Finance

Kepler Communications has raised $92 million in its Series C funding round, led by IA Ventures. The Toronto-based company plans to use the funding to launch an optical data relay infrastructure to complement its existing radio frequency network.  Kepler plans to launch the optical data relay infrastructure in 2024. Its optical communications infrastructure will use...

Viasat has named former Verizon Media executive K. Guru Gowrappan as president, to work closely with CEO Mark Dankberg on the company’s global operations and growth strategy. Dankberg said in an April 13 release that his appointment will help the company realize its operational and financial goals enabled with the ViaSat-3 constellation and the pending...

Multi-orbit antenna manufacturer All.Space has hired a former SES leader as the company’s new chief development officer (CDO) to help the company scale as it prepares to release its products to market. All.Space announced the appointment of Charles Hannaford as CDO on April 5.  Hannaford was most recently chief of staff for SES Satellites in...

The Space Safety Coalition released updated guidelines for sustainable space operations this month, endorsed by 27 companies and groups including The Aerospace Corporation, Avanti, Intelsat, LeoLabs, Planet, and Slingshot Aerospace.  The Space Safety Coalition is an ad hoc group that promotes responsible space safety. Its new guidelines are updated from the last release in Sept....

The current global economic climate may prove challenging for the satellite ecosystem, as rising interest rates and fear of a recession may dampen some startup activity as investors are more risk averse, says Ivan Suarez, director of Space & Spectrum Policy for Access Partnership. Suarez recently spoke with Via Satellite about a number of key...

True Anomaly, Inc., a year-old company focused on space security, domain awareness, and training, on Thursday said it has raised $30 million in funding so far and plans to launch its first satellite pursuit vehicle this fall. True Anomaly is developing and manufacturing the Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle, which the Colorado-based company says can operate...

Axelspace, a Japanese Earth observation provider and smallsat manufacturer, has raised new funding and is partnering with new Japanese venture Space Compass on its Space Integrated Computing Network.  Axelspace announced the new funding on Wednesday, from Space Compass Corporation, Development Bank of Japan, Tokio Marine Holdings, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. Axelspace did not disclose terms...

Virgin Orbit has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the company was unable to secure new funding. The smallsat launcher said in an April 4 statement that it intends to use the Chapter 11 process to maximize value for its business and assets. The smallsat launcher has funding troubles, and reported last week it was...

Consulting firm Deloitte has launched a space practice called Deloitte Space to advise organizations on the potential of the industry. Deloitte has 15 years of experience advising in the space arena, but announced the new formal space practice on April 4.  Deloitte said this move comes as the space economy has grown by more than...

AST SpaceMobile gave an update on BlueWalker 3 satellite-to-cell tests in its full year financial results, reporting initial tests show the downlink signal strength needed to reach 5G cellular broadband speeds can be met with the technology.  “We are happy to announce that the initial test results indicate that the downlink signal strength necessary to...