Jacqueline Feldscher
Nicole Huimei Lee, MIT
Exercise is essential for astronauts in orbit, since microgravity causes rapid deterioration of bone density and muscle mass. But what if the astronauts could multitask?
Risha Das, MIT
Space is now widely viewed as the newest warfighting domain. Ritisha (Risha) Das is working to make sure it can be used for peace as well.
Clay Ito, OpenC3
“We just want people to get started so they can focus on the mission, and not all the tinkering,” he added.
Isobel Porteous, EarthTraq
What do a bird, a shipping container, and a polar bear have in common? They can all be tracked with tech from EarthTraq.
Naresh Kannan, OrbitAID
“My primary goal was to build the credibility of this domain in India,” he said. “Everyone was thinking, ‘This is a little bit too far-fetched.’”
Marc Galobardes Esteban, Amura Space
Marc Galobardes Esteban cofounded Amura Space (formerly known as CISGAM Inc.) in 2025, to rethink how the space industry approaches propulsion in orbit.
Colorado Springs, Huntsville Team Up on Golden Dome
“It’s a transformed relationship between Colorado Springs and Huntsville,” Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO) told Payload. “When I took office, I don’t think it was a bad relationship, but it was one where both communities were kind of looking over their shoulder at the other. That wasn’t good for America, and I don’t think it was good for Colorado Springs or Huntsville either.”
Varda Raises $251M Series D
Lux Capital and Natural Capital led the round, which valued the company at $1.6B.
Artemis Accords To Meet on Lunar Debris, Emerging Space Help
The Artemis Accords Principals’ Meeting in Turkey will be led by NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Maj. Gen. Roberto Melgar Sheen, director of the Peruvian Space Agency.
Starship Reaches Orbit on 14th Test Flight
After reaching orbit, Starship deployed 26 V3 Starlink sats over about 30 minutes using its ‘Pez dispenser’ system.
FUSE Grows Its Space Portfolio
When FUSE was founded in 2020, the goal was to bring the Bay Area VC experience to software firms in Seattle, WA. However, the VC firm has since found success among the stars and broadened its reach across the US, announcing its eighth space investment this week.
Starfish’s First Operational Otter Heading to Orbit Next Month
During the Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability, aka SSPICY, mission, Otter will approach and inspect multiple US defunct satellites, whose operators have agreed to receive a visit from the spacecraft.
Isaacman Promises ‘Artemis Acceleration’ Update Next Month
“There’s a lot of ingredients—so many ingredients—that need to come together for that landing, and we owe everybody an update,” he said. “There’s going to be an Artemis acceleration update…sometime in early October. Maybe it might even coincide with the [ISS] Crew 13 launch.”
