In a dramatic turn worthy of the space industry’s boom-and-bust cycles, Phantom Space Acquires Vector Launch assets once scattered in bankruptcy, bringing fragments of a fallen rocket venture back under the stewardship of one of its original visionaries.
Tucson, Arizona-based Phantom Space announced Feb. 26 that it had purchased launch assets previously sold off during the 2020 bankruptcy of Vector Launch. The financial terms were not disclosed.
For co-founder Jim Cantrell — who launched Phantom in 2019 after departing Vector amid its financial unraveling — the acquisition marks both a technical maneuver and a symbolic homecoming.
“As the original architect of Vector’s vision, it’s deeply meaningful to bring these assets home to Phantom,” Cantrell said in a statement, framing the move as more than a transaction. “This acquisition isn’t just about technology, it’s about momentum.”
Daytona Rocket to Gain Proven DNA
Cantrell said elements of the purchase include flight-proven design components, engineering data and proprietary technology originally developed for Vector’s small launch vehicles. Those materials will be folded directly into Phantom’s two-stage Daytona rocket architecture, with the aim of lowering development risk and accelerating progress.
Phantom did not specify precisely how the newly acquired materials will be integrated into Daytona, a vehicle engineered to loft payloads of up to 500 kilograms to orbit. However, the company said it is preparing for stage-level testing later this year, following successful hot-fire tests of Daytona’s propulsion assemblies.
The company added that the deal is expected to spur aerospace job creation in Tucson while pushing Phantom more quickly toward orbital capability.
As of March 2024, Phantom had raised $37 million to advance its vertically integrated ambitions — spanning rockets, satellites and in-orbit services.
