MinoSpace
May 15 — Chinese satellite maker MinoSpace has filed for an IPO seeking **$736 million** to fund constellation and product expansion plans. The application has been accepted by regulators.
SPACEHAUS · Commercial space intelligence
Space Industry Weekly Briefing — 2026-05-15
Commercial space news and intelligence for the week ending 2026-05-15.
Week ending
Funding Rounds & Investment Activity
Cowboy Space
May 14 — Cowboy Space filed FCC plans for a **20,000-satellite** 'Stampede' orbital data center constellation shortly after raising **$275 million** to develop rockets whose upper stages will serve as computing platforms.
Blacknight Space Labs
May 14 — Blacknight Space Labs launched a new in-orbit infrastructure accelerator, providing up to $100,000 each to five early-stage space startups alongside mentorship, defense-market access, and free use of its AI-driven mission simulation services. Focus areas include sat infrastructure & comms, data/analytics, in-space logistics & servicing, lunar/cislunar tech, and dual-use defense systems. The first 12-week cohort starts September in Phoenix, AZ with a December demo day; applications open through Aug. 2.
Contracts, Awards & Government Activity
OHB Space UK
May 15 — OHB Space UK was awarded a **£20.7 million** contract to assemble and test the spacecraft for ESA's Envision mission to Venus.
U.S. Space Force
May 14 — Gen. Michael Guetlein, head of the Golden Dome space-based missile defense program, pushed back on the CBO's **$1.2 trillion** cost estimate, stating the agency is 'not estimating what we're building' and emphasizing affordability as a central challenge.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships
Intuitive Machines
May 14 — Intuitive Machines agreed to acquire Goonhilly Earth Station (UK) and COMSAT to build out a lunar communications network. The acquisition will expand the company's integrated space-to-ground capabilities for deep space missions.
Iridium Communications
May 14 — Iridium Communications is acquiring the remaining stake in Aireon, the aircraft-tracking venture hosted on its constellation, to expand further into aviation safety, surveillance, and data services. Iridium previously owned **39%** of Aireon and pointed to space-based VHF opportunities.
Rocket Lab
May 15 — Rocket Lab acquired a robotics company during Q1 2026 and signed new launch contracts. The company broke every record it set in 2025 during the first quarter of 2026.
MBS
May 15 — MBS is acquiring a **20% stake** in BST, creating Germany's first SME-led fully-integrated space ecosystem. The partnership aims to combine capabilities across the German space industry.
AT&T / T-Mobile / Verizon
May 14 — The three top U.S. mobile carriers formed a joint venture to simplify direct-to-device (D2D) services for their customers and encourage competition in the satellite-to-smartphone market.
Launch Activity & Mission Milestones
SpaceX
May 14 — SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket is set to fly for the first time on Flight 12 next week. The V3 features major upgrades including increased height, **100+ ton LEO lift capacity**, and upgraded Raptor 3 engines. The mission will include in-space inspection capabilities never before seen on Starship.
United Launch Alliance
May 14 — ULA confirmed Northrop Grumman successfully completed a static fire test of the GEM 63XL solid rocket booster used on Vulcan rockets, as the investigation continues into an in-flight anomaly observed in mid-February.
Exotrail
May 14 — Exotrail confirmed successful deployment of NASA-funded AEPEX CubeSat via its Spacevan 002 orbital transfer vehicle in mid-May 2026.
Industry Context
Space Foundation
May 14 — The global space economy reached **$429 billion** as the commercial satellite sector continues to dominate industry growth. The figure represents overall space sector activity including government and commercial segments.
Additional Updates
Virgin Galactic
May 14 — Virgin Galactic reaffirmed plans to begin commercial flights of its next-generation suborbital spaceplane before the end of 2026, stating it remains on track both technically and financially.
Satellogic
May 14 — Satellogic reported Q1 revenue growth of **80%** year-over-year, with a new constellation funded by a customer set to begin deployment in October 2026.
Space42
May 14 — Space42 reported flat overall revenues for Q1 2026 (three months ending March), but saw strong revenue growth in its space services segment despite overall performance remaining unchanged.
NASA
May 14 — NASA shared early planning details for Artemis III, the first crewed lunar landing mission scheduled to launch in 2027. The mission will mark the return of humans to the lunar surface.