Structural batteries for high-performance spacecraft
Vista Space is developing Tesla-inspired modular structural battery packs for spacecraft, enabling them to either fit dramatically more power without increasing size or gain 15-30% useful volume without losing power. Founded by alumni of SpaceX, NASA, Rocket Lab, and Firefly.
Active Founders
Maxim Kraft
I care deeply about space, sustainability, and using economics and engineering to build a future worth living in for all humankind. In 2023, I co-founded Vista Space to develop energy-dense spacecraft platforms for the future of space exploration. Previously, I worked on profit improvement at Starlink, built supply chain analytics tooling at Rocket Lab, and ran a software startup called Tour (acquired), which I co-founded in high school.
Chaitanya Kore
Chaitanya is the Founder of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Space Force Association, worked on government business development as a consultant at Magnivia Ventures, and contributed to large manufacturing projects at Intersect Illinois.
Petar Matejic
Petar Matejic embodies a relentless force of cosmic ambition. As the CTO of Vista Space, he drives innovation in CubeSat structural technology with a blend of expertise from NASA, Firefly Aerospace, The Boring Company, and SpaceX. His leadership at SEDS UNLV and RebelSat UNLV reflects his passion for space exploration. At Vista Space, Petar pioneers advancements with an unyielding commitment to transforming the CubeSat landscape.
Company Launches
TL;DR
About Us
Vista Space builds Tesla-inspired structural batteries to increase satellites’ energy capacity without increasing their size. The founders worked at SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and NASA.
The Ask
If you or anyone you know are building spacecraft or any other products that could benefit from structural batteries, we should talk! Please reach out or send referrals our way to sales@govista.space or our website at https://govista.space.
—
Hey all, we’re Vista Space, co-founded by Maxim Kraft, Petar Matejic, and Chaitanya Kore. Our mission is to power the next generation of space exploration.
Problem
Power is a fundamental constraint for space mission design, as everything operating in space requires electricity. Today's spacecraft power systems are not capable enough to support both the current and next-generation mission concepts, leading satellite manufacturers to painful trade-offs: limiting additional hardware or increasing system size to get more power.
With reduced capabilities, companies lose their technological advantage. With increased size, manufacturing costs are higher, risk of schedule delays is greater, and go-to-market is slower due to fewer spacecraft launches. These trade-offs are fundamental limitations of spacecraft design and space economics.
While space-rated solar panels are thin, efficient, and can be foldable, batteries take up significant useful volume (up to 30% in small spacecraft) and are vastly less capable than the latest terrestrial equivalents.
Solution
Traditional spacecraft walls are purely structural, serving little functional purpose after launch while occupying valuable space.
Our Voltaris 1 module replaces these walls, providing structural support and energy storage simultaneously. This allows satellite manufacturers to double their energy capacity without increasing size or gain 15-30% more useful volume at the same power budget.
Key Features:
- Inspired by structural batteries in EVs like the Tesla Model Y and Cybertruck
- Plug and play with any chassis size, bolting onto the chassis in place of aluminum walls
- Compatible with third-party electrical & power system (EPS) modules inside
- CubeSat modules include a solar cell, and all form factors have the electrical components & thermal protection systems to work out of the box
- Additional radiation protection for the contents inside the chassis
- Launching to space in February 2025
- Targeting pricing to be middle of the market for space batteries
About Us
Maxim & Petar met at SpaceX, working on Starlink and Starship, respectively, and bonded over discussing opportunities for satellite design improvements. Maxim met Chaitanya at a conference for rising NewSpace leaders and stayed in touch since.
Maxim: Berkeley alum (Economics & Physics). Former SpaceX, Rocket Lab. Taught a course on space economy and entrepreneurship during undergrad.
Petar: Former SpaceX, NASA, Firefly, The Boring Company. Co-founded UNLV's student satellite team.
Chaitanya: Founded Space Force Association Great Lakes chapter. Helped secure a multi-billion-dollar battery gigafactory in Illinois.
The Ask
- Please share this post with your network, even outside the space industry!
- If we’re building something you need, please reach out or send referrals to sales@govista.space or our website https://govista.space.
- Leave an upvote!
Early adopter benefits: Anyone who places a Pre-order gets personalized technical review sessions and priority delivery of the first production units.
Thanks all! Let us know what you think.