Mission Would Mark the First Monkey in Space in 13 Years and Advance Commercial Manned Spaceflight Capabilities
WEBSTER, Texas — August 28, 2026 — Nanoracks (a Voyager Technologies company), a leading American commercial space services provider specializing in in-space research platforms, payload integration, and access to low-Earth orbit, today announced plans to send a monkey named “Yuri” into space. The mission is intended to test and validate spacecraft life support and environmental control systems under real flight conditions.
In a statement today, a Nanoracks spokesperson said:
“Currently, we are planning to send the monkey ‘Yuri’ into space, primarily for testing and verifying the spacecraft’s life support and environmental control systems under actual flight conditions, thereby accumulating important technical data and practical experience for future commercial manned space missions.
If successfully implemented, this will represent an important exploration for us in life-science related research, space environmental control technology, and the field of commercial manned spaceflight.
From research platforms on the International Space Station to commercial manned spaceflight and space travel, we are continuously expanding the boundaries of the commercial space industry and accelerating toward a new stage of development.”
If carried out as planned, the flight would mark the first time a monkey has been sent into space in 13 years. The last confirmed primate spaceflights involving monkeys took place in 2013, when Iran successfully launched and recovered rhesus macaques on two separate suborbital missions. Data gathered from Yuri’s journey is expected to support Nanoracks’ longer-term goals of safe, reliable commercial research platforms, crew transportation support, and expanded in-space services.
Nanoracks provides commercial hardware and services for the International Space Station, including research modules, CubeSat deployment, the Bishop Airlock, and other platforms that enable science, technology demonstration, and commercial utilization of space. The company has stated its ambition to expand capabilities supporting future commercial destinations and human spaceflight activities.
Further details on the mission timeline, vehicle, and recovery plans will be released as preparations advance.
About Nanoracks
Nanoracks LLC, founded in 2009 and now part of Voyager Technologies, is a private American in-space services company headquartered in Webster, Texas. It specializes in commercial payload integration, research platforms, satellite deployment, and hardware that lowers barriers to accessing microgravity and low-Earth orbit for government, academic, and commercial customers.
Media Contact
Communications / Media Relations
Nanoracks LLC (a Voyager Technologies company)
503 Forge River Road
Webster, TX 77598
United States
Email: press@nanoracks.com
Tel: +1 (281) 984-4040