SpaceNews
March 2026
12 stories, feeding 9 moments.
- Cactus Partners Leads $20M Round for Bellatrix Aerospace
The Indian startup’s electric propulsion technology targets the booming smallsat and OTV market.
Bellatrix Aerospace Raises $20M Pre-Series B for In-Space Propulsion Scale-Up - Starcloud Hits Unicorn Status Backed by Balerion Space Ventures
Starcloud’s $170M round values the orbital compute pioneer at $1.1B as the company prepares to launch its first in-space data center prototypes.
Starcloud Hits Unicorn Status with $170M Round for Orbital Data Centers - Xona Space Systems Secures $170M Series C for Pulsar PNT Constellation
Xona closed $170M to accelerate Pulsar deployment, positioning the company as a leader in resilient space-based PNT.
Xona Space Raises $170M Series C to Accelerate Pulsar LEO PNT Constellation - Arinna Raises Seed Funding for Ultrathin Space Solar Cells
Arinna’s TMD-based panels promise higher efficiency and durability, addressing a key bottleneck for proliferating LEO constellations and in-orbit compute.
Arinna Raises $4M Seed to Commercialize Ultrathin TMD Solar Panels for Space - NISAR Satellite Captures Stunning Pacific Northwest Imagery
The joint NASA-ISRO NISAR mission, launched July 2025, continues delivering powerful dual-frequency SAR data for Earth observation.
- Lunar lander developers say they are ready to meet anticipated increased NASA demand
Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines express readiness for NASA’s proposed monthly lunar lander cadence starting in 2027 under CLPS 2.0.
NASA Signals Monthly Lunar Lander Cadence Starting 2027 - ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan Inaugurates START-2026 Programme
Dr. V. Narayanan inaugurated the fourth edition of ISRO’s student awareness training programme on 11 March 2026, emphasizing nation-building through space exploration.
ISRO Inaugurates START-2026 Student Awareness Programme - SpaceX announces date for Starship IFT-10 refueling test
SpaceX has filed regulatory paperwork indicating IFT-10 will fly in May 2026, featuring the first ever ship-to-ship propellant transfer.
- Air Force Lab Awards BlackSky Contract Worth Up to $99M for Large Optical Satellite Payload
AFRL's Center for Rapid Innovation awarded BlackSky a sole-source SBIR Phase III IDIQ contract capped at $99M to develop a segmented-mirror large-aperture optical imaging testbed. Initial obligation is $2.1M; additional task orders will fund development through 2032. Satellites built under the program will also serve as on-orbit data storage and processing hubs compatible with emerging orbital data centers.
BlackSky Awarded $99M Air Force Contract for Next-Gen Space Imaging - Sierra Space raises $550 million in Series C funding
SpaceNews reports on the $550M raise led by LuminArx at an $8B valuation. Highlights the strategic pivot from commercial space infrastructure to national security, the appointment of Dan Jablonsky (ex-Maxar CEO) in late February, and the NASA rebaselining of Dream Chaser from ISS resupply to a free-flight demonstration slated for late 2026.
Sierra Space Closes $550M Series C at $8B Valuation — Defense Pivot Complete - Liftero Wins Propulsion Contract For In-Orbit Servicing Mission
Liftero will supply BOOSTER propulsion systems to OrbitAID’s upcoming in-orbit servicing spacecraft.
Liftero Signs BOOSTER Propulsion Contract with OrbitAID for In-Orbit Servicing - Spanish launch startup PLD Space raises $209 million
PLD Space closed a €180M round to prepare for the first flight of its Miura 5 rocket.
Headlines link to spacenews.com. Summaries are ours, 1–2 lines; read the full story at the source.
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