Europe’s Space MVPs You Need to Know in 2025
2025 starts off strong with new funding round, software errors, unexpected deals and new job opportunities you shouldn't miss
Welcome to Aerospace Insider 🚀
In this week’s issue, we’re diving into the latest and greatest from Europe’s booming space sector. Big things are happening!
Today’s summary:
🚀 Aerospace News: A strong week to start off 2025… don’t miss it.
💼 Top Space Jobs: Europe’s space industry never stops hiring!
🔍 Deep Dive: Meet the MVPs for this 2025
Aerospace Weekly Roundup
Catch the latest European space industry highlights you can't afford to miss!
💰 Kurs Orbital secures €1.1M for in-orbit docking module
Turin-based Kurs Orbital secured a €1.1M soft loan to advance its ARCap system, a module for in-orbit rendezvous and docking. Founded in 2021 by former Ukrainian space agency director Volodymyr Usov, the company relocated to Italy after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The funding will support applications like satellite servicing, life extension, and debris removal.
📡 Italy plans $1.6B SpaceX telecom security deal
Italy is in advanced talks with SpaceX for a $1.6 billion deal to provide secure telecommunications for its government. The five-year project, the largest of its kind in Europe, has been approved by Italy’s Intelligence Services and Defense Ministry. Final agreement details are still under discussion. What about IRIS²… you may ask? 😬
🛰 Eutelsat fixes OneWeb leap year software issue after two-day outage
Eutelsat has fixed a software issue that caused a two-day outage in its OneWeb LEO broadband network. The problem was due to not accounting for 2024 being a leap year. Services were partly restored 36 hours after the outage started. Eutelsat plans to investigate to make sure it doesn’t happen again and aims to offer full OneWeb services this spring, using both LEO and geostationary satellites to compete with Starlink.
☄️ Space debris crashes in Kenyan village, possibly leftover rocket hardware
A large metallic ring, likely space debris, crashed into Mukuku village, Kenya. The Kenya Space Agency is investigating, but there’s an ongoing investigation that indicate it could be from a rocket, although some experts argue this hypothesis. The investigation is ongoing.
🚀 China launches satellite to test on-orbit refuelling
China successfully launched the Shijian-25 satellite using a Long March 3B rocket. The satellite is developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and is designed to test technologies for satellite refuelling and life extension. The mission highlights China's space ambitions and focus on enhancing satellite lifetime.
Space Jobs Spotlight 🔍
Curated roles to accelerate your career in Europe’s thriving space sector.
🚀 Internships & Graduates
Finance Intern — ClearSpace (London 🇬🇧)
Mechanical Engineering Intern — Exotrail (Toulouse 🇫🇷)
💼 Space Jobs (ranked by experience)
Electric Propulsion Engineer — D-Orbit (Lomazzo 🇮🇹)
Materials Engineer — PLD Space (Elche 🇪🇸)
Cybersecurity Engineer — VisionSpace (Figueira da Foz 🇵🇹)
Propulsion Integration Engineer — PLD Space (Elche 🇪🇸)
Mechanical Design Engineer — D-Orbit (Didcot 🇬🇧)
Product Assurance Engineer — Vyoma (Munich 🇩🇪)
Senior Systems Engineer — Exotrail (Massy 🇫🇷)
Program Manager — ClearSpace (London 🇬🇧)
Head of Software Engineering — ReOrbit (Helsinki 🇫🇮)
🧑🎓 PhD Opportunities
Multiple positions open: orbital dynamics, GNC, etc. Check them out.
Postdoctoral research on PNT anyone? Apply here.
🔥 Special Opportunities
Apply to become a Prospero Space Fellow (deadline January 31st!)
Like these jobs or think something is missing? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know!
Europe’s Space MVPs You Need to Know in 2025
Let’s start 2025 with a slightly different deep dive. Why not?
Here’s my top European newspace startups in 2025. I have to say that this was a tough list to make because there are a lot quite a few startups I love. This is my list, in no particular order:
ClearSpace
Category: Space Debris Removal
Why They’re MVPs: ClearSpace’s mission to tackle the debris problem is now becoming increasingly relevant. They have won ESA contracts and their first active debris removal mission, ClearSpace-1, is set to launch in the near future, although the exact timeline remains flexible.
What to Watch in 2025: Progress towards launching their maiden mission and demonstrating the commercial viability of space cleanup operations.
D-Orbit
Category: Space Logistics
Why They’re MVPs: D-Orbit is leading the field of space logistics with its in-orbit satellite deployment and servicing capabilities. In 2024 they raised over $160M, one of the largest funding rounds for a European space company in quite some time. Their ION satellite carrier has been successfully deploying multiple satellites per mission, increasing efficiency for satellite operators.
What to Watch in 2025: In 2024 they raised over $160M so expect to see that moeny being put to good use in 2025. It will be interesting to see how their newly established D-Orbit USA progresses.
Leaf Space
Category: Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) → This might be a new one for some of you.
Why They’re MVPs: Leaf Space operates a worldwide network of ground stations. Instead of companies building their own ground stations, they can use Leaf Space's automated network to communicate with their satellites and download data. Their automated platform makes satellite communications as simple as using a cloud service (aka, reduces entry barriers for small space companies).
What to Watch in 2025: Strategic expansion of their ground station network, ability to handle more satellite traffic, and new partnerships with satellite operators as the industry continues to grow.
PLD Space
Category: Small Launch Vehicles
Why They’re MVPs: PLD Space is one of the contenders to lead Europe’s launch sector with its reusable Miura 1 and Miura 5 rockets, as well as the MIURA NEXT family of rockets. They are not lacking ambition at all and this it’s exactly what Europe is missing. Let’s go Miura!
What to Watch in 2025: The first orbital flight of Miura 5 might not happen this year but expect some good progress here. The race is heating up with Isar Aerospace and RFA also eyeing a potential maiden launch soon. Who will get there first?
OneWeb
Category: Satellite Megaconstellations
Why They’re MVPs: Okay, OneWeb (technically Eutelsat OneWeb now) isn’t exactly a startup anymore, but with its plans for global broadband and its European operations, it is undoubtedly a major player in Europe. Their satellite constellation is currently the largest broadband constellation after Starlink and the only one able to provide near-global coverage soon….
What to Watch in 2025: Hopefully expansion of their network and increased coverage in underserved areas, officially starting full commercial services allowing them to truly compete against SpaceX’s Starlink.
Disclaimer
If I could, I would have included approximately 182 companies but this would have made the email a bit too long, perhaps 🤔 Maybe next time.
These are some of the companies I believe have an interesting year ahead in terms of launches, company milestones and potential growth. Of course, there are many, many, many other startups which will do great this year. I’ll do my best to cover them throughout the year and in our 2025 wrapped… But we will have to wait 12 months for that.
2025 here we go!
In other news
Great 2024 summary by Payload. Read it here.
On the importance of sharing spectrum. Read more.
Sierra Space CEO departs. Read it here.
Thanks for reading Aerospace Insider.
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To your success,
Jaime