What are the latest funding news in the space economy? (April 2026)
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The first quarter of 2026 has been a busy one for space economy fundraising, with over $1.7 billion raised across 12 verified deals between January and March.
Capital is flowing not just into rockets and satellites, but into the infrastructure layers that make large constellations actually work: orbital compute, in-space power, ground stations and communications orchestration.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the space economy.
Insights
- Two of the 12 deals produced disclosed unicorn valuations (Starcloud at $1.1B, Aalyria at $1.3B), suggesting that space infrastructure companies can now reach billion-dollar milestones at the Series A and B stages.
- CesiumAstro's $470M raise was the largest single package in Q1, and nearly all of it targets US manufacturing expansion, reflecting the growing pull of defense-adjacent demand on satcom hardware budgets.
- Thermal Earth observation is emerging as its own investment category: constellr and Hydrosat both raised dedicated rounds for thermal infrared data, a niche that barely existed as a standalone vertical three years ago.
- Stoke Space extended its Series D to $860M without disclosing extension investors, a sign that late-stage launch companies can quietly add hundreds of millions once the core round establishes credibility.
- Ground segment infrastructure attracted $100M for Northwood Space alone, confirming that investor attention is shifting from what flies in orbit to what connects it on the ground.
- India-based Bellatrix Aerospace raised $20M for satellite propulsion, one of the few non-US or non-European deals in the quarter, highlighting the still-narrow geographic spread of space economy venture capital.
- Mantis Space raised $10M+ at the seed stage for orbital power beaming, a technology category so early that most investors have not yet developed a thesis around in-space energy infrastructure.
- Seven of the 12 companies are growth-stage businesses scaling production or deployment, which suggests the space economy is moving past the era of pure R&D bets into capital-intensive industrialization.
- Only two valuations were disclosed out of 12 deals, keeping the space economy one of the more opaque venture markets when it comes to pricing transparency.
In our space economy deck, we have collected signals proving this market is hot right now
Summary table of the latest funding deals in the space economy as of April 2026
We define the space economy as the set of activities that design, build, launch and operate space infrastructure and sell services directly based on space data, signals or connectivity.
We include manufacturers, launch providers, satellite and constellation operators, ground-segment and mission-operations providers, and companies whose primary products are satellite communications, Earth observation or navigation services.
We exclude generic consumer devices, broad media and telecom platforms, and downstream industries where space technology is only one of many inputs (such as ride-hailing, logistics or finance that merely rely on satellite navigation or timing).
You can also read our detailed analysis to understand how funding activity in the space economy has evolved over the last few years.
We also have a quarter-by-quarter analysis of funding activity in the market here.
Finally, you can check our complete list of fundraising deals for the space economy (we update this list every quarter) as well as our ranking of the most funded startups.
| Name | When | Amount in $ | Round Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrosat | January 15, 2026 | $60M | Series B | Earth Observation & Thermal Intelligence |
| Samara Aerospace | January 20, 2026 | $10M | Seed | Satellite Buses & Spacecraft Manufacturing |
| D-Orbit | January 23, 2026 | $53M | Series D (first tranche) | Space Logistics & In-Space Servicing |
| Northwood Space | January 27, 2026 | $100M | Series B | Ground Segment & Mission Operations |
| CesiumAstro | February 2, 2026 | $470M | Series C + Financing | Satcom Hardware & Payloads |
| Tomorrow.io | February 3, 2026 | $175M | Equity financing | Weather Satellites & Atmospheric Earth Observation |
| constellr | February 10, 2026 | ~$40M (EUR 37M) | Series A | Earth Observation & Thermal Data |
| Stoke Space | February 10, 2026 | $350M (extension) | Series D extension | Launch |
| Aalyria | February 23, 2026 | $100M | Series B | Satcom Orchestration & Optical Networking |
| Mantis Space | March 12, 2026 | $10M+ | Seed | Orbital Power Infrastructure |
| Bellatrix Aerospace | March 27, 2026 | $20M | Pre-Series B | In-Space Propulsion & Mobility |
| Starcloud | March 30, 2026 | $170M | Series A | In-Space Compute & Orbital Infrastructure |
All the latest funding deals during in the space economy as of April 2026
Starcloud raised $170M in March 2026 to build data centers in orbit
When was it?
Starcloud announced the deal on March 30, 2026.
Who are they?
Starcloud is building orbital data centers that run high-performance compute workloads on satellites rather than on the ground.
Geographical focus?
Starcloud is a US-based company targeting global demand for compute infrastructure.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Starcloud qualifies as a space infrastructure operator because its core product is spacecraft-based computing, making it a pure-play in-space compute company.
What is the company stage?
Starcloud is at an early growth stage, having already launched its first satellite (Starcloud-1) in November 2025 but still scaling toward a larger commercial platform.
How much did they raise?
Starcloud raised $170M in this round, with a disclosed post-money valuation of $1.1B.
What round is it?
This was a Series A round.
Why did they raise?
Starcloud raised to transition from an orbital demonstration to a full-scale orbital data-center spacecraft, which requires significant capital for hardware and launch.
Bellatrix Aerospace closed a $20M round in March 2026 for satellite propulsion
When was it?
Bellatrix Aerospace announced the deal on March 27, 2026.
Who are they?
Bellatrix Aerospace builds in-space propulsion systems that help satellites maneuver, station-keep and change orbits once deployed.
Geographical focus?
Bellatrix Aerospace is headquartered in India with growing reach into US and international markets.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Bellatrix Aerospace is a pure-play space hardware company in the in-space propulsion and mobility category.
What is the company stage?
Bellatrix Aerospace is at the growth stage, with flight-qualified technology and a focus on manufacturing scale-up.
How much did they raise?
Bellatrix Aerospace raised $20M in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Pre-Series B round.
Why did they raise?
Bellatrix Aerospace raised to expand production capacity and strengthen its global supply chain to meet rising demand for satellite propulsion systems.
In our space economy deck, we help you understand how the market is structured
Mantis Space emerged from stealth with a $10M+ seed round in March 2026
When was it?
Mantis Space announced the deal on March 12, 2026.
Who are they?
Mantis Space is building orbital power-beaming infrastructure so satellites can receive power during eclipse instead of relying solely on onboard batteries.
Geographical focus?
Mantis Space is a US-based company centered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Mantis Space fits the space economy as an in-orbit power infrastructure provider, building a space-based operational layer for other spacecraft.
What is the company stage?
Mantis Space is at the MVP and early development stage, just out of stealth and working on a prototype payload.
How much did they raise?
Mantis Space raised more than $10M in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Seed round.
Why did they raise?
Mantis Space raised to finish its prototype, hire its team and turn a novel orbital power-beaming concept into real infrastructure before the market gets crowded.
Aalyria raised $100M in February 2026 for space network orchestration
When was it?
Aalyria announced the deal on February 23, 2026.
Who are they?
Aalyria sells space-network orchestration software and optical communications technology that help satellites, aircraft, ships and ground nodes move data more efficiently.
Geographical focus?
Aalyria has no narrow regional focus, selling into both US and international commercial and defense markets.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Aalyria fits the space economy as a satcom and network orchestration provider, building communications infrastructure for space and ground networks.
What is the company stage?
Aalyria is at the growth stage, already valued at over $1B with deployed products and major customers.
How much did they raise?
Aalyria raised $100M in this round, at a disclosed valuation of $1.3B.
What round is it?
This was a Series B round.
Why did they raise?
Aalyria raised to push its Spacetime orchestration platform and Tightbeam optical links into broader deployment as next-generation satellite networks get denser.
In our space economy deck, we identify repeatable patterns you can use if you’re building in this market
Stoke Space extended its Series D by $350M in February 2026 for its reusable rocket
When was it?
Stoke Space announced the extension on February 10, 2026.
Who are they?
Stoke Space is developing Nova, a fully reusable medium-lift rocket designed to significantly reduce launch costs.
Geographical focus?
Stoke Space has a strong US focus, with operations in Washington state and launch infrastructure work in Florida.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Stoke Space is a textbook launch provider, one of the core categories in the space economy.
What is the company stage?
Stoke Space is at a late development and pre-commercial stage, still working toward its first launch but already scaling manufacturing.
How much did they raise?
Stoke Space added $350M in this extension, bringing the broader Series D to $860M.
What round is it?
This was a Series D extension.
Why did they raise?
Stoke Space raised to finish launch-site activation, expand production and accelerate the Nova rocket roadmap before first commercial flights.
constellr closed a EUR 37M Series A in February 2026 for thermal Earth observation
When was it?
constellr announced the deal on February 10, 2026.
Who are they?
constellr operates a thermal Earth-observation constellation that measures land-surface temperature for agriculture, infrastructure, climate and defense applications.
Geographical focus?
constellr has a clear European focus, with increasing emphasis on sovereign European defense and government demand.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
constellr is a pure-play Earth observation and thermal satellite data services provider, with satellite-derived intelligence as its core business.
What is the company stage?
constellr is at the product-market-fit to growth stage, with satellites already in orbit and funding directed toward a more capable next-generation system.
How much did they raise?
constellr raised EUR 37M (approximately $40M) in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Series A round.
Why did they raise?
constellr raised to upgrade from its current thermal imagery product into a defense-grade sovereign ISR capability with better resolution and broader customer reach.
In our space economy deck, we identify pain points entrepreneurs should prioritize
Tomorrow.io secured $175M in February 2026 for its AI weather satellite constellation
When was it?
Tomorrow.io announced the deal on February 3, 2026.
Who are they?
Tomorrow.io builds and operates weather satellites and sells an AI-driven weather intelligence platform to enterprises and governments.
Geographical focus?
Tomorrow.io is aiming for global coverage with its satellite constellation and customer base.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Tomorrow.io is a satellite constellation operator and atmospheric Earth-observation service provider, with weather data from space at the center of its product.
What is the company stage?
Tomorrow.io is at the growth stage, with 13 satellites already deployed and financing underway for the next-generation DeepSky constellation.
How much did they raise?
Tomorrow.io raised $175M in this round.
What round is it?
Tomorrow.io described it as equity financing, without a labeled series round.
Why did they raise?
Tomorrow.io raised to move from its first deployed constellation to DeepSky, which will deliver faster revisit rates, more sensing modes and broader commercial coverage.
CesiumAstro closed $470M in February 2026 for satcom hardware manufacturing
When was it?
CesiumAstro announced the deal on February 2, 2026.
Who are they?
CesiumAstro manufactures satellite communications hardware, phased-array payloads, terminals and software-defined systems for space and defense networks.
Geographical focus?
CesiumAstro's manufacturing push is heavily US-focused, though its customer base extends internationally.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
CesiumAstro is a pure-play satcom infrastructure manufacturer, supplying hardware directly into space and ground communications networks.
What is the company stage?
CesiumAstro is at the growth stage, expanding facilities and manufacturing capacity for large-scale deployment.
How much did they raise?
CesiumAstro secured $470M in total growth capital, consisting of $270M in equity plus a $200M financing package.
What round is it?
The equity portion was a Series C, with the full package also including debt and structured financing from EXIM and J.P. Morgan.
Why did they raise?
CesiumAstro raised to expand manufacturing, build new facilities and scale fast enough to win more defense and commercial satcom programs.
In our space economy deck, we will give you useful market maps and grids
Northwood Space raised $100M in January 2026 for ground infrastructure
When was it?
Northwood Space announced the deal on January 27, 2026.
Who are they?
Northwood Space builds end-to-end ground infrastructure, especially phased-array systems and networked ground stations that help satellites communicate with Earth.
Geographical focus?
Northwood Space is mostly US-focused today, driven by commercial constellation and US government demand.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Northwood Space is a core ground segment and mission operations infrastructure provider, directly inside the space economy definition.
What is the company stage?
Northwood Space is at the growth stage, having completed a rapid Series B after a recent Series A, alongside a large Space Force contract.
How much did they raise?
Northwood Space raised $100M in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Series B round.
Why did they raise?
Northwood Space raised to build more ground capacity before customer demand outruns its production and deployment pace.
D-Orbit secured $53M in January 2026 for space logistics and in-space computing
When was it?
D-Orbit announced the deal on January 23, 2026.
Who are they?
D-Orbit provides space logistics, orbital transportation and in-space computing and servicing infrastructure through spacecraft like its ION vehicles.
Geographical focus?
D-Orbit is headquartered in Italy but operates internationally across government, defense and commercial markets.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
D-Orbit is firmly in the space logistics, in-space servicing and orbital transportation category, all core space infrastructure activities.
What is the company stage?
D-Orbit is a growth-stage and relatively mature private company with operational systems, a global footprint and active acquisition activity.
How much did they raise?
D-Orbit raised $53M in fresh capital, with an additional $75M earmarked for secondary share purchases.
What round is it?
This was the first tranche of a Series D round.
Why did they raise?
D-Orbit raised to fund acquisitions, expand production and push harder into in-space computing and in-space servicing, where the market is opening up quickly.
In our space economy deck, we answer all the common questions from investors and entrepreneurs
Samara Aerospace raised $10M in January 2026 for its spacecraft bus platform
When was it?
Samara Aerospace announced the deal on January 20, 2026.
Who are they?
Samara Aerospace is building the Hummingbird spacecraft bus, a compact satellite platform designed to deliver more stability, power and agility for space missions.
Geographical focus?
Samara Aerospace is a US startup with no narrow regional customer focus disclosed at this stage.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Samara Aerospace is a pure-play satellite manufacturer and spacecraft-bus company, directly in scope for the space economy.
What is the company stage?
Samara Aerospace is at the MVP and early commercial stage, having demonstrated fast hardware execution but still early in scaling production.
How much did they raise?
Samara Aerospace raised $10M in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Seed round.
Why did they raise?
Samara Aerospace raised to move from rapid prototype execution into real manufacturing capacity for delivering more spacecraft on shorter timelines.
Hydrosat raised $60M in January 2026 for thermal satellite data expansion
When was it?
Hydrosat announced the deal on January 15, 2026.
Who are they?
Hydrosat sells thermal infrared satellite data and AI analytics for water, agriculture, climate and government applications.
Geographical focus?
Hydrosat is headquartered in Washington, DC and Luxembourg, selling globally across multiple verticals.
Why do we include them in the space economy?
Hydrosat is a direct Earth-observation data and analytics provider, with satellite-derived thermal intelligence as its core product.
What is the company stage?
Hydrosat is at the growth stage, with an established product, global customer base and capital directed toward international expansion.
How much did they raise?
Hydrosat raised $60M in this round.
What round is it?
This was a Series B round.
Why did they raise?
Hydrosat raised because demand for thermal intelligence is broadening beyond agriculture into civil government and defense, and the company needs capital to scale globally.
Related blog posts
- What is new in the space economy right now?
- The latest news shaping the space economy
- How large is the space economy today?
- The evolution of funding activity in the space economy
- The main fundraising trends in the space economy
- A full list of funding deals in the space economy
- The startups that have raised the most funding in the space economy
