Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan

Planets Labs CEO Will Marshall joins Manifest Space to discuss the company’s rapid growth, fueled by deals across the globe as the changing geopolitical landscape means countries are looking for real-time data from satellites to respond to natural disasters, security threats and more. Planet Labs stock is up more than 100% in the last three months and Marshall talks about the demand for his company’s product.  

Hadrian, a defense manufacturing startup focused on machine parts, has closed a $260 million Series C funding round. Led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and Lux Capital, the capital will go towards building a 270,000 square foot factory in Arizona and expanding its California footprint. CEO Chris Power joins to discuss the raise, reviving American manufacturing and where defense tech goes from here.

Will Bruey, CEO and co-founder of Varda Space, discusses the company's groundbreaking work in in-space manufacturing and its recent $187 million funding round. He explains the revolutionary potential of drug manufacturing in microgravity, detailing partnerships with pharmaceutical firms and the establishment of a biologics lab. Bruey also addresses innovations in hypersonic testing for the defense sector, enabling cost-effective testing at extreme speeds, and shares insights on scaling operations for future growth in the commercial space landscape.

Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space, shares insights on the company's recent AX-4 private crew mission to the ISS, which features an international astronaut team. He discusses Axiom's bold ambition to build a commercial space station and design lunar spacesuits, marked by unique collaborations with fashion brands like Prada. The episode also delves into the evolving economics of space travel, highlighting the shift to value-driven models and the increasing importance of public-private partnerships in space exploration.

Pete Cannito, CEO of Redwire, a leader in space infrastructure and defense tech, teams up with Kirk Konert, Managing Partner at AE Industrial Partners, to delve into Redwire's transformative acquisition of Edge Autonomy. They explore how drones and AI are revolutionizing modern warfare and discuss the booming investment landscape in defense tech. The duo highlights the vital role of space in global deterrence and shares insights on navigating funding challenges, emerging technologies, and the importance of intelligence and surveillance in military operations.

Voyager Technologies, a commercial space and defense technology startup, has gone public. Skyrocketing more than 80% in its first day trading at the New York Stock Exchange, it reflects a milestone for the broader space. Co-founder & CEO Dylan Taylor joins Morgan Brennan from the stock exchange to talk about the new frontier for the company and space economy: Wall Street. 

CNBC’s Morgan Brennan sits down with Applied Intuition Co-founder and CEO Qasar Younis to discuss the company’s work to bring AI to more civilian and military vehicles, and the important of American innovation in the space as global competition heats up.

Zeno Power, a nuclear battery startup, has just raised $50 million in a Series B funding round to bring its nuclear battery to market. The startup has secured more than $60 million in contracts from the Pentagon and NASA to develop these batteries for maritime and space applications. Co-founder & CEO Tyler Bernstein joins Morgan Brennan to discuss delivering nuclear energy to remote locations

Rob Painter, CEO of Trimble, a leader in construction and agriculture technology, shares insights on the company's impressive journey from GPS roots to AI-driven innovation. He discusses how space technology enhances project management across industries and addresses the dual nature of trade policies affecting global markets. Painter also emphasizes the need for safeguarding satellite data amidst geopolitical risks, while highlighting Trimble’s strategic growth and the integration of cutting-edge technology to boost productivity and sustainability.

Once the stuff of science fiction, moon mining is getting government backing. Seattle-based startup Interlune—a previous guest of the podcast— came out of stealth last year. Its mission: to harvest resources from the moon. Now, they’re ready to announce their first customers. The Department of Energy has purchased three liters of lunar-extracted helium-3 for a delivery by 2029. A nuclear energy byproduct, Helium-3 is useful for cryogenics, medical equipment and fusion power—but its scarcity comes with a hefty price tag at $20 million per kilogram. Interlune CEO Rob Meyerosn joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the massive opportunity in moon mining.