Rocket Lab signaled an aggressive expansion into orbital infrastructure, announcing an $8 billion agreement to acquire Iridium Communications. The deal provides the rocketry firm with a fully operational satellite fleet and the wireless spectrum necessary to challenge SpaceX in the burgeoning space-based communications market.

Simultaneously, the AI supply chain continues to attract heavy capital inflows. Corning shares climbed roughly 15% to reach record highs as data-center operators scramble to secure the company’s specialized optical glass. Meanwhile, Airbus secured a $3.42 billion loan from the European Investment Bank. This financing is part of a broader European Union initiative to bolster regional technological sovereignty against intensifying industrial competition from the United States and China.