https://www.spacebandits.io/industries/defense Dated, sourced milestones from the defense & space domain awareness companies Space Bandits tracks. en https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/apex apex/2026-09-14/Agrees to set up a US factory to build direct-to-device satellites for Elveo Mobile, the operator formed by the merger of Lynk Global and Omnispace Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Agrees to set up a US factory to build direct-to-device satellites for Elveo Mobile, the operator formed by the merger of Lynk Global and Omnispace. Source: https://spacenews.com/apex-to-set-up-us-d2d-satellite-manufacturing-facility-for-elveo-mobile/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/heo-robotics heo-robotics/2026-09-02/Continuum-1, a satellite bought from Satellogic, holds station near a spent Long March 2C stage and images it from about 40 km at 8 cm per pixel, HEO's first rendezvous and proximity operation Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Continuum-1, a satellite bought from Satellogic, holds station near a spent Long March 2C stage and images it from about 40 km at 8 cm per pixel, HEO's first rendezvous and proximity operation. Source: https://www.heospace.com/resources/stories/heo-releases-first-images-captured-during-rendezvous-and-proximity-operations-mission https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/diffraqtion diffraqtion/2026-08-31/Adds more than $5M to the pre-seed from Lockheed Martin Ventures, Presidio Ventures and others, taking the total past $10M, to fly a hosted payload Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Adds more than $5M to the pre-seed from Lockheed Martin Ventures, Presidio Ventures and others, taking the total past $10M, to fly a hosted payload. Source: https://payloadspace.com/diffraqtion-adds-to-pre-seed-round-for-quantum-camera-tech/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/leo-labs leo-labs/2026-08-27/Wins a $20.68M Space Force prototype agreement for a Scout radar, its container-sized mobile system, modified for national security use Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Wins a $20.68M Space Force prototype agreement for a Scout radar, its container-sized mobile system, modified for national security use. Source: https://payloadspace.com/leolabs-wins-20-68m-space-force-award-for-scout/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2026-08-19/After two of LINK's three reaction wheels fail, NASA and Katalyst drop the Swift capture and fly the mission as a rendezvous demonstration Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT After two of LINK's three reaction wheels fail, NASA and Katalyst drop the Swift capture and fly the mission as a rendezvous demonstration. Source: https://www.theregister.com/science/2026/08/20/no-lift-for-swift-as-nasa-abandons-orbital-rescue/5290164 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/digantara digantara/2026-08-18/Unveils MOSAIC, a network of ground-based optical sensors for tracking objects in orbit Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Unveils MOSAIC, a network of ground-based optical sensors for tracking objects in orbit. Source: https://theprint.in/science/bengaluru-company-mosaic-india-ai-powered-space-surveillance/3018527/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2026-08-14/Chosen by the Defense Innovation Unit to develop a deorbit service for Space Development Agency satellites using NEXUS Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Chosen by the Defense Innovation Unit to develop a deorbit service for Space Development Agency satellites using NEXUS. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/diu-selects-katalyst-space-for-deorbit-as-a-service-program-supporting-sda https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2026-07-03/LINK, its first robotic servicing spacecraft, launches on a Pegasus XL from Kwajalein Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT LINK, its first robotic servicing spacecraft, launches on a Pegasus XL from Kwajalein. Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-updates-next-steps-for-commercial-swift-boost-mission/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/slingshot-aerospace slingshot-aerospace/2026-07/Wins a $69.2M Space Force contract for AI mission rehearsal, its largest award yet Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Wins a $69.2M Space Force contract for AI mission rehearsal, its largest award yet. Source: https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-aerospace-wins-69-2-million-u-s-space-force-contract-to-advance-ai-powered-mission-readiness-for-space-defense https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2026-06-16/Raises $12M led by Geodesic Capital toward NEXUS, its first geostationary servicing mission in 2027 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Raises $12M led by Geodesic Capital toward NEXUS, its first geostationary servicing mission in 2027. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-raises-12m-to-send-space-robot-to-geo-for-satellite-servicing https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps iqps/2026-06/An Electron launch carrying its Mikura-I satellite aborts at ignition; the satellite flies that August Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT An Electron launch carrying its Mikura-I satellite aborts at ignition; the satellite flies that August. Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-launch-iqps-radar-satellite-grain-goddess-provides https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/piersight piersight/2026-06/Launches Vidura, a drone-mounted radar that sees through foliage, for ground defence operations Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Launches Vidura, a drone-mounted radar that sees through foliage, for ground defence operations. Source: https://piersight.space/company/about-us https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/hawkeye-360 hawkeye-360/2026-05/Lists on the NYSE as HAWK, raising $416M Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Lists on the NYSE as HAWK, raising $416M. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/05/07/hawkeye-360-raises-416m-pricing-at-high-end-for-ipo/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/turion-space turion-space/2026-04/Raises a $75M Series B led by Washington Harbour Partners to expand its maneuverable fleet Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Raises a $75M Series B led by Washington Harbour Partners to expand its maneuverable fleet. Source: https://spacenews.com/turion-space-raises-75-million-to-expand-maneuverable-satellite-fleet/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2026-03-23/Books an Ariane 6 launch to geostationary orbit for its first commercial servicing mission Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Books an Ariane 6 launch to geostationary orbit for its first commercial servicing mission. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-secures-ariane-6-launch-to-geo-opening-robotic-servicing-for-satellite-operators https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/heo-robotics heo-robotics/2026-02/Wins one of the NRO’s first three commercial non-Earth imaging contracts Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Wins one of the NRO’s first three commercial non-Earth imaging contracts. Source: https://spacenews.com/national-reconnaissance-office-adds-heo-satvu-and-sierra-nevada-to-commercial-imaging-program/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/albedo albedo/2026-01-23/Reports Clarity-1 lost after nine months in orbit when a radio memory fault blocked reboots; the bus data supports a five-year life at 275 km Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Reports Clarity-1 lost after nine months in orbit when a radio memory fault blocked reboots; the bus data supports a five-year life at 275 km. Source: https://albedo.com/post/clarity-1-what-worked-and-where-we-go-next https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/piersight piersight/2026-01-21/Signs, as part of the Pixxel-led consortium, IN-SPACe's agreement for a national constellation of 12 Earth observation satellites Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Signs, as part of the Pixxel-led consortium, IN-SPACe's agreement for a national constellation of 12 Earth observation satellites. Source: https://www.pixxel.space/news/pixxel-led-consortium-signs-agreement-with-in-space-to-build-indias-national-eo-constellation https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/diffraqtion diffraqtion/2026-01-13/Emerges from stealth with a $4.2M pre-seed led by QDNL Participations and a $1.5M DARPA contract for space domain awareness Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Emerges from stealth with a $4.2M pre-seed led by QDNL Participations and a $1.5M DARPA contract for space domain awareness. Source: https://payloadspace.com/quantum-imaging-startup-diffraqtion-emerges-from-stealth/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/digantara digantara/2025-12-16/Raises a $50M Series B to extend its sensors to missile detection and tracking Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT Raises a $50M Series B to extend its sensors to missile detection and tracking. Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/indias-digantara-raises-50m-for-space-based-missile-defence-tech https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps iqps/2025-12/Wins a share of Japan’s Ministry of Defense satellite constellation tender Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT Wins a share of Japan’s Ministry of Defense satellite constellation tender. Source: https://i-qps.net/en/news/3379/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/diffraqtion diffraqtion/2025-11-20/Wins the Slush 100 competition and its $1.1M equity prize from Cherry Ventures and General Catalyst Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT Wins the Slush 100 competition and its $1.1M equity prize from Cherry Ventures and General Catalyst. Source: https://diffraqtion.com/news/diffraqtion-raises-pre-seed-to-build-quantum-camera-enabled-satellite-and-telescope-constellations https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/heo-robotics heo-robotics/2025-11/Holmes Mk2 flies on Impulse’s Mira, the first NOAA-licensed non-Earth imaging payload cleared above 800 km Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT Holmes Mk2 flies on Impulse’s Mira, the first NOAA-licensed non-Earth imaging payload cleared above 800 km. Source: https://www.heospace.com/resources/stories/heo-launches-first-noaa-licensed-non-earth-imaging-payload-authorized-above-800-kilometres https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/albedo albedo/2025-10-01/Shuts its commercial imagery business and lays off staff to sell the VLEO bus itself to other payload operators Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT Shuts its commercial imagery business and lays off staff to sell the VLEO bus itself to other payload operators. Source: https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-albedo-drops-its-commercial-imagery-business/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/slingshot-aerospace slingshot-aerospace/2025-10/UK Space Agency picks Slingshot to deploy 13 optical sensor systems across five sites Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT UK Space Agency picks Slingshot to deploy 13 optical sensor systems across five sites. Source: https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-aerospace-advances-uk-space-agencys-satellite-tracking-amid-orbital-congestion https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2025-08-11/NASA awards a Phase III SBIR contract to design a rescue mission for the Swift observatory, to launch within ten months Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT NASA awards a Phase III SBIR contract to design a rescue mission for the Swift observatory, to launch within ten months. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-develops-design-for-nasa-to-rescue-500m-space-telescope https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/capella-space capella-space/2025-07-15/IonQ completes the acquisition of Capella Space Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT IonQ completes the acquisition of Capella Space. Source: https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/15/ionq-completes-acquisition-of-capella-space/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2025-05-29/Wins US Space Command's Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge and a $1.9M contract Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT Wins US Space Command's Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge and a $1.9M contract. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-develops-design-for-nasa-to-rescue-500m-space-telescope https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/capella-space capella-space/2025-05-07/Quantum computing firm IonQ agrees to buy Capella for $311 million Wed, 07 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT Quantum computing firm IonQ agrees to buy Capella for $311 million. Source: https://payloadspace.com/ionq-buys-capella-space-for-quantum-comms-gambit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/katalyst-space katalyst-space/2025-04-24/Acquires Atomos Space, taking on its Quark spacecraft, Broomfield factory and team Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT Acquires Atomos Space, taking on its Quark spacecraft, Broomfield factory and team. Source: https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-space-technologies-has-announced-its-acquisition-of-atomos-space https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/digantara digantara/2025-03-08/SCOT is commissioned and returns its first image, of the Earth's edge over Buenos Aires Sat, 08 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT SCOT is commissioned and returns its first image, of the Earth's edge over Buenos Aires. Source: https://www.dtnext.in/news/business/digantara-commissions-worlds-first-commercial-space-surveillance-satellite-825614 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/albedo albedo/2025-03/Clarity-1, the first commercial satellite built for very low Earth orbit, launches on Transporter-13 and makes contact Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT Clarity-1, the first commercial satellite built for very low Earth orbit, launches on Transporter-13 and makes contact. Source: https://albedo.com/post/clarity-1-what-worked-and-where-we-go-next https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/apex apex/2025-03/Aries SN1 marks a full year of on-orbit operation Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT Aries SN1 marks a full year of on-orbit operation. Source: https://spacenews.com/apexs-first-satellite-marks-one-year-in-orbit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/digantara digantara/2025-02/Opens an office in Colorado Springs to sell to the US defence market Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT Opens an office in Colorado Springs to sell to the US defence market. Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/indias-digantara-raises-50m-for-space-based-missile-defence-tech https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/digantara digantara/2025-01-14/SCOT, its first space surveillance satellite, launches on SpaceX's Transporter-12 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT SCOT, its first space surveillance satellite, launches on SpaceX's Transporter-12. Source: https://satnews.com/2025/01/14/digantara-launches-indias-1st-homegrown-space-surveillance-mission-via-spacexs-transporter-12/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/inversion-space inversion-space/2025-01/Ray test capsule launches on Transporter-12 and proves its systems in orbit, though a short circuit prevents reentry Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT Ray test capsule launches on Transporter-12 and proves its systems in orbit, though a short circuit prevents reentry. Source: https://www.compositesworld.com/news/inversion-space-looks-to-2026-orbital-flight-for-space-delivery-vehicle-arc https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/piersight piersight/2024-12-30/Varuna, a radar demonstrator in CubeSat form, flies on ISRO's POEM-4 platform and completes its tests Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Varuna, a radar demonstrator in CubeSat form, flies on ISRO's POEM-4 platform and completes its tests. Source: https://piersight.space/launches/mission https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/synspective synspective/2024-12/Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, raising about ¥10.2B, with a dedicated Electron flight the same week Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, raising about ¥10.2B, with a dedicated Electron flight the same week. Source: https://synspective.com/press-release/2024/listed_tse/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/turion-space turion-space/2024-12/Wins a $32.6M Space Systems Command contract for three rendezvous-imaging satellites Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Wins a $32.6M Space Systems Command contract for three rendezvous-imaging satellites. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2024/12/20/turion-space-wins-32m-space-force-contract-for-3-satellites/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/capella-space capella-space/2024-09-16/Air Force awards a $15 million AFWERX STRATFI to scale SAR Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:00 GMT Air Force awards a $15 million AFWERX STRATFI to scale SAR. Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240916227948/en/Capella-Space-Awarded-a-15M-Contract-with-the-U.S.-Air-Force https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps iqps/2024-08/QPS-SAR-8 reaches orbit on Transporter-11 and makes contact two hours after liftoff Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT QPS-SAR-8 reaches orbit on Transporter-11 and makes contact two hours after liftoff. Source: https://i-qps.net/en/news/2190/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/slingshot-aerospace slingshot-aerospace/2024-06/Unveils Agatha with DARPA, an AI that spots anomalous spacecraft inside large constellations Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT Unveils Agatha with DARPA, an AI that spots anomalous spacecraft inside large constellations. Source: https://www.slingshot.space/news/slingshot-darpa-agatha-ai https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/heo-robotics heo-robotics/2024-05/Images the ISS from a passing satellite 69 km away, closing at six kilometres a second Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT Images the ISS from a passing satellite 69 km away, closing at six kilometres a second. Source: https://www.space.com/international-space-station-satellite-photo-heo-robotics https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/true-anomaly true-anomaly/2024-04/Awarded a $30M Space Force contract for Victus Haze, a tactically responsive space demonstration Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT Awarded a $30M Space Force contract for Victus Haze, a tactically responsive space demonstration. Source: https://spacenews.com/true-anomaly-gets-30-million-contract-for-space-force-tactically-responsive-mission/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/apex apex/2024-03/Aries SN1, the first production unit of its satellite bus, reaches orbit a year after clean-sheet design Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT Aries SN1, the first production unit of its satellite bus, reaches orbit a year after clean-sheet design. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2024/10/02/apex-sn1-satellite-launched-in-march-has-anduril-payload/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/true-anomaly true-anomaly/2024-03/First two Jackal autonomous orbital vehicles launch and deploy on Transporter-10 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT First two Jackal autonomous orbital vehicles launch and deploy on Transporter-10. Source: https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/mission-x-successful-launch-deployment-of-first-two-jackal-aovs https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/turion-space turion-space/2024-03/DROID.001 remains in commissioning nearly a year after launch as pointing software is reworked Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT DROID.001 remains in commissioning nearly a year after launch as pointing software is reworked. Source: https://spacenews.com/turion-space-closing-in-on-initial-ssa-service-from-first-satellite/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/piersight piersight/2024-01-09/Raises a $6M seed round co-led by Alpha Wave Ventures and Elevation Capital Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT Raises a $6M seed round co-led by Alpha Wave Ventures and Elevation Capital. Source: https://entrackr.com/2024/01/piersight-raises-6-mn-in-seed-round-led-by-alpha-wave-and-elevation/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps iqps/2024-01/Releases first-light images from QPS-SAR-5 after a month of on-orbit calibration Mon, 01 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT Releases first-light images from QPS-SAR-5 after a month of on-orbit calibration. Source: https://i-qps.net/en/news/1756/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/iqps iqps/2023-12/Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under code 5595 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market under code 5595. Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ISPACE-INC-152054167/news/Japanese-satellite-imagery-startup-iQPS-untraded-with-glut-of-bids-in-Tokyo-debut-45507644/