https://www.spacebandits.io/industries/communications Dated, sourced milestones from the communications & connectivity companies Space Bandits tracks. en https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire spire/2026-08-26/Wins a $28M NOAA contract under TMATE to build and qualify a hyperspectral microwave sounder satellite Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Wins a $28M NOAA contract under TMATE to build and qualify a hyperspectral microwave sounder satellite. Source: https://ir.spire.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/312/spire-global-awarded-28-million-noaa-contract-to-advance https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2026-08-25/Lingzhi-09, a cubesat built for Thailand, reaches orbit on a Long March 6C, the company's first export of a whole satellite with its ground system Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Lingzhi-09, a cubesat built for Thailand, reaches orbit on a Long March 6C, the company's first export of a whole satellite with its ground system. Source: https://www.news.cn/tech/20260826/c07b064dca064ab0ad9ea298c163851d/c.html https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/kepler-communications kepler-communications/2026-08-24/Declares its optical data relay network in commercial service, with 33 satellites launched and more than ten optical ground stations Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Declares its optical data relay network in commercial service, with 33 satellites launched and more than ten optical ground stations. Source: https://kepler.space/kepler-delivers-optical-infrastructure-for-real-time-space-operations/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/geespace geespace/2026-08-20/MIIT approves a two-year commercial trial of its satellite connectivity service in China, with 64 satellites in orbit Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT MIIT approves a two-year commercial trial of its satellite connectivity service in China, with 64 satellites in orbit. Source: https://www.china-in-space.com/p/geespace-receives-connectivity-service https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/speqtral speqtral/2026-08-05/Takes operational control of SpeQtre as experiments begin Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Takes operational control of SpeQtre as experiments begin. Source: https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/speqtral-takes-operational-control-of-speqtre-satellite-as-quantum-experimentation-phase-begins https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/k2-space k2-space/2026-07-30/Raises a $500M Series D at a $6.8B valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins and ICONIQ, with about $1B of signed contracts Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Raises a $500M Series D at a $6.8B valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins and ICONIQ, with about $1B of signed contracts. Source: https://payloadspace.com/k2-space-raises-500m-series-d-at-6-8b-valuation/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/warpspace warpspace/2026-07/Agrees with Singapore’s Transcelestial to test interoperability between their optical systems Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Agrees with Singapore’s Transcelestial to test interoperability between their optical systems. Source: https://transcelestial.com/blog/transcelestial-and-warpspace-partner-on-interoperability-for-leo-satellite-communications/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire spire/2026-05/Opens a Munich factory it says can build up to 100 satellites a year Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Opens a Munich factory it says can build up to 100 satellites a year. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2026/05/07/spire-says-new-german-facility-can-produce-up-to-100-satellites-per-year/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isotropic-systems isotropic-systems/2026-04/York Space Systems agrees to acquire the company, which continues as All.Space under CEO Paul McCarter Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT York Space Systems agrees to acquire the company, which continues as All.Space under CEO Paul McCarter. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/06/16/all-space-relocates-to-us-amid-york-space-acquisition-process/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/k2-space k2-space/2026-03-30/Gravitas, its first free-flying satellite, launches on Transporter-16: about two tonnes, a 40 m solar array span and 20 kW of power Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Gravitas, its first free-flying satellite, launches on Transporter-16: about two tonnes, a 40 m solar array span and 20 kW of power. Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/03/30/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-119-payloads-on-smallsat-rideshare-mission-from-california/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2026-03/Begins A-share IPO tutoring after a Series C from Beijing government funds Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Begins A-share IPO tutoring after a Series C from Beijing government funds. Source: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2026-03-31/chinese-satellite-startup-galaxyspace-kicks-off-ipo-102429536.html https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/speqtral speqtral/2026-01-28/SKY Perfect JSAT takes a stake and forms a business partnership Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT SKY Perfect JSAT takes a stake and forms a business partnership. Source: https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/sky-perfect-jsat-forms-strategic-capital-and-business-partnership-with-speqtral https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/speqtral speqtral/2025-11-28/SpeQtre CubeSat deployed from Falcon 9 Transporter-15 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT SpeQtre CubeSat deployed from Falcon 9 Transporter-15. Source: https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/12/01/speqtre-the-entanglement-based-quantum-comms-demonstrator-satellite-is-now-on-orbit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bridgesat bridgesat/2025-09/Voyager Technologies acquires its optical terminal and ground station technology after years of inactivity Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT Voyager Technologies acquires its optical terminal and ground station technology after years of inactivity. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2025/09/22/voyager-acquires-optical-technology-from-bridgecomm/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet fleet/2025-09/Opens a 5,300 m² satellite and sensor hyperfactory at Adelaide Airport Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT Opens a 5,300 m² satellite and sensor hyperfactory at Adelaide Airport. Source: https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/business/2025/09/30/liftoff-fleet-space-opens-new-hyperfactory-at-adelaide-airport https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire spire/2025-09/NOAA awards $11.2M for GNSS radio occultation weather data Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT NOAA awards $11.2M for GNSS radio occultation weather data. Source: https://spire.com/press-release/spire-global-awarded-11-1-million-noaa-contract-for-satellite-weather-data/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2025-08/Nine of its satellites become the first privately built spacecraft in the state Guowang megaconstellation Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT Nine of its satellites become the first privately built spacecraft in the state Guowang megaconstellation. Source: https://spacenews.com/long-march-12-launches-first-guowang-satellites-developed-by-private-firm/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo skylo/2025-08/Pixel Watch 4 becomes the first smartwatch with standards-based two-way satellite messaging Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT Pixel Watch 4 becomes the first smartwatch with standards-based two-way satellite messaging. Source: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/google-and-skylo-expand-satellite-connectivity-to-pixel-10-series-and-unveil-pixel-watch-4 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire spire/2025-08/Receives an NYSE non-compliance notice after restating two years of financials Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT Receives an NYSE non-compliance notice after restating two years of financials. Source: https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/spire-global-receives-nyse-notice-regarding-late-form-10-q-filing-2025-08-22 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/atlas-space atlas-space/2025-07/York Space Systems’ parent agrees to acquire ATLAS, which keeps its brand and Traverse City base Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT York Space Systems’ parent agrees to acquire ATLAS, which keeps its brand and Traverse City base. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/york-space-systems-parent-company-to-acquire-atlas-space-operations-to-expand-mission-delivery-and-space-to-ground-capabilities-302508489.html https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/spire spire/2025-04/Closes the sale of its maritime business to Kpler for about $233.5M and retires its debt Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT Closes the sale of its maritime business to Kpler for about $233.5M and retires its debt. Source: https://ir.spire.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/251/spire-global-completes-sale-of-maritime-business-debt https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet fleet/2025-03/Makes its first acquisition, buying hard-rock seismic company HiSeis Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT Makes its first acquisition, buying hard-rock seismic company HiSeis. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/03/05/fleet-space-technologies-makes-its-first-acquisition-to-boost-mineral-exploration-tech/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo skylo/2025-02/Raises an oversubscribed $30M led by NGP Capital to scale direct-to-device service worldwide Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT Raises an oversubscribed $30M led by NGP Capital to scale direct-to-device service worldwide. Source: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-raises-30m-in-oversubscribed-funding-round-to-scale-direct-to-device-satellite-service-worldwide https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/k2-space k2-space/2025-01/Heritage, the company’s first demonstration satellite, reaches low Earth orbit Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT Heritage, the company’s first demonstration satellite, reaches low Earth orbit. Source: https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/43098-k2-space-achieves-key-milestones-ahead-of-2026-gravitas-satellite-launch https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/qeynet qeynet/2025-01/Canadian Space Agency contributes over CA$1.4M for an Earth-to-space quantum key distribution demonstration Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT Canadian Space Agency contributes over CA$1.4M for an Earth-to-space quantum key distribution demonstration. Source: https://spaceq.ca/qeynet-gets-1-4-million-for-quantum-key-testing-in-space/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astranis-space-technologies-corp astranis-space-technologies-corp/2024-12/Four MicroGEO satellites launch together on a dedicated Falcon 9 Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Four MicroGEO satellites launch together on a dedicated Falcon 9. Source: https://spacenews.com/four-satellite-astranis-launch-signals-shift-toward-scaled-geo-deployments/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/warpspace warpspace/2024-11/Closes a Series B through alliances with Udom and Kohoku Kogyo Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Closes a Series B through alliances with Udom and Kohoku Kogyo. Source: https://warpspace.jp/posts-en/Nzz3_iTp https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/qeynet qeynet/2024-08/Canadian Space Agency awards CA$439,000 to adapt its quantum transmitter for space-based key distribution Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT Canadian Space Agency awards CA$439,000 to adapt its quantum transmitter for space-based key distribution. Source: https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/record/csa-asc%2C003-2024-2025-Q2-00057%2Ccurrent https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo skylo/2024-08/Verizon adopts Skylo for satellite emergency messaging on NTN-capable Android phones Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT Verizon adopts Skylo for satellite emergency messaging on NTN-capable Android phones. Source: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/verizon-teams-up-with-skylo https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo skylo/2024-08/Google’s Pixel 9 ships Satellite SOS over Skylo, its first Tier-1 smartphone integration Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT Google’s Pixel 9 ships Satellite SOS over Skylo, its first Tier-1 smartphone integration. Source: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-connectivity-enables-new-satellite-sos-feature-on-google-pixel-9-series https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2024-05/Runs China's first overseas LEO broadband trial, in Thailand Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT Runs China's first overseas LEO broadband trial, in Thailand. Source: https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/First_trial_of_Chinas_low_orbit_broadband_satellite_internet_in_Thailand_999.html https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astranis-space-technologies-corp astranis-space-technologies-corp/2024-04/Unveils Omega, a next-generation MicroGEO with five times the throughput Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT Unveils Omega, a next-generation MicroGEO with five times the throughput. Source: https://www.spacevoyaging.com/news/2024/04/16/astranis-introduces-a-new-and-more-powerful-geo-satellite/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/miles-space miles-space/2024-01/Acquired by RocketStar; founder Wes Faler becomes its chief technology officer Mon, 01 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT Acquired by RocketStar; founder Wes Faler becomes its chief technology officer. Source: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skylo skylo/2024-01/Opens commercial direct-to-device service across the US and Canada on the 3GPP NTN standard Mon, 01 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT Opens commercial direct-to-device service across the US and Canada on the 3GPP NTN standard. Source: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-launches-its-direct-to-device-service-in-the-us-canada https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet fleet/2023-11/Books SPIDER, a seismic payload hunting lunar water ice, on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMT Books SPIDER, a seismic payload hunting lunar water ice, on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2. Source: https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-announces-agreement-with-fleet-space-to-deliver-payload-to-the-moon/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oneweb oneweb/2023-09/Merger with Eutelsat completes, forming Eutelsat Group with OneWeb as its LEO arm Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMT Merger with Eutelsat completes, forming Eutelsat Group with OneWeb as its LEO arm. Source: https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-completes-multi-orbit-oneweb-merger-after-shareholder-vote/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astranis-space-technologies-corp astranis-space-technologies-corp/2023-07/A solar array drive failure on Arcturus derails the Alaska broadband service; a spare satellite is promised Sat, 01 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT A solar array drive failure on Arcturus derails the Alaska broadband service; a spare satellite is promised. Source: https://www.astranis.com/blog/solar-array-drive-issue-causes-delay-to-alaska-service-first-of-its-kind-spare-satellite-to-be-on-next-astranis-launch-579ec https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2023-07/Lingxi-03 flies China's first flexible solar array on a stackable flat-panel satellite Sat, 01 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT Lingxi-03 flies China's first flexible solar array on a stackable flat-panel satellite. Source: https://spacenews.com/pair-of-chinese-launches-put-flat-panel-satellite-new-spy-sats-in-orbit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/astranis-space-technologies-corp astranis-space-technologies-corp/2023-05/Arcturus, the first MicroGEO satellite, reaches geostationary orbit and beams first signals to Alaska Mon, 01 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT Arcturus, the first MicroGEO satellite, reaches geostationary orbit and beams first signals to Alaska. Source: https://www.astranis.com/blog/first-astranis-satellite-successfully-deployed-to-geo-beams-first-signals-down-to-alaska-257ba https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/warpspace warpspace/2023-05/Wins two JAXA studies on Moon-to-Earth and long-distance optical communications Mon, 01 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT Wins two JAXA studies on Moon-to-Earth and long-distance optical communications. Source: https://satnews.com/2023/05/16/warpspace-wins-jaxa-contracts-for-lunar-and-long-distance-optical-comms-studies/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet fleet/2023-04/First defence contract: A$6.4M from Defence Space Command for the ASCEND2LEO satcom demonstration Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMT First defence contract: A$6.4M from Defence Space Command for the ASCEND2LEO satcom demonstration. Source: https://www.fleetspace.com/newsroom/fleet-space-technologies-secures-australian-defence-space-command-contract https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/k2-space k2-space/2023-03/Comes out of stealth with the Mega Class bus, promising 20 kW satellites at a fraction of legacy cost Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT Comes out of stealth with the Mega Class bus, promising 20 kW satellites at a fraction of legacy cost. Source: https://aviationweek.com/space/commercial-space/k2-space-plans-mega-class-satellite https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oneweb oneweb/2023-03/The final 36 satellites complete the 648-strong first-generation constellation Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT The final 36 satellites complete the 648-strong first-generation constellation. Source: https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/oneweb https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/miles-space miles-space/2022-11/The Team Miles cubesat launches to deep space on Artemis I, but contact is never established after deployment Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:00:00 GMT The Team Miles cubesat launches to deep space on Artemis I, but contact is never established after deployment. Source: https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/miles.htm https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isotropic-systems isotropic-systems/2022-08/Isotropic Systems rebrands as All.Space, unveiling its fifth-generation multi-link terminal Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:00:00 GMT Isotropic Systems rebrands as All.Space, unveiling its fifth-generation multi-link terminal. Source: https://spacenews.com/isotropic-rebrands-as-all-space/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/geespace geespace/2022-06/The first nine satellites of the Geely constellation launch together Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:00:00 GMT The first nine satellites of the Geely constellation launch together. Source: https://www.geespace.com/about https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/fleet fleet/2022-03/Launches ExoSphere, satellite-connected seismic sensing that maps mineral deposits in 3D Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT Launches ExoSphere, satellite-connected seismic sensing that maps mineral deposits in 3D. Source: https://www.fleetspace.com/newsroom/fleet-space-technologies-revolutionises-mineral-exploration-with-launch-of-exosphere-by-fleet https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/galaxyspace galaxyspace/2022-03/Six broadband satellites launch together, completing China's first LEO internet test constellation Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT Six broadband satellites launch together, completing China's first LEO internet test constellation. Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/03/08/long-march-rocket-deploys-six-chinese-internet-satellites/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/speqtral speqtral/2022-02-09/Announces the SpeQtral-1 quantum key distribution satellite Wed, 09 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT Announces the SpeQtral-1 quantum key distribution satellite. Source: https://speqtralquantum.com/newsroom/speqtral-announces-speqtral-1-quantum-satellite-mission-for-ultra-secure-communications https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/utowave utowave/2022/Constellation cancelled with nothing launched; the website goes dark Sat, 01 Jan 2022 12:00:00 GMT Constellation cancelled with nothing launched; the website goes dark. Source: https://www.newspace.im/constellations/utowave