Harold “Swade Soul” Whaley Joins Forces With Copernic Space to Expand Access to the New Space Economy

Harold Whaley, professionally known as Swade Soul, is working with Copernic Space to introduce a broader and more culturally diverse group of entrepreneurs, investors, creators, executives and brands to opportunities emerging within the commercial space economy.

Whaley is also one of the first Black holders of the Copernic Space Passport, placing him among an early group gaining access to the company's developing ecosystem of private events, mission opportunities, space assets and commercial opportunities.

His role will center on education, qualification, opportunity development and relationship management. His initial focus will include prominent Black business leaders, entrepreneurs throughout Africa and the African diaspora, Latino and Mexican business communities, entertainers, athletes, technology founders, creators and other qualified participants who may have the financial capacity or intellectual property to participate in space commerce but have had little exposure to how the industry works.

Copernic Space, founded by Grant Blaisdell and Eva Blaisdell, known as Lady Rocket, is developing commercial and financial infrastructure around what it calls space assets. Those assets can include payload capacity, satellites, satellite data, launch capacity, reusable rockets, intellectual property, lunar assets, infrastructure and other mission-linked opportunities.

For Whaley, the opportunity is less about convincing people to become astronauts and more about helping them understand that space is becoming a place to conduct business.

“My responsibility is to find the right people, educate them, understand what they have already built or own, and determine what part of the new space economy makes sense for them. Then we help shape that idea into something that is ready to be presented to Copernic.”

A bridge between culture and space commerce

Whaley will operate as the liaison between qualified participants and Copernic Space.

His responsibilities will include identifying and vetting potential participants; explaining space-economy concepts in understandable terms; reviewing brands, businesses, intellectual property and potential assets; developing possible mission and commercialization concepts; preparing clients for introductions; coordinating with Copernic; and helping participants develop the media, technology and business infrastructure surrounding their projects.

Copernic Space will remain responsible for determining which opportunities are technically and commercially feasible and for structuring the applicable space-side participation, including mission access, space assets, payload opportunities, marketplace infrastructure, contractual requirements and related transaction mechanics.

In a recent conversation with Whaley, Copernic leadership described the Space Passport as “an exclusive access key into the Copernic Space platform and opportunities we have,”with utilities that can include access to private events and opportunities not always available publicly.

“We have Passport holders that use it to go to our private events at Kennedy Space Center, to access opportunities and deals before anybody else,” Copernic leadership told Whaley during the conversation.

The parties also discussed a partner model in which Whaley could introduce new clients and partners into the Copernic ecosystem and participate economically in qualifying transactions. Exact commercial terms, pricing and revenue-sharing arrangements will be governed by the applicable agreements between the parties and the specific opportunity involved.

Expanding who gets to participate

Whaley plans to support the relationship through a dedicated space-economy platform within the Swade Soul ecosystem.

The platform is being designed to educate users from the beginning—explaining payloads, rockets, satellite data, blockchain verification, intellectual property, real-world space assets and the economics surrounding commercial missions.

Qualified participants could then move from education to project development, IP protection, media preparation, commercialization strategy and ultimately a structured introduction to Copernic Space.

“There are people with extraordinary businesses, wealth, brands, music catalogs, technology, art and intellectual property who simply don't know that any of this is available to them. The opportunity is to make sure the right people understand that this economy exists and have somebody who can help them get prepared.”

For Whaley, being among the earliest Black participants in the Copernic Space Passport ecosystem also carries broader significance.

“Being one of the first is important to me, but opening the door for the people coming behind me is even more important. Black people have helped shape culture, technology and business on Earth. We should also have a meaningful place in the economy being built beyond it.”