Space.com

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.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=About Us |url=https://www.space.com/41418-about-us.html |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Space.com |language=en}} PaineWebber, Venrock Associates, and SpaceVest were early investors.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Brett |date=January 18, 2006 |title=Space.com Is Back In Orbit |website=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/01/17/space-investing-imaginova_cx_bn_0118space-imaginova.html|access-date=April 6, 2025}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=Alex |date=July 17, 2014 |title=Space.com Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2014/07/17/space-com-celebrates-its-15th-anniversary/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Despite some growth, Space.com was not able to achieve what Dobbs had hoped. On May 14, 2001, he returned to CNN.{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=April 10, 2001 |title=Spaced Out Dobbs Calls It Quits |url=https://www.wired.com/2001/04/spaced-out-dobbs-calls-it-quits/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}

After Dobbs exited, the company's backers continued to invest capital. As it expanded, Space.com acquired Explorezone.com in November 1999{{Cite web |date=November 3, 1999 |title=Space.com Acquires explorezone.com |url=https://www.writerswrite.com/space-com-acquires-explorezone-com-11031999588 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Writers Write |language=en}} and Starport.com in June 2000.{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2000 |title=SPACE.COM ACQUIRES STARPORT.COM |url=https://adage.com/article/news/space-acquires-starport/9666 |website=Ad Age}} 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.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2000 |title=GANNETT ACQUIRES EQUITY STAKE IN SPACE.com |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/gannett-acquires-equity-stake-in-space-com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901215717/https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/gannett-acquires-equity-stake-in-space-com/ |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |website=Editor & Publisher}} It acquired Sienna Software, the company that produced the Starry Night software.

In 2003, Space.com received the Online Journalism Award for Breaking News for its coverage of the Columbia shuttle disaster.{{Cite web |title=Space.com Award-Winning Work |url=https://awards.journalists.org/organizations/space-com/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Online Journalism Awards |language=en-US}}

In May 2004, Space.com's parent company changed its name from Space Holdings to Imaginova.{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Anita |date=2006-10-12 |title=Space-related company explores new frontier |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20040522/FREE/405220701/space-related-company-explores-new-frontier |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Crain's New York Business |language=en}} In November of that year, Imaginova launched Live Science to branch out from its space coverage.{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Brett |date=January 5, 2011 |title=LiveScience |url=https://www.cjr.org/news_startups_guide/2011/01/livescience.php/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |language=en}} It also acquired Orion Telescopes in February 2005{{Cite web |last=Beatty |first=J. Kelly |date=February 16, 2005 |title=ORION TELESCOPES SOLD TO IMAGINOVA |url=https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/orion-telescopes-sold-to-imaginova/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Sky & Telescope}} and comic book news site Newsarama in October 2007.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2007-10-08 |title=Newsarama acquired by Imaginova |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/newsarama-acquired-by-imaginova/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} In 2008, Imaginova sold Starry Night to Simulation Curriculum.{{Cite web |title=Company |url=https://starrynighteducation.com/company.html |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=starrynighteducation.com}}

In 2009, Imaginova sold Space.com, Live Science, and Newsarama to TopTenReviews.com, which then reorganized into TechMedia Network, following the purchase.{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Rafat |date=October 26, 2009 |title=Space.com & Related Sites Acquired by TopTenReviews |url=http://paidcontent.org/article/419-space.com-related-sites-acquired-by-toptenreviews/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027184732/http://paidcontent.org/article/419-space.com-related-sites-acquired-by-toptenreviews/ |archive-date=October 27, 2009 |website=PaidContent.org}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2009-10-26 |title=TopTenREVIEWS Acquires Space.com, LiveScience and Newsarama |url=https://www.livescience.com/5816-toptenreviews-acquires-space-livescience-newsarama.html |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=livescience.com |language=en}} Space.com was recognized as a Webby Award honoree in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-04-18 |title=SPACE.com Named Official Webby Awards Honoree |url=https://www.space.com/20729-webby-awards-space-honoree.html |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Space.com |language=en}} The company changed its name to Purch in April 2014.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-04-30 |title=Introducing Purch: The Definitive Buying Decision Platform |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/04/30/1051079/0/en/Introducing-Purch-The-Definitive-Buying-Decision-Platform.html |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}

In 2018, Space.com—along with other Purch consumer brands—were sold to Future plc.{{Cite web |last=Dool |first=Greg |date=2018-07-19 |title=UK-Based Future Acquires Purch for $132.5 Million |url=https://www.foliomag.com/uk-based-future-acquires-purch-for-132-5-million/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903045828/https://www.foliomag.com/uk-based-future-acquires-purch-for-132-5-million/ |archive-date=September 3, 2018 |access-date=2018-12-18 |website=Folio |language=en-US}} 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.

Tariq Malik is the current Editor-in-Chief of Space.com,{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Tariq Malik {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/tariq-malik |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} with Brett Tingley as Editor,{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Brett Tingley {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/brett-tingley |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} and Mike Wall as Spaceflight/Tech Channel Editor. Photographer Jason Parnell-Brookes is the Cameras and Skywatching Channel Editor,{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Jason Parnell-Brookes {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/jason-parnell-brookes |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} and Ian Stokes is the Tech & Entertainment Channel Editor.{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Ian Stokes {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/ian-stokes |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Steve Spaleta is the current Senior Producer for video.{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Steve Spaleta {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/steve-spaleta |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Previous editors include: Anthony Duignan-Cabrera,{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Anthony Duignan-Cabrera {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/anthony-duignan-cabrera |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Robert Roy Britt,{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Robert Roy Britt {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/robert-roy-britt |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Clara Moskowitz and Sarah Lewin.{{Cite web |title=Articles by: Sarah Lewin {{!}} Space |url=https://www.space.com/author/sarah-lewin |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Space.com |date=11 November 2022 |language=en}}

• List of astronomy websites

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.forbes.com/2006/01/17/space-investing-imaginova_cx_bn_0118space-imaginova.html Space.com Is Back In Orbit] - Forbes Magazine 18 January 2006 (accessed 5 June 2006)
• [https://www.forbes.com/2000/07/05/feat.html Lou Dobbs Journeys From Wall Street To Space] - Forbes Magazine 5 July 2000 (accessed 28 February 2006)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20010124072100/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/jan01/jan15/2_tues/news2tuesday.html As dot.coms tumble, whither Dobbs' Space.com?] Media Life Magazine 2 January 2001 (accessed 28 February 2006)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060101090420/http://www.imaginova.com/aboutus/ Imaginova.com About Us] (accessed 28 February 2006)

• [http://www.space.com Space.com]

{{Future plc}}

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Category:Internet properties established in 1999

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Category:Astronomy websites

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Category:Websites related to spaceflight