True Anomaly
Apr 28 — True Anomaly raised **$650 million** in a Series D funding round to scale its space superiority capabilities, hire employees, and meet customer demand for its orbital vehicles and services.
SPACEHAUS · Commercial space intelligence
Space Industry Weekly Briefing — 2026-04-29
Commercial space news and intelligence for the week ending 2026-04-29.
Week ending
Funding Rounds & Investment Activity
Contracts, Awards & Government Activity
BAE Systems
Apr 29 — The Space Force awarded BAE Systems **$11.8 million** to demonstrate satellite communications capabilities for the Golden Dome architecture. The contract will test commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts for the program.
NASA
Apr 29 — House and Senate appropriators rejected the Trump Administration's proposed **23% budget cut** to NASA for FY2027. The House Appropriations Committee is recommending **$24.4 billion**, opposing the deep cuts proposed in the administration's budget request.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships
EraDrive
Apr 28 — EraDrive announced a collaboration with Northrop Grumman to develop AI-enabled autonomy capabilities for aerospace applications.
ST Engineering
Apr 28 — ST Engineering and Singapore's HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) signed an agreement to establish a new space technology program and co-develop space-based capabilities to strengthen Singapore's public safety operations, including the Xplorer satellite for tracking hazardous gas plumes.
T-Mobile
Apr 28 — T-Mobile launched Super Broadband, a new managed broadband service for businesses that combines 5G and Starlink satellite connectivity. The company stated that satellite direct-to-device (D2D) service is complementary and will use multiple providers, not positioning satellites as future MVNOs.
Global Invacom
Apr 29 — Global Invacom secured exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the Prodelin antenna range, expanding its product portfolio for satellite communications.
Launch Activity & Mission Milestones
SpaceX
Apr 29 — SpaceX successfully launched the final ViaSat-3 F3 terabit-class communications satellite on a Falcon Heavy rocket after an **18-month hiatus** for the vehicle. The mission deployed the satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit to provide broadband coverage across the Asia-Pacific region.
Apr 29 — A spent Falcon 9 second stage from a 2025 launch is projected to impact the moon's near side in early August 2026, according to amateur astronomer tracking.
ULA
Apr 29 — An Atlas V rocket successfully launched **29 Amazon Kuiper satellites** into orbit, marking another deployment for Amazon's expanding global broadband constellation.
NanoAvionics
Apr 29 — Kongsberg NanoAvionics is preparing to launch three milestone payloads on the upcoming SpaceX CAS500-2 mission, advancing its satellite platform capabilities.
NASA
Apr 28 — The core stage for NASA's Artemis 3 Space Launch System rocket arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing a **900-mile barge journey** from the Michoud Assembly Facility. The mission is targeted for 2027.
Industry Context
Space Force / Pentagon
Apr 28 — The Pentagon budget affirms the Space Force's role in tracking moving targets from orbit, signaling continued investment in space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Apr 29 — Space industry executives confirmed that the Golden Dome satellite communications architecture will utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to accelerate development and reduce costs.
ESA
Apr 29 — ESA's Biomass satellite marked its first year in orbit with the release of stunning new imagery revealing Earth's forests in unprecedented detail. The mission is providing critical data on forest biomass and carbon stocks.
Apr 29 — ESA's Space Rider reusable spaceplane underwent plasma-hot wind tunnel testing of its belly and flaps in preparation for future missions.
Additional Updates
DPhi Space
Apr 29 — DPhi Space successfully completed its second on-orbit demonstration of AI-enabled edge computing capabilities, advancing autonomous satellite operations and data processing in space.
Airbus Defence and Space
Apr 28 — Airbus Defence and Space reported improved revenue and adjusted EBIT in Q1 2026, nearly doubling its order intake compared to Q1 2025. The results suggest the satellite telecom crisis may be over.
MaiaSpace
Apr 28 — MaiaSpace CEO outlined the company's "start later, run faster" strategy as the French launcher startup works toward its first mission, aiming to provide competitive European launch services.
NASA JPL
Apr 28 — NASA JPL successfully tested a novel lithium-fed electromagnetic thruster in a specialized chamber. With further development, this advanced propulsion technology could support human missions to Mars.