Jason Rainbow, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:27:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Jason Rainbow, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 Space startups find more paths to liquidity as investors warm to maturing sector https://spacenews.com/space-startups-find-more-paths-to-liquidity-as-investors-warm-to-maturing-sector/ https://spacenews.com/space-startups-find-more-paths-to-liquidity-as-investors-warm-to-maturing-sector/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:27:20 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=573441

Young space companies are gaining more ways to cash out or raise larger pools of capital as the industry matures and investors grow more comfortable with the sector.

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SpaceX IPO may suck oxygen from market before unleashing broad capital surge https://spacenews.com/spacex-ipo-may-suck-oxygen-from-market-before-unleashing-broad-capital-surge/ https://spacenews.com/spacex-ipo-may-suck-oxygen-from-market-before-unleashing-broad-capital-surge/#respond Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:49:50 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=573112

Space investors and dealmakers anticipate SpaceX’s planned IPO this year will trigger a surge of capital across the industry, but not without the risk of pulling investor attention away from other companies in the run-up.

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How much is vertical integration squeezing the smallsat opportunity? https://spacenews.com/how-much-is-vertical-integration-squeezing-the-smallsat-opportunity/ https://spacenews.com/how-much-is-vertical-integration-squeezing-the-smallsat-opportunity/#respond Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:36:22 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572962

As SpaceX and other vertically integrated space giants expand their reach, questions are growing over just how much room other small satellite companies have to build scalable businesses.

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Eutelsat gets nearly 1 billion euros in French-backed ECA financing https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-gets-nearly-1-billion-euros-in-french-backed-eca-financing/ https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-gets-nearly-1-billion-euros-in-french-backed-eca-financing/#respond Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:30:31 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572949 OneWeb satellite

Eutelsat has signed a 975 million euro ($1.2 billion) France-backed export credit agency financing package to help fund 440 replacement satellites for its OneWeb LEO broadband constellation.

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FCC approves thousands more Amazon Leo satellites as Gen 1 deadline looms https://spacenews.com/fcc-approves-thousands-more-amazon-leo-satellites-as-gen-1-deadline-looms/ https://spacenews.com/fcc-approves-thousands-more-amazon-leo-satellites-as-gen-1-deadline-looms/#respond Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:10:26 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572849

Amazon received approval Feb. 10 to deploy thousands more broadband satellites, weeks after seeking relief from a July milestone for its first-generation network after reaching only about 11% of the required deployment.

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Amazon Leo nets anchor maritime resellers https://spacenews.com/amazon-leo-nets-anchor-maritime-resellers/ https://spacenews.com/amazon-leo-nets-anchor-maritime-resellers/#respond Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:03:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572639 KF-01 launch

Amazon announced its first LEO maritime broadband reseller agreements Feb. 10, as it prepares to deploy another batch of satellites this week on the inaugural flight of Europe’s Ariane 64 rocket.

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Non-venture space startup investment hits post-SPAC high https://spacenews.com/non-venture-space-startup-investment-hits-post-spac-high/ https://spacenews.com/non-venture-space-startup-investment-hits-post-spac-high/#respond Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:10:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572579

Non-venture investment in space startups surged last year to its highest level since a 2021 spike driven by a wave of special purpose acquisition company mergers, according to BryceTech analysis.

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Apolink and Galaxia team up to improve planned data relay capability https://spacenews.com/apolink-and-galaxia-team-up-to-improve-planned-data-relay-capability/ https://spacenews.com/apolink-and-galaxia-team-up-to-improve-planned-data-relay-capability/#respond Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=572531

A satellite to be built by Canadian startup Galaxia for launch in 2027 is being lined up for a study aimed at improving California-based Apolink’s proposed in-orbit data relay services.

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Viasat sees orbital data center partnership opportunity https://spacenews.com/viasat-sees-orbital-data-center-partnership-opportunity/ https://spacenews.com/viasat-sees-orbital-data-center-partnership-opportunity/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:56:34 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=571433

While Viasat has no plans to join the rush to deploy orbital data centers, the satellite operator sees a role providing the communications links needed to connect such systems with users on Earth and other spacecraft.

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FCC clears Logos to deploy more than 4,000 broadband satellites https://spacenews.com/fcc-clears-logos-to-deploy-more-than-4000-broadband-satellites/ https://spacenews.com/fcc-clears-logos-to-deploy-more-than-4000-broadband-satellites/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:55:29 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=570854

Logos Space Services has secured U.S. regulatory approval to deploy up to 4,178 low Earth orbit broadband satellites.

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SmallSat Alliance shifts focus from proliferation to coordination https://spacenews.com/smallsat-alliance-shifts-focus-from-proliferation-to-coordination/ https://spacenews.com/smallsat-alliance-shifts-focus-from-proliferation-to-coordination/#respond Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:16:50 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=570403

After helping place proliferated LEO constellations at the center of U.S. military space planning, the SmallSat Alliance is now tackling how these networks can be used together as a unified system.

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UK Space Agency CEO stepping down as agency folds into government https://spacenews.com/uk-space-agency-ceo-stepping-down-as-agency-folds-into-government/ https://spacenews.com/uk-space-agency-ceo-stepping-down-as-agency-folds-into-government/#respond Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:05:27 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=570098 UK Space Agency headquarters at Harwell Science Campus space cluster. Credit: UK Space Agency

Paul Bate is stepping down as CEO of the UK Space Agency at the end of March as it transitions from a standalone body into the British government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

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RBC Signals partners with in-orbit relay developer Apolink https://spacenews.com/rbc-signals-partners-with-in-orbit-relay-developer-apolink/ https://spacenews.com/rbc-signals-partners-with-in-orbit-relay-developer-apolink/#respond Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:32:34 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=569496

Apolink has partnered with ground segment provider RBC Signals to resell the startup’s proposed in-orbit relay services, aiming to fill connectivity gaps when satellites are out of view of terrestrial command-and-control links.

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Eutelsat’s ground infrastructure sale falls through https://spacenews.com/eutelsats-ground-infrastructure-sale-falls-through/ https://spacenews.com/eutelsats-ground-infrastructure-sale-falls-through/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:52:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=569432

Eutelsat said a planned sale of its passive ground infrastructure to a private equity firm announced in August 2024 will not proceed, eliminating roughly $658 million in expected proceeds.

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Space-focused SPAC goes public after pricing $200 million IPO https://spacenews.com/space-focused-spac-goes-public-after-pricing-200-million-ipo/ https://spacenews.com/space-focused-spac-goes-public-after-pricing-200-million-ipo/#respond Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:26:18 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=569291

TAMPA, Fla. — A shell company chaired by venture capitalist Raphael Roettgen began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange Jan. 28 after raising $200 million to pursue a merger with […]

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OQ Technology plots smartphone test amid SpaceX’s C-band D2D push https://spacenews.com/oq-technology-plots-smartphone-test-amid-spacexs-c-band-d2d-push/ https://spacenews.com/oq-technology-plots-smartphone-test-amid-spacexs-c-band-d2d-push/#respond Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:05:03 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=569204

OQ Technology is preparing to deploy a small satellite to test using C-band to connect smartphones from LEO, joining SpaceX in a push to repurpose part of the spectrum for direct-to-device services.

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Hanwha exploring South Korean defense constellation with MDA Space and Telesat https://spacenews.com/hanwha-exploring-south-korean-defense-constellation-with-mda-space-and-telesat/ https://spacenews.com/hanwha-exploring-south-korean-defense-constellation-with-mda-space-and-telesat/#respond Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:28:19 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568899

South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Systems is partnering with Canada’s MDA Space to explore collaboration on the development of a defense satellite constellation for the Asian nation.

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Astranis adds Oman customer to summer GEO launch lineup https://spacenews.com/astranis-adds-oman-customer-to-summer-geo-launch-lineup/ https://spacenews.com/astranis-adds-oman-customer-to-summer-geo-launch-lineup/#respond Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:48:53 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568859

Oman-based industrial conglomerate MB Group has ordered a small geostationary broadband satellite from Astranis that is slated to launch this summer.

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Space Beyond lines up 2027 SpaceX launch for low-cost memorial cubesat https://spacenews.com/space-beyond-lines-up-2027-spacex-launch-for-low-cost-memorial-cubesat/ https://spacenews.com/space-beyond-lines-up-2027-spacex-launch-for-low-cost-memorial-cubesat/#respond Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:42:35 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568668

Florida-based Space Beyond plans to start building its first memorial spacecraft next week after booking a launch on SpaceX’s October 2027 rideshare mission.

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Open Cosmos advances broadband plans with spectrum once held by Rivada https://spacenews.com/open-cosmos-advances-broadband-plans-with-spectrum-once-held-by-rivada/ https://spacenews.com/open-cosmos-advances-broadband-plans-with-spectrum-once-held-by-rivada/#respond Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:45:27 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568554

Open Cosmos deployed two satellites Jan. 22 to activate Ka-band spectrum filings reassigned by Liechtenstein last week, racing to meet deployment deadlines to bring the frequencies into use for sovereign and enterprise broadband.

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Blue Origin plans bespoke high-speed Starlink rival https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-plans-bespoke-high-speed-starlink-rival/ https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-plans-bespoke-high-speed-starlink-rival/#respond Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:48:46 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=568401

Blue Origin aims to start deploying more than 5,400 satellites from late next year for its own Starlink broadband competitor, targeting up to 6 Tbps capacity for enterprise, data center and government customers.

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Bringing outsiders into the space fold https://spacenews.com/bringing-outsiders-into-the-space-fold/ https://spacenews.com/bringing-outsiders-into-the-space-fold/#respond Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=566365 Falcon 9 launch

SpaceX’s 2026 IPO plans were an early Christmas present for space investors who were already bullish about the year ahead. The move helps push the industry further into the mainstream […]

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Space Forge generates plasma for LEO semiconductor material production https://spacenews.com/space-forge-generates-plasma-for-leo-semiconductor-material-production/ https://spacenews.com/space-forge-generates-plasma-for-leo-semiconductor-material-production/#respond Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=565920

Space Forge said Dec. 31 it generated plasma aboard its first satellite, a milestone the British startup says shows it can create and maintain conditions needed to produce valuable semiconductor materials in LEO.

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Indian rocket launches AST SpaceMobile’s next-gen BlueBird 6 satellite https://spacenews.com/indian-rocket-launches-ast-spacemobiles-next-gen-bluebird-6-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/indian-rocket-launches-ast-spacemobiles-next-gen-bluebird-6-satellite/#respond Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:10:09 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=565589

An Indian LVM3 rocket launched AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation direct-to-device BlueBird satellite Dec. 23, kicking off a rollout of dozens of spacecraft built around the largest commercial communications antenna ever deployed in LEO.

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