Interstellar Ventures

Are German VC providers, Interstellar Ventures, ready to fund first privately sponsored human spaceflight?

Likely sponsor of Austrian pilot's spaceflight plans identified.

The Space Sleuthing Blog has been reporting the bizarre story of Johanna Maislinger, for over three years.

Who is Johanna Maislinger? Well, she is a regular airline pilot, born in Austria, but who has worked, studied and lived in Germany, for the last 11 years. In 2016, she was allowed to enter the ‘German Woman in Space Project – Die Astronautin’ despite not being German. After she was eliminated, at the final thirty stage, she began to pursue her own project to get herself into Space.

The whole story can be read Here.

Bizarrely, Maislinger had told other candidates in 'Die Astronautin'  that she was eliminated because she could not obtain her German citizenship, in time. In truth, she had simply failed the assessment carried out my the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Looking back, that untruth now makes sense. If any would-be sponsor had been aware of the facts, they would quickly lose interest in her. She needed a good cover-story to stop that happening.

What began with a seemingly casual comment, in April 2017, “Someone in Berlin is very interested to send me into Space…” has evolved into a three year relationship with Space Adventures, the world’s leading Space Tourism provider. Her name is on the lips of cosmonauts, instructors and officials at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, and her details appear on every credible internet projection of Soyuz space crews, for 2021. She even has her own  Wikipedia page.   

Although numerous people have tried to organise a spaceflight through private sponsorship before, regardless of what happens from here, Maislinger has got closer to success than anyone before her. As we enter 2021, she seems to be on the very brink of being named to crew of the Space Adventures  organised Soyuz MS-20 flight, due to launch to the ISS next December!

But, with around 30,000 views of this Blog, in the last two years, the most popular question, in various forms, has been, “Who would pay $40-$50 million to send this woman into Space, and why?”

For three years, there has been no easy answer to that question.

However, in December 2020, a number of sources, connected to the ‘Die Astronautin’ project, recalled that in 2017 another ‘German Citizen in Space’ project emerged briefly. One report, from a source very closely associated to ‘Die Astronautin’ indicated that they understood this project was about to reappear. Further investigations indicated that this ‘German Citizen in Space’ project emerged in Berlin, and then vanished, at exactly the same time that Maislinger was starting to talk about her plans, and her sponsor, before she also vanished.

So, what do we know about the ‘German Citizen in Space’, and who was behind it?

Several contacts in Germany who recalled this short-lived project, being announced in April 2017, connected it to a Berlin-based Venture Capital company, Interstellar Ventures GMBH  set up in 2016, by entrepreneur, Sebastian Straube.

This company, when launched, was reported to have access to in excess on Euro 100 million, in Venture Capital funding, through a network of VC Investors, Family Offices and Business Angels. Clearly, this organisation presents itself as having access to sufficient resources to fund a private spaceflight, at a cost of around US$50 million. But, the return they would get is more difficult to determine, apart from the publicity of being the innovators who funded the first ever private orbital Spaceflight? Or perhaps, one of Straube's wealthy associates simply wants to help Maislinger fulfill her seemingly impossible dream, and generate substantial 'bragging rights', in the process?

Clearly, when faced with such clues, and circumstantial evidence, that Interstellar Ventures and Herr Straube had the opportunity, timing, motivation and resources to back Maislinger, the most obvious step was to ask them! If there is no connection, it would be logical for them to say so.

However, they have chosen not to make any comment, whatsoever.

In pursing the Maislinger story, for three years, we have approached numerous organisations or individuals who may have been involved. There has been a clear pattern of responses. Those who are not involved say so, clearly and unambiguously. This includes such blue-chip names as Siemens, Red Bull, Airbus, Lufthansa, ESA. 

Conversely, those who are involved, Space Adventures, Aerologic (Maislinger’s employer), DHL and Maislinger herself, remain evasive and silent. At this point, it seems reasonable to add Interstellar Ventures to that list.

In October 2020, just as negotiations and contracts would have been reaching a critical stage, a new company, Interstellar Ventures LLC,  was registered in the US state of Delaware. Coincidence?

So, whilst we cannot say with absolute certainty that Interstellar Ventures and Sebastian Straube are facilitating Maislinger’s funding, and her eventual launch into Space, as long as they do not distance themselves from the suggestion, they are certainly in pole position.    

In August 2020 both Space Adventures, and the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, confirmed that two clients* had signed up for the Soyuz MS-20 trip, and the clients would be named in January 2021. Conversations with personnel at Space Adventures** and Roscosmos confirmed that Maislinger was one of those two, and her name was familiar to many people at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre.

However, this January deadline seems unlikely to be met, due the travel and other logistical considerations connected to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In addition, crewing plans for the two Soyuz flights due earlier in 2021 are currently in a state of flux. So, it currently seems more likely that any announcement from Space Adventures will come, no earlier than March.

Whether all parties are likely to be able to close the deal, was discussed in this earlier Blog. 

*The other client is understood to be a Japanese singer/actress, whose name we don't wish to reveal, at this stage. 

**Space Adventures are always keen to stress that they have never made any official comment about Johanna Maislinger, or any other client.

 

Russian Movie in Space Part 3

 

Second sky-diver reveals her bid for Spaceflight

Since the last update on this project, at the Space Sleuthing Blog, not too much has happened, at least as far as the public, and the applicants, are concerned. The closing date for applications for actresses and other qualified women, was extended to 31^st December 2020. This suggested that, perhaps, interest was a little slower than the organisers had hoped, although with a fairly tight deadline, until the planned launch, in October 2021, a one month slippage seems quite significant. (Russia looking for woman to steal Tom Cruise thunder)

A number of Russian actresses and TV presenters have expressed interest in participating, including Zoya Berber and Regina Todorenko,  although how serious, or well-qualified (apart from being professional actresses) any are, remains to be seen. In addition, Channel One encouraged potential candidates to share their audition video using the hashtag #хочувкосмос.  Again, the numbers doing so, suggest there are not a huge number of applicants.

We’re also delighted to have talked to another promising, skilled and enthusiastic candidate, who has submitted an application, and who hopes to be called to the next stage of the selection process, early in 2021.

Anastasia Barannik came to prominence in Russia, and beyond, several years ago, as a teenage sky-diver, competing in International competitions, while combining that extreme sport with her successful modelling career. She now is a Master of Parachuting, and a twice champion of Russia in her class, and a bronze medalist at the Sky-Diving World Cup, having now completed over 1300 jumps.

Back in 2018, Anastasia had told a lifestyle magazine that her next goal was to try and fly into Space, but she had quickly realised this was an incredibly difficult dream to achieve.

Asked about her reaction to news of the Movie in Space project, Anastasia, now 25, explained,  “When I first heard about this competition I was consumed with complete excitement, and a desire to participate, by any means. I could see that it was an unbelievable opportunity that needed to be seized. To even have such a chance to fly in space is a dream come true.”

She added, “Not too long ago I had the amazing opportunity to visit Star City and go through some of the training which cosmonauts undergo. This included the centrifuge, (to 3.8G) vestibular simulator and a flight on an Illyushin IL-76, where I experienced weightlessness on ten parabolas in the air. All my medical readings were normal, and I completed all the tests with flying colours. Flying in a aerobatic jet plane, and experiencing significant G-Forces is something else I have handled, without problems.”

Although Anastasia does not consider herself an actress, her modelling career has given her many opportunities to perform, and to project her personality. She explained, “In addition, because I've been dancing and modeling for many years, the stage, the camera, filming, shooting, and performances are no strangers to me. I’ve also done some acting in TV commercials.”

Regarding the physical fitness requirements, Anastasia feels positive, “Sport has been an integral part of my life, ever since I was a child and still is. I am confident that I can meet all the physical and athletic requirements and cope with all the challenges.” I am not afraid of any difficulties, and I am ready to perform the required tasks and move towards the goal.”

Clearly, the organisers have not set out all the requirements which contestants will face during the planned Reality TV show, due to begin in late January. At some point, this will included the centrifuge, and other trials which Anastasia has already completed, during her visit to Star City. 

It terms of the spaceflight itself, and exactly how the flight plan is structured, Anastasia naturally has some gaps in her knowledge, at this early stage. “I haven't studied the details of the actual spaceflight in depth yet, but my interest has always been there and I have a general understanding and idea of what is involved. I know that I am ready, both mentally and physically, to do this. The idea of climbing aboard the rocket, and being launched into space, doesn't worry me at all. I feel that it will be the happiest moment of my life. To serve art, science, and my country, would be everything.”

 “When achieving my goals in life and triumphing in one field or another, the last thing I thought about was fame and fortune. I was always driven only by the desire to overcome obstacles. To improve my skills, and to put my best foot forward.

To conclude her thoughts, Anastasia believes participating in this project is her fate. “Just ahead of us, is the New Year, 2021, which means it's wish-granting time. I have always believed in fairy tale, in miracles, in good things happening.”

Looking at Anastasia’s story, and also Svetlana, who we talked to here Svetlana's bid for Space there maybe a comparison, and a synergy, with the last time Russia looked for an ‘ordinary’ woman to send into space, in double quick time! 

On that occasion, in 1963, a parachutist, Valentina Tereshkova, was chosen. Maybe, almost 60 years later, a parachutist, such as Anastasia, or Svetlana, will again turn out to be the best choice!

By late January, we should begin to see if this project is going to proceed, and who the first group of candidates will be! Good luck to Anastasia and Svetlana, in making the very important ‘first cut’’.

Russian Movie in Space Part 2

 

Russian Movie in Space..................an update

It’s almost a month since the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, and their partners at Channel One TV, Moscow, announced their project to film a movie in space, next October and to find an actress, either professional or amateur, to play the leading role.

This appeared to be a last minute effort to upstage the plans of Tom Cruise, to also film on the International Space Station, in late 2021, although official confirmation of that project, is still awaited

Original Space Sleuthing Report


They launched an online competition to encourage applications from recognised actresses, and ‘ordinary’ women, between 25 and 45, who were interested in taking on the joint challenge of acting in the planned movie, and making a Soyuz spaceflight. Applicants who pass this online screening process will be called to face-to-face auditions, in early December.

So, with the first declared milestone – those face to face auditions - approaching, what else has happened?

Probably the most significant announcement came when Roscosmos revealed that a second seat on the Soyuz would be occupied by a non-professional cosmonaut. Although not explicitly stated, it is assumed that this will be someone connected to the movie, perhaps another actor, a camera operator, or the director. There is no indication how, or when this person will be selected.

What it does mean, is that two, rather than one cosmonaut, will now have an extended twelve month stay, on the International Space Station, and the Soyuz used for the launch, Soyuz MS-19, will have to be adapted to be flown by a single professional cosmonaut, as no Soyuz has previously flown with two ‘passengers’. This was a technique due to be introduced on the planned space tourist mission, arranged by Space Adventures, Soyuz MS-20, which is due to launch two months after the movie shoot is completed.

Regarding possible candidates for the movie role, and the spaceflight, a number of Russian actresses, TV personalities and journalists have revealed their intention to apply. However, it is difficult to judge how many, if any at all, of these are serious, and how many are just trying to draw attention on social media.

At Space Sleuthing, we’ve been talking to one woman who has a long-standing fascination for spaceflight, and is hopefully, a serious candidate, in the non-actress category.

Svetlana is 29, and is married with a two year-old daughter. She has a law degree, has worked as a fashion model, and is an experienced and fearless sky-diver. She been interested in space exploration for many year, which has led her to visit Baikonur, to witness a Soyuz launch, and has met numerous cosmonauts during trips to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, or space related social events.






Svetlana takes up the story. “When I heard about this competition, I thought that this is a great chance that I can't miss for sure. I think this competition will resonate with a wide range of women who have dreamed about space flight, but were too far from the space sphere, or considered the usual requirements for cosmonauts too strict, because only one discrepancy is enough for the Commission to reject your candidacy.”


“I have been interested in space exploration for the long time, and so I already know quite a lot about how what would be involved, and how the flight goes. I know what to expect, and I am not going to romanticise this event too much. It will be very tough.”

Asked how she measures up to the requirements set out in the application process, Svetlana explains,

“I got a quite good education, in Law, at the best Russian University and have a good results in sports. In addition, I am an experienced skydiver. Skydiving teaches you to be stress-resistant and to make decisions very quickly.”





“Regarding the athletic requirements, I think I'll just need some swimming practice!”



“Perhaps I don't have enough public speaking experience. Basically, all my public performances are about walking on a runway as a model, and performing as an aerial gymnast.”

“I think that people in the cosmonaut selection team have a much longer list of requirements for candidates than we have been told so far. They know exactly what they need. First of all, they must be looking for a person capable of completing the space mission, and only secondly for an actress. I can only hope for good luck.”

When asked about the flight itself, and the prospect of launching on a rocket, Svetlana has already considered this.

“Soyuz has already proved its reliability, but nevertheless, space flight was always, and it is now, a complex technical process that thrills but also can be a little bit frightening, I think it's absolutely normal to feel like that."








"But I think the high-quality of training with the experienced instructors and psychologists of the Cosmonaut Training Centre will definitely help me not to be stressed before the launch. And, of course, the launch day will be an exciting moment that would divide my whole life into "before" and "after" my spaceflight!”

When asked about the fame and fortune that may await the star of this unique movie, Svetlana is unconcerned.

“I don't think about that. The obligations that are imposed on a person who has made a spaceflight are more important to think about. That person should be a good example for future generations, and share that experience.”

One aspect of this project which has not been explained, is who is paying? On one hand, the hardware is all manufactured, and the Soyuz seats for the actress and the other person, can be freed up, by adjusting cosmonaut assignments and flight duration. But, it is hard to believe that Roscosmos would not prefer to find a sponsor.

Some sources within Russia, and beyond, have suggested that the project hinges on this, but Roscosmos, or Channel One, have not commented on money. The next couple of months should tell us of this project will proceed, as announced.

Although it is clear that this project is a direct response to the Tom Cruise movie plans, sources in Russia and Japan have added a further dimension. One of the seats on the Soyuz MS-20 flight, mentioned earlier, has allegedly been sold to a Japanese corporation, who also plan to send an actress to the ISS, for an unknown purpose. The Japanese actress, has already been chosen, and has been cleared by the Russian flight planners! Rightly, or wrongly, it seems that late 2021 is going to see the ISS serving as a movie set, for several weeks!

Russia looks for actress to steal Tom Cruise space movie thunder

 

Russia looks for actress to steal Tom Cruise space movie thunder

By Tony Quine

Russia’s not-too-subtle effort to upstage Tom Cruise’s plans to film the first ever feature film in Earth Orbit have taken a major step forward, with more details announced jointly by the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos and Channel One TV, from Moscow.

Vague details released in September, have now been fleshed out, with the headline grabbing news being the decision to base the Russian movie plot around a woman, meaning that the film-makers will need to find an actress willing to fly on a Soyuz rocket in October next year.

The project which is tentatively called ‘The Challenge’ has the tag line ‘Become a star, by flying to the stars!’

Konstantin Ernst, Director General of Channel One commented, “One day Dmitry Rogozin, Director General of Roscosmos called, and this interesting project was in the launch position. Roskosmos, in fulfilling its professional duties and implementing new space programs, believed it could train two actresses as cosmonauts-researchers, one of whom would then be sent into space to shoot a feature film. Initially, we will look for professional actresses, but also women whose acting skills can allow them to compete with professional actresses.”

Details about the plot are sketchy and it is unclear how much film content will be actually be filmed in Space. Russian cosmonauts will be trained to act as camera and sound recordists on board the ISS. Rogozin is himself designated Executive Producer, whilst the producer will be Klim Shipenko, whose previous work includes the 2017 blockbuster “Salyut 7”.

Although it has not been explicitly stated, the woman selected will need to fly on the Soyuz MS-19 mission, replacing one of the three professional cosmonauts currently pencilled in to fly that mission. This in turn, will mean that one of the crew on the preceding mission Soyuz MS-18 will need to remain on the ISS until Spring 2022. This is because Russia has only six seats to the ISS available in 2021 (Soyuz MS-18 and MS-19) and needs to find a way to accommodate this unplanned ‘project’ within those available resources.

The only other crewed Russian flight planned for 2021 is the first wholly commercial Soyuz mission, arranged in conjunction with experienced spaceflight provider, Space Adventures, which will be Soyuz MS-20 and will fly in December 2021. Space Adventures are not involved in the ‘movie’ project, and the actress will not occupy one of their seats. Whilst they have not made any official comment about their future clients, the latest unofficial information emanating from Roscosmos and Space Adventures officials indicates that Soyuz MS-20 will be flown by veteran cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, and two female Spaceflight Participants, an Austrian commercial pilot and a Japanese singer and actress. 

However, the Russian movie proposal has not met with universal approval, with some Russian spaceflight commentators taking to Social Media to suggest that utilising ISS resources for a purpose not obviously connected to scientific research, or Russian national interests, may actually be illegal, and have called for transparency with regard to the underlying financial arrangements.

Returning to the question of how Roscosmos and Channel One will find their actress, an open competition was launched on the Channel One website on 3^rd November, inviting both actresses, and other women, with a passion for space, to apply. Candidates are required to be aged 25 to 45, and must meet specific anthropological requirements, to ensure they can fit comfortably in a Soyuz, as well as the health, fitness and psychological requirements, typically required for any potential cosmonaut candidates. These characteristics will be tested during the selection process, which will unfold during early 2021. Finally, they have to record a screen test, reciting a specific monologue, written by Alexander Pushkin.

According to Channel One, thirty candidates will participate in a reality TV show, between January and March 2021, which will show them going through the cosmonaut selection tests at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, with the number of contenders being progressively reduced, in line with the usual reality TV model. It’s not clear if this will involve any audience voting. Logically, passing the required health, fitness and psychological tests, should trump broader popularity.

When the leading candidate, and an understudy (back-up) are chosen, by April 2021, they will undergo three months of general spaceflight training, before completing three months of flight specific training, presumably with cosmonauts Shkaplerov and Babkin, with launch currently planned for 5^th October 2021.

Speaking about the project and the selection process, Rogozin said, “In this project, it is important for us not only to demonstrate the heroism and high professionalism of cosmonauts and industry specialists. who ensure the safety of manned flights, but also to develop the methodology of accelerated preparation for spaceflight and to perform a mission on the ISS. So, this is a kind of space experiment. The actress we select will perform the functions of a cosmonaut-researcher and become a full-fledged member of the Soyuz crew.”

Although official news of Tom Cruise’s flight to the ISS, arranged through Axiom Space, and SpaceX is still awaited, the currently projected timeline would put Cruise, producer Doug Liman and an unnamed actress on ISS, a few weeks after the Russian actress has departed.

 

©  Tony Quine – November 2020