John Metzger’s Post

This investment supports Albedo ’s operational #constellation deployment and is aligned to Booz Allen Hamilton ’s efforts to accelerate U.S. #space capabilities with the #power of #data. “The level of #detail that can be captured by Albedo’s low-flying #satellites—#fusing both #optical and #infrared #sensor data—is unprecedented in the commercial market. It represents a significant leap in #satellite Earth imaging so our clients have #access to timely, highly accurate, #global #intelligence to then speed and improve their #decision #making.” “We invested in Albedo because of their approach: successfully combining #highresolution imaging typical of aerial, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and balloon platforms with the #scalable, #persistent, #global #coverage of satellites. This unlocks vast applications across multiple sectors, including #defense and #intelligence, climate, #infrastructure, agriculture, #energy, and urban planning, and we couldn’t be more excited.” “Ultra-high-resolution imagery, coupled with thermal infrared, can be #leveraged across a breadth of #applications, for everything from urban planning and pipeline #monitoring to U.S. and #allied #military #operations,” United States Department of Defense Strategic Command NATO Space Centre of Excellence European Space Agency - ESA National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency DGA - Direction générale de l'armement NATO - Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) United States Space Force #JCO

Traditional GEO spacecraft are often $200M-$500M assets and can last more than 20 years in space. Fuel is often life-limiting, so refueling is a good life-extension option. The costs of small satellites are generally less than $10M & will be less than $1M. This will lead satellites to be more like cell phones with frequent replacement cycles instead of expensive life extensions. https://lnkd.in/gAN29EPb

A satellite that can move like a space tug or even more? Portal Space Systems is developing Supernova, the tie-fighter of satellite buses! More details here in my new article for Space Voyaging! #portalspace #Supernova #tiefightersatellite #spacevoyaging #becomingspacepolitans

Traditional GEO spacecraft are often $200M-$500M assets and can last more than 20 years in space. Fuel is often life-limiting, so refueling is a good life-extension option. The costs of small satellites are generally less than $10M & will be less than $1M. This will lead satellites to be more like cell phones with frequent replacement cycles instead of expensive life extensions. https://lnkd.in/gvaUXSpV

🌐 Vyoma Secures €5 Million to Enhance Space Object Monitoring... Munich-based Vyoma has recently announced a funding increase of €5 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF), elevating its total investment to over €16 million. This funding will support the launch of the company’s inaugural space-based assets. Key Highlights: 🔹Advanced Monitoring: Vyoma is developing cutting-edge systems for space object observation and automated satellite operations. 🔹Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with EnduroSat, Vyoma is set to deploy satellites equipped with optical payloads for precise space object tracking and orbital dynamics mapping. 🔹Innovative Technology: The satellites will feature onboard image processing capabilities to provide near real-time data for critical services such as collision avoidance. 🔹Upcoming Launch: The first satellite of Vyoma’s constellation is scheduled for launch early next year with SpaceX. As Vyoma steps closer to its first space mission, how will this enhancement in space situational awareness impact the global space industry? https://lnkd.in/eHbc3qCp #SpaceTech #Innovation #SatelliteTechnology #FundingNews #SpaceSafety

Reducing the Costs of Space Launch Operations: Past Efforts and Current Relevance https://lnkd.in/e5Tf6dDR #SpaceEconomy #NewSpace #NewSpaceEconomy #Space #CommercialSpace

🚀 MVP All-Stars Take Flight: SpaceX Launches HawkEye 360 and Capella Space Satellites Friday was memorable as three of our portfolio companies collaborated on an exciting space mission. SpaceX's Transporter-11 mission successfully launched, carrying satellites from HawkEye 360 and Capella Space into orbit. This milestone demonstrates the synergies within our portfolio, advancing the Earth observation sector. 🔑 Highlights: 🛰️ @ SpaceX: • Successfully executed the Transporter-11 rideshare mission • Demonstrated reliability in deploying multiple satellites 🌐 HawkEye 360: • Cluster 10, a trio of satellites, successfully launched • Expanding global coverage and RF monitoring capabilities for maritime intelligence 📡 Capella Space: • Launched their 15th satellite, expanding SAR constellation for Earth imaging This mission showcases advancements in weather monitoring, hyperspectral imaging, SAR technology, and other EO capabilities. At MVP, we support companies revolutionizing space technology. Their innovations shape climate monitoring, resource management, national security, and more. Congratulations to SpaceX, HawkEye 360, and Capella teams on this successful launch! Godspeed! 🌍🛰️ #SpaceTech #EarthObservation #MVPAllStarFund #SpaceX #HawkEye360 #CapellaSpace #SatelliteTechnology #VentureCapital #TechInnovation #preipo #siliconvalley #unicorn #MVPALLSTARFUND #mvpvc #mvp #therealmvpvc #venturebytes #allstar #ipo #research #technology #tommorowsipostoday #SecondaryAsAService #saas #SecondariesAsAService

#KaranKunjur #NeelKunjur #K2Space #MegaClassSatelliteBus "Los Angeles-based startup K2 Space raised $50 million in new funding as the company works to build monster satellites to match the massive rockets that are coming to market. Nearly two years since founding, K2 co-founders and brothers CEO Karan Kunjur and Chief Technology Officer Neel Kunjur expect to launch their first satellite on a demonstration mission later this year. The company’s latest fundraiser was led by tech investor Brad Gerstner’s Altimeter Capital and joined by Alpine Space Ventures, adding to the $8.5 million in seed funding it raised from investors including First Round Capital and Republic Capital. K2 declined to specify its valuation after the most recent round. “This round is effectively built for the demand that we’re seeing for launching constellations of the Mega class satellites,” Karan Kunjur told CNBC. K2′s Mega class satellite bus — the physical structure of a spacecraft that provides power, movement and more — is sized to fit in “heavy” and “super heavy” rockets. Some of those rockets are currently in operation, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets or United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan, and some are expected to come to market in the coming years, including SpaceX’s Starship, Blue Origin’s New Glenn and more. The company advertises its Mega satellite for $15 million each and says they’re capable of supporting up to one ton of payload mass each. At that size, K2 would be able to fit 10 Mega satellites in a Falcon 9 rocket. “We have a pretty modular design, where the customers can dial in just how much payload mass they want, how many satellites they want to launch, and how much propellant they want to carry,” Neel Kunjur said, adding that “the intent is basically to give a customer a menu of options where they can dial it into their given mission needs.” K2′s upcoming demonstration mission aims to show numerous undisclosed customers that its Mega design works. In addition to discussions with various commercial “large satellite operators,” Karan Kunjur noted that K2 has won about $6.5 million in Department of Defense contracts over the past eight months. “There are different parts of the DOD that are incredibly excited about the capability that we’re able to offer at the constellation level,” Karan Kunjur said. K2 currently has a 15,000 square foot facility in Torrance, California, and 28 employees, many of whom, like Neel Kunjur, boast years of prior experience at SpaceX. The Kunjurs expect to use the fresh funds to add a 150,000 square foot facility later this year and grow the company to more than 50 employees as it prepares to begin producing satellites. “The goal is really to get into [the larger facility] by the end of the year and be able to start switching gears into mass production … to really make sure we’re hitting the scale that our customers are asking for,” Karan Kunjur said."

Warm Congrats to Rocket Lab for the successful launch of the "Four of a Kind" mission 🎉 deploying the first four satellites for space situational awareness company NorthStar Earth & Space, utilizing the #Electronrocket to place 16U cubesats with object-tracking sensors into low Earth orbit, forming part of an initial 12-satellite constellation for NorthStar, with plans for 30 spacecraft 🛰️   🔥 Hot news - BLUE ORIGIN showcases its Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle, emphasizing its in-space logistics capabilities with 12 docking ports accommodating payloads up to 500 kilograms, a top deck capable of carrying two and a half tons, and a delta V of 3,000 meters per second - Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology secures $943M in Series A funding for its G60 Starlink megaconstellation, aiming to launch 108 satellites in 2024 with substantial support from the Shanghai government.   💸 Key Fundraising - Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Raises $943M to develop its G60 megaconstellation - Orienspace, a Chinese rocket startup Raises nearly $84M - Greenerwave Secures €15M Series A - Quindar Raises $6M Seed Extension and Partners with KSAT - Evolunar Secures an undisclosed amount to develop its autonomous spacecrafts for lunar exploration 📝 Key Contracts - SpaceX Starship Selected by Starlab to Launch First Commercial Space Station into Low Earth Orbit - Firefly Aerospace to compete for launching US spy satellites under a ten-year, $700M streamlined launch contract - Thales Alenia Space signed an MoU with Hellas Sat to develop an optical communication payload for the Hellas Sat 5 bird.  - ispace, inc. signed an MoU with mu Space Corp for Future Lunar Missions.   👨🚀 Key Nominations - Starlab hires Tim Kopra as CEO - VAST welcomes Daniel DeMattia as CIO - Orbital Outpost X names Negar Feher CEO - impulso.space welcomes Pietro Guerrieri as CEO - International Paris Air Show nominates Guillaume BOURDELOUX as General Manager ------------------- If you are a space enthusiast, feel free to follow me Florent to uncover the latest news from the industry. Additionally, you can follow Elendil, where I share insightful articles and release a weekly newsletter every Monday at 9 am CET.

K2 Space Corporation, a startup with SpaceX veterans building monster #satellites, raises $50 million - #LosAngeles-based #startup K2 Space raised $50 #million in new #funding as the company works to build monster satellites to match the massive #rockets that are coming to market. - K2′s latest #fundraiser was led by #tech #investor Brad Gerstner’s Altimeter Capital. -The company expects to launch its first #satellite on a #demonstration mission later this year." #CNBC #space #privateequity #AltimeterCapital #AlpineSpaceVentures #seed #FirstRoundCapital #RepublicCapital #K2Space #SpaceX Karan Kunjur Neel Kunjur