Impulse Space’s rapid ascent.

Summary

T-Minus Space Daily: Impulse Space’s Rapid Ascent Release Date: June 4, 2025 | Host: Maria Varmazes | N2K Networks

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Introduction

In this episode of T-Minus Space Daily, host Maria Varmazes delivers a comprehensive briefing on the latest developments in the global space industry. From significant funding rounds and groundbreaking technological advancements to strategic partnerships and historic milestones, the episode encapsulates the dynamic momentum within the space sector.

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Impulse Space Secures $300 Million in Series C Funding

Impulse Space has made headlines by raising an impressive $300 million in a Series C funding round led by Lintz Capital. This pivotal investment brings Impulse's total capital raised to $525 million, underscoring the company's robust growth and investor confidence.

Key Highlights:

• Contract Portfolio: Impulse Space has secured over 30 contracts totaling nearly $200 million, with expanding interest across various sectors.
• Utilization of Funds: The newly raised capital will facilitate the scaling of operations, execution of a substantial mission backlog, and expansion of the workforce in engineering, manufacturing, and mission operations.
• Future Endeavors: The company plans to accelerate research and development, integrate electric propulsion for long-duration missions, and develop new vehicles catering to national security and NASA applications.

Quote:

"Impulse Space has signed over 30 contracts totaling nearly $200 million in value and growing interest from every sector." — Maria Varmazes [00:41]

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Redwire’s Mason Technology Passes Critical Design Review

Redwire has successfully navigated the critical design review for its Mason technology, an advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing tool suite developed in collaboration with NASA.

Key Highlights:

• Functionality: Mason is engineered to convert lunar or Martian regolith into strong, concrete-like materials, enabling the construction of berms, landing pads, and roads essential for future habitats.
• NASA Collaboration: The project is managed under a tipping point agreement with NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate and is part of a $12.9 million award aimed at prototyping Mason for sustained lunar exploration.
• Next Steps: Redwire will fabricate the Mason prototype and conduct functional testing of its three tools, with plans to explore flight opportunities for a demonstration mission.

Quote:

"Mason is developed to convert lunar or Martian regolith into a strong solid material that's similar to concrete." — Maria Varmazes [00:41]

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Astroscale UK Completes Critical Design Review for ELSA M

Astroscale UK's subsidiary has successfully completed the critical design review for the ELSA M (End of Life by Astroscale Multiple) in-orbit demonstration spacecraft, marking a significant advancement in satellite end-of-life services.

Key Highlights:

• Mission Objectives: ELSA M aims to be the world’s first commercial service designed to safely remove decommissioned satellites from orbit, mitigating space debris.
• Funding and Support: The mission is primarily funded by Astroscale with supplementary support from the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency's Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate, and Eutelsat.
• Launch Timeline: Set to launch in 2026, ELSA M will demonstrate technologies enabling the docking and removal of satellites at the end of their operational life.

Quote:

"ELSA M is set to launch in 2026 and will be the world's first commercial end of life service for prepared satellites." — Maria Varmazes [00:41]

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Maxar Intelligence Partners with Saab for Advanced C5ISR Solutions

Maxar Intelligence and Saab have entered a strategic partnership to develop next-generation multi-domain C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems focused on enhancing space-based capabilities.

Key Highlights:

• Integration Goals: The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of sovereign space-based capabilities for Europe, enhancing digital battlefield operations and GPS resilience for autonomous drone systems.
• Existing Collaborations: Building on Maxar’s Raptor product deployment for autonomous drone navigation in GPS-denied environments, the partnership will leverage Maxar's geospatial intelligence for advanced C5ISR solutions.
• Future Prospects: The alliance seeks to provide secure, near-real-time satellite imagery access, enhancing Saab’s ability to build more sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance tools.

Quote:

"These solutions will have a specific focus on advanced space-based C5ISR systems and... GPS resilience for autonomous drone systems." — Maria Varmazes [00:41]

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Planet Labs Expands Contract with Welsh Government

Planet Labs has signed a six-figure expansion to its existing contract with the Welsh Government, further solidifying its role in providing vital satellite data for various governmental applications.

Key Highlights:

• Application Areas: The expanded contract will enhance data-driven monitoring systems for agriculture, water and land use change, and emergency response.
• Academic Collaboration: All eight universities in Wales will gain access to Planet’s imagery and data through campus licenses, fostering innovative research and informing government policy.
• Operational Shift: Moving beyond test and trial projects, the Welsh Government will integrate Planet’s satellite data into routine, operational processes, ensuring sustained utilization and impact.

Quote:

"The Welsh Government is using Planet's satellite data to develop data-driven routine monitoring systems for agriculture, water and land use change and emergency response." — Maria Varmazes [00:41]

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Additional Industry Developments

Alice Carruth, N2K's Senior Producer, highlights several noteworthy stories in the space sector:

1. Rocket Lab’s Upcoming Launch:

   • Rocket Lab has scheduled its third launch within just over three weeks, aiming to deploy several Internet of Things (IoT) satellites.

2. Reflect Orbital’s SIBA Phase 2 Contract:

   • Reflect Orbital has been awarded a SIBA Phase 2 contract by AF Works for their innovative sunlight redirection technology, enhancing satellite operations and solar energy management in space.

3. IonQ’s Acquisition of LightSync:

   • IonQ, a leader in quantum computing, has completed its acquisition of LightSync, positioning itself to advance its quantum communications capabilities significantly.

Quote:

"We include links to all the original source materials of our stories in the Selected Reading section of our show notes." — Alice Carruth [07:31]

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Honoring Space Pioneers: Astronaut Hall of Fame Inductions

The episode also commemorates significant milestones in astronaut achievements:

• Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson Inducted:
  • Bernard Harris, the first Black astronaut to perform a spacewalk, and Peggy Whitson were honored at the Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
  • Peggy Whitson: Although honored, Whitson was notably absent due to quarantine protocols ahead of her upcoming AX4 mission scheduled for June 10th. She becomes the first astronaut inducted while actively on a mission and the second inductee to maintain active flight status post-enshrinement.

Quote:

"Peggy was notably absent as she is in quarantine ahead of her next space flight, the AX4 mission, which is scheduled to lift off next week on June 10th." — Maria Varmazes [10:04]

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Conclusion

This episode of T-Minus Space Daily underscores the rapid advancements and collaborative efforts shaping the future of space exploration and technology. From substantial investments and innovative technologies to strategic partnerships and historic recognitions, the space industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace.

For more detailed information and access to original source materials, listeners are encouraged to visit N2K Networks and explore the show notes associated with this episode.

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Thank you for tuning into T-Minus Space Daily. Stay informed and ahead in the ever-changing landscape of the space industry.

Transcript

[Maria Varmazes]

You're listening to the N2K space network.

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[Maria Varmazes]

Today is June 4th, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazes and this is T minus T minus 20 seconds to Los T. Drift Planet Labs has signed a six figure expansion of its contract with Welsh government. Maxar Intelligence is partnering with Saab to jointly develop next generation multi domain battlespace solutions. Astroscale UK has successfully completed the critical design review for the ELSA M in orbit demonstration spacecraft. Red Wire's advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, called Mason, has passed its critical design review. Impulse Space has raised $300 million in a series funding round Happy Wednesday everybody. You did it. You're halfway through the week. Hope you're having a good one so far. Well, we've got a lot to get through in today's intel briefing, so let's just dive in. In space mobility company Impulse Space has raised $300 million in a series C funding round. The round, led by lintz capital, brings Impulse's total capital raised to $525 million. Impulse Space has signed over 30 contracts totaling nearly $200 million in value and growing interest from every sector. The company says it'll use the funding to scale and execute a backlog of missions. Impulse is expanding its workforce across engineering, manufacturing and mission operations. They're looking to accelerate R and D and to expand mission profiles, including integrating electric propulsion for long duration missions and developing new vehicles for national security and NASA applications. Redwire's advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, called Mason, has passed its critical design review with NASA participation. Mason is a tool suite designed to operate on the moon and on Mars that Redwire says will enable the construction of berms, landing pads and roads for future lunar and Martian habitats. Okay, that's super cool. Mason is developed to convert lunar or Martian regolith into a strong solid material that's similar to concrete. The project, managed under a Tipping point agreement with NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, is part of a $12.9 million award to prototype Mason for broader plans to support a long term presence and exploration on the lunar surface. And with review now completed, Redwire engineers will fabricate the Mason critical design prototype and conduct functional testing of the three tools. Redwire says it is currently exploring flight opportunities for a demonstration mission. The UK subsidiary of Astroscale has successfully completed its critical design review for the ELSA M in orbit demonstration spacecraft. ELSA M, which stands for End of Life by Astro Scale Multiple, is set to launch in 2026 and will be the world's first commercial end of life service for prepared satellites, meaning satellites designed with technologies such as an interface that will enable docking and removal. The ELSA M IOD mission is supported by the UK Space Agency through the European Space Agency's Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate. The mission is majority funded by Astroscale private funding and the remainder via co funding from the UK Space Agency via ESA and Eutelsat. Maxar Intelligence is partnering with Saab to jointly develop next generation multi domain battlespace solutions. The solutions will have a specific focus on advanced space based C5ISR systems and as a reminder, C5ISR stands for Command control, Communications, Computers, Cyber Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. These all will apply to the digital battlefield and GPS resilience for autonomous drone systems. The companies are aiming to provide solutions that will help Europe accelerate the development of more advanced sovereign space based capabilities. The partnership expands on Maxar's existing relationship with Saab, which has most recently focused on deploying Maxar's Raptor product for autonomous drone navigation and operation in GPs denied environments. Maxar's geospatial intelligence products will help Saab build more advanced C5ISR solutions through secure access to their commercial satellite imagery in near real time. And as a little reminder for our listeners, I spoke with Suzanne Hake, who is Maxar US's government general manager, last month about their GPS denied workarounds and we'll include a link for you to that chat in our show notes and lastly from Europe, Planet Labs has signed a six figure expansion of its contract with the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government is using Planet's satellite data to develop data driven routine monitoring systems for agriculture, water and land use change and emergency response. They've leveraged Planet's satellite data since 2020 and this expansion aims to further develop its existing work, moving from test and trial projects to development of operational systems in use as part of business as usual processes. This expanded agreement provides the Welsh Government with Planet's suite of products that provide imagery and data through this deal, these products are accessible to all eight universities in Wales through campus licenses to inform novel research and model future landscape scenarios for government policy. And that is it for today's Intel Briefing. Stay with us for more on space nostalgia and find out who got added to the Astronaut hall of Fame. But before that, N2K senior producer Alice Carruth joins us for an update on the other stories that we're keeping an eye on for today. Alice, what have you got?

[Alice Carruth]

Lots, as always. Rocket Lab has scheduled their third launch in just over three weeks. This one will be for IQPs. Reflect Orbital has been awarded a SIBA Phase 2 contract by AF Works for their sunlight redirection tech and IonQ, who we really want to talk to about their quantum communications plans, have completed their acquisition of LightSync.

[Maria Varmazes]

All good stories there and please remind us where we can find out more about them.

[Alice Carruth]

We include links to all the original source materials of our stories in the Selected Reading section of our show Notes. We added the three additional stories in there. Those links can also be found on our website space.n2k.com just click on today's episode title Hey T minus Crew.

[Maria Varmazes]

If you find this podcast useful, please do us a favor and share a five star rating and short review in your favorite podcast app. It'll help other space professionals like you to find the show and join the T minus crew. Thank you. We really appreciate it. We'll be right back.

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[Maria Varmazes]

Welcome back. This week marks a historic milestone in America's journey to the stars. On June 3rd. That would be yesterday, but in 1965, astronaut Ed White stepped out of the Gemini 4 capsule and became the first American to walk in space. Tethered to his spacecraft and armed with a handheld maneuvering unit, White floated above the Earth for 21 breathtaking minutes, an iconic moment that paved the way for the EVA operations that are now routine aboard the ISS and beyond. It was a bold leap into the unknown that proved that US Astronauts could work in the vacuum of space, and it was a defining moment in the early space race. And speaking of firsts in spacewalks, Bernard Harris, the first black astronaut to perform a spacewalk and has been inducted into the Astronaut hall of Fame. He and his fellow 2025 inductee Peggy Whitson were honored at a ceremony over the weekend, but Peggy was notably absent as she is in quarantine ahead of her next space flight, the AX4 mission, which is scheduled to lift off next week on June 10th. Whitson is the first ever astronaut to be inducted into the hall of Fame while in the midst of carrying out a mission and and is only the second inductee to still be on active flight status at the time of or after her enshrinement. Her colleague at Axiom Space, Michael Lopez Alegria, was the first in 2021. Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who was in the inaugural class of inductees in 1990, also flew into space after his induction as a Space Shuttle payload specialist in 1998. Congratulations to Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson on their well deserved accolades. That's it for T minus for June 4, 2025, brought to you by N2K CyberWire. For additional resources from today's report, check out our show [e-mail] we'd love to know what you think of this podcast. You can email [e-mail] or submit the survey in the show notes. Your feedback ensures we deliver the information that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. N2K strategic workforce intelligence optimizes the value of your biggest investment your people. We make you smarter about your team while making your team smarter. N2K Senior Producer is Alice Carruth. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We are mixed by Elliot Peltzman and Trey Hester with original music by Elliot Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Ibin. Peter Kilpe is our publisher and I am your host, Maria Varmazes. Thanks for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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