Space Power: Space Force "Budget's Like A Protein Shake"
The Downlink episode breaks down the Pentagon’s FY2027 budget request, highlighting a proposed 124% jump for the Space Force—from $31.6 billion to $71.1 billion—driven by a mix of reconciliation funding and new “protein‑rich” line items that promise lasting growth. Guests Todd Harrison (AEI) and Sam Wilson (Aerospace Corp.) explain the political mechanics of regular appropriations versus reconciliation, and they flag key spending areas such as the $7 billion airborne moving‑target indication program, missile‑warning and tracking, and new command‑and‑control initiatives. They also discuss the uncertainty of congressional approval amid upcoming midterm elections and the lack of transparent budget documents (J‑books).
Working Towards an 18th Sustainable Development Goal - "Space for All": An Interview with Chiara Moenter
In this episode, Emeline Pat Daltram interviews Chiara Moenter, co‑founder of the SDG 18 "Space for All" initiative and policy advisor at the New Zealand Space Agency. They discuss how the Overview Effect inspired Chiara to view space as a shared global...
Inside SatEnlight's Spiral Staircase of Lasers: Interview with Startup Space Winner Matteo Vismara
In this episode, Jeffrey Hill interviews Matteo Vismara, CEO and co‑founder of Italy‑based SatNlight, the winner of the Sat Show’s 10th annual Startup Space Entrepreneur Pitch Contest. Vismara explains how his team’s optical‑communication terminal uses stacked vortex beams—visualized as a...
Unlocking New Space Broadband Capacity, and the Consequences of ‘On Hold’
The episode examines three major developments reshaping space broadband: the FCC’s draft order to replace the outdated EPFD framework with performance‑based spectrum sharing rules, a move that could unlock over $2 billion and boost capacity up to sevenfold; Amazon’s pending acquisition...
Space Power: The Space Force Reveals What's In Its Crystal Ball
The episode examines the U.S. Space Force’s newly released "Future Operating Environment 2040" and "Objective Force 2040" documents, which outline anticipated threats—particularly from China—and the resources needed to maintain space superiority through 2040 and beyond. Guests Joel Mosier, the Space...
229 - What Does It Take to Maintain Decision Advantage in Space?
In this episode, Colonel Tim Tramello, director of the Space Force’s Commercial Space Office, explains how the service is accelerating the integration of commercial space capabilities to maintain a decision advantage against fast‑moving adversaries. He outlines a flexible integration model—from...
2026.04.08 | 76th International Astronautical Congress 2025 - Part 4
The episode covers highlights from the 2025 International Astronautical Congress, featuring Adam Gilmore of Gilmore Space Technologies discussing the hard‑won lessons from developing the ERA One orbital rocket, including the importance of incremental testing, regulatory navigation, and realistic scheduling. Gilmore...
They're Home From the Moon / The Pet Debt Crisis Is Real / Gen Z Thinks AI Is Rotting Their...
The episode covers three main stories: NASA’s Artemis II splashdown, highlighting the historic return of four astronauts and the promise of future lunar missions; the emerging pet‑debt crisis, with veterinary costs up 43% since 2021 and lifetime pet expenses exceeding $50,000,...
The Future of Space Manufacturing.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmazis talks with Alistair McGibbon, head of semiconductors at UK‑based SpaceForge, about the company’s breakthrough in growing semiconductor crystals in low‑Earth orbit using plasma‑enhanced chemical vapor deposition. They explain how microgravity yields higher‑quality,...
286: Eyes to the Stars with Dr. Steve Hawley, NASA Shuttle Astronaut
In this episode, astronaut Dr. Steve Hawley discusses his new memoir "Eyes to the Stars" and reflects on the legacy of the Space Shuttle, the transition to Orion, and the Artemis II mission. He highlights how Artemis leverages proven shuttle...
Space and Satellite Futures: Randy Segal Is at the Table When Space Law Gets Written. Now the Cohort Gets a...
In this 42‑minute episode of Orbited, veteran space‑law partner Randy Siegel discusses how she navigates the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape for commercial space ventures, from satellite contracts to commercial space stations and mega‑constellations. She explains the challenges of...
The Space Force Might Get Its Biggest Budget Ever. Now What?
The episode examines the FY 2027 presidential budget request for the U.S. Space Force, a $71.24 billion proposal that more than doubles the prior year’s funding and includes major investments in classified R&D, missile‑defense architecture, and manpower growth. Guests Sean Barnes,...
228 - What Hidden Factors Decide Whether Space Missions Succeed?
In this episode, John Gilroy and Melanie Strickland discuss how modern space missions are less about individual satellites and more about orchestrating complex, cyber‑physical ecosystems that span space, ground, and cloud. They highlight that the real competitive edge now lies...
Weird Space Stuff: Jay Schwartz on the Journals of Space Commerce Podcast
In this episode, FCC Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwartz explains the bureau’s recent creation (April 2023) and its expanding mandate to manage the surge in satellite communications licensing, especially as low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) constellations now dominate 80% of applications—a 217% increase...
Automation and Agility: How SSC Space Go Is Designed for the New Age of Ground
In this episode, Rachel Jewett talks with SSC Space product manager Jonas Osland and product owner Victor Pankoff about SSC Space Go, a new ground‑segment‑as‑a‑service offering aimed at the fast‑growing small‑satellite and constellation market. They explain how the service shifts...
Houston, We Have a Protocol.
The episode dives into space cybersecurity, featuring Brandon Bailey of the Aerospace Corporation and Cass (Kaz) Vogel, Blue Origin’s Director of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance. They discuss the evolving threat landscape as humanity expands beyond Earth, emphasizing the need...
Candace Johnson, HoF '26, and the 2025 20 Under 35 Cohort Have More in Common Than You'd Think
In this episode of Orbited, Hall of Fame inductee Candace Johnson recounts how she built Europe’s first private satellite operator, SES, at age 30, launching Astra in 1988 and later pioneering ventures like SCS Global, L Teleport Europe, and Iridium....
#49: Inside the Mind of a Space Engineer Turned VC (Feat. Koen Geurts, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF)
In this episode, Koen Geurts, a former aerospace engineer who worked on ESA's Rosetta/Philae mission and later managed satellite operations at Telespazio, discusses his transition to venture capital as Senior Investment Manager at Germany's Hightech Gründerfonds (HTGF). He shares behind‑the‑scenes...
What Happens When GPS Goes Dark?
In this episode, host Ken Miller talks with Dana Goward, president of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, about the pervasive reliance on GPS and other GNSS for everything from military targeting to financial transactions and everyday timing. Goward explains...
2026.03.18 | Closing the Loop: An Excremental History of the Space Age
The episode explores NASA’s massive infrastructure overhaul at Kennedy Space Center to support the Artemis moon missions and the future Mars journey, featuring 2014 insights from Mike Bolger on launch pad upgrades and from Chris Crumbly on the evolving Space...
A Spaceport—And Then Some.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmozis interviews Dr. Gabrielle Caswell, owner of Spaceport Australia, about the rapid evolution of NASA’s lunar strategy and the role of commercial space infrastructure. They discuss NASA’s shift to an iterative, capability‑based approach...
Space and Satellite Futures: The Chief Saboteur Just Got Orbited
In this episode of Orbited, Viasat co‑founder and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Hart shares four decades of satellite‑communications experience with the 2025‑20 Under‑35 cohort. He emphasizes the critical judgment of knowing when to change—avoiding sunk‑cost bias and staying outward‑focused...
Taxation in Outer Space: How Countries Could Vie for Star Power
Erika Isabella Scuderi, a tax law professor at the University of Florida, proposes a novel framework for assigning taxing rights to activities conducted in outer space. She argues that sovereignty should be linked to the launch origin, allowing nations to...
From Goddard’s Cabbage Patch to Artemis II.
In this episode, host Maria Varmazas chats with Jeff Carr, a veteran of NASA media and son of Apollo-era astronaut Capcom Jerry Carr, about the parallels between the Apollo 8 era of 1968 and today’s Artemis 2 mission. Jeff reflects on...
284: Etched in Crystal: Putting 3,237 Stories Onto a Lunar Rover
In this episode, host Beth Muld talks with Josh Haynes of Uplift Aerospace about the Stories of Space project's milestone of embedding 3,237 student and teacher messages into a 5‑dimensional crystal now attached to Astrolab’s Flip lunar rover. They explain...
Inside Space Systems Command: Col. Menschner | Spacepower Podcast
In this episode, Colonel Andrew Menchner, Deputy Commander of Space Systems Command (SSC), explains how SSC acquires, builds, and fields critical space capabilities—such as GPS, missile warning, and satellite communications—for the joint force, allies, and partners. He highlights the command’s...
Investing in American Manufacturing: Shey Sabripour Talks CesiumAstro's Ramp-Up
In this episode, Shea Sabripour, founder of Cesium Astro, discusses the company’s recent $270 million funding round and XIM financing aimed at expanding U.S. manufacturing in Texas. He outlines Cesium Astro’s evolution from software‑defined radios to full‑scale satellite missions, emphasizing a...
Better Satellite World: From Connectivity to Intelligence Episode 1: What Happens When the Network Thinks? Benny Retnamony of Quvia on...
In this inaugural episode of SSPI’s "Connectivity to Intelligence" series, host Tamara Bond‑Williams talks with Benny Rettnamone, founder and CEO of QVIA, about the challenges of handling massive data streams at the edge—on aircraft, ships, and offshore rigs—where connectivity is...
Exciting (But Crowded) Opportunities
In this episode, Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Lou Whiteman discuss how once‑sparse industries are becoming crowded with startups and IPOs, focusing on the space sector and the emerging nuclear power market. They highlight the rapid influx of launch companies,...
Designing for the Next Generation of GEO With Swissto12 CEO Emile De Rijk
In this episode, Swiss212 CEO Emil de Rijk explains how his company is disrupting the geostationary market by building smaller, faster, and more affordable satellites with advanced, in‑house RF payloads. He discusses the trade‑offs between payload flexibility and performance, the...
226 - Is Orbital Cleanup the Launchpad for Asteroid Mining?
In this episode, host explores the growing problem of orbital debris and its potential as a springboard for asteroid mining. Joel Sercel, CEO and founder of TransAstra, explains how his company’s capture technology can safely remove defunct satellites and repurpose...
Semiconductors, Satellites, and Scale With Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy
In this episode, Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy explains how her company provides end‑to‑end semiconductor services—from custom ASIC design and foundry access to wafer processing, packaging, board assembly, and final box builds—for aerospace, defense, and the rapidly growing new‑space sector....
Space Habitation Report – Mar.2.2026
NASA’s SpaceX CRS‑33 Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on Feb. 26, returning valuable microgravity biology experiments. The crew‑12 expedition arrived in mid‑February, expanding the ISS’s research agenda with European‑led experiments. Axiom Space announced a $350 million funding round to...
ISS Demonstration: A Tow Truck for Space.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmazas interviews Troy Morris, CEO and co‑founder of KMI, about the company’s successful in‑space demonstration of its articulated “tow‑truck” arms aboard the ISS. The demo involved over 200 days of testing, capturing unprepared...
Episode 146: Embodied AI on the ISS - Jamie Palmer
In this episode, Claire Asher talks with Jamie Palmer, co‑founder and CTO of Icarus Robotics, about developing free‑flying, dexterous robots to assist astronauts on the ISS and future commercial stations. Palmer explains how the robots—essentially microgravity drones with manipulators—are being...
Using AI to Train Space Warfighters
In this episode, Tom Patton talks with Dr. Belinda Merchan, Chief Scientist at Slingshot Aerospace, about how AI is transforming space warfare training. Traditional training relied on scripted scenarios, but Slingshot’s agentic AI uses physics‑based models and proprietary tracking data...
Better Satellite World: From Classroom to Community, Episode 4: What Makes the Signal Hold?
In this episode, Tamara Bond‑Williams talks with Vaibhav Magal, VP of the International Division at Hughes, about what makes satellite‑based school connectivity reliable, scalable and sustainable across emerging markets. They explain why schools are prioritized as community hubs, the technical...
Space Money: Tariffs, SCOTUS, Carveouts, And Space Business
In this episode, Laura Winter discusses with legal experts Bailey Reichelt and Nick Baker how the Supreme Court’s decision deeming President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs unconstitutional impacts businesses, including those in the...
Hypersonic Hustle & Orbital Muscle.
The episode highlights three major developments in the defense and commercial space sector: Stratolaunch securing a $90.8 million Department of War contract for the MACH‑TB 2.0 air‑launched test vehicle program, Agile Space Industries closing a $17 million Series A round to expand its small‑sat...
China’s Record-Breaking Investment in a Private Rocket Company.
In this episode, host T‑Minus chats with Michelle Lucas, CEO of Higher Orbits, about China’s surge in private‑sector space funding, highlighting iSpace’s $730 million raise to develop reusable rockets, Space Epoch’s new capital for a 2026 launch and sea‑recovery test, and...
225 - What Are the Biggest Untapped Opportunities in Satellite IoT?
In this episode, Jake Saunders, Vice President at ABI Research, breaks down the firm’s latest report on satellite IoT, highlighting a projected $3.1 billion market size by 2030. He outlines the most promising yet under‑served commercial verticals—such as remote agriculture, maritime...
Ep 38: Interview with Lt. General (Ret.) David Buck, President, BRPH Mission Solutions
In this episode, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David J. Buck discusses how his three‑decade Air Force career—spanning strategic missile, space launch, satellite command, and cyber operations—shapes his work leading BRBR Mission Solutions, a firm that designs and builds mission‑critical infrastructure for...
Artemis II: The Ground Teams Powering NASA's Moon Mission
In this episode of *Curious Universe*, hosts Padi Boyd and Jacob Pinter spotlight the Exploration Ground Systems that enable Artemis II, detailing the mobile launcher, the massive crawler‑transporter, and NASA’s recovery barge Pegasus. They interview astronaut Victor Glover, who emphasizes how...
From Pluto to Pharmaceuticals
In this brief episode, the host explains how NASA employs spectroscopy to decode the composition of planets and their atmospheres, from distant bodies like Pluto to potential applications in drug discovery. By examining how light interacts with matter, scientists can...
E695 | This Week in European Tech with Dan & Mads (Feat. Sam Marchant)
In this episode of Upside, Dan, Mads, and guest Sam Marchant dissect the surge of capital into enterprise AI, highlighting Anthropic’s $30 billion round and contrasting it with OpenAI’s shift toward consumer‑focused monetization. They explore the paradox of AI‑driven productivity, where...
A Million-Satellite Constellation, and Tough Sledding for Space Tourism
The episode explores SpaceX’s ambitious filing to launch up to one million satellites as an orbital data center, positioning the company toward a Kardashev Type II vision and highlighting regulatory waivers and the link to Elon Musk’s AI venture. It then...
Better Satellite World: The State of Space in the State
The episode reviews the current landscape of New York’s space and satellite industry, anchored by Empire Space’s data-driven census and ecosystem mapping. Guests discuss how the state’s regulatory environment, talent pool, and funding ecosystem are shaping growth, with insights from Patterson...
Mars to Table
NASA is back for seconds with a new food system design challenge.
EP37: Interview with Christopher Fedele, Business Development Director, L3 Harris
In this episode, Bill Woolf talks with Christopher Fedele, Business Development Director at L3 Harris, about the rapid evolution of propulsion technologies needed for contested space operations. Fedele explains how electric, high‑performance, and nuclear propulsion enable agile, survivable satellites that can...
Harnessing Nuclear Power
In this brief episode, the hosts discuss NASA's renewed partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop safe nuclear power systems for space missions. They explain how compact fission reactors could provide reliable energy for deep‑space exploration, lunar bases,...