In the latest space tech roundup, several notable developments have taken place, showcasing the industry's rapid progress. Inversion Space, a startup focused on ultra-precise orbit-to-Earth cargo delivery, has secured a $44 million Series A funding round to continue developing its innovative technology. This investment is particularly significant, given the company's technology has already garnered attention from the Department of Defense (DOD) for its potential military applications.

In other news, Blue Origin has successfully flown its New Glenn suborbital vehicle twice in a span of just one month. The most recent flight, which took place on Friday, featured engineer, science TV host, and former TechCrunch contributing writer Emily Calandrelli on board. This achievement demonstrates Blue Origin's capabilities in the suborbital spaceflight sector.

Meanwhile, SpaceX has achieved a critical milestone in its Starship rocket program. During its sixth flight test, the upper stage of the rocket briefly reignited one of its six Raptor engines while traveling halfway around the world. This capability is crucial, as it paves the way for SpaceX to test flying the upper stage on a full loop around the world and returning it to the launch site, where it can be rapidly refurbished and reused.

In an exclusive interview, Raven Space Systems co-founder and CEO Blake Herren discussed the startup's innovative 3D printing process for commercial, off-the-shelf thermoset composite components. These components are widely used in aerospace and defense applications, including reentry vehicles and hypersonics. Herren emphasized that Raven's technology is "unlocking an entire field of 3D printing to production scale" by automating the near net shape production of these components.

As the space industry continues to advance, it's worth noting the historical significance of Thanksgiving in space. The first astronauts to celebrate the holiday in space did so in 1973, and since then, there have been a few dozen Thanksgiving meals shared on the International Space Station. Astronauts have enjoyed traditional Thanksgiving fare, including turkey, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and dessert – all in freeze-dried form, of course.

These developments showcase the rapid progress being made in space technology, from innovative cargo delivery systems to advancements in 3D printing and suborbital spaceflight. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how these breakthroughs shape the future of space exploration and development.