TechCrunch - Space
Startup and investment-focused coverage of commercial space technology
Who Gets to Inherit the Stars? A Space Ethicist on What We’re Not Talking About
At TechCrunch Disrupt, Varda Space Industries founder Will Bruey claimed that within 15‑20 years it will be cheaper to send a blue‑collar human to orbit than to develop more advanced robots. Mary‑Jane Rubenstein, a space ethicist, warns that this cost‑driven model could deepen existing labor power imbalances and raise profound questions about worker safety in an unforgiving environment. She also highlights the legal gray zone created by the 2015 Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act and the U.S.–led Artemis Accords, which let companies own extracted resources while sidelining Russia and China. Finally, she flags space debris as a rare issue where all stakeholders share a clear, urgent interest.
Indian SpaceX Rival EtherealX Hits 5x Valuation as It Readies Engine Tests
EtherealX, an Indian launch‑vehicle startup, closed a $20.5 million Series A, lifting its valuation 5.5‑fold to $80.5 million. The company is preparing hot‑fire tests of its in‑house “Pegasus” upper‑stage and “Stallion” booster engines, targeting a technology‑demonstration flight in late 2027. Its fully reusable...
The 7 Top Space and Defense Tech Startups From Disrupt Startup Battlefield
TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield has shortlisted 200 space and defense innovators, highlighting seven standout companies ranging from electric vertical take‑off aircraft to AI‑driven edge solutions. Airbility showcases a fixed‑wing eVTOL with distributed fan‑jet propulsion, while Astrum Drive Aerospace offers a propellant‑less...
CEO of SpaceX Rival United Launch Alliance Resigns
United Launch Alliance chief executive Tory Bruno announced his resignation after a 12‑year tenure, citing a new opportunity. The board thanked him for his service as the company navigates a launch market increasingly dominated by SpaceX and an emerging Blue...
Rocket Lab Wins Another Defense-Related Space Contract
Rocket Lab has been awarded an $816 million contract by the U.S. Space Development Agency to design and build 18 defense‑focused satellites. The deal, the company’s largest ever, adds to an existing $515 million award for the SDA’s Transport Layer‑Beta Tranche 2 program....
TDK Ventures, Accel Set to Back India’s EtherealX in Reusable Launch Vehicle Push: Sources
EtherealX, an Indian startup developing a fully reusable medium‑lift launch vehicle, is close to closing a $21 million funding round led by TDK Ventures with participation from Accel and BIG Capital. The round, up from an initial $15 million target, follows a...
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as Next Head of NASA
U.S. Senate confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the next NASA administrator, finalizing a nomination that President Trump withdrew and later reinstated. Isaacman, founder of Shift4 Payments and a private astronaut, steps into leadership as the agency pivots toward a...
India’s Digantara Raises $50M for Space-Based Missile Defense Tech
Digantara, an Indian space‑surveillance startup, secured a $50 million Series B round to broaden its portfolio from debris tracking to missile detection. The funding, led by new investors 360 ONE Asset and SBI Investment of Japan, brings total capital to $64.5 million and will...
Overview Energy Wants to Beam Energy From Space to Existing Solar Farms
Overview Energy emerged from stealth with a plan to harvest sunlight in geosynchronous orbit and beam it to existing utility‑scale solar farms using infrared lasers. The startup has raised $20 million and already demonstrated a 5‑kilometre laser power‑transfer flight from an...
OSHA Investigating New Crane Accident at SpaceX’s Starbase Facility
A construction worker at SpaceX's Starbase was crushed by a 1,200‑pound crane support in November, prompting a rapid‑response OSHA investigation. The injured worker, Eduardo Cavazos, has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX and subcontractor CCC Group, alleging negligence and reckless crane...