-startup-gitai-raises-an-additional-us15-million-in-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-10",
     "round": "Series B extension",
     "amount": "$15.5M, taking total venture funding to about $83M",
     "investors": "Led by Maezawa Fund, with Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/gitai-gets-funds-to-develop-in-orbit-robotic-servicer/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "round": "Extension",
     "amount": "$15.5M",
     "investors": "Led by the Maezawa Fund",
     "source": "https://gitai.tech/2024/11/13/gitai-raises-an-additional-us15-5-million-in-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Robots for work in space",
   "description": "Robotic arms and rovers for in-space servicing, assembly and lunar construction.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gold Orbit",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "gold-orbit",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/gold-orbit",
   "website": "http://www.goldorbit.io/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down; domain no longer resolves.",
   "one_liner": "Shielding technology for modern spacecraft",
   "description": "Modular armor for satellites and small spacecraft, built to guard against radiation and orbital debris.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gravitics",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "US Space Force STRATFI worth up to $60M to demonstrate the Orbital Carrier",
     "source": "https://www.geekwire.com/2025/gravitics-space-force-orbital-carrier/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-07",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Books a $125M order from Axiom Space for a station module",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/09/gravitics-lands-125-million-order-from-axiom.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Colin Doughan"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "gravitics",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/gravitics",
   "website": "https://gravitics.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Habitats"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 20000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-11",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$20M",
     "investors": "Led by Type One Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221117005487/en/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "round": "SpaceWERX STRATFI award",
     "amount": "up to $60M across government, SBIR and matched private funds (a ceiling, not a banked raise)",
     "investors": "US Space Force, to demonstrate and fly the Orbital Carrier",
     "source": "https://www.gravitics.com/news/orbital-carriers-stratfi"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space station modules as products",
   "description": "Space station modules and orbital carriers built like products, not projects",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Hawkeye 360",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Lists on the NYSE as HAWK, raising $416M",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/05/07/hawkeye-360-raises-416m-pricing-at-high-end-for-ipo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-12",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "The first Pathfinder cluster of three RF-sensing satellites flies, proving commercial RF geolocation",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawkeye-360s-inaugural-satellite-cluster-pathfinder-turns-five-years-old-302004195.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "John Serafini"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Chris DeMay"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "hawkeye-360",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/hawkeye-360",
   "website": "http://www.he360.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "round": "Debt and equity",
     "amount": "$150M, funding the Innovative Signals Analysis acquisition",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/03/04/hawkeye-360-adds-23m-to-series-e-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Series E close",
     "amount": "$23M additional",
     "investors": "Ghisallo, Principia Growth, Sixty Degree Capital and Strategic Development Fund",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/03/04/hawkeye-360-adds-23m-to-series-e-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Listed on the NYSE as HAWK in May 2026.",
   "one_liner": "Global intelligence network",
   "description": "Its satellites map and geolocate radio frequency emissions from space to reveal human activity worldwide.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Helios",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs an MoU with BlueScopeX to trial Helios green iron in steelmaking",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/helios-project-ltd-and-bluescopex-pty-ltd-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-302250395.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Selected for DARPA’s LunA-10 lunar architecture study, the only non-US company among fourteen",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/darpa-picks-14-companies-for-lunar-architecture-study/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Announces a sodium-based process making iron at 400°C with no direct CO2, taking the lunar tech to steel",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/helios---space-tech-start-up-discovers-path-to-carbon-free-iron-production-301585704.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs with ispace to fly Lunar Extractor oxygen-making payloads on its second and third Moon missions",
     "source": "https://nocamels.com/2021/08/israel-helios-ispace-lunar-japan-oxygen-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Jonathan Geifman"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "helios",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/helios",
   "website": "https://project-helios.space/",
   "country": "Israel",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Lunar"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-07",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$6M",
     "investors": "Co-led by At One Ventures and Doral Energy-Tech Ventures, with Metaplanet",
     "source": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-space-tech-startup-helios-partners-with-eta-space-to-make-oxygen-on-moon/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Producing resources from lunar soil",
   "description": "Technology to extract oxygen and metals from lunar soil, cutting the cost of supplying a Moon base.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/helios",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "HEO Robotics",
   "current_name": "HEO",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins one of the NRO’s first three commercial non-Earth imaging contracts",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/national-reconnaissance-office-adds-heo-satvu-and-sierra-nevada-to-commercial-imaging-program/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Holmes Mk2 flies on Impulse’s Mira, the first NOAA-licensed non-Earth imaging payload cleared above 800 km",
     "source": "https://www.heospace.com/resources/stories/heo-launches-first-noaa-licensed-non-earth-imaging-payload-authorized-above-800-kilometres"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Images the ISS from a passing satellite 69 km away, closing at six kilometres a second",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/international-space-station-satellite-photo-heo-robotics"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Rebrands from HEO Robotics to HEO alongside its Series A",
     "source": "https://www.heospace.com/resources/stories/heo-unveils-groundbreaking-advancements-to-non-earth-imaging-at-t-minus-event-secures-12-million-aud-funding-led-by-airtree-ventures"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Holmes, the first commercial camera dedicated to non-Earth imaging, reaches orbit on Turion Space’s Droid-1",
     "source": "https://www.heospace.com/resources/stories/worlds-first-commercial-camera-dedicated-to-non-earth-imaging-successfully-launches-to-space-copy"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "William Crowe"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Hiranya Jayakody"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "heo-robotics",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/heo-robotics",
   "website": "https://heospace.com",
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness",
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "",
     "investors": "David Harding and Y Combinator",
     "source": "https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/space/heo-robotics-lands-seed-round-as-it-turns-its-focus-to-satellite-inspection/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "A$12M (US$8M)",
     "investors": "Led by AirTree Ventures, with Salus VC, Y Combinator, In-Q-Tel and Steve Baxter",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/space-imagery-startup-heo-raises-8-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space object inspection",
   "description": "Satellite inspection aimed at helping operators and insurers assess spacecraft health and track space junk.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/heo-robotics",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "HOSTmi",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-05",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquired by launch-services marketplace Precious Payload",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2022/05/precious-payload-acquires-hostmi-to-fast-track-european-commercial-space-industry/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Signs a brokerage agreement with Southern Launch to match marketplace payloads with launch capacity",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2020/08/southern-launch-and-hostmi-sign-a-brokerage-agreement/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Shahrokh Khodabakhshi"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Managing Director",
     "name": "Pouya Haschemi"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Joerg Kreisel"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "hostmi",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/hostmi",
   "website": "https://hostmi.space",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Precious Payload in May 2022.",
   "one_liner": "Space services marketplace",
   "description": "An online marketplace that matches payloads with flight opportunities through standardized processes.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/hostmi",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Hydrosat",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03-10",
     "title": "Signs a multi-year water monitoring contract with Madera County",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://hydrosat.com/2026/03/10/hydrosat-secures-multi-year-water-monitoring-contract-in-madera-county/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01-15",
     "title": "Raises a $60 million Series B to expand the constellation",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/hydrosat-raises-60-million-in-series-b-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09-30",
     "title": "The Luxembourg Future Fund takes a stake in Hydrosat",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://hydrosat.com/2025/09/30/luxembourg-future-fund-invests-in-hydrosat-to-tackle-global-challenges-with-satellite-technology/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-23",
     "title": "VanZyl-2 launched with four times the capacity",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.muonspace.com/vanzyl-2-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08-16",
     "title": "VanZyl-1 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2024/08/19/hydrosat-launches-vanzyl-1-to-pursue-global-thermal-imaging/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06-08",
     "title": "Acquires the Dutch irrigation software company IrriWatch",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/hydrosat-acquires-irriwatch-to-revolutionize-farming-using-space-imagery/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04-25",
     "title": "Collects $20 million in Series A investment and grants",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/25/with-20m-in-new-funding-hydrosat-preps-climate-monitoring-satellites-for-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Pieter Fossel"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Royce Dalby"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "hydrosat",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/hydrosat",
   "website": "http://www.hydrosat.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Plant health monitored by satellites",
   "description": "Satellite-derived plant health insights serve commercial, financial, and government customers worldwide.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "i-Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-08-05",
     "title": "First tranche of a Series E raises nearly ¥1 billion for Hyperbola-3",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://technode.com/2026/08/05/chinese-commercial-rocket-company-i-space-completes-first-tranche-of-nearly-rmb1-billion-series-e-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02-13",
     "title": "Closes a ¥5 billion Series D++, the largest Chinese launch round",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/interstellar-secures-biggest-financing-in-chinas-private-commercial-aerospace-industry"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08-05",
     "title": "Launches China's first rocket recovery ship",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340326.shtml"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07-29",
     "title": "Hyperbola-1 returns to flight after a year on the ground",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-returns-to-flight-with-successful-orbital-solid-rocket-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-07-11",
     "title": "Fourth stage anomaly loses three Yunyao-1 weather satellites",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3270187/chinas-ispace-hyperbola-1-rocket-fails-soon-after-launch-losing-3-weather-satellites"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11-02",
     "title": "Hyperbola-2Y hopper flies to 178 metres and lands under power",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-launches-and-lands-rocket-test-stage/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08-03",
     "title": "Return to flight fails, losing the Jilin-1 Mofang-01A satellite",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/08/chinese-commercial-hyperbola-fails-return/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-02-01",
     "title": "Hyperbola-1 second flight fails, starting a run of losses",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/02/04/after-success-in-2019-chinese-startup-fails-on-second-orbital-launch-attempt/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-07-25",
     "title": "Hyperbola-1 reaches orbit, a first for a Chinese private company",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/25/chinese-private-company-reaches-orbit-for-first-time/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Peng Xiaobo"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Li Shuncheng"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "i-space-china",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/i-space-china",
   "website": "http://www.i-space.com.cn/",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Developing a commercial space shuttle",
   "description": "Develops commercial launch vehicles and sells launch services to aerospace customers worldwide.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Iceye",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018-01",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "ICEYE-X1, the first SAR satellite under 100 kg, reaches orbit as Finland’s first commercial satellite",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iceye-successfully-launches-worlds-first-sar-microsatellite-and-establishes-finlands-first-commercial-satellite-operations-300581861.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Series B round ($34M)",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Series A round ($14M)",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Pre-Series A financing round ($5.6M)",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "ICEYE Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Rafal Modrzewski"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer",
     "name": "Pekka Laurila"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "iceye",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iceye",
   "website": "https://www.iceye.com/",
   "country": "Finland",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "€150M at a €2.4B valuation",
     "investors": "Led by General Catalyst",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/12/08/iceyes-latest-raise-values-company-at-2-8-billion/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "round": "Series F",
     "amount": "€450M primary, over €1B with secondary, at a €10B+ valuation",
     "investors": "Led by General Atlantic, with QIA, TCV, Nokia and Finnish institutions",
     "source": "https://www.iceye.com/newsroom/press-releases/iceye-leads-a-new-era-of-sovereign-intelligence-from-space-with-1b-funding-round"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Timely and reliable satellite imagery",
   "description": "A radar (SAR) satellite constellation images any spot on Earth every three hours, in darkness or cloud.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Impulse Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Helios, a kick stage built to carry five-tonne payloads from LEO to GEO in under a day",
     "source": "https://www.impulsespace.com/updates/impulse-space-unveils-design-specifications-for-helios"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "title": "Mira flies LEO Express-1, deploying its customer and completing the largest orbit raise by an orbital transfer vehicle on debut",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.impulsespace.com/updates/leo-express-1-mission-updates"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "title": "Books its first orbital mission, LEO Express-1, on a SpaceX rideshare",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/in-space-services/2023/01/13/impulse-space-books-first-mission-leo-express-1-on-2023-spacex-rideshare-launch/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Tom Mueller"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "impulse-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/impulse-space",
   "website": "https://impulsespace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 525000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$300M",
     "investors": "Led by Linse Capital, with DFJ Growth, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, RTX Ventures, DCVC, Airbus Ventures and others",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/impulse-space-raises-300m-series-c/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Orbital transfer vehicles",
   "description": "Mira and Helios orbital transfer vehicles, founded by SpaceX employee number one",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Interlune",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "US Department of Energy agrees to buy three litres of lunar helium-3, the first purchase of a non-terrestrial resource",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-department-of-energy-buys-helium-3-from-us-space-resources-company-interlune-in-historic-agreement-302447939.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Comes out of stealth with $18M to harvest lunar helium-3",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/space-resources-startup-interlune-raises-18-million-in-seed-capital-302087587.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Rob Meyerson"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Gary Lai"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Executive Chairman",
     "name": "Harrison Schmitt"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "interlune",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/interlune",
   "website": "https://interlune.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Lunar",
    "Space Resources & Mining"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$18M",
     "investors": "Led by Seven Seven Six, with Aurelia Foundry, Gaingels, Liquid 2 Ventures and Shasta Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/space-resources-startup-interlune-raises-18-million-in-seed-capital-302087587.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026",
     "round": "NASA contract",
     "amount": "$6.9M for lunar resource development (contract, not equity)",
     "investors": "NASA",
     "source": "https://www.interlune.space/press-release/interlune-awarded-6-9-million-contract-from-nasa-for-lunar-resource-development"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "SAFE",
     "amount": "$5M; reported venture funding to date around $23M, plus roughly $18M non-dilutive",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.geekwire.com/2026/interlune-funding-moon-mining-safe/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Helium-3 from the Moon",
   "description": "Harvesting helium-3 from lunar soil for quantum computing and fusion customers",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Interstellar Lab",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04-08",
     "title": "Vast selects Eden 1.0 plant capsule for the Haven-1 lab",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vast-announces-three-additional-payload-partners-for-the-haven-1-lab-jamss-interstellar-lab-and-exobiosphere"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08-19",
     "title": "Wins $750,000 grand prize in NASA Deep Space Food Challenge",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/interstellar-lab-wins-deep-space-food-challenge/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09-28",
     "title": "Robertet buys the first BioPod sold to an industrial customer",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.perfumerflavorist.com/news/fragrance/news/22874519/robertet-sa-robertet-acquires-aicontrolled-biofarm-developed-by-interstellar-lab"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-03-07",
     "title": "Raises $5 million seed round to scale BioPod manufacturing",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techstartups.com/2022/03/07/us-french-space-tech-startup-interstellar-lab-raises-5m-build-closed-loop-sustainable-living-systems-earth-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-01",
     "title": "BioPod closed-loop growth system unveiled",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/21/01/ab19338191/interstellar-lab-unveils-biopod-the-most-advanced-ai-monitored-food-production-system-for-earth-a"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Barbara Belvisi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "interstellar-lab",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/interstellar-lab",
   "website": "https://interstellarlab.com",
   "country": "France",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Biosphere"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$5M",
     "investors": "Urania Ventures, Auxxo, 7percent Ventures, Seldor Capital, E2MC, Kima Ventures and Bpifrance",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2022/03/interstellar-lab-announces-a-us-5-million-seed-round-to-accelerate-biopod-manufacturing/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Plant habitats for space and Earth",
   "description": "BioPods, controlled-environment capsules growing plants for space and Earth",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Interstellar Technologies",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "MOMO-3 becomes the first privately developed Japanese rocket to reach space",
     "source": "https://gizmodo.com/interstellar-technology-becomes-first-private-japanese-1834537993"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Takafumi Horie"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Takahiro Inagawa"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "interstellar-technologies",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/interstellar-technologies",
   "website": "https://www.istellartech.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "round": "Series E",
     "amount": "$21M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/japans-interstellar-secures-62-million-in-series-f-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "round": "Series F",
     "amount": "¥20.1B (~$130M)",
     "investors": "Includes a ¥7B investment from Toyota through Woven by Toyota",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/japanese-launch-company-interstellar-technologies-raises-130-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Series F (final close)",
     "amount": "20.1 billion yen (about $129.7M) in total: 14.8 billion yen equity plus 5.3 billion yen debt. This figure is the whole Series F and already includes the 8.9 billion yen announced in July 2025 and the 7 billion yen Woven by Toyota alliance of January 2025, so the tranches must not be summed.",
     "investors": "Led by Woven by Toyota, with SBI Group, Nomura Real Estate Development, B Dash Ventures, SMBC Edge and, at the earlier close, SMBC and SPARX",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/japanese-launch-company-interstellar-technologies-raises-130-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "ZERO, the biomethane launcher",
   "description": "Developing ZERO, a small-satellite launcher burning liquid biomethane.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Invariant AI",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Pranav Goswami"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Parthiv Chandran"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "invariant-ai",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/invariant-ai",
   "website": "https://invariant-ai.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2026",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Pre-seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "AI agents for space compliance",
   "description": "AI agents that draft, file and monitor the licenses a space mission needs, from the FAA to the ITU.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Inversion Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "title": "Ray test capsule launches on Transporter-12 and proves its systems in orbit, though a short circuit prevents reentry",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.compositesworld.com/news/inversion-space-looks-to-2026-orbital-flight-for-space-delivery-vehicle-arc"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Justin Fiaschetti"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Austin Briggs"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "inversion-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/inversion-space",
   "website": "https://inversionspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 54000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$10M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/inversion-space-raises-44-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$44M, taking the total raised to about $54M",
     "investors": "Led by Spark Capital and Adjacent, with Lockheed Martin Ventures, Kindred Ventures and Y Combinator",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/inversion-raises-44m-series-a-to-build-its-arc/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Cargo from orbit in under an hour",
   "description": "Arc reentry vehicles delivering cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "iQPS",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "An Electron launch carrying its Mikura-I satellite aborts at ignition; the satellite flies that August",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-launch-iqps-radar-satellite-grain-goddess-provides"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins a share of Japan’s Ministry of Defense satellite constellation tender",
     "source": "https://i-qps.net/en/news/3379/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "QPS-SAR-8 reaches orbit on Transporter-11 and makes contact two hours after liftoff",
     "source": "https://i-qps.net/en/news/2190/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Releases first-light images from QPS-SAR-5 after a month of on-orbit calibration",
     "source": "https://i-qps.net/en/news/1756/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under code 5595",
     "source": "https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ISPACE-INC-152054167/news/Japanese-satellite-imagery-startup-iQPS-untraded-with-glut-of-bids-in-Tokyo-debut-45507644/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Tetsuo Yasaka"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Noboru Sakurai"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Kunihiro Funakoshi"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Shunsuke Onishi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "iqps",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps",
   "website": "https://i-qps.net",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2005",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Satellites",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "round": "IPO on TSE Growth (5595)",
     "amount": "3.48 billion yen (about $24M); 8.92M shares at 390 yen",
     "investors": "Public offering",
     "source": "https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/iqps-tokyo-debut-374022"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Public since December 2023 (TSE Growth: 5595).",
   "one_liner": "All-weather SAR imagery",
   "description": "Small SAR satellites delivering all-weather Earth observation imagery.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Isar Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-09-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Spectrum reaches orbit on its second flight, the first orbital launch from Western European soil, and releases five cubesats and a DLR experiment",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/isar-aerospace-reaches-orbit-on-second-spectrum-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "Receives Norway’s first launch permit, clearing Spectrum’s test flight from Andøya",
     "source": "https://isaraerospace.com/press/isar-aerospace-receives-ncaa-permit-for-launch-and-is-ready-for-first-test-flight"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Spectrum lifts off on the first orbital attempt from continental Europe and is lost half a minute in",
     "source": "https://isaraerospace.com/press/isar-aerospace-lifts-off-successfully-during-first-test-flight-of-orbital-launch-vehicle"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Daniel Metzler"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Josef Fleischmann"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Markus Brandl"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "isar-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isar-aerospace",
   "website": "https://isaraerospace.com",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "round": "Series C extension",
     "amount": "to over €220M",
     "investors": "NATO Innovation Fund and existing investors",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/isar-aerospace-extends-series-c-funding-round-to-e220m/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "round": "Convertible bond",
     "amount": "€150M, total raised over €550M",
     "investors": "Eldridge Industries",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/isar-aerospace-raises-e150m-through-convertible-bond-agreement/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Spectrum, Europe’s private orbital rocket",
   "description": "Spectrum, the first orbital launch vehicle developed in continental Europe by a private company",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Isotropic Systems",
   "current_name": "All.Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "York Space Systems agrees to acquire the company, which continues as All.Space under CEO Paul McCarter",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/06/16/all-space-relocates-to-us-amid-york-space-acquisition-process/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Isotropic Systems rebrands as All.Space, unveiling its fifth-generation multi-link terminal",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/isotropic-rebrands-as-all-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Raised $14M Series A",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Joined ANSYS Startup Program",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "John Finney"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Paul McCarter"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "isotropic-systems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isotropic-systems",
   "website": "https://www.all.space/",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 160000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-09",
     "round": "Additional Series B",
     "amount": "over $37M",
     "investors": "Led by Seraphim Space Investment Trust, with AEI HorizonX, Promus Ventures and strategic backing from SES and the UK Government",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isotropic-systems-secures-over-37m-in-additional-series-b-funding-to-facilitate-the-development-of-unique-multi-link-antenna-through-to-product-launch-in-2022-301385177.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-09",
     "round": "Series B extension",
     "amount": "$37M",
     "investors": "Seraphim Space, AEI HorizonX and Promus Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2021/09/27/isotropic-systems-closes-37m-funding-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-10",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "$44M, taking total funding to $160M since founding",
     "investors": "Led by Boka Group, with Seraphim Space, Promus Ventures and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/all-space-gets-44-million-to-debut-multi-orbit-terminal/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-10",
     "round": "Growth",
     "amount": "$44M",
     "investors": "Led by Boka Group, with AE Ventures, Seraphim Space and Promus Ventures",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/all-space-gets-44-million-to-debut-multi-orbit-terminal/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by York Space Systems in 2026; operates as All.Space.",
   "one_liner": "High-bandwidth satellite terminals",
   "description": "Integrated, low-power satellite terminals designed to deliver high throughput across multiple services.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ispace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-29",
     "title": "Mitsubishi Heavy to launch the ULTRA lander on an H3 in 2028",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/h3-to-launch-next-ispace-lunar-lander-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-27",
     "title": "Unveils the ULTRA lander and moves Mission 3 to 2028",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ispace-redesigns-lunar-lander-introduces-lunar-communications-service/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-06",
     "title": "RESILIENCE crash lands, ending Mission 2 in failure",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/06/06/ispaces-resilience-lander-crash-lands-on-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03-10",
     "title": "Draper releases $7.7 million more under NASA CLPS task order CP-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://ispace-us.com/2025/03/10/draper-awards-ispace-an-additional-7-7-million-as-part-of-the-nasa-clps-cp-12-task-order/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-15",
     "title": "RESILIENCE launches alongside Firefly's Blue Ghost",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/15/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-firefly-aerospace-and-ispace-moon-landers-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-the-kennedy-space-center/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03-28",
     "title": "Raises $53.5 million in an overseas share sale",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/japanese-lunar-lander-company-ispace-raises-53-5-million-in-stock-sale/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04-25",
     "title": "Mission 1 crashes after software rejects the altimeter reading",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/japanese-lunar-lander-hakuto-r-m1-failed-due-to-software-error/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04-12",
     "title": "Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/13/ispace-tokyo-stock-exchange/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-12-11",
     "title": "HAKUTO-R Mission 1 launches to the Moon on a Falcon 9",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/11/japans-ispace-launches-historic-first-commercial-moon-lander"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Takeshi Hakamada"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "ispace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ispace",
   "website": "https://ispace.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 92300000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Lunar robotic spacecraft",
   "description": "Small, lightweight landers and rovers form a low-cost platform for scheduled lunar transportation.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Jiuzhou Yunjian",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Seven Longyun engines power Long March 12A to orbit, but only two of three relight for the landing burn and the booster is lost",
     "source": "https://www.china-in-space.com/p/shanghai-academy-debuts-reusable"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "First flight of a Longyun engine, throttling and reigniting on Space Epoch's sea-recovery hop",
     "source": "https://www.china-in-space.com/p/space-epoch-conducts-reusable-rocket"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "The vacuum Longyun-70V completes qualification testing, with a state academy as named customer",
     "source": "https://www.china-in-space.com/p/new-engine-methane-fires-and-new"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs its first merchant engine deal, supplying Longyun and Lingyun engines to Rocket Pi",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/new-chinese-launch-firm-signs-deal-for-reusable-rocket-engines/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Ji Fenghua"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "jiuzhou-yunjian",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/jiuzhou-yunjian",
   "website": null,
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Methalox engines for everyone's rockets",
   "description": "Sells reusable methalox engines to any Chinese rocket builder that wants them, including the state.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "K2 Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "title": "Readies Gravitas, a 20 kW mega-class satellite, for a first mission from LEO to MEO",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/k2-space-to-launch-gravitas-satellite-later-this-month/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "title": "Heritage, the company’s first demonstration satellite, reaches low Earth orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/43098-k2-space-achieves-key-milestones-ahead-of-2026-gravitas-satellite-launch"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Comes out of stealth with the Mega Class bus, promising 20 kW satellites at a fraction of legacy cost",
     "source": "https://aviationweek.com/space/commercial-space/k2-space-plans-mega-class-satellite"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Karan Kunjur"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Neel Kunjur"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "k2-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/k2-space",
   "website": "https://k2space.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2022",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites",
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 425000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$8.5M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.cooley.com/news/coverage/2025/2025-12-11-k2-space-raises-$250-million-series-c"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$50M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.cooley.com/news/coverage/2025/2025-12-11-k2-space-raises-$250-million-series-c"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$110M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Lightspeed and Altimeter, with Alpine Space Ventures and First Round",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/k2-space-raises-110-million-to-scale-up-satellite-production/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$250M at a $3B valuation",
     "investors": "Led by Redpoint Ventures, with T. Rowe Price, Hedosophia, Altimeter, Lightspeed and Alpine Space Ventures",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/k2-space-raises-250m-series-c/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Mega-class satellite buses",
   "description": "Mega-class satellite buses built for the heavy-lift launch era",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Karman+",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $20M seed co-led by Hummingbird and Plural for an asteroid mining demonstration",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/karman-raises-20m-for-asteroid-mining-demo/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Teun van den Dries"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Mission Architect",
     "name": "Daynan Crull"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "karman-plus",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/karman-plus",
   "website": "https://karmanplus.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 20000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$20M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Plural and Hummingbird, with HCVC and angels",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/karman-raises-20m-for-asteroid-mining-demo/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Asteroid water for orbital refueling",
   "description": "Mining near-Earth asteroids for water to refuel the in-space economy",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kepler Communications",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Successful launch of KIPP",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Doubled headcount and built first satellite KIPP",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Secured $5.5M and moved to Seattle",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Mina Mitry"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Wen Cheng Chong"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Mark Michael"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jeffrey Osborne"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "kepler-communications",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/kepler-communications",
   "website": "https://kepler.space",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 200000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$92M, bringing total equity funding past $200M",
     "investors": "Led by IA Ventures, with Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Partners, Tribe Capital and BDC Capital",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2023/04/13/kepler-communications-raises-92-million-in-a-series-c-round/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "High-bandwidth data and IoT",
   "description": "An optical relay network that gives other satellites a continuous real-time route to the ground.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kubos",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Xplore acquires the company's assets, with Major Tom then operating more than a dozen satellites",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/xplore-acquires-kubos/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Marshall Culpepper"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Tyler Browder"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jesse Hamner"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "kubos",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/kubos",
   "website": "http://www.kubos.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 2400000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Xplore in April 2022, together with its Major Tom mission-control software.",
   "one_liner": "Space grade software",
   "description": "Delivers end-to-end mission software: KubOS Linux for satellite flight and Major Tom for mission control.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kuva Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-01",
     "title": "Selected for NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition on-ramp",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2026/07/01/nasa-adds-kuva-us-to-476-million-commercial-satellite-data-acquisition-on-ramp-contract/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-23",
     "title": "Hyperfield-1B launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-14",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/hyperfield"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08-16",
     "title": "Hyperfield-1A launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/hyperfield"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04-30",
     "title": "Awarded €1.8 million ESA Civil Security from Space contract",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://news.satnews.com/2024/04/30/kuva-space-awarded-e1-8-million-contract-to-join-esas-civil-security-from-space-program/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11-02",
     "title": "Raises €16.6 million Series A",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/kuva-space-raises-16-6-million-euros/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06-19",
     "title": "Wins €5 million contract as sole Copernicus hyperspectral data provider",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/kuva-space-aawarded-e5m-commercial-contract-to-be-sole-provider-of-hyperspectral-data-services-for-the-copernicus-program/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "title": "Raises €4.2 million seed round",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/kuva-space-seed-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Tuomas Tikka"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Janne Kuhno"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Jarkko Antila"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "kuva-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/kuva-space",
   "website": "https://kuvaspace.com",
   "country": "Finland",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "EUR 16.6M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Voima Ventures, Nordic Foodtech VC and Earth VC, with Finnish private investors and non-equity Business Finland funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/kuva-space-raises-16-6-million-euros/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Hyperspectral Earth observation",
   "description": "Hyperspectral microsatellite constellation for agriculture, environment and defense insights",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "LandSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-08",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Zhuque-3 lands its first stage 390 km downrange, China's first orbital-class booster recovery on land and the third company ever to do it",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/08/19/landspace-becomes-first-commercial-chinese-company-to-land-an-orbital-class-booster/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Zhuque-3 reaches orbit on its debut; the first stage is lost during its landing attempt",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/zhuque-3-reaches-orbit-on-test-flight-first-stage-lost-during-landing-attempt/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Shanghai Stock Exchange accepts its STAR Market IPO application",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/landspace-targets-1-billion-for-reusable-rockets-as-ipo-application-accepted/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Zhuque-2E fails when an electrical arc shorts second-stage control units",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-startup-landspace-suffers-zhuque-2-failure/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-09",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "A Zhuque-3 test article flies a 10 km hop with China's first in-flight reignition of a liquid rocket engine",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/landspace-completes-10-kilometer-reusable-rocket-test-eyes-2025-orbital-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-07",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Zhuque-2 reaches orbit, the first methane-fueled rocket anywhere to do it",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/china-first-methane-powered-rocket-reach-orbit"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Zhuque-2's debut fails when second-stage vernier engines quit early, on the world's first orbital attempt by a methane-fueled rocket",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/historic-first-launch-of-chinese-private-methane-fueled-rocket-ends-in-failure/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Zhang Changwu"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "landspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/landspace",
   "website": "https://www.landspace.com",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Methane rockets that land",
   "description": "Builds methane-fueled rockets in Beijing, and in August 2026 became the third company ever to land an orbital-class booster.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Latitude",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Converts a former AstraZeneca plant in Reims into a factory for up to 50 rockets a year",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/latitude-announces-new-factory-and-contracts-for-zephyr-small-launcher/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Wins €15M from France 2030 to bring Zephyr turbopump production in-house",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/latitude-awarded-e15m-in-new-france-2030-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Fires the Navier engine’s flight-configuration combustion chamber for ten seconds",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/latitude-completes-hot-fire-test-of-flight-ready-combustion-chamber/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Books at least five Zephyr launches a year for ATMOS Space Cargo from 2028",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/latitude-signs-multi-launch-contract-with-atmos-space-cargo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $30M Series B to build the first Zephyr and its assembly line",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/23/french-small-launch-startup-latitude-closes-30m-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Venture Orbital Systems renames itself Latitude alongside a €10M Series A",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/venture-orbital-closes-e10m-series-a-and-gets-a-new-name/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Executive Chairman",
     "name": "Stanislas Maximin"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Kevin Monvoisin"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Ilan Saidi-Bekerman"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Corentin Coste"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Aurélie Bressollette"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "latitude",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/latitude",
   "website": "https://latitude.eu",
   "country": "France",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 55000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$30M, taking the total raised to $55M",
     "investors": "Existing investors Credit Mutuel Innovation, Expansion, the French Deeptech 2030 fund and UI Investissement, with Blast.club and Kima Ventures",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/latitude-raises-30-million-for-small-launch-vehicle-development/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Zephyr, the dedicated small launcher",
   "description": "Zephyr, a dedicated small satellite launcher from Reims, France",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Latitudo 40",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Becomes a Planet Labs reseller and platform partner, embedding Planet imagery in EarthDataPlace",
     "source": "https://www.latitudo40.com/blog-post/latitudo40-planet"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "",
     "name": "Gaetano Volpe"
    },
    {
     "role": "",
     "name": "Mauro Manente"
    },
    {
     "role": "",
     "name": "Vincenzo Vecchio"
    },
    {
     "role": "",
     "name": "Donato Amitrano"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "latitudo-40",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/latitudo-40",
   "website": "https://www.latitudo40.com",
   "country": "Italy",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-07",
     "round": "Post-seed",
     "amount": "undisclosed",
     "investors": "Led by Open Venture and CRIF, with EIT Climate-KIC",
     "source": "http://www.crif.com/news-events/press/crif-and-open-venture-invest-in-the-start-up-latitudo-40/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "From images to information",
   "description": "Cloud geo-information services built on Earth observation satellite imagery analyzed with AI and machine learning.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/latitudo-40",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Leap Biosystems",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Serves as payload integrator and trainer for Mark Pathy's Ax-1 mission",
     "source": "https://creativedestructionlab.com/blog/cdl-alumni-stories-leap-biosystems/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-06",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Dave Williams, physician and two-flight shuttle astronaut, becomes president and CEO",
     "source": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/astronaut-dave-williams-announced-ceo-leap-biosystems-williams"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Astronaut Dr. Dave Williams"
    },
    {
     "role": "Executive VP",
     "name": "Dr. Nathalie Sleno"
    },
    {
     "role": "COO",
     "name": "Dr. Allyson Hindle"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Dr. Meghan Grant"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "leap-biosystems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/leap-biosystems",
   "website": "https://www.leapbiosystems.com",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Biosphere"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space medicine technology",
   "description": "Clinical medicine combined with new technology for human spaceflight, translated back to care on Earth.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Leo Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Suspends operations, citing fundraising difficulty",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/small-launch-startup-leo-aerospace-suspends-operations/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-12",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Fires a high-power rocket from its reusable balloon platform over the Mojave Desert",
     "source": "https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q1/successful-launch-of-rocket-from-high-altitude-balloon-makes-space-more-accessible-to-microsatellites.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Dane Rudy"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "leo-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/leo-aerospace",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Suspended operations in March 2021, per its CEO to SpaceNews, after failing to raise further funding.",
   "one_liner": "High altitude smallsat launcher",
   "description": "A dedicated microsatellite launch service reaching any low Earth orbit with no fixed ground infrastructure.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "LEO Labs",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-10",
     "title": "Kiwi Space Radar opens in New Zealand, the first commercial radar tracking debris under 10 cm",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/imagery-and-sensing/2019/10/14/leolabs-reveals-kiwi-space-radar/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Dan Ceperley"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "leo-labs",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/leo-labs",
   "website": "http://www.leolabs.space/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Ground Segment & Tracking",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 120000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$65M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Insight Partners and Velvet Sea Ventures",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/leolabs-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "round": "Venture round",
     "amount": "$29M, taking the total raised past $120M",
     "investors": "Led by GP Bullhound",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/leolabs-raises-29-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite observation from Earth",
   "description": "Ground-based phased-array radars map satellites and debris in low Earth orbit to help operators avoid collisions.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Loft Orbital",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "title": "YAM-2 and YAM-3, its first two missions, reach orbit on Transporter-2 carrying ten customer payloads",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://breakingdefense.com/2021/06/loft-orbitals-rideshare-sats-take-an-uber-to-space/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & Co-CEO",
     "name": "Pierre-Damien Vaujour"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Antoine de Chassy"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & Co-CEO",
     "name": "Alex Greenberg"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "loft-orbital",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/loft-orbital",
   "website": "https://www.loftorbital.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 300000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$130M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/loft-orbital-raises-170-million-to-accelerate-condosat-business/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$170M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Tikehau Capital and Axial Partners, with Bpifrance, Foundation Capital, Temasek and Uncork",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/loft-orbital-raises-170-million-to-accelerate-condosat-business/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Turnkey satellite deployment",
   "description": "Customer missions fly on flight-proven satellite buses, with a Payload Hub adding processing and intersatellite links.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Lunar Outpost",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "title": "MAPP rover reaches the Moon on IM-2 but cannot deploy after the Athena lander tips over; the rover survives and returns transit data",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.cpr.org/2025/03/10/whats-next-for-lunar-outposts-rover-mission-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "Leads the Lunar Dawn team awarded a NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle contract for Artemis",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-04-03-Lunar-Dawn-Team-Awarded-NASA-Lunar-Terrain-Vehicle-Contract"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Justin Cyrus"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "lunar-outpost",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/lunar-outpost",
   "website": "https://lunaroutpost.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Lunar",
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 52000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-05",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$12M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spaceq.ca/lunar-outpost-raises-30m-series-b-for-lunar-surface-mobility-mda-space-is-among-the-consortium-partners/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$30M, oversubscribed to about $90M of interest but capped, taking cumulative venture funding to roughly $52M",
     "investors": "Led by Industrious Ventures, with Type One Ventures, Eniac Ventures, Promus Ventures and Reliable Equity",
     "source": "https://www.lunaroutpost.com/post/lunar-outpost-secures-30m-series-b-to-build-the-industrial-foundation-of-the-space-frontier-and-eco"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Lunar rovers and mobility",
   "description": "Lunar rovers and mobility systems, from MAPP robotic rovers to crewed terrain vehicles",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Lux Aeterna",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Emerges from stealth with Delphi, a fully reusable satellite targeting a 2027 demo flight",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lux-aeterna-emerges-from-stealth-with-4m-in-pre-seed-funding-to-demonstrate-the-first-reusable-satellite-platform-302490124.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Brian Taylor"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "lux-aeterna",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/lux-aeterna",
   "website": "https://luxaeterna.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2024",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 14000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "round": "Pre-seed",
     "amount": "$4M",
     "investors": "Led by Space Capital, with Dynamo Ventures, Mission One Capital and Alumni Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/06/25/lux-aeterna-raises-pre-seed-funding-for-reusable-satellite-bus/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$10M",
     "investors": "Led by Konvoy",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/lux-aeterna-raises-10-million-for-reusable-satellite-ahead-of-2027-demo/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Delphi, the reusable satellite",
   "description": "Delphi, a fully reusable satellite designed to launch, land and fly again",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Maana Electric",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-05",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Announces ESA and Luxembourg Space Agency support for TerraBox development on Earth and the Moon",
     "source": "https://maanaelectric.com/news-2/18_05_2021/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Joost van Oorschot"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "maana-electric",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/maana-electric",
   "website": "https://maanaelectric.com/",
   "country": "Luxembourg",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining",
    "Space Power & Energy"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "ISRU technology for solar panels",
   "description": "Technology that uses local raw materials to produce solar panels, both on Earth and in space.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Made In Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020-06-23",
     "title": "Redwire acquires Made In Space and its Luxembourg arm",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/redwire-acquires-made-in-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-07-15",
     "title": "NASA awards $73.7 million for the Archinaut One assembly demo",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/made-in-space-archinaut-one-demonstration/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014-11-24",
     "title": "First 3D printed part manufactured in space aboard the ISS",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/nasa-and-made-in-space-inc-successfully-3d-print-first-object-in-space/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Aaron Kemmer"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jason Dunn"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Mike Chen"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Michael Snyder"
    },
    {
     "role": "President & CEO",
     "name": "Andrew Rush"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "made-in-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/made-in-space",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 73000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Redwire in 2020. The old madeinspace.us domain now hosts unrelated content and is no longer linked.",
   "one_liner": "In-space manufacturing",
   "description": "Manufacturing in orbit that uses the space environment's unique properties for commercial, research, and defense work.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Magdrive",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Its orbital demo proves charging and plasma generation but never maneuvers the spacecraft",
     "source": "https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/magdrives-plasma-thruster-proves-its-mettle-in-first-orbital-test/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Flies two Rogue metal-plasma thrusters on a D-Orbit vehicle, its first flight hardware",
     "source": "https://www.ukspace.org/magdrive-launches-first-flight-of-next-generation-plasma-thruster/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $10.5M seed led by Redalpine and opens a US office",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/magdrive-raises-10-5-million-and-opens-u-s-office/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs with D-Orbit to fly its electric propulsion as a hosted payload",
     "source": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/05/2924579/0/en/Magdrive-Signs-Contract-with-D-Orbit-to-Test-Their-Electrical-Propulsion-System.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Mark Stokes"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Thomas Clayson"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "magdrive",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/magdrive",
   "website": "https://magdrive.space",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 10500000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$10.5M equity; the company cites $22.5M total funding including roughly $10M in UK and ESA grants",
     "investors": "Led by Redalpine, with Balerion, Alumni Ventures, Outsized Ventures, 7percent and Entrepreneur First",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/magdrive-raises-10-5m-to-advance-satellite-propulsion-systems/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Metal-fueled plasma propulsion",
   "description": "Metal-fueled plasma propulsion with dramatically higher thrust density",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Maritime Launch Services",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-07",
     "title": "Isar Aerospace signs a ten-year deal for a Spectrum complex",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://globalnews.ca/news/11956387/german-aerospace-company-nova-scotia-launch-pad/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06-10",
     "title": "Barracuda flight ends in an anomaly late in the boost phase",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maritime-launch-completes-suborbital-launch-from-spaceport-nova-scotia-in-partnership-with-t-minus-engineering-302797198.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-16",
     "title": "Canada leases a defence pad for $200 million over ten years",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-canada-selects-spaceport-nova-scotia-as-dedicated-sovereign-launch-site-for-national-defence-302714604.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11-20",
     "title": "Second suborbital demonstration flies a T-Minus Barracuda",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/maritime-launch-completes-second-successful-suborbital-demonstration-from-spaceport-nova-scotia-launching-t-minus-engineering-s-barracuda-vehicle-863554512.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11-03",
     "title": "MDA Space invests $10 million and becomes an equity owner",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://mda.space/article/mda-space-makes-10-million-investment-in-maritime-launch-becoming-an-equity-owner-and-a-strategic-partner"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-07-06",
     "title": "First rocket launched from Spaceport Nova Scotia",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2023/07/07/first-launch-occurs-from-canadas-nova-scotia-spaceport/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04-27",
     "title": "Shares begin trading on the NEO Exchange as MAXQ",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220427005150/en/Canadas-First-Commercial-Spaceport-Debuts-on-the-NEO-Exchange-With-Public-Listing-of-Maritime-Launch-Services"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "President",
     "name": "Robert Feierbach"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "maritime-launch-services",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/maritime-launch-services",
   "website": "https://www.maritimelaunch.com/",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 11000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Publicly listed in Canada since 2022.",
   "one_liner": "Commercial spaceport",
   "description": "Spaceport Nova Scotia, a commercial launch site on Canada's Atlantic coast offered to orbital and suborbital operators.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Marstronauts",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "David Talas"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "marstronauts",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/marstronauts",
   "website": "https://www.marstronauts.space",
   "country": "Hungary",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down; domain no longer resolves.",
   "one_liner": "Education about Mars",
   "description": "A personal education project covering Mars colonies, space travel, and space medicine.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/marstronauts",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "May Marom",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Uri Statnikov"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "may-marom",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/may-marom",
   "website": "http://maymarom.com/",
   "country": "Israel",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down; domain no longer resolves.",
   "one_liner": "Water from regolith",
   "description": "Humidity extraction from extraterrestrial regolith",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Miles Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquired by RocketStar; founder Wes Faler becomes its chief technology officer",
     "source": "https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-11",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "The Team Miles cubesat launches to deep space on Artemis I, but contact is never established after deployment",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/miles.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Team Miles wins $100,000 in the ground phase of NASA's Cube Quest Challenge, earning a ride on Artemis I",
     "source": "https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Wesley Faler"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "miles-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/miles-space",
   "website": "https://miles-space.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion",
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by RocketStar in January 2024; founder Wes Faler became RocketStar's CTO, stepping back from the role in 2025. The Miles Space domain now returns 404.",
   "one_liner": "Propulsion and space communications",
   "description": "Built for NASA's Cube Quest Challenge, its 14 kg cubesat uses plasma thrusters to seek lunar orbit and deep space.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/miles-space",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "MinoSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "STAR Market accepts its IPO application, seeking 5B yuan",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-satellite-maker-minospace-seeks-736-million-in-ipo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a 1B yuan Series C led by Wuxi development-zone funds",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-satellite-manufacturer-minospace-raises-137-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins an 804M yuan contract to build Sichuan province a remote-sensing constellation",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-commercial-company-lands-contract-to-build-provincial-satellite-constellation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Five satellites launch at once, including the first Ku-band phased-array radar imaging satellite",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/china-rocket-launch-cas-space-kinetica-1-january-2024"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-02",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Taijing-4 01, its first radar satellite, launches on a record 22-payload rideshare",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/taijing-4.htm"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & Chairman",
     "name": "Gao Enyu"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "minospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/minospace",
   "website": "https://www.minospace.cn",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellites built to order, 10 kg to a ton",
   "description": "Builds satellites to order from 10 kg to a tonne, mostly for Chinese provinces and agencies buying their own constellations.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Momentus",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-30",
     "title": "Vigoride-7 completes orbit changes with payload testing underway",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2026/07/30/momentus-vigoride-7-completes-orbital-altitude-adjustments-as-hosted-payload-testing-progresses/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-05-28",
     "title": "Closes a $25 million private placement",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/momentus-raises-846-million-advances-vigoride-7-mission-93CH-4730708"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-30",
     "title": "Vigoride-7 launches and deploys its solar arrays",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331831032/en/Mission-Update-on-Momentus-Vigoride-7-Orbital-Service-Vehicle"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-12-17",
     "title": "Runs a 1-for-17.85 reverse split to hold its Nasdaq listing",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MNTS/momentus-inc-announces-reverse-stock-dcp5vh8kxerw.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-10-09",
     "title": "NASA awards $2.5 million to fly a rotating detonation engine",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://secure.businesswire.com/news/home/20251009272076/en/Momentus-Awarded-Contract-from-NASA-to-Test-Groundbreaking-Thruster-In-Space"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-05-25",
     "title": "Vigoride-3 loses power when its solar arrays fail to deploy",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/06/14/momentus-orbital-transfer-vehicle-suffers-power-problem-after-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08-12",
     "title": "Closes the Stable Road SPAC merger and lists on Nasdaq",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1781162/000121390021041703/ea145528ex99-1_stableroad.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-07-13",
     "title": "SEC charges Momentus and its SPAC over misleading claims",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021-124"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO/Founder",
     "name": "Mikhail Kokorich"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "momentus",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/momentus",
   "website": "https://momentus.space/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 33800000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Went public via SPAC in 2021; long past startup stage.",
   "one_liner": "In-space flights for satellites",
   "description": "Water-plasma shuttles carry satellites the last mile from a rocket's initial orbit to their target orbits.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Moon Express",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-01-12",
     "title": "Jury awards Intuitive Machines $4.1 million against Moon Express",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/jury-awards-intuitive-machines-4-1-million-in-cash-and-moon-express-equity/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-11-29",
     "title": "Selected as one of nine NASA CLPS providers",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-nine-companies-for-commercial-lunar-lander-program/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-10",
     "title": "Raises $12.5 million in bridge and Series B funding",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/moon-express-raises-12-5-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-01-13",
     "title": "Raises $20 million Series B-1",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/13/moon-express-raises-20-million-in-series-b-1-fully-funds-trip-to-the-moon/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016-07-20",
     "title": "FAA grants the first approval for a private lunar landing",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/moon-express-wins-u-s-government-approval-for-lunar-lander-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-10",
     "title": "Buys three Rocket Lab Electron launches for lunar missions",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/moon-express-buys-rocket-lab-launches-for-lunar-missions/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Bob Richards"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Naveen Jain"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Barney Pell"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "moon-express",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/moon-express",
   "website": "https://www.moonexpress.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2018-10",
     "round": "Series B partial close plus bridge",
     "amount": "$12.5M ($10M of a planned $20M Series B plus a $2.5M bridge)",
     "investors": "Minerva Capital Group led the bridge",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/moon-express-raises-12-5-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "No documented activity since a January 2019 court judgment. The website is still up but unmaintained: it promises a sample return mission \"by 2020\" and still gives the address as Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, renamed in December 2020. Selected as a NASA CLPS provider in 2018 but never awarded a task order.",
   "one_liner": "Lunar robotic spacecraft",
   "description": "MX explorer spacecraft carry partner payloads to the Moon on commercial and chartered missions.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Morpheus Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "GO-2 electric propulsion is validated in orbit aboard a D-Orbit ION carrier",
     "source": "https://www.morpheus.space/post/morpheus-space-validates-next-gen-electric-propulsion-with-successful-go-2-in-orbit-demonstration"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Opens its Reloaded factory in Dresden to scale GO-2 propulsion production",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/morpheus-space-launches-new-reloaded-factory-in-dresden-germany-significantly-increasing-availability-of-the-go-2-electric-propulsion-systems-302203589.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Kevin Lausten"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Daniel Bock"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "morpheus-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/morpheus-space",
   "website": "https://morpheus.space",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-09",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$28M",
     "investors": "Led by Alpine Space Ventures, with Morpheus Ventures, Vsquared, Lavrock, Airbus Ventures, In-Q-Tel and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satellite-mobility-ecosystem-provider-morpheus-space-raises-28m-in-series-a/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "round": "Series A+",
     "amount": "$15M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Alpine Space Ventures and the European Investment Fund",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/morpheus-raises-15-million-in-series-a-round/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Agile electric propulsion",
   "description": "Modular electric propulsion giving small satellites agile maneuverability",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "mu Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-07-07",
     "title": "Factory 1 satellite component plant opens in Bangkok",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2021/07/07/mu-space-opens-satellite-factory-in-thailand/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12-25",
     "title": "Factory 0 spacecraft assembly plant opens in Bangkok",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2020/12/29/mu-space-the-first-thai-spaceship-factory-opening/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-12-11",
     "title": "NBTC grants a 15 year Thai satellite services licence",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/innovation/2017/12/11/mu-space-receives-15-year-satellite-license-thailand/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-09-26",
     "title": "Blue Origin signs mu Space for a New Glenn launch",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.geekwire.com/2017/blue-origin-strikes-satellite-launch-deal-thai-telecon-startup-mu-space/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "James Yenbamroong"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "mu-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/mu-space",
   "website": "https://www.muspacecorp.com/",
   "country": "Thailand",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2020",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "targeting up to $25M at a valuation above $100M; final closed amount not publicly confirmed",
     "investors": "TOT, B.Grimm Group, Majuven Fund, Nice Apparel Group and executives from Dow, SCG and the UCLA Foundation",
     "source": "https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2004279/mu-targets-25m-series-b-funding-for-smart-factory"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "In-space communication",
   "description": "Satellite communications supporting IoT and smart cities, plus ambitions in Asian commercial space travel.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Muon Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-07",
     "title": "First three operational FireSat satellites reach orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://earthfirealliance.org/news-article/earth-fire-alliances-first-three-operational-firesats-reach-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "title": "Three Vindler 2.0 satellites launched for SNC on Transporter-16",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.muonspace.com/press/snc-and-muon-space-launch-three-vindler-r-2-0-satellites-to-power-expedited-rf-data-analytics"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-12",
     "title": "Closes $89.5 million Series B1, taking Series B to $146 million",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/muon-space-raises-90-million-to-scale-satellite-production-and-acquire-propulsion-startup/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-12",
     "title": "Acquires propulsion startup Starlight Engines",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/muon-space-raises-90-million-to-scale-satellite-production-and-acquire-propulsion-startup/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03-14",
     "title": "FireSat Protoflight launched on Transporter-13",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/17/a-google-backed-weapon-to-battle-wildfires-made-it-into-orbit"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "title": "Raises $56.7 million Series B led by Activate Capital",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satellite-startup-muon-space-raises-56-7-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "title": "Signs SNC deal to build three Vindler RF sensing satellites",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satellite-startup-muon-space-raises-56-7-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06-12",
     "title": "First satellite MuSat-1 launched on Transporter-8",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/musat"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08-09",
     "title": "Raises $25 million Series A led by Radical Ventures",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/muon-space-plans-a-turnkey-solution-for-custom-earth-observation-satellites/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO/Cofounder",
     "name": "Jonny Dyer"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "muon-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/muon-space",
   "website": "https://www.muonspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$146M total Series B; the oversubscribed $89.5M B1 close was $44.5M equity plus $45M credit",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2025/06/12/muon-space-expands-series-b-and-buys-propulsion-startup-in-a-bid-to-scale-production/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Constellations as a service",
   "description": "Developer of a space-based constellation platform",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nanoracks",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06-11",
     "title": "Voyager Technologies debuts on the NYSE at a $3.8 billion valuation",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/11/space-tech-firm-voyager-valued-at-3point8-billion-as-shares-surge-in-nyse-debut.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-16",
     "title": "Voyager Space rebrands as Voyager Technologies",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/space-economy/2025/01/16/voyager-space-rebrands-as-voyager-technologies-expands-defense-focus/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05-29",
     "title": "MDA Space joins Starlab Space as a partner and equity owner",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mda-space-joins-starlab-space-as-strategic-partner-equity-owner-in-commercial-space-station-joint-venture-302157306.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08-02",
     "title": "Starlab becomes a formal Voyager and Airbus joint venture",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/space-economy/2023/08/02/voyager-space-and-airbus-to-form-joint-venture-for-starlab-commercial-space-station/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-12-02",
     "title": "NASA awards $160 million for the Starlab station design",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/nanoracks-voyager-space-and-lockheed-martin-awarded-nasa-contract-to-build-first-of-its-kind-commerc/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12-23",
     "title": "Voyager Space to take a majority stake in the Nanoracks parent",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/voyager-space-holdings-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-nanoracks/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12-06",
     "title": "Bishop Airlock launches on CRS-21 for installation on the ISS",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://voyagertechnologies.com/space-solutions/bishop-airlock/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014-02",
     "title": "First commercially operated CubeSat deployment from the ISS",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2014/02/13/nanoracks-deploys-cubesats-from-iss/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jeffrey Manber"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Charles Miller"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "nanoracks",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/nanoracks",
   "website": "https://voyagertechnologies.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2009",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Voyager Space; now part of Voyager Technologies.",
   "one_liner": "Payload deployment services",
   "description": "Gives students, researchers, and space agencies a way to run experiments in low Earth orbit and beyond.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "NewRocket",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020-12",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils its PowerGel gel-propellant engine line, with backing from Consensus Business Group",
     "source": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/startup-unveils-new-generation-rocket-engines-with-powergel-fuel/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Moti Elyashi"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CTO",
     "name": "Zohar Schlagman"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "NewRocket",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/NewRocket",
   "website": null,
   "country": "Israel",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2020-12",
     "round": "Incubator and early investment",
     "amount": "$700K from Incubit Ventures plus $1M from Consensus Business Group",
     "investors": "Incubit Ventures (Elbit Systems incubator) and Consensus Business Group",
     "source": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/startup-unveils-new-generation-rocket-engines-with-powergel-fuel/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "The newrocket.space domain has been taken over by an unrelated site and is no longer linked. No wind-down documented.",
   "one_liner": "Eco-friendly rocket engines",
   "description": "Gel-propellant engines offer a non-toxic replacement for legacy space fuels in upper stages, tugs, and landers.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "OKAPI:Orbits",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03-12",
     "title": "ESA contract to link space traffic and air traffic management",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.okapiorbits.space/blog-events/esa-awards-contract-to-okapi-orbits-tu-braunschweig-and-dlr-for-space-air-traffic-integration"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-04-24",
     "title": "Raises €13 million second seed led by Ventech",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://tech.eu/2025/04/24/okapiorbits-secures-eur13m-to-build-the-future-of-space-traffic-management/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02-11",
     "title": "ESA contract to rebuild the MASTER debris population model",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://magazin.tu-braunschweig.de/en/pi-post/esa-awards-contract-to-okapiorbits-and-tu-braunschweig-for-next-generation-space-debris-model/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "title": "Launches OKAPI:Astrolabe conjunction coordination product",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2023/11/okapi-orbits-launch-its-okapi-astrolabe-product/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06-13",
     "title": "Raises €5.5 million seed led by MunichRe Ventures",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://tech.eu/2022/06/13/space-traffic-management-startup-okapiorbits-keeps-the-downtime-down-with-eur55-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Jonas Radtke"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CFO",
     "name": "Kristina Nikolau"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/Lead Scientist",
     "name": "Christopher Kebschull"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "okapi-orbits",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/okapi-orbits",
   "website": "https://okapiorbits.space",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "EUR 13M",
     "investors": "Led by Ventech, with Matterwave Ventures and existing investors including the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund",
     "source": "https://www.okapiorbits.space/blog-events/okapi-orbits-raises-eu13m-seed-funding-to-accelerate-global-growth-with-new-european-vc-funds-on-board"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite collision avoidance software",
   "description": "Software sold as a service keeps satellite operations safe, from collision avoidance to ground segment integration.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "OneSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-04-12",
     "title": "Securities Times reports the whole-rocket business abandoned",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/1173693.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-01",
     "title": "Last recorded equity raise",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://pitchhub.36kr.com/project/1817549868369799"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-10",
     "title": "Series C+ raises ¥300 million led by Huijin Capital",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://pitchhub.36kr.com/project/1817549868369799"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-08",
     "title": "Series B raises ¥300 million led by Qianhai Wande Fund",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://pitchhub.36kr.com/project/1817549868369799"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Shu Chang"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "onespace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/onespace",
   "website": "http://www.onespacechina.com/",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2018-08",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "US$43.6M (300M RMB)",
     "investors": "Led by Zhongjin Jiatai Fund, with Qitu Capital, China Merchants Venture Capital and others",
     "source": "https://www.spacetechasia.com/chinese-rocket-company-onespace-raises-us43-6m-in-series-b/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "Securities Times reported in April 2024 that OneSpace had abandoned whole-rocket work after its 2019 launch failure. Website offline.",
   "one_liner": "Launch services for satellites and spacecraft",
   "description": "Small launch vehicles built to give commercial micro-satellites cost-effective launches worldwide.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "OneWeb",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "title": "Merger with Eutelsat completes, forming Eutelsat Group with OneWeb as its LEO arm",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-completes-multi-orbit-oneweb-merger-after-shareholder-vote/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03",
     "title": "The final 36 satellites complete the 648-strong first-generation constellation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/oneweb"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-07",
     "title": "Emerges from Chapter 11 after a $1B rescue led by the UK government and Bharti Global",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.technology.org/eutelsat-oneweb-satellite-internet-provider/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-02",
     "title": "First six satellites of the broadband constellation reach orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/oneweb"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Greg Wyler"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "oneweb",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oneweb",
   "website": "https://www.oneweb.world/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 3000000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Eutelsat in 2023; now operates as Eutelsat OneWeb.",
   "one_liner": "High speed internet satellite constellation",
   "description": "A low Earth orbit telecommunications constellation meant to connect everyone, everywhere, and bridge digital divides.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Open Cosmos",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-10",
     "title": "Completes the landmark MANTIS imaging mission",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2025/10/27/open-cosmos-celebrates-completion-of-landmark-mantis-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11",
     "title": "MANTIS and PLATERO reach orbit on Transporter-9, joining the shared OpenConstellation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://news.satnews.com/2023/11/13/open-cosmos-mantis-platero-satellites-reach-orbit-with-openconstellation-launch/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Rafael Jordà-Siquier"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "open-cosmos",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/open-cosmos",
   "website": "https://www.open-cosmos.com",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 63000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$50M",
     "investors": "ETF Partners, Trill Impact and A&G, with Accenture Ventures, Santander InnoEnergy Climate Tech Fund and Claret Capital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/open-cosmos-raises-50-million-to-expand-earth-observation-satellite-business/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space mission services",
   "description": "Small satellites built, launched and operated end to end, with the data delivered through a shared constellation and platform.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/open-cosmos",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Orbex",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-07",
     "title": "Administrators report £689,000 cash against a £117 million deficit",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/07/07/orbex-bankruptcy-details-released/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02-11",
     "title": "Enters administration after a failed Series D and sale talks",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/uk-launcher-orbex-files-for-administration-after-failed-funding-efforts/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07-07",
     "title": "Preselected by ESA for the European Launcher Challenge",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/esa-selects-five-companies-for-next-phase-of-launcher-competition/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-29",
     "title": "UK government invests £20 million, taking Series D to £23 million",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://advanced-television.com/2025/01/29/uk-government-invests-20m-in-orbex/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "title": "Halts work on its own spaceport and moves first launch to SaxaVord",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/orbex-halts-work-on-own-spaceport-shifts-launches-to-saxavord/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04-18",
     "title": "Raises £16.7 million for Sutherland spaceport and Prime",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/18/orbexs-new-funding-may-accelerate-its-prime-microlauncher-into-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-10-18",
     "title": "Closes £40.4 million Series C led by Scottish National Investment Bank",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/orbex-announces-40-4-million-series-c-funding-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-02",
     "title": "Prime rocket and single-piece 3D printed engine unveiled",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://newatlas.com/orbex-largest-printed-engine/58387/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Chris Larmour"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Kristian von Bengtson"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Phillip Chambers"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "orbex",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex",
   "website": "http://orbex.space",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "GBP 23M (about US$28.6M), including GBP 20M from the UK Government, its first direct investment in a UK launch company",
     "investors": "Led by the UK Government, with the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, Octopus Ventures and Sohaib Abbasi",
     "source": "https://spaceproject.govexec.com/commercial/2025/01/orbex-secures-25-million-uk-government-fuel-domestic-space-launch-ambitions/402588/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Entered administration in February 2026 after a failed Series D and collapsed sale talks. Raised £138.5M, never flew Prime.",
   "one_liner": "Private launch services",
   "description": "A low-carbon micro-launcher carries customer satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits from Europe.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Orbit Fab",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Founding CEO Daniel Faber hands over leadership as the company opens a $20M Series B",
     "source": "https://www.orbitfab.com/news/orbit-fab-enters-new-growth-chapter-with-leadership-transition-and-20-million-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "title": "Tanker-001 Tenzing, the first orbital propellant tanker, reaches orbit carrying the RAFTI refuelling port",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/orbit-fab-refueling-technology-applicability-to-science-abstracts.pdf"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-06",
     "title": "Furphy experiment on the ISS transfers water between two testbeds, the first private payload to resupply the station’s water",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/orbit-fab-demonstrates-satellite-refueling-technology-on-iss/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Peter Shaper"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Daniel Faber"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jeremy Schiel"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "orbit-fab",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbit-fab",
   "website": "https://www.orbitfab.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$28.5M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/orbit-fab-raises-28-5-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$20M, alongside up to $3.8M in UK Space Agency and ESA awards",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.trysignalbase.com/news/funding/orbit-fab-secures-20m-series-b"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Gas stations in space",
   "description": "Supplies satellite propellant in Earth orbit so spacecraft can refuel and extend their operations.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/orbit-fab",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Orbital Lasers",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Carved out of SKY Perfect JSAT to commercialise laser debris removal and satellite LiDAR",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/space-economy/2024/01/31/sky-perfect-jsat-forms-new-space-laser-business/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "President & CEO",
     "name": "Tadanori Fukushima"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "orbital-lasers",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbital-lasers",
   "website": "https://www.orbitallasers.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2024",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing",
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "round": "Seed (convertible equity)",
     "amount": "900 million yen",
     "investors": "SKY Perfect JSAT, UTokyo Innovation Platform and SMBC Venture Capital",
     "source": "https://en.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/orbital_lasers"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "3.02 billion yen (about $20M)",
     "investors": "Led by SPARX Asset Management, with JIC Venture Growth Investments, Keio Innovation Initiative, Angel Bridge, MUFG Capital, Mizuho Capital and SKY Perfect JSAT",
     "source": "https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260319"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Lasers for debris removal",
   "description": "Space-based lasers for debris detumbling, plus satellite LiDAR.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "OrbitsEdge",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs Syntilay and Copernic Space to put AI agents on its Edge1 module for a first orbital mission",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/orbitsedges-first-mission-to-space-is-a-shoe-in/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Signs an OEM agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprise to fly Edgeline computers on its SatFrame bus",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orbitsedge-announces-oem-agreement-with-hewlett-packard-enterprise-to-deliver-datacenter-grade-computing-power-in-orbit-300968290.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "President",
     "name": "Sylvia France"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "orbitsedge",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbitsedge",
   "website": "https://orbitsedge.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Software",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Computing and analytics in space",
   "description": "SatFrame satellites shield Earth-grade computers from space, selling processing, analytics, and AI as a service.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Orienspace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Third Gravity-1 flight carries nine satellites from the East China Sea, a Chinese commercial payload record",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/chinas-record-breaking-gravity-1-rocket-launches-9-satellites-from-a-ship-at-sea-video"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Second Gravity-1 flight succeeds after a 21-month gap",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/huge-commercial-chinese-solid-rocket-launches-3-satellites-from-barge-in-the-yellow-sea/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Closes a 600M yuan round for the Gravity series",
     "source": "https://spaceinsider.tech/2024/02/15/orienspace-a-chinese-rocket-startup-raises-83-5m-in-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Gravity-1, the most powerful solid rocket ever flown, reaches orbit from a sea platform on its debut",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/orienspace-breaks-chinese-commercial-launch-records-with-gravity-1-solid-rocket/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Yao Song"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Bu Xiangwei"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "orienspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orienspace",
   "website": "https://www.orienspace.com",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Big solid rockets launched from ships",
   "description": "Launches Gravity-1, the most powerful solid rocket ever flown, from ships at sea off the Chinese coast.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Origin Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "The replacement telescope Yangwang-2 is destroyed in a Kinetica-1 launch failure",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/china-suffers-commercial-rocket-failure-but-sets-record-for-annual-launches/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "State media report NEO-01 completed an in-orbit net-capture experiment, claimed as a commercial first",
     "source": "https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202211/1279404.shtml"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Yangwang-1, China's first commercial asteroid-hunting space telescope, reaches orbit",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/china-launches-commercial-asteroid-hunting-satellite"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-04",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "NEO-01, a 30 kg capture-technology test craft, launches on a commercial rideshare",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/china-launches-space-mining-test-spacecraft-on-commercial-rideshare-mission/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Su Meng"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Yu Tianhong"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "origin-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/origin-space",
   "website": "https://www.origin.space",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Prospecting asteroids with telescopes",
   "description": "China's asteroid mining startup, which in practice means telescopes that prospect and capture tech that gets tested.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ORiS",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-21",
     "title": "Raises €4.5 million pre-seed led by Earlybird",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.i3p.it/en/news/italian-startup-oris-raises-5-million-euro-build-in-orbit-energy-distribution-grid"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "title": "LOONA prototype beams power to a drone beyond 100 metres",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.i3p.it/en/news/italian-startup-oris-raises-5-million-euro-build-in-orbit-energy-distribution-grid"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "Enters the I3P and ESA BIC Turin incubation programmes",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.i3p.it/en/news/wireless-energy-satellites-story-italian-innovative-startup-oris"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "title": "Incorporated in Turin as a Politecnico di Torino spinoff",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.i3p.it/en/news/wireless-energy-satellites-story-italian-innovative-startup-oris"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Andrea Villa"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Anna Mauro"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CCO",
     "name": "Domenico Edoardo Sfasciamuro"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & COO",
     "name": "Francesco Lopez"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "oris",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oris",
   "website": "https://oris-space.com",
   "country": "Italy",
   "founded": "2024",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Power & Energy"
   ],
   "stage": "Pre-seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "round": "Pre-seed",
     "amount": "EUR 5M total: EUR 4.5M equity plus a EUR 0.5M Piedmont Region grant",
     "investors": "Led by Earlybird, co-led by Pitchdrive, with Galaxia, Vento and Piemonte Next",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/italian-startup-oris-raises-funding-for-laser-power-beaming-technology/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Wireless power between satellites",
   "description": "Laser-based wireless power transmission moving energy between satellites",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Oxford Space Systems",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "title": "Wrapped Rib antenna deploys in orbit for the first time, on SSTL’s CarbSAR mission",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/oxford-space-systems-wrapped-rib-antenna-successfully-deployed-in-orbit-on-carbsar-mission/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Mike Lawton"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "oxford-space-systems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oxford-space-systems",
   "website": "https://www.oxford.space",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2018-06",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "GBP 6.7M",
     "investors": "Led by Longwall Ventures, with IQ Capital, Foresight Williams and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/oxford-space-systems-raises-8-9-million-for-spacecraft-component-business/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "GBP 3M, including GBP 750K from the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund",
     "investors": "UKI2S among others; remaining investors not named",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/oxford-space-systems-secures-3m-in-additional-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Deployable structures",
   "description": "Deployable antennas and structures for spacecraft that are lighter, simpler, and cheaper than current designs.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/oxford-space-systems",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Pale Blue",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "title": "Water ion thruster achieves its first in-orbit operation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://pale-blue.co.jp/news/946/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03",
     "title": "Water-based thruster fires in orbit for the first time, aboard Sony’s EYE satellite",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/pale-blue-flies-water-based-thrusters-in-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "First in-orbit firing of its water vapour thruster, aboard Sony’s STAR SPHERE satellite",
     "source": "https://pale-blue.co.jp/news/314/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jun Asakawa"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Hiroyuki Koizumi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "pale-blue",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/pale-blue",
   "website": "https://pale-blue.co.jp",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "round": "Series B (first close)",
     "amount": "1 billion yen (about $7.5M)",
     "investors": "Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital and Incubate Fund among long-term backers",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2023/10/06/japanese-propulsion-startup-pale-blue-secures-further-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "¥2.5B (~$16M)",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://pale-blue.co.jp/news/445/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "round": "Series B (final close)",
     "amount": "about 2.5 billion yen (about $16M)",
     "investors": "aSTART, Global Brain, ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Gogin Capital, Sumisho Venture Partners and others",
     "source": "https://pale-blue.co.jp/news/445/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "about 1.5 billion yen (about $10M)",
     "investors": "Led by aSTART, with Nissay Capital, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital, ITOCHU Technology Ventures and the Mitsubishi Electric ME Innovation Fund",
     "source": "https://pale-blue.co.jp/news/745/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Water-fuelled satellite propulsion",
   "description": "Water-fuelled ion and Hall thrusters for small satellite propulsion.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Phase Four",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-09-22",
     "title": "Quantum Space buys the multi-mode line and Hawthorne facility",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/quantum-space-acquires-phase-fours-propulsion-tech/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09-12",
     "title": "Apex buys the Hall effect thruster line, hardware and staff",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.apexspace.com/blog/apex-raises-200-million-series-d-financing"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11-04",
     "title": "Maxwell Block III multi-mode propulsion system announced",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2024/11/04/phase-four-announces-monopropellant-multi-mode-propulsion-systems/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "DARPA awards $14.9 million for air breathing VLEO propulsion",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-phase-four-secures-a-14-9m-darpa-contract-for-an-air-breathing-vleo-system/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-11-04",
     "title": "Maxwell thruster fires on AFRL green propellant in ground test",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/phase-fours-spacecraft-engine-first-to-demo-afrls-game-changing-green-fuel/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-01",
     "title": "First Maxwell RF thrusters reach orbit on Transporter-1",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spacex-transporter-1-carries-two-phase-four-powered-small-satellites-to-low-earth-orbit-in-new-roi-in-space-era-301213668.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Simon Halpern"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Steve Kiser"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "phase-four",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/phase-four",
   "website": "http://www.phasefour.io/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Broken up in 2025: the Hall-effect thruster line was sold to Apex, and the multi-mode propulsion tech plus the Hawthorne facility to Quantum Space.",
   "one_liner": "Compact electric propulsion for space",
   "description": "Its electrodeless radio-frequency plasma thruster scales from CubeSats up to bus-sized satellites.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/phase-four",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Picterra",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Partners with Planet Labs to pair high-frequency imagery with its GeoAI platform",
     "source": "https://picterra.ai/blog/picterra-planet-partner-to-accelerate-sustainable-geoai-driven-solutions/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises $6.5M led by VI Partners to scale its geospatial machine learning platform",
     "source": "https://picterra.ai/blog/picterra-raises-6-5m-to-accelerate-its-mission-of-democratizing-geospatial-mapping/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CTO",
     "name": "Frank de Morsier"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Pierrick Poulenas"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "picterra",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/picterra",
   "website": "https://picterra.ai",
   "country": "Switzerland",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2019-09",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$3.3M",
     "investors": "Space Capital, Omidyar Network and Atlantic Labs",
     "source": "https://picterra.ai/blog/picterra-lands-3-3-million-in-new-funding-to-help-further-democratize-geospatial-mapping/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$6.5M",
     "investors": "Led by VI Partners, with ACE and Company",
     "source": "https://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/vi-partners-leads-picterra-s-6-5m-investment-round"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Artificial intelligence for Earth imaging",
   "description": "Helps customers find Earth observation data sources and turns raw imagery into structured data with machine learning.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Pixxel",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "title": "Fireflies return first light, the sharpest commercial hyperspectral imagery yet",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.pixxel.space/news/pixxels-firefly-satellites-achieve-successful-first-light-beaming-down-the-worlds-highest-resolution-hyperspectral-images"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "title": "First three Firefly satellites launch on Transporter-12, the highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral constellation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.pixxel.space/news/pixxel-launches-worlds-highest-resolution-hyperspectral-satellites-kickstarts-firefly-constellation-for-climate-action"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Awais Ahmed"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Kshitij Khandelwal"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "pixxel",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/pixxel",
   "website": "https://pixxel.co.in",
   "country": "India",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 95000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$36M",
     "investors": "Google, Radical Ventures, Lightspeed and others",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230601005180/en/Pixxel-Raises-%2436-Million-in-Series-B-Funding-to-Advance-Hyperspectral-Satellite-Constellation-and-Data-Platform"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "round": "Series B extension",
     "amount": "$24M, taking the round to $60M",
     "investors": "M&G Catalyst and Glade Brook",
     "source": "https://www.pixxel.space/news/pixxel-raises-24m-in-additional-funding-taking-its-total-series-b-raise-to-60m"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Nanosatellite constellation",
   "description": "Its nanosatellites aim to provide global, real-time and affordable satellite imagery, plus tools to analyse the data.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Planet",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Planet Analytics Beta Launched",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "World record satellite launch (88 satellites)",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Planet rebrand",
     "type": "company"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013",
     "title": "First satellite launched",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2010",
     "title": "Planet founded",
     "type": "company"
    },
    {
     "date": "2008",
     "title": "RapidEye launches satellites",
     "type": "achievement"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Will Marshall"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer",
     "name": "Robbie Schingler"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Chris Boshuizen"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "planet",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/planet",
   "website": "https://planet.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 183100000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Imaging services",
   "description": "Operates a constellation of Earth-imaging satellites offering 3-meter, 5-meter and 80-centimeter data products.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "PLD Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "title": "Miura 1 flies from El Arenosillo, the first launch of a privately developed European rocket",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/pld-space-calls-first-launch-a-success/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Raúl Torres"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Raúl Verdú"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "pld-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/pld-space",
   "website": "http://pldspace.com",
   "country": "Spain",
   "founded": "2011",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "EUR 25M",
     "investors": "Led by Arcano Partners, Aciturri and CDTI",
     "source": "https://proespacio.tedae.org/en/pld-space-capta-25-millones-de-euros-de-serie-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "round": "Funding round (private and public financing)",
     "amount": "EUR 78M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://tech.eu/2024/04/24/spanish-spacetech-firm-raises-eur78m-for-miura-5-mission-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "EUR 180M",
     "investors": "Led by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation",
     "source": "https://europeanspaceflight.com/spains-pld-space-raises-e180-million-in-series-c-funding/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Venture debt",
     "amount": "EUR 30M loan",
     "investors": "European Investment Bank",
     "source": "https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/04/pld-space-adds-e30-million-eib-loan-as-it-advances-toward-miura-5-test-flight/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Commercial launch services",
   "description": "European launcher developer offering suborbital and orbital services for small payloads and small satellites.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Portal Space Systems",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "title": "First commercial vacuum test of a solar thermal propulsion system, for the Supernova spacecraft",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.portalsystems.space/news/press-release-portal-becomes-first-commercial-company-to-successfully-test-solar-thermal-propulsion-system-for-multi-orbit-spacecraft"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jeff Thornburg"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "portal-space-systems",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/portal-space-systems",
   "website": "https://www.portalsystems.space",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 67500000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$17.5M",
     "investors": "Led by AlleyCorp, with Mach33, FUSE, First In, TFX, Offline Ventures and Atypical",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/portal-space-systems-raises-17-5-million-for-highly-maneuverable-supernova-spacecraft/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$50M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Geodesic Capital and Mach33, with Booz Allen Ventures, ARK Invest, AlleyCorp and FUSE",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/portal-space-systems-raises-50-million-to-accelerate-spacecraft-development/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Solar-thermal rapid-maneuver spacecraft",
   "description": "Supernova, a solar-thermal spacecraft built for rapid maneuvers across orbits",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "PT Scientists",
   "current_name": "Planetary Transportation Systems",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "The legal entity is dissolved by merger, recorded only in the commercial register",
     "source": "https://www.northdata.com/Planetary+Transportation+Systems+GmbH,+Berlin/Amtsgericht+Charlottenburg+(Berlin)+HRB+209645+B"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Relaunches as Planetary Transportation Systems after a rescue by logistics firm Zeitfracht and a management buyout",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2020/01/new-management-takes-over-germanys-pts-gmbh-after-restructuring/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Files for preliminary insolvency in Berlin while seeking funds for the ALINA lander",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/german-lunar-lander-company-files-for-bankruptcy-protection/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Robert Boehme"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "pt-scientists",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/pt-scientists",
   "website": "https://pts.space/",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2009",
   "sectors": [
    "Rovers"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Filed for insolvency in July 2019, relaunched as Planetary Transportation Systems, and dissolved by merger in November 2024. No press covered the end; the record is the German commercial register.",
   "one_liner": "Lunar lander",
   "description": "Lunar lander missions built on reusable space infrastructure to bring exploration costs down.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "QEYNet",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Canadian Space Agency contributes over CA$1.4M for an Earth-to-space quantum key distribution demonstration",
     "source": "https://spaceq.ca/qeynet-gets-1-4-million-for-quantum-key-testing-in-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Canadian Space Agency awards CA$439,000 to adapt its quantum transmitter for space-based key distribution",
     "source": "https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/record/csa-asc%2C003-2024-2025-Q2-00057%2Ccurrent"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Cordell Grant"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Scientist",
     "name": "Thomas Jennewein"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Architect",
     "name": "Brendon Higgins"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "qeynet",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/qeynet",
   "website": "https://www.qeynet.com/",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Microsatellite quantum key network",
   "description": "Builds a global, low-cost quantum key distribution network using microsatellites for ultra-secure communication.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Ramon.Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Eutelsat picks its digital channelizers for 70 satellites in the OneWeb refresh",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2025/05/14/ramon-space-to-provide-digital-channelizers-for-eutelsat-oneweb-satellite-refresh/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises $26M from Foxconn’s Ingrasys and Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund",
     "source": "https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/06/28/2696101/0/en/Ramon-Space-Raises-26M-to-Fuel-the-New-Era-of-Space-Computing-Infrastructure.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-05",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $17.5M Series A for space supercomputing",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramonspace-raises-17-5m-in-series-a-for-supercomputing-in-space-301298678.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2004",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Avi Shabtai"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder and President",
     "name": "Ran Ginosar"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "ramon-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ramon-space",
   "website": "www.ramon.space",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2004",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems",
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 45000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "round": "Strategic round",
     "amount": "$26M, taking the total raised past $45M",
     "investors": "Ingrasys (a Foxconn subsidiary) and the UAE Strategic Development Fund, with Grove Ventures, Deep Insight and UMC Capital",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/ramon-space-raises-26m/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Computing infrastructure in space",
   "description": "Its AI/ML processors power space-resilient systems that deliver Earth-like computing capabilities in space.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Reaction Engines",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "title": "An undisclosed buyer completes an £884,000 purchase of the IP",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/06/undisclosed-buyer-finalises-deal-for-reaction-engines-assets/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "title": "Administrators line up a sale of the hypersonic technology",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/2025/06/reaction-engines-administrators-line-up-sale-of-hypersonic-technology/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-10-31",
     "title": "Enters administration, cutting 173 of 208 staff",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/01/reaction_engines_administration/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "title": "Raises £40 million led by the UAE Strategic Development Fund",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/2024/11/reaction-engines-to-close-as-cutting-edge-sabre-fails-to-advance/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-10-22",
     "title": "SABRE precooler validated at Mach 5 airflow temperatures",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/10/22/british-made-hypersonic-engine-passes-key-milestone-at-colorado-test-site/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-11-02",
     "title": "BAE Systems buys a 20 percent stake for £20.6 million",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.reuters.com/article/business/bae-systems-to-buy-20-percent-stake-in-reaction-engines-ft-idUSKCN0SQ2GK/"
    },
    {
     "date": "1989",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Alan Bond"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "reaction-engines",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines",
   "website": "https://www.reactionengines.co.uk",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "1989",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 161700000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Entered insolvency in October 2024 after 35 years of engine development.",
   "one_liner": "Air-breathing rocket engines",
   "description": "Its SABRE hybrid engine was designed to power aircraft from a standing start to hypersonic flight and space access.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "RedWorks",
   "current_name": "RedWorks Construction Technologies",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-05-22",
     "title": "Partners with EXO5D to sell industrial 3D printers in the US",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.redworkscti.com/learn/redworks-and-exo5d-join-forces-to-bring-industrial-scale-3d-printing-to-america"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-11-13",
     "title": "Supplies on-site 3D printed stone to Malibu's Sweetwater Park",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://web.archive.org/web/20191115235735/http://www.redworks3d.com/1/post/2018/11/sweetwater-park-making-construction-sustainable.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-08-27",
     "title": "Sinters play sand into building material in a bench test",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.redworkscti.com/learn/nasa-habitat-challenge"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Pivots from Mars habitats to construction after joining an accelerator",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.redworkscti.com/learn/nasa-habitat-challenge"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016-01-12",
     "title": "Begins Earth testing of its Made for Mars spinoff technologies",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://3dprint.com/114856/redworks-earth-based-mfg/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015-09",
     "title": "Reaches the final 30 in NASA's 3D Printed Habitat design contest",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://3dprint.com/110580/redworks-mars-and-beyond/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Keegan Kirkpatrick"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder/CEO",
     "name": "Paul Petros"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Susan Jennings"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "redworks",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/redworks",
   "website": "http://www.redworks3d.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Resources & Mining",
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": "Pivoted out of space. Formed to 3D print habitats from Martian and lunar soil, it became a company inside an accelerator in 2017 and refocused on terrestrial construction, dropping the Mars framing from its site during that year. Still operating, and now selling industrial 3D printers.",
   "one_liner": "In-situ additive construction",
   "description": "Industrial-scale 3D printers for construction, from a system first designed to print habitats out of Martian soil.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Reflect Orbital",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "title": "FCC approves Eärendil-1, the first orbital sunlight-reflector demonstration satellite",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/fcc-approves-first-reflect-orbital-satellite/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ben Nowack"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Tristan Semmelhack"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "reflect-orbital",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reflect-orbital",
   "website": "https://reflectorbital.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Power & Energy"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 35200000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$6.5M",
     "investors": "Led by Sequoia Capital, its first space investment since SpaceX",
     "source": "https://www.reflectorbital.com/press/announcing-our-6-5-million-seed-round"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$20M, taking total funding to $35.2M",
     "investors": "Led by Lux Capital, with Sequoia Capital and Starship Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.reflectorbital.com/press/reflect-orbital-secures-20-million-in-series-a-funding-led-by-lux-capital"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Sunlight after dark",
   "description": "Orbital mirrors selling sunlight after dark to solar farms below",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Relativity Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-08",
     "title": "Engine integration milestone reached for Terran R first stage",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/08/relativity-engine-integration-milestone-terran-r/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11-12",
     "title": "SES expands multi-launch agreement for Terran R",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ses-expands-launch-contract-with-relativity-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-03-10",
     "title": "Eric Schmidt takes controlling stake and becomes CEO",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/relativity-names-eric-schmidt-as-ceo-as-it-updates-terran-r-development/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "title": "Eric Schmidt puts close to $800 million into the company",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-12-17/relativity-space-burned-through-cash-before-eric-schmidt-arrived"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-10-11",
     "title": "Intelsat signs Terran R launch deal",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/11/relativity-inks-terran-r-launch-deal-with-intelsat"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04-12",
     "title": "Terran 1 shelved after one flight, Terran R redesigned",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/relativity-shelves-terran-1-after-one-launch-redesigns-terran-r/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03-22",
     "title": "Terran 1 fails to reach orbit on debut flight",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/relativity-launches-first-terran-1/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-06-30",
     "title": "Signs multi-launch agreement with OneWeb for Terran R",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2022/06/30/relativity-to-launch-satellites-for-onewebs-gen-2-constellation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-06-08",
     "title": "Raises $650 million Series E and announces Terran R",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/relativity-raises-650-million-round-announces-terran-r-rocket/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Tim Ellis"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jordan Noone"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Eric Schmidt"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "relativity-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/relativity-space",
   "website": "http://relativityspace.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-03",
     "round": "Strategic investment",
     "amount": "reported near $800M, after $1.3B raised through 2021",
     "investors": "Eric Schmidt, who became CEO and controlling shareholder",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/10/eric-schmidt-joins-relativity-space-as-ceo/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "501-1000",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "3D printed rockets",
   "description": "Rockets built by 3D printing, a production process reimagined to iterate and scale quickly.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Rocket Factory Augsburg",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-28",
     "title": "Tank problem forces a destack, cancelling the launch window",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/tank-problem-delays-first-rfa-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "title": "First RFA ONE stages shipped to SaxaVord Spaceport",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/rfa-ships-stages-of-its-rfa-one-rocket-to-saxavord-spaceport-2026-03/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07-07",
     "title": "Preselected by ESA for the European Launcher Challenge",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/esa-selects-five-companies-for-next-phase-of-launcher-competition/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-16",
     "title": "UK CAA grants the first vertical orbital launch licence",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "source": "https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/uks-first-vertical-launch-approved-by-civil-aviation-authority/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08-19",
     "title": "RFA ONE first stage destroyed in a static fire explosion",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/rocket-factory-augsburg-explosion-saxavord-spaceport"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023",
     "title": "KKR invests €30 million in Rocket Factory Augsburg",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/rocket-factory-augsburg-gets-e30-million-investment-boost/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04-26",
     "title": "Wins the DLR microlauncher competition and €11 million",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2022/04/26/rfa-wins-german-microlauncher-competition-and-12m-prize/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CCO",
     "name": "Jörn Spurmann"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & COO",
     "name": "Stefan Brieschenk"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Indulis Kalnins"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "rocket-factory-augsburg",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/rocket-factory-augsburg",
   "website": "https://rfa.space",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Small rockets, automotive-style production",
   "description": "RFA One small launcher built with automotive-style serial production",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Rocket Lab",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "title": "Completes a record 21 Electron launches in 2025; Neutron’s debut moves to 2026",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://nasaspaceflight.com/2025/12/rocket-lab-2025-overview/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-05",
     "title": "Catches a returning Electron booster in mid-air with a helicopter",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-helicopter-booster-catch-satellite-launch"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-01",
     "title": "Closes the $80M acquisition of space solar cell maker SolAero",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-closes-acquisition-of-space-solar-power-products-company-solaero-holdings-inc/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "title": "Begins trading on Nasdaq as RKLB after the Vector Acquisition SPAC merger",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/25/rocket-lab-begins-trading-on-nasdaq-as-rklb-after-spac-merger.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Neutron, an 8-ton reusable rocket aimed at constellation deployment",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/01/rocket-lab-debuts-plans-for-a-new-larger-reusable-rocket-for-launching-satellite-constellations/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Series E raise and second successful Electron orbital launch",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "\"It's A Test\" successful Electron launch",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Series D raise",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Site selected in Mahia, New Zealand",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Details shared on 3D printing technology",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Series B raise",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013",
     "title": "Electron announced",
     "type": "product"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013",
     "title": "Series A raise",
     "type": "funding"
    },
    {
     "date": "2011",
     "title": "Instant Eyes released",
     "type": "product"
    },
    {
     "date": "2010",
     "title": "Proof of concept monopropellant",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2009",
     "title": "ATEA 1 launched",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2006",
     "title": "Rocket Lab founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Peter Beck"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "rocket-lab",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/rocket-lab",
   "website": "https://www.rocketlabusa.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2006",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 215000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "201-500",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Smallsat launch services",
   "description": "A dedicated launch service giving small satellites frequent, reliable and affordable access to orbit.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "RoGo Fire",
   "current_name": "RoGO Communications",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-01-27",
     "title": "Launches the satellite DropBlock 2.0 crew tracker",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250127673709/en/RoGO-Communications-Launches-New-DropBlock-GPS-tracking-for-Wildland-Firefighters"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "title": "NASA awards an $898,504 SBIR Phase II for DropBlock",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.sbir.gov/portfolio/1531269"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "title": "NASA awards an SBIR Phase I for guided aerial retardant drops",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.sbir.gov/portfolio/1531269"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05-18",
     "title": "Colorado awards a further $250,000 state grant",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://oedit.colorado.gov/press-release/advanced-industries-grants-accelerate-43-colorado-startups-and-researchers-across-the"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10-19",
     "title": "Trades as RoGO Communications, widening beyond wildfire",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211019211915/https://rogocom.com/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-05-21",
     "title": "Wins a $100,000 Colorado Advanced Industries grant",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://oedit.colorado.gov/press-release/61-million-advanced-industries-awards-fuel-27-colorado-start-ups"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Rodger Goossen"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & Chief Strategic Officer",
     "name": "Derek Goossen"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "rogo-fire",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/rogo-fire",
   "website": "https://rogofire.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": "Trades as RoGO Communications, a name it uses over the same legal entity rather than a rebrand. Widened from wildfire to critical communications generally, but has not left space: NASA awarded it SBIR Phase I in 2024 and Phase II in 2025 for its satellite-linked wildfire platform.",
   "one_liner": "Fighting wildfires with intelligence",
   "description": "Satellite-linked tracking and messaging that keeps wildland firefighting crews in contact where there is no cell coverage.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SatVu",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06-29",
     "title": "HotSat-2 enters commercial service",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satvu-restarts-commercial-operations-with-hotsat-2/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "title": "HotSat-2 returns first light imagery of three energy sites",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/satvus-hotsat-2-first-light-images-reveal-live-activity-at-three-globally-strategic-energy-sites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "title": "HotSat-2 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-16",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://orbitaltoday.com/2026/04/12/uks-satvu-expands-thermal-eyes-in-the-sky-with-hotsat-2-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02-17",
     "title": "Closes £30 million round backed by NATO Innovation Fund",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/02/17/satvu-closes-funding-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11-28",
     "title": "Raises £20 million from equity round and insurance payout",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spaceinsider.tech/2024/11/28/satvu-secures-20m-to-expand-high-resolution-thermal-imaging-constellation/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "title": "Camera power circuit named as likely cause of HotSat-1 loss",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satvu-aims-to-revive-thermal-imaging-business-in-2025-with-two-satellites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "title": "HotSat-1 fails in orbit six months after launch",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.imveurope.com/article/hotsat-1-thermal-imaging-satellite-fails-orbit"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06-12",
     "title": "HotSat-1 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-8",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://news.satnews.com/2023/06/19/satvus-hotsat-1-is-successfully-launched/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "title": "Raises £15 million Series A led by Seraphim",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/british-satellite-scale-up-raises-aps15m-in-oversubscribed-series-a-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Anthony Baker"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder & CIO",
     "name": "Tobias Reinicke"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "satvu",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu",
   "website": "https://satellitevu.com",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "round": "Growth round",
     "amount": "GBP 30M (about US$41M), taking total equity funding to GBP 60M",
     "investors": "Led by Molten Ventures, with the NATO Innovation Fund, Lockheed Martin, Seraphim Space, Adara Ventures, Ridgeline, NOA, Stellar Ventures, British Business Bank and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/satvu-to-expand-thermal-imaging-constellation-with-nato-backed-funds/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Thermal imaging from space",
   "description": "Thermal imaging satellites measuring the heat signature of any building on Earth",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sen",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "SpaceTV-1’s 4K cameras reach the ISS on CRS-30 and are installed on the Bartolomeo platform",
     "source": "https://about.sen.com/sen-4k-video-cameras-head-to-the-international-space-station/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Successful demonstration in orbit",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Angel investment",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "SkyRider Mini prototype developed and app designed",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "High altitude camera",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Company founded by Charles Black",
     "type": "company"
    },
    {
     "date": "2008",
     "title": "Sen name born",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "1990",
     "title": "The story begins",
     "type": "achievement"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Charles Black"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "sen",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/sen",
   "website": "http://sen.com/",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "GBP 2M; Mercia cites over GBP 7M raised to date",
     "investors": "Led by Mercia, with existing investors including SpaceFund",
     "source": "https://www.mercia.co.uk/entrepreneur-on-mission-to-stream-live-video-from-space-raises-2m/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space TV for humanity",
   "description": "Live and near-real-time video of Earth streamed from cameras on satellites, made for the public rather than for analysts.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/sen",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sensar",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Itility Group acquires a majority stake, folding Sensar into its Earth observation hub",
     "source": "https://blogs.itility.nl/en/press-release-itility-group-acquires-majority-stake-in-sensar"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-03",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Joins ESA's business incubator at Noordwijk with construction firm Strukton Civiel as launching customer",
     "source": "https://www.sbicnoordwijk.nl/sensar-democratizing-insar-civil-engineering-sector/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Managing Director",
     "name": "Arjan Tabak"
    },
    {
     "role": "Director of Technology",
     "name": "Reinier Oost"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "sensar",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/sensar",
   "website": "https://www.sensar.nl/",
   "country": "Netherlands",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 200000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Itility Group acquired a majority stake in July 2025.",
   "one_liner": "Satellite monitoring for infrastructure",
   "description": "Tracking civil engineering risks using satellites",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ShipInSpace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Dissolved at Companies House",
     "source": "https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08023125"
    },
    {
     "date": "2012",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Fabrizio Boer"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "shipinspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/shipinspace",
   "website": "http://shipinspace.com/",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Dissolved at Companies House in January 2023.",
   "one_liner": "Provide access to space",
   "description": "A suborbital launcher design meant to carry 44 passengers and four payloads using a decoupling structures principle.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Skylo",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Pixel Watch 4 becomes the first smartwatch with standards-based two-way satellite messaging",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/google-and-skylo-expand-satellite-connectivity-to-pixel-10-series-and-unveil-pixel-watch-4"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises an oversubscribed $30M led by NGP Capital to scale direct-to-device service worldwide",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-raises-30m-in-oversubscribed-funding-round-to-scale-direct-to-device-satellite-service-worldwide"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Verizon adopts Skylo for satellite emergency messaging on NTN-capable Android phones",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/verizon-teams-up-with-skylo"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Google’s Pixel 9 ships Satellite SOS over Skylo, its first Tier-1 smartphone integration",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-connectivity-enables-new-satellite-sos-feature-on-google-pixel-9-series"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Opens commercial direct-to-device service across the US and Canada on the 3GPP NTN standard",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-launches-its-direct-to-device-service-in-the-us-canada"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer",
     "name": "Parthsarathi Trivedi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "skylo",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo",
   "website": "https://www.skylo.tech/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "Strategic round",
     "amount": "$37M",
     "investors": "Co-led by Intel Capital and Innovation Endeavors, with BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Next47 and Seraphim Space",
     "source": "https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-technologies-raises-37-million-from-intel-capital-innovation-endeavors-bmw-i-ventures-samsung-catalyst-next47-seraphim-space"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "round": "Growth round, oversubscribed",
     "amount": "$30M",
     "investors": "Led by NGP Capital, with Westly Group and existing investors",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/02/27/skylo-raises-30m-in-funding-to-scale-its-direct-to-device-reach/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite IoT connectivity",
   "description": "Satellite network solution for IoT connectivity",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Skyrora",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "Becomes the first British company licensed to launch from the UK, with a CAA operator licence for Skylark L",
     "source": "https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/regulator-grants-first-space-launch-licence-for-a-uk-based-rocket-company/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Volodymyr Levykin"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "skyrora",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skyrora",
   "website": "https://www.skyrora.com",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-03",
     "round": "ESA Boost! co-funding",
     "amount": "EUR 3M (grant co-funding, not equity)",
     "investors": "European Space Agency",
     "source": "https://skyrora.com/skyrora-boosted-by-european-space-agency-funding/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Building launch vehicles",
   "description": "An Edinburgh-based developer of launch vehicles aiming to cut launch costs with proven rocket technology.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/skyrora",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SkyWatch",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Sidus Space signs on to distribute its constellation data through the TerraStream platform",
     "source": "https://spaceq.ca/skywatch-adds-sidus-space-as-terrastream-customer/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-06",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $17.2M Series B led by Drive Capital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/skywatch-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-01",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $7.5M Series A led by Bullpen Capital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/earth-observation-startup-skywatch-raises-7-5-million/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "James Slifierz"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Dexter Jagula"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "skywatch",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skywatch",
   "website": "https://skywatch.co/",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Earth observation data",
   "description": "A single point for discovering and accessing the world's remote sensing datasets for geospatial analytics.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Slingshot Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins a $69.2M Space Force contract for AI mission rehearsal, its largest award yet",
     "source": "https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-aerospace-wins-69-2-million-u-s-space-force-contract-to-advance-ai-powered-mission-readiness-for-space-defense"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-10",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "UK Space Agency picks Slingshot to deploy 13 optical sensor systems across five sites",
     "source": "https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-aerospace-advances-uk-space-agencys-satellite-tracking-amid-orbital-congestion"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Agatha with DARPA, an AI that spots anomalous spacecraft inside large constellations",
     "source": "https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-darpa-agatha-ai"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises an oversubscribed $40.85M Series A-2 led by Sway Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221206005174/en/Slingshot-Aerospace-Raises-40.85-Million-in-Oversubscribed-Series-A2-Funds-to-Bolster-Orbital-Tracking-and-Space-Safety"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquires Numerica’s space division and Seradata, gaining a global optical tracking network",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220803005304/en/Slingshot-Aerospace-Acquires-Numerica%E2%80%99s-Space-Division-and-UK-Based-Seradata"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Melanie Stricklan"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "David Godwin"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Thomas Ashman"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "slingshot-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/slingshot-aerospace",
   "website": "https://slingshot.space",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 40850000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "round": "Series A2",
     "amount": "$40.85M, oversubscribed",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-aerospace-raises-40-million-in-oversubscribed-series-a2"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Decision intelligence technologies",
   "description": "Helps government and commercial customers monitor, simulate and optimize space systems in virtual environments.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Solestial",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "York Space Systems completes its acquisition, paying about $67M at closing",
     "source": "https://www.stocktitan.net/news/YSS/york-space-systems-closes-acquisition-of-solestial-u-s-sourced-space-t1gacukiqpn7.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-10",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Agrees to supply solar arrays powering EnduroSat’s FRAME smallsats",
     "source": "https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/10/10/solestial-to-provide-endurosat-with-space-solar-arrays/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $17M Series A led by AE Ventures and appoints Margo de Naray chief executive",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/solestial-banks-17-million-and-welcomes-new-ceo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Renames itself from Regher Solar to Solestial with a $10M seed led by Airbus Ventures",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/11/solestial-promises-solar-panels-in-space-for-a-tenth-of-the-cost-and-lines-up-10m-seed"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Stan Herasimenka",
     "name": "Cofounder and CEO"
    },
    {
     "role": "Mikhail Reginevich",
     "name": "Cofounder and CTO"
    },
    {
     "role": "Andy Atherton",
     "name": "COO"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "solestial",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/solestial",
   "website": "https://solestial.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Space Power & Energy"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-10",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "$10M, oversubscribed",
     "investors": "Led by Airbus Ventures, with AEI HorizonX, GPVC, Stellar Ventures, Industrious Ventures and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/solestial-seed-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$17M",
     "investors": "Led by AE Ventures, with Crosscut Ventures, Zeon Ventures, Mitsubishi Electric ME Innovation Fund and existing investors",
     "source": "https://solestial.com/solestial-series-a-ceo/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by York Space Systems in June 2026 for about $67M; operates as a subsidiary.",
   "one_liner": "Space solar technology",
   "description": "Makes ultrathin silicon solar panels for space, pairing high efficiency and low cost in a lightweight package.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Southern Stars",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2014-07",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "SkyCube is declared a total loss after its solar panels fail to deploy",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/skycube.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014-01",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "The crowdfunded SkyCube cubesat launches and deploys from the ISS",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/skycube.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2013-12",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Sells the SkySafari app line and SkyFi hardware to Simulation Curriculum",
     "source": "https://www.mactech.com/2013/12/19/skysafari-acquired-by-simulation-curriculum-skysafari-4-released/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2010",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Tim DeBenedictis"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "southern-stars",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/southern-stars",
   "website": "http://southernstars.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2010",
   "sectors": [
    "Ground Segment & Tracking",
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 117000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "Sold its SkySafari software business to Simulation Curriculum in December 2013 and lost the SkyCube satellite in 2014; the site describes only a consulting role and shows nothing dated since about 2018.",
   "one_liner": "Cubesat services and tracking software",
   "description": "A planetarium software maker since 1993, with telescope control expertise and growing small-spacecraft experience.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Angels",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2020-05",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Rebrands as Space Capital alongside a new $50M venture fund; the Space Angels brand winds down",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2020/05/05/space-angels-rebrands-as-space-capital/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Guillermo Söhnlein"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Chad Anderson"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-angels",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-angels",
   "website": "https://spacecapital.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2007",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Rebranded as Space Capital in May 2020; the Space Angels brand and network wound down.",
   "one_liner": "Space investment network",
   "description": "A platform where angel investors could understand and invest in early-stage space ventures and connect with founders.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space BD",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06-17",
     "title": "Series C closes above ¥3.5 billion, total raised ¥6.68 billion",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000156.000050164.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-06-12",
     "title": "Six payloads fly on H3 Flight 6 under its rideshare service",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000156.000050164.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019-12-09",
     "title": "JAXA names Space BD an H-IIA and H3 rideshare provider",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://smartsatcrc.com/space-bd-selected-as-the-official-satellite-launch-service-provider-by-jaxa-for-the-rideshare-opportunity-of-japans-flagship-launcher-h-iia-h3/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-05-29",
     "title": "JAXA picks Space BD to run CubeSat deployment from Kibo",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2018/05/20180529_microsat.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Masatoshi Nagasaki"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-bd",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-bd",
   "website": "https://www.space-bd.com",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Series C (first close)",
     "amount": "2.4 billion yen; the company states cumulative funding of 4.58 billion yen, of which 4.04 billion yen is equity and 0.53 billion yen debt",
     "investors": "Led by Mitsubishi HC Capital, with Mizuho Capital, Spiral Innovation Partners, Kiyo Capital Management and others",
     "source": "https://www.space-bd.com/en/news/news20260123-001.html"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Launch and ISS brokerage",
   "description": "Brokerage and integration services for satellite launches and ISS experiments.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Dynamix Marketing",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Hamza Baig"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-dynamix-marketing",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-dynamix-marketing",
   "website": null,
   "country": "Australia",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "No verifiable trace of operations beyond social profiles, and the domain associated with the brand is parked for sale. Closure cannot be confirmed either.",
   "one_liner": "Marketing for the space industry",
   "description": "Digital strategy and transformation support for customers launching space projects and new companies.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Epoch",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises an undisclosed Series B toward a first orbital launch and recovery attempt",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-space-epoch-raises-new-funding-targets-2026-launch-and-recovery-attempt/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Breaks ground on a Hangzhou plant sized for 25 rockets a year, built around sea-recovered reuse",
     "source": "https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-01-09/China-breaks-ground-on-its-first-sea-recovery-reusable-rockets-plant-1JN0TIKow9O/p.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "A 57-tonne stainless steel test article flies to 2.5 km and soft-lands in the sea under power, recovered largely intact",
     "source": "https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-29/Chinese-commercial-rocket-completes-vertical-sea-recovery-test-1DMefpHW0qQ/p.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Signs an agreement with Alibaba's Taobao to develop point-to-point rocket cargo delivery",
     "source": "https://technode.com/2024/04/02/alibaba-to-test-rocket-package-delivery-service-with-chinas-startup-space-epoch/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & Chairman",
     "name": "Wei Yi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-epoch",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-epoch",
   "website": null,
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Stainless steel rockets caught by the sea",
   "description": "Builds stainless steel methane rockets designed to splash down softly at sea and be fished out for reuse.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Forge",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-12",
     "title": "Fires its orbital furnace to 1,000°C and generates plasma on ForgeStar-1, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/a-completely-new-manufacturing-frontier-space-forge-fires-up-1st-commercial-semiconductor-factory-in-space"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "title": "ForgeStar-1, the UK’s first in-space manufacturing satellite, launches on Transporter-14",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/space-forge-launches-in-space-manufacturing-satellite-forgestar-1/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01",
     "title": "ForgeStar-0 is lost on Virgin Orbit’s failed Start Me Up mission, the first orbital launch attempt from UK soil",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/historic-virgin-orbit-uk-launch-fails/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Joshua Western"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Andrew Bacon"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-forge",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge",
   "website": "https://spaceforge.com",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": 51000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$30M, the largest UK space tech Series A at the time",
     "investors": "Led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with World Fund, NSSIF and British Business Investments",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/31/space-forge-raises-30m-series-a-to-make-chip-materials-in-space"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Semiconductors made in orbit",
   "description": "Returnable ForgeStar satellites manufacturing semiconductors in microgravity",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Impulse",
   "current_name": "Space Insider",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Launches its space market intelligence platform",
     "source": "https://spaceinsider.tech/2024/04/03/navigating-the-new-space-economy-the-space-impulse-market-intelligence-platform/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-11",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquired by The Quantum Insider to become a market intelligence business",
     "source": "https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/11/23/the-quantum-insider-acquires-space-impulse-to-expand-market-intelligence-solutions-to-space-industry/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Rabi Boundi"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Spyros Markopoulos"
    },
    {
     "role": "CPO",
     "name": "Pete Biggam"
    },
    {
     "role": "CMO",
     "name": "Peter Rolufs"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-impulse",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-impulse",
   "website": "https://www.spaceimpulse.com/",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by The Quantum Insider in November 2022 and rebuilt as a market intelligence platform. The operation continues as Space Insider; the Space Impulse brand is being retired.",
   "one_liner": "The Space Business Network",
   "description": "A B2B marketplace applying blockchain and smart contracts to space industry supply chain integration.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/space-impulse",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space One",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03-05",
     "title": "Kairos flight 3 terminated about two minutes after liftoff, five payloads lost",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/05/japan/science-health/kairos-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01-16",
     "title": "ORIX invests ahead of the third Kairos flight",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.orix.co.jp/grp/en/newsrelease/250116_ORIXE.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12-18",
     "title": "Kairos flight 2 terminated after thrust vector control fails, five satellites lost",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacelaunchnow.app/launch/kairos-flight-2/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03-13",
     "title": "Kairos flight 1 destroyed by its flight termination system five seconds after liftoff",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/13/canon-electronics-leads-plunge-among-space-one-consortium-after-failed-launch.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-07",
     "title": "Founded by Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu and DBJ to launch small solid rockets",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.shimz.co.jp/en/company/about/news-release/2018/2018014.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "President",
     "name": "Masakazu Toyoda"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-one",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-one",
   "website": "https://www.space-one.co.jp",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Japan’s solid-fuel rocket venture",
   "description": "Corporate joint venture flying the solid-fuel Kairos rocket from Spaceport Kii.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Pioneer",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Tianlong-3 fails about 33 seconds into its maiden flight",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-commercial-tianlong-3-rocket-fails-on-debut-launch/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Begins IPO listing guidance",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-firms-space-pioneer-and-galactic-energy-move-toward-ipos/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Tianlong-3's first stage passes a properly restrained full static fire, a year after the accident",
     "source": "https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/china-space-pioneer-tests-tianlong-3-one-year-after-rocket-crash-125071500754_1.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "A Tianlong-3 first stage tears free of its static-fire stand, flies, and crashes near Gongyi with most of its propellant",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-static-fire-test-results-in-unintended-launch-and-huge-explosion/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Tianlong-2 reaches orbit on its debut, the first private Chinese liquid-propellant rocket to get there",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/chinas-space-pioneer-reaches-orbit-with-liquid-propellant-rocket/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Kang Yonglai"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-pioneer",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-pioneer",
   "website": "http://www.spacepioneer.cc",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "First private Chinese liquid rocket to orbit",
   "description": "Put the first private Chinese liquid-fuel rocket into orbit and is now betting everything on the Falcon 9-class Tianlong-3.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Store",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Opens its first physical store in downtown Chattanooga under owner Firecrown Media",
     "source": "https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/the-largest-space-merch-retailer-in-the-world-opens-its-first-brick-and-mortar-retail-store-in-downtown-chattanooga/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Dayna Steele"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-store",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-store",
   "website": "https://spacestore.co",
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Education and retail",
   "description": "Plans a global network of space-themed retail and food and beverage destinations.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/space-store",
   "record_updated": "2019-06-06"
  },
  {
   "name": "Space Talos",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-07",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Dissolved at Companies House without any announcement",
     "source": "https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=space+talos"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Alexandros Christou"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Majed Jawad"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "space-talos",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-talos",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Dissolved on 23 July 2024, per Companies House. No shutdown was ever announced.",
   "one_liner": "Shielding for satellite electronics",
   "description": "Developed technology to actively shield satellite electronics from space radiation.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/space-talos",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SpaceChain",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "First multisignature transaction in space",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Launched Qtum based node into space",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Zee Zheng"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Jeff Garzik"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacechain",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacechain",
   "website": "https://spacechain.sg",
   "country": "Singapore",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity",
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Blockchain-based satellite network",
   "description": "An open-source satellite network that lets users develop and run decentralized applications in space.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Spaced Ventures",
   "current_name": "Mach33 Financial Group",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Closes the retail portal, pivots to accredited investors and rebrands as Mach33 Financial Group",
     "source": "https://spaceq.ca/spaced-ventures-pivots-becomes-mach33-financial-group/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-08",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Records its first exit as Sidus Space buys portal-funded Exo-Space",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/spaced-ventures-first-exit-sidus-space-purchase-of-exo-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-09",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Its unsolicited SpaceX petition passes $11M in pledges from about 7,500 people",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/crowdfunding-platforms-spacex-petition-passes-11m-750-individuals/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-10",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $1.2M seed led by WorldQuant Ventures, a month after opening its retail investment portal",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/spaced-ventures-raises-1-2-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Aaron Burnett"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "J. Brant Arseneau"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spaced-ventures",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spaced-ventures",
   "website": "https://spacedventures.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Information & Research"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Direct access to smart space capital",
   "description": "An equity crowdfunding platform that lets ordinary investors put money into space companies at the same time as institutions.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/spaced-ventures",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SpaceHabs Studios",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Ares Inception is announced with a public Steam listing, targeting a Q4 2027 release",
     "source": "https://web.archive.org/web/20260528160451/https://store.steampowered.com/app/4512810/Ares_Inception/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Spacehabs Studios Inc. incorporates in Calgary as an Alberta corporation",
     "source": "https://ised-isde.canada.ca/cbr-rec/search/?fullName=SPACEHABS%20STUDIOS"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Bryan Versteeg"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacehabs-studios",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacehabs-studios",
   "website": "https://aresinception.com",
   "country": "Canada",
   "founded": "2025",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "A Mars mission simulator from mission control",
   "description": "The game studio of space visualization artist Bryan Versteeg, building the Mars mission simulator Ares Inception for a 2027 release.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SpacePharma",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "title": "EIC Accelerator awards a €2 million grant for SPACTORY",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://evolutioneurope.eu/success-stories/spacepharma-spactory/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-03-14",
     "title": "CUTISS skin cell experiment flies to the ISS on CRS-27",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://tech.eu/2023/03/18/cutiss-has-skin-in-the-space-game-with-new-study-on-the-international-space-station/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-04-08",
     "title": "ICE Cubes lab installed on the ISS via Axiom-1",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://bsgn.esa.int/2022/04/07/spacepharma-launching-to-iss-on-axiom-1/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-09-03",
     "title": "DIDO-3 microgravity research satellite reaches orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israel-makes-history-launchs-dido-iii-satellite-into-space-640918"
    },
    {
     "date": "2012",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Yossi Yamin"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Martin Aebi"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacepharma",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacepharma",
   "website": "https://www.spacepharma.health",
   "country": "Switzerland",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Biosphere",
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024",
     "round": "EIC Accelerator award",
     "amount": "over EUR 2M grant plus a EUR 7.5M EIC investment component contingent on matching private funds (non-dilutive award, not an equity round)",
     "investors": "European Innovation Council",
     "source": "https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/byjyw4qs1e"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Microgravity labs and research",
   "description": "Microgravity experiments and research solutions",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Spacept",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2021-04",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Named among Vinnova’s funded startups for satellite-based infrastructure inspection",
     "source": "https://www.vinnova.se/en/news/2021/04/50-million-to-innovative-startups/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Sergiu Iliev"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Eric Langenskiöld"
    },
    {
     "role": "Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Arshak Ulubabyan"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacept",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacept",
   "website": "https://spacept.com/",
   "country": "Sweden",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Software"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 110000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "AI for Space Data Analytics",
   "description": "Uses AI on satellite images to prevent outages and fires from falling trees, cutting inspection time and cost.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/spacept",
   "record_updated": "2020-05-12"
  },
  {
   "name": "Spacety",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises 1.3B yuan from mostly state-linked funds to scale radar manufacturing, with an IPO in preparation",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/spacety-raises-190-million-to-scale-satellite-manufacturing-plans-ipo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Six Tianyi satellites reach orbit on a single LandSpace launch",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/landspace-launches-6-satellites-with-enhanced-zhuque-2-rocket/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-02",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Chaohu-1 launches on a record 22-satellite rideshare, starting the Tianxian radar constellation",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/china-launches-national-record-22-satellites-on-long-march-8-commercial-rideshare/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Hisea-1 launches, the first commercial C-band radar satellite at smallsat scale",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2020/12/thrustme-and-spacety-launch-radar-satellite-on-long-march-8/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Yang Feng"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacety",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacety",
   "website": "https://en.spacety.com",
   "country": "China",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Small radar satellites at high cadence",
   "description": "Changsha smallsat builder behind the first commercial C-band radar satellite, now scaling toward a 28-satellite constellation.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SpaceVR",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017-09",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Pivots toward VR-driven robotics and telepresence; Overview 1 never launches",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/08/spacevr-thinks-vr-enabled-robots-are-the-future-for-colonizing-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016-08",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Books Overview 1 to the ISS with NanoRacks on a SpaceX cargo flight",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2016/08/09/nanoracks-launch-spacevrs-first-virtual-reality-camera-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016-04",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $1.25M seed led by Shanda Group to build the Overview 1 VR camera satellite",
     "source": "https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/28/dive-head-first-into-the-cosmos-with-spacevr"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ryan Holmes"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacevr",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacevr",
   "website": "https://spacevr.co/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2014",
   "sectors": [
    "Media & Education"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down in early 2023. The domain still resolves but serves an empty page.",
   "one_liner": "Sharing the overview effect",
   "description": "A multi-sensory voyage to Earth orbit viewed from a float tank, built around a planned VR camera satellite.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "SpaceX",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Lists on Nasdaq as SPCX in the largest IPO in history",
     "source": "https://fortune.com/2026/06/15/gwynne-shotwell-spacex-engineer-mars-nasa-ipo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Acquires xAI in an all-stock merger valuing the combined company at $1.25 trillion",
     "source": "https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-confirms-spacex-merger-with-xai-ahead-of-ipo-220616795.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "title": "Second booster catch on Starship flight seven; the upper stage is lost",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/17/spacex-successfully-catches-super-heavy-booster-loses-starship-upper-stage-during-flight-7/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "FCC approves Starlink direct-to-cell service with T-Mobile, the first supplemental-coverage-from-space authorisation",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2024/11/27/fcc-approves-starlink-direct-to-cell-service-with-t-mobile/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-10",
     "title": "Super Heavy booster caught by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms on Starship’s fifth flight",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/spacex-starship-rocket-launch-rcna175191"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "title": "Starship’s first integrated flight lifts off from Starbase; the vehicle is destroyed about four minutes in",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-first-space-launch"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils Starshield, a satellite product line built for national security customers",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/spacex-starshield-satellite-internet-military-starlink"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Unveils direct-to-cell Starlink service with T-Mobile, connecting standard phones from orbit",
     "source": "https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-takes-coverage-above-and-beyond-with-spacex"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Starlink opens to the public in a $99-a-month beta, making SpaceX an internet service provider",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2020/10/28/spacex-launches-better-than-nothing-public-starlink-beta-with-99-month-service/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-05",
     "title": "Demo-2 carries NASA astronauts Behnken and Hurley to the ISS, the first crewed orbital flight by a private company",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/spacex-demo-2-mission-launches-into-history/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Crew Dragon docks with ISS",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Falcon Heavy successfully launches for the first time (and lands 2 boosters)",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "First ever reuse of a Falcon 9 booster",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "First ever droneship landing",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "First ever land landing of an orbital-class booster",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2014",
     "title": "Falcon 9 booster completes water landing",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2012",
     "title": "Dragon visits ISS",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2010",
     "title": "Falcon 9 first flight & Dragon successfully orbits Earth",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2008",
     "title": "First successful Falcon 1 flight & NASA award",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2002",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Elon Musk"
    },
    {
     "role": "President & COO",
     "name": "Gwynne Shotwell"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spacex",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spacex",
   "website": "https://spacex.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2002",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 2850000000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1000+",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Reusable rockets and spacecraft",
   "description": "Designs, manufactures and launches rockets and spacecraft, with the long-term goal of enabling life on other planets.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Speqtral",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-08-05",
     "title": "Takes operational control of SpeQtre as experiments begin",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/speqtral-takes-operational-control-of-speqtre-satellite-as-quantum-experimentation-phase-begins"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01-28",
     "title": "SKY Perfect JSAT takes a stake and forms a business partnership",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/sky-perfect-jsat-forms-strategic-capital-and-business-partnership-with-speqtral"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11-28",
     "title": "SpeQtre CubeSat deployed from Falcon 9 Transporter-15",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/12/01/speqtre-the-entanglement-based-quantum-comms-demonstrator-satellite-is-now-on-orbit/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-02-09",
     "title": "Announces the SpeQtral-1 quantum key distribution satellite",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/speqtral-announces-speqtral-1-quantum-satellite-mission-for-ultra-secure-communications"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-11-30",
     "title": "Closes an $8.3 million round led by Temasek's Xora Innovation",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://technode.global/2021/11/30/singapore-space-tech-startup-speqtral-closes-8-3m-funding-round-led-by-temaseks-xora-innovation/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Chune Yang Lum"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Robert Bedington"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "speqtral",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/speqtral",
   "website": "https://speqtralquantum.com",
   "country": "Singapore",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Quantum networks in space",
   "description": "Quantum encryption for space-based communications, built on research from Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Spire",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Opens a Munich factory it says can build up to 100 satellites a year",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2026/05/07/spire-says-new-german-facility-can-produce-up-to-100-satellites-per-year/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "NOAA awards $11.2M for GNSS radio occultation weather data",
     "source": "https://spire.com/press-release/spire-global-awarded-11-1-million-noaa-contract-for-satellite-weather-data/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-08",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Receives an NYSE non-compliance notice after restating two years of financials",
     "source": "https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/spire-global-receives-nyse-notice-regarding-late-form-10-q-filing-2025-08-22"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Closes the sale of its maritime business to Kpler for about $233.5M and retires its debt",
     "source": "https://ir.spire.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/251/spire-global-completes-sale-of-maritime-business-debt"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Completes a SPAC merger and begins trading on the NYSE as SPIR",
     "source": "https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/17/spire-global-space-company-spir-begins-nyse-trading-after-spac-merger.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2012",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Peter Platzer"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-CTO",
     "name": "Joel Spark"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-CTO",
     "name": "Jeroen Cappaert"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "spire",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire",
   "website": "https://www.spire.com/en",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2012",
   "sectors": [
    "Earth Observation",
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 140500000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Space to cloud analytics",
   "description": "Tracks and predicts the movement of the world's resources and weather systems using its satellite constellation.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "STAR",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2015",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Sunny Kabrawala"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "star",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/star",
   "website": "https://starlabsurat.com",
   "country": "India",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Smallsat launch services",
   "description": "Builds high-powered rockets, engines and space systems for economical smallsat launch, plus student research platforms.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/star",
   "record_updated": "2019-06-09"
  },
  {
   "name": "Starfish Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "title": "Awarded $52.5M by the US Space Force for proliferated LEO deorbit services",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2026/01/21/us-space-force-awards-starfish-space-52-5-million-for-proliferated-leo-deorbit-services/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-05",
     "title": "Unveils Otter Pup 2, a Transporter-14 mission to attempt the first commercial satellite docking in LEO",
     "type": "product",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2025/05/23/starfish-space-to-attempt-commercial-docking-in-leo-with-second-otter-pup-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05",
     "title": "Selected by the US Space Force to conduct on-orbit docking and manoeuvre with national security assets",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2024/05/21/starfish-space-to-conduct-on-orbit-docking-and-maneuver-with-national-security-space-assets/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "First Otter Pup flies within a kilometre of D-Orbit’s ION and images it, completing a commercial rendezvous",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/starfish-spaces-otter-satellite-will-attempt-1st-ever-commercial-docking-in-low-earth-orbit-this-year"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Trevor Bennett"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Austin Link"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "starfish-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/starfish-space",
   "website": "https://starfishspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Debris Removal & Servicing",
    "Logistics"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 150000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$110M",
     "investors": "Led by Point72 Ventures, co-led by Activate Capital and Shield Capital, with NightDragon, Industrious Ventures, NFX, Munich Re Ventures, Toyota Ventures and others",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/starfish-closes-100m-series-b/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Satellite servicing with Otter",
   "description": "Otter servicing vehicles that dock with satellites to extend or end their lives",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Stellar Amenities",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder and CEO",
     "name": "Anastasia Prosina"
    },
    {
     "role": "CTO",
     "name": "Robert Salazar"
    },
    {
     "role": "Architect and Designer",
     "name": "Daniil Iakovlev"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "stellar-amenities",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/stellar-amenities",
   "website": "https://stellaramenities.space/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2019",
   "sectors": [
    "Habitats"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Designing off-world interiors",
   "description": "Designing functional and comfortable off-world spaces",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Stofiel Aerospace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-08",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Sells 3D-printed rocket-composite exhaust covers at the Sturgis motorcycle rally",
     "source": "https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/spaceflight-startup-brings-3d-printed-exhaust-cover-to-sturgis/article_70154cae-5422-5426-83d8-377b7e2acc00.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-08",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Ken Sunshine, former Virgin Galactic CFO, joins the board",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veteran-space-company-finance-expert-ken-sunshine-joins-stofiel-aerospace-300702756.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Static-fires its 3D-printed Hermes rocket engine near St. Louis",
     "source": "https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-startup-hopes-to-compete-for-commercial-space-flight-business/article_298cb4a1-57d3-52da-bebe-bef25c2f1f72.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Brian Stofiel"
    },
    {
     "role": "COO",
     "name": "Alexander Smith"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "stofiel-aerospace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/stofiel-aerospace",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "dormant",
   "status_note": "No website on file and no recent activity found.",
   "one_liner": "Smallsat balloon launch service",
   "description": "A launch system that lifts a small rocket by balloon to high altitude before ignition, cutting the work the rocket has to do.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Stoke Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-06",
     "title": "Completes Nova first-stage structural verification ahead of the rocket’s debut",
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     "source": "https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/06/stoke-nova-update/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "title": "First hotfire of Zenith, the full-flow staged-combustion engine that will power Nova’s first stage",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.stokespace.com/stoke-space-completes-first-successful-hotfire-test-of-full-flow-staged-combustion-engine/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Names its fully reusable rocket Nova",
     "source": "https://www.stokespace.com/stoke-space-series-b/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "title": "Hopper2 flies and lands, proving the reusable second stage’s engine, heat shield and control in one hop",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.stokespace.com/update-on-hopper2-the-hopper-has-landed/"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Andy Lapsa"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CTO",
     "name": "Tom Feldman"
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   ],
   "slug": "stoke-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/stoke-space",
   "website": "https://stokespace.com",
   "country": "United States",
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   "sectors": [
    "Launch",
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 990000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-01",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$260M",
     "investors": "Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Glade Brook, Industrious Ventures, Point72, Seven Seven Six, Y Combinator and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-raises-260-million/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "$510M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.stokespace.com/stoke-space-technologies-raises-510-million-to-scale-manufacturing-of-fully-reusable-nova-launch-vehicle/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "The fully reusable Nova rocket",
   "description": "Fully reusable Nova rocket with a novel regeneratively cooled second stage",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Synspective",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "title": "Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, raising about ¥10.2B, with a dedicated Electron flight the same week",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://synspective.com/press-release/2024/listed_tse/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12",
     "title": "StriX-α, the first StriX radar satellite, reaches orbit on a Rocket Lab Electron",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/synspective"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Motoyuki Arai"
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   ],
   "slug": "synspective",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/synspective",
   "website": "https://synspective.com",
   "country": "Japan",
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   "sectors": [
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    "Satellites",
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2022-03",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "11.9 billion yen (about $100M)",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/synspective-raises-44-million-series-c-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-06",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "7 billion yen (about $44M)",
     "investors": "Japan Growth Capital Investment Corporation, JAFCO Group and Mizuho Capital partnerships",
     "source": "https://synspective.com/press-release/2024/series-c/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "round": "IPO on TSE Growth (290A)",
     "amount": "approximately 10.2 billion yen raised",
     "investors": "Public offering",
     "source": "https://www.stblaw.com/about-us/news/view/2024/12/24/synspective-inc.-completes-10.2-billion-initial-public-offering"
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   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "graduated",
   "status_note": "Public since December 2024 (TSE Growth: 290A).",
   "one_liner": "The StriX SAR constellation",
   "description": "Builds and operates the StriX constellation of small SAR Earth-observation satellites.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "The Exploration Company",
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    {
     "date": "2025-06",
     "title": "Nyx demonstrator Mission Possible survives reentry but is lost minutes before splashdown; declared a partial success",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/the-exploration-company-claims-partial-success-of-mission-possible-reentry-spacecraft/"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Hélène Huby"
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   ],
   "slug": "the-exploration-company",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/the-exploration-company",
   "website": "https://exploration.space",
   "country": "Germany",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Logistics",
    "Habitats"
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   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 230000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$160M, the largest European space Series B to date",
     "investors": "Co-led by Balderton Capital and Plural, with Bessemer, NGP Capital, French Tech Souveraineté, DTCF and Bayern Kapital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/the-exploration-company-raises-160-million-for-nyx-cargo-vehicle/"
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   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
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   "one_liner": "Nyx, the reusable cargo capsule",
   "description": "Nyx, a reusable and refuelable capsule for cargo and eventually crew",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ThinkOrbital",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "title": "Seed round led by TFX Capital funds X-ray inspection work",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/thinkorbital-raises-seed-funding-to-advance-x-ray-space-inspection/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-12-21",
     "title": "Flight-2 free flyer carries welder, cutter and X-ray source to orbit",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinkorbital-f2.htm"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-05-06",
     "title": "First autonomous electron beam weld in space, on a suborbital Falcon 9 flight",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://thinkorbital.com/news/launch-of-first-welding-system/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2022-09",
     "title": "SpaceWERX Orbital Prime awards $250,000 for an in-space assembly study",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spaceref.com/space-commerce/thinkorbital-awarded-spacewerx-orbital-prime-contract/"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Lee Rosen"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Sebastian Asprella"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Vojtech Holub"
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   ],
   "slug": "thinkorbital",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/thinkorbital",
   "website": "https://thinkorbital.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
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   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Seed",
     "amount": "undisclosed",
     "investors": "Led by TFX Capital",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/thinkorbital-raises-seed-funding-to-advance-x-ray-space-inspection/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "In-space welding and construction",
   "description": "In-space welding and construction technology for large orbital structures",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "ThrustMe",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "title": "Contracts above ten million euros to equip 40 Japanese Earth observation satellites",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/thrustme-to-equip-40-japanese-eo-satellites-with-its-propulsion-systems-as-macron-visits-japan/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-23",
     "title": "100th propulsion system reaches orbit, 26 units on a single rideshare",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2025/06/24/thrustme-celebrates-the-firms-100th-propulsion-system-launched-into-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "title": "NPT30 launches on Norway's NorSat-TD for collision avoidance demonstrations",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://news.satnews.com/2023/04/17/the-thrustme-npt30-i2-iodine-electric-propulsion-system-launched-on-board-the-norsat-td-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020-12-28",
     "title": "NPT30 fires in orbit, the first iodine electric propulsion flown in space",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04015-y"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ane Aanesland"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Dmytro Rafalskyi"
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   ],
   "slug": "thrustme",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/thrustme",
   "website": "https://thrustme.fr",
   "country": "France",
   "founded": "2017",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
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   "stage": null,
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Iodine electric propulsion",
   "description": "Iodine-fueled electric propulsion systems for small satellites",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "TimeTag.Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2019-05",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Wins the Startup Space pitch competition at the SATELLITE 2019 conference",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/via/july-2019/timetag-coo-overcomes-visa-troubles-to-win-startup-space-2019"
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    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & COO",
     "name": "Pavel Razmajev"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "timetag-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/timetag-space",
   "website": "https://www.timetag.space/",
   "country": "Latvia",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
    "Components & Subsystems"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Time tagging for satellites",
   "description": "Space-grade time-of-flight measurement for LiDAR and 3D altimetry, with synchronization that can replace atomic clocks.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tropical Weather Analytics, Inc.",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2023-10",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Partners with Phantom Space to build and launch the Hurricane Hunter constellation",
     "source": "https://phantomspace.com/news-tropical-weather-analytics-and-phantom-space-partner-on-hurricane-hunter-satellite-constellation/"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "A. T. Stair"
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    {
     "role": "COO",
     "name": "Daniel Harkins"
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   ],
   "slug": "tropical-weather-analytics-inc",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/tropical-weather-analytics-inc",
   "website": "https://weathersats.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
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   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Hurricane and weather forecasting",
   "description": "Hurricane and severe weather forecasting aimed at earlier and more accurate warnings of how strong a storm will get.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "True Anomaly",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "title": "Awarded a $30M Space Force contract for Victus Haze, a tactically responsive space demonstration",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/true-anomaly-gets-30-million-contract-for-space-force-tactically-responsive-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "title": "First two Jackal autonomous orbital vehicles launch and deploy on Transporter-10",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/mission-x-successful-launch-deployment-of-first-two-jackal-aovs"
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   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder & CEO",
     "name": "Even Rogers"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "true-anomaly",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/true-anomaly",
   "website": "https://trueanomaly.space",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2022",
   "sectors": [
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness",
    "Satellites"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 1050000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2023-04",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$17M",
     "investors": "Led by Eclipse Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/04/30/true-anomaly-raises-260-million-series-c-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-12",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$100M",
     "investors": "Led by Riot Ventures",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/04/30/true-anomaly-raises-260-million-series-c-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-04",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$260M",
     "investors": "Led by Accel, with Meritech, Eclipse, Riot Ventures, ACME and Space VC",
     "source": "https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/announcing-our-260m-fundraise"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "$650M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428626943/en/True-Anomaly-Raises-$650-Million-Series-D-Financing-to-Accelerate-Space-Superiority-at-Scale"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Spacecraft for space security",
   "description": "Autonomous spacecraft and software for space security and orbital pursuit training",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Turion Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises a $75M Series B led by Washington Harbour Partners to expand its maneuverable fleet",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/turion-space-raises-75-million-to-expand-maneuverable-satellite-fleet/"
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    {
     "date": "2024-12",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins a $32.6M Space Systems Command contract for three rendezvous-imaging satellites",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2024/12/20/turion-space-wins-32m-space-force-contract-for-3-satellites/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "DROID.001 remains in commissioning nearly a year after launch as pointing software is reworked",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/turion-space-closing-in-on-initial-ssa-service-from-first-satellite/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-09",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins six NASA and Air Force awards worth over $5M combined",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-turion-space-wins-six-nasa-and-usaf-contracts/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-06",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "DROID.001, its first space situational awareness satellite, reaches orbit on Transporter-8",
     "source": "https://exolaunch.com/mission_21.html"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Ryan Westerdahl"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "Tyler Pierce"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CIO",
     "name": "Patryk Wiatr"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "turion-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/turion-space",
   "website": "https://turionspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Defense & Space Domain Awareness"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "nearly $20M, oversubscribed",
     "investors": "Including Veteran Ventures Capital",
     "source": "https://vcnewsdaily.com/turion-space/venture-capital-funding/pbhmsqttlb"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "over $75M",
     "investors": "Led by Washington Harbour Partners",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/turion-space-raises-75-million-to-expand-maneuverable-satellite-fleet/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Droid spacecraft for space awareness",
   "description": "Droid spacecraft for space domain awareness imagery and future debris removal",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "UKAM",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022-12",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Dissolved by voluntary strike-off at Companies House",
     "source": "https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11658789"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Dilan Kaplan"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Alexander Owens"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Charlie Clark"
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   ],
   "slug": "ukam",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ukam",
   "website": null,
   "country": "United Kingdom",
   "founded": "2018",
   "sectors": [
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   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Dissolved by voluntary strike-off in December 2022, per Companies House. Its old domain has since been taken over by an unrelated site.",
   "one_liner": "Analogue missions",
   "description": "Develops British space analogue missions with practical opportunities in the UK and a push for STEM collaboration.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/ukam",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Ursa Major Technologies",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07-15",
     "title": "US Navy awards $10 million to develop the MK 104 solid motor",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-navy-awards-ursa-major-10m-mk-104-development-contract-302826496.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01-27",
     "title": "Draper engine powers an AFRL missile demonstrator past Mach 1",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://ursamajor.com/media/press-release/afrl-ursa-major-perform-hypersonic-flight-demo/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11-18",
     "title": "Raises a $100 million Series E led by Eclipse plus $50 million debt",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ursa-major-secures-100-million-in-new-capital-as-it-leans-hard-into-defense-work/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-09-18",
     "title": "A defence prime orders $34.9 million of Draper engines",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://defence-industry.eu/ursa-major-awarded-34-9-million-contract-to-advance-draper-rocket-engine-for-space-defence-missions/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-06-18",
     "title": "Stratolaunch orders 16 upgraded Hadley engines for $32.9 million",
     "type": "contract",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ursa-major-secures-32-9-million-contract-to-supply-engines-for-u-s-military-hypersonic-tests/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-03-09",
     "title": "Hadley engine flies for the first time on Stratolaunch Talon-A1",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ursa-major-hadley-engine-flies-for-the-first-time-302084726.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11-30",
     "title": "Closes a $138 million Series D and adds a solid rocket motor line",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/ursa-major-closes-138-million-series-d-and-d-1-financings/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Joe Laurienti"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Dan Jablonsky"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "ursa-major-technologies",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ursa-major-technologies",
   "website": "https://ursamajor.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2015",
   "sectors": [
    "Propulsion"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "round": "Series E",
     "amount": "$100M equity plus $50M in debt commitments, at a reported $600M valuation",
     "investors": "Led by Eclipse, with Woodline Partners, Principia Growth, XN and Alsop Louie Partners",
     "source": "https://ursamajor.com/media/press-release/ursa-major-raises-100-million-closes-series-e/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Engines for small satellites",
   "description": "A Colorado manufacturer of turnkey propulsion for small launch vehicles serving micro- and nanosatellites.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Utowave",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2022",
     "type": "company",
     "title": "Constellation cancelled with nothing launched; the website goes dark",
     "source": "https://www.newspace.im/constellations/utowave"
    },
    {
     "date": "2020",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Milun Moghe"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "utowave",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/utowave",
   "website": "http://www.utowave.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Self-funded",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Wound down; domain no longer resolves.",
   "one_liner": "Internet constellation",
   "description": "Its SpaceDust pico-satellite constellation was designed to bring internet to the 4 billion people without access.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Varda Space",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2025-02",
     "title": "W-2 returns from orbit carrying NASA-supported reentry instrumentation",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/t0386-cr-vsi-w2-reentry-cpica-at-work-2025-02-27"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "title": "W-1 lands in Utah with orbit-grown ritonavir crystals, the first commercial in-space manufacturing round trip",
     "type": "achievement",
     "source": "https://www.space.com/varda-in-space-manufacturing-capsule-landing-success"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "type": "regulatory",
     "title": "Receives the FAA’s first Part 450 reentry licence, clearing W-1 to come home after months in orbit",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/varda-gets-reentry-license-for-space-manufacturing-capsule/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2018",
     "title": "Founded",
     "type": "company"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "CEO/Co-Founder",
     "name": "Will Bruey"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-Founder",
     "name": "Delian Asparouhov"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "varda-space",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/varda-space",
   "website": "http://varda.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2020",
   "sectors": [
    "In-Space Manufacturing"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": 329000000,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-07",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$42M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/07/11/varda-raises-187m-series-c-round-to-scale-medicine-development-in-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04",
     "round": "Series B",
     "amount": "$90M",
     "investors": "",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/07/11/varda-raises-187m-series-c-round-to-scale-medicine-development-in-space/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-07",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "$187M",
     "investors": "Led by Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, with Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital and others",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/varda-space-industries-raises-187-million/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "1-10",
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Orbital manufacturing",
   "description": "A manufacturing platform intended to reduce humanity's reliance on Earth's resources.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Vast",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Raises $500M, a $300M Series A plus debt, led by Balerion Space Ventures",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/vast-raises-500-million-for-commercial-space-station-development/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-02",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Completes the Haven Demo mission with a controlled deorbit into the South Pacific",
     "source": "https://www.vastspace.com/updates/haven-demo-mission-complete-successful-deorbit-validates-path-to-haven-1"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Haven-1 slips to no earlier than 2027 as system integration runs long",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/vast-delays-haven-1-launch-to-2027/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2025-11",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Haven Demo, an uncrewed pathfinder, flies on Bandwagon-4 to validate Haven-1 systems",
     "source": "https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/11/01/live-coverage-commercial-space-station-demo-data-center-precursor-to-launch-on-spacex-bandwagon-mission/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "type": "product",
     "title": "Announces Haven-1, a single-module commercial station, and a crewed Vast-1 visit on Dragon",
     "source": "https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vast-announces-the-haven-1-and-vast-1-human-spaceflight-mission-launched-by-spacex-on-a-dragon-spacecraft"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Jed McCaleb"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Max Haot"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "vast",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/vast",
   "website": "https://vastspace.com",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2021",
   "sectors": [
    "Habitats",
    "Biosphere"
   ],
   "stage": "Series A",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2026-03",
     "round": "Series A",
     "amount": "$300M equity plus $200M in debt, $500M in total",
     "investors": "Led by Balerion Space Ventures, with IQT, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui, MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital and Earthrise Ventures",
     "source": "https://payloadspace.com/vast-secures-500m-including-300m-series-a/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2021-2026",
     "round": "Founder funding",
     "amount": "undisclosed; total investment in the company is reported above $1B",
     "investors": "Self-funded from the outset by founder Jed McCaleb, who has said he is willing to commit up to $1B of his own money",
     "source": "https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vast-secures-500m-in-funding-to-accelerate-production-of-haven-space-stations"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Haven-1, a commercial space station",
   "description": "Haven-1, aiming to be the world’s first commercial space station",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Vector Launch",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2017",
     "title": "Vector-R successfully launched",
     "type": "achievement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2016",
     "title": "Vector P-20 test successful",
     "type": "achievement"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CEO",
     "name": "Jim Cantrell"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CTO",
     "name": "John Garvey"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder & CFO",
     "name": "Ken Sunshine"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Eric Besnard"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "vector-launch",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/vector-launch",
   "website": "http://www.vector-launch.com/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series B",
   "total_funding_usd": 102800000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Filed for bankruptcy in 2019; a relaunch attempt did not take hold.",
   "one_liner": "Affordable space access",
   "description": "Combined dedicated low-cost microsatellite launch with GalacticSky, its software-defined satellite line.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Warpspace",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-07",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Agrees with Singapore’s Transcelestial to test interoperability between their optical systems",
     "source": "https://transcelestial.com/blog/transcelestial-and-warpspace-partner-on-interoperability-for-leo-satellite-communications/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-11",
     "type": "funding",
     "title": "Closes a Series B through alliances with Udom and Kohoku Kogyo",
     "source": "https://warpspace.jp/posts-en/Nzz3_iTp"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-05",
     "type": "contract",
     "title": "Wins two JAXA studies on Moon-to-Earth and long-distance optical communications",
     "source": "https://satnews.com/2023/05/16/warpspace-wins-jaxa-contracts-for-lunar-and-long-distance-optical-comms-studies/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder",
     "name": "Toshihiro Kameda"
    },
    {
     "role": "CEO",
     "name": "Hiromitsu Azuma"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "warpspace",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/warpspace",
   "website": "https://warpspace.jp",
   "country": "Japan",
   "founded": "2016",
   "sectors": [
    "Communications & Connectivity"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2021-04",
     "round": "Series A (first close)",
     "amount": "400 million yen (about $3.6M)",
     "investors": "The Space Frontier Fund (SPARX) and KSK Angel Fund",
     "source": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2021/04/23/optical-link-japanese-startup-warspace-closes-3-6m-series-a-round/"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-01",
     "round": "Series C",
     "amount": "undisclosed",
     "investors": "Led by the SPARX Space Frontier Fund",
     "source": "https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/warpspace-raises-series-c-towards-commercializing-its-hocsat-modem-and-digital-twin-solutions/"
    }
   ],
   "employees": null,
   "status": "active",
   "status_note": null,
   "one_liner": "Optical relay between satellites",
   "description": "Optical inter-satellite data relay network in medium Earth orbit.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "World View Enterprises",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-04-01",
     "title": "Ondas completes the acquisition of World View",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://ir.ondas.com/press-releases/detail/298/ondas-completes-acquisition-of-world-view-enterprises"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-23",
     "title": "Ondas agrees to acquire World View in an all-stock deal",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://ir.ondas.com/press-releases/detail/297/ondas-to-acquire-world-view-building-on-shared-vision-for"
    },
    {
     "date": "2026-03-02",
     "title": "Ondas invests $10 million and signs an ISR partnership",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://ir.ondas.com/press-releases/detail/282/ondas-announces-10-million-strategic-investment-in-world"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-04-30",
     "title": "Breakthrough Victoria puts $25 million into Indo-Pacific expansion",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240430194762/en/World-View-Expands-into-Indo-Pacific-with-%2425M-Strategic-Investment"
    },
    {
     "date": "2024-02-27",
     "title": "Secures Series D funding led by SNC",
     "type": "funding",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240227589814/en/World-View-Secures-Strategic-Series-D-Funding-Led-by-SNC"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-11-17",
     "title": "SPAC merger terminated by mutual agreement",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231117842377/en/World-View-and-Leo-Holdings-Corp.-II-Intend-to-Mutually-Agree-to-Terminate-Business-Combination-Agreement"
    },
    {
     "date": "2023-01-12",
     "title": "Agrees a SPAC merger with Leo Holdings at $350 million",
     "type": "company",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005881/en/Stratospheric-Exploration-Leader-World-View-to-Go-Public-via-SPAC-Deal-with-Leo-Holdings-Corp.-II"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Jane Poynter"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Taber MacCallum"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Alan Stern"
    },
    {
     "role": "Co-founder",
     "name": "Mark Kelly"
    },
    {
     "role": "President & CEO",
     "name": "Ryan Hartman"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "world-view-enterprises",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/world-view-enterprises",
   "website": "https://www.worldview.space/",
   "country": "United States",
   "founded": "2013",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Series C+",
   "total_funding_usd": null,
   "funding_rounds": [
    {
     "date": "2024-02",
     "round": "Series D",
     "amount": "undisclosed",
     "investors": "Led by Sierra Nevada Corporation",
     "source": "https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240227589814/en/World-View-Secures-Strategic-Series-D-Funding-Led-by-SNC"
    }
   ],
   "employees": "51-200",
   "status": "acquired",
   "status_note": "Acquired by Ondas Holdings in April 2026 after a 2023 SPAC deal collapsed. No passenger flight ever took place.",
   "one_liner": "Stratospheric observation and launch services",
   "description": "Stratospheric balloon flights that carry remote sensing and research payloads to the edge of space and bring them back.",
   "interview_url": null,
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  },
  {
   "name": "Zero 2 Infinity",
   "events": [
    {
     "date": "2026-05",
     "type": "anomaly",
     "title": "Enters voluntary insolvency proceedings at a Barcelona commercial court",
     "source": "https://www.infoconcursal.es/lstdeta/oBWjwXtw8Xxk=/ZERO-2-INFINITY-SL_concurso-de-acreedores.html"
    },
    {
     "date": "2017-03",
     "type": "achievement",
     "title": "Flies Bloostar to 25 km from a ship off the Spanish coast, its only flight test",
     "source": "https://spacenews.com/zero-2-infinity-conducts-first-flight-test-of-bloostar-balloon-assisted-launcher/"
    }
   ],
   "people": [
    {
     "role": "Founder & CEO",
     "name": "José Mariano López-Urdiales"
    }
   ],
   "slug": "zero-2-infinity",
   "profile_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/zero-2-infinity",
   "website": "http://www.zero2infinity.space/",
   "country": "Spain",
   "founded": "2009",
   "sectors": [
    "Launch"
   ],
   "stage": "Seed",
   "total_funding_usd": 1600000,
   "funding_rounds": [],
   "employees": "11-50",
   "status": "shutdown",
   "status_note": "Entered voluntary insolvency proceedings in Barcelona in May 2026; no company activity published since 2019.",
   "one_liner": "Balloon-borne launchers",
   "description": "Lifts customer projects above the Earth to collect data, take high-definition images and manage communications.",
   "interview_url": "https://www.spacebandits.io/interviews/zero-2-infinity",
   "record_updated": "2026-08-20"
  }
 ]
}