Jim Cantrell’s Phantom Space Acquires Micro Aerospace Solutions
Phantom Space’s Daytona Rocket (image by Phantom Space)
Phantom Space Corp., the Arizona-based company space company led by founding SpaceX member Jim Cantrell, has acquired space systems developer Micro Aerospace Solutions (MAS) operating out of Melbourne, Florida. This is Phantom’s second acquisition of the year, following its May 2021 acquisition of propulsion space systems developer StratSpace, which is also based in Arizona.
Phantom aims to mass manufacture launch vehicles, satellites, and space propulsion systems. The company is already booking 2023 launches for its Daytona rocket and 2024 launches of its Laguna rocket.
Phantom CEO Jim Cantrell is famous for being one of Elon Musk’s early partners in founding SpaceX and was a central figure in the development of SpaceX’s Falcon 1 launch vehicle. He began pursuing a career in professional road racing in 2005 while still involved with several space technology companies.
MAS specializes in micro satellites, thruster design, propulsion systems, attitude control, command and data handling, and computer communications systems for spacecraft and rockets. They have proprietary wide-band communications hardware which aims to allow for a broader range of connectivity in multiple spectrums. MAS has also been involved in the design, development and flight of several International Space Station payloads.
“With every passing day, the democratization of space access becomes more and more of a reality … A significant revolution in low cost and low-hassle space access is underway and, as a result, we are seeing a vertical integration of the launch and satellite markets as a single product offering to many customers,” Phantom’s Cantrell said in the acquisition announcement. “By acquiring Micro Aerospace Solutions and integrating their technology into our own, we are furthering Phantom’s mass manufacturing and distribution of space transportation technology, enabling us to push these discussions and explorations forward even more.”
Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.