9 space startups with big 2017 plans

摘要

2017 promises to be a pivotal year for space-industry startups. Every week, new companies reveal plans to offer space-related products or services, while firms established in the last few years attract multimillion-dollar investments or falter for lack of funding. In 2017, industry observers expect to see more mergers and acquisition as the commercial space industry begins to mature, and companies compete for government and commercial customers, as well as investors. The year began with reports of one key merger. Bloomberg Technology reported Jan. 9 that the San Francisco-based Earth-imaging company Planet was in talks with Google's parent, Alphabet, to purchase Terra Bella, the company formerly called Skybox Imaging, which it acquired in 2014.