SPACEHAUS · Commercial space intelligence
Commercial space news and intelligence for the week ending 2026-04-30.
Week ending
Apr 30 — Cosmoleap secured **$73 million** in funding for its reusable rocket featuring tower catch recovery technology, similar to SpaceX's approach. This early demonstration reached power levels higher than any previous U.S. electric propulsion test.
Apr 29 — Seraphim Space Investment Trust is raising up to **£350 million** (approximately **$437 million**) in one of the largest fundraises ever attempted by a UK investment trust. The fund has backed **45** space technology companies since 2021, with **nine** reaching unicorn status.
Apr 29 — Orbcomm completed a **$460 million** refinancing package to support growth initiatives, large-scale customer deployments, and platform expansion.
Apr 29 — U.S. Space Force selected multiple firms to build counter-surveillance payloads for satellites in geostationary orbit, enhancing the nation's space domain awareness capabilities.
Apr 30 — Canadian Space Agency canceled its satellite contract with Spire Global for the WildFireSat constellation. The government remains committed to the wildfire-monitoring program and will seek alternative solutions.
Apr 29 — House Appropriations Committee is poised to reject Trump Administration's proposed deep cuts to NASA's budget for FY2027, recommending **$24.4 billion** instead, maintaining current funding levels.
Apr 30 — USSPACECOM took operational control of a new facility in Huntsville, Alabama for its Joint Intelligence Support Element (JISE) team, expanding its operational footprint.
Apr 30 — Morocco signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the latest nation to join the U.S.-led framework for peaceful and responsible space exploration.
Apr 30 — York Space Systems announced plans to acquire ALL.SPACE, a satcom terminal manufacturer, for **$355 million**. The acquisition will expand York's vertical integration into ground segment capabilities.
Apr 30 — Planet Labs and Carbon Mapper announced plans to fly the SWIR Tanager sensor for advanced methane and greenhouse gas detection from space, enhancing environmental monitoring capabilities.
Apr 30 — Sateliot and Telefónica joined forces to deliver satellite 5G connectivity to strategic sectors, expanding NB-IoT and 5G coverage through satellite-cellular network integration.
Apr 29 — Global Invacom secured exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the Prodelin antenna range, expanding its satellite ground equipment portfolio.
Apr 30 — Ethiopia Space Science Society (ESSS) and Japan's Cross U signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen space cooperation and grow Ethiopia's local space economy through technology transfer and collaboration.
Apr 29 — Falcon Heavy launched the final ViaSat-3 F3 satellite, completing Viasat's trio of terabit-class GEO satellites. This was the **12th** Falcon Heavy launch to date and the first in **18 months**. The **6-ton** satellite will provide high-speed broadband across Asia-Pacific.
Apr 29 — Falcon 9 launched **24** Starlink satellites (mission Starlink 17-36) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking SpaceX's **51st** Falcon 9 launch of 2026. Liftoff occurred at 7:42 PM PDT.
Apr 29 — A spent Falcon 9 rocket stage from a 2025 launch is projected to impact the moon's near side in August 2026, according to amateur astronomer tracking data.
Apr 30 — Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched **32** Amazon LEO satellites (flight VA268) with four P120C boosters. This was the second four-booster configuration flight. Liftoff occurred at 9:57 AM UTC from French Guiana.
Apr 29 — NanoAvionics announced it will launch three milestone payloads on the upcoming SpaceX CAS500-2 mission, advancing its technology demonstration capabilities.
Apr 29 — EarthDaily Analytics is approaching the launch of **six satellites** later this quarter, which will enable the company to enter commercial service. CEO Don Osborne previewed the upcoming milestone.
Apr 29 — President Trump hosted the Artemis 2 moon astronauts at the White House, congratulating the crew and discussing the mission. The President mused about the possibility of going to space himself.
Apr 28 — NASA successfully tested a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic thruster on February 24, reaching power levels higher than any previous U.S. electric propulsion test. This milestone supports future deep-space propulsion development.
Apr 29 — ISS module cracking issues remain unresolved despite successfully stopping air leaks. NASA and Roscosmos continue to monitor the structural integrity of the aging Russian segment.
Apr 29 — Sky Perfect JSat reported space revenue up **7.9%** in FY 2025 with increased profitability. The company projects national security programs to grow at **30% CAGR** through 2030.
Apr 29 — T-Mobile and AT&T executives stated that satellite direct-to-device (D2D) service is complementary to terrestrial networks and both carriers plan to use multiple satellite providers. They emphasized satellite providers will not become future MVNOs.
Apr 30 — The FCC is scheduled to vote on April 30 to replace 1990s-era EPFD (Equivalent Power Flux Density) limits, modernizing regulations for non-geostationary satellite systems. Industry observers note this formalizes existing waiver practices.
Apr 29 — Canada tightened re-entry regulations as SpaceX Starlink constellation satellites increasingly deorbit. The new rules address growing concerns about satellite debris re-entry frequency and safety.
Apr 30 — CATALYST unveiled its UrbanSAR satellite product for city skylines, offering advanced synthetic aperture radar capabilities for urban infrastructure monitoring and movement detection.
Apr 30 — Rocket Lab unveiled the ST-HP star tracker, optimized for accuracy in increased radiation environments, enhancing attitude determination for satellites in challenging orbital regimes.
Apr 29 — Bright Ascension finalized a leadership transition with John Baughn appointed as CEO, marking a new chapter for the satellite operations software provider.
Apr 30 — Sierra Space elected retired U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. John E. Shaw to its board of directors, adding national security space expertise to its governance.
Apr 30 — Exploration Labs proposed Apophis EX, the first commercial deep space rideshare mission, to rendezvous with potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis for planetary defense research.
Apr 30 — ESA completed sterilization testing of ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover's **35-meter** diameter parachute through a specialized bake-out process, ensuring planetary protection compliance for the Mars mission.
Apr 29 — The U.S.-Indian NISAR satellite mission mapped extreme subsidence in Mexico City, identifying areas sinking by more than **half an inch per month** due to groundwater pumping.