Max Benassi

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on another year of consistent execution and rapid growth. This dedicated team delivered milestone after milestone, establishing and expanding Factory One, delivering multiple satellite platforms to customers, and securing critical funding to further redefine and accelerate satellite manufacturing. A few highlights from a very busy 2025 include: – Completed the initial build-out of Factory One in Los Angeles (50k sq. ft.) – Celebrated one year in low Earth orbit for Aries SN1 – Raised a $200M Series C – Delivered multiple Aries satellite platforms to customers – Announced the Comet (LEO) satellite platform – Announced a 55k sq. ft. expansion to Factory One, increasing peak annual production capacity to 200+ satellites – Raised a $200M Series D at a $1B+ valuation – Unveiled Project Shadow, a 2026 technology maturation mission in support of Golden Dome for America – Announced a strategic operating agreement with Hungarian-based 4iG and REMRED to establish satellite mass-manufacturing in Europe – Grew the Apex team by more than 2.5x, from 85 to 230+ employees – Added over a dozen customers across the U.S. Space Force, numerous Tier 1 Defense Primes, Commercial Customers, and International Partners We’re grateful for the teammates, partners, and customers who made this progress possible. 2026 is shaping up to be another year of accelerated growth. Be a part of the journey: apexspace.com/careers

@SciGuySpace Glad you reposted this, brought back memories to RTF days. It was a wild and intense time, but the upgrades stacked on RTF and landing was unreal

A decade ago SpaceX emerged from the most turbulent and challenging period in its history: surviving a major loss and doubling down with a new rocket, super-cold propellant, and a historic landing. This is that story: arstechnica.com/space/2025/12/…

ICYMI: Next year, Apex will launch an Orbital Magazine configuration of its Nova spacecraft platform, designed to host and support demonstration space-based interceptors (SBIs). Apex's Orbital Magazine will carry and fire two partner-provided demonstration interceptors to validate several core host vehicle technologies and pave the path for mass-produced Orbital Magazines capable of carrying more than 5,000 kg. As America's first commercially-led, SBI host vehicle demonstration, Project Shadow represents a step change in how private companies can accelerate the development of critical defense technologies — and highlights Apex's ability to leverage an existing bus platform to execute novel missions. “Apex is built to move fast, and that is exactly what America and our allies need to ensure we win the New Space Race. In under a year, we are launching the host platform for space-based interceptors, called an Orbital Magazine, which will deploy multiple prototype missile interceptors in orbit," said Apex CEO @IanCinnamon. “Apex isn’t waiting for handouts or contracts; we are developing this Orbital Magazine technology on our own dime and moving incredibly fast.” Read more about this ground-breaking mission from @arstechnica here: lnkd.in/gazWp7_q

I have been looking forward to talking about Project Shadow publicly for months. Since the beginning of 2025, our Special Projects team has been working hard to piece together the key technologies required to not only make Space Based Interceptors work-- but to manufacture them at the scale needed to defend the United States, our allies, and democracy globally.

@MattGialich @IanCinnamon Thank you! Health will only improve with asteroid mining deliveries - cheering you on!

This is a strong indicator of the space economy's health. Congrats to @IanCinnamon and @mxbenassi on an incredible accomplishment - achieving unicorn status!

Insane trajectory over three years, so lucky to be a part of it 🤗 @IanCinnamon @mxbenassi

We’ll never forget the lives we lost on September 11, 2001. Let’s continue to honor their memories, and the courage of our first responders who put themselves in harm’s way.

Are you awake now?

Seems like the best video of Charlie you could watch.

Pray for Charlie Kirk. 🙏

It's really hard to find words to express my profound sadness for what happened to Charlie Kirk today. Sadness for him, for his family, and for what it means for our society. Political assassination against someone whose words you don't like, in America, is really the bottom.

Iryna Zarutska should still be alive. But Democrats, liberal judges, and weak prosecutors would rather push a woke, soft-on-crime agenda than lock up violent offenders. President Trump is doing everything in his power to undo these dangerous policies and keep Americans safe.

Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people. I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.

Right now, millions of people are finding out you can become a magistrate judge in many states WITHOUT being a licensed lawyer — Teresa Stokes never passed the bar exam — fully empowered to let repeat criminal offenders roam the streets to murder innocents. Utter lunacy.

🚨INSANE: Jesse Watters reveals the court that freed Iryna Zarutska’s killer is COMPLETELY run by DEI. A Harris-donor magistrate with no law degree, a clerk who calls herself a “DEI consultant,” and “racial equity organizer” and a judge named “DEI Champion of the Year.” “When Brown was arrested yet again in January of this past year, a Democrat judge who I will add was a strong supporter of Kamala Harris, released this insane criminal once again without requiring him to pay any bail.” “Ms. Stokes wasn't elected. She was nominated by the clerk in Mecklenburg County. The sitting clerk is Alyssa Chin Gary. On her LinkedIn page, she calls herself a clerk and a DEI consultant And her life mission? and a racial Reparations. equity organizer.” “Ms. Stokes was nominated by Judge Carla Archie. Judge Archie isn't just any judge. In 2019, she was the DEI Champion of the Year.” “Is this starting to make sense? Did a woman die because of DEI? This is a DEI court and they have blood on their hands. And if the people in robes are on the same side as the bad guys, that's suicide.” “DEI died when Kamala lost. It's illegal and releasing felons with dozens of arrests for social justice is a crime against the country.” Strong reporting, @JesseBWatters They all need to face consequences.

Zero

@CollinRugg Terrible and frightening

NEW: Authorities release footage of a Ukrainian refugee getting stabbed in the throat in a random attack by a career criminal in Charlotte, North Carolina. Absolutely horrific. 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska fled Ukraine, “seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning” only to be attacked on the Charlotte light rail. Her life was cut short thanks to 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., who has been in and out of prison for the last 15 years.

And here in the U.S. most traditional defense primes operate on a 9/80 work schedule. If we want to win, get in the arena and get to work.

The Anduril 250 Race the Base at Naval Base Coronado will roar to life in 2026. We’re excited to have @anduriltech as the Official Defense Partner of NASCAR as we continue our longstanding support of our U.S. Armed Forces.