D-Orbit, an 11-year-old Italian startup offering the Ion Satellite Carrier for in-orbit positioning, unveiled a go-public effort on Jan. 27 to start trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange in a deal that should provide it up to $185 million.

A Chinese spacecraft that disappeared from orbit on Jan. 22 appears to be serving as a “space tug,” raising a defunct Chinese navigation satellite thousands of kilometers beyond geostationary orbit, according to a company that operates a network of more than 350 optical telescopes around the world.

Houston-based Celestis, which flies cremated remains in one of the more unique—and long-lived—commercial space service ventures, is adding a second payload on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) debut Vulcan mission, slated to launch later this year. 

An Omani satellite will be among the payloads launched from Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne when it makes its first launch from the UK later this year.

The European Commission plans to establish a space investment fund to support startups.

Space 11 Corp., an aerospace company focused on the production of space-based entertainment, is partnering with Nanoracks, a commercial space station visionary, to develop an orbital free flyer intended to support space film and television production and serve as a live venue and soundscape.

ArianeGroup is studying a dual-use second stage for launches of both satellite and crew that will support the European Space Agency’s fledgling reusability strategy.

Radian Aerospace has unveiled plans for “the world’s first fully reusable horizontal takeoff and landing, single-stage to orbit spaceplane” for sending passengers and cargo to low Earth orbit.