Space Minds

In this episode of Space Minds, SpaceNews host David Ariosto talks with Chiara Manfletti, the CEO of Neuraspace and a professor of space mobility and propulsion at the Technical University of Munich. They discuss space debris, orbital logistics and managing a new orbital economy through new initiatives in Europe and around the world.

In this special episode of Space Minds, our show is split into two segments from the recent SpaceNews annual Icon Awards.In our first segment, SpaceNews correspondent Debra Werner sits down with Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, to discuss the company’s Blue Ghost Mission 1—an award-winning lunar landing that delivered multiple NASA payloads to the Moon and marked a major milestone for commercial lunar explorationIn the second segment, senior staff writer Jeff Foust moderates a panel discussion with several other award recipients, bringing together leaders from policy, science, and technology. The conversation features Casey Dreier of The Planetary Society, JPL Fellow Steve Chien, Ubotica Technologies co-founder Aubrey Dunne, and NASA’s Roger Hunter, exploring themes ranging from artificial intelligence in space operations to the evolving policy landscape shaping the future of exploration.

In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss is joined by SpaceNews journalists Jason Rainbow, Sandra Erwin, Jeff Foust and Debra Werner for a wide-ranging conversation on the space stories that will define the year ahead.The panel examines intensifying competition in satellite broadband and direct-to-device connectivity, the future of NASA and Artemis under new leadership, rising defense and security demands, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence across space systems. Together, they offer their insight into the policy, commercial, and technological shifts shaping the global space economy.

Juan Alonso, CTO and co-founder of Luminary Cloud and professor at Stanford, delves into the evolution of aerospace engineering through physics AI. He explains how these advancements revolutionize design by enabling rapid simulations of complex aerodynamic behavior. Alonso discusses the balancing act between simulation and physical testing, emphasizing the value of collaboration in Silicon Valley. He predicts a major transformative impact from data-driven physics AI in the next five to ten years, reshaping engineering workflows across the aerospace sector.

Dr. Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo, a Senior Space Development Agency leader, shares insights on transformative advancements in 2025. He discusses groundbreaking achievements like tracking hypersonic threats with low Earth orbit sensors and the introduction of space-based Link 16 communications for broader operational reach. The conversation also covers the successful demonstration of the first optical space-to-air laser link. Sandhoo emphasizes the importance of speed, adaptability, and emerging technologies as key to future endeavors.

In this discussion, Luke Fisher, CEO of SkyFi, emphasizes the importance of fast and actionable intelligence over just speed in launches. Bradley Cheetham, from Advanced Space, highlights the urgent need for usable capabilities, while Bob Pavelko, from Intuitive Machines, promotes a pragmatic approach using 'minimum viable products.' The panel underscores how the commercial sector is outpacing government efforts, delves into risk tolerance in experimentation, and discusses the integration of commercial and classified systems for national security.

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” really means in the Space Force, how risk and speed are balanced, and why continuous learning is essential to maintaining space superiority.

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 adoption of AI tools, how SSC is integrating commercial innovation at unprecedented speed, and why this current wave of acquisition reform may finally stick.

Matt Magaña, President of Space, Defense and National Security at Voyager Technologies, dives into the pivotal Golden Dome initiative, highlighting its significance for U.S. missile defense by 2025. He discusses the challenges posed by hypersonic weapons and advocates for an integrated system-of-systems approach. Magaña shares insights on scaling dual-use technologies, recent acquisitions to boost capabilities, and the importance of AI/ML for future defense strategies. His foresight on the evolving landscape of national security is both riveting and essential.

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 about internal resistance, political battles, and what it took to shift NASA away from cost-plus contracting after decades of inertia.We also dive into:• Whether the U.S. is really in a “space race” with China• Why the moon’s South Pole may not be first-come, first-served• The sustainability crisis facing SLS, Orion, and Artemis• The role of commercial companies in deep space—not just LEO• How Starship, New Glenn, and private human spaceflight change everything• Whether NASA is destined to become more like the FAA• What the next 50 years in space might actually look like