voyager space holdings news

Voyager Space raises $80M as it continues development on private space station, Starlab

Voyager Space , a company developing a private space station, has raised $80.2 million in new capital. The new funding comes as Voyager continues its development of the station, Starlab, which is no doubt an enormously capital-intensive undertaking.

The funding includes participation from NewSpace Capital, Midway Venture Partners and Industrious Ventures, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and other documents viewed by TechCrunch. Seraphim Space also participated, TechCrunch has confirmed. The funding was filed with the SEC on January 27.

In October 2021, Voyager announced it was developing “Starlab,” a completely private space station, in partnership with Nanoracks (which is majority owned by Voyager) and Lockheed Martin. The project, which is not the only private station currently under development, is in part in response to the impending retirement of the International Space Station by the end of the decade.

NASA has already provided a large bulk of funding to Voyager, as well as two separate projects led by Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman. Starlab was awarded $160 million to further develop its plans under the agency’s Commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) Destinations program. In a recent report, NASA’s Office of Inspector General said that a habitable station in LEO was vital to conducting research needed to support human exploration missions to the moon and Mars.

TechCrunch has reached out to Voyager Space for comment and will update the story if they respond.

More TechCrunch

Get the industry’s biggest tech news, techcrunch daily news.

Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.

Startups Weekly

Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.

TechCrunch Fintech

The latest Fintech news and analysis, delivered every Tuesday.

TechCrunch Mobility

TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.

Top court orders ban on Elon Musk’s X in Brazil

A top court in Brazil ordered an immediate, country-wide suspension of the X platform on Friday after a months-long legal battle with Elon Musk’s social media company over content moderation,…

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

OpenAI is in talks to raise a new round of funding at an eye-popping $100 billion-plus valuation, sources told The Wall Street Journal this week. It turns out investors have…

California AI bill SB 1047 aims to prevent AI disasters, but Silicon Valley warns it will cause one

SB 1047 has drawn the ire of Silicon Valley players large and small, including venture capitalists, big tech trade groups, researchers and startup founders.

Carta’s ill-fated secondaries business finally found a buyer

Stock-trading startup Public has acquired the brokerage accounts of Carta’s secondaries business, TechCrunch has confirmed.

Redfin is already trying to defend against a new flat-fee real estate startup

Redfin is responding to a new startup that is hoping to upend the way people search for and buy homes by offering a flat-fee service. On August 29, TechCrunch reported…

Apple stands by decision to terminate account belonging to WWDC student winner

Apple moved to terminate the Appstun developer account after multiple rejections of its app that Apple says violates its App Store guidelines.

Airbnb and fashion app By Rotation partner for free destination wedding outfits

By Rotation has a partnership with Airbnb to let those who’ve booked an Airbnb receive a complimentary outfit rental.

The org behind the dataset used to train Stable Diffusion claims it has removed CSAM

LAION, the German research org that created the data used to train Stable Diffusion, among other generative AI models, has released a new dataset that it claims has been “thoroughly…

North Korean hackers exploited Chrome zero-day to steal crypto

The North Korean hackers’ attack started by tricking a victim into visiting a web domain under the hackers’ control.

Fundraising is a lot easier when you have traction

Some stories emerge and die in a matter of days. Others require us to stay tuned for more, and this week brought us several of these.

Google rolls out safeguards for more of its AI products ahead of the US presidential election

Google is gearing up for the upcoming U.S. presidential election by rolling out safeguards for more of its generative AI products. Although the company already previously announced that it would…

Hello Wonder is building an AI-powered browser for kids

Across the world, regulators have ramped up their efforts to try and increase the safety of kids on the internet. Major social networks are facing scrutiny, and as a countermeasure,…

Former Riot Games employees leverage generative AI to power NPCs in new video game

Jam & Tea Studios is the latest gaming startup implementing generative AI to transform the way players interact with non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games.  Traditionally, video game NPCs are…

Elle Family Office and Keebeck Wealth Management are coming to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Traditionally seen as private financial entities, family offices are key players in the supply of venture capital, using startup investments as a way to diversify their portfolios and engage with…

Be a volunteer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco is just two months away, and we’re still looking for enthusiastic and driven volunteers to assist our events team. Don’t miss this opportunity to…

Last Day: Exhibit your startup with big savings at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Don’t miss out! Today is the last day to apply and scale your Series A to B startup at a significantly reduced exhibit cost with the ScaleUp Startup Exhibitor Package.…

Dailyhunt parent VerSe’s valuation gets slashed 42% to $2.9B: investor note

Indian tech and media startup VerSe, which operates popular news aggregator Dailyhunt, is worth about 42% below its last private valuation, according to estimates by its investor 360 One.  The…

Uber drives deeper into South Korea to take on Kakao Mobility

After seeing double-digit growth in South Korea, Uber Technologies has announced a strategic plan to double down in the country — directly challenging market leader Kakao Mobility, the ride-hailing unit…

TikTok’s new ‘Manage Topics’ tool gives you more control over your For You feed; here’s how to use it

TikTok is introducing a new “Manage Topics” feature that will give you more control over what you see on your For You feed, the company announced on Friday. The new…

Google is working on AI that can hear signs of sickness

Given everything you’ve already heard about AI, you may not be surprised to learn that Google is among other outfits beginning to use sound signals to predict early signs of…

Apple and Nvidia could be OpenAI’s next big investors

Nvidia and Apple are reportedly in talks to contribute to OpenAI’s next fundraising round — a round that could value the ChatGPT maker at $100 billion. Per its sources, The…

India’s Agrim snags $17.3M to help farmers get inputs like seeds and pesticides more easily

Agrim has raised $17.3 million to expand its B2B agri-inputs platform to more manufacturers and retailers in India.

Intuitive Machines wins $116.9M contract for a moon mission in 2027

Intuitive Machines, the venture-backed startup that went public last year, will send a moon lander to the lunar south pole in 2027 as part of a $116.9 million contract awarded…

South Korean tech giant Naver launches crypto wallet in partnership with Chiliz

Many tech companies are expanding their reach into the web3 market, integrating blockchain and web3 technologies into their products and services. In the latest development, South Korean internet giant Naver…

Atlassian acquires Rewatch as it gets into AI meeting bots

Atlassian plans to integrate Rewatch into its recently launched Rovo AI platform so that transcripts become searchable within the overall business context.

Sub.club aims to fund the fediverse via premium feeds

Sub.club thinks premium feeds could also serve other use cases, like supporting helpful bots or generating funds to help maintain a community’s Mastodon server, for instance.

Gmail users on Android can now chat with Gemini about their emails

Gmail users on Android devices can now chat directly with Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, about their emails in the Gmail app. Google rolled out the new feature, Gmail Q&A, on…

Tesla keeps putting its digital history in the memory hole

It seems that the Ministry of Truth has been busy at Tesla. Some sharp-eyed folks, including reporters at Electrek, noticed that Tesla has deleted all of its blog posts prior…

Spotify points finger at Apple over an unwelcome change to volume control technology

When streaming to connected devices via Spotify Connect on iOS, users were previously able to use the physical buttons on their iPhone to adjust the volume. But this will no…

Generative AI coding startup Magic lands $320M investment from Eric Schmidt, Atlassian and others

Magic, an AI startup creating models to generate code and automate a range of software development tasks, has raised a large tranche of cash from investors, including ex-Google CEO Eric…

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. Completes Acquisition of The Launch Company

DENVER , April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space Holdings , Inc. (Voyager), a global leader in space exploration, today announced it has completed the acquisition of The Launch Company , a leader in developing the systems, hardware, and processes to accelerate NewSpace companies to orbit. Voyager announced the company's intent to acquire  The Launch Company in Nov. 2020 and, with its closing, will now add launch services to the holding company's growing list of capabilities.

"Even since we announced our intent to acquire The Launch Company late last year, we've seen the demand for launches increase dramatically and we are confident that this trend is going to continue," said Matthew Kuta , president and COO of Voyager Space Holdings. "The Launch Company is perfectly positioned to support this tidal wave of launch needs and we are thrilled that we can now support the exciting work that they are doing to help next-generation space companies gain access to orbit faster, cheaper, and more reliably."

Currently, there are over 100 rocket companies working towards launch in the U.S. and around the world. The Launch Company was established to help NewSpace commercial clients, as well as DOD and USAF assets, get to space faster and more affordably by streamlining the launch process, in part through automation. The company is actively working to create the "Third Wave of Space," which is the world's first multi-user, mobile launch site designed to service the widest range of launch vehicles.

"Voyager is the perfect partner for us because they really understand our unique capabilities and the vision we have for The Launch Company," said Ben Kellie , CEO and founder of The Launch Company. "Because of Voyager's integrated model and their connections in the industry, we will be able to stay laser-focused on meeting our milestones and reaching our ultimate goal, which is to build standardized launch hardware to meet the demand of a rapidly growing industry."

Voyager's acquisition of The Launch Company adds to the growing list of disruptive capabilities in becoming the leading NewSpace exploration platform by increasing vertical integration and mission capability to enable humanity's most ambitious projects. To date, Voyager has acquired Altius Space Machines, Pioneer Astronautics, The Launch Company and announced its intent to acquire the majority stake of XO Markets and its largest subsidiary Nanoracks.

For more information on Voyager please visit: https://voyagerspaceholdings.com/   

About Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. is a global leader in space exploration. Voyager's long-term mission is to create a vertically integrated publicly traded NewSpace company capable of delivering any mission humans can conceive. The firm's first in industry model is uniquely tailored to support the growth needs of commercial space companies by offering an alternative solution to traditional private capital models and replaces them with a longer-term approach as a provider of permanent capital. Voyager is led by founders and space industry veterans Dylan Taylor and Matthew Kuta , with a Board of Directors that includes National Security Expert and four-star Air Force General William Shelton , leading investor Gabe Finke , world-leading planetary Scientist, Dr. Alan Stern , noted public company director and former undersecretary of technology Dr. Cheryl Shavers , experienced technology executive, board director, and financial leader, Marian Joh , and former undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord . To learn more about Voyager Space Holdings, Inc., please visit: http://voyagerspaceholdings.com/

About The Launch Company

The Launch Company, LLC is a leader in developing the systems, hardware, and processes to accelerate NewSpace companies to orbit. Their mission is to develop the world's first multi-user launch site to service the dozens of new rockets under development around the world. They are building to that goal by delivering designs, flight-critical hardware, and ground support equipment to leading rocket companies around the U.S. By focusing on automation and servicing as many vehicle configurations as possible, they help make the business case for affordable, resilient access to space that makes launching rockets as routine as commercial air travel. The Launch Company's Alaska -based team is led by founder Ben Kellie and comprises NewSpace veterans with dozens of combined launch and landing experiences on land, in air, and at sea. They are focused on building a diverse, forward-thinking company that tackles the biggest challenges in aerospace. To learn more about The Launch Company, please visit:  www.launch-company.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements."  All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements."  Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE Voyager Space Holdings Inc.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My Portfolio
• Latest News
• Stock Market
• Biden Economy
• Stocks: Most Actives
• Stocks: Gainers
• Stocks: Losers
• Trending Tickers
• World Indices
• US Treasury Bonds Rates
• Top Mutual Funds
• Options: Highest Open Interest
• Options: Highest Implied Volatility
• Basic Materials
• Communication Services
• Consumer Cyclical
• Consumer Defensive
• Financial Services
• Industrials
• Real Estate
• Stock Comparison
• Advanced Chart
• Currency Converter
• Credit Cards
• Balance Transfer Cards
• Cash-back Cards
• Rewards Cards
• Travel Cards
• Credit Card Offers
• Best Free Checking
• Student Loans
• Personal Loans
• Car insurance
• Mortgage Refinancing
• Mortgage Calculator
• Morning Brief
• Market Domination
• Market Domination Overtime
• Asking for a Trend
• Opening Bid
• Stocks in Translation
• Lead This Way
• Good Buy or Goodbye?
• Financial Freestyle
• Capitol Gains
• Living Not So Fabulously
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Yahoo Finance

Voyager space holdings to acquire majority stake in space micro.

Voyager Space Holdings is continuing its trend of snapping up space companies by moving to acquire a majority stake in Space Micro , a manufacturer of orbital communications and digital subsystems for satellites.

This is Voyager’s sixth acquisition since its founding in October 2019, as the company seeks to become a full-service space firm offering everything from robotics to launch support to communications tech.

Previous acquisitions include X.O. Markets, the parent of commercial space service venture Nanoracks ; Pioneer Astronautics, a company that conducts research into supporting human life in outer space; robotics startup Altius Space Machines; and The Launch Company , a launch support company.

The acquisition strategy has turned Voyager Space into something of a powerhouse; despite being scarcely two years old, the company has already set its sights on launching a commercial space station in 2027 . The plans, which were announced as part of a joint project with Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin, position Voyager to oversee financing and capital allocation for the project.

Whether Space Micro’s tech will be used on that station isn’t clear, but the investment will no doubt provide support for the subsystems manufacturer to scale operations and its product output.

“Today marks a huge step in our growth trajectory,” Space Micro co-founder and chair David Strobel said in a statement. “The satellite constellation market stands at the tipping point of explosive expansion and now, with the Voyager team and operational functions by our side, we will be prepared to scale our technologies to meet these market needs.”

Space Micro has built out a large portfolio of customers since its founding in 2002, including NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the U.S. Air Force and the German Space Agency. The company currently has more than 100 subsystems in orbit and has collectively racked up 2.7 million hours of spaceflight time.

The company has provided tech for NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere Dust and Environment Explorer mission and its Transiting Explanet Survey Satellite. Space Micro also works with commercial companies, and was selected by Masten Space Systems earlier this year to provide transponders for the company’s XL-1 lunar lander.

• Company News

Voyager Space Holdings acquires Pioneer Astronautics

Intelligent Waves and Horizon3.ai partner

ODNI posts ICDC RFI

AFRL publishes SSHINE draft RFP

Denver, CO-based Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. , the world’s first space-focused holding company, announced on July 13 the acquisition of   Pioneer Astronautics  in a cash and stock transaction. Pioneer Astronautics is a hands-on research and development company dedicated to inventing and proving new technologies to advance humanity’s reach into space and improve life on Earth. Today’s news marks the second acquisition for Voyager since its  inception , furthering the company’s mission of creating the world’s first vertically integrated and publicly traded NewSpace company.

Headquartered in Lakewood, CO, Pioneer Astronautics was founded by Dr. Robert Zubrin in 1996, and the company’s innovative team has proven successful in demonstrating a series of dramatic innovations that have the potential to open up radical new capabilities for space exploration systems. Pioneer Astronautics is currently focused on making sustainable life beyond Earth a reality, building systems that transform local materials found in space into useful resources supporting exploration and settlement. The company was recently one of four businesses selected by NASA to help mature a range of lunar technologies for sustainable exploration of the Moon under the Artemis program. Pioneer Astronautics will build and demonstrate hardware that can produce oxygen and steel from lunar regolith, helping support sustainable lunar operations.

“While the space industry has evolved immensely in the 24 years since we first launched Pioneer Astronautics, our goal of inventing and proving new technologies to advance humanity’s reach into space has remained the same,” said Zubrin, founder and president, Pioneer Astronautics. “Now, with the innovative environment Voyager provides us, we’re able to confidently accelerate toward this goal, knowing we have the support of long-term, permanent capital.”

Led by Dylan Taylor and Matthew Kuta, Voyager seeks to increase vertical integration and mission capability to enable humanity’s most ambitious projects. The firm’s portfolio now includes two Colorado-based companies, Pioneer Astronautics and Altius Space Machines. By offering an alternate solution to traditional private capital models, Voyager is uniquely tailored to support the long-term vision of commercial space companies, especially in today’s current climate.

“The space industry is entering a new era, and it’s one that will drive creativity and innovation of technology at lightning speed,” said Kuta, Voyager president and COO. “The permanent capital model of Voyager is well suited to support NewSpace companies in all types of markets to include both up and down markets. By centralizing critical business functions at the holding company level, Dr. Zubrin and his team will now have their full resources available to tackle what’s next in NewSpace. Dr. Zubrin is a true industry visionary, and we are thrilled to welcome Pioneer Astronautics to our team.”

Source: Voyager Space Holdings

Cubic wins British army LVC contract

T-rex adds allen harper as cybersecurity evp, related articles.

Xage launches Xage Cybersecurity Services

Noblis awarded patent for ML security system

GA-ASI, Ramco partner for SkyGuardian support

Want more IC News?

Sign up to receive our free daily newsletter and never miss an update!

Sign Up Now

We couldn’t find any results matching your search.

Please try using other words for your search or explore other sections of the website for relevant information.

We’re sorry, we are currently experiencing some issues, please try again later.

Our team is working diligently to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Voyager Space Selected as First Technical Support Team Member for Spaceport Nova Scotia

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Maritime Launch Services (Cboe CA: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF) is pleased to announce that the company has selected Voyager Space (Voyager) as the first Owner Authorized Representative (OAR) for the next phase of development, Spaceport Nova Scotia’s launch support infrastructure.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821428317/en/

This strategic partnership between the two companies highlights the growing collaboration between Canada and the United States under the Technology Safeguard Agreement (TSA) recently announced on August 2 nd, 2024. The TSA facilitates cross-border cooperation in space technology, including launching US launch vehicles and satellites from Canada and the development of the associated specialty support equipment.

Voyager, through its Exploration Segment, will provide comprehensive engineering, design and fabrication support to Maritime Launch, leveraging more than six decades of combined aerospace and defense technology experience. Voyager will bring its decades of commercial spaceflight engineering, manufacturing, and operations capabilities to provide engineering design and development and buildup of select portions of the launch site on behalf of Maritime Launch. Voyager will work alongside Maritime Launch to analyze launch client requirements and integrate them into the current site layout.

This collaboration is a testament to Voyager’s unique capability and past performance that supports spaceport facility and launch support system design and fabrication for a number of US launch clients and launch sites.

Jeffrey Manber , President of International and Space Stations at Voyager Space, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership stating, “Canada is a long-standing partner of Voyager Space and we are thrilled to support Maritime Launch Services as they build a world-class spaceport in Nova Scotia . Our team’s extensive experience in building customer-focused commercial space systems positions us to deliver exceptional value to Maritime Launch.”

This partnership between Voyager and Maritime Launch Services is expected to accelerate the development of Canada’s first commercial spaceport, Spaceport Nova Scotia, positioning Canada as a key competitor in the fast-growing global space industry.

Stephen Matier , President and CEO, Maritime Launch stated, “Selecting Voyager Space as our first Owner Authorized Representative will ensure Spaceport Nova Scotia is well positioned to meet the design and development needs of our launch clients. Voyager’s vast experience and dedication to excellence make their team ideal partners for this project. The Technology Safeguard Agreement between Canada and the United States has been instrumental in allowing us to access the best expertise available, ensuring the success of this pioneering initiative.”

About Maritime Launch Services

Maritime Launch (Cboe CA: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF) is a Canadian-owned commercial space company based in Nova Scotia . Maritime Launch is developing Spaceport Nova Scotia, a launch site that will provide satellite delivery services to clients in support of the growing commercial space transportation industry over North America’s widest range of inclinations from a single site. Spaceport Nova Scotia will allow launch vehicles to place their satellites into coveted low-earth orbit destinations. Spaceport Nova Scotia is Canada’s first commercial orbital launch complex.

For more information about Maritime Launch and Spaceport Nova Scotia, visit www.maritimelaunch.com

About Voyager Space

Voyager Space is dedicated to building a better future for humanity in space and on Earth. With over 35 years of spaceflight heritage and over 2,000 successful missions, Voyager is powering the commercial space revolution. Voyager delivers exploration, technology, and defense solutions to a global customer base that includes civil and national security agencies, commercial companies, academic and research institutions, and more.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing of spaceport construction and ability to launch medium class vehicles.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to continue to develop revenue-generating applications; continued approval of the Company’s activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued growth of the Company; the Company’s ability to finance its operations until profitability can be achieved and sustained.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company’s operations; the inability of the Company to provide the enumerated services; and availability of launch vehicles.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821428317/en/

Maritime Launch Services Sarah McLean Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs [email protected] www.maritimelaunch.com 902.402.6947

[email protected]

Source: Maritime Launch Services

In This Story

To add symbols:

• Type a symbol or company name. When the symbol you want to add appears, add it to My Quotes by selecting it and pressing Enter/Return.
• Copy and paste multiple symbols separated by spaces.

These symbols will be available throughout the site during your session.

Your symbols have been updated

Edit watchlist.

• Type a symbol or company name. When the symbol you want to add appears, add it to Watchlist by selecting it and pressing Enter/Return.

Opt in to Smart Portfolio

Smart Portfolio is supported by our partner TipRanks. By connecting my portfolio to TipRanks Smart Portfolio I agree to their Terms of Use .

share this!

March 18, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

As Voyager 1's mission draws to a close, one planetary scientist reflects on its legacy

by Daniel Strain, University of Colorado at Boulder

For nearly 50 years, NASA's Voyager 1 mission has competed for the title of deep space's little engine that could. Launched in 1977 along with its twin, Voyager 2, the spacecraft is now soaring more than 15 billion miles from Earth.

On their journeys through the solar system , the Voyager spacecraft beamed startling images back to Earth—of Jupiter and Saturn, then Uranus and Neptune and their moons. Voyager 1's most famous shot may be what famed astronomer Carl Sagan called the "pale blue dot," a lonely image of Earth taken from 6 billion miles away in 1990.

But Voyager 1's trek could now be drawing to a close. Since December, the spacecraft--which weighs less than most cars--has been sending nonsensical messages back to Earth, and engineers are struggling to fix the problem. Voyager 2 remains operational.

Fran Bagenal is a planetary scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. She started working on the Voyager mission during a summer student job in the late 1970s and has followed the two spacecraft closely since.

To celebrate Voyager 1, Bagenal reflects on the mission's legacy—and which planet she wants to visit again.

Many are impressed that the spacecraft has kept going for this long. Do you agree?

Voyager 1's computer was put together in the 1970s, and there are very few people around who still use those computing languages. The communication rate is 40 bits per second. Not megabits. Not kilobits. Forty bits per second. Moreover, the round-trip communication time is 45 hours. It's amazing that they're still communicating with it at all.

What was it like working on Voyager during the mission's early days?

At the very beginning, we used computer punch cards. The data was on magnetic tapes, and we would print out line-plots on reels of paper. It was very primitive.

But planet by planet, with each flyby, the technology got a lot more sophisticated. By the time we got to Neptune in 1989, we were doing our science on much more efficient computers, and NASA presented its results live across the globe over an early version of the internet.

Think about it—going from punch cards to the internet in 12 years.

How did the Voyager spacecraft shape our understanding of the solar system?

First of all, the pictures were jaw-dropping. They were the first high-quality, close-up pictures of the four gas giant planets and their moons. The Voyagers really revolutionized our thinking by going from one planet to the other and comparing them.

Jupiter and Saturn's ammonia white and orange clouds, for example, were violently swept around by strong winds, while Uranus and Neptune's milder weather systems were hidden and colored blue by atmospheric methane. But the most dramatic discoveries were the multiple distinct worlds of the different moons, from Jupiter's cratered Callisto and volcanic Io to Saturn's cloudy Titan to plumes erupting on Triton, a moon of Neptune.

The Jupiter and Saturn systems have since been explored in greater detail by orbiting missions—Galileo and Juno at Jupiter, Cassini at Saturn.

Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft that has visited Uranus and Neptune. Do we need to return?

My vote is to return to Uranus—the only planet in our solar system that's tipped on its side.

We didn't know before Voyager whether Uranus had a magnetic field. When we arrived, we found that Uranus has a magnetic field that's severely tilted with respect to the planet's rotation. That's a weird magnetic field.

Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune all emit a lot of heat from the inside. They glow in the infrared, emitting two and a half times more energy than they receive from the sun. These things are hot.

Uranus isn't the same. It doesn't have this internal heat source. So maybe, just maybe, at the end of the formation of the solar system billions of years ago, some big object hit Uranus, tipped it on its side, stirred it up and dissipated the heat. Perhaps, this led to an irregular magnetic field .

These are the sorts of questions that were raised by Voyager 30 years ago. Now we need to go back.

Culturally, Voyager 1's most lasting impact may be the 'pale blue dot.' Why?

I have huge respect for Carl Sagan. I met him when I was 16, a high school student in England, and I shook his hand.

He pointed to the Voyager image and said, "Here we are. We're leaving the solar system. We're looking back, and there's this pale blue dot. That's us. It's all our friends. It's all our relatives. It's where we live and die."

This was the time we were just beginning to say, "Wait a minute. What are we doing to our planet Earth?" He was awakening or reinforcing this need to think about what humans are doing to Earth. It also evoked why we need to go exploring space: to think about where we are and how we fit into the solar system.

How are you feeling now that Voyager 1's mission may be coming to an end?

It's amazing. No one thought they would go this far. But with just a few instruments working, how much longer can we keep going? I think it will soon be time to say, "Right, jolly good. Extraordinary job. Well done."

Provided by University of Colorado at Boulder

Explore further

Feedback to editors

Doughnut-shaped region found inside Earth's core deepens understanding of planet's magnetic field

4 hours ago

Study combines data and molecular simulations to accelerate drug discovery

Biodiversity loss: Many students of environment-related subjects are partly unaware of the causes

5 hours ago

How stressed are you? Nanoparticles pave the way for home stress testing

Researchers identify genes for low glycemic index and high protein in rice

7 hours ago

New discoveries about how mosquitoes mate may help the fight against malaria

New study highlights expansion of drylands amidst impact of climate change

8 hours ago

Novel chemical tool aims to streamline drug-making process

Heat waves impair bumblebees' ability to detect floral scents, study finds

Higher-order topological simulation unlocks new potential in quantum computers

Relevant physicsforums posts, j0524-0336, surprisingly high li concentration.

9 hours ago

Can there be free electrons in interstellar gas?

Aug 26, 2024

Rock on Mars possibly indicating Life

Does modified gravity somehow explain galaxies that don't need it.

Aug 25, 2024

Regarding the accuracy of the description of a pulsar in a 1977 paper

Aug 24, 2024

Optimizing Exposure Times: Balancing Efficiency and Image Quality

Aug 23, 2024

More from Astronomy and Astrophysics

Related Stories

NASA: let's say something to Voyager 1 on 40th anniversary of launch

Aug 15, 2017

Unwrapping Uranus and its icy secrets: What NASA would learn from a mission to a wild world

Nov 28, 2023

What does Uranus sound like?

Apr 2, 2019

Jupiter has at least three magnetosheath jets, finds Voyager 2 data study

Jan 11, 2024

Which planet has the most moons? Moons of Saturn, Venus and Jupiter explained

Aug 15, 2022

'Star Trek' actor Shatner sends message to Voyager

Sep 5, 2017

Recommended for you

Solar Orbiter shows how solar wind gets a magnetic push

New Horizons spacecraft measurements shed light on the darkness of the universe

Aug 29, 2024

International consortium with NASA reveals hidden impact of spaceflight on gut health

Scientists discover a long-sought global electric field on Earth

Aug 28, 2024

New algorithms could enhance autonomous spacecraft safety

In six new rogue worlds, Webb Telescope finds more star birth clues

Aug 27, 2024

Let us know if there is a problem with our content

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter

• Bishop Airlock
• Satellite Launch Services
• Astronaut Health & Medicine
• Mission Management, Ops, & Integration
• Advanced Systems
• Research & Tech Payloads
• In Space Servicing & Assembly
• Satellite and Spacecraft Subsystems
• Electro-Optics, Guidance & Navigation
• Digital Systems
• Signals Intelligence
• TALIX: Tactical Precision
• Ground Launch Support

© Copyright. All rights reserved.

Legal & Privacy Notices

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. Completes Acquisition of The Launch Company

Voyager adds launch services to its growing list of capabilities

DENVER, April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. (Voyager), a global leader in space exploration, today announced it has completed the acquisition of The Launch Company, a leader in developing the systems, hardware, and processes to accelerate NewSpace companies to orbit. Voyager announced the company’s intent to acquire The Launch Company in Nov. 2020 and, with its closing, will now add launch services to the holding company’s growing list of capabilities.

“Even since we announced our intent to acquire The Launch Company late last year, we’ve seen the demand for launches increase dramatically and we are confident that this trend is going to continue,” said Matthew Kuta, president and COO of Voyager Space Holdings. “The Launch Company is perfectly positioned to support this tidal wave of launch needs and we are thrilled that we can now support the exciting work that they are doing to help next-generation space companies gain access to orbit faster, cheaper, and more reliably.”

Currently, there are over 100 rocket companies working towards launch in the U.S. and around the world. The Launch Company was established to help NewSpace commercial clients, as well as DOD and USAF assets, get to space faster and more affordably by streamlining the launch process, in part through automation. The company is actively working to create the “Third Wave of Space,” which is the world’s first multi-user, mobile launch site designed to service the widest range of launch vehicles.

“Voyager is the perfect partner for us because they really understand our unique capabilities and the vision we have for The Launch Company,” said Ben Kellie, CEO and founder of The Launch Company. “Because of Voyager’s integrated model and their connections in the industry, we will be able to stay laser-focused on meeting our milestones and reaching our ultimate goal, which is to build standardized launch hardware to meet the demand of a rapidly growing industry.”

Voyager’s acquisition of The Launch Company adds to the growing list of disruptive capabilities in becoming the leading NewSpace exploration platform by increasing vertical integration and mission capability to enable humanity’s most ambitious projects. To date, Voyager has acquired Altius Space Machines, Pioneer Astronautics, The Launch Company and announced its intent to acquire the majority stake of XO Markets and its largest subsidiary Nanoracks.

For more information on Voyager please visit: https://voyagerspaceholdings.com/

About Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. is a global leader in space exploration. Voyager’s long-term mission is to create a vertically integrated publicly traded NewSpace company capable of delivering any mission humans can conceive. The firm’s first in industry model is uniquely tailored to support the growth needs of commercial space companies by offering an alternative solution to traditional private capital models and replaces them with a longer-term approach as a provider of permanent capital. Voyager is led by founders and space industry veterans Dylan Taylor and Matthew Kuta, with a Board of Directors that includes National Security Expert and four-star Air Force General William Shelton, leading investor Gabe Finke, world-leading planetary Scientist, Dr. Alan Stern, noted public company director and former undersecretary of technology Dr. Cheryl Shavers, experienced technology executive, board director, and financial leader, Marian Joh, and former undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord. To learn more about Voyager Space Holdings, Inc., please visit: http://voyagerspaceholdings.com/

About The Launch Company

The Launch Company, LLC is a leader in developing the systems, hardware, and processes to accelerate NewSpace companies to orbit. Their mission is to develop the world’s first multi-user launch site to service the dozens of new rockets under development around the world. They are building to that goal by delivering designs, flight-critical hardware, and ground support equipment to leading rocket companies around the U.S. By focusing on automation and servicing as many vehicle configurations as possible, they help make the business case for affordable, resilient access to space that makes launching rockets as routine as commercial air travel. The Launch Company’s Alaska-based team is led by founder Ben Kellie and comprises NewSpace veterans with dozens of combined launch and landing experiences on land, in air, and at sea. They are focused on building a diverse, forward-thinking company that tackles the biggest challenges in aerospace. To learn more about The Launch Company, please visit: www.launch-company.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) mission statement and growth strategy, are “forward-looking statements.” Although the Company’s management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE Voyager Space Holdings Inc.

News from Sverdlovsk Oblast

Top Sverdlovsk Oblast News

The number of victims of the collapse of a house in Nizhny Tagil increased to 11

Scandal in training match: "Ban him for life"

The guardian accused of murdering a child in the Urals was found sane

Latest news stories.

The son of the arrested deputy Shoigu, Popov, sold military uniforms online — Shot: EADaily

Russian power plant insecure, nuclear watchdog warns

Lawyer: prison officers are putting pressure on the leader of the “Algeria, Kazakhstan!” party convicted of extremism Marat Zhylanbaev

Ρωσία: Σταμάτησαν οι πτήσεις για λόγους ασφαλείας στο αεροδρόμιο του Καζάν

Athlete Kochanova: “My salary is quite low — 80-90 thousand. A rented apartment, gasoline, food, basic medicines — it's not enough for anything else”

8 dead, including 4 guards, in attempted Russian prison uprising by ISIS prisoners

Inmates shot dead at Russian prison after killing staff

Russia's largest tank manufacturer raises workers' salaries by almost a third

Local news publishers, related locations.

Breaking News Topics Related to Sverdlovsk Oblast

Covering the business and politics of space

Voyager Space Holdings

MDA Space joins Starlab Space commercial space station venture

Canadian company MDA Space will join the Starlab Space joint venture developing a commercial space station, providing its space robotics capabilities and expanding the international scope of the partnership.

Mitsubishi takes stake in Starlab Space

Vast Space hires former Voyager Space executive

Industry seeks more resources, policy changes to support transition from ISS to commercial space stations

Starlab commercial space station to launch on starship.

Airbus and Voyager finalize Starlab joint venture

Nasa adds funding to blue origin and voyager space commercial space station agreements.

Helicity Space raises $5 million for fusion engine development

Airbus and Voyager sign agreement with ESA on Starlab commercial space station

Northrop and Voyager emphasize benefits of commercial space station partnership

Sign up for a SpaceNews newsletter

Get top stories, military space news and more delivered to your inbox.