Max Space is a startup focused on developing low-cost, expandable space habitats for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), cislunar space, and on the Moon and Mars. Their inflatable designs aim to provide significantly more usable volume in space compared to traditional rigid structures, with potential applications including habitation, research, manufacturing, and even tourism. Max Space plans to launch its first module with SpaceX in 2026, with ambitions to deploy much larger habitats in the following years. Co-founded by Maxim de Jong, who designed the pressure hulls for the Genesis I and II spacecraft, Max Space aims to revolutionize space architecture with its scalable and cost-effective solutions.
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Max Space and Voyager Technologies will begin by validating their expandable technology on the ground and aim to launch an in-space demonstration this decade.
Max Space and Voyager Technologies have plans to build commercial space stations.
Max Space’s modules are designed to launch in a compact package and expand after deployment.
Saleem Miyan is cofounder and CEO of Max Space.
Aaron Kemmer is a cofounder of Max Space.
Max Space markets its expandable habitats for applications including farming, storage, and zero-gravity sports arenas.
Max Space’s expandable habitats are constructed from several layers that include bulletproof Kevlar for micrometeoroid protection.
Max Space and Voyager are collaborating on expandable structures for surface infrastructure to support sustained deep-space human activity.
Max Space’s expandable structure technology is built on 40 years of on-orbit heritage.
Ground validation and in-space demonstrations for Voyager and Max Space’s expandable habitat technology are planned for later this decade with operational lunar and Mars capabilities aligned to NASA exploration timelines.
Voyager Technologies and Max Space announced a collaboration to advance expandable space habitat technology.
Max Space announced the Thunderbird Station, a deployable space station designed for use in low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars, on December 17, 2025.
Max Space plans to conduct an orbital demonstration mission for the deployable living facility, called 'Mission Evolution,' in the first quarter of 2027 via a SpaceX rideshare launch.
The first Max Space module, the Max Space 20, is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX rideshare mission in 2025.
Max Space does not plan to build its own space station and intends to supply modules to other companies developing commercial space stations, including participants in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit (CLD) program.
Max Space is building a flight version of the Max Space 20 module with enhancements including debris shielding.
Max Space projects that a module with an ISS-equivalent volume could be launched on a single Falcon launch for as little as $200,000,000.
Max Space raised a seed funding round of less than $10,000,000 that is funding development of the initial Max Space 20 module and its rideshare launch.