Bryant Cruse has been a pioneer in the application of AI technology to difficult real-world problems. He graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland where he acquired his lifelong interest in the philosophy of Epistemology or “how we know what we know.” After serving for eight years as a Naval Aviator he returned to school for an MS in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins. While on the Mission Operations team for the Hubble Telescope he found a personal mission to change the way spacecraft were operated by seeking a way to capture human knowledge in computers. This work led him to a six-month residency in AI (MS equivalent) at the Lockheed AI Center in Palo Alto. He went on to build two successful AI companies, both of which were ultimately acquired by public corporations. New Sapience is his third deep-tech company. The patented technology that comprises its “Cognitive Core” represents more than 15 years of development and a lifetime of thinking from first principles.

As a passionate mechanical engineer, Salam Abualhayjaa specializes in spacesuit design and advanced life-support systems for extreme environments. With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration, she has contributed to the development of 8 cutting-edge spacesuits for analog missions and real-world applications on Earth and beyond.

She also founded MENA, a non-profit woman-led organization for education and training in STEM and dedicated to inspiring the next generation of space explorers through analog missions, astronaut training, and STEM education initiatives.

As a Jordanian analog astronaut, she is dedicated to expanding opportunities for youth in space-related fields, advocating for diversity, and pioneering advancements that will shape humanity’s future in space.

When she's not designing spacesuits or leading projects, she's a public speaker, mentor, and advocate for STEM education, encouraging the next wave of engineers and astronauts to dream big and achieve the impossible.

Paul is the former Founder and Chief Story Architect of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab’s StoryLab. StoryLab is NASA’s first “story accelerator”: a strategic communications shop that brings expertise to the Lab in using the tools and language of storytelling to support JPL's impact on humanity.

With more than 20 years in strategic communications, Paul has a knack for “communicating complexity” and the “right kind of crazy”. He has successfully executed large scale ecosystem campaigns ranging from billion-dollar science missions like Mars Sample Return to unveiling the habitability of Venus to finding the biosignatures of life on other worlds. These campaigns involved creating and leading a strategic communications plan including executive, crisis, and internal communications, managing multi-stakeholder interests, and building emotional investment that drives impact, enrollment, and funding.

In addition to creating compelling messages through StoryLab, Paul co-created a “Credible Messenger” workshop with Caltech to identify and grow authentic, credible messengers to activate narratives around the future of our planet, resources on other worlds, and the technology to make it all real.

Paul has consulted or spoke on story strategy and the power of a kindred quest through a shared story with NASA HQ and other NASA centers, the UN, Boston Consulting Group, Google X, The Moonshot Factory, Caltech, CSUN, ASU, CalArts, Art Center, SXSW, C2 Montreal, Lululemon, California Science Center, Exploratorium, and several other Institutions across the globe.

Step inside the high-stakes world of space security with Theresa Hitchens, a trailblazing journalist and analyst whose career spans over three decades at the intersection of national defense, global policy, and the final frontier. In this episode, Theresa shares stories from her front-row seat covering everything from U.S. military space strategy to the delicate art of international space governance.

Discover how her leadership at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research shaped global norms for responsible behavior in orbit and hear behind-the-scenes insights from her reporting at Breaking Defense, where she unpacks the rapidly evolving landscape of national security space. Whether you’re a space policy enthusiast, a defense insider, or just fascinated by the geopolitics above our heads, you’ll find Theresa’s perspective both eye-opening and essential.

Tune in for a conversation that connects the dots between diplomacy, technology, and the future of humanity in space-guided by one of the field’s most respected voices.

Sabrina Thompson is a pioneering figure in the world of aerospace engineering, an advocate for women in STEM, and the visionary CEO and Founder of GIRL IN SPACE CLUB. With a multifaceted career that encompasses roles at NASA as an Aerospace Engineer/Astrodynamicist, as well as an Atmospheric Physicist, she has established herself as a leading force in space exploration and innovation.

At NASA, Sabrina's expertise lies in designing orbits and trajectories, a critical aspect of space missions reminiscent of the legendary Katherine Johnson's contributions. Her work involves calculating precise paths for spacecraft, optimizing efficiency, and ensuring successful missions. Sabrina's exceptional skills in this field have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers.

In addition to her accomplishments at NASA, Sabrina has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for her remarkable contributions to the aerospace industry. She holds a U.S. Patent for her groundbreaking invention, a miniaturized astrometric alignment sensor, which enhances the guidance, navigation, and control systems for both distributed and non-distributed applications.

Despite her technical prowess, Sabrina also embraces her artistic side, proudly referring to herself as an "Artsy" engineer. This unique perspective has fueled her passion for innovation and inspired her to found GIRL IN SPACE CLUB in 2018 under the name LAUNCHPAD. The organization has since evolved into a platform that combines space exploration with art and fashion to engage and inspire youth, particularly young girls, in STEM fields.

Under Sabrina's leadership, GIRL IN SPACE CLUB has developed a signature creative STEM educational program called STEMulating Art®. By using space-themed art, a captivating sci-fi book series, and a distinctive fashion line, the organization addresses the specific needs and aspirations of women in space travel while motivating the next generation of female innovators.

Sabrina's commitment to pushing boundaries extends to the realm of flight suits and spacesuits. In 2022, she spearheaded a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, raising over $80K to bring to life the first women's space travel suit. This patent-pending flight suit incorporates an innovative feature that allows women to use the bathroom without having to remove the entire suit, ensuring convenience and comfort during Earth-based and space missions. The design represents a significant advancement in spacesuit technology and addresses a long-standing challenge faced by females in aviation and space.

Born in Riverside, California to Chinese immigrant parents, Garrett Wang (pronounced Wong) spent his formative years on the move, living in Indiana, Bermuda and Tennessee. He moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA where he majored in East Asian Studies and minored in theater. He was especially proud of his portrayal of Michio Tanaka in Wakako Yamauchi’s play "12-1-A," which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the wrongful internment of Japanese American civilians during World War II. In his first stage performance outside of UCLA, Garrett garnered critical acclaim as the lead in Chay Yew's controversial play, "Porcelain."

For five years, Garrett focused on theater and attempted to convince his Asian parents and relatives that acting was a viable profession as opposed to becoming a Doctor as he had originally planned since Eighth Grade. With his parents finally on his side, he signed with his first talent agent in 1993. Within a year he landed his first speaking role, guest starring on the first episode of the ABC sitcom "All American Girl" starring comedienne Margaret Cho. Three months later, Wang was cast in the role of Harry Kim on "Star Trek Voyager." In addition to being a series regular on Voyager, Garrett was named as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People as well as one of E! Channel's "20 Coolest Bachelors."

From 2005 until 2019, Garrett took an extended break from Hollywood. With the exception of the occasional cameo appearance in a few independent projects, Garrett focused on traveling, golfi ng, designing T-shirts, attending conventions, and watching NFL football. In 2020, he began recording episodes of his Star Trek podcast, “The Delta Flyers.” With his Voyager co-star, Robert Duncan McNeill, he continues to upload a new episode weekly. He is especially proud of his most recent acting credit doing voiceover work on the fi fth and fi nal season of “Star Trek; Lower Decks.”

Eric Ingram is a trailblazing entrepreneur and advocate for accessibility in space exploration. As the Founder of Scout Space, he pioneered innovations in orbital safety and cutting-edge technologies to enhance space domain awareness. After six years of leadership at Scout, including five as CEO and a year as Chief Strategy Officer, Eric successfully transitioned the company into the hands of a capable leadership team, achieving the rare milestone of creating a self-sustaining enterprise. He now serves as a Board Member and Advisor, continuing to champion Scout's mission from a strategic perspective.

Eric is also a leader in AstroAccess, working to make space accessible for all, especially disabled individuals. With experience at the FAA and Deep Space Industries, he brings a rich blend of engineering expertise and vision for the future of space. Beyond aerospace, he has served as President of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Association, demonstrating his commitment to leadership in both sports and advocacy. His life’s mission is to break barriers—both earthly and celestial.

Michael “Orbit” Nayak is a science-fiction author, and a Program Manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He has worked as a space shuttle engineer; flight director for multiple experimental spacecraft; a skydiving instructor; a planetary scientist at NASA Ames; research section chief for the DoD’s largest telescope; instructor flight test engineer and instructor pilot. He has flown an X-plane, worked as a Space Shuttle engineer, deployed to the South Pole as a U.S. Antarctic Program principal investigator, was a semi-finalist to be a NASA astronaut, and is a US Air Force Test Pilot School graduate with 1,000+ hours of flight time in 40+ aircraft. His debut sci-fi novel, “Symbiote”, is out now, and available from Penguin Random House here.

Follow Michael (Mikey) Nayak on X @mikeynayak / LinkedIn @michael-nayak / join his newsletter at MichaelNayak.com.

Join Grace Frazier, a trailblazing young engineer who leapt from HVAC systems to the cutting-edge world of space technology, as she explores the human stories behind the stars.