The First Space Launch of 2023

“Life has a way of presenting you with luck, it’s those who take it who succeed.” - Bill Draper.

As we all know, space is inspiring. From JFK’s speech in 1962, inspiring the United States to get to the moon, to SpaceX’s live-streamed launch mid-Covid with real astronauts being taken to the International Space Station using a private company space launch. Space is a beautifully visual representation of the peak of human endeavor.

Globally we can celebrate the achievements of space flight. And the miracle of experiments that had to happen in order for us to get there.

The celebration of Space victories is unlike anything else. It’s like taking the nationalistic pride of the world cup and blending it with the scientific discoveries championed in deep research papers.

Today, a Boost VC company Launcher went to space. Launcher’s product Orbiter, which is their “Space Tug and Hosted Payload” product was deployed and launched using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in the first Space launch of 2023.

LΛUNCHER @launcher

Launcher is going to orbit! Our space tug and hosted payload platform Orbiter SN1 will reach orbit this January with 8 customers on board. Last week we completed payload processing and mated Orbiter SN1 to the launch vehicle hardware at Cape Canaveral, FL. 🚀🌎🛰

Only a handful of startups have ever seen their functioning product deployed into orbit, or gotten to orbit.

Launcher was founded by a good friend, Max Haot. I’ve known Max for 13 years. We met when he was the CEO and Founder of Livestream (A live-streaming media company) and I was working at my first startup. I remember when Max was trying to win a deal to livestream the early launches of SpaceX through their platform, and now 13 years later - Launcher has their own space transporter floating around the earth.

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the progress as a startup in deep tech. Working with atoms is often more difficult than working with bits. It’s important to celebrate historic moments in a companies history, and today is a very clear one for Launcher. Launcher got to space and have happy customers!

It has been 5+ years as an organization for Launcher. And decades that led to this moment for Max and the team. Celebrate the people who are doing the hard things today!

2023 is starting strong as a Sci-Fi year. Let’s keep it going.