SPACE.HAUS — WEEKLY INTEL BRIEFING Thursday, June 11, 2026 ============================================================ Sources scanned: 50 Companies with news: 17 Funding activity: $1.75T (SpaceX IPO valuation) Top story: SpaceX IPO targets $1.75T valuation Canonical: https://space.haus/briefings/2026-06-11.html Interactive: https://space.haus/briefing/2026-06-11 FUNDING ROUNDS & INVESTMENT ACTIVITY ------------------------------------ SpaceX — Hawthorne, CA [FUNDING] • Jun 11 — SpaceX is expected to begin publicly trading on the Nasdaq on June 12, with analysts debating a valuation of $1.75 trillion. The IPO is expected to make Elon Musk a trillionaire, with much of the valuation hinging on ambitious plans for space-based AI data centers and a constellation of up to 1 million AI satellites. (https://payloadspace.com/analysts-debate-spacexs-1-75t-valuation-ahead-of-ipo/) • Jun 10 — India's regulatory approval for Starlink has been delayed just before the IPO, potentially complicating SpaceX's international growth story and market expansion plans. (https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/10/the-indian-government-got-cold-feet-on-starlink-just-before-spacexs-ipo/) CONTRACTS, AWARDS & GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY --------------------------------------- Thales Alenia Space — Rome, Italy [CONTRACT] • Jun 11 — ESA awarded Thales Alenia Space a €700 million contract to build two identical Sentinel-1 Next Generation radar imaging satellites. The contract represents the first phase of a program to replace the current Sentinel-1 constellation, with four satellites planned in total. (https://spacenews.com/esa-awards-contract-for-next-generation-radar-imaging-satellites/) Viasat — Carlsbad, CA [CONTRACT] • Jun 08 — U.S. Space Force awarded Viasat and Intelsat contracts totaling $437.7 million for the first two operational satellites in the Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global (PTS-G) program, designed to provide jam-resistant satellite communications. (https://orbitaltoday.com/2026/06/11/u-s-space-force-advances-on-protected-tactical-satcom/) Intelsat — McLean, VA [CONTRACT] • Jun 08 — U.S. Space Force awarded Intelsat and Viasat contracts totaling $437.7 million for the first two operational satellites in the Protected Tactical SATCOM – Global (PTS-G) program. (https://orbitaltoday.com/2026/06/11/u-s-space-force-advances-on-protected-tactical-satcom/) U.S. Space Force — Washington, DC [CONTRACT] • Jun 10 — House appropriators backed a $55.5 billion Space Force budget, omitting reconciliation funds in the fiscal year proposal. (https://spacenews.com/house-appropriators-back-55-5-billion-space-force-budget-omit-reconciliation-funds/) cosine Italia — Italy [CONTRACT] • Jun 11 — cosine Italia signed two contracts at ILA Berlin 2026 covering deep-space exploration and Earth observation missions. Contract values were not disclosed. (https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/cosine-italia-signs-two-contracts-at-ila-berlin-2026-covering-deep-space-exploration-and-earth-observation/) MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS ------------------------------------ Spire Global — Vienna, VA [PARTNERSHIP] • Jun 10 — Spire announced a partnership with a German defense firm to pursue space-based missile warning capabilities, expanding its defense and intelligence portfolio. (https://spacenews.com/spire-to-pursue-space-based-missile-warning-in-partnership-with-german-defense-firm/) Rheinmetall-ICEYE JV — Germany [PARTNERSHIP] • Jun 11 — The Rheinmetall-ICEYE joint venture formed a new team to develop an intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) satellite network. (https://www.spaceintelreport.com/rheinmetall-iceye-jv-creates-team-for-intel-recon-surveillance-network-airbus-announces-isr-group-w-rohde-schwarz/) Airbus Defence and Space — Munich, Germany [PARTNERSHIP] • Jun 11 — Airbus announced the formation of a German consortium for satellite-based Earth observation and ISR solutions, in partnership with Rohde & Schwarz and HPS. (https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/hps-joins-airbus-led-german-consortium-for-satellite-based-earth-observation-and-isr-solution/) LAUNCH ACTIVITY & MISSION MILESTONES ------------------------------------ LandSpace — Beijing, China [LAUNCH] • Jun 09 — LandSpace's Zhuque-2E rocket successfully launched direct-to-device test satellites for Spacesail and China Mobile, demonstrating China's expanding commercial launch capabilities. (https://spacenews.com/long-march-5-launches-classified-satellite-zhuque-2e-lofts-direct-to-device-test-sats/) China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) — Beijing, China [LAUNCH] • Jun 09 — China launched a classified satellite aboard a Long March 5 rocket, continuing the country's cadence of government-sponsored space missions. (https://spacenews.com/long-march-5-launches-classified-satellite-zhuque-2e-lofts-direct-to-device-test-sats/) SpaceX — Hawthorne, CA [LAUNCH] • Jun 11 — SpaceX is scheduled to launch 24 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 8:05 a.m. PDT, one day before the company's IPO begins trading. (https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/06/11/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-24-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-vandenberg-4/) NASA — Washington, DC [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 10 — Artemis 3 mission commander expressed confidence that the all-male crew will be ready for the 2027 mission, which includes three giant rocket launches and testing of two private moon landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. NASA defended the all-male crew selection as merit-based. (https://spacenews.com/artemis-3-commander-confident-crew-will-be-ready-for-2027-mission/) INDUSTRY CONTEXT ---------------- Space Insurance Market — N/A [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 11 — Cancellations of GEO satellite programs are complicating the recovery of the space insurance sector, creating uncertainty for underwriters and operators planning long-term programs. (https://spacenews.com/geo-cancellations-complicate-space-insurance-recovery/) ADDITIONAL UPDATES ------------------ Open Cosmos — Harwell, UK [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 11 — Open Cosmos is seeking a deadline extension for its ConnectedCosmos broadband constellation from regulatory authorities, citing delays in development and deployment schedules. (https://spacenews.com/open-cosmos-seeks-deadline-extension-for-broadband-constellation/) Applied Atomics — United Kingdom [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 10 — UK startup Applied Atomics announced plans to enter the U.S. market with a focus on military space mobility solutions, targeting Department of Defense contracts. (https://spacenews.com/uk-startup-applied-atomics-to-enter-us-market-with-focus-on-military-space-mobility/) Stoke Space — Kent, WA [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 10 — Stoke Space completed proto-qualification and structural verification of the first stage of its Nova rocket at its testing facilities, advancing toward full-scale launch vehicle testing. (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/06/stoke-nova-update/) Tilebox — N/A [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 11 — Tilebox launched an AI-focused platform update designed to improve geospatial data analysis and satellite imagery processing for enterprise customers. (https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-tilebox-launches-ai-focused-update/) The Exploration Company — Munich, Germany [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 11 — The Exploration Company introduced 'Storm,' a high-thrust European rocket engine program designed to support in-space propulsion and cargo transportation missions. (https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/introducing-storm-the-exploration-companys-high-thrust-european-engine-program/) UNOOSA/JAXA KiboCUBE Program — N/A [OPS UPDATE] • Jun 11 — The KiboCUBE program selected teams from El Salvador and Thailand for the 9th round of satellite deployment from the International Space Station, supporting capacity building in emerging space nations. (https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/kibocube-program-selects-el-salvador-and-thailand-teams-for-9th-round-of-satellite-deployment-from-the-iss/) ============================================================ Generated by space.haus · AI-curated from 50+ industry sources. Verify before making business decisions.