Google Loon failed. This European startup found a better way 🎈
Inside: stratospheric balloons, this week's biggest space moves, and job openings!
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: new ESA astronaut, finding rounds in Europe & US and new Ariane 6 launch target?
💼 Top Space Jobs: discover the best jobs of the week!
🔍 Deep Dive: Involve Space, the startup pioneering stratospheric balloon technology.
Aerospace Weekly Roundup
Catch the latest European & global space industry highlights you can't afford to miss!
💵 Aiko raises €520K to expand AI space solutions
Aiko, a Turin-based spacetech scaleup, has raised €520K, increasing its Series A round to €4M. The funding will support growth in Europe and the US, focusing on satellite-based AI solutions. Aiko plans to expand in France and the US by 2025 and increase its workforce from 40 to 70 people over the next 2 years.
🚀 ESA clears astronaut with disability for ISS missions
John McFall, an ESA astronaut with a prosthetic leg, has been medically cleared for long-duration missions to the ISS. This marks the first time a person with a physical disability has been approved for such missions. After completing this training, McFall is now eligible for future flight assignments and might soon become the first parastronaut to go to space.
🛰️ Eutelsat shifts GEO strategy amid Starlink competition
Eutelsat is repurposing its Konnect VHTS satellite to serve mobility customers, moving away from consumer broadband due to competition from Starlink's LEO network. The satellite will now focus on providing connectivity for boats and planes, adapting to the changing market dynamics. This shift highlights the growing pressure traditional satellite operators face as SpaceX 😬 new technologies reshape the industry.
🚀 Arianespace aims for five Ariane 6 launches in 2025
Arianespace is planning five Ariane 6 launches this year… primarily in the second half of 2025. The first mission, carrying the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite, is set for February 26. This marks the start of Ariane 6's commercial operations, with Arianespace aiming for up to 10 launches annually in the future. The company is focused on ramping up its launch cadence despite previous delays. What do you think?
🇪🇸 PLD Space reaches 300 employees, prepares for MIURA 5 launch
PLD Space has expanded to over 300 employees as it gears up for the MIURA 5 launch and future projects like MIURA Next. The company is focused on hiring top talent ahead of their first orbital launch attempt. They are hiring.
💰 K2 Space secures $110M in Series B funding
K2 Space has secured $110 million in Series B funding to ramp up production of its powerful, multi-orbit satellites. With total funding now at $180 million, the company aims to lower costs and increase capabilities, positioning itself as a leader in the satellite industry. While the US sees frequent large funding rounds like K2 Space's, European space startups don’t. Yet another reminder of the gap in investment culture between the regions.
Space Jobs Spotlight 🔍
Curated roles to accelerate your career in Europe’s thriving space sector.
🚀 Internships & Graduates
Office Administration Intern — Involve Space
System Engineering Intern — Infinite Orbits
💼 Space Jobs
Sales Engineer — Yuri
Electronics Engineer — AAC Clyde Space
Launch Operations Technician — Involve Space
Propulsion Design Engineer — Arkadia Space
Project Manager — Arkadia Space
Program Manager — Destinus
Remote Sensing Specialist — Involve Space
Machine Learning Engineer — Aiko
Launch Systems Software Engineer — Latitude
Software Team Lead — Ramon Space
🎓 PhD Opportunities
Three TOP PhDs at TUM — Apply here
PhD on Modelling and Control (ESA & Thales) — Apply here
PhD on astrodynamics at Imperial College — Apply here
Postdoc Opportunity at TUM — Apply here
🔥 Special Opportunities
Robotics Workshop — ESA Academy
Cybersecurity Training Course — ESA Academy
Do you like these jobs or think something is missing? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know!
Involve Space: pioneering the next generation of stratospheric platforms
In my recent podcast conversation with Claudio Piazzai, co-founder and COO of Involve Space, I gained fascinating insights into a company that's pushing the boundaries of stratospheric technology. Following the path blazed by projects like Google Loon, Involve Space is developing sophisticated high-altitude platform solutions that operate in the stratosphere: the layer of atmosphere between 11 and 50km above Earth's surface.
The company's technology addresses a crucial gap in our current aerospace capabilities. While satellites operate at very high altitudes (the lowest orbiting satellite, Tsubame, orbited at 167.4km) and aircraft fly relatively close to the ground, the stratosphere remains largely untapped. Involve Space's platforms can maintain position in this zone, offering unique advantages for Earth observation, telecommunications, and scientific research.
What sets their approach apart is their focus on developing reusable stratospheric platforms that can be deployed for extended periods. This technology has wide-ranging applications, from providing emergency communications during natural disasters to enabling environmental monitoring and scientific research. The potential impact is particularly significant for remote areas where traditional infrastructure is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
However, their journey hasn't been easy. Some of the main challenges they're tackling include:
Complex regulations that vary by country and region (Europe vs. US… 🤦♂️)
Technical challenges of keeping balloons stable in the stratosphere
Building reliable systems that can operate in extreme conditions
Managing a fast-growing team while maintaining company culture
Balancing innovation with practical market needs
Despite these challenges, the market potential is significant. As Claudio explained, there's growing interest from both commercial and government sectors in using stratospheric balloons for various applications.
Involve Space successfully secured €2.5M seed funding (not bad for a European company!) and continues to advance their technology, demonstrating the growing confidence in stratospheric platforms (also known as High Altitude Platforms, or HAPS) as a viable solution for various commercial and scientific applications.
Looking ahead, the company is positioned at the forefront of a growing industry. As demand increases for more flexible and cost-effective alternatives to traditional satellites, stratospheric platforms could become a crucial part of our global telecommunications and observation infrastructure.
Want to learn more about Involve Space and hear Claudio's insights on entrepreneurship in deep tech?
🎙️ Check out the full episode!
Watch it on Youtube:
Listen to it on Spotify: Building a Space Startup | Claudio Piazzai
He shares some great stories about building the company and his views on the future of stratospheric technology.
Thanks for reading Aerospace Insider.
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See you next week.
Jaime