Voyager Space is an aerospace company founded in 2019, that assists in missions - from microgravity research to satellite deployment and commercial activities. Pioneering space technology solutions, it has conducted over 2,000 customer missions.
How did your career as a former military officer and then later on the private equity investment team at Goldman Sachs, lead you to get involved in the space industry in 2019?
I've always been involved in aviation, whether jumping out of planes or flying them. I started as a fighter pilot in the US military, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle in Europe, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. My aviation journey began even earlier in college when I was part of the Air Force skydiving team. After leaving the military, I transitioned to Wall Street, working at Goldman Sachs as a private equity investor - this gave me exposure to different phases of companies and capital structures.
As I contemplated my next steps, I thought about my skills and interests, and what the world needed. Aerospace and defense felt like a natural fit. Space, in particular, seemed like the next frontier—exciting, recession-resistant, and crucial for national security. As a fighter pilot, I often used space-based assets like imagery and GPS. This realization led me to combine my experience in operations, leadership, M&A, aerospace, and defense to start Voyager Space in partnership with Dylan Taylor, our CEO and Chairman.
How much of Voyager Space’s growth since its founding in 2019 can be attributed to organic growth versus M&A?
The growth has been a mix of both inorganic and organic development. We've made seven strategic acquisitions, focusing on vertically integrating key parts of the space station supply chain and other strategic areas in aerospace and defense. For instance, we sell high-end avionics and navigation systems to blue-chip customers globally, with over four million hours of space flight heritage within Voyager.
Our customers range from academic institutions to commercial entities. We helped a US university deploy satellites to detect wildfires from space. We've also worked with Madison Square Garden to get high-fidelity cameras from Earth to the ISS for immersive experiences in the SPHERE in Las Vegas. Recently, we collaborated with Hilton to bake the first chocolate chip cookies in space as part of a marketing campaign. Additionally, Voyager is the world's largest commercial customer of the International Space Station (ISS), having conducted over 1,300 missions and deployed over 340 satellites from it. Notably, we own the world's only private real estate permanently integrated on the ISS—the Bishop Airlock, which allows us to deploy satellites, dispose of trash, and move critical equipment in and out of the space station. Here, we facilitate high-end research and help get missions and payloads from Earth to the space station with a direct communication link with the astronauts on the ISS through our Houston Mission Control Center.
Given that access to space has been possible since the 1960s, why do you think it has taken so long for commercial space to become a larger market?
If we look at history, there was a 55-60-year gap between the first human flight by the Wright brothers in 1906 and the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. The progress in space has been relatively fast if you consider the starting points. Over time, the advancements from initial exploration to widespread commercial use have accelerated. For example, it took humanity centuries to explore and circumnavigate the globe, but only a few decades to advance from aviation to space travel.
Space is inherently more challenging than aviation due to factors like radiation, extreme speeds, and temperatures. However, we've now reached an inflection point where space tourism and commercial missions are becoming more common. Technology has advanced and the cost of launches has decreased significantly, making space more accessible. In our lifetime, we will likely see the number of people who have flown into space increase from hundreds to thousands.
Having been on the user end of many technological advancements, what technologies are you most excited about implementing that offer the most potential?
Voyager is focused on leveraging the microgravity environment of space stations for scientific and medical advancements. For example, Merck is conducting microgravity research on a cancer drug called Keytruda on the ISS. In space, you can grow three-dimensional crystal structures that are not possible on Earth due to gravity. These 3D structures can lead to new drug development opportunities. Another breakthrough involves 3D printing biological tissues in space, such as menisci and ligaments, which can then be transplanted into patients on Earth.
There are also exciting opportunities in semiconductor research. As semiconductors become smaller, the effects of gravity on Earth cause defects in their structure. However, in microgravity, these defects are minimized, allowing for more efficient semiconductors. These advancements in pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are just a few examples of the potential that space holds for improving life on Earth.
What is the biggest internal challenge to the growth of space projects and the sector more widely?
The main challenge we face is attracting and retaining top talent in the space sector, despite the excitement and interest in space right now. It’s a competitive field for the best minds. While the technology and hardware for our projects, like commercial space station Starlab, largely exist off the shelf, integrating them safely and efficiently requires top-notch personnel.
Programs like Starlab, our global joint venture with Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation, MDA Space, and more helps, but maintaining a motivated and skilled workforce is an ongoing challenge. As a company, we believe in the principle that A-level talent attracts other A-level talent, while B-level talent attracts C-level talent.
What are your top priorities for Voyager Space over the next 2-5 years?
We are committed to fostering innovation and staying at the forefront of space technology. the Starlab global joint venture, led by Voyager Space, demonstrates our commitment to international collaboration and growth. Starlab is a significant part of Voyager, but we are not just a space station company.
We aim to grow as a prime contractor for large-scale programs, both in space exploration and national security. We are also focusing on expanding our international business. The space industry often struggles with export control issues, but we aim to navigate these regulations to enable global operations. By doing this, we can achieve continuous manufacturing cycles and capitalize on opportunities across different time zones.
