NewOrbit
Jun 8 — UK startup NewOrbit raised **$18.5 million** in Series A funding to build very low Earth orbit (VLEO) spacecraft at scale. The company specializes in manufacturing satellites designed to operate in VLEO conditions.
SPACEHAUS · Commercial space intelligence
Space Industry Weekly Briefing — 2026-06-08
Commercial space news and intelligence for the week ending 2026-06-08.
Week ending
Funding Rounds & Investment Activity
Juno Propulsion
Jun 8 — Juno Propulsion raised **$1.4 million** in pre-seed funding for its rotating detonation engine (RDE) mission. The company is developing advanced propulsion systems for spacecraft.
Contracts, Awards & Government Activity
NASA
Jun 7 — NASA announced it will select a new headquarters building by the end of the year. The agency is evaluating options to modernize its Washington, DC headquarters facilities.
Jun 7 — NASA concluded the MAVEN mission at Mars after a six-month battle to regain communication. Mission data revealed a new atmospheric phenomenon at Mars before the mission ended.
Jun 7 — Brian Hughes was appointed as the new Director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center to oversee surging launch demand. Hughes will lead operations at the critical spaceport during an era of increased commercial and government launch activity.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships
OQ Technology
Jun 8 — OQ Technology announced plans for a direct-to-smartphone demonstration using cellular spectrum in partnership with Telefonica. The test will showcase satellite-to-smartphone connectivity using licensed terrestrial spectrum.
ESA
Jun 8 — ESA signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to advance Earth observation for development and impact finance. The letter of intent establishes a framework for exploring collaboration on leveraging satellite data for development projects.
Launch Activity & Mission Milestones
SpaceX
Jun 7 — SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket booster on a record-breaking **35th flight** for the Starlink 10-35 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marks the **53rd dedicated Starlink launch** and demonstrates unprecedented booster reusability.
Industry Context
N/A
Jun 8 — WRC-27, the next World Radiocommunication Conference, is emerging as a key arena for U.S.-China space competition. The conference will address critical spectrum allocation issues affecting satellite operations and space communications.
Jun 7 — An analyst projected massive subscription growth for Starlink ahead of an imminent SpaceX IPO. Professor Tim Farrar's analysis suggests significant expansion potential for the satellite internet constellation.
Additional Updates
Axiom Space
Jun 8 — Axiom Space and Prada advanced the design of their Artemis lunar spacesuit, revealing the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) that astronauts will wear underneath the AxEMU spacesuit. The stylish base layer will keep crew members cool during the Artemis IV mission to the Moon in **2028**.
EREMS
Jun 5 — French space electronics firm EREMS inaugurated its revamped Flourens facility following a three-year, **€10 million** expansion. Founded in 1979, EREMS specializes in electronic equipment for space applications, recently supplying components for Airbus Defence and Space's CO3D and Pléiades programs.
BlackSky
Jun 8 — BlackSky highlighted speed as a strategic advantage in border monitoring, showcasing imagery capabilities for real-time surveillance applications. The company demonstrated monitoring of the Poland-Russia border with high-temporal resolution satellite imagery.