Finance

Satellite startup Hubble Network recently announced a $20 million Series A funding round, along with its plans to launch a satellite constellation for Bluetooth device connectivity. Describing the company as “Starlink for IoT devices,” Hubble said its future constellation will be able to capture data directly from existing Bluetooth devices by uploading the company’s firmware to...

Viasat closed its acquisition of Inmarsat late Tuesday, completing a merger of two of the largest satellite operators. The acquisition brings together 19 satellites in Ka-, L-, and S-bands, and Viasat is pitching the acquisition as a way to better compete in the changing satcom industry.  Viasat founder Mark Dankberg will lead the combined company...

Redwire COO Andrew Rush, formerly of Made In Space, is joining space exploration company Copernicus Space Corporation as president and CEO.  Copernicus is developing miniaturized, semi-autonomous space probes to search for microbial life in the solar system and eventually explore exoplanets in our galaxy. Copernicus leadership highlighted Rush’s track record of fostering growth in the...

SatixFy Communications is making another change at the CEO level, as CEO Ido Gur will step down. The company’s former Chief Commercial Officer Nir Barkan is returning as acting CEO on June 1, SatixFy announced on Tuesday.  The satellite technology company has been through a number of leadership changes since founder Yoel Gat died in...

Inmarsat CEO Rajeev Suri will step down from his role with the close of the Viasat acquisition, Inmarsat announced Friday. Suri has been nominated to serve on Viasat’s board of directors. Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat is moving to close after clearing final approval from the European Commission this week.  Suri, former Nokia CEO, joined Inmarsat in...

Japanese space robotics startup GITAI has raised $30 million in a Series B extension round, the company announced May 25. GITAI is headquartered in Japan and has a U.S. subsidiary. Existing investors primarily contributed to the round.  The company plans to use the funds to enhance the technology readiness level of its Lunar Robotic Rover...

Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat is on its way to close after clearing a review by the European Commission. The transaction is expected to close by the end of this month, as the EC approval was the last major approval needed.  The EC went through an in-depth investigation that began in February, looking into how the...

Fleet Space Technologies has completed a successful Series C funding round, raising a further $50 million Australian dollars ($33.14 million), the company announced May 24. The new funding has been led by Australasian venture capital firm and existing investor Blackbird. Grok Ventures, Alumni Ventures and Hostplus have also participated in the round. New investors including...

Rocket Lab, Launcher, and Stratolaunch have won bids to purchase assets from Virgin Orbit, according to bankruptcy filings released Tuesday. The auction took place on May 22, and the sale hearing took place Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Virgin Orbit will cease operations with the sale. Rocket Lab...

The Viasat and Inmarsat merger has secured another regulatory approval to move forward, this time from the FCC. The FCC issued an order on May 19 approving the transaction, stating that it will serve the public interest.  The FCC’s approval stated the commission does not think the merger will harm competition in government satellite services,...