Relentless #43 - Halen Mattison, Co-Founder & CEO of General Galactic
23 snips
Sep 1, 2025 Halen Mattison, Co-Founder & CEO of General Galactic and former SpaceX engineer, shares insights from the cutting-edge world of space exploration. He discusses the culture of innovation at SpaceX and how failures are essential for learning. Mattison envisions operational reforms for NASA and the logistical challenges of building fuel stations on Mars. He opens up about his journey from a tough upbringing to the forefront of aerospace, emphasizing entrepreneurial risks and the exciting future of space technologies, including advancements in propulsion.
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Dragon Capsule Explosion And Investigation
- Halen describes being at SpaceX when a Crew Dragon capsule exploded during ground testing and how the team investigated it.
- He emphasizes SpaceX's rigorous failure-investigation culture that turns major failures into learning opportunities.
Fail Fast As A Design Lever
- Rapid iterative failure and deep investigation let SpaceX solve exceptionally hard problems faster than legacy aerospace.
- Treating each failure as data accelerates safer, higher-performance designs.
Intern Watching First Crew Dragon Dock
- Halen recounts watching Crew Dragon dock with the ISS during his internship and realizing Grimes was nearby.
- He shares how surreal it felt to witness a historic flight as a new intern.