Proven Propulsion, with Kristin Houston (President of Space Power & Propulsion Systems of L3Harris)

Sep 17, 2025

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This episode is presented by L3Harris Technologies.

On this special edition of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Kristin Houston, President of Space Propulsion and Power Systems at L3Harris. Kristin leads the team responsible for propulsion and space power systems across Artemis and beyond, from the RS-25 main engines to the Gateway’s high-power electric propulsion system to Fission Surface Power (FSP) on the Moon. We dive into how Artemis II is shaping up, the role of SLS, and why nuclear power and propulsion may be the linchpin of America’s long-term space presence.

We also discuss:

What Artemis II is designed to prove, and why precision on Artemis I mattered so much
How Artemis ties directly into national security and the new lunar race with China
FSP – what it is, why it matters, and why NASA is accelerating it now
Nuclear propulsion: hype vs. physics, and how soon it could be operational
Why maneuverability in space is becoming the next strategic advantage
Golden Dome and how propulsion/power innovations fit into the architecture
The propulsion milestone Kristin wants to see in the next 10 years

…and much more.

Check out this Valley of Depth on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

• Chapters •

00:00 – Intro
00:47 – Kristin's background
03:47 – Why are we going back to the Moon?
07:10 – State of the Artemis program
09:28 – L3Harris's involvement in Artemis
10:48 – What does success look like for Artemis 2?
12:38 – Orbital maneuvers and landing
14:35 – Lessons from Artemis I that's giving confidence into Artemis II
15:45 – Artemis II readiness, risk, and pacing
16:39 – What needs to go right in Artemis II
18:55 – The need for the SLS rocket
19:57 – The criticism of the SLS
22:28 – Could Starship and the SLS coexist?
24:33 – National security ROI for sustained Lunar operations
27:02 – Are we underestimating China?
27:40 – What if China gets to the Moon first?
31:13 – The question about power
34:59 – Minimum power requirements on the Moon
35:45 – Government's renewed focus on nuclear
36:57 – How far away are we from nuclear propulsion?
39:27 – Maneuverability in space
42:20 – Defense focused propulsion systems
42:57 – Golden Dome
46:11 – Propulsion milestones

• Show notes •

L3Harris’s website — https://www.l3harris.com/
Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam
Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace
Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/
Tectonic’s socials — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/
Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/

• About us •

Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies.