RTC Aerospace, a portfolio company of private equity firm Stellex Capital Management, has acquired Vanderhorst Brothers Industries, a Simi Valley, California-based manufacturer of precision aerospace parts. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed but RTC said Tuesday the deal will expand its product portfolios and capabilities to produce high-precision components for aerospace and defense applications.

Astroscale's U.S. business has secured a $25.5 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to build a small satellite capable of conducting uninterrupted refueling missions in geostationary orbit. The Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling will be designed to carry and transfer hydrazine directly to client spacecraft, Astroscale U.S. said Wednesday.

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Laser communications technology developer Mynaric has secured a contract to develop an intersatellite optical communications terminal for enabling satellite constellations to communicate in space. The company said Tuesday it will serve as a development partner for the second phase of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node program.

Adam Broecker has taken on the role of CEO at Crescent Space Services, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary specializing in providing an infrastructure-as-a-service platform for moon missions, he announced on LinkedIn Monday. He succeeds Joe Landon, who assumed the position in March 2023, when the subsidiary was formed.

Jacobs and its subcontractors have been supporting NASA in operating a ground-based 3D-printed habitat for the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog program, which aims to simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. The company said Friday it continues to work with NASA and additional contractors on monitoring the activities of a four-person crew living in the isolated CHAPEA habitat at Johnson Space Center as a prime contractor for the JSC Engineering, Technology and Science II contract.

Jim Bridenstine, formerly the administrator of NASA and a Wash100 winner, has assumed a position on the board of directors at Starlab Space, a joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus. He will work to contribute to the company's vision of establishing a continually crewed, free-flying space station, Starlab said Thursday.

The Air Force Research Laboratory has started soliciting information on potential industry sources that could provide research, engineering and technical management support for conducting analysis, development, integration, experimentation, evaluation and demonstration of space technologies. Responses are due Feb. 5.

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Executive Mosaic spoke with Tim Boltz, director of the healthcare business at Carahsoft, to learn more about the AI demand signals coming from the federal landscape and better understand how AI will work in tandem with other emerging technologies and concepts to support a myriad of missions in the public sector. 

Evercore, a New York-based global independent investment banking advisory firm, has released a monthly update highlighting previous and ongoing transactions it has supported in the aerospace, defense and government services markets. According to the report, a copy of which was received by Executive Mosaic, Evercore advised several aerospace and defense clients on mergers and acquisitions, including Aerojet Rocketdyne on its $4.7 billion sale to L3Harris Technologies.

Space Systems Command and Microsoft will continue to develop and deploy an augmented reality space simulation platform in support of U.S. Space Force missions under a renewed partnership. The Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment is built on an Azure cloud infrastructure and is powered by Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets designed to enable users to see and interact with satellites and other orbital objects in a scaled space environment, SSC said Friday in a press release received by Executive Mosaic.

Arlington Capital Partners has launched Kinetic Engine Systems as the Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm's new platform company focused on producing precision aerospace and defense engine components. Arlington said Thursday it formed Kinetic Engine Systems by combining the engine assets of its portfolio company Cadence Aerospace with newly acquired companies: Walbar Engine Components, AeroCision and Numet Machining Techniques.

Sidus Space has secured a Tier 1 remote sensing license from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, authorizing the space and data-as-a-service company to have panchromatic and shortwave infrared imaging capabilities. LizzieSat and subsequent iteration of the satellite are covered by the NOAA license and will be used to provide government and commercial customers with images and data services, the company said Wednesday.