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Orbital Composites Wins U.S. Space Force Contract to Advance Extreme Environment Materials Manufacturing

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SpaceWERX TACFI award advances Orbital’s path toward AI-driven factories for extreme environment materials — targeting the critical U.S. capacity gap in components that underpin missile defense, hypersonics, space vehicles, and nuclear energy

CAMPBELL, Calif., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Orbital Composites, Inc. (“Orbital”), a Campbell, CA-based advanced manufacturing company, today announced a $1.9 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract award from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. The contract funds continued development of Orbital’s robotic additive manufacturing (AM) platform for extreme environment materials — components engineered to survive conditions that destroy conventional parts: temperatures exceeding 3,000°C, high-velocity combustion gases, and repeated thermal shock cycles.

The award reflects growing recognition across defense, space, and energy sectors that the United States faces a structural shortfall in its ability to manufacture the advanced materials that underpin next-generation systems. Extreme environment materials — used in rocket nozzles, heat shields, hypersonic vehicle structures, jet engine hot sections, and nuclear reactors — have historically been constrained by prohibitive cost, 12- to 18-month production cycle times, and limited domestic capacity. Orbital combines robotics, advanced materials, and physical AI to streamline manufacturing of extreme environment materials.

“This work addresses a critical barrier to the rapid scaling of manufacturing for high-temperature rocket nozzles to serve the U.S. warfighter. Our initial goal is to eliminate the supply constraints on solid rocket motors that have long limited what the warfighter can field — and this award is a concrete step toward that objective. This is also about restoring U.S. manufacturing dominance in materials that are foundational to our national security and economic competitiveness. We are grateful to our SpaceWERX, AFWERX, and AFRL partners for their leadership in making that possible.”

— Amolak Badesha, Chief Executive Officer, Orbital Composites.

Extreme environment materials sit at the intersection of some of the most urgent national security and strategic industrial priorities. Solid rocket motors, hypersonic vehicles, low-cost missile defense interceptors, nuclear microreactors, and space vehicles all depend on components that can be produced faster, cheaper, and in greater volume than current methods allow. Orbital’s technology is designed to serve these markets from a single scalable manufacturing platform.

“Extreme environment materials are the bottleneck in some of the most critical systems the U.S. fields, and today’s manufacturing methods are too slow, too costly, and too capacity-constrained to meet what the moment demands. We are building toward a future where that constraint no longer exists — where AI-driven factories take in a design file and produce a mission-ready part, at operationally relevant cycle times and cost.”

— Cole Nielsen-Cole, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Orbital Composites.

Orbital is working with defense prime contractors, U.S. government program offices, and commercial space and energy providers to scale qualification and production. The company is investing in manufacturing capacity, program qualification, and the physical AI systems that underpin its autonomous production vision.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.

About SpaceWERX

SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a division of AFWERX, partners with startups, small businesses and nontraditional vendors to accelerate commercial space technologies for Guardians. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX connects industry innovation with defense needs to deliver capabilities faster. In partnership with Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office, SpaceWERX bridges innovation and acquisition to accelerate capability adoption. In fiscal year 2025, SpaceWERX awarded more than 300 contracts totaling $510 million. For more information, visit spacewerx.us.

About AFWERX
AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, partners with small businesses, startups and nontraditional vendors to address challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to innovators, building partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion. For more information, visit afwerx.com.

About Orbital Composites, Inc.
Orbital Composites is building AI-driven factories for extreme environment materials. Physical AI is at its core — intelligence that runs the full loop from design to production, uniting autonomous robotics with mastery of the most advanced materials to turn mission requirements into mission-ready parts. Its robotic AM platform produces high-performance components — including nozzles and heat shields — at an order of magnitude faster cycle time and lower cost than conventional methods. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Campbell, CA, Orbital works with the U.S. Space Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, and defense prime contractors to transition next-generation materials manufacturing from advanced development into operational capability. For more information, visit orbitalcomposites.com.

Media Contact

Irma Moran
Orbital Composites, Inc.
408-910-8217
417642@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Orbital Composites

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Amwell Receives Frost & Sullivan’s 2026 United States Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition for Technology-Enabled Care Platforms

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Amwell® is transforming virtual care delivery through its unified Amwell Platform, combining interoperability, clinical integration, and intelligent orchestration to improve access, efficiency, and outcomes.

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As healthcare organizations move beyond fragmented telehealth solutions toward connected virtual care models, Amwell is helping redefine how digital care is delivered at scale. Frost & Sullivan is pleased to recognize Amwell with the 2026 United States Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the Technology-Enabled Care Platforms industry for its ability to address healthcare fragmentation through a unified platform that connects patients, health plan members, clinicians, and partner ecosystems across the care continuum.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Amwell excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align strategic initiatives with evolving healthcare needs while executing with flexibility, scalability, and measurable customer impact. “The combination of reliability, flexibility, and clinically integrated workflows positions the Amwell Platform as a strategic enabler for organizations seeking to reduce fragmentation, improve member engagement with covered programs, expand access to care, and create more connected healthcare experiences,” said Sagar Mukhekar, Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a strategy centered on connected care, interoperability, and continuous, digital innovation, Amwell has positioned the Amwell Platform as an operating layer for next-generation healthcare delivery. Rather than relying on disconnected point solutions, the platform integrates technology, services, and clinical intelligence to orchestrate personalized care experiences across virtual primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, chronic condition management, and specialized digital programs.

Backed by 20 years of technology-enabled care innovation, more than 90 million covered lives, and over 38.7 million virtual visits, Amwell continues to help health plans and healthcare organizations modernize digital care delivery at scale.

“As healthcare becomes more digital, it risks becoming more fragmented. Health plans need more than point solutions. They need enterprise infrastructure, clinical integration, and an open platform that brings partners and programs together. Our vision at Amwell is that technology creates value when it improves access, engagement, quality, and efficiency, and produces measurable clinical and business outcomes. We’re honored by this recognition from Frost & Sullivan,” said Dan Zamansky, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Amwell.

Amwell’s enterprise scale includes supporting the digital transformation of the Defense Health Agency’s Military Health System, serving approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries. The company’s commitment to measurable outcomes is also reflected in a landmark National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study, published in Nature Human Behaviour and among the largest studies of its kind. The study found that students offered SilverCloud® by Amwell® engaged in mental healthcare at more than double the rate of traditional care, experienced lower rates of mental health disorders, and generated an estimated $1.18 million in avoided costs for the study population.

The company further differentiates its platform through intelligent orchestration and navigation, helping guide members to appropriate programs while giving clinicians visibility across care plans. Amwell also evaluates integrated third-party programs for clinical effectiveness, scalability, and enterprise readiness.

Frost & Sullivan commends Amwell for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and technological innovation. The company’s unified approach to digital care is helping reduce fragmentation, improve access, strengthen operational efficiency, and support more equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The recognition identifies forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Ashley Shreve
E: ashley.weinkauf@frost.com 

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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MiniTool Released MovieMaker 8.9 with Advanced Keyframe Animation

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VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MiniTool Software Limited has released MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9, a significant update to its video editing software. The latest version focuses on empowering creators with advanced keyframe animation controls, a more streamlined installation experience, and an optimized export button for a smoother experience.

Precise Control with Keyframe Animation

The hallmark of MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 is the introduction of keyframe animation for video, images, and elements. Users can now set keyframes for position, scale, and rotation at different points. As a result, they can easily generate smooth, cinematic motion effects.

The position parameter supports accurate X- and Y-axis adjustments, allowing flexible horizontal and vertical movement of clips to achieve natural screen scrolling and displacement effects. The scale feature allows for seamless zoom-in and zoom-out transitions, enabling users to zoom in on a clip and highlight key visual elements. Coupled with rotation control, which supports precise angle adjustments, the three tools work together to deliver smooth, dynamic visual effects.

Designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, this update brings intuitive keyframe animation tools without complex settings. It balances powerful editing capabilities and ease of use, allowing users to easily bring static photos to life and create custom movements for high-quality visual content.

Installation Package Optimization for Faster Setup

MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 places a strong emphasis on the installation package. In this latest release, the development team has reduced the overall installation package size, enabling a faster, more streamlined download and setup experience. This enhancement not only saves disk space but also improves application launch speeds. As a result, creators can quickly run the software and start working on their projects with minimal delay.

Enhanced Export UI for a Seamless Final Step

The final export stage is crucial to the editing workflow. This time, MiniTool MovieMaker 8.9 brings a new export button with a redesigned interface. This update optimizes the export button and provides intuitive guidance. Therefore, users can quickly locate the button for exporting their projects, whether they are absolute beginners or experienced editors.

About MiniTool MovieMaker

MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editing program designed for beginners, featuring a clean interface and a variety of effects, text templates, stickers, filters, and transitions for quick video creation.

The software offers a flexible multi-track timeline where users can layer and independently manage video tracks and audio tracks to create complex compositions, such as picture-in-picture (PiP) effects and video collages. Users can also place visual elements on different layers and lock tracks to prevent accidental edits.

More importantly, this editing tool can export videos in 1080P or 4K for free and without watermarks, ensuring high-quality, professional-looking results.

About MiniTool® Software Ltd.

MiniTool® Software Ltd. is a software development company specializing in providing software services across multiple fields, including video editing, screen recording, video conversion and compression, video enhancement, as well as disk partition management.

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From Trust to Value: Miles Group Signs Bo Jin and Isaac Lam, Launching into the Athlete Representation Track

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HONG KONG, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Miles Group, specializing in international sports marketing, announced today the signing of two outstanding professional golfers, Bo Jin and Isaac Lam. This milestone concurrently marks the official launch of the company’s athlete representation business.

Founded in 2012, Miles Group has spent over a decade providing Asian market marketing services for premier global golf brands, including Major Championships, the LPGA Tour, and the United States Golf Association (USGA). In 2026, the group’s domestic arm, Miles Shanghai, launched its proprietary tournament IP—the Junior Charity Classic—which offers top Asian junior golfers a direct pathway to elite junior tournaments in the United States.

“I have always believed that elite athletes are among the rarest and most valuable brand assets, yet their commercial potential remains vastly underestimated. Miles Group is entering the talent representation arena not simply to sign established names, but to leverage our 15 years of international sports marketing expertise. Our mission is to build a dedicated value-amplification system for Asia’s athletes, empowering them to command top-tier commercial influence far beyond the field of play.” said Smile Xu, founder of Miles Group and a top-tier marketing strategist.

“Having known Smile for ten years, I’ve watched her grow from an industry rising star into someone who drives real change. I have absolute faith in her capabilities, but what I admire most is her vision—helping more players use innovative methods to unlock true, long-term value, and even rewrite the rules of the industry,” said 24-year-old Bo Jin, who currently competes on the China Tour. “Entering my second year as a professional, I chose Miles Group because I believe in the future she sees, and it’s a future I want to be part of.”

Bo is the first Chinese player to reach the finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur, a member of the 2019 Junior Presidents Cup International Team, the individual runner-up at the 2021 NCAA D1 Championship, and the runner-up at the 13th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2022. Turning professional in 2025, Bo delivered a remarkable rookie year, capturing two runner-up finishes on the China Tour and placing in the top 20 during his DP World Tour debut.

Isaac Lam, 27, hails from Hong Kong, China, and turned professional in 2024. Now an active competitor on the China Tour, he boasts the title of a two-time Tour champion. Following his maiden China Tour victory at the 2025 Wuyishan International Open, Lam lifted his second trophy this past August at the Fanling Golf Classic in front of his home crowds.

“On the course, I am a champion, but in the business world, I am a complete novice. Two China Tour titles didn’t bring the commercial breakthrough I had anticipated,” Lam shared. “Since my amateur days, Smile has always given me unconditional advice. Joining Miles Group now is a choice born from seeing her selfless dedication to young players. She brings both the wisdom to sharpen my direction and the resources and capability to translate a championship title into real commercial value.”

Play Beyond • More than just the game—from amateur to professional, from trust to value! In launching its talent representative agency business, Miles Group is dedicated to systematically developing athletes’ multidimensional commercial value off the course. Moving forward, Miles Group will leverage precise resource matching and long-term strategic planning to create sustainable growth opportunities for players, while introducing high-value sports IPs to partners for mutual empowerment.

About Miles Group

Miles Group is a marketing agency headquartered in Hong Kong that has been deeply rooted in the Asian market for 15 years. With teams across Mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Thailand, it focuses on the sports and lifestyle sectors. The group provides one-stop services covering public relations, digital media, content creation, KOL management, and event management for top global clients. Its client portfolio includes industry benchmarks such as USGA, LPGA, LIV Golf, BLAST and more. Since 2025, the group has focused on developing its own tournament IPs and content; its inaugural Junior Charity Classic immediately became an industry market benchmark. 思迈超牛 is the affiliated operating company of Miles Group in Mainland China.

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SOURCE Miles Group

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