In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Juan Alonso — CTO and Co-founder of Luminary Cloud and professor at Stanford University — about the rapid transformation underway in aerospace engineering.Alonso breaks down how advances in computational fluid dynamics and physics AI are enabling designers to simulate complex aerodynamic behavior in seconds, dramatically accelerating how rockets, aircraft, and hypersonic systems are conceived and tested.
Dec 23, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss talks with Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo about what he calls "almost a watershed year" for the Space Development Agency. Sandhoo breaks down SDA’s major technical breakthroughs in 2025—ranging from successful hypersonic missile tracking in low Earth orbit to demonstrating space-based Link 16 tactical communications and completing the first-ever optical space-to-air laser link.
Dec 18, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss moderates a timely panel discussion at the Spacepower conference on how commercial space capabilities are reshaping national security, civil space, and military decision-making.Joined by Luke Fischer (CEO and co-founder, SkyFi), Bob Pavelko (Intuitive Machines), and Bradley Cheetham (CEO and co-founder, Advanced Space), the conversation explores what “speed” really means in today’s space environment—and why delivering usable capability now often ma...
Dec 17, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this episode of Space Minds, host Sandra Erwin sits down with former NASA astronaut and Space Force leader Brig. Gen. Nick Hague for a wide-ranging conversation on how the U.S. Space Force is shaping its culture, training Guardians, and preparing for future conflict in space.Hague reflects on his journey from the International Space Station to the Pentagon, where he now helps oversee operations, readiness, and policy for America’s newest military service. The discussion explores what “test” r...
Dec 16, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 64
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss sits down with Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, one of the U.S. Space Force’s most influential acquisition leaders and recipient of the SpaceNews Icon Award for Military Space Achievement.Purdy discusses how 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for Space Systems Command (SSC) and why this past year represented a major shift toward the “ground game”—software, training systems, and modernized infrastructure. He describes how Guardians are driving adoptio...
Dec 15, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss sits down with Matt Magaña, president of space, defense and national Security at Voyager Technologies, to explore one of the most consequential national security space stories of 2025: Golden Dome. Magaña lays out why this initiative represents a major inflection point for U.S. missile defense, requiring a truly integrated system-of-systems approach to track, target and defeat emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons.
Dec 11, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In this episode of Space Minds, former NASA commercial space division chief Phil McAlister sits down with host David Ariosto for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of human spaceflight, NASA’s internal culture, and the explosive growth of the commercial space sector.McAlister spent nearly 20 years inside NASA, helping spearhead programs like Commercial Crew and COTS, which paved the way for SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and a new era of public-private partnerships. He shares stories...
Dec 04, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this episode of Space Minds, Senior Staff Writer Jeff Foust moderates a panel at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, the next installment of the Center’s Discovery Series.The panel brings together leaders from Astrobotic, Apex, Johns Hopkins APL and Stoke Space to explore how ideas once confined to the pages of science fiction are rapidly becoming reality. From commercial lunar landers and factory-scale satellite production to nuclear-powered rotorcraft bound for Titan and fully re...
Nov 24, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 60
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss sits down with Marshall Smith, CEO of Starlab Space for a fireside chat at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, the next installment of the Center’s Discovery Series. In the fireside chat, they explored how today’s commercial space pioneers are turning concepts once rooted in science fiction into operational reality. Smith reflects on his path from NASA engineer to leading the development of a next-generation commercial space station—one ...
Nov 20, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Jim Bridenstine, former NASA Administrator and U.S. Congressman, who oversaw the launch of the Artemis program—America’s renewed effort to return astronauts to the Moon.Now Managing Partner of the Artemis Group, Bridenstine discusses the intersection of politics, policy, and innovation shaping the modern space race. From government shutdowns and funding instability to U.S.-China competition and the future of lunar commercialization, ...
Nov 13, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 58
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Max Haot, CEO of Vast, the ambitious aerospace company based in Long Beach, California, one of a very few companies working diligently towards the first commercial space station. Just days after the successful launch of Vast’s pathfinder mission, Haot shares what it was like to see their Haven demo spacecraft come to life in orbit — from tense moments in the control room to the triumph of first contact. We talk about their next big s...
Nov 06, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 57
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Doug Hendrix, co-founder and CEO of ExoAnalytic Solutions — a company born from three physicists’ passion for solving hard problems in space. Hendrix shares how ExoAnalytic grew from missile defense algorithms to building a global telescope network that tracks thousands of objects in orbit, providing vital insights into space debris, collisions, and threats. Together, they explore how commercial innovation, AI, and automation are res...
Oct 30, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Terry Hart, former NASA astronaut and mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Hart reflects on the triumphs of early shuttle missions, the lessons of the Challenger tragedy, and how those experiences shape today’s commercial space era led by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.Now a professor at Lehigh University, Hart shares insights on leadership, safety, and the enduring human drive to explore. This conversation conn...
Oct 23, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 55
On this episode of Space Minds, SpaceNews China correspondent Andrew Jones joins host Mike Gruss to unpack China’s year‑end sprint in space: expected tests tied to Long March 10 and a new crew spacecraft, up to eight maiden commercial launches from firms like Landspace and Space Pioneer alongside CASC’s Long March‑12A, and the state‑backed funding push behind national mega‑constellations.He also breaks down the recent “non‑Earth imaging” cat‑and‑mouse between Maxar and Chang Guang Satellite Tech...
Oct 16, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this week’s episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Robert Lightfoot, president, space at Lockheed Martin and former NASA associate administrator. Lightfoot takes us inside the company’s large space portfolio — from building weather and GPS satellites to advancing missile defense and next-generation interceptors. He shares how Lockheed is adapting to faster, more agile ways of working, explores the evolving economics of space, and reflects on how the U.S. can protect critical asse...
Oct 09, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 53
This week’s episode guest is Steve Kitay — former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, former head of Microsoft’s space initiatives, and now Senior Vice President for Space Defense at True Anomaly.The conversations takes us inside a rapidly shifting orbital landscape, where national security, commercial innovation, and geopolitical competition collide. From China’s accelerating satellite programs to the race for real-time space situational awareness, we explore how companies l...
Oct 02, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this week's episode of Space Minds SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Julien Lamamy, Managing Director of ispace Europe from the World Space Business Week in Paris.Julien shares how the company is developing cost-efficient lunar exploration — from testing and launching its first rover to preparing MAGPIE, a groundbreaking European mission to study hydrogen on the Moon. We discuss how “new space” approaches are reshaping exploration, Europe’s emerging lunar economy, and why Luxembourg is f...
Sep 25, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this episode, SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Pacome Revillon, CEO of Novaspace. They discuss the accelerating race in direct-to-device satellite communications, the surge in defense spending and dual-use technologies, and the growing role of sovereignty in global space strategies. Revillon also shares insights on consolidation trends within the industry, the future of AI in space applications, and predictions for what’s ahead in launch and defense markets.
Sep 19, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Brian O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky.The conversation dives into BlackSky’s latest contract win with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the growing role of AI in geospatial intelligence, and the race to deliver near real-time imagery from space. O’Toole also shares insights on sovereign space capabilities, commercial opportunities beyond defense, and how the next generation of satellites is reshaping the future of intelligence.
Sep 18, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode, SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Peter Cannito, CEO of Redwire.They discuss the future of the European space market, Redwire’s expanding footprint, and the growing intersection of space and defense technology.From strategic acquisitions in Europe to investments in autonomy and software, Cannito outlines how Redwire is positioning itself as a nimble, mid-sized player bridging the gap between startups and aerospace giants. The conversation also explores avenues in pharmaceut...
Sep 17, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode, SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Mina Mitry, CEO of Kepler Communications. They discuss Kepler’s groundbreaking optical communications test — the first ever to connect an aircraft and a spacecraft via laser link. Mitry explains why this milestone matters for defense, border monitoring, and the future of real-time data transfer. The conversation also explores Kepler’s role in an evolving space ecosystem, the push for interoperability and sovereignty, and the company’s roadm...
Sep 17, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency.They discuss Europe’s case for greater investment in space, the growing role of defense and security in ESA’s agenda, and the ambitious budget negotiations ahead of November’s ministerial conference. From dual-use technologies to new launch competition and commercial partnerships, Aschbacher outlines how ESA is positioning itself for a rapidly changing space economy.
Sep 15, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Space Minds host Mike Gruss is joined by SpaceNews senior writer Jeff Foust to break down the surprising appointment of Sean Duffy as NASA’s Acting Administrator.From his unexpected dual role as Secretary of Transportation to his growing influence on the Artemis program, nuclear power on the Moon, and NASA’s embattled budget, Duffy has quickly become a central—if unconventional—figure in U.S. space policy. The conversation explores how industry, Congress, and the space community are reacting to ...
Sep 11, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this week’s episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper and veteran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Duren discusses how his nonprofit is harnessing cutting-edge satellite technology to track methane and carbon dioxide emissions—the “super pollutants” driving climate change. He explains Carbon Mapper’s mission to make greenhouse gas data visible and actionable, the technical innovations behind their hyperspectral satellites, and the incentives ...
Sep 04, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Space Minds host David Ariosto speaks with Will Bruey, CEO and co-founder of Varda Space Industries.Varda is pushing the boundaries of drug development by leveraging microgravity to create new formulations not possible on Earth, bringing them back through its own reentry vehicles.In our conversation, Bruey explains why the economics of launch and manufacturing have finally made this business viable, how Varda’s “microgravity oven” could transform drug development, and why their technology also o...
Sep 04, 2025•32 min•Ep. 43
Space Minds speaks with Al Tadros of Redwire, to explore the future of space infrastructure.From the growing role of private investment in orbit to breakthroughs in bioprinting and pharmaceuticals in microgravity, Tadros explains why this is one of the most exciting times in the history of space. He also discusses the balance between civil, commercial, and national security missions, and how companies like Redwire are shaping the new economy beyond Earth. With decades of experience at the forefr...
Aug 21, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 42
This week SpaceNews is at the SmallSat Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Gabe Zimmerman, Director, In-Space at Ursa Major.The conversation revolves around the small satellite industry’s evolving priorities, from balancing cost and reliability to overcoming persistent supply chain challenges. Zimmerman highlights the growing emphasis on volume production, strategic vertical integration, and early cross-team collaboration to meet rising...
Aug 13, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 41
This week SpaceNews is at the SmallSat Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Todd Master, Chief Operating Officer of Umbra, about the evolving small satellite market, supply chain challenges, and the company’s expansion from SAR data services into satellite components. Master discusses shifting investment trends in the space industry, the importance of building products around real customer needs, and how AI is reshaping operations. The c...
Aug 12, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 40
This week SpaceNews is at the SmallSat Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Tom Walkinshaw, founder and CEO of Alba Orbital, a Scotland-based manufacturer specializing in pocket-sized satellites known as PocketQubes. Their discussion covers the growth of the small satellite sector, trends in satellite miniaturization, challenges of launch and supply chains, and strategies for building reliable, commercially viable spacecraft.
Aug 12, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 39
This week SpaceNews is at the SmallSat Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss speaks with Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited and a professor at the Surrey Space Institute of the University of Surrey.They discuss the growth of the small satellite industry from its first meeting in 1987 of just a few dozen participants to today’s nearly 5,000 attendees, and preview the key issues the community will a...
Aug 11, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 38
