Impulse Space closed a $500 million Series D on June 2.

SpaceX flew Starship Version 3 for the first time during Flight 12 last week.

The NRO has indicated that additional 2026 award tranches are anticipated.

Quantum Space’s anticipated merger close is in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Impulse Space is working as a subcontractor to Anduril Industries on the Space Force’s space-based interceptor prototype for Golden Dome.

SpaceX, Amazon Leo, and Logos Space Services hold conditional authorizations folded into the two processing rounds.

NASA awarded two Lunar Terrain Vehicle contracts on May 26.

The Satellogic contract requires persistent, high-frequency Earth observation monitoring.

Impulse Space will use the Series D funds for vehicles, propulsion systems, and operational architecture.

The V3 ship stage completed its planned suborbital trajectory during Flight 12.

IX is a joint venture between X-energy and Intuitive Machines.

Helios requires higher-thrust chemical propulsion, larger propellant tanks, and thermal management hardware that Mira does not need.

The merged entity will operate under the Quantum Space name and is expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol QSPC pending shareholder approval.

The Series D was co-led by 137 Ventures and BANNER VC.

Impulse Space’s total capital raised now exceeds $1 billion.

NASA structured both Lunar Terrain Vehicle awards as indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts.

Lunar Outpost received a contract for its MAPP rover.

Fission Surface Power phase 1 design contracts went to Battelle Energy Alliance, IX, and Lockheed Martin in June 2023.

The two Lunar Terrain Vehicle awards together represent approximately $440 million in potential contract value.

Solestial is a Tempe, Arizona-based manufacturer of silicon solar cells engineered for the space environment.

Helios is a kick stage designed for geosynchronous orbit rideshare and deep-space transfer.

Solestial will continue supplying solar technology to external customers outside York Space Systems’ portfolio.

Quantum Space’s Ranger 500 spacecraft completed a Manufacturing Readiness Review in late 2025.

Phase 2 awards for Fission Surface Power flight hardware have not been announced.

NASA assigned four astronauts to Artemis III, a two-week Earth orbit test mission scheduled for 2027.

Radiation-hardened flight computers are part of Impulse Space’s qualification picture.

The Fission Surface Power program is co-developed by NASA and the Department of Energy.

Artemis III will launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Golden Dome team also includes K2 Space, Inversion Space, Voyager Technologies, and Sandia National Labs.

Quantum Space has raised $57 million in equity funding to date.

Venturi Astrolab received a contract to produce its FLEX rover.

Quantum Space has a merger agreement that values the Rockville, Maryland-based spacecraft developer at $1.2 billion post-transaction.

Flight 12 launched from a newly constructed second launch pad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in southern Texas.

Mira is Impulse Space’s last-mile maneuvering spacecraft for low Earth orbit.

As of June 2026, Helios has not flown.

Mira’s propulsion, avionics, and structural sub-tiers are either qualified or actively in qualification.

Venturi Astrolab and Lunar Outpost each disclosed technical partnerships and supply relationships in filings dated 18 to 24 months before the May 26 announcement.

The Artemis III crew will assist in development and operations of both the SpaceX and Blue Origin lander test articles.

Satellogic announced an $18 million contract with an international defense customer on May 26.

Solestial will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of York Space Systems.

Flight 12 deployed 20 Starlink simulator satellites on a suborbital trajectory over approximately 10 minutes.

The National Reconnaissance Office selected HEO, SatVu, and Sierra Nevada Corporation in the first tranche of contracts under its Strategic Commercial Enhancements Commercial Solutions Opening program.

The FCC has not set a deadline for acting on applications filed in the third processing rounds.

The Super Heavy booster did not return to the launch site as planned during Flight 12.

Payload Research estimated Starship’s internal cost per kilogram in an expendable V1 configuration at approximately $500.

Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Linse Capital participated in Impulse Space’s Series D.

The NRO added ICEYE US to the panel under a subsequent award in May.

Quantum Space will go public through a combination with special purpose acquisition company Inflection Point Acquisition Corp.

The Artemis III crew will include NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik as commander, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot, and NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as mission specialists.

The Artemis III crew will begin training on Orion systems immediately.