Hello and welcome again to TechCrunch Space. This would be the ultimate TechCrunch Space e-newsletter you obtain in 2024, so to all our readers, have an exquisite vacation and see you subsequent yr.
There’s quite a bit to stay up for subsequent yr. I anticipate to see far more progress from SpaceX on Starship, huge adjustments to NASA below the management of incoming administrator Jared Isaacman, Rocket Lab’s Neutron debut, and large missions for Impulse Space, Varda, and dozens of different startups. It can even be attention-grabbing to see if rumors show true with Boeing promoting off its house enterprise. That would actually mark a brand new world order.
In phrases of enterprise financing, I anticipate to see extra restoration from the lows within the 2023 time span, and if Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency does even a fraction of what it proposes, that might considerably loosen the regulatory and bureaucratic setting by which infrastructure-heavy industries (like house) function. The downstream results may very well be seen in a short time.
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Speaking of laws, it was good to get an replace from Blue Origin final week on the inaugural New Glenn launch, with the corporate basically saying that the one puzzle items to suit into place are regulatory approvals for the rocket’s scorching hearth take a look at and launch.
With scarcely two weeks left of the yr, it’s completely possible that New Glenn nonetheless launches in 2024, however quite a bit will rely on how the new hearth take a look at goes. The turnaround time shall be tight…
Late-stage offers in house have been on the decline this yr, so it was thrilling to see the announcement from Fleet Space Technologies that it had closed a $100 million Series D. The Adelaide, Australia-based startup has developed a expertise stack to allow mineral prospecting from house — and figuring out crucial mineral deposits shall be key in a future that closely depends on them (i.e. figuring out lithium for batteries).
This week in house historical past
Okay, we did Thanksgiving in house just a few editions in the past, so it solely feels proper to try how astronauts rejoice Christmas in house. The astronaut fleet has spent 18 consecutive years celebrating the vacation on the station, replete with mini Christmas timber, Santa hats, stockings, and different decorations.
Click this hyperlink to see a extremely pretty assortment of images from NASA through the years.
