In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss sits down with Matt Magaña, president of space, defense and national Security at Voyager Technologies, to explore one of the most consequential national security space stories of 2025: Golden Dome.
Magaña lays out why this initiative represents a major inflection point for U.S. missile defense, requiring a truly integrated system-of-systems approach to track, target and defeat emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons.
In this episode of Space Minds, Senior Staff Writer Jeff Foust moderates a panel at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, the next installment of the Center’s Discovery Series.The panel brings together leaders from Astrobotic, Apex, Johns Hopkins APL and Stoke Space to explore how ideas once confined to the pages of science fiction are rapidly becoming reality. From commercial lunar landers and factory-scale satellite production to nuclear-powered rotorcraft bound for Titan and fully reusable rockets designed to fly daily, the space industry is undergoing a transformative moment.The panel discusses the technologies driving this surge—lower-cost launch, advanced autonomy, shrinking spacecraft, and the rise of a vibrant commercial ecosystem. They also examine the future of lunar infrastructure, in-orbit manufacturing, national security needs, and the growing competitive pressure from China. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about innovation, challenges, and the new frontiers emerging as space becomes more accessible than ever.
In this episode of Space Minds, host Mike Gruss sits down with Marshall Smith, CEO of Starlab Space for a fireside chat at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, the next installment of the Center’s Discovery Series.
In the fireside chat, they explored how today’s commercial space pioneers are turning concepts once rooted in science fiction into operational reality.
Smith reflects on his path from NASA engineer to leading the development of a next-generation commercial space station—one designed for science, manufacturing, and a future where private industry drives a sustainable economy in low Earth orbit. From market demand to design philosophy to the race toward a 2029 launch, Smith explains why he believes continuous human presence in space is essential, and how innovations in microgravity research and AI-driven operations could redefine what’s possible both on orbit and on Earth.
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Jim Bridenstine, former NASA Administrator and U.S. Congressman, who oversaw the launch of the Artemis program—America’s renewed effort to return astronauts to the Moon.Now Managing Partner of the Artemis Group, Bridenstine discusses the intersection of politics, policy, and innovation shaping the modern space race. From government shutdowns and funding instability to U.S.-China competition and the future of lunar commercialization, he shares candid insights on why America’s leadership in space depends on sustaining investment, fostering commercial partnerships, and inspiring a new generation through science and exploration.
In this episode of Space Minds, host David Ariosto speaks with Max Haot, CEO of Vast, the ambitious aerospace company based in Long Beach, California, one of a very few companies working diligently towards the first commercial space station. Just days after the successful launch of Vast’s pathfinder mission, Haot shares what it was like to see their Haven demo spacecraft come to life in orbit — from tense moments in the control room to the triumph of first contact. We talk about their next big step, Haven-1, set to become one of the first privately built, human-rated orbital habitat, and how Vast plans to ensure a seamless transition from the International Space Station to a new era of commercial space infrastructure. Haot also discusses safety, competition, and the future business of living and working in low Earth orbit — all part of Vast’s vision to make space permanently accessible.