Phantom Space has acquired Vector Launch assets and IP to accelerate development of its Daytona small launch vehicle.
Phantom Space Corporation has acquired key assets and intellectual property from Vector Launch Inc. to accelerate development of its Daytona launch vehicle and strengthen its responsive launch capabilities.
The acquisition includes flight-proven design elements, engineering data, and proprietary technologies originally developed for Vector’s small-launch program. Phantom plans to integrate these capabilities directly into its Daytona rocket architecture to reduce development risk and speed the company’s path to orbital flight.
Founded in 2019 by Jim Cantrell, along with aerospace veterans Mike D'Angelo Phantom and Chris Thompson, Phantom Space focuses on providing rapid, cost-effective launch services for government and commercial satellite operators.
Cantrell, who also co-founded Vector, noted that the acquisition reunites technology developed during Vector’s small-launch program with Phantom’s current vehicle development efforts.
Phantom’s Daytona launch vehicle is designed as a mass-manufactured, two-stage rocket capable of delivering dedicated launch services for small satellites and spacecraft.
The system supports a wide range of payload configurations, from CubeSats to ESPA-class spacecraft, and features a modular payload fairing architecture that allows payload integration and testing at multiple facilities to support responsive mission timelines.
The company has already completed propulsion subsystem hot-fire tests and plans to begin stage-level testing and further vehicle integration milestones throughout 2026 as it advances toward orbital capability.
By integrating Vector’s intellectual property into an active launch development program, Phantom Space aims to preserve years of engineering investment while strengthening the U.S. small launch industrial base.
Image Credits: Phantom Space
