Q&A
Q&As with leaders from space industry, government, and national security.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos On Cutting Red Tape, Passing NASA Bill
“We don’t have the budgetary ability to do everything and now—unlike 10 years ago—there is a business case to be made.”
A Q&A with Rep. Grace Meng
“I haven’t even spoken to Acting Administrator Sean Duffy,” she said. “I don’t know when a new [permanent] administrator will potentially be confirmed. There are a lot of unknowns, so absolutely we are so nervous.”
Hypersonics and Heritage with Rep. Vince Fong
Fong, who joined Congress in June 2024 after a special election, chatted with Payload about how commercial space can support US space ambitions, the administration’s NASA budget request, and the long history of space and aeronautics achievement in his district.
Payload Talks NASA Budget With Rep. George Whitesides
“The United States is leading the world in space technology, and we can’t give that up.”
An Interview with Sir Peter Beck, Rocket Lab CEO
A transcript of our Pathfinder episode with Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck.
What Makes Space AI So Tricky?
“There’s just really no certification standard yet for this type of flight software.”
Q&A with Auriga Space CEO Winnie Lai
Auriga Space wants to take the rocket science out of launch. Their eventual goal is to provide rapid launch capabilities using tech more akin to high speed maglev trains than rocket engines.
Prompting NASA’s New AI Chief, David Salvagnini
“Everyone will, in some way, have their workday augmented using some type of an AI technology.”
An Exit Interview with DoD Space Policy Chief John Plumb
As the Pentagon’s space policy chief John Plumb prepares to leave office, his departing message is simple: don’t destroy space.
A Q+A with the Norwegian Space Agency Chief
Norway is preparing to launch two satellites this summer to boost comms in the Arctic amid increasing tension in the region between NATO allies and Russia, the head of the Norwegian Space Agency told Payload.
A Q+A With Theresa Condor, COO of Spire
Spire Global ($SPIR) may be in the space-based RF sensing business, but to COO Theresa Condor, it’s all about solving problems for real people down on Earth.
Understanding AI’s Impact on Space Data with Planet’s Head of Product
Payload spoke to Nate Gonzalez, Planet’s head of product, to understand what the last year of AI hype means for earth observation companies like his.
Rep. Eric Sorensen on Space Travel, Safety and Shuttle Ties
A space leader on Capitol Hill is looking at how to eliminate gaps between the agencies that oversee human spaceflight over concerns about maintaining the highest safety standards. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), the ranking member of the House space subcommittee, pointed out the multitude of groups that have a hand in regulating spaceflight, from the…
