Move to the moon or Mars? Startup called Max Space launches ‘affordable’ plan to ‘transcend Earth’

Max Space is a groundbreaking startup aiming to propel humanity into the vast reaches of space with its innovative inflatable habitat. Revealed at the 39th Space Symposium, these expandable structures offer the potential to revolutionize space habitation and pave the way for settlement on the Moon and Mars.

Co-founder Aaron Keimer emphasizes the urgent need for more habitable space in space. Traditional modular designs are costly and restrictive, hampering humanity’s ability to thrive beyond Earth.Max Space’s solution reportedly lies in expandable habitats that promise to provide ample living and working space at a fraction of the cost space.

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Based on his experience in space manufacturing, Keimer advocates for expandable habitats as the future of space habitation. Unlike traditional modules, these structures launch in a compressed form and then expand significantly in space, maximizing internal volume and minimizing launch costs.

From concept to reality: prototypes on track

The potential for expandable habitats isn’t just theoretical, it’s real. Prototypes such as Genesis 1, Genesis 2 and BEAM are already in orbit. Developed by Bigelow Aerospace and Thin Red Line Aerospace, these groundbreaking modules demonstrate the feasibility of inflatable habitats in space.

Max Space builds on this foundation by leveraging innovative technologies to create cost-effective and scalable modules. The company’s first off-ground tests are planned for 2026, with one module expanding to a pressurized volume of 20 cubic meters in orbit.

Going forward, Max Space plans to launch larger habitats, with a 100-cubic-meter module planned for 2027 and a 1,000-cubic-meter behemoth planned for 2030. These scalable habitats will meet the needs of a variety of customers from scientific research institutions to commercial space stations.

Beyond Earth’s orbit, Max Space envisions its habitats playing a key role in settlements on the Moon and Mars. By enabling extraterrestrial settlement, the company seeks to fulfill its mission of expanding humanity’s footprint into the solar system.

For Keimer and co-founder Maxime de Jong, the journey has a single purpose: to help humanity realize its destiny among the stars. With its visionary approach and groundbreaking technology, Max Space is charting a path to a future where settlement beyond Earth is not just a dream, but a reality.

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