Florida Invests in Offshore Launch Platform Prototype
Seagate Space to Build and Demonstrate System at Port of Tampa Bay, With an Eye on Statewide Expansion
The Space Florida board of directors approved an investment in St. Petersburg-based Seagate Space on June 2 to prototype and demonstrate an offshore launch infrastructure system, a first for the state.
The initiative, designated Project Manta, marks Space Florida’s entry into maritime-based launch infrastructure. Seagate Space, founded in St. Petersburg, is developing the system from the ground up rather than retrofitting existing vessels. The initial prototype will be built at the Port of Tampa Bay in partnership with Tampa Ship.
“Space Florida’s role is to be a force multiplier, and our engagement consistently helps unlock bigger outcomes, more capital, and stronger companies choosing Florida time and time again.”
Rob Long, Space Florida
The announcement did not disclose the dollar amount of the investment.
Seagate Space’s approach is designed around the operational demands of commercial launch operators. The Port of Tampa Bay contract opens Florida’s maritime industrial base to a role in space access — a sector previously anchored almost entirely to land-based facilities on the state’s east coast.
Rob Long, Col. (Ret.), President and CEO of Space Florida, said the partnership reflects the agency’s broader mandate. “Space Florida’s role is to be a force multiplier,” Long said, “and our engagement consistently helps unlock bigger outcomes, more capital, and stronger companies choosing Florida time and time again.”
Michael Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Seagate Space, said the public investment accelerates the company’s development timeline. “The opportunity to supplement early-stage private investment with public capital shows our state’s commitment to fostering homegrown innovation,” Anderson said. “As we grow, we see a bright future in Florida with the people, capital, and partners that startups need across phases.”
No timeline for prototype completion or demonstration milestones was included in the announcement. The next phase of development and potential manufacturing expansion within Florida will depend on results from the prototype program.