The World Teleport Association (WTA) today published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2021. The annual rankings of companies by revenue and revenue growth are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world as well as referencing the published results of publicly-held companies.

Satellite imaging company Satellogic Inc. today announced that it has completed its previously announced merger with CF Acquisition Corp. V (Nasdaq: CFV) (“CFV”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald. The merger was approved at a special meeting of CFV stockholders on January 24, 2022. Beginning January 26, 2022, Satellogic’s Class A ordinary shares and warrants will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “SATL” and “SATLW,” respectively.

Rotoiti, a space consulting firm, interviewed several finance experts in the space industry. This brief, based on those conversations, summarizes the risks and benefits that venture capital poses to space firms.

Network Innovations has acquired ground systems integrator STS Global Inc., Over the years, STS Global has provided services to connect clients in remote locations, transmit crucial data, provide secure networks, and more to ensure reliable services anywhere on earth.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“ today announced it has closed the previously-announced transaction to acquire SolAero Holdings, Inc. (SolAero), a supplier of space solar power products and precision aerospace structures for the global aerospace market, for US$ 80 million in cash.

Rocket Lab announced the execution of the agreement to acquire SolAero on December 13, 2021 pending certain closing conditions. 

My choice of title for this month’s column is but a mirror to the complexities of what is to many, but certainly not to all, the rather remote topic of satellite regulation. If perhaps rather obscure, satellite regulation is something we certainly cannot do without; utter chaos would follow from its absence.

We begin 2022 entering the 25th month of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with yet a new variant of the virus wreaking havoc on recovery plans worldwide.  I can only describe the times we live in as Charles Dickens did in a "Tale of Two Cities" that "these are the best of times and these are the worst of times. " And yet there is a lot to be optimistic about 2022 and beyond.  Just to provide some perspective, the number of satellites launched in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic is almost equal to all the satellites launched in the previous three decades. 

On December 28, HISPASAT agreed to acquire from Telemar 19.04% of the shareholding of its Brazilian subsidiary HISPAMAR Satélites, after obtaining the necessary permits and authorizations from the Brazilian government. Consequently, HISPASAT will hold 100% of its subsidiary's share capital.

Euroconsult has released its annual “Space Economy report” report for 2021. In its latest edition, Euroconsult estimates that the global space economy totaled US$ 370 Billion in 2021. This number consists of:

• The space market (US$337 Billion in 2021) which includes commercial space revenues and government procurement for their space activities contracted to the private sector.

The January-February 2022 issue of the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine  is now available.  Featuring:

Industry Trends to Watch in 2022  by Virgil Labrador

Risks and Benefits of Venture Capital for Space Firms by Rotoiti Consulting

Show Report: World Satellite Business Week by Elisabeth Tweedie

Regulatory Imperatives in the Disaster Response Ecosystem​  by Martin Jarrold

Satellites and Climate: "Embalm, Cremate, Bury at Sea..." by Lou Zacharilla

PLUS Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file.