Techstars Space Startup Digest

Small launch vehicle developer Relativity Space has won a contract to launch six Iridium replacement satellites from a new launch site at Vandenberg AFB.

Communications between Earth and the moon actually requires a huge amount of equipment under current circumstances. The transmission distance for any data sent from our large natural satellite and us here on Earth is 225,000 miles — which means a transmission signal requires significant power, and that translates to heavy, bulky transmission equipment

Rocket builder Astra will try again for its first orbital rocket launch in July, as the startup navigates the coronavirus environment.

The company is targeting its first uncrewed flight in 2021

Space is a relatively niche area of tech investing in the best of times, but COVID-19 has redrawn the landscape. What do investors who are active in this sector think about what’s changed, what hasn’t and what’s coming in the future?

One of the new space companies that has done the most for popularizing the idea of in-space manufacturing, including use of additive technologies like 3D printing on the International Space Station, has been acquired by Redwire, a newly formed entity created by a private equity firm to roll up a number of space technology, supply and development companies.

Aevum, Astra, X-Bow, Rocket Lab, Space Vector and VOX Space each will receive contracts to launch two rideshare missions.

“Wow, this is extremely important!!” Elon Musk said.