---
title: "This Clue May Show What Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Is Doing in Space"
description: "Garbage Removal Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gave almost nothing away with his cryptic announcement of Privateer, a space company he promised to be “unlike the others,” in a tweet. A video accompanying the announcement also wasn’t exactly enlightening, leading us to believe it may have something to do with making space more accessible and keeping […]"
date: "2021-09-13"
modified: "2021-09-13"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/clue-steve-wozniak-space"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "space debris"
  - "space junk"
  - "steve wozniak"
  - "the digest"
---

# This Clue May Show What Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Is Doing in Space

![Steve Wozniak's new venture called Privateer may be a space junk cleanup company — something that makes a lot of sense right now.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/clue-steve-wozniak-space.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Getty Images\</em\>*

## Garbage Removal

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gave almost nothing away this morning with his [cryptic announcement](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/steve-wozniak-space-company>) of Privateer, a space company [he promised](<https://twitter.com/stevewoz/status/1437234689786347523>) to be "unlike the others."

A [video](<https://youtu.be/3a7A1w1C2TE>) accompanying the announcement also wasn't exactly enlightening, teasing only that the venture would make space more "accessible" and "safe."

But, [according to the hawk-eyed reporters over at *Gizmodo*](<https://gizmodo.com/steve-wozniak-appears-to-be-launching-a-space-garbage-c-1847665007>), we may now have an answer: Wozniak may be funding a [space junk](<https://futurism.com/tags/space-junk>) cleanup company — something that makes a lot of sense, given the [disastrous amount](<https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html>) of garbage that's been getting trapped in our planet's orbit in recent decades.

## Cleaning Up Space

An August [press release](<https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210804005651/en/Desktop-Metal-Qualifies-Titanium-for-Manufacturing-with-the-Studio-System-2>) by Desktop Metal, a 3D-printing company, describes Privateer as "a new satellite company focused on monitoring and cleaning up objects in space."

The press release even quotes Wozniak arguing how the 3D printing technology could help the new company "achieve the affordability and lightweighting capabilities needed to pave the way for our satellite design and launch."

The news also makes sense given Wozniak's fondness for environmental sustainability. In 2020, the entrepreneur launched Efforce, a marketplace or funding ecologically-friendly projects.

Space debris is quickly becoming a bigger problem as more and more humans are populating our planet's orbit. Even SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has [floated the idea](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-chomp-space-junk>) of using his company's Starship spacecraft as a huge Pacman-style space junk garbage truck.

A cluttered orbit means exploring the far reaches of our solar system could prove even more risky than it already is. That means there's plenty of interest left in funding private ventures aimed at alleviating the problem — especially when [cash-strapped](<https://www.space.com/nasa-2021-budget-congress-omnibus-spending-bill>) agencies like NASA could be struggling to nail down funding for them.

**READ MORE:** [Steve Wozniak Appears to Be Launching a Space Garbage Company](<https://gizmodo.com/steve-wozniak-appears-to-be-launching-a-space-garbage-c-1847665007>) \[*Gizmodo*\]

**More on space junk:** *[Elon Musk Says New Spacecraft Will “Chomp Up” Space Junk](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-chomp-space-junk>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)