Technology · June 26, 2023

Max Q: Welcome to the era of MaaS (microgravity-as-a-service)

Hello and welcome back to Max Q!

In this issue:

  • toptechtrends.com/2023/06/23/atmos-space-cargo-return-capsules-for-in-space-research/”>Atmos Space Cargo’s research and manufacturing space capsule
  • toptechtrends.com/2023/06/21/launchers-orbiter-glitches-in-orbit-forcing-emergency-deployment-of-space-startups-payloads/”>Another anomaly hits Launcher’s Orbiter space tug 
  • News toptechtrends.com/2023/06/07/nasa-spends-45m-to-seed-tech-from-hundreds-of-space-businesses/”>from NASA, and more

toptechtrends.com/2023/06/23/atmos-space-cargo-return-capsules-for-in-space-research/”>Atmos Space Cargo is building return capsules for in-space research and manufacturing

The International Space Station has a monopoly on in-space research, but the huge surge of interest in commercial space is starting to change that. Atmos Space Cargo, a German startup, is looking to open up the opportunities for life sciences research and manufacturing in orbit with its return capsules that will deliver cargo from space back to Earth.

toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png” alt=”atmos” width=”1024″ height=”683″ srcset=”https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png 1620w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=150,100 150w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=300,200 300w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=768,512 768w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=680,453 680w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sebastian-Klaus.png?resize=50,33 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>

Atmos CEO Sebastian Klaus. Image Credits: Atmos Space Cargo (opens in a new window)

toptechtrends.com/2023/06/21/launchers-orbiter-glitches-in-orbit-forcing-emergency-deployment-of-space-startups-payloads/”>Launcher’s Orbiter glitches in orbit, forcing emergency deployment of space startups’ payloads

Launcher’s Orbiter spacecraft experienced an anomaly after reaching orbit that will likely result in the premature end of its customers’ missions, including Starfish Space’s Otter Pup demonstration mission.

toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg” alt=”launcher orbiter” width=”1024″ height=”576″ srcset=”https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg 2170w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=150,84 150w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=680,382 680w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=2048,1151 2048w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https://toptechtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/launcher-orbiter-deploying.jpeg?resize=50,28 50w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>

Image Credits: Launcher

In other news…

  • Apex Space, a satellite bus manufacturing startup, toptechtrends.com/2023/06/22/andreessen-horowitz-shield-capital-apex-space/”>has closed a $16 million Series A round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and new investor Shield Capital as it prepares for its first demonstration mission early next year.
  • Continuum Space Systems has raised $6 million to date toptechtrends.com/2023/06/22/continuum-space-systems-space-mission-management/”>for its unified platform for end-to-end space mission management.
  • Danti toptechtrends.com/2023/06/21/danti-uses-natural-language-processing-to-build-a-search-engine-for-earth-data/”>emerged from stealth with $2.75 million in funding and plans to build a search engine for location-based data, powered by natural language processing.
  • Digantara, an toptechtrends.com/2023/06/20/digantara-funding-peak-xv-partners/”>Indian space tech startup that is working on space situational awareness, has raised $10 million in a funding round led by Peak XV Partners (toptechtrends.com/2023/06/06/sequoia-rebrands-china-india-and-southeast-asia-units/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener” data-mrf-link=”https://toptechtrends.com/2023/06/06/sequoia-rebrands-china-india-and-southeast-asia-units/”>formerly Sequoia Capital India and Southeast Asia) as it plans to kick off commercial space operations and satellite traffic management.
  • India toptechtrends.com/2023/06/22/india-nasa-artemis-accords/”>has joined NASA’s Artemis Accords, a major step for cooperation in space between the two countries.
  • NASA formed new, unfunded agreements with toptechtrends.com/2023/06/16/nasa-hits-up-7-space-companies-to-take-on-orbital-squad-goals/”>seven major space companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, to advance these commercial firms’ technologies and programs that could meet the government’s needs.
  • Rocket Factory Augsburg toptechtrends.com/2023/06/21/rocket-factory-augsburg-aims-to-launch-from-french-guiana-in-2025/”>will build a dedicated launch pad at the Guiana Space Center (GSC) in French Guiana, with launches commencing in 2025 — though they still need to get to orbit first.
  • Rocket Lab is toptechtrends.com/2023/06/22/rocket-lab-doubles-down-on-marine-booster-recovery-with-next-electron-launch/”>doubling down on marine recovery of the Electron rocket booster.
  • Virgin Galactic toptechtrends.com/2023/06/15/virgin-galactic-starts-commercial-spaceflights-in-two-weeks/”>will commence commercial service in less than two weeks.
  • Zero-Error Systems has raised a new tranche of funding for its patented toptechtrends.com/2023/06/13/zero-error-systems-raises-7-5m-for-its-radiation-hardened-semiconductor-integrated-circuits/”>radiation-hardened semiconductor integrated circuits technology for space and energy management applications.

 

Max Q is brought to you by me, Aria Alamalhodaei. If you enjoy reading Max Q, consider forwarding it to a friend. 

toptechtrends.com/2023/06/26/max-q-welcome-to-the-era-of-maas-microgravity-as-a-service/”>Max Q: Welcome to the era of MaaS (microgravity-as-a-service) by toptechtrends.com/author/aria-alamalhodaei/”>Aria Alamalhodaei originally published on toptechtrends.com/”>TechCrunch

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