Good morning,

New Zealand has charted an ambitious course for its space future, reporting a 53% expansion in its sector since 2020 and targeting a doubling of its space and advanced aviation industries by 2030. With Rocket Lab as its anchor and a defense-space roadmap on the horizon, the nation is emerging as a model for how smaller economies can balance commercial innovation with strategic capability.

In Europe, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher is pushing for a reusable launcher to rival SpaceX and Blue Origin, signaling a decisive shift toward affordability and autonomy in the continent’s launch ecosystem. And across the Atlantic, Washington-based Stoke Space just raised $510 million to accelerate its fully reusable Nova rocket, an answer to the widening mid-lift launch gap and a glimpse into the next era of high-frequency orbital access.

More from today’s issue:
🛰️ AST SpaceMobile signs deal with Verizon for direct-to-smartphone service
⚡ Muon Space wins $44.6 M USSF contract for dual-use weather satellites
🇫🇷 France’s DARK defense startup shuts down after four years

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SECTOR SITUATION REPORT

New Zealand Charts a Course for Strategic Growth in Space