York Space Systems, backed by private equity, acquired VCapital’s portfolio company, Atlas Space Operations, for $100 million in 2025. On January 29, 2026, York raised $629M in an IPO (YSS), which was upsized from 16 million shares to 18.5 million. Initially priced at $34, the stock opened at $38, valuing the company at $4.75B. This represents a key event in the growing space and defense sector. Significant demand is driven by defense contracts for satellite platforms. York is a primary contractor for major programs, including the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Transport Layer, which provides communication and missile-tracking satellites.