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Monday, August 11, 2025

SmallSat 2025: Umbra’s announcement, Booz Allen Ventures ramps up and Europe’s smallsat opportunities

Plus: All the news from Day 1
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08/11/2025

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SpaceNews journalists are reporting from SmallSat 2025, held for the first time in Salt Lake City, Utah. We'll be bringing conference highlights to your inbox. For full coverage, go to spacenews.com/small-satellite-2025.



In illustration of Intuitive Machines' planned constellation of lunar communications satellites. Credit: Intuitive Machines

An illustration of Intuitive Machines' planned constellation of lunar communications satellites. Credit: Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines to build its own lunar communications satellites

By Jeff Foust

Intuitive Machines has decided to bring in-house the production of satellites for a cislunar communications system, giving the company more control over schedule and the ability to pursue other satellite opportunities.


In an Aug. 7 earnings call, Intuitive Machines said it will produce the five satellites for a constellation that will provide communications services around the moon. The company previously said it would acquire the satellites from York Space Systems.


Edgx raises seed funding to bring AI-powered computing to smallsats

Belgian startup Edgx has raised seed funding to develop Sterna, an artificial intelligence computer designed to run complex algorithms aboard satellites to speed up decisions and use limited bandwidth more efficiently.


Ascending Node offers constellation-design tool

Ascending Node Technologies has added a constellation-design tool to its Spaceline mission-planning software. Spaceline's constellation tool can accommodate customers sending satellites into multiple orbits around Earth or other planets.


For Europe's small satellite builders, new opportunities but also new problems

European governments are planning to sharply increase their defense budgets in the next several years as part of a pledge made by NATO members at a June summit meeting to go from spending at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense to 5% by 2035. That increase will likely include investments in new satellite systems.

Booz Allen Ventures hungry for more space investments

Booz Allen Hamilton's venture capital arm is seeking to ramp up space investments after tripling its funding pool to $300 million. Booz Allen Ventures announced its expanded venture capital commitment July 21, after deploying nearly all of its initial $100 million since its launch in July 2022.


Anywaves pursues multinational strategy with Anywaves US

French satellite antenna manufacturer Anywaves is continuing to expand internationally with Anywaves US, led by general manager Nicolas Hine. Hine, the former Mangata Networks vice president of global strategy who joined Anywaves in June, is evaluating potential sites for Anywaves US offices and, eventually, manufacturing facilities.


Umbra expands into satellite hardware sales with new Space Systems unit

Umbra, a California-based developer of high-resolution synthetic aperture radar satellites, is moving into the satellite components market with the launch of a new business unit, Space Systems. The company is formally unveiling the venture Aug. 11 during the Small Satellite Conference.


SEOPS to offer customers satellite ID and tracking services

Smallsat launch services provider SEOPS announced plans Aug. 11 to offer customers on-orbit spacecraft identification and tracking services. Two months of satellite identification, tracking and collision-avoidance services will be provided free of charge by SEOPS partner India-based space situational awareness specialist Digantara.


First DiskSats to take flight in 2025

The Aerospace Corp. is preparing to send the first DiskSats to orbit later this year to demonstrate the performance and maneuverability of the small satellites. The four DiskSats were expected to travel to orbit in 2026 though the Space Force Space Test Program, but are now set to launch by the end of 2025.


Astranis brings Anuvu satellites online, marking debut of private GEO network

Two small broadband satellites for Anuvu are ready for service after reaching geostationary orbit, their manufacturer Astranis said Aug. 7. The announcement follows a December launch that included four spacecraft.


Muon Space to support global Bluetooth constellation with its largest satellite yet

Space-based Bluetooth connectivity startup Hubble Network has become the anchor customer for Muon Space's MuSat XL satellite platform, the smallsat maker's largest yet at 500 kilograms. Hubble ordered two MuSat XL satellites that are slated to launch in 2027.


SmallSat heads to Salt Lake City as audience expands

More than 4,000 people from 45 countries have signed up to attend the Small Satellite Conference at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City Aug. 10-13. After 38 years in Logan, Utah, SmallSat moved to Salt Lake City because the convention center and surrounding hotels can accommodate thousands of exhibitors and participants.

Sir Martin Sweeting and the rise of the small satellite industry

In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited and a professor at the Surrey Space Institute of the University of Surrey, about the growth of the small satellite industry from its first meeting in 1987 of just a few dozen participants to today's 4,000+ attendees and preview the key issues the community will address at this year's conference.

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