Bosses of Isar Aerospace, The Exploration Company, Constellr and Investor Lakestar discussed the importance of Space-Tech-in a week important for space-tech
Donald Trump's re-election to the US President has not only changed the world, but also space. Before November 2024, Space Tech was a glamorous type of logistics in Europe. Like Fedex for space: it was always about bringing something from A (earth) to B (all).
But since the transatlantic band no longer seems so firm, European space technology has been part of another segment: Space Tech is security. National security.
Space Tech Panel in München
This message became clear on Wednesday at the Space-Tech panel of the Munich Disruptive Technology Symposium, to which Goldman Sachs had invited.
Start -up scene
The Space-Tech Leader can find the field, the space, not up to the other, here on stage. In particular, Elon Musk, who has so far operated the undisputed largest space taxi service with the SpaceX rocket company. And also with Starlink also holds a significant part of infrastructure in space. And that is exactly why Europe shouldn't let up here.
A good week for Space Tech Made in Germany
This does not seem to be the case, especially this week. Two of the largest German space tech companies were able to reach massive milestones: The Exploration Company and Isar Aerospace.
On Monday, The Exploration Company (TEC) brought her “Mission Possible” capsule at a height of 600 kilometers – and then back to the earth's atmosphere. She did not land safely, the parachute did not allow itself to be opened after the re -entry, reported founder and CEO Hélène Huby at the event. Nevertheless, the first flight was an immense success. Especially because of the short development time and the low costs for the construction of the capsule.
So far, only three countries in the world could bring things back into space, Huby continues: China, Russia and the USA.
The Exploration Company is the first German company to offer this as a private sector company in the future. Customers could come from all areas.
150 million fresh capital for Isar Aerospace
On Wednesday morning, the rocket makers from Isar Aerospace reported a next, great success-after the test flight of the “Spectrum” carrier rocket, or their successful lift-off at the end of March from the Andøya space station in Norway. Isar Aerospace was the first commercial space underdip from Europe from the European mainland.
The company has now completed a further round of financing of 150 million euros. One that is said to have made the Munich startup a unicorn, as media reported. When asked by the start -up scene, the startup announced that it generally does not provide any information about company valuation.
Americans gets in
Eric eight man, CFO of the company, did not comment on the Disruptive Technology Symposium by Goldman Sachs. But another “Elephant in the Room” was directly addressed by the moderator: Leadinvestor of the youngest Isar Aerospace Round was Eldridge Industries – an investor from the USA.
Wasn't Isar Aerospace also started to be a European company – keyword National Security, which eight man had dropped on the stage of the conference?
US investors tick differently
In the end, however, the crucial question is where the “risk appetite”, as they call it on the stage of the Munich sofitel, is greater. And US investors are more willing to invest in -literal -“monshots” here, according to the consensus.
In Europe, the mindset still has to change to ensure that sovereignty has a value that you have to set priorities. You prefer to invest in sovereignty now – than later in defense, says Eight man. And at the latest there the Space Panel sounds like the defense tech panel. Now that his company does not sell Space-Kurier flights but national security, you could address other budgets, according to the Isar Aerospace CFO.
Space-Tech opens new markets
In a youngest, Deep Tech Report by Lakestar, the venture capital fund of Klaus Hommels, is called Space as one of five megatrends – because this is about as much more than shooting rocket into space. Innovations in the Space area would result in countless options, according to Oliver Heimes, partner at Lakestar. Space Tech could allow research in space that can lead to innovations in the Health area, for example.
Also read
Or in the climate area. Max Gulde, CEO from Constellr. He emphasizes how important Space Tech can also be when dealing with the consequences of global climate change. And even to combat it.
The Freiburg Space-Tech Constellr has developed micro satellites, which are just as big as a refrigerator. Nevertheless, with the help of infrared technology, you can monitor the surface temperature and soon also the chemical composition of the earth-and that is much more regularly and more detailed than with previous solutions.
Next space hope: Constellr
And Constellr also reached a milestone not too long ago: The first infrared temperature monitoring satellite “Sky-Bee-1” started at the beginning of this year with a SpaceX rocket from the Vandenberg spaceport in California. For the development, Constellr had collected 17 million euros from Lakestar, Vsquared Ventures, Amathaon Capital and Natural Ventures, as well as the VC arm of the space company OHB and the Fraunhofer Fund FTTF.
Space travel, one should not forget that, a panelist is reminiscent of its origin in Germany this afternoon. The leading scientists who co -developed the first space programs for Russia and the USA came from Germany. Space travel has roots here – and is also possible. The currently more than 150 space startups want to prove this.
Also read
Source: https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/technologie/space-tech-nicht-mondfahrten-sondern-nationale-sicherheit/
