Space Tango

Space Tango

Automated microgravity R&D in LEO

Overview

Space Tango provides automated R&D and manufacturing services in low Earth orbit by deploying compact laboratories called CubeLabs on the International Space Station. It helps clients in technology, materials, and biomedical sectors conduct experiments and production in microgravity, enabling processes not feasible on Earth. CubeLabs are automated, compact labs that run experiments and manufacturing steps in space, handling tasks that benefit from microgravity. The company differentiates itself by offering end-to-end space-enabled research and manufacturing capabilities through partnerships, project collaborations, and commercial contracts, backed by NASA Utilization Award recognition for biomedical applications. Its goal is to expand space-based R&D and manufacturing, create new business opportunities in space, and contribute to human progress by advancing science and industry through microgravity-enabled work.

About Space Tango

Simplify's Rating
Why Space Tango is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Robotics & Automation

Industrial & Manufacturing

Aerospace

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$11.4M

Headquarters

Lexington, Kentucky

Founded

2014

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 25, 2026 Kentucky approved $7.4 million expansion, adding 25 jobs and capacity.
  • February 2026 Artemis II work validated Space Tango's hardware for NASA biological investigations.
  • September 2025 LambdaVision partnership extended Space Tango into higher-value microgravity manufacturing applications.

What critics are saying

  • ISS dependence exposes revenue to station retirement delays, launch scrubs, and NASA policy shifts.
  • Space Tango's customer base remains project-driven; one canceled NASA award can wipe near-term demand.
  • If commercial stations slip past 2028, Space Tango loses its core microgravity platform.

What makes Space Tango unique

  • Space Tango runs automated CubeLabs on ISS, enabling hands-off microgravity R&D since 2017.
  • It combines flight hardware, mission operations, and sample return for biotech and materials customers.
  • June 2026 Lexington expansion deepens its integrated lab-to-orbit workflow across engineering and biology.

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Funding

Total Funding

$11.4M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

5 Rounds

Grant funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Grant Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Megaproject
Jun 27th, 2026
Space Tango to spend $7.4 million on Kentucky hq expansion.

Space Tango to spend $7.4 million on Kentucky hq expansion. By Plant Service - June 27, 2026 - 2 min Space Tango Co. will spend $7.4 million on a new expansion of its Lexington, Kentucky headquarters, a June 25 announcement from the governor's office announced. According to Gov. Beshear's office, the space infrastructure company expects the move will create 25 new jobs at the site. Based in Kentucky since 2017, Space Tango is dedicated to space-based research, development and manufacturing. The company's website says it has launched 45 missions to date and operates a permanent module on the International Space Station. The shift will see Space Tango leasing and developing a new facility at the Greyline Station manufacturing campus in Lexington, Kentucky. The new headquarters will reportedly also include dedicated mission operations space, build laboratories, biological and electrical laboratories, test centers, engineering audiences, and new employee amenities. The project timeline will see the move implemented in stages starting next year. "Space Tango was founded in Kentucky and is proud to continue building its future here," said Twyman Clements, president and co-founder of Space Tango. "These incentives coupled with support from the state legislature will accelerate our build-out here. As the space economy continues to commercialize, we're building Space Tango to further our leadership position in enabling research and manufacturing in microgravity." "Kentucky's technology and aerospace industries have seen tremendous growth in recent years because of our highly skilled workforce, access to resources and local and state collaboration," said Gov. Beshear. "Our historic run of economic momentum would not be possible without quality, Kentucky-based companies like Space Tango driving investment and creating good-paying jobs in our communities." "Lexington saw the potential of Space Tango many years ago and supported it through our local incentive Jobs Fund program," said Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton. "Our support has continued as Space Tango has grown and created good jobs for our residents. Congratulations to the whole Space Tango team!" Steuart Nutrition to build new, $11.4 million Kentucky supplement plantThe company's new factory and relocated HQ are expected to create 93 new jobs. Toyota to spend $1 billion to expand Kentucky and Indiana plantsMost of the money will go towards boosting Camry and RAV4 production, as well as adding a new electric vehicle, at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant. James Composites to spend $5.8 million on new Kentucky factoryThe fiberglass barge cover estimates it will hire 25 new employees. Recent Comments

LEX 18
Jun 25th, 2026
Beshear: Space Tango to expand Lexington operations with $7.4M investment, creating 25 jobs.

Beshear: Space Tango to expand Lexington operations with $7.4M investment, creating 25 jobs. By: Web Staff Posted 1 hour and 17 minutes ago LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) - Space Tango, a Kentucky-founded leader in commercial space infrastructure and mission operations, will expand its Lexington operation with a $7.4 million investment that will create 25 jobs, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday. Space Tango will lease and develop a larger facility at the Greyline Station campus in Lexington, according to a news release from Beshear. The new facility will include dedicated mission operations space, build laboratories, biological laboratories, electrical laboratories, machine shops, testing laboratories, engineering offices, collaboration areas and supporting employee amenities. The project will be implemented in phases beginning in 2026, with additional expansion capacity available for future growth, Beshear noted. "Kentucky's technology and aerospace industries have seen tremendous growth in recent years because of our highly skilled workforce, access to resources and local and state collaboration," Beshear said. "Our historic run of economic momentum would not be possible without quality, Kentucky-based companies like Space Tango driving investment and creating good-paying jobs in our communities." Twyman Clements, president and co-founder of Space Tango, said the expansion reflects the company's commitment to its home state. "Space Tango was founded in Kentucky and is proud to continue building its future here," Clements said. "These incentives coupled with support from the state legislature will accelerate our build-out here. As the space economy continues to commercialize, we're building Space Tango to further our leadership position in enabling research and manufacturing in microgravity." Space Tango develops advanced systems enabling research, manufacturing and autonomous operations in the space environment. Since 2017, the company has supported more than 300 experiments flown across approximately 40 missions to the International Space Station and has received multiple NASA awards supporting deep-space exploration efforts, including work associated with the AVATAR program and Artemis missions, the release read. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton highlighted the city's longstanding support for the company. "Lexington saw the potential of Space Tango many years ago and supported it through our local incentive Jobs Fund program," Gorton said. "Our support has continued as Space Tango has grown and created good jobs for our residents. Congratulations to the whole Space Tango team!" Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington, said the expansion reflects the region's ability to attract high-tech industry. "Space Tango is another Lexington success story that proves our ability to nurture and grow careers and businesses that include many of our target sectors - high-tech, advanced manufacturing and research," Quick said. "We have the talent, resources and partnerships with local and state governments as well as the private sector that make Lexington attractive for these high-paying careers."

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Jun 25th, 2026
Gov. Beshear: Space Tango to expand Lexington headquarters with $7.4 million investment, create 25 new high-wage jobs.

Gov. Beshear: Space Tango to expand Lexington headquarters with $7.4 million investment, create 25 new high-wage jobs. Scottie Ellis502-564-2611https://governor.ky.gov/ Office of the Governor 501 High StreetFrankfortKY40601 Kentucky-based space technology company has supported experiments on over 40 missions flown to the International Space Station. FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 25, 2026) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced exciting momentum within the state's aerospace and technology sectors as Space Tango, a nationally recognized leader in commercial space infrastructure and mission operations, will expand its Lexington operation with a $7.4 million investment, creating 25 quality, good-paying jobs. "Kentucky's technology and aerospace industries have seen tremendous growth in recent years because of our highly skilled workforce, access to resources and local and state collaboration," said Gov. Beshear. "Our historic run of economic momentum would not be possible without quality, Kentucky-based companies like Space Tango driving investment and creating good-paying jobs in our communities." To support future company growth, Space Tango will expand its Kentucky presence, leasing and developing a substantially larger facility at the Greyline Station campus in Lexington. The new facility will include dedicated mission operations space, build laboratories, biological laboratories, electrical laboratories, machine shops, testing laboratories, engineering offices, collaboration areas and supporting employee amenities. The project will be implemented in phases beginning in 2026, with additional expansion capacity available for future growth. "Space Tango was founded in Kentucky and is proud to continue building its future here," said Twyman Clements, president and co-founder of Space Tango. "These incentives coupled with support from the state legislature will accelerate our build-out here. As the space economy continues to commercialize, we're building Space Tango to further our leadership position in enabling research and manufacturing in microgravity." Space Tango is a Kentucky-founded and -headquartered space technology company that develops advanced systems enabling research, manufacturing and autonomous operations in the space environment. Since 2017, Space Tango has supported more than 300 experiments flown across approximately 40 missions to the International Space Station and has received multiple NASA awards supporting deep-space exploration efforts, including work associated with the AVATAR program and Artemis missions. Today, Space Tango is a nationally recognized leader in commercial space infrastructure and mission operations and employs highly skilled engineers, scientists, technicians and business professionals. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton highlighted the local support for the company: "Lexington saw the potential of Space Tango many years ago and supported it through our local incentive Jobs Fund program. Our support has continued as Space Tango has grown and created good jobs for our residents. Congratulations to the whole Space Tango team!" Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington, noted the community's business-friendly environment: "Space Tango is another Lexington success story that proves our ability to nurture and grow careers and businesses that include many of our target sectors - high-tech, advanced manufacturing and research. We have the talent, resources and partnerships with local and state governments as well as the private sector that make Lexington attractive for these high-paying careers." Space Tango's investment and job creation furthers what has been the best six-year period for economic growth in state history. Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,300 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $50 billion in announced investments, creating more than 70,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth's history and $29 billion more than the next highest total. Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the battery capital of the United States: AESC's $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Ford Motor Co.'s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville, as well as its $2 billion, 2,100-job project at the Kentucky 1 plant in Hardin County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing's $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and Toyota's $1.3 billion investment in Scott County, among others. In February, the Governor announced Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $50.6 billion in exports in 2025, representing a 5.65% increase over 2024. Unemployment rates fell in all 120 counties between December 2024 and December 2025. The Governor's administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since. In addition, Kentucky has secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service. Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2025 Governor's Cup rankings. In June, Area Development magazine awarded the commonwealth a Silver Shovel designation in its 2025 Shovel Awards, which highlight states for attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state. To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) today preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $1,025,000 in tax incentives based on the company's investment of $7.4 million and annual targets of: * Creation and maintenance of 25 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and * Paying an average hourly wage of $53.60, including benefits, across those jobs. Additionally, KEDFA approved Space Tango for up to $75,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing. By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments. In addition, the company can receive resources from Kentucky's workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized raining and job-training incentives. A detailed community profile for Fayette County can be viewed here. Information on Kentucky's economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.

BizMart
Aug 2nd, 2025
Bacteria in Space Study Aims to Combat Disease

Furthermore, researchers from Sheba Medical Center in Israel partnered with U.S. company SpaceTango to design this groundbreaking experiment.

Space Tango
Apr 22nd, 2025
Space Tango Announces Strategic Collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital to Pioneer Advanced Medical Research in Microgravity

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2025) - Space Tango, a leader in automated research and manufacturing in microgravity, is proud to announce a new collaborative agreement with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

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