On today's show I sat down with Matthew Voss, president of NearSpace Launch, about growing an aerospace company started in a basement into a 20-person team that has built and delivered over 100 small satellites to orbit and flown more than 230 communications radios.
Voss explains how NearSpace Launch leverages preexisting satellite constellations for more consistent satellite connectivity, supports customers with spacecraft manufacturing and on-orbit operations, and has transitioned from university and R&D work to constellation manufacturing for partners including NASA and the Space Force.
He shares why the company stayed in rural Grant County, renovating historic downtown Upland buildings into clean-room facilities and scaling through contracts rather than investment.
Our conversation also covers space traffic management, deorbiting, satellite collision risk, and emerging innovations like laser crosslinks and in-orbit refueling.
Voss highlights NearSpace Education, a nonprofit launched in 2020 that runs space camps, high-altitude balloon launches, and Dream Big programs that help six universities build satellites and K–12 students engage with STEM statewide.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
The Founding and Mission of NearSpace Launch
Constellation Manufacturing
NearSpace Education
Thank you to our partners:
Pence Media Group
Keller & Keller
Check out these great clips from the show:
01:17 Guest Introduction: Matthew Voss, NearSpace Launch
02:17 Basement Origins at Taylor
04:18 SmallSats and First Mission
06:20 From Basement to Orbit
07:36 How the Radio Relay Works
09:31 Business Model and Customers
10:40 Reviving Downtown Upland
12:11 Funding and Hiring Locally
14:14 First Rocket Launch Experience
15:45 New Space Boom Explained
17:41 Orbits Traffic and Deorbiting
19:55 Scaling Up Manufacturing
21:36 Constellations and Costs
24:33 Very Low Earth Orbit Research
25:23 Near Space Education Mission
26:16 High Altitude Balloon Launches
30:29 Dream Big University Satellites
32:40 Payload Ideas and Attitude Control
34:20 Phase Two and Microbits
36:02 Space For Everyone
36:43 Indiana Space Credibility
38:47 Why Space Matters Daily
39:33 Unexpected Space Clients
40:58 AI Meets Spacecraft
43:34 Breakthroughs And Risks
47:08 Space Traffic Control
50:07 Indiana Space Camps
52:35 Misconceptions And Awe
56:14 Rapid Fire Indiana
57:39 Nurturing Future Engineers
