Star trek, anyone?
If you want to know more about space tourism, tune into Out of Office's episode on the subject, Space Tourism with Matthew Weinzierl. In this episode, hosts Ryan Davis and Kiernan Schmitt talk to the Harvard professor whose research dives deep into the emerging space economy. The conversation spans suborbital joyrides with Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin's repeat civilian missions, and SpaceX's bold orbital forays - all signalling that space tourism is no longer just a billionaire's fantasy.
Weinzierl offers a grounded take: space, he says, is not just an awe-inspiring frontier - it's also a place. A place where countries, businesses and ordinary people might one day live, work and create value. As he reminds listeners, the space economy is still an economy, shaped by supply, demand and market dynamics. The episode is a thoughtful primer on how this high-flying sector is taking shape, and what it could mean for businesses and society alike.
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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch 400+ satellites in bold push to transform Alaska's internet connectivity
Elon Musk's startup company SpaceX on Friday added 24 new Starlink satellites to its orbital network on a launch from California, expanding its global network to over 7,900 satellites. The launch, which occurred shortly after sunset, marked the addition of these satellites to the company's growing constellation. Identified as Starlink 17-3, the mission was executed using the Falcon 9 rocket , which lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4 East at precisely 8:52 p.m. PDT. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had confirmed that his company would launch the 10th test flight of Starship in approximately three weeks, making it the fourth launch of the year for the fully reusable mega-rocket. 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Know the big changes from August 1 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lara Green Is Retiring - Her Final Jewelry Pieces Are 80% Off Artisan Weekly Read More According to the company's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 8:52 p.m. local (11:52 p.m. EDT or 0352 GMT on July 19) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. At about nine minutes into the flight, the booster's upper stage delivered the two dozen satellites to space. The flight was on track to deploy the Starlink spacecraft into low Earth orbit an hour later, the report said. Live Events SpaceX rocket launch The Falcon 9 first stage booster being used on this mission, tail number B1082, launched for a 14th time. Its previous missions include NROL-145, USSF-62 and OneWeb #20. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1082 landed on the droneship, 'Of Course I Still Love You.' This marked the 141st booster landing on this vessel and the 477th booster landing to date. SpaceX is also launching satellites into polar orbits to improve connectivity in Alaska and high-latitude regions. By the end of 2025, SpaceX plans to launch more than 400 more such satellites, doubling the opportunities for northerners. — Starlink (@Starlink) In an update posted to its Starlink website on Monday, July 14, SpaceX said part of its plan to further scale up its Starlink network, it planned to deploy hundreds of satellites into a polar orbit to improve connectivity in polar regions, like Alaska. ALSO READ: Tyler, the Creator drops surprise album 'Don't Tap the Glass': You won't believe his jaw-dropping fortune 'We plan to launch more than 400 additional satellites to the polar inclination by the end of 2025 alone, which will more than double the capacity for Alaskan customers alone, as well as other high latitude locations,' SpaceX wrote. 'The first of these additional satellites have begun to serve Alaskan users already, nearly doubling median peak-hour download speeds over the past month.' With the latest launch on Friday (designated 17-3), SpaceX has now deployed over 7,965 active Starlink satellites out of the more than 9,200 launched since 2019. The Starlink network provides broadband internet in areas with limited or no connectivity, and also supports direct-to-cell service for select phones and carriers. The reference to the first satellite in this series ties back to the Starlink 17-1 mission on May 27, which also utilized booster B1082 and deployed 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into a 97-degree-inclined polar orbit. SpaceX's plans to place over 400 satellites into this polar orbit by year's end indicate a major emphasis on West Coast launches. Achieving this target will require at least 16 launches, each carrying 24 or more satellites. Following Friday night's launch, SpaceX is shifting its focus to a NASA rideshare mission, which will carry the agency's TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) payload into orbit.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch 400+ satellites in bold push to transform Alaska's internet connectivity
AP SpaceX's plans to place over 400 satellites into this polar orbit by year's end indicate a major emphasis on West Coast launches Elon Musk's startup company SpaceX on Friday added 24 new Starlink satellites to its orbital network on a launch from California, expanding its global network to over 7,900 satellites. The launch, which occurred shortly after sunset, marked the addition of these satellites to the company's growing constellation. Identified as Starlink 17-3, the mission was executed using the Falcon 9 rocket, which lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4 East at precisely 8:52 p.m. PDT. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had confirmed that his company would launch the 10th test flight of Starship in approximately three weeks, making it the fourth launch of the year for the fully reusable mega-rocket. ALSO READ: 460,000 student loan borrowers to be kicked off from repayment plan? Know the big changes from August 1According to the company's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 8:52 p.m. local (11:52 p.m. EDT or 0352 GMT on July 19) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. At about nine minutes into the flight, the booster's upper stage delivered the two dozen satellites to space. The flight was on track to deploy the Starlink spacecraft into low Earth orbit an hour later, the report said. The Falcon 9 first stage booster being used on this mission, tail number B1082, launched for a 14th time. Its previous missions include NROL-145, USSF-62 and OneWeb #20. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1082 landed on the droneship, 'Of Course I Still Love You.' This marked the 141st booster landing on this vessel and the 477th booster landing to is also launching satellites into polar orbits to improve connectivity in Alaska and high-latitude regions. By the end of 2025, SpaceX plans to launch more than 400 more such satellites, doubling the opportunities for northerners. In an update posted to its Starlink website on Monday, July 14, SpaceX said part of its plan to further scale up its Starlink network, it planned to deploy hundreds of satellites into a polar orbit to improve connectivity in polar regions, like Alaska. ALSO READ: Tyler, the Creator drops surprise album 'Don't Tap the Glass': You won't believe his jaw-dropping fortune 'We plan to launch more than 400 additional satellites to the polar inclination by the end of 2025 alone, which will more than double the capacity for Alaskan customers alone, as well as other high latitude locations,' SpaceX wrote. 'The first of these additional satellites have begun to serve Alaskan users already, nearly doubling median peak-hour download speeds over the past month.'With the latest launch on Friday (designated 17-3), SpaceX has now deployed over 7,965 active Starlink satellites out of the more than 9,200 launched since 2019. The Starlink network provides broadband internet in areas with limited or no connectivity, and also supports direct-to-cell service for select phones and carriers. The reference to the first satellite in this series ties back to the Starlink 17-1 mission on May 27, which also utilized booster B1082 and deployed 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into a 97-degree-inclined polar plans to place over 400 satellites into this polar orbit by year's end indicate a major emphasis on West Coast launches. Achieving this target will require at least 16 launches, each carrying 24 or more Friday night's launch, SpaceX is shifting its focus to a NASA rideshare mission, which will carry the agency's TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) payload into orbit.
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First Post
a day ago
- First Post
Vy Capital and Elon Musk: What is the secretive investment firm behind the tech billionaire?
With a skeleton crew and zero fanfare, Vy Capital quietly became one of Elon Musk's biggest financial backers — funding SpaceX, xAI, Neuralink, and Twitter (now X). Now, the $15 billion firm is shutting its doors to outside investors. Who are the power players behind Vy, and why have they stayed so silent? read more Elon Musk is seen with a bruised eye that Musk claimed he received at the hands of his son, X Æ A-12, as he attends a press conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 30, 2025. File Image/Reuters Once a relatively obscure name in the world of global investment, Vy Capital has in recent years emerged as one of the most consequential financial backers of Elon Musk's growing constellation of technology companies. Operating behind a shroud of secrecy, the Dubai-registered firm has quietly amassed approximately $15 billion in assets under management, while maintaining an exceptionally lean investment team. With only four core investment professionals and a total operational staff of about 20 people spread across California and London, Vy Capital has defied conventional venture capital norms and produced staggering returns — reportedly about 28 per cent annually over the past decade. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recently, Vy Capital informed its limited partners that it will no longer seek new external funds, reported the Financial Times. According to individuals familiar with the decision, the firm intends to transition toward managing its current portfolio with its own capital, a move reflecting the scale of its past gains and reduced reliance on external financing. Despite its considerable influence in the tech investment space, Vy Capital remains virtually invisible to the broader public. Its official website consists of just a single page with the firm's name, a motto, locations, and a contact email — offering no information about its team, strategy or portfolio. The landing page and the only page of the Vy Capital website. Screenshot/Firstpost Vy Capital & Elon Musk Vy Capital's name has become synonymous with the financial machinery behind Elon Musk's business empire. The firm has been a consistent and significant investor in Musk-led ventures, often placing early, high-conviction bets and reaping the benefits of astronomical valuation growth. One of its most notable early investments was in SpaceX, where Vy reportedly entered when the rocket company was valued at $15 billion. Since then, SpaceX's estimated valuation has grown dramatically — now reportedly approaching $400 billion, more than doubling in value in less than two years. Vy has not only been a long-term supporter of the company but also played the role of a lead investor in key fundraising rounds. Vy Capital also has substantial exposure to xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence initiative. Since its launch, xAI has seen rapid interest from investors and is reportedly targeting a valuation of up to $200 billion, reflecting a tenfold increase since early last year, according to the Financial Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The AI company recently acquired X, formerly known as Twitter, and has brought in Vy-aligned executives to manage its financial operations. The firm's involvement with Musk-led entities extends to Neuralink — a company working on brain-computer interface technology — and Boring Company, which focuses on tunneling infrastructure. Individuals with knowledge of the firm's portfolio told Financial Times that Vy is the largest external shareholder in both companies. Neuralink, in particular, has seen its valuation nearly triple in the past two years, reaching $9 billion, according to data provided by PitchBook. Vy's deep alignment with Musk became particularly evident during the 2022 acquisition of Twitter, when Elon Musk orchestrated the $44 billion takeover. Vy Capital emerged as one of the largest backers of the deal, committing $700 million through a special purpose vehicle, as disclosed in US Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The firm's managing director at the time, Pablo Mendoza, played an active role in the company's restructuring. He was part of the 'transition team' brought in by Musk to help rein in Twitter's costs and stabilise its financial structure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mendoza later took on a new position as Chief Financial Officer at xAI. Some analysts estimate that over half of Vy's total assets are tied up in Musk-led ventures. That level of concentrated exposure is highly unorthodox in the venture capital and private equity world, where firms typically aim for diversified portfolios to mitigate risk. What we know about the team behind Vy Capital Vy's remarkable performance stems from a small, high-powered leadership team that operates with notable discretion. The firm was co-founded by Alexander Tamas, a former Goldman Sachs executive who previously worked at DST Global under the mentorship of Yuri Milner. During his time at DST, Tamas led investments in major global tech firms, including Facebook, Airbnb, Spotify, Twitter and Alibaba. Tamas's reputation in the venture capital world is formidable. Bloomberg has previously reported that tech luminaries Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz once described him as someone who is 'on speed-dial for everyone trying to build the most successful, highest-scale, global Internet companies today.' Alongside Tamas is John Hering, another co-founder with a background in technology entrepreneurship. Hering is known for founding the mobile cybersecurity company Lookout and co-founding the cyber insurance startup Coalition, which is now valued at $5 billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, his ties to Musk's financial circle run deep — Hering's connection with Antonio Gracias, a key Musk ally and board member at both Tesla and SpaceX, was instrumental in Vy's early access to SpaceX investment rounds. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vy has historically raised three investment funds, each under $1 billion. Despite the relatively small size of these funds, the firm has executed outsized deals across sectors. The team's operational structure is unusually slim for a firm managing multi-billion-dollar capital pools. Vy has about 20 staff members globally, focused on investment, operations, and research. Even its internal network is closely aligned with Musk's inner circle. In a subtle but telling sign of their ties, the son of Jared Birchall, one of Musk's most trusted aides, worked as a summer analyst at Vy in recent years. Where else has Vy Capital invested While its stake in Musk-led ventures dominates headlines, Vy Capital has constructed a broader portfolio that reflects a global, tech-driven investment strategy. Among its most high-profile non-Musk investments is Reddit, the social news aggregation platform preparing for an IPO, and reportedly Zomato, one of India's leading food delivery companies. Vy also invested in Upgrade, a US-based financial technology company offering credit products, and Cerebras, an American artificial intelligence chipmaker that has signalled its intention to go public soon. Another standout in Vy's portfolio is Urban Company, an Indian home services platform. Vy is reportedly poised to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in profits once the company holds its initial public offering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hering's firm Coalition, which specialises in cyber insurance, is also part of the Vy investment landscape. This tie-in illustrates how Vy often backs companies that reflect the founders' personal expertise, enabling a tighter feedback loop between investment decision-making and operational insight. Operating in secrecy, performing at scale Despite its growing portfolio and integral role in financing Musk's empire, Vy Capital remains elusive. There are no public interviews, no investor conferences, and no detailed reports issued by the firm. Its founders and executives rarely speak to media, preferring to let performance and connections do the talking. The firm's entire online presence is limited to a minimalist website, containing only contact information and office locations. Yet, behind this façade is a firm that has quietly reshaped the financing landscape for some of the most ambitious and high-stakes companies in the world. 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