About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Vast Launches With Mission to Develop the World’s First Artificial-Gravity Space Station, Enabling Scalable Solutions for Humans to Live and Work in Space

By: via Business Wire

Founder Jed McCaleb, blockchain pioneer and tech entrepreneur, ventures into outer space with new startup focused on expanding humanity across the solar system

Vast, a pioneer in space habitation technologies, is pleased to announce its official launch. Vast is developing artificial-gravity space stations to enable scalable solutions for human productivity in space. Founded by tech visionary Jed McCaleb, who is renowned for projects such as Stellar, the Astera Institute, Ripple, and eDonkey2000, Vast is building a world-class team of engineers to develop the future of space, with the support of multiple, seasoned industry experts including advisor Hans Koenigsmann, a distinguished aerospace engineer and former vice president at SpaceX.

“Vast’s mission is to enable a future where millions of people are living across the solar system,” said McCaleb. “The solar system has an incredible amount of resources. If we had access to those resources, our civilization could grow and thrive while preserving our planet. Once large populations of humans can live in space, we can create the industry and infrastructure needed to access those resources at-scale.”

McCaleb is also the founder of Astera Institute, a nonprofit focused on science and technology research in “high leverage” areas that could lead to massive returns for humanity.

McCaleb added, “I have always believed in leveraging technology to reduce inefficiency and improve the human condition. To expand human habitation in space, we have to create technologies that perfect sustainability.”

Over the last decade, private companies have led incredible innovation in the launch industry, drastically lowering the cost-to-orbit. The potential of next-generation launch vehicles promises to reduce the cost of launch even further. Larger structures and broader visions for working and living off-planet are now a possibility.

According to McCaleb, “The next step for innovation is habitation. We are developing low-cost stations and artificial gravity so that people can live in space for long periods of time without the permanent side effects of zero-gravity.”

Prolonged exposure to zero-gravity results in harmful side effects such as muscle atrophy, bone loss, and even brain damage. Today’s astronauts must limit their visits to space to reduce the damaging toll on their bodies. Artificial gravity provides a healthier environment for long-term stays in space. With a large spinning structure, the resulting centrifugal force creates a gravity-like pull.

Today, Vast is assembling a world-class team while rapidly making progress with multiple sub-system development tests on the roadmap towards their future stations. The current team is industry-seasoned with broad experience designing and building the most advanced vehicles in the world.

“We still crave new frontiers, with many of us spending our lives anticipating the time when space will be unlocked for us,” said McCaleb. “By pushing our frontiers and expanding our habitat into the vastness of space, we may actually preserve Earth for thousands of years and generations to come.”

The experience and dexterity of the Vast team will lead to the development of a vibrant space ecosystem that will ultimately enable further human expansion into the solar system.

Meet Vast in Paris at World Satellite Business Week (Sept. 12-16, 2022) and International Astronautical Congress (Sept. 18-22, 2022).

To learn more about Vast, visit Vast.space.

ABOUT VAST

Vast is a pioneer in space habitation technologies focused on expanding humanity across the solar system. Founded in 2021, the company is assembling a world-class team to build the world’s first low-cost, artificial gravity station so people can live and work in space for long periods of time without the permanent side effects of zero-gravity. For more information, visit Vast.space.

Contacts

More News

View More
3 Defensive Stocks to Buy as Economic Uncertainty Lingers
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers CLX COST CVX
3 Dividend Hikes That Signal Renewed Strength in 2025
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers ACN F GE GM HON THO
3 Sustainable Stocks Benefiting From the AI Energy Surge
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy Government
Tickers HUBB NEE XYL
NVIDIA Analysts Lift Targets: What It Means for the Stock Price
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers NVDA
Fastenal Stock Pulls Back in October—Is It Time to Buy FAST?
Via MarketBeat
Tickers FAST
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.