Orbital, a startup aiming to build artificial intelligence data centres in space, has raised $5 million in seed funding. The company plans to run AI inference in orbit to avoid power and siting constraints on Earth and reduce regulatory and permitting burdens. Founder Euwyn Poon says the business depends on lower launch costs, with SpaceX\'s Starship seen as key. Orbital targets a first data-processing spacecraft launch in 2028.

The United States and China are stepping up competition to explore the Moon’s south pole near Shackleton crater. Blue Origin’s Endurance lander and China’s Chang’e 7 mission are expected to launch around the same time in the second half of this year and attempt to land near the crater rim. The site is seen as promising for water ice in permanently shadowed areas and near-continuous sunlight on the rim for solar power.