The U.S. Department of Defense has increasingly relied on commercial launch services to provide access to space for national security missions.

Raising the contract ceiling would give the U.S. Space Force more flexible procurement capacity for a growing number of missions.

Associate Professor Matthew Richardson is iLAuNCH Trailblazer’s Director of Space Education and Acting Chief Technology Officer.

The University of Southern Queensland says students can continue into space-related studies through its Space Technology major.

iLAuNCH Trailblazer developed the Mobile Mission Operations Centre in partnership with CSIRO.

SWISSto12 is currently building payloads for several low Earth orbit constellations and seven HummingSat platforms.

SWISSto12 reported 2025 revenue of $140 million and more than $500 million in contracted orders.

SWISSto12 closed a $70 million Series C funding round to expand manufacturing of its small geostationary satellites and multi-orbit payloads.

SWISSto12 reported a 110 percent compound annual growth rate since 2022.

SWISSto12 plans to use the new equity to increase production and integration capacity across its HummingLink multi-orbit payload and antenna systems and its HummingSat compact GEO satellite bus.

The HummingSat ARTES partnership project supports development and in-orbit validation of the GEO platform.

SWISSto12 has sold seven geostationary HummingSat spacecraft to operators including SES and Viasat.

SWISSto12 was founded in 2011.

SWISSto12 receives demand from commercial operators and sovereign government customers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

SWISSto12 uses proprietary manufacturing and design techniques, including 3D printing, to produce integrated radiofrequency payload hardware.

European Space Agency member states approved $84.8 million in funding for the HummingSat ARTES partnership project.

SWISSto12 has more than 2,000 HummingLink payload and antenna solutions operating in orbit.

On July 21, 2026, NewOrbit welcomed the UK Government’s £62 million funding package for the national space sector.

NewOrbit is constructing its NEO Production Complex in the United Kingdom.

NewOrbit’s NEO Production Complex is scheduled to begin initial operations in 2027.

NewOrbit finalized an $18.5 million Series A round to advance commercial Very Low Earth Orbit operations.

NewOrbit positions the 200–300 km orbital band as a frontier commercial domain with economic and national security benefits.

NewOrbit plans to scale NEO-1 production to continuous volume production after the maiden launch.

The NEO Production Complex will manufacture NewOrbit’s inaugural NEO-1 commercial demonstration satellite.

NewOrbit targets a maiden launch of the NEO-1 commercial demonstration satellite in 2028.

SpaceX booster B1069 has supported 27 Starlink missions.

SpaceX’s B1069 first stage has flown 32 missions.

SpaceX’s B1069 first stage has supported 27 Starlink missions.

SpaceX booster B1069 has flown 32 missions since its first launch in December 2021.

SpaceX’s B1069 first stage first launched in December 2021.

SpaceX booster B1069 has launched critical supplies and research to the International Space Station.

SpaceX’s B1069 first stage has launched critical supplies and research to the International Space Station.

MDA Space UK can begin engineering activities and procure long-lead items under the Pre-Authorization to Proceed contract with OHB System AG.

Argonaut will transport cargo and scientific instruments to support a sustained presence on the Moon.

OHB System AG is responsible for delivering three critical subsystems for Argonaut, including guidance, navigation, and control.

MDA’s acquisition of the Neptec Design Group and its UK subsidiary integrated 3D space LiDAR sensor technology into MDA’s space robotics and commercial sensor portfolio.

MDA acquired the Neptec Design Group and its UK subsidiary in July 2018.

The LEIA sensor enables Argonaut to identify hazards such as craters and boulders and select a safe landing site autonomously.

MDA Space Ltd.’s United Kingdom division secured a Pre-Authorization to Proceed contract from OHB System AG to supply lunar landing sensors for the European Space Agency’s Argonaut spacecraft.

The LEIA sensor uses an adaptive scan pattern that compensates for lander motion and operates independently of lighting conditions.

MDA Space UK will deliver two flight units of its LEIA sensor for the inaugural Argonaut mission to the Moon under the anticipated full contract.

The LEIA sensor is a Light Detection and Ranging sensor and a core component of Argonaut’s hazard detection and avoidance system.

The LEIA system was originally developed with funding and support from the UK Space Agency for automated lunar landings and orbital rendezvous operations.

Argonaut is Europe’s first independent lunar landing capability.

The LEIA sensor conducts 3D scanning to generate real-time terrain maps during descent.

Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for Argonaut’s lunar descent element.

ORiS is developing a space-based energy distribution network.

ORiS will open new offices with laboratories and clean rooms.

ORiS will use the funding to accelerate development of a laser-based wireless power transmission technology.

Galaxia, Vento, and Piemonte Next Fund participated in ORiS’s 4.5 million euro pre-seed round.