Even in an industry that’s defined by them, high-level corporate mergers with national security implications marked the start of 2026 for commercial space.
Autonomous weapons manufacturer Anduril announced in March that it has signed an agreement to buy ExoAnalytic Solutions and what the company calls the world’s largest commercial optical telescope network.
ExoAnalytic provides space domain awareness products to defense, intelligence and commercial satellite operators, in part through its global network of 350-plus autonomous telescopes. Anduril has secured billions of dollars in U.S. government contracts, including a recent $642 million deal to send aerial system technology to the Marine Corps. Both companies are based in the Los Angeles area.
In February, two Elon Musk companies — aerospace pioneer SpaceX and artificial intelligence company xAI — merged to create a $1.25 trillion behemoth, the biggest corporate union by value in American history, The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported.
Among its business lines, SpaceX is the world’s premier launch company and one of only two certified to conduct U.S. national security launches. The DOW has signed a deal with xAI to use its model Grok in classified and unclassified systems, The New York Times newspaper reported in February.
Reusable rocket manufacturer iRocket took steps in January 2026 to finalize a merger with a SPAC, or special purpose acquisition company, to obtain capital as it works toward a 2027 debut launch.
A SPAC is a shell company that raises money through an initial public offering with an eye toward taking a private company public. BPGC Acquisition Corp. is partnering with iRocket, or Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. IRocket, founded in 2018 and based in the New York City area, said it has secured initial agreements with national security and commercial customers worth more than $1 billion.