Jeff Thornburg

In this discussion, aerospace engineer Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems and a veteran of Air Force, NASA, and SpaceX, shares his insights on the future of space. He highlights the importance of developing highly maneuverable spacecraft and advanced propulsion systems. Jeff discusses the evolution from government-built rockets to commercial alternatives, the lessons learned from failures, and the critical role of R&D funding. He also touches on the potential for AI and quantum propulsion to revolutionize space travel, envisioning a future where lunar travel is as commonplace as a bus ride.

Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems and former SpaceX propulsion lead, dives deep into the evolution of spacecraft technology and in-space mobility. He shares insights on the challenges of building rocket engines and the innovative solar thermal propulsion behind his new project, Supernova. Thornburg emphasizes the need for rapid maneuverability in defense and commercial sectors, discusses the importance of refueling in orbit, and paints a visionary picture of the future of space exploration and the transformative role of Starship in the industry.

Join innovators Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems, who’s developing a solar-powered spacecraft for rapid space logistics, and Anindya Roy, co-founder of Lila Biologics, who’s using AI to design novel cancer-fighting proteins. Jay Graber of Bluesky discusses building a decentralized social network for user empowerment, while Kiana Ehsani at Vercept aims to replace traditional input methods with efficient AI agents. Lastly, Brian Pinkard from Aquagga shares his tech for destroying harmful PFAS chemicals in wastewater, pushing for a cleaner future.