They're Chinese and crashing rockets. That's about all we know about the space company with the biggest financial backing of 2026.

There are plenty of US companies, so don't worry about the space race. Stoke Space, Sierra Space and Cesium Astro have scored hundreds of millions on the back of government security contracts. In fact, the ten largest funding rounds total over $3.7 billion. And it's only April.

As well as defence, encrypted GPS alternatives and space-based weather platforms being used by Formula One to tell drivers if the track is wet or not feature. As do satellite communications and reusable rockets

But the biggest surprise sits at the top of the list: Beijing-based iSpace China claimed the single largest raise at $729 million.

The Top 10 In Full

iSpace China — $729M

Sierra Space — $550M (Series C)

Vast Space — $500M (Series A)

Cesium Astro — $470M

Axiom Space — $350M

Stoke Space — $350M

PLD Space — €210M (Series C)

Tomorrow.io — $175M

Xona Space — $170M (Series C)

StarCloud — $170M

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Chapters

(00:00) Starcloud

(00:52) Xona Space

(03:27) Tomorrow IO

(06:01) PLD Space

(08:00) Stoke Space

(10:18) Axiom Space

(12:29) Cesium Astro

(14:50) VAST Space

(19:02) Sierra Space

(21:47) I-Space (Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd.)