Satellite Spotlight | Building in Space Beyond Ballots

// i launched satellite spotlight to connect the space tech & adjacent community with a weekly space tech newsletter

// new subscribers raised the payload to 980+ stargazers

space brew

// fascinating topics to discuss this weekend

deals & m&a

• Lockheed martin completes acquisition of terran orbital (PN).

// why it’s important - enhances LMT's small satellite capabilities, strengthening its space portfolio.

• Neara raises $31M Series C led by eqt for climate-resilient infrastructure (FS).

/ / why it’s important - AI-powered modeling boosts resilience against agriculture, wildfire and climate-related risks.

• Bifrost raises $8M Series A led by carbide ventures for industrial AI training (PN).

/ / why it’s important - potential to revolutionize big data and llms for infrastructure and hardware optimization.

• Wall street invests $50B in AI energy nexus (WSJ).

/ / why it’s important - M2 highlights embracing data centers and advanced computing capabilities, and increased openness to nuclear energy solutions.

science & ip

• Space forge and voyager partner for space manufacturing (SG).

// why it’s important - potential to advance tough-to-manufacture biomedicine and computing in space.

**industry perspective**: portal systems ceo, jeff thornburg, on the need for nuclear energy to bolster space industrialization. watch here.

• Boston dynamics unveils atlas robo to automate automotive tasks (YT).

// why it’s important - accelerate AI-driven automation potential and humanoid robots for manufacturing.

headlines

• Viridian pioneers air-breathing propulsion for vleo satellites (SN)

// why it’s important - potential to enable long satellite lifespans for in-space servicing and debris removal.

• Astra wins up to $44M in diu launch contract (SG).

// why it’s important - cost-effective tactically responsive launches for small satellite deployment, enhancing military responsiveness in space operations.

• Spire Global partner with ororatech for nasa contract (SG).

// why it’s important - may significantly reduce wildfire response times and improve monitoring accuracy during peak fire seasons.

community spotlight

today, 11/01

• Fireside chat: free agency x relevate energy (NYC).

• Web3 hackathon (online).

saturday, 11/02

• Boos and booze: AI x art (SF).

monday, 11/04

• Foundersbay talk series: AI agents (SF).

wednesday, 11/06

• Applied vol. 7: biotech + advanced sciences mixer (NYC).

cosmic mixtape

weekly aphorism

content & opinions top hits

• Aerospace supply chain disruptions with GE Aerospace CEO, Henry Lawrence (YT).

• Airbus CEO on supply chain bottlenecks (BB).

• Data, chips, and cloud security (YT).

• Mass timber: future of construction (FT).

building in space beyond the ballots

what happens to the space tech industry post elections?

the space tech industry stands at a fascinating crossroads with each election cycle. while popular narratives suggest dramatic polarization between parties, space exploration has historically been a rare beacon of bipartisan collaboration—a strategic domain where national ambition eclipses partisan divides.

the nuanced dance of space policy is shaped by subtle incremental steering from one presidential term to the next through key agency appointments notably at dot, nasa, ftc, doj, dod, noaa, doe, and the commerce department. these presidentially nominated, senate-confirmed leaders shape space tech policy.

the underlying vision remains consistent: strengthening america's technological leadership.

alluding, the delineation in an otherwise status quo space policy arises from divergent approaches to realizing this vision on private sector dynamism and funding priorities.

1. restrictive v expansionary policy on tariffs to expand access to opportunity.

• tariff structures on supplier networks and impact on supply chain bottlenecks.

• european retaliatory response on industrial cooperation and manufacturing ecosystems.

• strategic implications for economic interdependent relationships, such as china's role as a critical boeing customer .

2. open or closed trade policy on trade as geopolitical leverage.

• on-shoring, off-shoring, near-shoring & dynamic diplomatic frameworks.

• export controls and tech ip barriers in evolving global conflicts.

• semiconductors, energy, and industrial automation critical industries as competitive proxy battlegrounds.

3. domestic policy levers to increase disposable income.

• budget allocations on tax incentives & subsidies.

• contrasting governance models, public agency v privatization.

• economic expansion through federal & state incentive packages.

“order momentum is expected to accelerate in late 2024 and into 2025 following the U.S. election and interest rate cuts given historically elevated capacity utilization rates across durable goods manufacturing,” wrote jefferies analyst, saree boroditsky, in a recent report.

as the election dust settles adjacent to demand-side’s healthy momentum into Q1, the question that looms larger than jupiter is who will determine how humanity reaches the final frontier? the next administration’s impact is far reaching beyond a space policy - they’re navigating humanity’s trajectory amongst all the cosmic possibilities.

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