Prompt Cast
Ursa Major: Revolutionizing Rocket Engine Supply with 3D Printing
TLDR Ursa Major, founded by Joe Laurienti, is leveraging 3D printing to address rocket engine supply challenges for government and private space companies. The company focuses on cutting costs and streamlining processes in building rocket engines through metal development and manufacturing using 3D printing technology.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Joe Laurienti, founder of Ursa Major, is using 3D printing to address rocket engine supply problems for both government and private space companies.
04:27
The guest studied aerospace engineering at USC and was part of a student group called the Rocket Propulsion Lab, which aimed to send a rocket to space and eventually achieved that goal.
08:43
The guest transitioned from working at SpaceX to Blue Origin due to Blue Origin's focus on human space flight and innovative engine technology.
12:38
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 led to a shift in the U.S. space industry, prompting increased funding towards domestic rocket engine programs and human space flight capabilities.
17:01
The founder took a leap of faith, left his job at SpaceX, and started a new company focused on 3D printing of metals for aerospace applications.
20:56
The company focuses on using 3D printing for metal development and manufacturing to cut costs and streamline processes in building rocket engines.
24:58
Ursa Major took outsized risks as a startup, quickly building and testing their first rocket engine to show technical progress before raising venture capital.
29:20
Ursa Major is heavily dependent on investors to fund their cash-intensive research and development process, while also exploring opportunities in the hypersonic weapons technology sector.
33:09
Ursa Major is developing the ability to test hypersonic technologies, such as high temperature materials and electronic communications, in the field of hypersonics.
37:14
Ursa Major's founder envisions a future of space exploration beyond Mars, including trips to the asteroid belt for resource extraction.
Categories:
Business
