Space.com

This article is about the space-related website. For other uses, see Spacecom (disambiguation).
Space.com
Space.com in March 2020
Type of site
Spaceflight, astronomy, skywatching and entertainment news
Available inEnglish
OwnerFuture plc
Created byLou Dobbs, Rich Zahradnik
URLSpace.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationNot required
LaunchedJuly 20, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-07-20)[1][2]
New York City, New York, U.S.
Current statusActive

Space.com is an online publication focused on space exploration, astronomy, skywatching and entertainment, with editorial teams based in the United States and United Kingdom. Launched on July 20, 1999,[3] the website offers live coverage of space missions, astronomical discoveries and reviews about skywatching telescopes, binoculars and sci-fi entertainment gear.

It is owned by Future plc headquartered in the city of Bath, England.[3] Its stories are often syndicated to other media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, Yahoo!, and USA Today.

History

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Space.com was founded on July 20, 1999, on the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, by former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs and Rich Zahradnik in New York City. Dobbs was CEO and Zahradnik the company's first president. Former astronauts Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride sat on the board of directors.[4] PaineWebber, Venrock Associates, and SpaceVest were early investors.[5] At that time, Dobbs owned a sizeable share of the company, and, in an unexpected move, left CNN later that year to become Space.com's chief executive officer.[6]

The company struggled to turn a profit in its early days and when the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, many felt that it would collapse. Co-founder Rich Zahradnik left his position as president less than two months after the start of the company, former astronaut Sally Ride took his place but then stepped down in September 2000.[7] Despite some growth, Space.com was not able to achieve what Dobbs had hoped. On May 14, 2001, he returned to CNN.[8]

After Dobbs exited, the company's backers continued to invest capital.[5] As it expanded, Space.com acquired Explorezone.com in November 1999[9] and Starport.com in June 2000.[10] In October, Space.com also acquired SpaceNews, spacenews.com, and Florida Today’s Space Online websites from Gannett for an equity stake in the company.[11] It acquired Sienna Software, the company that produced the Starry Night software.[5]

In 2003, Space.com received the Online Journalism Award for Breaking News for its coverage of the Columbia shuttle disaster.[4][12]

In May 2004, Space.com's parent company changed its name from Space Holdings to Imaginova.[13] In November of that year, Imaginova launched Live Science to branch out from its space coverage.[14] It also acquired Orion Telescopes in February 2005[15] and comic book news site Newsarama in October 2007.[16] In 2008, Imaginova sold Starry Night to Simulation Curriculum.[17]

In 2009, Imaginova sold Space.com, Live Science, and Newsarama to TopTenReviews.com, which then reorganized into TechMedia Network, following the purchase.[18][19] Space.com was recognized as a Webby Award honoree in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.[4][20] The company changed its name to Purch in April 2014.[21]

In 2018, Space.com—along with other Purch consumer brands—were sold to Future plc.[22] Under Future, Space.com has expanded its news and reviews team across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It has also grown its telescope, binoculars, and astrophotography reviews and deals coverage, as well as added sci-fi gaming and streaming coverage.[4]

Editors

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Tariq Malik is the current Editor-in-Chief of Space.com,[23] with Brett Tingley as Editor,[24] and Mike Wall as Spaceflight/Tech Channel Editor. Photographer Jason Parnell-Brookes is the Cameras and Skywatching Channel Editor,[25] and Ian Stokes is the Tech & Entertainment Channel Editor.[26] Steve Spaleta is the current Senior Producer for video.[27] Previous editors include: Anthony Duignan-Cabrera,[28] Robert Roy Britt,[29] Clara Moskowitz and Sarah Lewin.[30]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Space.com - About Us and Our People". Space.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  2. ^ "Space.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  3. ^ a b "About Us". Space.com. 2022-03-06. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  4. ^ a b c d "About Us". Space.com. 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  5. ^ a b c Nelson, Brett (January 18, 2006). "Space.com Is Back In Orbit". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  6. ^ Auletta, Ken (November 27, 2006). "MAD AS HELL: Lou Dobbs's populist crusade". New Yorker. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006.
  7. ^ Knapp, Alex (July 17, 2014). "Space.com Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  8. ^ "Spaced Out Dobbs Calls It Quits". Wired. April 10, 2001. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  9. ^ "Space.com Acquires explorezone.com". Writers Write. November 3, 1999. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  10. ^ "SPACE.COM ACQUIRES STARPORT.COM". Ad Age. June 21, 2000.
  11. ^ "GANNETT ACQUIRES EQUITY STAKE IN SPACE.com". Editor & Publisher. October 26, 2000. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018.
  12. ^ "Space.com Award-Winning Work". Online Journalism Awards. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  13. ^ Jain, Anita (2006-10-12). "Space-related company explores new frontier". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  14. ^ Norman, Brett (January 5, 2011). "LiveScience". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  15. ^ Beatty, J. Kelly (February 16, 2005). "ORION TELESCOPES SOLD TO IMAGINOVA". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  16. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (2007-10-08). "Newsarama acquired by Imaginova". The Beat. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  17. ^ "Company". starrynighteducation.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  18. ^ Ali, Rafat (October 26, 2009). "Space.com & Related Sites Acquired by TopTenReviews". PaidContent.org. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009.
  19. ^ "TopTenREVIEWS Acquires Space.com, LiveScience and Newsarama". livescience.com. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  20. ^ "SPACE.com Named Official Webby Awards Honoree". Space.com. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  21. ^ "Introducing Purch: The Definitive Buying Decision Platform". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  22. ^ Dool, Greg (2018-07-19). "UK-Based Future Acquires Purch for $132.5 Million". Folio. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  23. ^ "Articles by: Tariq Malik | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  24. ^ "Articles by: Brett Tingley | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  25. ^ "Articles by: Jason Parnell-Brookes | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  26. ^ "Articles by: Ian Stokes | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  27. ^ "Articles by: Steve Spaleta | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  28. ^ "Articles by: Anthony Duignan-Cabrera | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  29. ^ "Articles by: Robert Roy Britt | Space". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  30. ^ "Articles by: Sarah Lewin | Space". Space.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-21.

References

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