SPACE.HAUS — WEEKLY INTEL BRIEFING Friday, May 15, 2026 ============================================================ Sources scanned: 50 Companies with news: 16 Funding activity: $1.01B+ Top story: MinoSpace seeks $736M IPO in China Canonical: https://space.haus/briefings/2026-05-15.html Interactive: https://space.haus/briefing/2026-05-15 FUNDING ROUNDS & INVESTMENT ACTIVITY ------------------------------------ MinoSpace — China [FUNDING] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/chinese-satellite-maker-minospace-seeks-736-million-in-ipo/) Cowboy Space — N/A [FUNDING] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/cowboy-files-plans-for-up-to-20000-orbital-data-centers/) Blacknight Space Labs — Phoenix, AZ [FUNDING, ACCELERATOR] • 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. (https://payloadspace.com/meet-blacknight-space-labs-in-orbit-infrastructure-accelerator/) CONTRACTS, AWARDS & GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY --------------------------------------- OHB Space UK — United Kingdom [CONTRACT] • 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. (https://orbitaltoday.com/2026/05/15/uk-company-secures-207m-contract-for-esas-envision-venus-mission/) U.S. Space Force — Washington, DC [CONTRACT] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/golden-dome-chief-pushes-back-on-1-2-trillion-cbo-estimate/) MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS ------------------------------------ Intuitive Machines — Houston, TX [M&A] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/intuitive-machines-to-buy-ground-station-company/) Iridium Communications — McLean, VA [M&A] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/iridium-to-take-over-aireon-in-367-million-deal-to-expand-aviation-safety-business/) Rocket Lab — Long Beach, CA [M&A, CONTRACT] • 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. (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/05/rocket-lab-q1-2026/) MBS — Germany [M&A, PARTNERSHIP] • 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. (https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/mbs-to-acquire-20-stake-in-bst-creating-germanys-first-sme-led-fully-integrated-space-ecosystem/) AT&T / T-Mobile / Verizon — United States [PARTNERSHIP] • 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. (https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2026/05/14/major-us-carries-band-together-in-joint-venture-to-encourage-d2d-competition/) LAUNCH ACTIVITY & MISSION MILESTONES ------------------------------------ SpaceX — Hawthorne, CA [LAUNCH] • 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. (https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacexs-starship-v3-megarocket-will-do-something-completely-new-on-flight-12-take-a-good-look-at-itself) United Launch Alliance — Centennial, CO [LAUNCH, OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/05/14/ula-confirms-successful-solid-rocket-booster-test-as-vulcan-anomaly-investigation-continues/) Exotrail — France [LAUNCH] • May 14 — Exotrail confirmed successful deployment of NASA-funded AEPEX CubeSat via its Spacevan 002 orbital transfer vehicle in mid-May 2026. (https://satnews.com/2026/05/14/exotrail-confirms-successful-deployment-of-nasa-funded-aepex-cubesat-via-spacevan-002/) INDUSTRY CONTEXT ---------------- Space Foundation — N/A [OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://satnews.com/2026/05/14/global-space-economy-reaches-429-billion-dollars-as-commercial-satellite-sector-dominates/) ADDITIONAL UPDATES ------------------ Virgin Galactic — Las Cruces, NM [OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-reaffirms-plans-to-begin-commercial-service-this-year/) Satellogic — Montevideo, Uruguay [OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://www.spaceintelreport.com/satellogic-market-tailwinds-continue-in-q1-rev-up-80-new-constellation-paid-by-customer-deploys-starting-in-october/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=satellogic-market-tailwinds-continue-in-q1-rev-up-80-new-constellation-paid-by-customer-deploys-starting-in-october) Space42 — Abu Dhabi, UAE [OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/05/14/space42-reports-space-services-revenue-growth-despite-flat-results/) NASA — Washington, DC [OPS UPDATE] • 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. (https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-shares-early-planning-for-artemis-iii/) ============================================================ Generated by space.haus · AI-curated from 50+ industry sources. Verify before making business decisions.