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’’.