- In May 2022, LeoStella successfully delivered two advanced satellites to BlackSky at New Zealand's Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1. This collaboration significantly enhanced BlackSky's growing constellation, increasing its capacity for rapid Earth observation and improving its revisit capabilities. The addition of these satellites supports BlackSky’s mission of providing real-time data services to its clients, further strengthening its position in the small satellite market
- In March 2022, The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of the Tiankun-2 satellites. These satellites were placed into low-Earth polar orbit during the debut mission of the Long March 6A rocket. This launch highlighted China's advancing capabilities in satellite deployment, further expanding its space exploration ambitions and enhancing its Earth observation technologies
- In March 2021, Rocket Lab USA launched seven small satellites into Earth’s orbit as part of its dedicated mission. This payload included a microsatellite designed for Earth observation, two "internet of things" nanosatellites, and three experimental satellites. Among the payloads was a CubeSat developed for the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), showcasing Rocket Lab's contribution to both commercial and military space missions
- In June 2020, NanoAvionics announced a partnership with Exolaunch for a collaborative mission on SpaceX's Falcon 9 small satellite-dedicated rideshare. The mission was set to launch six 6U nanosatellites into orbit in December 2020. This collaboration aimed to showcase NanoAvionics' expertise in satellite manufacturing and deployment, enhancing its presence in the rapidly growing small satellite industry and demonstrating SpaceX's rideshare mission capabilities
- In June 2020, Kepler Communications, in collaboration with Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), launched its Operational Nanosatellite Constellation project. The goal was to leverage SFL’s design and manufacturing expertise to develop an advanced satellite constellation. This partnership aims to provide global connectivity, with Kepler aiming to deliver cost-effective and high-bandwidth communication services, contributing to the expansion of satellite network technologies in the commercial space sector
