Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan

As geopolitical tensions have soared this week, the role of space as a warfighting domain becomes ever-more critical. A key topic at the Space Symposium, Boeing’s Space Intelligence & Weapon System Vice President and General Manager Kay Sears sits down with Morgan Brennan to discuss space exploration and rising demand for national security in the final frontier.

While space billionaires have a slew of visions for the future of humanity, few are literally reaching for the stars literally. Kam Ghaffarian, the co-founder of Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines and more, joins Morgan Brennan from the Space Symposium to discuss the trillion-dollar opportunity in the space economy, nuclear reactors and more.

Aerospace has grown 88% over the past two decades – more than any other emerging industry in metro Denver and Boulder in that period. With 191 aerospace companies in the region, Voyager Space stands out as a rapidly growing multinational space conglomerate. Founder and CEO Dylan Taylor joins Morgan Brennan to discuss how and why the aerospace industry is thriving in Denver and how one entrepreneur is channeling the economic boom to build the Berkshire Hathaway of space. Tune into “Cities of Success” tonight at 10PM ET tonight for the latest episode of “Cities of Success” – an hour-long special highlighting business and cultural powerhouses across the country.

Sierra Space, a private space tech company valued at $5.3 billion has been thirty years in the making. Now, it’s unveiling a line of buses—the main bodies of satellites—to sell to others. CEO Tom Vice joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the product launch, its Dream Chaser spaceplane’s maiden voyage, and plans to go public.

What if AI could make weather forecasts more accurate? Spire Global has been tracking the accuracy of AI-driven weather prediction models using its own satellite data. Now partnering with Nvidia, CEO Peter Platzer joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the collaboration, the massive market for weather forecasting, and the 12 year old company’s path to profitability.

Fortuna Investments, which rose to fame with early bets on lithium, is now setting its sights on another frontier market. Founder & partner Justus Parmar joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the opportunities in the space space, why now is the time to invest, and his bullish case for Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin.

Trimble, a leader in geospatial technology and player in the Internet of Things (IOT), is reaping the benefits of its initial bet on GPS 46 years ago. Trading at multi-year highs, the company is building on the momentum that stems from building hardware & software for construction, agriculture, transportation, and more. CEO Rob Painter joins Morgan Brennan to discuss Trimble’s portfolio and the role of space in software applications.

In another milestone for SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space venture blasted off this morning and traveled to space. The most powerful rocket ever reached orbital velocity and carried out a number of ambitious tests. Space Capital Managing Partner and early SpaceX investor Chad Anderson joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the mission and future moves for the company.

Interlune is emerging from stealth, closing an $18 million seed funding round, led by Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian’s firm 776. Founded by two former Blue Origin executives, the startup aims to harvest natural resources from space and sell to commercial and government customers. CEO Rob Meyerson joins Morgan Brennan to lay out the company’s strategy and building out the in-space industry.

As the number of spacecraft has skyrocketed, so has the risk of collision. Morpheus Space, a space mobility startup, is looking to change the model around maneuvering satellites. CEO Daniel Bock joins Morgan Brennan to break down the one-stop satellite services shop—and building a subscription model to do so.

Terran Orbital, a small satellite maker which went public in a SPAC deal in early 2022, received an unsolicited takeover offer from supplier and investor Lockheed Martin last Friday. The defense prime already owns 28% of the company and now wants to buy the company in a deal valued just under $600 million—significantly below the market valuation when the company first went public at $1.8 billion. Terran Orbital quickly adopted a poison pill – or shareholder rights plan- as the company hopes to solicit other offers and strategize accordingly. CEO Marc Bell joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the company’s future as consolidation continues in a shifting satellite market.

Lunar services company Intuitive Machines made history as the first company to successfully land a private spacecraft on the moon. After a wild ride involving a nailbiter of a slightly titled, but soft landing—the spacecraft Odysseus went to sleep as lunar night sets in and is bound to freeze key components. Co-founder & CEO Steve Altemus joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the technical challenges, the sponsorship opportunities which have arisen post-landing, and whether or not Odie can reawaken and “phone home.”

As commercial space makes its mark on the moon, spacecrafts’ power sources are coming under scrutiny. Solar powered spacecraft freeze upon sunset—but the problem may become obsolete in several years as more nuclear-powered alternatives come to market. Zeno Power co-founder & CEO Tyler Bernstein joins CNBC’s Morgan Brennan to discuss repurposing nuclear waste for fuel, the role of nuclear power in space and growing its client base from government agencies to the commercial sphere.

As launch costs have dropped and orbital activity rises, the government is taking on more responsibility to keep pace. The NOAA, the Commerce Department’s arm to oversee commercial remote sensing, has expanded dramatically since taking over non-military space tracking from the Department of Defense. NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce Director Richard DalBello joins Morgan Brennan to discuss regulatory action, monitoring the private sector and the office’s growing impact as legislation seeks to reimagine the agency’s role.

This Valentine’s Day, Intuitive Machines will become the latest to attempt to launch and land the first commercial lander on the moon. The company is contracted for the mission by NASA as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, following private held startup Astrobotic’s failed attempt under the same program last month. The SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch the Nova-C lunar lander into space the same day as the company’s one-year anniversary of its public debut. CEO Steve Altemus joins Morgan Brenna ahead of the mission to discuss what’s at stake with the IM-1 mission and outlook for the lunar economy.

For the first time ever, Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out WiFi services to passengers. Partnering with SpaceX, the airline will equip its first Airbus A-321 with free Starlink Internet service for passengers to use. In a rare interview, Starlink VP of Business Operations Chad Gibbs joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the rollout of Hawaiian Airline’s offering, a milestone for Elon Musk’s space startup and the broader market opportunity for the fast-growing satellite service.

For the first time ever, Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out WiFi services to passengers. Partnering with SpaceX, the airline will equip its first Airbus A-321 with free Starlink Internet service for passengers to use. On this episode, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram joins Morgan Brennan to discusses the rollout, the decision to partner with SpaceX in April 2022, and how Hawaiian’s pending acquisition of Alaska Airlines will affect the company’s broadband ambitions.

Patriotism is cool again in the tech world, but venture capitalists are on the hunt for the next promising space & defense name to develop tech for the U.S. government. Andreessen Horowitz’s new thesis is American Dynamism, or investing in companies advancing U.S. interests including national security and space. General Partner David Ulevitch joins Morgan Brennan to discuss where he's seeing opportunity in the space economy...and where he's not.

Space has transformed from a peacetime domain to a military one, spurring space startups to target warfighting demand. The niche of defense tech and national security space startups is gaining investor interest, with True Anomaly a recent benefactor. CEO Even Rogers joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the $100M Series B funding round it closed in December and his outlook for the first of its satellite launches later this year.

NASA, in addition to its space exploration, has been instrumental in the innovation and development of air travel. Announcing a new partnership with Archer Aviation, the space agency & aircraft-maker will develop high-performance battery cells for electric aircraft -and potentially spacecraft. Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the partnership.

John Deere is partnering with SpaceX to use Starlink, its space-based internet service to elevate its digital solutions. The heavy-equipment heavyweight has invested billions of dollars to develop digital products & services for farmers. Starlink will connect agriculture machines to internet in remote, low-connectivity areas. CTO Jahmy Hindman joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the terms of the deal, working with SpaceX and the industry-first deal.

What if you could get access to space to run applications or collect data without building your own hardware or launching a spacecraft to orbit? Loft Orbital is setting out to provide space infrastructure as a service, running some of its satellites currently in orbit and aiming to conduct “virtual missions.” Loft Orbital Co-Founder & COO Alex Greenberg joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the company’s business model, computing services from space, and its plug-and-play approach to space.

In its maiden flight, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur lifted off from Cape Canaveral in its first-ever flight and launched the U.S.’s first lunar landing attempt since the Apollo era. For ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, this was a pivotal mission—and the beginning of a new era for the company in a rapidly shifting launch environment. ULA CEO Tory Bruno joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the maiden mission, the company’s plan for Vulcan, and reports of ULA being on the sale block.

The upcoming liftoff of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket is historic for a number of reasons: the first flight of the megarocket will also carry a payload aiming for the first-ever private moon landing. The Peregrine lunar lander was manufactured by Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based robotics company founded in 2007 by Carnegie Mellon scientists. Aiming to be the “Moon company and more,” Astrobotic’s first mission will carry 20 payloads, including 5 from NASA’S Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. On this episode, Morgan Brennan sits down with Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton ahead of the historic launch.

As commercial space has taken off in the 21st century, so too has popular interest in. As demand for talent rises, advocacy organizations like the Aerospace Industries Association are focused on converting that interest into a bigger talent pipeline. CEO Eric Fanning joins Morgan Brennan from the Reagan National Defense Forum to discuss space policy, national security concerns, and education.

Stratolaunch’s giant airplane conducted its first-ever captive-carry flight with a fueled hypersonic test vehicle. The 12th flight for the company’s Roc launch platform, the mission brings the startup closer to the first powered flight of the Talon-A. CEO Zach Krevor joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the recent milestone, hypersonic flight’s total addressable market and the acquisition of the now-defunct Virgin Orbit’s Boeing 747 aircraft.

Venture capital is creeping back into the space sector, with Ursa Major raising $138 million in Series D and D-1 rounds. Capital from the likes of RTX Ventures, BlackRock, Explorer 1 Fund & more will help the rocket propulsion startup to produce engines for rocket launches, hypersonic vehicles – and enable expansion into a new defense-focused market. Founder & CEO Joe Laurienti joins Morgan Brennan to discuss defense tech, the case for 3-D printed rocket engines, and more from the Reagan National Defense Forum.

With geopolitical tensions strained, Morgan Brennan sits down with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall from the Reagan National Defense Forum to discuss AI on the battlefield, the race to secure space & more.

Mike Massimino, serving as a NASA astronaut until 2014, has a slew of accomplishments: the first human to tweet from space, the last astronaut to work inside the Hubble Telescope and the speculated inspiration for George Clooney’s role in “Gravity.” He’s now out with a book, titled Moonshot, with the greatest lessons learned from his experiences. Massimino joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the book and the what experiences in space can bring to daily living on earth.

While space is awe-inspiring and technologically groundbreaking, is it investable? Venture capitalist Tess Hatch, who has invested in space startups like Rocket Lab and Spire Global, is pausing her commercial space investments and setting sights on a related industry: defense tech. She joins Morgan Brennan to make the case for the strategic pivot and venture outlook.

Commercial space regulation law is on the House of Representatives’ docket — but what needs to be regulated? The White House and House Science, Space and Technology Committee have both unveiled their proposals for simplifying government oversight of the commercial space sector; with two different takes on how to approach the space. Morgan Brennan sits down with Caryn Schenewerk, former SpaceX & Relativity Space counsel, to discuss the playbook for regulation as it stands.

After a complex mission failure involving its Electron rocket in mid-September, Rocket Lab now expects to resume launches as soon as the end of November. An launch by year-end is pivotal for the company as it looks ahead to 22 Electron missions on the manifest in 2024. Morgan Brennan sits down with co-founder & CEO Peter Beck to discuss the upcoming mission cadence, the latest on Neutron, space systems & launching hypersonic drones for the Pentagon.

After striking a partnership with satellite communications company Iridium, Qualcomm has backed out of the deal. Scrapping its SnapDragon satellite plans, Qualcomm noted in a statement that smartphone makers have “indicated a preference towards standards-based solutions” for satellite-to-phone connectivity. Iridium CEO Matt Desch joins Morgan Brennan to share his insights, the next steps for Iridium & the case for the satellite-connected smartphone market.

Iridium Communications is celebrating 25 years since its first entrance into commercial service. Since emerging from a Motorola research lab in the 1980s, going through bankruptcy in 1999 & expanding service into satellite, what’s next for the company? CEO Matt Desch, chief executive at the company for nearly 18 years, joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the evolution of the satellite communications industry, competition with SpaceX’s Starlink & its partnership with Qualcomm.

Virgin Galactic set off its six human spaceflight this year and tenth to date—and the first of many planned by one prominent space commentator. Flying to suborbital space, the publicly-traded commercial space company launched its Galactic 05 mission carrying three passengers along with Virgin Galactic crew aboard its VSS Unity space plane. Kellie Gerardi, the mission’s payload specialist, is what some would call a space influencer: a mission operations lead at Palantir Technologies, a former board member at The Exploration Club, and published author with a social media following of over 700,000. Kellie joins Morgan Brennan just hours after the launch to discuss the mission, the microgravity research conducted, and her fulfillment.

Just two years old, The Exploration Company has raised the biggest Series A round by a space tech company in Europe, been selected as an AWS Space Accelerator, and recently inked a deal with Axiom Space to deliver cargo services for the private station builder. Co-founder & CEO Helene Huby joins Morgan Brennan to discuss the company’s rapid growth, lunar missions and incorporating sustainability into commercial space.

A new rocket is about to enter the space race. In an exclusive interview from CNBC’s Technology Executive Council summit, CEO Tory Bruno joins Morgan to announce Vulcan’s upcoming flight, its recent launch for Project Kuiper and the Israel-Hamas war’s implications for national security space.

With geopolitical tensions rising as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates, what is the state of space & international relations? Morgan sits down with H.E. Sarah Al-Amiri Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and the Minister for Public Education and Advanced Technology in the United Arab Emirates, to discuss the agency’s rapid growth since its inception in 2014, navigating geopolitical tensions, and deep space ambitions.

While Q3 closed out with some green shoots in the IPO market, the days of SPACs may be over. Morgan discusses valuations, commercial space trends & more with Summit Ridge Group founder Armand Musey.

Planet Labs, boasting the largest constellation of earth imaging satellites in orbit, generates thousands of images for governments and companies documenting changes over time. Can that data, powered by AI, be used to predict future events? Co-founder & CEO Will Marshall joins Morgan Brennan to discuss predictive analytics, satellites under development & the outlook for the earth imaging market.

The I.S.S. is expected to be retired in 2030, closing a multidecade chapter for humans in space funded by the government. With the next chapter of human space exploration spotlighting the private sector, a slew of companies are developing what they hope will be the I.S.S’s commercial successor. Voyager Space, a holding company concentrated on space infrastructure, is the startup behind Starlab, one of 3 projected pre-selected by NASA to potentially rise to the challenge. Morgan Brennan sits down with founder & CEO Dylan Taylor about space stations, his own spaceflight with Blue Origin and the commercial space sector.

Walter Isaacson’s new biography on Elon Musk sparked controversy with the revelation that the SpaceX founder withheld Starlink internet services to Ukraine in a military operation on Russia last year. While the company was not under military contract at the time—and has since received funding from the Pentagon— the disclosure fueled the debate that U.S. government and allies are too reliant on SpaceX. U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall joins Morgan Brennan from the floor of the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space, Cyber conference to discuss national security contracts, China, AI and more.

The fastest growing defense prime is also home to the largest space business in the world. Northrop Grumman's space systems surged 17% in both Q1 and Q1 -- the combination of 20 companies brought together over time. While 85% of the company's space business is concentrated in national security, the company also does work for civil and commercial space. In a rare interview, Morgan Brennan speaks with CEO Kathy Warden from inside of Northrop Grumman’s mission operations center.

AeroVironemnt blew Wall Street away with quarterly results this week as demand for drones and autonomous systems skyrockets. But above and beyond the battlefield, the company is well-positioned in its space portfolio, including designing and developing NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter as the first aircraft to make a controlled flight on the red planet in 2021. CEO Wahid Nawabi joins Morgan to discuss the quarter, autonomous space exploration, pseudo satellites, and more.

As Medicare looks to drive down medical costs, pharma manufacturing is going beyond global. For years, drug companies have used the ISS to research and develop new discoveries. But until Varda successfully completed a 27-hour experiment in orbit growing a drug used to help treat HIV. Waiting on a reentry license for its first spacecraft, Morgan sits down with co-founders Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov to discuss in-space manufacturing, hypersonic missile testing, and (unofficially) replicating LK-99—speculated to be a potential superconductor.

While some spacecraft collect information visible to the naked eye, some are searching through radio waves to acquire and analyze valuable data for government agencies. Morgan catches up with Hawkeye 360 CEO John Serafini about his company’s efforts in the radio frequency space. They discuss the company’s successful $58M capital raise, government contract work and the narrowing competitive space.

Jared Isaacman made space history in 2021 with the first all-civilian mission to orbital space. Now, he’s looking to do it 3 more times through the Polaris Program. Isaacman joins Morgan from CNBC Out East to discuss preparations for the maiden mission, his company Shift4’s partnership with SpaceX, and much more.

As constant connectivity through satellite constellations becomes more acute, a new wave of consolidation is afoot. Dish Network and Echostar are merging in a move to combine the companies to gain an edge in the 5G competition. But with demand driven higher, startups like CesiumAstro stand to benefit. CEO Shey Sabripour joins Morgan to discuss 6G internet, spotty WiFi and putting the company’s technology to the test.

The House Oversight Committee on National Security was the latest to explore the mystifying claims of unidentified objects found in the air, formerly known as UFOs. Hearing testimony from three former U.S. military officials who advocate for more concrete policy in addressing these unexplained events. One witness, Ryan Graves, former Navy pilot & executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, joins Morgan to discuss his experience on the Hill, the potential safety implications of UAPs and declassifying a topic that has spurred decades of conspiracy theories.

Honeywell reported mixed second quarter results after seeing sales decline year over year for its safety and productivity solutions division. In this exclusive interview, Morgan Brennan spoke with CEO Vimal Kapur in his first broadcast interview since becoming CEO.

As Amazon amps up its Project Kuiper satellite development, key partner United Launch Alliance readies to launch the debut flight of heavy-lift rocket Vulcan Centaur. CEO Tory Bruno discusses the plan to launch the rocket later this year, a recent mishap involving the explosion of a Blue Origin engine, and the space race between the U.S. & China.

Accenture, a Fortune 500 IT service and consulting company's new thesis is that every business will be a space business. Morgan speaks with Paul Thomas Space Innovation & Technology and Aerospace & Defense Senior Managing Director John Schmidt to discuss the monitoring methane emissions for utilities, quantum computing from the cosmos, and more.

Since launching their first-ever successful orbital launch in October 2022, rocket maker and in-space services company Firefly Aerospace has kept busy. Firefly has doubled its manufacturing facilities, inked deals with NASA, the US Space Force, and Lockheed Martin—and now is on the cusp of raising more cash. CEO Bill Weber returns to the podcast with Morgan to discuss the startup’s diversification strategy, recent acquisitions and plans to go public.

Specializing in Earth-observation satellite, Satellogic possesses the world’s largest constellation of sub-meter resolution satellites. With roughly forty satellites in orbit, the company’s goal is eventually to remap the surface of the planet everyday and create a live catalog of data. Seeing use cases span across insurance, infrastructure, energy, agriculture & more, the company’s revenue has grown 42% since last year—but the company’s stock has plunged 80% since going public. Satellogic CEO Emiliano Kargieman joins Morgan to discuss the constellation, tech capabilities, and Satellogic’s business case.

After a series of development spaceflights, all eyes are on Virgin Galactic's first flight of paying customers. The company will send three Italian crew members on a suborbital ride to the edge of space. In an exclusive interview, CEO Michael Colglazier discusses the milestone with Morgan from New Mexico.

The story of SpaceX hinges on a number of key early figures, including famed propulsion engineer Tom Mueller. Retiring from SpaceX in 2020 to start his own company focused on developing a space tug, Mueller joins Morgan to discuss his new venture, rocket science, his time at SpaceX and the economic potential of deep space.

Fresh off her fourth flight to orbit and having spent 675 days in space, record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson joins Morgan to discuss her latest mission and re-entry to the International Space Station. Previously serving as the first woman to command the ISS, she returned as the Mission Commander for Axiom Space second-ever human spaceflight. Whitson dives into her return to space, the commercialization of earth orbit, and the 10 years it took to become an astronaut.

With Amazon reportedly pursuing the wireless service business, big tech is turning to broadening broadband services. As giants like Amazon and Apple invest in big satellite constellations, smaller players such as AST SpaceMobile stand to benefit. The AT&T-backed satellite company recently conducted the first-ever phone call from space to everyday mobile devices using its prototype satellite. Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan joins Morgan to discuss the recent milestone and what it means for the broader satellite industry.

Call it a Momentus occasion. Space services startup Momentus has logged a number of milestones since going public—but in that time, the stock has fallen below $1 and faces delisting risk. Morgan sits down with Momentus CEO John Rood to discuss the possibility of a cash crunch, tech and plans to reboost the Hubble telescope.

With commercial companies advancing, the public sector is increasingly taking advantage of private space. Morgan is joined by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on “Closing Bell: Overtime” to discuss the space agency's multibillion dollar contract with Blue Origin to develop a crewed lunar lander, additional public-private partnerships and the state of commercial space.

As commercial space companies accelerate innovation into the final frontier, government agencies are looking to take greater advantage of the private sector. The National Reconnaissance Office, the division operating the U.S. government’s network of spy satellites, is the latest eager to expand its partnership. NRO Director Chris Scolese made headlines at the 2023 Space Symposium when he announced that the agency plans to quadruple the number of NRO satellites on orbit in the next decade—and now with just one week before the agency’s Tech Forum, commercial space stands to benefit. Morgan sits down with Dr. Scolese in a rare one-on-one interview to discuss public-private partnerships, innovation and more.

Agriculture equipment-maker Deere is betting big on space. The company is seeking to expand into satellite services, with CTO Jahmy Hindman leading the charge. Morgan sits down with Hindman to discuss why the company finding ways to offer more value and services to a global customer base through space.

While publicly traded space startups have seen prices plummet back to earth since spinning off as SPAC companies, some investors are finding opportunities in the sector. Morgan discusses the investing landscape with ProcureAM CEO Andrew Chanin, whose firm issues the first pure-play space ETF.

Earnings season for New Space is kicking into high gear, some analysts are seeing a tale of two companies. Morgan chats with Ron Epstein, Bank of America analyst, to break down results from Virgin Galactic and Rocket Lab – and why he sees a $1 trillion dollar opportunity in space.

The International Space Station’s calendar is loaded with human spaceflights this year— but with Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission delayed, a traffic jam may be underway. Morgan speaks with Axiom board member and former Blue Origin president, Delalune Space CEO Rob Meyerson to discuss Ax-2, the future of manufacturing and the lunar economy.

While the most powerful rocket ever built didn’t reach orbit last week, SpaceX’s back to launching its other super heavy-lift rocket. A Falcon Heavy will carry the first of Viasat’s newest satellites for its next constellation as early as Thursday night. Morgan discusses the mission with Viasat co-founder & chairman Mark Dankberg—alongside the business of connectivity, cybersecurity following its Russian hack last year and its pending merger with Inmarsat.

While private space investment plummeted back to earth in the recent capital drought, VCs may be looking for a rebound. According to Seraphim Space Index, total investment rebounded 75% to $1.4 billion. Morgan sits down with Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett at the Space Symposium to discuss the private market landscape and his outlook.

SpaceX's first test flight of Starship is pointing to a trend manifesting across the industry: bigger rockets. While Starship is a unique case, other companies are developing their own larger vehicles. Relativity Space, a CNBC Disruptor valued at $4.2 billion, is a private player known for 3D printing rockets having successfully flown its Terran 1 rocket for the first – and final – time in March. But now,  the company is moving towards a larger medium to heavy lift rocket meant to complete with larger players in the space. Morgan discusses the pivot with CEO Tim Ellis from the Space Symposium.

While the space economy has blasted off, diversity in the workforce has not kept pace. One industry initiative looking to bring more under represented groups into the fold – the Space Workforce 2030 pledge – is unveiling its first annual report. Morgan sits down with Aerospace Corporation CEO Steve Isakowitz to discuss the business case for a more diverse workforce and industry trends from the Space Symposium.

Space is critical infrastructure, integral to many aspects of daily life. That’s why military experts worry it could be subject to the first strikes in a major conflict. Morgan sits down with the new head of the U.S. Space Force, CSO General Chance Saltzman, from the Space Symposium in his first interview since ascending to the service's highest-ranking military role. They discuss the Space Force’s efforts to secure space, partner with private companies, and develop new technologies as the military’s youngest - and fastest growing - branch works to counter China in this new era of space competition.

Lockheed Martin’s $11 billion Space division is exploring new frontiers as former NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot looks to spur innovation - and rapidly.  Morgan speaks with Lightfoot from the Space Symposium as Lockheed Martin stands up its new Ignite unit, bets big on the moon, and continues to compete for multibillion dollar government contracts. Plus, they discuss the company's latest earnings results, opportunity in the startup space and reports of the possible sale of Lockheed Martin & Boeing's joint venture, United Launch Alliance.

SpaceX’s Starship is expected to launch its long-awaited orbital flight any day now as it awaits its launch license. Morgan sits down with Chad Anderson, an early investor in SpaceX and CEO of VC fund Space Capital to discuss the economic impact of what will be the world’s most powerful rocket ever flown.

As NASA’s Artemis program preps its next mission, Morgan takes a deep dive into its multibillion-dollar program to send robots and other payloads to the moon. She sits down with Steve Altemus - the CEO of Intuitive Machines, a contractor for NASA’s CLPS initiative to provide lunar services the space agency.

"Manifest Space” hosted by CNBC’s Morgan Brennan focuses on the billionaires and brains behind the ever-expanding opportunities beyond our atmosphere. Featuring conversations with the mega moguls, industry leaders, and start-ups in today’s satellite, space, and defense industries. Brennan sits down with the billionaires looking to invest in the next frontier and guides listeners on how to get in. In “Manifest Space,” sit back, relax, and prepare for liftoff.

As Virgin Orbit files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Morgan dives into the complexities of the space race with former Boeing Defense, Space & Security CEO Leanne Caret. Now an advisor for the company and board member at Raytheon & John Deere, they discuss labor challenges, NASA's Artemis lunar program, Boeing Starliner, autonomous farming, and more.

The stage is set for European satellite communications company OneWeb to complete the first ever completed global LEO constellation this weekend. Morgan discusses the historic milestone with CEO Neil Masterson ahead of the company’s launch from India, along with the company’s separation from its Russian rocket partnership last year, its planned $3.4 billion merger with French satellite operator Eutelsat, and the outlook for the company.

Virgin Orbit has halted operations and furloughed most of its approximately 700-person staff as the launch service provider looks for a funding lifeline. The cash crunch comes amid consolidation in a crowded launch market. Morgan discusses the VC outlook with Space Fund co-founder & managing partner Meagan Crawford: an investor in SpaceX, Axiom Space, and more.

Morgan speaks with Slingshot Aerospace co-founder & CEO Melanie Strickland and the company’s work in tracking satellites and risk assessment. They discuss generative artificial intelligence, space traffic and diversity efforts in the sector.

Morgan Brennan speaks with hedge fund manager and natural gas trader Bill Perkins about his latest venture into the space economy, SkyFi. The satellite data app allows users to access and customize satellite imagery at a more affordable price point than ever before. Morgan and Bill break down the investor case for satellite imagery and the future of SkyFi.

As unidentified objects flying over the United States continue to capture the nation’s attention, Morgan dives into the technology behind the stratospheric data-gathering devices with World View CEO Ryan Hartman. Known for their high-altitude balloons, Hartman and Morgan discuss the company’s capabilities, their potential use in the defense sector and the company’s plans to go public later this year.

As the Chinese balloon spectacle wages on, Morgan Brennan speaks with York Space Systems and SpiderOak chairman Charles Beames. As a former Pentagon senior executive, they dive into the surveillance implications of the balloon, the defense sector’s growing investment in space, where satellites fit into the broader picture…and the legacy of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

The company behind one of the world’s largest airplanes is entering the hypersonic space. Morgan speaks with Stratolaunch CEO Zachary Krevor and Joe Laurient, CEO of company’s engine-supplier Ursa Major about their partnership, hypersonic testing and more at the Reagan Defense Forum.

Rocket Lab has made it to U.S. soil, successfully launching three Hawkeye 360 satellites from NASA’s Wallops Island. A first-of-its-kind mission for the startup, Morgan speaks with Rocket Lab CEO about the launch business, the latest in the space stock downturn and, of course, Venus.

As satellite operators send more spacecraft to orbit to connect their broadband services globally, Morgan breaks down the business case for internet constellations with SES CEO Steve Collar. Following the deployment of the first payloads for its O3b mPOWER constellation, they discuss surging satellite demand, the company’s partnership with SpaceX and a potential merger between SES and Eutelsat.

2022 was a massive year for space, from a series of NASA milestones to the rise of mega-constellations. So why did publicly-traded space stocks crash this year, even as launch demand rises? Morgan sat down with United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno to discuss the launch market, the company’s heavy-lift Vulcan rocket, and the outlook for the next year.

In a big week for defense deal-making, private-equity firm Advent International is acquiring satellite operator Maxar Technologies in a deal valued at $6.4 billion at a nearly 129% premium. Morgan sits down with Advent International Chairman & Managing Partner David Musaffer to discuss the acquisition, the satellite market and the private markets’ role in M&A.

NASA's Artemis I came to a close this weekend, wrapping up a nearly 26-day unmanned spaceflight around the moon. The mission marks the first flight of SLS, the most powerful operational rocket, and kicks off a series of missions which will eventually send Americans back to the lunar surface. Morgan discusses the historic mission, outlook for future launches and the lunar economy with former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

NASA is set to launch the first of the highly-anticipated Artemis missions, sending its mega SLS rocket and Orion capsule around the moon. Morgan Brennan speaks with AE Industrials's Kirk Konert, the partner behind some of the largest investments in the space sector, about the upcoming launch...and why he sees a $2 trillion dollar opportunity in the space.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led the satellite operator to terminate its launch contracts, OneWeb has successfully deployed 36 satellites through its new partnership with the Indian Space Agency. With over 70% of its fleet now in orbit, Morgan sits down with CEO Neil Masterson— discussing how OneWeb is faring amid geopolitical tensions, a growing customer interest in satellite coverage, potential consolidation with Eutelsat, plans to reach global coverage next year, and more.

The list of American commercial space companies with successful launches just got a little longer. Coming on the heels of its first-ever launch to orbit and satellite deployment, Morgan Brennan speaks with Firefly Aerospace CEO Bill Weber about the rocket startup’s ambitious outlook.

SpaceX and Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman are heading back to space-- training for the first of three human space flights under the Polaris program. Polaris establishes a private astronaut corps for SpaceX and will culminate in the inaugural flight of mega Starship rocket with people onboard. Polaris Dawn is set to launch as early as December, with the first ever commercial spacewalk and test of Starlink communications. The tech billionaire joins Morgan in the midst of fighter jet training to talk SpaceX and the state of commercial space.

For spaceflight, propulsion engines are essential to launching a growing number of space launches and demand for hypersonic missiles. Morgan discusses rocket demand and manufacturing with Ursa Major Technologies CEO Joe Laurienti.

3D printing technology is gaining traction as supply chain crunches adds pressure to industrial manufacturing. Morgan discusses the advantages of additive manufacturing for the aerospace sector with founder & CEO Benny Buller.

Redwire is a combination of over a dozen companies merged together, developing technology across the space sector. Morgan discuss the growing opportunity in infrastructure with CEO Peter Cannito.

As more objects make their way to orbit, thousands of pieces of debris are putting spacecraft and people at risk. Morgan speaks with Silicon Valley startup LeoLabs CEO Dan Ceperley to discuss the company’s efforts to track space junk as Earth’s orbit debris problem worsens.

With the war in Ukraine crossing one-hundred days, commercial satellite imagery is getting an increasing amount of attention as companies like Maxar and Planet Labs capture and release pictures of Russia’s invasion in near-real time. Morgan and Hawkeye 360 CEO John Serafini discuss the innovations being made in the satellite sector, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and more.

Ahead of Boeing launching its highly-anticipated Starliner flight, Morgan discusses bipartisan space policy, the rise of public-private partnerships and innovations in commercial space with former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

In recognition of National Astronaut Day, Morgan speaks with Colonel Chris Hadfield about the New Space Age. They discuss the astronaut’s time as commander of the International Space Station, his work across the commercial sector and how exactly one recovers from space blindness.

As SpaceX launches professional government astronauts and private citizens alike to-and-from space this week, Morgan speaks with Lori Garver, CEO of the Earthrise Alliance and former NASA Deputy Administrator about the rise of the public-private partnership in the sector and the future of the agency.