{"id":17596,"date":"2021-02-16T22:41:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T14:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/axiom-raises-130m-for-its-space-station-and-adds-blue-origin-alum-to-its-board\/"},"modified":"2021-02-16T22:41:13","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T14:41:13","slug":"axiom-raises-130m-for-its-space-station-and-adds-blue-origin-alum-to-its-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/axiom-raises-130m-for-its-space-station-and-adds-blue-origin-alum-to-its-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Axiom raises $130M for its space station \u2014 and adds Blue Origin alum to its board"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Axiom
Artwork shows Axiom Space\u2019s first module on the International Space Station. (Axiom Space Illustration)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The longtime president of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin space venture, Rob Meyerson, will be joining the board of directors for another pioneering space company in connection with a $130 million funding round.<\/p>\n

Texas-based Axiom Space says the fresh funding will boost its effort to build the world\u2019s first commercial space station, starting as early as 2024.<\/p>\n

The Series B funding round was led by London-based C5 Capital, which focuses on cybersecurity and related sectors. Axiom Space said it will partner with other companies in C5\u2019s portfolio to establish an orbital center for cloud computing and cybersecurity operations.<\/p>\n

Meyerson, who left Blue Origin in 2018, is an operating partner at C5 Capital.<\/p>\n

\"Rob
Former Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson is an operating partner at C5 Capital. (C5 Capital via PRNewswire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAxiom Space is a force in the space sector, and it will become a centerpiece of the C5 Capital portfolio,\u201d he said in a news release. \u201cThe Axiom Station will be the infrastructure upon which we will build many new businesses in space, and it will serve as the foundation for future exploration missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other participants in the funding round include Declaration Partners, which is backed by the family of billionaire investor David Rubenstein; Moelis Dynasty Investments; The Venture Collective; Hemisphere Ventures; and Starbridge Venture Capital. The latest investments follow a round of seed funding from Axiom\u2019s co-founder and executive chairman, Kam Ghaffarian. CNBC quoted Axiom President and CEO Michael Suffredini, a former manager of NASA\u2019s space station program, as saying the company\u2019s valuation now exceeds $1 billion.<\/p>\n

In the near term, Axiom Space is focusing on arranging privately funded trips to the International Space Station. Its first mission, known as Ax-1, is due to send former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and three paying customers to the station in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule next year.<\/p>\n

Hollywood leading man Tom Cruise is said to be on deck for a follow-up mission that would involve shooting scenes for a space-themed movie, but Axiom hasn\u2019t yet confirmed the timing for that flight.<\/p>\n