SpaceTech Sector Newsletter – June 2024

Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC

02 July 2024

 

SERAPHIM SPACE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
(the "Company" or "SSIT")

SpaceTech Sector Newsletter - June 2024

Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc (LSE: SSIT), the world's first listed SpaceTech investment company, publishes its monthly RNS Reach newsletter to provide updates, based on publicly available information, on the Company's portfolio investments, its Manager (Seraphim Space Manager LLP (the "Manager" or "Seraphim Space")) and the wider SpaceTech market. The following newsletter covers June 2024. 

Portfolio Update

Voyager Space's Starlab announces strategic partnership with Palantir

Starlab Space, the US-led global joint venture from portfolio company Voyager Space, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation and MDA Space, announced Palantir Technologies as a strategic partner. Palantir will become the exclusive supplier of enterprise-wide software data management solutions for the Starlab commercial space station. Palantir's AI-driven software enables analysts, users and decision-makers to optimise the entirety of space architecture. Starlab Space and Palantir will leverage data modelling through digital twins and AI technologies to enhance Starlab's operations. The digital twin will optimise resource allocation, mission planning and overall system performance. [Read more]

Spire Global, Thales and ESSP to develop air traffic surveillance constellation

Thales, portfolio company Spire Global and the European Satellite Services Provider ("ESSP") announced a memorandum of cooperation on 13 June 2024 to develop a satellite constellation dedicated to air traffic surveillance. The constellation of more than 100 satellites will collect aircraft Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) messages and quickly relay them to ground stations. The partners aim to begin providing commercial services from the new constellation in 2027. [Read more]

Astroscale lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in oversubscribed IPO

Astroscale, the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term sustainability across all orbits, completed its oversubscribed IPO on the growth market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on 5 June 2024, raising ¥23.8bn (c.$153m) through a mixture of primary and secondary capital. Astroscale is the third Japanese space company to go public in the last c.12 months. [Read more]

LeoLabs wins $1.25m AFWERX contract for Radar Technology

LeoLabs has won a contract from AFWERX, the innovation arm of the US Department of the Air Force and powered by the US Air Force Research Laboratory, for $1.2m to build a radar to track objects in  Low Earth Orbit (LEO). LeoLabs will design, develop, build and test a prototype S-band 2-D direct radiating array (DRA) that is capable of advanced object tracking in LEO. This next-generation radar technology is expected to help counter security threats in space. [Read more]

Pixxel signs landmark contract with Ministry of Defence in Delhi to develop miniaturised satellites

Pixxel, a leader in cutting-edge hyperspectral Earth-imaging technology, announced that it has officially signed a landmark contract with the Ministry of Defence in Delhi. This contract empowers Pixxel to develop miniaturised multi-payload satellites for the Indian Air Force. [Read more]

SpaceTech Sector News

China's Chang'e-6 moon mission returns to Earth with historic lunar far-side samples

China's Chang'e-6 lunar module returned to Earth, successfully completing its historic mission to collect the first ever samples from the far side of the moon in a major step forward for the country's ambitious space program. The Chang'e-6 probe is expected to have returned to Earth with up to two kilograms of moon dust and rocks from the lunar far side, which will be analysed by researchers in China before being opened for access by international scientists. The successful mission is a key milestone in China's "eternal dream", as articulated by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, to establish the country as a dominant space power. [Read more]

SIA reports record growth for the satellite industry in 2023

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) published a leading annual analysis of the satellite industry's economic performance. The global space economy generated $400bn of revenue last year, $285bn of which related to the satellite industry, according to the SIA's State of the Satellite Industry Report. [Read more]

SpaceX Starship completes a successful test flight for the first time

SpaceX completed a successful test flight of its Starship rocket, as the company pushed the development of the vehicle past new milestones. This was the fourth test flight of Starship and the first which achieved a successful splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after returning back down to Earth following the launch. This major new milestone will accelerate Starship's progress to becoming fully operational. [Read more]

Media

SpaceTech Podcast

Portfolio spotlight: Tune into the most recent episode of the Generation Space podcast featuring Peter Platzer, CEO of portfolio company Spire Global. Spire is a satellite-powered data company addressing the world's greatest challenges with global data solutions. From offering insights into global trade operations, weather, shipping and supply chains to combating illegal fishing and enhancing maritime domain awareness, Spire leads in data innovation. Explore what sets Spire apart from competitors, its significant achievements and its vision for a data-led future on Earth. [Listen here]

Conferences

·           SPACETIDE: Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett is speaking on 8 July 2024 in Tokyo. [Details]

·           SuperReturn Asia: Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett is attending on 24 September 2024 in Singapore. [Details]

Find out where to meet and hear from Seraphim Space's team by following its social media, LinkedIn / Twitter.

Sign up to receive Seraphim Space's monthly newsletter directly to your inbox. [Sign up]

Neither the Company's website nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks in it or in this newsletter (or any other website) is (or is deemed to be) incorporated into, or forms (or is deemed to form) part of, this newsletter.

- Ends -

Media Enquiries

Seraphim Space Manager LLP (via SEC Newgate)
Mark Boggett, CEO / James Bruegger, CIO / Rob Desborough
SEC Newgate (Communications advisers)	[e-mail]
Emma Kane / Clotilde Gros / George Esmond	[phone]
Deutsche Numis
Mark Hankinson / Gavin Deane / Neil Coleman / David Benda	[phone]
J.P. Morgan Cazenove
William Simmonds / Jérémie Birnbaum / Rupert Budge	[phone]
Ocorian Administration (UK) Limited	[e-mail]
Lorna Zimny	[phone]

Notes to Editors

About Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc

Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc (the "Company") is the world's first listed fund focused on SpaceTech. The Company seeks exposure predominantly to growth stage private financed SpaceTech businesses that have the potential to dominate globally and that are sector leaders with first mover advantages in areas such as climate, communications, mobility and cyber security.

The Company is listed on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange.

Further information is available at: https://investors.seraphim.vc.

About Seraphim Space Manager LLP

Seraphim Space Manager LLP ("Seraphim Space" or the "Manager") is based in the UK and manages Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc and Seraphim Space Ventures II LP.

Further information is available at www.seraphim.vc.

About Seraphim Space Accelerator Ltd

Seraphim Space Camp Accelerator Ltd, an affiliate of Seraphim Space Manager LLP based in the UK, established the Seraphim Space Accelerator in 2018 and has developed it to become the world-leading VC-led accelerator with a focus on SpaceTech. The accelerator programme brings in-depth industry expertise to get Seed and Pre-Series A SpaceTech companies 'investment ready' while facilitating relationships with some of the world's leading Space corporates and agencies.

Further information is available at www.seraphim.vc.

About Generation Space LLC

Generation Space LLC is the US subsidiary of Seraphim Space Manager LLP and is responsible for its US activities. Generation Space LLC is an affiliate of Seraphim Space Camp Accelerator Ltd and is responsible for delivery of the US Generation Space Accelerator.

Further information is available at www.generation.space.

 

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