Spinlaunch has $40 million to fund development to first centrifuge space launch by 2022

SpinLaunch Inc. has closed a $35 million Series A funding round with a powerhouse syndicate of investors. Investors include Airbus Ventures, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Kleiner Perkins. This syndicate joins institutional investors including Lauder Partners, ATW Partners, Bolt, and Starlight Ventures to total $40 million. Investment funds will be used to scale the team …

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SpaceX will try to use NASA inflatable aeroshell decelerator to enable second stage reuse

NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID, is demonstrating technology for atmospheric entry. LOFTID acts as a giant brake by deploying a large inflatable aeroshell (a deployable structure protected by a flexible heatshield) before entering the atmosphere. The large aeroshell creates more drag and begins slowing down in the upper reaches …

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SpaceX tries to lower cost and improve the performance of internet satellites by ten times

SpaceX is going all-in on building in-house its own satellite constellation. They are even building their own ground terminals and gateways. SpaceX is hiring ground station and user terminal engineers. SpaceX has a goal of medium to high volume in-house production of the critical network and customer-facing hardware. SpaceX wants to revolutionize the satellites, just …

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Every 3-5 years SpaceX is adding a decade lead on competitors

Former Pentagon Under Secretary of Defense for acquisition tech and logistics John Young told CNBC in February that no one can compete with even Falcon Heavy, let alone BFR. “Musk said it’s ‘game over,’ and I [John Young] believe that’s true.” Nextbigfuture analysis is that SpaceX has built a lead that will take 15 years …

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