Clifford Chance M&A lawyer #spaceindustry #lunar @SGAC | @iafastro | Moon Village Assn
Joined December 2015
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David LX Ho retweeted
Good insight into the discussions within UN COPUOS on developing principels for space resources opiniojuris.org/2026/09/25/s…
All serious space infra players (companies, states, academia, NGOs alike) will need and have a lunar focus
We have established a Lunar Programs division.
By leveraging our commercial space station and satellite development capabilities, we are creating a scalable path toward lunar infrastructure to advance NASA’s vision for a permanent Moon Base. vast.news/4d1qWL9
Underlines Rocket Lab’s aspirations to become end-to-end in the space industry
The company has grown from smallsat launch to satellite manufacturer and component supplier
Now it acquires an operating legacy LEO constellation with customers and recurring revenue
Rocket Lab is acquiring Iridium Communications Inc – one of the most transformative deals in the space industry.
By combining our launch capability and satellite manufacturing with @IridiumComm’s global satellite communications network and rare spectrum, Rocket Lab becomes a fully integrated, self-launching, tier-1 space power, delivering critical communications capability to millions of users worldwide.
Full details and important information: bit.ly/4eyKLL4
Mitsubishi Electric buys 100% of Infostellar
This gives founders and any early investors an exit, continuing the recent trend of newspace companies going for trade sale exits rather than IPO
businesswire.com/news/home/2…
Voyager is now making a hedged bet - with exposure to both the commercial space station sector (not to be written off... yet) and the lunar ecosystem (dominating headlines in recent weeks)
One could consider this a transformative M&A, but Voyager now needs to focus on delivery
Intuitive Machines continues its M&A spree. Acquisitions of KinetX, Lanteris, and now Goonhilly, allows IM to manufacture spacecraft, connect space-to-ground networks and operate across multiple domains
SEC filings indicate English law SPA, use of W&I insurance but no break fee
Based on disclosed deal docs:
- consideration mainly Amazon stock, 40% cash cap
- conditions: antitrust and foreign investment approvals, satellite milestones
- closing expected mid 2027
- break fees apply (Globalstar 420m, Amazon 592m)
- no shop
Amazon agrees $11.6bn takeover of satellite group Globalstar ft.trib.al/7OZwheu
Firefly partners with Nvidia to place AI processing into lunar orbit. Promising development
Real-time intelligence from the Moon! Our Ocula lunar imaging service will leverage @nvidia's Jetson module and Firefly's AI software to enable on-orbit processing in lunar orbit and transmit more timely, actionable insights to customers. The high-res telescopes that power Ocula were delivered to our spacecraft facility and fit checked on our Elytra orbital spacecraft. Learn more here: fireflyspace.com/news/firefl…
Stargaze by SpaceX being free for all operators presents a challenge for nascent commercial SSA providers. Granted, its capabilities may be largely in LEO, but that is probably the most congested zone where the need for SSA is most pressing?
SpaceX has developed a novel Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system, called Stargaze → starlink.com/stargaze
To maximize safety for all satellites in space, @SpaceX will be making Stargaze conjunction data available to all operators, free of charge. By providing this ephemeris sharing and conjunction screening service free of charge, we hope to motivate operators to take similar steps towards ephemeris sharing and safe flight.
D-Orbit raised a US$53m series D round and one of the key “use of proceeds” is M&A
Expect space M&A will pick up across the sector, as existing players try to bulk up in capacity, capabilities and markets
news.satnews.com/2026/01/22/…
Gilmour raised a US$145m Series E round, co-led by existing investors National Reconstruction Fund and Hostplus, and other new investors
This fund raise makes it Australia’s first space unicorn and allows it more attempts to build a successful rocket afr.com/technology/gilmour-s…
In one of the largest private space fundraises in Japan, Interstellar Technologies raised a Series F round ~129.7m USD and secured ~34.2m USD debt financing
Company establishes itself as Japan’s leading space transportation company
istellartech.com/en_news/110…
UNOOSA just published online a GA resolution adopted 5 Dec 2025
Titled “intl cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, it reads as being routine and standard
However, for unknown reasons, the USA voted against? 171 other countries approved…
unoosa.org/oosa/en/oosadoc/d…
IM closes deal to acquire Lanteris (formerly known as Maxar)
Highlights:
- Seller is PE firm Advent International, making a swift exit from its 2023 purchase of Maxar
- deal transforms IM from a lunar logistics company into a space prime, capable of US gov defence contracts
Intuitive Machines has completed the acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems. 🌌
Together, our strengths turn Intuitive Machines into a multi-domain space prime for commercial, civil, and national security space initiatives. We are able to build, connect, and operate end-to-end mission-critical systems across LEO, MEO, GEO, and cislunar space. Learn more: intuitivemachines.com/post/i…
#SpaceTech #Aerospace #IntuitiveMachines
David LX Ho retweeted
This is the space section of a comprehensive analysis of China's industrial policy. China is good at seeing what works, copying it, and doing it more cheaply. China is copying SpaceX and Blue.
They are NOT copying SLS or anything produced by the Primes.
uscc.gov/sites/default/files…
In yet another space M&A:
Firefly signs deal to acquire SciTec, a national security technologies supplier, for $855m ($300m in cash and $555m in Firefly shares)
fireflyspace.com/news/firefl…
recent Space M&A news:
Intuitive Machines completes its acquisition of KinetX, which is a certified deep space navigation provider
kinetx.com/news/2025/10/1/in…
Hungarian company 4iG SDT signs an MOU to explore a US$100m equity investment in Axiom Space
4ig.hu/4ig-space-and-defence…
recent Space M&A news:
Intuitive Machines completes its acquisition of KinetX, which is a certified deep space navigation provider
kinetx.com/news/2025/10/1/in…
Hungarian company 4iG SDT signs an MOU to explore a US$100m equity investment in Axiom Space
4ig.hu/4ig-space-and-defence…
Electric propulsion is slowly becoming the default architecture option, overtaking chemical propulsion (which will still have a role but more targeted and limited) spaceinsider.tech/2025/08/29…
China’s Moon mission made progress this week as a prototype of the 揽月Lanyue crewed lander was successfully tested
It tested the spacecraft’s ability to land on and take off a celestial body
Testing occurred at Huailai, a lunar simulation facility
sc.mp/d17nb
Interlune will fly a payload on Astrolab's FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover on its upcoming mission to the Moon.
The Interlune payload is a multispectral camera built to estimate helium-3 quantities and concentration in Moon regolith.
prn.to/4ldGsVy