Spaceflight
AcquiredSpaceflight provides launch logistics and orbital transfer services for satellite operators, using its Sherpa orbital tugs to deploy payloads to a range of orbits including beyond low Earth orbit. Its offerings support government and commercial customers seeking flexible satellite deployment and mission extension capabilities.
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Aerospace, Space services, Space logistics
- Status
- Acquired (2020)
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Orbite Raises $4M, Partners with Accor to Launch Luxury Space-Themed Earth Experiences
Seattle-based Orbite raised $4 million and partnered with hospitality company Accor to offer luxury space-themed travel experiences on Earth, including exotic destinations and astronaut training. Prices range from $19,500 to $215,000, targeting clients interested in astronaut training and potential future space travel.
Seattle Startup Signify Raises $2.1M to Use AI for Simplifying Manufacturers' Regulatory Compliance
Seattle-based startup Signify, spun out from the AI2 Incubator, raised $2.1 million to develop AI-driven software that helps manufacturers manage complex regulatory compliance tasks. Led by CEO Martín Ramírez, the platform aims to streamline compliance processes for manufacturers facing evolving and diverse market regulations.
Interlune Plans Robotic Helium-3 Harvesting on Moon with $18M Seed Funding, Aiming for 2026 Prospecting Mission
Seattle-based startup Interlune revealed plans to build a robotic harvester to extract helium-3 from the moon, aiming for a prospecting mission by 2026 and commercial operations in the 2030s. The company raised $18 million in seed funding led by Seven Seven Six, with the goal of enabling advanced technologies like quantum computing and fusion power.
Orbite Launches Refundable Deposits for Private Astronaut Training, Facility Opening Planned for 2026 Near Florida Space Coast
Orbite, a space travel venture founded in 2019, is beginning to accept refundable deposits from the first 500 customers for its private astronaut training programs, with a training facility planned to open near Florida's Space Coast in 2026. Early depositors, called the Founders Club, will be invited to space-themed events including rocket launch watch parties and underwater adventures before training begins.
Stoke Space Raises $100M to Advance Fully Reusable Rockets with Orbital Launch Target in 2025
Stoke Space raised $100 million to develop fully reusable rockets aiming for an orbital test flight by 2025, focusing on its Hopper2 rocket and improvements at Cape Canaveral. The funding supports building its first-stage engine and second-stage orbital version as part of a launch system designed for frequent, aircraft-like spaceflights.
GeekWire Highlights: Bill Gates’ Gatsby Mansion Light, $5M Seattle Startup Funding, Amazon HQ2 Opening, NASA-Blue Origin Collaboration, Enceladus Phosphates Discovery
GeekWire's top technology stories for the week of June 11, 2023, include Bill Gates’ Great Gatsby-themed mansion light, a Seattle startup raising $5M, Amazon opening its HQ2 in Virginia, NASA collaborating with Blue Origin, and new scientific findings on Saturn's moon Enceladus.
Former Spaceflight CEO Curt Blake Joins Wilson Sonsini to Lead NewSpace Industry Group
Curt Blake, former CEO of Spaceflight Inc., has joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as senior of counsel to support the firm's new NewSpace industry group focused on emerging space ventures. Blake brings 12 years of leadership in satellite rideshare logistics and a background in legal and executive roles at tech companies.
Tiphaine Louradour Named CEO of Spaceflight Inc. to Lead Growth Beyond Low Earth Orbit
Tiphaine Louradour, with over 15 years of space industry experience, becomes CEO of Spaceflight Inc., succeeding Curt Blake. She aims to build on the company's success in satellite rideshare and expand launch and on-orbit services beyond low Earth orbit.
GeekWire returns in person for 2022 Awards at Showbox SoDo, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with 16,000+ votes
GeekWire held its first in-person GeekWire Awards in three years at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with over 16,000 community votes and appearances by local tech leaders and entertainers.
BlackSky begins NYSE trading as BKSY after SPAC merger with Osprey, raising ~$283M and valuing company near $1.5B
BlackSky began trading publicly on the NYSE under ticker BKSY after shareholder approval of a SPAC merger with Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp., which unlocked about $283 million in capital and valued the company near $1.5 billion.
Stoke Space builds Moses Lake test site, completes full-scale second-stage demo and hot-fire 'three-pack' in six months
Stoke Space Technologies rapidly built a 2.3-acre liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen test facility in Moses Lake, Washington, and completed a full-scale manufacturing demonstration and hot-fire tests of a second-stage engine ‘three-pack’ in six months. CEO Andy Lapsa says the two-year-old startup is pursuing full second-stage reusability to lower launch costs, taking a different technical approach than SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Astra to Go Public July 1 via Craig McCaw’s Holicity SPAC in $2.1B Deal; Proxy Voting Starts
Astra plans to go public on Nasdaq on July 1 via a merger with Craig McCaw’s SPAC Holicity, a deal that values Astra at $2.1 billion and follows recent launches and business moves including a planned acquisition of Apollo Fusion worth up to $145 million. CEO Chris Kemp said proxy statements for the June 30 shareholder vote are being mailed, and Astra has secured multi-launch work for Planet and aims to use Apollo Fusion propulsion on Spaceflight Inc.’s Sherpa tug.
Starfish Space to test Cephalopod docking with Benchmark’s Halcyon thrusters on Orbit Fab’s Tanker-001 Tenzing next month
Starfish Space will test its Cephalopod docking software with Benchmark Space Systems’ Halcyon hydrogen-peroxide thrusters to support a precision orbital refueling system, with a first on-orbit demonstration planned on Orbit Fab’s Tanker-001 Tenzing mission launching next month on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Kymeta and Kepler demonstrate u8 flat-panel antenna achieving 100 Mbps and 2+ GB per pass in Arctic test
Kymeta and Kepler demonstrated that Kymeta's u8 flat-panel antenna can connect with Kepler’s LEO Global Data Service in Inuvik, Canada, achieving average uplink and downlink speeds of 100 Mbps and transferring over 2 GB per satellite pass in extreme cold.
Former Spaceflight CEO Jason Andrews and French Entrepreneur Nicolas Gaume Launch Orbite, a Seattle Startup for Luxury Astronaut Training
Former Spaceflight Industries CEO Jason Andrews and French entrepreneur Nicolas Gaume co-founded Orbite, a Seattle startup focused on luxury astronaut training for commercial space travelers. The new venture aims to prepare people for future spaceflights by offering preflight training experiences, leveraging the founders' space and hospitality industry expertise.
BlackSky’s Spectra platform uses satellite imagery and AI to track activity and flag early signs of COVID-19 economic recovery
BlackSky's Spectra platform combines satellite imagery, AI image recognition, and multiple data streams to monitor activity—such as counting cars in parking lots—to identify early signs of economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People
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Tiphaine Louradour Executive, CEO
