Eviction of Space Perspective from their buildings at the Space Coast Regional Airport is imminent, as employees, and possibly founders Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, were clearing out their offices over the weekend.
Employees tell Talk of Titusville they were not given any notice about the eviction in any communications from current CEO, Michael Savage, who was installed as CEO by Space Perspective investor, Prime Movers Lab.
This comes after emails from numerous employees telling Talk of Titusville about financial mismanagement and a company-wide furlough, leaving nearly all employees uncertain about their futures.
A former employee, who was involved in some of the financial aspects of the business, shared with Talk of Titusville that the company’s business model was fundamentally flawed. At the current $125,000 ticket price, “the flights would never be profitable,” they said, citing the high operational costs and questionable financial decisions.
The company is reportedly facing eviction from its facility, which will take effect on Wednesday, Jan. 22. According to another former employee, there was no formal communication to staff about the impending eviction. The lack of transparency has left many feeling abandoned.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
Former employees who spoke to Talk of Titusville provided detailed accounts of alleged financial mismanagement, claiming the budget was split 50/50 between marketing and manufacturing—a decision many described as catastrophic. One employee noted, “Spending half of your money marketing a dream, something that doesn’t even exist yet, is extremely foolish.”
NBEDZ Grant Details
Troy Post, North Brevard Economic Development Zone Executive Director, explained in an email response to Talk of Titusville that Space Perspective was eligible for $453,480 in grant assistance if specific benchmarks were met, including constructing a $14 million permanent manufacturing facility at Space Coast Regional Airport.
Instead, the company erected a temporary fabric hangar, which did not fulfill the grant’s requirements. “Because the company never entered into a ground lease…and never built a structure upon that property, it never qualified for any Zone grant dollars,” Post said. With operations now ceased, the agreement is void.
Lavish marketing expenditures, such as trips to Europe and Dubai, were highlighted as examples of wasteful spending. “They were on yachts and cruises while the manufacturing team worked 12+ hour days,” another employee recounted.
These “visual progress” photo shoots for investors reportedly disrupted critical manufacturing deadlines, further exacerbating operational inefficiencies.
Space Perspective is currently marketing the company in Dubai, according to a Instagram post by Timur Kudratov Enlightened Minds Investments.
Employees also pointed to disparities in how different departments were treated. Technicians, who were paid between $21-$27 per hour, were given just two weeks of paid time off annually and no sick days. In contrast, salaried staff received unlimited PTO and other perks.
Leadership Under Fire
The company’s current CEO, Michael Savage, has faced mounting criticism for his handling of the situation. Employees have called for repercussions, accusing Savage of mismanagement and misuse of funds.
One former employee described the “core leadership team” as lacking the expertise to effectively navigate the company out of its current crisis, adding, “This is the reason the company is in the position it is in.”
Despite these allegations, Savage has defended the company’s position in public statements. However, employees have accused him of providing misleading information to other local media outlets. An email from a former employee sent to Talk of Titusville alleged that Savage “went on to lie” to a reporter in a recent article from Hometown News.
Minimal Operations Continue
According to employees, nearly all of Space Perspective’s workforce has been furloughed, including the heads of engineering and manufacturing departments.
“No one is working on any of the product,” one employee stated. The only active staff reportedly include a few finance team members, Savage, his assistant, select HR personnel, and some of the Voyager crew, some of which are contractors and not employees of Space Perspective.
Concerns have also been raised about the operational status of the company’s marine vessel, the Voyager. A former employee explained, “There is not enough Voyager crew remaining to legally allow them to move the vessel—just enough to keep required security onboard and prevent issues with vessel insurance, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the real owner, Guice Offshore.”
Calls for Accountability
Former employees and local residents are demanding accountability for the company’s collapse. Many have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and the devastating impact on workers, some of whom relocated to Titusville and purchased homes based on the company’s promises.
As the Jan. 22 eviction deadline looms, Space Perspective’s future remains uncertain. While Savage has promised a “roadmap to rebuilding,” former employees question whether the company can recover from the fallout.
Talk of Titusville has reached out to Michael Savage for comment but has yet to receive a response.
CORRECTION: Information has been added to our article about funds from the NBEDZ, which Space Perspective applied for, but never received
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