Sam Altman’s Stoke Space Deal Talks Collapse Amid Space Sector Ambitions
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's pursuit of a strategic stake in rocket startup Stoke Space has ended without agreement, according to Wall Street Journal reports. The potential multi-billion dollar deal WOULD have positioned Altman against Elon Musk's SpaceX in the reusable rocket arena.
Stoke Space, founded by Blue Origin alumni, represents the new wave of private space ventures focusing on fully reusable launch systems. Altman's interest aligns with his stated vision of supporting AI infrastructure through space-based solutions with lower environmental impact than terrestrial data centers.
The collapsed negotiations highlight the growing convergence between artificial intelligence and aerospace industries. Venture capital continues flowing into space tech startups, with $12.4 billion invested globally in 2022 according to Space Capital data.