The Small Town Company Sending Satellites to Space | Matthew Voss, NearSpace Launch

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

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.