The Space Race Heads To Wall Street

Godspeed Godspeed

1 day ago

4 MIN READ

The Space Race Heads To Wall Street

Firefly Aerospace will make its public debut, filing its S-1 to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker $FLY. The Texas-based space and defense company specializes in rapid-response satellite launches, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles.

Firefly stands out as the only commercial company to both launch a satellite to orbit with just 24 hours’ notice and achieve a full lunar landing. Since 2017, the company has pushed innovation from low-Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond, building technology for speed, reliability, and cost efficiency.

Investor demand in publicly traded space companies remains high. Last month, Voyager Technologies debuted on the NYSE trading as $VOYA, raising more than $380M for its commercial space station ambitions.

Expect Firefly to join the public markets soon after regulatory approval, as the space race turns to Wall Street.

Read Firefly’s S-1 here.

Pharm Robotics Automates Dairy Cow Healthcare

Pharm Robotics is transforming dairy farming with its Sureshot robotic health center, automating the delivery of vaccines and reproductive products to cows. Using RFID to identify each cow in the milking parlor, the system taps into medical records. It deploys a robot arm to deliver individual doses while updating health logs in real-time.

Recent upgrades include a new 3D vision system for precise injection targeting and machine learning-powered software for fast, reliable administration. With a FANUC collaborative robot at its core, Pharm Robotics is reducing manual labor, improving compliance, and helping dairies keep herds healthier than ever.

Munro M-Series 4×4 EV Passes Validation, Racks Up Orders

Scottish startup Munro Vehicles completed an 18-month validation program for its rugged, all-electric M-Series 4×4, engineered for demanding off-road work. Targeting sectors like mining, utilities and emergency response, Munro has already delivered 4 vehicles, with 246 on order, totalling over $23M in sales.

Available as an SUV, pickup or chassis cab, the street-legal M-Series prioritizes off-road performance, boasting configurations up to 280 kW of power, 700 Nm of torque, and series towing capabilities.

Munro seeks to conquer the “go-anywhere” EV niche as legacy automakers struggle to adapt.

Joby Tests Hydrogen-Powered Autonomous Aircraft, Expands Aerospace Ambitions

Joby Aviation has quietly begun testing the JAI 30, a hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft that recently completed a pioneering 9-hour flight at the Pendleton UAS Range in Oregon. With a hydrogen-electric drivetrain and autonomous control, the JAI 30 sets a new bar for flight endurance among Western hydrogen UAVs. It signals Joby’s deepening partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.

In Dubai news: Last week, Joby delivered its first production aircraft to Dubai and wrapped up successful test flights, initiating its commercial readiness phase as vertiport infrastructure construction accelerates. All Eyes on Dubai!

Utah Bets Big on Small Modular Reactors

Utah Governor Spencer Cox is championing a push to double the state’s energy production in ten years by accelerating the adoption of next-gen nuclear power. The state is laying the groundwork for small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to deliver clean, reliable energy to power both the grid and a booming tech sector despite the region’s complicated history with nuclear testing and downwind communities. SMRs may provide a leap forward, but questions remain about public perception, costs, and what it means for Utah’s energy identity.

Listen to RadioWest’s recent podcast covering Utah’s Bid to Lead a Nuclear Renaissance.