Podcasts about Payload

Spacecraft carry all kinds of sensors, but rarely the one humans rely on most: video. Despite offering the richest insight per watt, gram, and dollar, cameras have been largely absent from orbit.That's what TRL11 is out to change. The company is building radiation-tolerant optics, edge computers that process and compress video in real time, and ground software that turns footage into operational awareness. On this episode of Valley of Depth, I'm joined by Nicolaas Verheem, founder and CEO of TRL11. Nicolaas shares how his journey from pioneering wireless video at Teradek, work that won both technical Academy and Emmy Awards, led him to ask why space was still flying blind. We trace TRL11's path from early in-orbit demos to commercial traction with operators and defense, and dig into how edge intelligence and video awareness could transform the space economy. We also discuss:• Why video is the “missing sensor” in space• Lessons from TRL11's first orbital missionsThe three core use cases: health monitoring, mission awareness, and mission enablement• How software, not hardware, creates a lasting moat in space video• The long-term vision of human-like awareness in space…and more. • Chapters •01:03 – Nicol and Starwars and Startrek03:10 – Nicol winning an Academy Award and an Emmy04:14 – Nicol at Teradek05:13 – How Teradek inspired Nicol's current company TRL1106:30 – How video applies to the space industry09:41 – Why do we need video and what problem does it solve?12:56 – A ring camera for space17:06 – The story behind the company name19:32 – TRL11's current product offerings21:43 – Showing the operator what matters on screen24:53 – How do you build a space camera?26:45 – What TRL11 has learned in their early orbit tests29:06 – TRL11's primary first customers32:25 – Making the case for investors36:45 – Should every spacecraft have video onboard?38:03 – The importance of video for inspiration40:03 – Misunderstandings when it comes to video from partners, investors, and customers41:10 – Lessons Nicol learned building a company in the space industry42:42 – Fundraising at TRL1144:26 – Legacy and product evolution • Show notes •TRL11's website — https://www.trl11.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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. Payload: www.payloadspace.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Send us a textBefore you attach anything to a hitch, make sure you understand the basics for personal truck towing like payload and towing limits so you can avoid fines and civil lawsuits.You may think those only apply to commercial operators such as semi truck drivers and you'd be wrong. Police officers can enforce the same laws on towing limits on personal vehicles as well. The laws aren't specific to just commercial vehicles.Plus, lawyers can take negligent owners to court for overloading their trucks much the same way commercial trucking companies face lawsuits for accidents. There's no legal difference. The fact is you are legally responsible for knowing the limits of your truck much like a commercial operator. Support the show

Figma's (FIG) IPO was one of the most anticipated in tech, and the stock price action was CRAZY! After the initial fervor, the price has pulled back significantly. Is this the buying opportunity investors have been waiting for?CSI is taking a deep dive into Figma's first earnings report as a publicly traded company to find out.In this video, we cover:✅ New Acquisitions: Figma is already putting its IPO cash to work, acquiring Payload (a content management software company) and Modify (an AI-focused model context protocol).✅ The Big Vision: How these acquisitions fit into Figma's goal to become the go-to platform for creating usable software, easily and intuitively.✅ The Financials: We break down Q2 ✅ Future Outlook: Management is guiding for a growth slowdown to 33% for Q3 and taking a hit on margins for the sake of expansion. Is this a red flag or a smart long-term play?✅ The Verdict: Is Figma stock a buy, sell, or hold at its current price? We give our final analysis and key takeaways.Timestamps:[00:00:00] What Figma Does: A review of Figma's end-to-end platform that helps companies with fast, agile software development from ideation to shipping.[00:02:45] Q2 Acquisitions: Breaking down the purchases of Payload, a Content Management System (CMS), and the AI coding startup, Modify.[00:04:45] AI Strategy & New Products: How Figma is using AI to be a disruptor with new tools like Figma Make, Draw, Sites, and Buzz, which were announced at its Config developer conference.[00:06:45] Model Context Protocol (MCP) Explained: Understanding how Figma connects designs to LLMs for coding assistance, with its Gen AI product housed on Amazon AWS.[00:08:30] Q2 Earnings & Valuation: Analyzing the first public report with $250M in revenue and a $26B+ market cap, compared to Adobe's failed $20B acquisition offer from three years prior.[00:10:30] CapEx & Hidden Costs: Exploring why even an "asset-light" company like Figma spends millions on physical hardware and cloud infrastructure from partners like AWS.[00:12:30] Future Financial Guidance: Breaking down the outlook for Q3 and the full year, including an expected growth slowdown and lower margins to fuel expansion.[00:14:05] Our Investment Strategy: Why we are being patient due to the high valuation and would only consider a very small Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) approach if we were to buy now.What are your thoughts on Figma's strategy? Let us know in the comments below!

Smallsats have defined the last decade of space, but their limitations are clear: low power, limited throughput, and fragile unit economics. K2 Space is betting on the opposite. The company is building mega class and giga class satellites, platforms measured in tons rather than kilograms, that deliver unprecedented power, capacity, and resilience. By vertically integrating 80 percent of their systems in house, K2 is cutting costs by an order of magnitude and making industrial scale spacecraft a reality.On this episode of Valley of Depth, we're joined by Neel Kunjur, cofounder and CTO of K2 Space. Neel traces the journey from early Slack messages about the promise of MEO to a 160 person team building the largest commercial satellites ever attempted. He shares how K2 has reimagined subsystems like reaction wheels, high voltage power, and 20 kW propulsion to unlock entirely new mission architectures in MEO, GEO, and beyond. We also discuss:Why MEO is such an underexplored orbital regimeThe engineering breakthroughs behind large reaction wheels and high voltage power systemsHow stackable satellites change constellation designThe long term vision for space infrastructure, from in space compute to energy harvesting…and more.  • Chapters •00:00 – Intro00:56 – What's happened in the past two years since K2 has been on the pod02:13 – The thesis behind K203:51 – What does Neel mean by aperture?04:40 – Why do satellites need to grow in size and power?06:59 – The rise in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) chatter08:49 – Why did Neel leave SpaceX and start K2 with his brother?12:04 – Building K2 for a post Starship world14:10 – Current and future K2 offerings15:32 – 20 Kilowatts vs a small LEO satellite17:10 – Giga-scale satellite18:40 – How K2 is able to deliver $15m satellite21:13 – K2's innovations so far23:01 – Engineering problems that larger satellite builders have to worry about25:08 – K2's propulsion solution to get MEO28:11 – Engineering for Starship's current MEO blindspot29:18 – Neel's prediction on Starship's refueling rollout30:14 – Innovation through simplicity33:24 – How is K2 hiring the talent for their niche challenges35:52 – How big is K2's team today36:43 – Key takeaways from K2's first mission38:22 – Mission Gravitas39:59 – Orbit race40:39 – Mission Gravitas: Commercial or DoD?41:33 – K2's scaling plans43:03 – Customized vs standardized45:17 – Overspec'd by design45:40 – Will K2's success spur more competition?47:23 – Will satellites become robust, industrial hardware?48:48 – What's enabled by these large platforms?51:01 – The paradigm shift happening in engineering for space52:42 – Will SpaceX own LEO?55:05 – The name and branding behind K2 • Show notes •K2's website — http://www.k2space.com/K2's socials — https://x.com/K2SpaceCoMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

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 muchHow Artemis ties directly into national security and the new lunar race with ChinaFSP – what it is, why it matters, and why NASA is accelerating it nowNuclear propulsion: hype vs. physics, and how soon it could be operationalWhy maneuverability in space is becoming the next strategic advantageGolden Dome and how propulsion/power innovations fit into the architectureThe 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 – Intro00:47 – Kristin's background03:47 – Why are we going back to the Moon?07:10 – State of the Artemis program09:28 – L3Harris's involvement in Artemis10:48 – What does success look like for Artemis 2?12:38 – Orbital maneuvers and landing14:35 – Lessons from Artemis I that's giving confidence into Artemis II15:45 – Artemis II readiness, risk, and pacing16:39 – What needs to go right in Artemis II18:55 – The need for the SLS rocket19:57 – The criticism of the SLS22:28 – Could Starship and the SLS coexist?24:33 – National security ROI for sustained Lunar operations27:02 – Are we underestimating China?27:40 – What if China gets to the Moon first?31:13 – The question about power34:59 – Minimum power requirements on the Moon35:45 – Government's renewed focus on nuclear36:57 – How far away are we from nuclear propulsion?39:27 – Maneuverability in space42:20 – Defense focused propulsion systems42:57 – Golden Dome46:11 – Propulsion milestones • Show notes •L3Harris's website — https://www.l3harris.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Some environments are simply too harsh for traditional power sources. Solar panels fail in darkness, batteries die quickly, and diesel can't reach. That's where Zeno Power comes in. The company is pioneering nuclear batteries, compact systems that recycle radioactive waste into safe, reliable power for years at a time.On this episode of Valley of Depth, I'm joined by Tyler Bernstein, co-founder and CEO of Zeno Power. We trace the journey from a Vanderbilt classroom project to a venture-backed company with $70M in private capital, $60M+ in NASA and DoD contracts, and a working nuclear prototype. Tyler shares how Zeno is positioning itself to power critical frontier operations: autonomous systems on the seabed, satellites in orbit, and landers on the Moon.We also discuss:How a nuclear battery works and why Strontium-90 is Zeno's starting fuelWhat it takes to safely turn nuclear waste into usable powerThe use cases that only nuclear batteries can unlockThe business model: selling units vs. power-as-a-service vs. revenue sharingNavigating the unique regulatory path for radioisotope systemsThe risks of scaling a nuclear startup…and much more.This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com. • Chapters •00:00 – Intro & WSBW Ad01:26 – Tyler's background and how he came to co-found Zeno Power04:13 – Is it normal for Vanderbilt to support their students' ideas and startups?05:11 – Key mentors/validators of Tyler's business07:06 – Zeno's products and $70M fundraising09:12 – What is a nuclear battery and how does it work?12:40 – How Zeno is carefully handling Strontium-9014:39 – Future use cases for Strontium-9015:53 – Advantages of nuclear battery18:09 – Energy limits and stacking19:30 – DoD and commercial customers21:20 – Future business model22:52 – How does Tyler think about pricing?24:31 – How does regulation look for nuclear batteries?27:00 – Will there be meaningful change coming out of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)?29:03 – Competition31:25 – Turning nuclear waste into valuable power34:12 – The future of nuclear waste disposal37:47 – Biggest technical risks Zeno is combating40:46 – Scaling the Stirling generator41:49 – Zeno's testing infrastructure43:08 – What keeps Tyler up at night47:16 – Is Tyler optimistic about the future of energy in the US?48:41 – Zeno's legacy in 20 years • Show notes •Zeno Power's website — https://www.zenopower.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Inspired Flight has secured $12 million in funding, Anzu Robotics V3.8 is out, Japanese drone maker ACSL is releasing new stuff and pricing leak for the upcoming DJI Mini 5 Pro.First up, American manufacturer Inspired Flight Technologies has raised $12 million in Series A funding. The investment was led by Tri-Valley Ventures and is aimed at accelerating new product releases and, most importantly, scaling up the company's U.S.-based manufacturing. Inspired Flight is known for its NDAA-compliant and BlueUAS-certified platforms, like the IF1200 Hexacopter and the IF800 Tomcat. These drones are used in government and commercial sectors for everything from mapping and inspection to public safety. It takes a LOT of time and money to build up manufacturing capacity, and this is a step in the right direction. Next, Anzu Robotics has introduced Version 3.8 for their Raptor Series. This update introduces augmented reality overlays for street names and custom airspace. Also included in this update are some bug fixes, map layer customization, and other map upgrades. Before we get onto the last story, this is your last chance to join us at Commercial UAV Expo. On Tuesday, join Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, and Jared Janacek and myself for a deep dive into the regulations, technology, and business strategies that are shaping the future of the drone industry.On Wednesday, I'm personally teaching a workshop on how to build your drone business. On Thursday, Jared will teach you his professional mapping process. Spots for each day are limited and they are filling up. Go to pilotinstitute.com/cuav to see the details and secure your seat.Next, another company is stepping up to provide more NDAA-compliant options for professional pilots. ACSL, Japan's top drone manufacturer, has announced a new smart controller, an upgraded thermal payload, and a partnership with Teledyne FLIR. First is the new TAITEN Smart Controller. It's an NDAA-compliant remote with a 7-inch integrated display that boasts 1500 nits of brightness and an IP54 ingress protection rating. The company also enhanced its SAMO payload, which is now ITAR-free and features Teledyne FLIR's Hadron 640R camera module. This payload is a dual-sensor system, combining a 64-megapixel optical camera with a 20x zoom and a 640x512 Boson radiometric thermal camera. ACSL says it will also support FLIR's MSX fusion technology by the end of the year, which overlays visual details onto the thermal image for better situational awareness. And finally, a European online store allegedly listed the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller for 1129 euros. That's the exact same price as the current Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo. Getting a 1-inch sensor and LiDAR for the same price seems almost too good to be true, but we'll have to wait and see. Leaked accessory prices also seem to be in line with current models. With all these details and even a folding animation video surfacing, rumors are pointing to a mid-September release. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one!And on Post Flight, our weekly show in the premium community, where we discuss our opinions on these stories and the ones that didn't make the cut, we'll be talking about a cool drone from the UK that flies like an owl and about Commercial UAV Expo.That's it for this week, if you're going to Commercial UAV Expo next week, be sure to check out the workshops and stop by the booth! https://www.inspiredflight.com/news/12m-series-a-tri-valley.phphttps://dronexl.co/2025/08/26/dji-mini-5-pro-animation-retail-price/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/27/acsl-taiten-smart-controller-teledyne-flir/https://www.anzurobotics.com/

Continuous human presence in orbit has been a cornerstone of U.S. leadership in space for 25 years. But recent changes to NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) strategy have Pam Melroy—former NASA Deputy Administrator and shuttle commander—sounding the alarm. She warns that shifting to short-duration missions risks ceding leadership in LEO and undermining U.S. readiness for Mars, opening the door for China to take the mantle.On this episode of Valley of Depth, we're joined by Pam to talk about the state of NASA, the future of space stations, and why requirements, the often overlooked backbone of program management, will determine whether the U.S. stays ahead. We trace her career from test pilot to shuttle commander to senior leadership at NASA, DARPA, and the FAA, and unpack what it means to build an architecture that actually holds together from LEO to Mars.We also discuss:Why continuous presence in LEO is a national security and leadership issueHow the CLD Phase 2 shift could reshape investor and partner confidenceThe role of SpaceX and Starship in the Moon–Mars roadmapWhat it takes to write requirements that don't doom a program from the startPam's vision of LEO, the Moon, and Mars in 2045…and much more.This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com.• Chapters •00:00 – Intro00:55 – WSBW Ad01:21 – The key to Pam's success03:32 – The state of NASA05:01 – NASA in the next decade if we stay in our current trajectory06:58 – Why is maintaining a human presence in LEO so important?10:18 – The changing CLD Strategy15:29 – Cost and impact of continuous vs 30-day missions18:01 – NASA's requirements23:50 – Disintegration of requirements27:32 – Impact of the shift in CLD strategy29:52 – Why go back to the Moon?31:35 – Does the media understand the impact of landing on the Moon and Mars?35:19 – Why do 30-day missions make sense37:53 – Will China beat us back to the Moon?41:41 – Cultural impact if China beats us to the Moon45:17 – Does the Artemis program have the right architecture to succeed?47:46 – Is NASA too dependent on SpaceX?52:47 – How much should the U.S. be interested56:02 – What did leading the space shuttle teach Pam about leadership?57:54 – Inspiring the next generation of space exploration58:46 – Prediction 20 years later01:01:37 – Aliens? • Show notes •Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

SpaceX has successfully launched the Starship for its 10th test flight after it was delayed a couple of times due to weather conditions and other issues. This time, the company was able to achieve its objectives without the vehicle and its booster exploding mid-test. In other tech news, Anthropic has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by a group of authors for an undisclosed sum. The move means the company will avoid a potentially more costly ruling if the case regarding its use of copyright materials to train artificial intelligence tools had moved forward. And, Meta is throwing its resources behind a new super PAC in California. According to Politico, the group will support state-level political candidates who espouse tech-friendly policies, particularly those with a loose approach to regulating artificial intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logistics rarely makes headlines, but it wins or loses wars. Rune Technologies is betting that the future of contested sustainment won't be built on warehouses and spreadsheets, but on software. The company recently raised a $24M Series A to accelerate that vision.On this episode of Valley of Depth, we're joined by Rune co-founder and CEO David Tuttle to talk about how the company is reimagining military logistics from the ground up. We trace Rune's path from early prototypes to today's TyrOS platform, discuss the cultural inertia inside the Pentagon, and unpack what it means to build software that commanders can trust under fire.We also get into:The founding story of Rune and the early technical unlocksBuilding TyrOS and winning adoption with frontline commandsWhat it takes to design software soldiers actually want to useWhy logistics is becoming a strategic lever in great power competitionThe long-term vision for software-defined sustainment…and much more.This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com.• Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:02 – WSBW01:27 – The story behind the name "Rune"03:02 – What is Rune building?04:34 – David's background and how he ended up founding Rune08:10 – Why David and Peter Goldsborough had to make Rune exist10:43 – Logistics in warfare13:02 – How logistics are still being tracked today and why it's outdated17:05 – How TyrOS changes the logistics of the battlefield21:56 – Operating in denied or degraded environments24:54 – Who's using Rune's products right now and future scaling29:20 – What has surprised David the most31:08 – Pilot to program of record with the DoD33:39 – Competitive landscape36:01 – Will Rune stay in Defense?37:30 – Will software like Rune's change military doctrine?40:28 – Software making decisions in life-or-death scenarios42:45 – Contrarian beliefs about defense tech46:12 – Milestones to look out for at Rune47:32 – What does the US military look like if Rune succeeds?48:59 – What does David do for fun? • Show notes •Rune's website — https://www.runetech.co/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This podcast covers the basics of understanding your tow vehicle's payload capacity and GVWR so you can have a safer towing experience. 

Tommy Hendrix is Managing Partner at Decisive Point, a venture firm backing early-stage companies developing critical national security technologies. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we unpack what it really means to fund the future of national defense and how venture capital is becoming a tool of statecraft.A former Green Beret turned investor, Tommy brings rare insight into the geopolitical stakes, bureaucratic hurdles, and human motivations behind the new national security startup wave. From combat deployments in Iraq to due diligence in D.C., he's seen the full arc of how technology shapes power.We get into Decisive Point's playbook, from why it was built, to how it supports founders navigating the defense industrial complex. Tommy also shares lessons from working inside the machine, the firm's approach to incubation, and how they decide when a startup can actually shift the deterrence equation.We also dive into:The strategic case for funding earlyWhy some military problems aren't venture-scaleWhat it takes to build “weapons-grade” startupsThe ethics of AI-enabled kill chainsPrivate capital's role in a new Cold WarHow the next great defense companies will be bornThis episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com.• Chapters •00:00 - Intro01:14 – From Green Beret into venture04:02 – Deployments that have shaped Tommy's venture career10:54 – What is broken in the US's current procurement process for defense tech?14:51 – A future without humans in the kill chain18:42 – What has changed with defense tech investors?24:05 – How does Tommy pick the right companies to invest in?28:57 – Tommy's work in nuclear32:19 – How helping a portfolio company go through bankruptcy gave Decisive Point a new lens for investment strategies34:49 – How does the firm make decisions37:37 – Companies that were good for the nation but difficult to justify long-term venture39:54 – Must-haves for the US to win the tech race42:55 – Tech gaps that need more focus47:00 – Qualities of a founder Tom is looking for49:22 – What Tom carried over from his military career into his investing career52:01 – The driving force behind Decisive Point • Show notes •Decisive Point's website — https://www.decisivepoint.com/Decisive Point's socials — https://x.com/decisivepointvcTommy's socials — https://x.com/thomasehendrixMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com 

In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Regent cofounder and CEO Billy Thalheimer to explore a radical reimagining of coastal mobility, not with eVTOLs or hyperloops, but with high-speed electric seagliders that skim just above the water.Part hydrofoil, part aircraft, and fully electric, Regent's vehicles operate in the sweet spot between aviation and maritime. They're fast enough to replace short-haul flights, regulated like boats, and increasingly viewed by the Pentagon as a new class of strategic asset.Billy walks us through Regent's founding story, from MIT aerodynamics to launching the world's largest electric aircraft-by-another-name. We dive deep into the company's dual-use strategy, its multibillion-dollar commercial backlog, and its early defense work with the U.S. Marine Corps.We also get into:The technical magic behind “float, foil, fly”Why flying 10 feet above water solves big infrastructure problemsRegent's bet on maritime-first regulationHow seagliders fit into Indo-Pacific logistics and contested environmentsThe case for a new coastal transportation layer and why no one's built it until now• Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:01 – Why Rhode Island?03:15 – Startup community in Rhode Island07:17 – Founding and origin behind Regent12:10 – How things have changed since the ekranoplan19:05 – How Regent's planes handle a rogue wave20:52 – State of Regent's product build24:35 – Who will be Regent's first operators?26:11 – Regent's regulatory process as a maritime vessel31:59 – What happens when the FAA decides to be involved?36:02 – Commercial vs government use38:15 – When did Regent start talking with the DoD?43:34 – Scaling for dual use commercial vs military46:34 – Raising $90m and common skeptical questions49:39 – What does success for Regent look like?• Show notes •Regent's website — https://www.regentcraft.com/Regent's socials — https://x.com/regentcraftMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Xcimer Energy's cofounders, Conner Galloway and Alexander Valys, to unpack one of the boldest bets in fusion: resurrecting a Cold War-era laser technology to build the fastest, most scalable path to commercial fusion power.Xcimer has raised over $100 million to bring its inertial confinement fusion system to life, starting with LPK, a high-powered prototype laser built in just four months, and progressing toward Vulcan, a full-scale, ignition-class reactor designed for the grid. We also discuss:Why excimer lasers are making a comebackWhat Xcimer learned from building LPK in just four monthsThe Phoenix-to-Vulcan roadmap for commercial fusionLessons from NIF's ignition milestone and its limitsThe case for fusion as infrastructure, not just scienceHow Xcimer is positioning itself in a crowded fusion landscape…and much, more. • Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:24 – Payload Pro02:06 – Recent changes in fusion03:29 – Commercial fusion and perceptions on the tech05:18 – Founding story of Xcimer06:51 – Common approaches to fusion today08:48 – Was the National Ignition Facility (NIF) the catalyst to start Xcimer?12:22 – Convincing investors to invest $100m into Xcimer13:34 – What is NIF's goal right now and can it produce electricity?18:04 – Why hasn't the private sector solved the fusion problem?20:25 – Xcimer progress report23:07 – Xcimer's roadmap for the next bigger machine24:41 – Coming up with Athena25:33 – Addressing neutron damage29:54 – The biggest unknown for Xcimer32:29 – Who are Xcimer's first customers35:03 – Cost per megawatt per hour to be competitive37:23 – How much of Xcimer's supply chain is being verticalized38:48 – Vaporizing a missile with a laser41:27 – Other fusion companies Alex and Connor admire44:28 – What inspires a founder or engineer to pursue less proven fusion methods?47:28 – What drives Alex and Connor to keep on going?49:02 – First commercial Xcimer fusion plant • Show notes •Xcimer's website — https://xcimer.energy/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com 

Reversing SharePoint Toolshell Exploits CVE-2025-53770 and CVE-2025-53771 A quick walk-through showing how to decode the payload of recent SharePoint exploits https://isc.sans.edu/diary/Analyzing%20Sharepoint%20Exploits%20%28CVE-2025-53770%2C%20CVE-2025-53771%29/32138 Compromised JavaScript NPM is Package The popular npm package is was compromised by malware. Luckily, the malicious code was found quickly, and it was reversed after about five hours. https://socket.dev/blog/npm-is-package-hijacked-in-expanding-supply-chain-attack Microsoft Quick Machine Recovery Microsoft added a new quick machine recovery feature to Windows 11. If the system is stuck in a reboot loop, it will boot to a rescue partition and attempt to find fixes from Microsoft. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/configuration/quick-machine-recovery/?tabs=intune

On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib talks with Ben Meyers, owner of Flight Day Ammunition. They discuss how Ben got started in waterfowl hunting and his earliest memories of the hunt. Ben talks about his family property in Missouri that he grew up duck hunting on and the management of the habitat he still does there to this day. He also discusses the challenges of starting an ammunition company, how he has scaled it and the nuances between bismuth and steel shot. Ben offers insights into the ammunition market, including the rising costs of bismuth and the impact of Chinese production. Ben shares some memorable hunting experiences along with common mistakes new hunters make. They also discuss the importance of patterning your shotgun and the ongoing 'velocity war' in ammunition marketing. You can learn more about Ben and Flight Day Ammo here: https://flightdayammo.com Takeaways: Ben Myers is the owner of Flight Day Ammunition. He has been waterfowl hunting since he was nine years old. Memorable hunts often involve family and friends. Private hunting spots offer advantages over public land. New hunters often make mistakes with decoy and call usage. Reloading ammunition can lead to more reliable rounds. Bismuth is superior to steel in terms of density and performance. The cost of Bismuth has significantly increased due to market factors. China controls the majority of the Bismuth market. Steel ammunition can be improved with better patterns and lower velocities.  Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com  Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl   Migration Waterfowl Store https://tinyurl.com/MigrationWaterfowlStore   Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com   And also brought to you by these fine partners: The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Rig'Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Ammunition https://www.flightdayammo.com 10% off with code MW10 Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mikkel Vestergaard isn't a typical aerospace founder. Before building solar-powered stratospheric airships, he spent two decades in humanitarian innovation, distributing a billion malaria nets, co-creating the LifeStraw, and helping eradicate Guinea worm disease. Now, as CEO of Sceye, he's applying that same ethos to aerospace.In this conversation, Mikkel dives deep into the origins, design, and future of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). We explore why the stratosphere is emerging as a new layer of infrastructure, filling the gap between satellites and towers, and how Sceye's helium-filled, solar-powered airships could reshape internet connectivity, earth observation, and national security.We cover:Why Mikkel pivoted from global health to aerospaceThe engineering that makes persistent stratospheric flight possibleHow Sceye closes the “power loop” to stay aloft for monthsCommercial applications from telecom to methane detectionStrategic partnerships with SoftBank, América Móvil, and MawaridThe defense potential of HAPSThe business model behind “infrastructure as a service”What it takes to build investor conviction around a platform that feels left-field• Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:52 – Life before Sceye02:51 – Work at Lifestraw06:31 – What is Lifestraw?07:50 – Making the pivot from global health to aerospace and working at Sceye10:52 – HAPS or High-Altitude Platform Systems12:25 – Why choose a balloon over a fixed wing aircraft?14:04 – Types of payloads16:06 – Not Hindenburg 2.016:48 – How Mikkel's earlier material science experience shaped Sceye's design decisions18:09 – Pitching Sceye to investors19:16 – Common misconceptions of stratospheric platforms20:41 – What can HAPS do for the telecommunications industry?25:03 – How many HAPS would we need to provide global coverage?25:24 – Sceye's equity investor partners26:00 – When Sceye will be fully commercialized28:34 – Other use cases31:33 – Advantages over satellites32:34 – National security use cases33:31 – The business model of HAPS34:52 – Sceye's next iteration of customers35:40 – How Sceye is building their team36:56 – Manufacturing process and scaling37:53 – Capital to scale38:25 – What keeps Mikkel up at night39:38 – What does success to Sceye look like • Show notes •SCEYE's website — https://sceye.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Julien Barber is an investor at Emerson Collective, a venture and policy firm founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, where he backs bold bets on decarbonization, infrastructure, and long-horizon climate technologies. Before becoming an investor, Julien researched fusion energy at MIT and co-founded a carbon-tech startup. In today's episode, we go deep into Julien's investing philosophy, Emerson's unique model, and the hard tech categories he believes are most undercapitalized.We cover:Why Emerson is structured for risk others can't takeFusion, fission, and the evolving energy stackAI's impact on power demand and hardware accelerationHow to invest when the grid is the bottleneckBuilding conviction in hard tech when capital is scarcePublic vs. private roles in scaling fusionWhat a 7-million-fold increase in energy density may actually look like• Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:49 – From scientist to investor04:37 – Why Julien chose fusion08:57 – Investment process at Emerson10:08 – The team at Emerson12:15 – Is Emerson consensus-driven and why is it an LLC?14:07 – Under-invested areas in climate & industrial tech17:24 – Are AI valuations reasonable today?18:59 – Bottlenecks in the grid23:11 – AI energy consumption: hype or real concern?27:10 – Bridging the energy gap29:20 – Fusion's role in the next decade31:24 – Google & Commonwealth Fusion: serious commercial signal?32:37 – Are we underinvesting in fusion?39:12 – Who will reach commercial fusion first?41:36 – 30-year future if fusion succeeds • Show notes •Emerson's socials — https://x.com/emcollectiveEmerson's website — https://www.emersoncollective.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Welcome to a special Tuesday-edition of Valley of Depth, powered by Integrate.John Conafay spent years inside the space and defense worlds, from Spire to Astranis to the U.S. Air Force, and saw the same problem everywhere: complex programs were managed with spreadsheets, slide decks, and…crossed fingers. So in 2022, he founded Integrate to fix it. What started as a scrappy startup with five engineers has since landed what he describes as one of the largest software contracts in Space Force history. We discuss: Why defense programs are still run on outdated, fragmented toolsWhat Integrate actually does and how it's different from Smartsheet or Microsoft ProjectHow Conafay won a $25M Space Force contractThe architecture choices behind real-time collaboration in classified environmentsWhy internal tools and status quo software can't scale with complexityAnd much, much more… • Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:57 – John's background02:59 – What is Integrate?04:02 – Pain points in complex project management06:08 – John's interest in aerospace10:01 – Core product at Integrate11:20 – Why tools weren't implemented before12:50 – DoD project management & efficiency loss14:29 – Multiplayer coordination approach16:19 – Hardest integration problem17:40 – Security architecture20:17 – Go-to-market & government entry22:18 – $25M Space Force contract26:14 – Future Space Force goals27:59 – Government vs commercial customers29:16 – Pricing30:13 – Profitability, team, funding, scaling32:23 – Ideal investor33:20 – Competitors34:50 – Competing with internal tools36:01 – 10-year product vision37:36 – Strategic risks in the next decade39:42 – Hardest part of building Integrate41:34 – Misconceptions about working with the DoD42:55 – Advice for founders & younger self43:53 – John in another life • Show notes •John's socials — https://x.com/jconafayIntegrate's socials —https://x.com/Integrate_coIntegrate's website — https://integrate.co/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Chris Kemp took Astra public in 2021 with a bold vision: low-cost rockets launching daily, bringing sovereign space access to every country on Earth. At its peak, the company was worth over $2 billion. Within two years, that valuation collapsed by 99%. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we go inside one of the most dramatic flameouts and attempted comebacks in the commercial space era. We discuss:Why Astra's SPAC-era promises didn't survive contact with realityWhat really went wrong with Rocket 3 and how much of that falls on KempThe decision to take the company private and buy it back for pennies on the dollarHow Astra raised $80M, and its attempt to raise another $100M+The quiet success of its satellite propulsion businessRocket 4, and whether this time is actually differentHow Kemp is repositioning Astra as a mobile, defense-aligned launch platform • Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:53 – What's happened since 2022?02:58 – What kept Astra going after test flight failures?06:46 – Did Astra's engineering approach work against them?08:15 – What Chris believes he got wrong12:51 – Has Chris questioned his leadership at Astra?14:37 – What would Chris have done differently?16:34 – Taking Astra private & investor reactions20:58 – What Chris saw more than anyone else22:20 – Team and factory space at Astra23:20 – Chris's philosophy on rocket building25:54 – Rocket 4 vs Rocket 330:35 – Astra's renewed business model34:11 – Why is Rocket Lab valued at $16B?36:21 – Engine business & customer trust39:25 – NASA & Astra39:49 – Post-privatization investment45:18 – The team at Astra47:08 – What went wrong with Astra's infamous flight47:54 – Chris's evolving leadership style50:05 – Chris's hardest moment at Astra50:49 – Unfair criticisms of Chris51:54 – What present Chris would tell past Chris53:12 – What keeps Chris going54:57 – Would Astra go public again?57:51 – Astra milestones to watch • Show notes •Chris' socials — https://x.com/KempAstra's socials —https://x.com/astraAstra's website — https://astra.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Jeff Thornburg helped build Raptor at SpaceX. Now he's building something new: a spacecraft designed for rapid maneuverability across orbits powered by solar thermal propulsion.In this episode of Valley of Depth, we get into the technical, strategic, and commercial implications of in-space mobility and why it matters now. Topics include:The hardest parts of building a rocket engine (and why most startups get it wrong)The origins of the Raptor engine and lessons from SpaceXWhy Portal is betting on solar thermal propulsionHow Supernova enables fast, responsive movement across LEO, MEO, and GEOThe case for refueling in orbit and designing without dependenciesWhy defense needs faster spacecraft and what commercial use cases followHow Thornburg sees Starship changing the economics of spaceand much more… • Chapters •00:00 – Intro01:44 – What drew Jeff to creating engines?05:13 – Why is building rocket engines still so difficult?11:50 – Jeff's time at SpaceX17:52 – Stratolaunch and Commonwealth Fusion and why Jeff moved on22:50 – Origin of Portal25:25 – Commercial use case27:00 – 5 year vision for Portal's architecture32:01 – Pricing34:52 – Solar thermal propulsion38:14 – What comes after Portal's Supernova?41:15 – Customer traction and Supernova flight45:44 – Competition in solar thermal propulsion49:20 – Fundraising prior to the first launch51:18 – Portal in the next 10 years54:53 – State of Starship • Show notes •Jeff's socials — https://x.com/JeffThornburgAntares' socials — https://x.com/PortalSpaceSysAntares' website — https://www.portalsystems.space/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Episode 128: In this episode of Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast we talking Blind SSRF and Self-XSS, as well as Reversing massive minified JS with AI and a wild Google Logo Ligature BugFollow us on twitter at: https://x.com/ctbbpodcastGot any ideas and suggestions? Feel free to send us any feedback here: info@criticalthinkingpodcast.ioShoutout to YTCracker for the awesome intro music!====== Links ======Follow your hosts Rhynorater and Rez0 on Twitter: https://x.com/Rhynoraterhttps://x.com/rez0__====== Ways to Support CTBBPodcast ======Hop on the CTBB Discord at https://ctbb.show/discord!We also do Discord subs at $25, $10, and $5 - premium subscribers get access to private masterclasses, exploits, tools, scripts, un-redacted bug reports, etc.You can also find some hacker swag at https://ctbb.show/merch!Today's Sponsor: ThreatLocker - Patch Management====== This Week in Bug Bounty ======BitK's "Payload plz" challenge at LeHack====== Resources ======Make Self-XSS Great AgainNovel SSRF Technique Involving HTTP Redirect LoopsSurf - Escalate your SSRF vulnerabilities on Modern Cloud EnvironmentsGecko: Intent to prototype: Framebusting InterventionConducting smarter intelligences than me: new orchestrasMandarkLumentisjscollabGoogle Logo Ligature Bug====== Timestamps ======(00:00:00) Introduction(00:03:55) Self-XSS and credentialless iframe (00:16:50) Novel SSRF Technique Involving HTTP Redirect Loops(00:25:02) Framebusting(00:29:13) Reversing massive minified JS with AI(00:53:12) Google Logo Ligature Bug

In the wake of new executive orders elevating nuclear energy as a national security priority, there's growing momentum—and urgency—behind advanced fission technologies. Few are better positioned to talk about this shift than Jordan Bramble, co-founder and CEO of Antares Nuclear, a startup building microreactors for defense and space.In this episode of Valley of Depth, we explore the strategic, technical, and geopolitical dimensions driving the nuclear renaissance. We cover:• Why microreactors are built for strategic energy and not just the grid• The real story behind public support for nuclear energy• How Antares plans to deploy sub-megawatt nuclear systems on U.S. military installations• The challenges of fuel supply, regulation, and capital• Why China is pulling ahead and what the U.S. must do to catch up• Nuclear-powered space assets and propulsion• Why Jordan believes venture-scale outcomes are coming to nuclear energy • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:56 - Payload Pro01:39 - State of fission03:38 - Is renewed nuclear interest driven by political or environmental factors?05:23 - Are small modular reactors (SMRs) going to replace large, conventional nuclear reactors?07:31 - Is nuclear still a controversial topic?09:27 - Cultural legacy of nuclear in media11:49 - Antares and how Jordan got into nuclear14:16 - What does 1 Megawatt mean?15:53 - Game changing environments for Antares's SMR19:30 - Terrestrial business model20:39 - Nuclear fuel supply chain21:35 - Current state and future prediction of fuel pipeline23:42 - Safety in contested environments26:49 - Hardest technical challenges29:52 - What will it take to get to their first electron31:23 - Competition34:27 - US vs its adversaries36:29 - Navigating regulatory guidelines38:10 - Impact of Trump's Executive Orders40:03 - NRC41:12 - Are we living in a VC renaissance for nuclear?44:05 - What drives Jordan to work on nuclear?46:30 - For those afraid of nuclear • Show notes •Jordan's socials — https://x.com/jordanbrambleAntares' socials — https://x.com/AntaresNuclearAntares' website — https://boomsupersonic.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.• Payload: www.payloadspace.com• Ignition: www.ignition-news.com• Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Wes chats with James Mikrut, founder of Payload CMS, about being acquired by Figma! They discuss building an open source business, the future of UI design, AI interfaces, and what this means for the future of Payload and Figma. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:06 What is Payload CMS? 01:56 The big announcement. 03:03 Why does Figma want a CMS? 05:23 This has got to be about AI, right? 09:37 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 10:02 What will the interface be? 14:02 Generative, user-specific UI. 16:17 Agents make everything look like ShadCN. 18:18 What does this mean for Payload users? 20:23 How this improves Payload. 22:31 Trying to stand out as a CMS. 23:35 Is this going to cost users? 25:12 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks James: Triumph Street Triple, Malört Liquor. Shameless Plugs James: PayloadCMS. Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

That's only 1 ppp. patreon.com/loljkpodcast

That's only 1 ppp. patreon.com/loljkpodcast

In a major shift, the U.S. government is moving to overturn a 50-year ban on civilian supersonic flight over land—a regulation that's defined the boundaries of commercial aviation since 1973. It's a pivotal moment for aerospace, and a timely one for this conversation with Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.In this episode of Valley of Depth, we dive into the political, technical, and economic forces driving the return of high-speed air travel. We cover:Why the U.S. banned supersonic flight and why that's finally changingHow Boom plans to make supersonic flight sustainable and commercially viableThe decision to build a new engine in-house after legacy players stepped awayWhat the real economics of airline orders look like and who's truly onboardHow regulatory shifts, geopolitical dynamics, and climate pressure intersectAnd why Blake believes faster travel isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity…and much more. • Chapters •00:00 - Intro01:07 - Payload Pro ad01:49 - Supersonic ban repeal03:48 - Why were supersonic planes banned in the first place?08:47 - Next steps for supersonic11:10 - How long until we get a supersonic jet?12:34 - Why Blake started Boom16:00 - Why now for supersonic?18:23 - State of China's commercial supersonic space19:48 - Boom Supersonic's engines23:56 - When will the Symphony Engine having a working model?29:09 - Engineer challenges beyond the engine29:52 - Engineering the quiet boom33:49 - What does a sonic boom sound and feel like?36:11 - Vertical integration38:05 - Routes that Overture would fly first38:47 - How much capital would Boom Supersonic need to build their first plane?40:12 - What did Aerion get wrong?44:22 - What will the supersonic competition look like?45:35 - Northrop Grumman partnership49:58 - Blake's mission behind Boom52:60 - What will Boom look like in the future? • Show notes •Boom Supersonic's socials — https://x.com/boomaeroBlake's socials — https://x.com/bschollBoom's website — https://boomsupersonic.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

If the next great war is fought in space, Even Rogers wants the U.S. to be ready. On this episode of Valley of Depth, the True Anomaly CEO and former Air Force weapons officer joins us to break down how he's building autonomous systems for space superiority and why space is the next warfighting domain. A graduate of the Air Force Weapons School, Even brings rare tactical and strategic insight into how the U.S. must fight and win in orbit. In this episode, we unpack the doctrine, technology, and strategy shaping the next phase of military competition in space. We cover: Why 2007 was the turning point for space as a warfighting domainHow to think about offense, deterrence, and domain control in orbitWhat the Space Force needs—and why $60B is the real numberThe role of private industry vs. the primes in defense innovationGolden Dome, missile defense, and the future of space-based interceptors…plus how we may one day have Guardians stationed permanently in space.Check out Valley of Depth #007 on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:57 - Payload Pro01:39 - True Anomaly's mission02:51 - How Even started the company04:02 - $220m Series C05:48 - When did space become a place to defend?09:20 - The challenge to US space dominance11:16 - What made Even realize that the US was unprepared?16:05 - What does space superiority look like?17:49 - What does space warfare actually mean?21:48 - The R&D the Space Force needs24:01 - What it meant to form the Space Force27:11 - The cultural shift on the Space Force30:49 - Current US Space capabilities and gaps32:44 - Why was the Space Force budget cut despite its importance?35:06 - Primes and the US's space capabilities37:12 - Procurement for the space domain41:29 - Space components of the Golden Dome43:35 - Phases of a ballistic missile44:56 - Intercepting missiles at its boost phase46:15 - What to prioritize today for space superiority49:20 - Guardians in space51:20 - Moon & Mars52:40 - Lessons learned for the next True Anomaly mission56:01 - What is the strategic impact True Anomaly is hoping to have?57:31 - Will NASA blur the lines between civil and military? • Show notes •True Anomaly's socials — https://x.com/the_trueanomalyEven's socials — https://x.com/jollyrogerstaTrue Anomaly's website — https://www.trueanomaly.space/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This week on Valley of Depth, we're joined by Paul Lwin, co-founder and CEO of Havoc AI—a builder of integrated hardware, software, and logistics that enables collaborative, autonomous maritime operations. A former Navy test pilot and electronic warfare officer, Paul saw firsthand the strategic challenge posed by China's industrial scale in the Pacific and set out to build an asymmetric answer.In this episode, Paul shares how Havoc went from pre-seed to delivering 40+ autonomous vessels in just 18 months, what it takes to deploy real autonomy in contested environments, and why the Navy forced them to sell their early prototypes. We also cover:Why Havoc built 12 USVs with just 5 people and a $1.2M pre-seedHow Ukraine's naval tactics shifted the Pentagon's mindsetThe difference between platform, mission, and decision autonomyWhy primes can't match Havoc's pace—or price pointHow Replicator changed the rules for startup engagement with DoDWhat it'll take to get thousands of autonomous boats into the Pacific…and much more.Check out VoD #006 on…YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. • Chapters •0:00 - Intro1:07 - Company Mission & Vision3:43 - DoD Autonomous Exercise Demonstration6:41 - Funding to Demo Timeline8:43 - Founding Team & Headquarters10:19 - Market Demand for Autonomous Maritime Tech12:42 - Vertical Integration Strategy14:30 - US Navy Capability Gaps16:24 - Geopolitics & Business Strategy17:40 - Product Architecture Roadmap21:21 - Commercial Market Potential24:05 - Autonomy Level Achieved26:48 - Contested Environment Design28:24 - Next Frontier in Naval Tech30:04 - Scaling for DoD Requirements32:09 - Competitive Differentiation33:48 - Prime Contractor Advantages35:21 - Replicator Initiative Impact36:19 - Buyer Incentive Structures37:44 - Desired Policy Changes39:09 - Scaling Funding Requirements40:35 - Defining Mission Success • Show notes •Havoc's socials — https://x.com/HavocAi_USVMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This week on Valley of Depth, we're joined by Marc Allen, CEO of Electra and former Chief Strategy Officer at Boeing. After nearly two decades at one of aerospace's most iconic companies, Marc stepped away—and then doubled down—on aviation with a bold bet: a hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off in 150 feet, carries 1,000 pounds, and can land almost anywhere. In this episode, Marc breaks down why the future of flight is short-runway, low-noise, and mission-flexible—and how Electra's EL-9 is carving out a new category of aircraft entirely. We also get into:Why hybrid-electric beats all-electricHow Electra won over DOD and NASAThe military's growing demand for quiet, flexible airliftWhy rotorcraft are ripe for disruptionThe company's $13B+ order bookAnd how Marc thinks about scaling from Boeing to startup • Chapters •0:00 - Episode Introduction0:58 - Marc's Transition: Boeing to Electra3:13 - Electric Propulsion Breakthrough Moment4:29 - Electra's Core Technology5:17 - Importance of Electric Aircraft6:52 - EL9 vs Helicopter Comparison7:30 - Safety Features10:06 - Automation Capabilities10:54 - Charging Infrastructure11:18 - Technology Maturity Level12:41 - EL9 Market Potential15:57 - Current Demand & Use Cases18:17 - Operator Economics20:20 - Air Force Partnership21:16 - Defense Applications23:43 - Autonomous Potential24:41 - Future Aircraft Versions26:08 - NASA's Interest26:47 - Civil vs Defense Models27:21 - Manufacturing Process29:15 - Certification Timeline31:32 - Key Challenges34:24 - Fundraising Status36:32 - Commercialization Costs38:00 - Upcoming Milestones38:24 - Team Size39:03 - Scaling From Large to Small Company41:15 - OEM Strategy41:50 - 10-Year Vision42:44 - Marc's Personal Interests43:40 - Pilot Training Requirements • Show notes •Electra's socials — https://x.com/ElectraAeroMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This episode of SpaceTime covers a range of exciting topics, including the delayed launch of Gilmour Space's Eris rocket, groundbreaking discoveries on Venus, and a billion-year-old asteroid impact in Scotland that raises new questions about the evolution of life on Earth.Eris Rocket Launch DelayedGilmour Space has postponed the maiden launch of its Eris orbital rocket due to technical issues encountered during pre-flight checks. The rocket, designed to carry small satellite payloads, will now face a delay of at least three weeks as the company investigates the unexpected deployment of the launch vehicle's nosecone fairings. We discuss the implications of this delay and what it means for future commercial launches.Tectonic Activity on VenusIn a fascinating discovery, scientists have identified possible tectonic activity on Venus, based on data from NASA's Magellan mission. Researchers found evidence of unique geological features known as coronae, which may indicate ongoing deformation of the planet's surface due to molten material from below. This research not only enhances our understanding of Venus but also offers insights into Earth's geological history.Ancient Asteroid Impact in ScotlandA recent study has revealed that a massive asteroid impact in Scotland occurred 990 million years ago, much later than previously thought. This discovery, based on dating tiny zircon crystals, suggests a connection between this impact event and the emergence of early freshwater eukaryotes on land. We delve into the implications of this revised timeline for our understanding of life on Earth and the environmental changes triggered by such impacts.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesScience Advanceshttps://www.science.org/journal/sciadvJournal of Geologyhttps://www.geosociety.org/publications/gsa/geo.aspBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.00:00 This is Space Time Series 28, Episode 60 for broadcast on 19 May 202500:54 Gilmour Space's Eris rocket launch delayed10:15 Possible tectonic activity discovered on Venus18:45 Billion-year-old asteroid impact in Scotland raises questions about early life on Earth25:00 Science report: Unexplained communications equipment found in Chinese-made solar panel inverters

This week on Valley of Depth, we're joined by Erik Kriessmann, Partner at Altimeter – the $10B crossover firm known for backing generational companies across tech, defense, and space. From sourcing early-stage deals to helping build world-class teams, Erik's path into venture started with a deep focus on talent, giving him a rare edge in identifying high-potential founders and building lasting partnerships. In this episode, Erik shares how Altimeter thinks about concentrated investing, why the firm bets big on supercycles, and what it takes to earn a seat at the table with the best teams in tech. We also cover:How Altimeter defines a “supercycle”The firm's bets across AI, defense, and aerospaceWhat separates a good founder from a great oneWhy Altimeter backed Anduril and K2His take on the Mars hype (spoiler: not yet)And how SpaceX changed the game for everyone…and much more. • Chapters •0:00 - Intro1:05 - Did Erik know he was going to be an investor?1:44 - Erik's career journey9:05 - Going from building talent teams to working with CEOs directly12:07 - The investment philosophy core to Altimeter's growth15:31 - Public vs private side of Altimeter16:42 - How decisions get made19:35 - What is today's super cycle?21:14 - What technologies is Altimeter currently excited about?22:40 - What does Erik look for in a founder?24:25 - How do geopolitics weigh in on Altimeter's investments?27:20 - Space super cycle28:56 - What is Erik on the lookout for in the space industry31:04 - How about Mars?33:42 - Why did Altimeter first invest in Anduril?36:09 - Navigating the DoD procurement process37:50 - Expanding margin with the government customer40:27 - Are we in a defense tech bubble?41:56 - Has Altimeter invested in pure play defense names outside of Anduril?44:03 - Exit paths for Altimeter's investments45:34 - Foreign defense investment opportunities47:34 - What would Erik be doing if he wasn't an investor?49:42 - What's Erik listening to these days? • Show notes •Erik's socials — https://x.com/ekriessmannBrad's socials — https://x.com/altcapMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This week on Valley of Depth, we're joined by Christian Garcia, Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures — the Bill Gates-backed climate fund investing in bold technologies to accelerate the energy transition across every sector of the economy. With portfolio companies tackling everything from geologic hydrogen to reusable rockets, BEV is redefining what it means to scale climate impact through hard tech. In this conversation, Christian shares how BEV thinks about breakthrough innovation, what makes a venture-backable climate solution, and why some of the most disruptive ideas look impossible—until they're not. We also get into:BEV's origin storyHow climate and national security are convergingThe firm's approach to fusion, hydrogen, and aerospaceWhy BEV backed both CFS and Pacific FusionWhat drew Christian to space — and Stoke Space in particularAnd his take on what's really being underestimated in climate today• Chapters •0:00 - Intro1:04 - What is Breakthrough Energy Ventures and how is it different from a typical fund?2:26 - BEV's investors and why are they interested5:45 - Is there a defense interest at BEV?9:00 - How did Christian get into this space?11:13 - What is BEV currently focused on?14:17 - What type of breakthrough is BEV investing in and when?17:16 - Firms BEV co-invests with18:34 - Seed and Pre-seed investing25:43 - What is the goal of investing in multiple fusion companies?30:23 - How does space fit in BEV's climate portfolio?34:23 - How do you separate bold vision from wishful thinking?38:03 - Balancing science and storytelling42:08 - Tech that Christian has passed on45:37 - A BEV company that Christian thinks will shock the world with its success48:48 - What are some common misconceptions about climate tech?51:28 - Rapidfire questions • Show notes •BEV's website — https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/our-work/breakthrough-energy-ventures/BEV's socials — https://x.com/BreakthroughMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

This week on Valley of Depth, we're joined by Tejpaul Bhatia, the newly appointed CEO of Axiom Space — a company building one of the first commercial space stations and leading private human spaceflight missions to low Earth orbit. The company is gearing up for Ax-4, Axiom's fourth mission to the ISS, which will fly astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and India under the command of Axiom astronaut Peggy Whitson. In his first interview (and podcast) as CEO, Tejpaul shares what the leadership transition means for Axiom, why he sees the company as a “forever business,” and how he plans to scale its station, suits, and astronaut programs into a thriving orbital economy. We also get into:Tejpaul's journey from startup founder to Axiom CEOThe state of the space station market and the case for demandWhat investors misunderstand about orbital infrastructureAxiom's shifting revenue mix and modular station roadmapHis take on the CLD program and U.S. industrial strategyHow Tejpaul thinks about scaling trust, culture, and ambition in space• Chapters •00:00 Intro00:59 Tejpaul's transition into the CEO role03:25 Tejpaul's background before Axiom08:03 Reaction to being offered CRO role10:50 Previous CEO's departure12:57 Preserving vs evolving at Axiom14:23 Initial priorities as CEO19:06 Free-flying space station market24:37 Number of future space station operators27:06 Science projects vs commercial viability32:44 Current and future revenue streams38:11 Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Destination (CLD)41:21 Moving beyond NASA dependence45:45 Technical roadmap47:19 Astronaut program pricing53:21 What investors miss about stations56:04 Capital requirements and fundraising01:00:07 Cost of first station01:01:35 Axiom & SpaceX relationship01:04:40 Tejpaul's personal interests • Show notes •Axiom's website — https://axiomspace.com/Axiom's socials — https://x.com/Axiom_SpaceMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

The United States Space Force (USSF)'s Space Systems Command (SSC) today awarded a National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Space Vehicle (SV) Processing Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) contract to Astrotech Space Operations (ASO). Firefly Aerospace scrubs the Message in a Booster mission for Lockheed Martin. China is working on a traffic management system to better organize satellite placement and operations, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Our guest today is David Schleeper, RS&H Project Manager. You can connect with David on LinkedIn, and learn more about RS&H on their website. Space Systems Command Expands Commercial Space Vehicle Processing Capacity Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace China plans space traffic management system amid commercial satellite boom AST SpaceMobile and U.S. National Science Foundation Establish Coordination Agreement Between Satellite and Ground-Based Astronomy Operations Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) Announces Key Milestone in Development of Aspera Space Astronomy Microsatellite Mission Space Foundation, Space Workforce for Tomorrow, and International Space University Sign MOU to Advance U.S. Space Workforce Development Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City New Director Space appointed at the South Australian Space Industry Centre – SASIC Axiom Space Appoints Tejpaul Bhatia as CEO Old Soviet spacecraft to fall to Earth in early May 2025 We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. T-Minus GuestSelected ReadingT-Minus Crew SurveyWant to hear your company in the show?Want to join us for an interview? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're excited to launch Valley of Depth, our new podcast taking the place of our beloved (formerly known as) Pathfinder (RIP) podcast. Valley of Depth is about the technologies that matter—and the people building them. 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. In our inaugural episode, EP 001, we're joined by Bryon Hargis, co-founder and CEO of Castelion, a venture-backed defense startup building affordable, mass-producible hypersonic missile systems for the U.S. and allied militaries. Castelion, founded by former SpaceX engineers, is taking a vertically integrated, fast-iteration approach to strike weapons—redefining how complex defense hardware is built. In this episode, we unpack the story behind Castelion's formation, the rising hypersonic threat from China, how startups are challenging the dominance of traditional primes—and much, much more… • Chapters •00:00 Intro00:52 What inspired Bryan to leave SpaceX and start Castelion?03:06 Non-nuclear deterrence05:15 How SpaceX's culture influenced Castelion07:44 Current team size08:07 Cultural shift in defense hiring10:04 Hypersonic missile advantages12:03 US vs China capabilities13:32 Tradeoffs vs exquisite systems16:08 What's behind Bryon18:02 Recent test results20:54 Iterating safely24:27 Castelion's DoD buyer26:56 Navigating defense acquisition32:11 Championing innovation35:17 The Golden Dome concept37:10 Requirements for Golden Dome39:21 Startups vs primes race40:49 Scaling missile production timeline42:48 European market potential44:19 Competition with defense primes45:49 Capital requirements47:26 Company vision49:13 World impact if successful50:48 Next milestones52:14 Story behind the name • Show notes •Castelion's website — https://www.castelion.com/Bryon's socials — https://x.com/hargsb Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition'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.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr of Payload talks about how he turns raw numbers into real narratives.

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN....the VPN we all use and highly recommend. We wouldn't advertise them if we didn't love the product. And there's a very special limited time deal for Space Nuts listeners at the moment. Check it out ASAP at www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts ...and it comes witha  30 day money back guantee.Space Nuts Episode 501: Lunar Landings, Andromeda Mysteries, and Voyager-1 UpdateJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson (yes, he's back) in this exciting episode of Space Nuts, where they dive into groundbreaking achievements in lunar exploration, the mysteries surrounding the Andromeda galaxy, and the latest updates from Voyager 1. This episode is packed with fascinating insights and updates that will keep you engaged and curious about the cosmos.Episode Highlights:- Blue Ghost Lunar Lander: The episode kicks off with the successful landing of the Blue Ghost lunar lander by Firefly Aerospace. Andrew and Fred discuss the significance of this commercial mission, how it differs from past government-funded endeavors, and what it means for future lunar exploration.- Odin Asteroid Probe Troubles: The duo then shifts focus to the Odin asteroid probe, which has encountered some challenges en route to its target. They explore the implications of its current state and what this means for the future of asteroid mining and exploration missions.- Andromeda Galaxy's Dwarf Galaxies: Andrew and Fred delve into the latest research on Andromeda, discussing how its dwarf galaxies are behaving unusually. They explore the potential gravitational influences at play and the surprising findings from Hubble observations that challenge existing theories about galaxy formation.- Voyager 1's Communication Update: The episode wraps up with an update on Voyager 1, the most distant human-made object, which has resumed sending intelligible signals back to Earth after overcoming some technical difficulties. Andrew and Fred reflect on the incredible journey of Voyager 1 and its ongoing contributions to our understanding of the universe.For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.00:00 - Introduction and lunar lander success02:15 - Discussion on the Blue Ghost lunar lander10:30 - Updates on the Odin asteroid probe18:00 - Insights into Andromeda's dwarf galaxies26:45 - Voyager 1's communication update30:00 - Closing thoughts and listener engagement✍️ Episode ReferencesBlue Ghost Lunar Lander Mission Detailshttps://www.firefly.com/blueghostOdin Asteroid Mission Overviewhttps://www.astro.com/odinAndromeda Galaxy Research Findingshttps://www.hubblesite.org/andromedaVoyager 1 Communication Updateshttps://www.nasa.gov/voyager1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-exploring-the-cosmos--2631155/support.

Hosted Payload is now available in both video and podcast form! Host Henry Gola thinks Space Cowboys is Clint Eastwood's worst movie, but he meets surprising disagreement from colleagues Jen Hindin, Chloe Hawker, and Jillian Quigley. Plus, Chloe does double duty and dishes the latest satellite and space news in the Orbital Debrief.

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Ed Fyfe, founder of Ed Fyfe Design, a creative studio focused on branding and visual identity for space and hardware companies. With a background in agency work and a passion for the space industry, Ed has built a reputation for helping companies craft compelling brand identities that stand out in a crowded market.In this episode, we explore the role of branding and design in the space industry and why it's more than just a logo—it's a strategic asset. We also discuss:– Ed's journey from working in consumer branding to launching his own space-focused design practice– The importance of branding for space companies and when founders should prioritize it– How SpaceX, NASA, and other major players have influenced space industry branding– Common branding mistakes in the sector and how to avoid them– The impact of branded hardware and creative storytelling in making space companies memorable– The role of brand partnerships and what makes a good collaborationAnd more… • Chapters •00:00 Intro00:53 Ed's journey in design and branding03:45 Why is branding and design important?05:26 Why and when should a space company care about branding?08:45 Why should a space company be thinking about branding?10:38 Common branding mistakes space companies make13:33 How much of brand identity is instinct?15:38 How much of NASA's legacy influenced modern branding strategies18:35 Historical branding elements in the space industry21:56 How do you translate a company's vision into a brand identity?33:34 EO industry's branding39:43 Branded hardware45:08 What are brand partnerships and do they matter?50:14 Advice for space startups on beginning with a strong differentiated brand?55:09 How to find, connect, and work with Ed • Show notes •Ed's website — https://edfyfedesign.com/Ed's email — edfyfedesign@gmail.comMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We're also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we're a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Jack Kuhr, Research Director at Payload, for a deep dive into one of the most closely watched companies in the space industry—SpaceX. We break down Payload's latest analysis of SpaceX's revenue, exploring how the company's launch business and Starlink network are shaping its financial trajectory.With our estimate of SpaceX's 2024 revenue at $13.1 billion, this episode unpacks the numbers, key growth drivers, and what's next. We also discuss:How Payload builds its SpaceX revenue model and refines estimates year after yearThe breakdown of SpaceX's revenue across launch, Starlink, and other government contractsThe rapid growth of Starlink—now at 4.6 million customers—and where the business is headedThe future of Starship and its impact on Falcon 9, launch pricing, and industry competitionPotential financial winners and losers when Starship becomes fully operationalSpeculative questions on SpaceX's future, from a possible IPO to whether it can become the first trillion-dollar space companyAnd more… • Chapters •00:00 Intro01:02 Jack's background02:16 Constructing the SpaceX revenue estimates06:17 How close our predictions were08:01 Numbers rundown10:02 SpaceX's percentage of global launch10:45 SpaceX's price per launch12:26 Does SpaceX need Starling to stay profitable?13:55 When will Starship launch paying customers?15:44 Starlink's next-gen satellites18:19 Starlink's sub growth20:38 Evolution of Starlink's pricing power22:51 Where does SpaceX see the most growth?25:12 Starlink's scalability and will it ever reach 50+ million customers?29:03 SpaceX's other revenue generator31:10 Will Starship make Falcon 9 obsolete?32:37 Who loses when Starship becomes fully operational?34:05 Will demand make up for the loss of cost per kilogram?36:33 If SpaceX was a public company, how would investors react to these revenue figures?39:19 Which SpaceX revenue stream could 10x?41:03 Will SpaceX be the first trillion-dollar space company? • Show notes •Estimating SpaceX's 2024 Revenue — https://payloadspace.com/estimating-spacexs-2024-revenue/Jack's socials — https://x.com/JackKuhrMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We're also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we're a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Matt Weinzierl, Chair of the MBA Program and Professor at Harvard Business School, and Brendan Rosseau, a member of the strategy team for launch at Blue Origin. Together, they've co-authored Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier, a new book exploring the history, key players, and economic forces driving the momentum behind the space industry.We discuss:The evolution of space economics and how government-private sector dynamics are changingThe role of NASA as an anchor customer and whether the model has limitsThe rise of defense-focused pivots in commercial space companiesMarket competition and whether we're seeing monopolization in spaceThe economic case for lunar activity, space stations, and emerging industriesThe biggest risks that could stall commercial space progressTheir book launches on February 25, and this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the economic forces shaping the future of space. You can order here! • Chapters •00:00 Intro04:00 HBS's Space Program06:36 An introduction to “Space to Grow”08:50 The shift from space to defense13:02 What to expect from the book16:56 Space competition or monopolization?21:52 How classic economic principles apply to space29:24 Are we transitioning away from NASA to anchor customers?33:36 Does space have the right financing structures in place to build this industry?38:47 Economic case for the Moon (Mars?)44:16 Viability of space stations48:22 What space industries have the best economic potential in the next couple decades?52:32 Biggest impediment to the space industry55:43 Key takeaways from “Space to Grow”59:05 Matt and Brendan's favorite books01:01:13 Where to find Matt and Brendan • Show notes •Space to Grow — https://www.amazon.com/Space-Grow-Unlocking-Economic-Frontier/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We're also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we're a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Jeremiah Pate, founder and CEO of Lunasonde, a company pioneering subsurface imaging from space. Lunasonde is developing technology to map the Earth's underground, leveraging low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to identify critical minerals and resources.With two satellites launched and the first full-tech satellite in their constellation set to launch in July, this episode dives into how Lunasonde is reshaping resource exploration. We also discuss:Lunasonde's founding story and Jeremiah's inspiration for the companyThe fundamentals of subsurface SAR and how it differs from traditional radar technologiesThe company's royalty-based business model and its potential to disrupt the critical minerals industryReal-world applications, including a breakthrough discovery of a previously unknown copper depositThe long-term vision for Lunasonde, including applications beyond Earth and mapping resources on the Moon and asteroidsInsights on the challenges of scaling a space startup and navigating regulatory barriersAnd more… • Chapters •00:00 Intro03:04 What is SAR?05:19 What is subsurface?06:29 Critical minerals and Lunasonde's approach to the market07:49 Size & demand10:20 System architecture11:28 Lunasonde's launches12:02 Interpreting SAR data13:27 SubSAR vs seismic imaging or ground penetrating radar15:25 Environmental reasons behind building subSAR16:22 How to ensure accuracy and reliability of the data17:08 Corona satellites20:48 How does Lunasonde convince ideal customers to embrace new technologies?22:48 Examples of discovering new deposits24:09 Lunasonde's competitors26:02 Why do people think subSAR is impossible?27:12 Going beyond the Earth28:39 Other revenue models30:27 Commercial vs government traction31:27 Is Lunasonde looking for partnerships with space mining startups?32:14 Scaling path33:09 Funding34:11 What keeps Jeremiah up at night?34:52 Long-term vision36:53 Could orgs like NASA use Lunasonde's capabilities for more intensive resource hunting missions?38:28 What would Jeremiah like to change in the space industry?40:51 If Jeremiah wasn't working at Lunasonde, where would he like to work? • Show notes •Lunasonde's website — https://www.lunasonde.com/Lunasonde's socials — https://x.com/Lunasonde/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We're also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we're a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel, a company focused on developing hyperspectral imaging technology from space. Pixxel is developing the world's first commercial hyperspectral satellite constellation, aiming to provide detailed insights into critical industries like agriculture, energy, and defense.With the recent launch of three Firefly satellites—the first in Pixxel's commercial fleet—this episode explores the company's progress and vision for the future of Earth observation. We also discuss:Pixxel's founding story and Awais' background in satellite engineering and Hyperloop competitionsThe fundamentals of hyperspectral imaging and its advantages over traditional imaging methodsPixxel's satellite constellation plans and how they're balancing commercial and government marketsThe role of AI in satellite imaging and its potential to unlock new applicationsAwais' take on the evolving Earth observation market and the challenges of scaling a space startupAnd more… • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:48 - Impact of the new administration02:32 - The story behind Pixxel07:37 - Hyperspectral imaging11:14 - How hyperspectral fits into the other types of satellite imaging15:01 - How big is the satellite imaging market today?17:30 - Government uses and advancements in hyperspectral21:30 - Established commercial vs growing government markets25:23 - What does Pixxel's constellation look like?27:22 - Firefly vs Honeybee28:03 - Customer experience at Pixxel29:46 - AI's impact33:44 - Most valuable part of the EO stack36:05 - Starlink architecture and other EO businesses37:49 - Pixxel's commercial traction39:27 - What's a good margin profile?42:01 - Valuation of public EO businesses45:19 - Raising private capital in EO and fundraising plans48:37 - Pixxel in 203550:22 - What else excites Awais besides EO?51:29 - Pixxel's US office • Show notes •Pixxel's website — https://www.pixxel.space/Pixxel's socials — https://x.com/PixxelSpaceAwais' socials — https://x.com/awaisahmednaMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We're also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we're a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

Chapter 14 The Dandies meet someone invested in joining their vessel, and as they explore the city of Cain, they might get into some monkey business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices