Bird expanding in Europe; SpaceX seeks new funding; SpaceIL shoots for Lunar Lander 2.0.

Bird Planning European Expansion

Santa Monica-based scooter operator Bird Rides Inc. is planning an expansion of its European operations this summer, Socaltech reports. The company will launch in more than 50 European cities and introduce a new scooter with improved battery range and GPS. Bird operates in Paris, Tel Aviv, Zurich, Brussels and London already.

SpaceIL Attempting Second Lunar Lander

SpaceIL will attempt to build a second lander after its first attempt failed, according to The Verge. Initial reports said t Israeli aerospace nonprofit SpaceIL’s lunar lander, which was sent into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, was lost. But the vehicle is now believed to have crash-landed on the moon’s surface after an engine failure. It is unclear if SpaceX or another private launch provider will handle launch services for the second try, or when the attempt will occur. SpaceIL’s first attempt had a $100 million budget. Last week, Playa Vista-based Xprize Foundation Inc. presented the Israeli company with a $1 million “Moonshot Award” for successfully entering lunar orbit and attempting to land on the surface of the moon.

SpaceX Seeks Another Fundraise

According to Axios, Hawthorne-based private aerospace firm SpaceX is raising up to $510 million in a new funding round, its second this year. To date, SpaceX has raised $2.75 billion from investors and the current raise would sell SpaceX shares at a 9.7% premium to the prior round, which valued SpaceX at over $30 billion.

Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.