The Deep End #79

Lux Aeterna emerges from stealth to redefine the satellite lifecycle

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Lux Aeterna Debuts Reusable Satellite ‘Delphi’ in Bid to Redefine Space Infrastructure

The Denver, CO-based startup emerged from stealth four days ago with $4M in pre-seed funding to help it develop a fully reusable satellite bus that can fly a mission, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and fly again.

Lux Aeterna plans to launch its first demo mission in early 2027, in which its Delphi spacecraft will host a payload in orbit. When the mission is done, the satellite bus will fall back to Earth using a parachute. After refurbishment, it will be ready to fly again—if everything goes right.

Lux Aeterna

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Tech Terrain

Future Mobility

• Superconducting Motor from Startup Hinetics Could Propel Electric Aircraft Using High-Temperature Superconductor

  Trend to watch: Hinestics lab tests, validated key components of the company’s superconducting motor designs capable of powering regional airliners with 5–10 megawatts.

• Watch Tesla's first fully autonomous car drive itself to its new Texas owner (Video)

Defense Tech

• AI tool ‘Rattlesnaq’ thinks at Mach speed to help fighter pilots dodge missiles

  Why this matters: The system visually presents optimal manoeuvres to evade both air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, while also offering real-time firing solutions, enhancing a fighter’s lethality, survivability, and overall mission success.

• OpenAI won a $200M Army contract to put generative AI to work for the military

Space

• BlackSky unveiled a wide-area imaging satellite called Aros

  Trend to watch: The move toward large-area imaging comes at a time when wide-coverage satellites operated by other providers are aging, opening a market opportunity.

• Integrate Wins $25M Space Force Contract

Advanced Computing

• Mira Murati’s stealth AI startup Thinking Machines Lab closes on $2B at $10B valuation

  Trend to watch: Murati left OpenAI last September after leading the development of some of the company’s most prominent AI products, including ChatGPT, DALL-E, and voice mode.

• Apple weighs using Anthropic or OpenAI to power Siri in major reversal

Energy

• Palantir Targets Nuclear Plant Construction With Software Partnership

  Trend to watch: Nuclear Co. is attempting to streamline the construction process for traditional nuclear power plant designs. Palantir said its software will enable the startup to "build plants faster and for less.”

• Three Mile Island nuclear plant reboot fast-tracked to 2027

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