What began as a chance encounter at the International Space Technology Symposium in 2020 has evolved into one of the most promising companies in the private space sector. Valley Spark, founded by Dr. Amelia Starr and Jack Nova, has transformed from a modest Houston laboratory to a key player in sustainable space technology in just four years.
The founders met when Starr, then a NASA engineer, posed a challenging question about sustainability in long-term life support systems during a presentation. Nova, a tech entrepreneur in the audience, offered an unexpected solution that merged biotech with artificial intelligence. Their initial conversation evolved into an intense brainstorming session that identified a crucial gap in the industry: sustainable habitation for long-duration space missions.
By January 2021, both had taken the leap—Starr left NASA, and Nova stepped away from his successful software company. With their combined savings, they established Valley Spark and began working tirelessly to transform their theoretical model into a working prototype.
The company’s journey wasn’t without challenges. Funding proved elusive, and technical obstacles threatened their timeline. The turning point came when Starr made a breakthrough in recycling air and water in space habitats, with Nova developing sophisticated simulations demonstrating its viability.
Today, Valley Spark stands at the forefront of space habitat technology, with systems being integrated into multiple planned space stations and their expertise sought for upcoming lunar and Mars missions. Their story demonstrates how focused innovation and complementary partnerships can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the aerospace industry.