The Space Investor
Posts
🚀 Redwire Eyes Space Biotech

🚀 Redwire Eyes Space Biotech

November 05, 2021

The Space Scoop

Week Ending 11.05.2021

Happy Friday and a warm welcome to our new readers! We had another

action packed week, including further Project Kuiper developments, a space biotech acquisition, and an FCC filing barrage. Maxar, Trimble, Globalstar and Intelsat all released earnings, and we are slated for an even busier week next week from NewSpace companies, such as Virgin Galactic, Momentus, Redwire, Spire, Astra, BlackSky, Rocket Lab and more.

Market Max-Q 📈

Amazon To Launch Two Project Kuiper Satellites With ABL Space Systems

On Monday, $AMZN filed an experimental license application with the FCC "to launch, deploy, and operate" two prototype satellites for Project Kuiper. Project Kuiper is the company's low Earth orbit internet accessibility satellite constellation. Two prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, will be launched via ABL's new RS1 rocket from Cape Canaveral and is expected to take place by Q4'2022. The two prototypes will help Amazon test communication and network technology that will be used in revised satellite design, and "help validate launch operations and mission management procedures that will be used when deploying our full constellation. There is no substitute for on-orbit testing," said Rajeev Badyal, VP of Technology. Amazon noted they have been working closely with ABL for several months and "already completed two integration design reviews, including plans for a novel adapter design." Harry O'Hanley, CEO of ABL, stated "Amazon will play a central role in the next generation of space infrastructure, and we're proud to have been selected as their launch partner for these critical early flights."The above comes on the back of last weeks' news regarding an Amazon and Verizon ($VZ) partnership and ABL raising $200M.

Redwire Acquires Space Biotechnology Company

Redwire Space ($RDW) announced the acquisition of Techshot, Inc., a leader in biotechnology in microgravity, bioprinting, and on-orbit manufacturing for commercial space based research and development. This is the company’s first acquisition since going public on the NYSE on September 3rd. The amount of the transaction was undisclosed. Techshot was founded in 1988 and has developed over a dozen payloads, four of which currently are on the ISS. Techshot’s development pipeline includes a new payload for "3D printing metal and electronic components, and devices for manufacturing pharmaceuticals and large quantities of human cells for bioprinting and cell therapies." Current customers include Eli Lilly ($LLY), AstraZeneca ($AZN), UCLA, MIT, the Geneva Foundation, and other government and commercial entities. Combining the two companies "adds significant scale and synergy to our commercial space offerings,” said Peter Cannito, Chairman and CEO of Redwire.

SpaceFund Backs Rhea Space Activity

The VC fund announced an investment in the astrophysics startup on Wednesday, which focuses on autonomous space navigation through cislunar space and GPS-denied environments. The introduction of such autonomous navigation ability will help the NewSpace ecosystem travel deeper into our solar system. This is because spacecraft that travel beyond geostationary orbit (GEO) lose the ability to navigate using the Earth based GPS. “This new capability is vital for both national security and the future of the commercial sector as companies start to target destinations beyond Earth orbit,” said Meagan Crawford, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SpaceFund. Rhea hopes to establish their Lunar Intelligence (LUNINT) capability as soon as 2024.

Maxar Reports Q3'2021 Earnings

After the bell Wednesday, $MAXR reported mixed earnings with a stable top line and a beat on bottom line estimates. Total revenues were $437M, adj. EBITDA and adj. EBITDA margin of $113M and 25.9%. Diluted net income per share was $0.19. Earth Intelligence Q3 and YTD revenues were down -1% and -2%, driven primarily by decrease in revenue with the U.S. government. Space Infrastructure Q3 and YTD revenues were -1% and +9%, driven by reduction in revenue for U.S. government contracts, partially offset by an increase in volumes on commercial programs. Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure account for a 60-40 split of Maxar revenues. President and CEO Dan Jablonsky stated "We continued to make progress on our strategic growth plans, with solid bookings in both Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure generating a book-to-bill over two times." The company was also awarded a contract to build two new GEO satellites for $SIRI and appointed OneWeb's prior CFO, Thomas Whayne, to Chief Strategy Officer.Wall Street reacted positively to the news with the stock finishing Thursday +17.9%. RW Baird Analyst Peter Arment upgraded the stock from 'Neutral' to 'Outperform', but left unchanged the price target of $39/per share.

LEO Broadband Constellation Filing Day

Everyone is jumping into the broadband constellation race. On Thursday afternoon, numerous companies filed plans with the FCC to build their own low Earth orbit constellation. The reason? Midnight on Thursday was the deadline for the FCC's second V-band processing round per their August 4th public notice for applications and petitions for U.S. market access. V-band refers to frequencies between 40 and 75 gigahertz, and the FCC oversees how various radio frequencies may or may not be used in the US markets.The new and existing applicants and their total satellites requests include:• Astra ($ASTR) - 13,620• Telesat ($LORL) - 1,343 (of 1,671)• Hughes Network ($SATS) - 1,440• Inmarsat - 198• Mangata (WSE:$MGT) - 791• AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) - 243• Viasat ($VSAT) - 20 Boeing ($BA) was not apart of the list as they received near full approval on Wednesday "to construct, deploy, and operate a 147 satellite constellation for residential, commercial, institutional, governmental, and professional users in the United States and globally." Boeing's ka-band based interconnects were denied to prevent interference with other constellations, such as Starlink.

In Other News 🛰️

SatSure Raises Capital From Baring Private Equity

(IndiaTimes)

The startup utilizes satellite data to gather insights for the banking and insurance sectors. With the capital, SatSure plans to double employee headcount, grow SaaS customers, and gain presence outside Indian markets. Funding amount was not disclosed.

D-Orbit Signs Technical Agreement with Skyroot Aerospace

(Company)

The Italian and Indian company's preliminary contract sets the stage for a joint study on a pilot mission using Skyroot’s Vikram launch vehicle and D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier. ION is a space vehicle designed to host satellites and payloads, and provide transport across orbits. Vikram is a smallsat launch vehicle able to launch in less than 72 hours via mobile infrastructure.

Lockheed Martin and Verizon To Advance 5G Innovation for DoD

(Company)

$LMT and $VZ signed an agreement to collaborate on 5G MIL technologies that will provide "ultra-secure, reliable connections for U.S. Department of Defense systems, bringing together high-tech platforms into a cohesive network spanning air, land, sea, space and cyber domains."

Quilty Analytics Predicts Transaction Activity Accelerates Into Q4

(SatelliteEvolution)

A report from the research and advisory firm details vibrant M&A activity of $5.1B, public offering proceeds of $2.9B and venture equity financings of $1.7B in Q3. “We expect to see an uptick in strategic divergence between today’s leading space players,” said Chris Quilty, Founder and Partner.

Virgin Orbit and ANA Airlines Sign MOU For 20 Flights

(BusinessWire)

ANA Holdings, the owners of Japan’s largest airline, plan to provide funds and support for orbital missions to launch from Japan. Along with ANA’s logistics and transport services, $NGCA is set to bring air-launch to the Eastern Hemisphere for the first time as demand for satellite launches rapidly increases.

Quick Links 🔗

•

SpaceLink Seeks Equity Financing Ahead of US Listed IPO or SPAC

•

Revisiting Virgin Galactic ($SPCE) After a -70% Fall

•

Starlink Establishes Indian Subsidiary and is in Talks With Two Philippine Telcos

•

Former NASA Administrator and $BA Executive Joins StratoLaunch’s Board of Directors

•

Will SpaceX Follow $TSLA to $1T Market Cap?

•

OneWeb and Leonardo DRS Announce Partnership To Offer LEO Service for U.S. DoD

•

Isotropic Systems and SES Complete First-Ever Multi-Orbit Antenna Field Tests

•

Northrop Grumman ($NOC) Selects Mynaric As Strategic Supplier of Space Laser Communications

•

iRocket and Turion Space Sign Multi-Mission Orbit Delivery and Launch Services Agreement

•

BlackSky ($BKSY) Appoints Chief Commercial Officer

•

The Googler ($GOOGL) Who Came To Monetize Space

•

Jason Mello Joins Firefly as President of Space Transport Services

•

Eventually, AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) Could Send Your Portfolio Into Orbit

•

Why RocketLab ($RKLB) Could Soar Higher Than Virgin Galactic ($SPCE)

•

Intelsat (OTC:$INTEQ) and OneWeb Demo Global Multi-Orbit Satellite Service to DoD

•

Spire ($SPIR) Included in NASA X-59 Quiet Supersonic Flight Community Testing Contract

• Blue Origin Loses Lawsuit Against NASA Over SpaceX Lunar Lander Contract• Q3 Earnings: Trimble ($TRMB), Globalstar ($GSAT) and Intelsat (OTC:$INTEQ)• Jaguar Financial Corp ($JGFCF) Announces Reverse Takeover with Maritime Launch Services

Earnings Calendar 📅

• $SPCE: November 8th - After Market Close• $VSAT: November 9th - Before Market Open• $SATS: November 9th - Before Market Open• $GILT: November 9th - Before Market Open• $MNTS: November 9th - After Market Close• $RDW: November 10th - Before Market Open• $SPIR: November 10th - After Market Close• $ASTR: November 11th - After Market Close• $BKSY: November 12th - Before Market Open• $RKLB: November 15th - After Market Close• $ACCMF: November 25th - Not Disclosed*Company confirmed dates only.

🚀 Redwire Eyes Space Biotech