Space Tango
Overview
Space Tango, founded in 2014 by Twyman Clements and Kris Kimel, is a pioneering company focused on utilizing microgravity for research and manufacturing. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, this enterprise designs and builds hardware and software platforms tailored for experiments in space environments. Over the years, Space Tango has secured significant investments, including raising funds from influential entities like NASA, with a recent $5 million award as of 2024 to support their projects involving the International Space Station.
Recent Developments
- April 2024: Space Tango successfully returned science samples to CubeLab customers following the completion of the SpaceX CRS-30 mission. This reinforces their commitment to biotechnology and microgravity analytics.
- February 2024: The company received a $5 million award from NASA to assist with the Artemis II mission, focusing on gathering biological data and supporting over two dozen investigations on this pivotal mission.
- December 2024: Space Tango, in collaboration with Auxilium, achieved a major milestone by deploying the Mambo facility, the first-ever Digital Light Processing bioprinter used aboard the ISS to fabricate a novel drug-delivery device.
- 2024-2025: The firm made significant strides in developing technology for on-orbit manufacturing and has embarked on projects to enhance the capabilities of their TangoLab facilities aboard the ISS.
- Partnership Expansion: Joined efforts with LambdaVision to work on advanced artificial retinas using microgravity's unique environment to improve quality and efficacy.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Founders | Twyman Clements, Kris Kimel |
| Revenue | Approximately $10 million annual revenue |
| Key Investors | NASA, Commonwealth Seed Capital |
| Industry | Space Research and Manufacturing |
| Number of Employees | Approximately 30 |
Early History
Space Tango started as a spinoff from Kentucky Space, catalyzed by the shared vision of its founders to advance health and technology in microgravity. Initially, they forayed into creating CubeSats, which led to their collaboration with NASA and the development of their first TangoLab, a sophisticated research platform on the ISS, enabling various scientific experiments.
Company Profile and Achievements
Space Tango's business model revolves around providing microgravity research platforms that allow for a wide range of scientific experiments. They are leading in designing custom CubeLabs that comfortably fit into different space missions, supporting varied fields such as biotechnology, materials science, and pharmaceuticals. Notably:
- Innovation and Impact: Space Tango has repeatedly been at the forefront of deploying successful payloads on the ISS, facilitating crucial experiments in the life sciences arena, including plant science and drug delivery systems.
- Strategic Partnerships: With collaborations extending to SpaceX and NASA, Space Tango plays a vital role in advancing commercial space research, consistently pushing the envelope of on-orbit capabilities.
- Commercial Ventures: Initiatives include research to improve and manufacture products like artificial retinas and potentially significant frontline medical solutions by leveraging microgravity.
Current Operations and Market Position
Operating primarily from Lexington, Space Tango has maintained a strategic focus on advancing scientific investigations on the ISS. With a keen emphasis on biotechnology applications, they are paving the way for revolutionary breakthroughs that have practical Earth applications. Continued partnerships with governmental and corporate entities highlight their stable yet progressive footing in the space industry.
Conclusion
Space Tango stands out as a leader in commercial space research, effectively converting space challenges into pioneering opportunities. As an advocate for harnessing microgravity's potential, the company is poised to continue its trajectory of innovation and significant contributions to both the scientific community and everyday life improvements here on Earth through its space-derived advancements.