Phantom Space Corporation Explained

Phantom Space Corporation
Industry:Space transportation, rocket manufacturing
Founder:Jim Cantrell, Michael D'Angelo
Hq Location City:Tucson, Arizona
Hq Location Country:United States
Areas Served:-->

Phantom Space Corporation is an American space transportation and rocket manufacturing startup based in Tucson, Arizona. [1]

Company history

Phantom Space Corporation was founded in 2019 by Jim Cantrell and Michael D'Angelo. Chris Thompson, the second employee at SpaceX and ten-year veteran, joined Phantom Space in October of 2021 as Phantom's Chief Technology Officer in charge of launch and satellite system development.[2]

In May 2021, it acquired StratSpace, a satellite program designer and manager[3] Cantrell founded in 2000.[4] The acquisition made Phantom Space the first 100% U.S.-based satellite supply chain in its effort to mass produce rockets on a large scale.[5]

In August 2021, the company acquired space systems developer Micro Aerospace Solutions (MAS) operating out of Melbourne, Florida.[6]

In 2023, Phantom signed an agreement with Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) to collaborate on missions at the Arnhem Space Centre in Arnhem Land, a remote location in the Northern Territory of Australia. Phantom has links to the US Department of Defense, and an ELA spokesperson said that the launch site could one day be used for missile testing and development. Phantom hopes to fire rockets from the ASC site by 2025. While the main focus is on commercial uses at the site, the potential for involvement in defense has raised concerns among the local community.[7]

Daytona I

Manufacturer:Phantom Space Corporation
Country-Origin:USA
Height:18 m
Diameter:1.5 m
Stages:2
Leo-Payload:180 kg
Comparable:Electron
Status:In development
Launches:0
Sites:VAFB, CCSFS
Stage1engines:9x Hadley
Stage1fuel:Liquid oxygen/RP-1
Stage1thrust:200 kN
Stage2engines:1x Hadley Vacuum
Function:Small-lift space launch vehicle
Daytona I
First:2025
Stage2thrust:28.8 kN
Stage2fuel:Liquid oxygen/RP-1

the company is building a two-stage rocket called Daytona. As designed, the vehicle will be 18 meters tall, 1.5 meters in diameter. It will be able to loft 180 kilograms to low Earth orbit for a claimed launch price of $4 million. It will use nine Hadley engines produced by Ursa Major Technologies on its first stage, and one Hadley Vacuum engine on its second stage.[8] The first launch is projected to take place in Q4 2025.[9]

Launch history

Date and time, UTCLaunch sitePayloadOrbitCustomerLaunchoutcome
Q4 2025[10] Vandenberg SLC5TBALEOTBA
Maiden flight of Daytona
2025 Vandenberg SLC5AFNIO × ?LEOIngenu
Will launch "the majority of" Ingenu's 72-satellite AFNIO constellation.
2025Vandenberg SLC5TBALEOTBA
CubeSat Launch Initiative contract awarded by NASA.
TBDHurricane Hunter x ?LEOTropical Weather Analytics
Tropical Weather Analytics, Inc. (TWA), with a revolutionary 3D measurement capability for improved hurricane forecasting and weather intelligence, is announcing a strategic partnership with Phantom Space Corporation (Phantom) to design, manufacture, launch, and operate its Hurricane Hunter Satellite Constellation.

Daytona II

Daytona II is an upgraded version of the Daytona I rocket, It will use one Ripley engine on the first stage and one vacuum-optimized Hadley engine on the second stage, the rocket will be capable of delivering 440 kg to LEO and has been advertised at 4 million USD per launch. launches are planned to start in 2027[11]

Daytona III

Daytona III is the third upgrade of the Daytona rocket, the first stage has a second Ripley engine and the second stage has one vacuum-optimized Hadley engine. The second stage will be capable of delivering 950 kg to LEO, the maiden launch is planned for 2028[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phantom Space, Ingenu to build 72-satellite constellation. Lucas. Manfredi. September 29, 2021. FOXBusiness.
  2. Web site: Phantom Hires Chris Thompson as CTO . Payload Space . October 21, 2021 . 6 March 2024.
  3. Web site: Phantom Space acquires StratSpace in pursuit of becoming a turnkey space service.
  4. Web site: Small-sat launch firm Phantom to open Tucson rocket factory. David. Wichner. Arizona Daily Star. June 19, 2021.
  5. Web site: Ruiz. Michael. Phantom Space startup announces world's first 100% US-based satellite supply chain after acquiring StratSpace. Fox Business . 2021-05-24. 2023-02-01.
  6. Web site: Jim Cantrell's Phantom Space Acquires Micro Aerospace Solutions - Via Satellite -. August 17, 2021. Via Satellite.
  7. Web site: Garrick . Matt . Arnhem Land space centre could be used for missile testing and development, Equatorial (sic) Launch Australia says . . 26 April 2023 . 30 April 2023.
  8. Web site: Messier . Doug . Having It All Come Together, but Not In House: Phantom Space's Approach to Launch . 25 August 2022 . 26 August 2022 . Parabolic Arc.
  9. Web site: Tucson Tech: Phantom Space acing early tests in bid for orbital flight. David Wichner. Arizona Daily Star. 26 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Phantom space corporation . live . x.com.
  11. Web site: Daytona II – Phantom Space . 2024-06-21 . en-US.
  12. Web site: Daytona III – Phantom Space . 2024-06-23 . en-US.