Voyager Technologies and Max Space announced on Thursday that they had agreed to cooperate on expendable tech that could someday be used for both habitation and storage off-Earth.
“Expandable structures represent a step change in how surface infrastructure can be delivered and deployed,” Saleem Miyan, cofounder and CEO of Max Space, said in a statement. “Its architecture embodies increased capability, scalability, and versatility that are essential for sustained deep-space human activity, and to unleash the lunar and Martian economies.”
Meet the expandables: Max Space’s modules are designed to launch in a compact package, and expand after they’ve been deployed (think of a high-tech, vacuum-sealed pillow being ripped open, or just watch their video for a better visual of their habitat in action). The habitats can be used for anything from farming, to storage, to zero gravity sports arenas, cofounder Aaron Kemmer told us in 2024.
The expandable modules, which are designed to be sent to space in a single launch rather than multiple missions requiring assembly in orbit à la ISS, may look like giant marshmallows. But the habitats are made up of several layers, including a bulletproof Kevlar to protect from micrometeoroid impacts.
Leo, lunar…and beyond: Max Space and Voyager have both announced plans to build commercial space stations:
- Voyager is leading the build of the Starlab station that’s vying to fill the void left by the ISS’ retirement.
- Max Space is building its Thunderbird station, which is designed to launch on a single Falcon 9 and expand to 350 cubic meters in orbit.
However, the partnership announcement makes no mention of collaborating in LEO, instead focusing on the two companies working together on habitats for deep space—including the Moon and Mars.
Next steps: The companies have already laid out concrete next steps for the partnership. They’ll start with validating the tech on the ground, and aim to launch an in-space demo this decade.
