70 TIME April 11/April 18, 2022
DISRUPTERSSPINLAUNCH
TWIRLING TO SPACE
SpinLaunch is developing a new, cleaner
method of launching satellites into
space: its vacuum- sealed centrifuge
spins a payload, then hurls it into the
sky. Once at altitude, a traditional
engine ignites, propelling the object into
orbit. Because the payload is already
airborne when the engine lights, the
process requires far less fuel than
typical launches. The company, led by
CEO Jonathan Yaney, had its rst
suborbital l ight in November, and plans
to conduct up to 30 more over the next
few months. —Jeffrey KlugerNSO GROUP
HAWKING SPYWARE
A consortium of media organizations
revealed last year that people around the
world were the targets of surveillance
enabled by software from Israeli com-
pany NSO Group. The spyware, called
Pegasus, could steal personal data from
targets’ apps, hijack audio from micro-
phones, and secretly activate phone
cameras. NSO said the software was
meant to be used by governments for
combatting terror and crime, but some
have reportedly used it to target political
dissidents, activists, and even the wife
of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi,
which NSO denies. —Billy Perrigo‘You have a
right to vote
and hold the
company
accountable.’AMC ENTERTAINMENT HOLDINGS
MEME-STOCK MASTERY
As theater chain AMC struggled amid the
pandemic, internet-savvy investors last
year turned the company into a “meme
stock,” making it popular despite shaky
fundamentals. By gobbling up shares,
those traders boosted AMC’s price,
squeezing traditional investors betting
against the rm. CEO Adam Aron sold
more stock to raise money and courted
the meme-stock crowd via Twitter,
thereby helping the company survive. “It’s
pleasing to be their champion,” Aron says
of the meme stockers, “because Wall
Street has in the past thumbed its nose
at these people.” —Alex Fitzpatrick