Chasing Space

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Image Credit: SpaceX

Host Brenden Swanik kicks off a mini-series on propulsion—the technology that powers our journey to space. From the RD-107 engine that launched Sputnik to SpaceX's cutting-edge Raptor engine, we break down how rockets work and what makes them fly.

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Jeff Thornburg is the CEO of Portal Space Systems. He started his career in the U.S. Air Force and earned his master's in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. While stationed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Thornburg contributed to groundbreaking programs, including performing the world’s first hydrogen full-flow staged combustion cycle engine demonstration.

Thornburg has held key roles in most of the private sector’s most prominent commercial space companies, including VP of propulsion engineering at SpaceX, director of mechanical engineering and manufacturing for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, vice president of propulsion engineering at Stratolaunch, senior vice president of engineering at Agility Robotics, and chief of engineering at Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

As SpaceX’s second-ever head of propulsion engineering, he architected and
developed the Raptor Engine for the Starship and Starship Booster programs. He
also oversaw the successful launches of six Falcon 9s and streamlined certification
processes with government agencies like NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

Throughout his career, Thornburg has been recognized with awards from NASA and the Air Force, including a NASA Space Flight Awareness award, the NASA Made It Happen award, the NASA Stennis Space Center Propulsion Test Director’s Leadership Award, and an Air Force Research Laboratory Technical Program Manager of the Year.

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From the 1957 Starship Troopers to the Department of Defense, splace planes have been in the dreams (and nightmares) of aerospace engineers for near 70 years. In this episode, Brenden discusses what defines this unique class of vehicles, previous staple technologies, and why some nations as well as private companies believe the substantial engineering challenge is worth the man hours.

Image Credit: Spacenews

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Eric Stallmer is the Executive Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy for Voyager Space. Eric leads Voyager's Washington D.C. office and is responsible for representing the interests of Voyager to key government institutions including Congress, the White House and the many federal and international agencies that impact the success of Voyager and its subsidiaries.

Prior to joining Voyager, he was the President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. CSF is the most recognized and largest trade organization dedicated to promoting policies and best practices that fosters the development of the commercial spaceflight industry.

Eric has served on both the Defense Innovation Board, Space Advisory Committee, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). Eric was appointed to the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group (UAG) where he sits on the Executive Committee and serves at the Co-Chair of the Economic Development and Industrial Base Subcommittee.

Eric has testified several times to Congress, before the House of Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Senate Commerce Committee and the National Space Council. During these testimonies, he has encouraged Congress to support policies that will facilitate growth and innovation in the industry.

Before working at CSF, Eric served as the Vice President of Government Relations at Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI).

For almost three decades, Stallmer served as an officer in the United States Army and Army Reserves. He and his wife Amy live in McLean, Virginia with their three children, Charlie, Billy and Catherine.

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Two weeks ago (Episode 13) we discussed the roots of China's Space Program dating back to 1957, and how it is organized. Where does it stand now, and where are they headed? All of these questions are answered here.

Image Credit: CAST
Audio Credit: SciNews

Hema Nadarajah: China: A Global Power’s Celestial Ambitions

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Jodi Goldberg is special counsel in the Corporate and Securities Practice Group in the Sheppard Mullin's Washington, D.C. office. Jodi’s practice is focused on technology and telecommunications, with a particular emphasis on satellite, space, wireless, and novel technologies. 

Jodi advocates for clients in FCC and NOAA regulatory proceedings, advises on licensing, allocation, and transactional matters, negotiates and drafts commercial agreements, and counsels clients on new technologies and services. Jodi has experience with managing global managed-networks, including working with regulators in foreign markets, supervising outside counsel and consultants, and ensuring on-going compliance. Jodi also represents companies before the “Team Telecom” Executive Branch agencies and the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Jodi was an associate in the telecommunications, media, and technology group of a major law firm. She also worked in-house at both late-stage startup and established satellite telecommunications companies.

Jodi was listed as a Recommend Lawyer in the 2025 Legal 500 and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Space and Satellite Professionals International

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The People's Republic of China is no stranger to space exploration. From space stations to launch vehicles to crewed spaceflight, they have accomplished it all. Part 1 dives into the history & roots of China's Space Program as well as how the nation organizes all of their space adjacent administrative assets.

Image Credit: NYTimes

Dave Marsh's Article: PLAASF: Thirty Years of PLAnning

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TEDx Talk: Innovation Pendulum
USS Hornet Apollo 11 Splashdown 55th Anniversary Keynote


Lee Steinke is the Chief Operating Officer at CisLunar Industries, a venture-backed company developing hardware for in-space metal processing and power conversion to enable key emerging space capabilities. She also served as Interim COO of Orbit Fab during a leadership transition for the satellite refueling company and in various strategic and front-facing roles with Space Foundation and Foundation for the Future. As a partner to the United States Space Force and NewSpace Nexus, Lee led the Space Futures Workshop with Industry to explore commercial views on the future of space and document the implications of those views for national security. She has performed as an executive on contracts for NASA, Space Force, AFRL, DIU, DARPA, CASIS/ISS-National Lab, and commercial customers. Prior to joining the aerospace industry, Lee was engaged in the energy industry working on flagship programs with public and private companies.

Lee is well published on a variety of topics and is a sought-after speaker who has been featured on the TEDx stage. She has served on various Advisory and Review Boards, including for Canopy Aerospace, the State of Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. Lee holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Geology and Geophysics from Yale University, and a BA with Distinction in Geology and Classics from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a licensed professional geologist and an alumna of the U.S. Army War College National Security Seminar.

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It's difficult to contest the unprecedented accomplishments and impossible challenges overcome by the International Space Station. Unfortunately, good things don't last forever. What is the status of ISS and what comes next?

Image Credit: ISS Program Gallery

Orbital Reef

Axiom Space

Starlab Space

VAST

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Stephen McCall followed his passion for aerospace and defense by establishing Cislunar International in 2024. Prior to his current role, Stephen was Head of Government Relations at Firefly Aerospace, where he led global affairs at the federal, state, local, and international level. Before joining Firefly, he served 23 years of federal service. Most notably, he was a senior advisor in military space, missile defense, and defense innovation in the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). In this role, he provided critical authoritative research and analysis to Members of Congress on various foreign and domestic issues relating to space policy, missile defense capabilities, national security space launch, and innovation in the Department of Defense (DOD).

Prior to his legislative appointment, Stephen served nearly 20 years as a career civilian in the Defense Department as a level Ill space professional. He held various leadership roles to include division branch chief for the Science & Technology Branch at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. He culminated his executive branch tenure as a Congressional Fellow for the U.S. Senate. 

Stephen is a distinguished military veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Outside of his national security career, Stephen is a proud single Dad of two sons (Santiago and Julian) through international adoption. He is also an international keynote, Amazon best-selling author, an off-Broadway playwright, producer, and performer and was recently honored as "Top Lobbyist of the Year" for 2023.

Like the show? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podcast Index, Overcast, Castro, truefans, or your favorite podcast player.

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Special thanks to Jóse Arcos with OOOTWD for outstanding branding & graphics!

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the views or opinions of any affiliated organizations or entities.