AstroForge

Layoffs are tough, but you're tougher. If you were impacted by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory reductions (or know someone who was), please visit our careers page or reach out to our technical recruiter Jordan Diggs. We have multiple open positions and want to hear from you! Come join an amazing team doing extraordinary things. ?? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gmjzX5Bh

While we may not have humans aboard our spacecraft, we have experts on the ground guiding every step of the journey. Meet Demyan Lantukh, our Senior Mission Operations Engineer who analyzes our mission and helps ensure our spacecraft flies exactly where it needs to. Even with years of aerospace experience, he’s proof that the learning never stops in this field - and that’s what makes it exciting. YouTube channel ??: https://lnkd.in/gYiJg6fr

I've been getting a lot of questions lately about Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and why they matter to us. So, I decided to write it down. Sure, they might not seem like the most exciting commodities at first glance—but you interact with them daily. From electronics and clean energy applications to medical devices, PGMs quietly power modern life. At AstroForge, we’re tackling the challenge of sustainably sourcing these critical materials to ensure future generations won’t have to face the resource constraints we do today. This is the problem we’re dedicated to solving—and we're excited to share our journey. https://lnkd.in/gE8Yw_cU

Recently, our CEO Matthew Gialich and Chief of Staff Chapman Snowden participated in the Seven Seven Six 7??7??6?? Community Event, a dynamic gathering dedicated to exchanging bold and impactful ideas. At AstroForge, we’re driven by the chance to learn and innovate alongside others working to shape the future. Thank you to the Seven Seven Six team for the opportunity to share our vision and accomplishments!

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the effort in obtaining our spectrum license authorized by the FCC. First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Nathan Simington and their offices for their advocacy and commitment to pushing this forward. Additionally, we are grateful for the backing from the Space Bureau office and Chief Julie Kearney. Finally, thank you to the team at the Office of Engineering and Technology as well as Peter Dohm for guiding us to the finish line. Your belief in AstroForge’s mission drives our innovation forward and we are excited and humbled to be at the forefront of this venture.

What’s at the heart of AstroForge? A relentless pursuit of discovery and opportunity. Transmissions: Episode 3 features Nataly Brandt, our senior thermal engineer. She shares her background and insights on Mission 2, as well as what it’s like working with a knowledgeable team driven by discovery. ?? YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gRHmcwe3

WE MADE HISTORY! ?? We’re excited to share that AstroForge is officially the first company to secure an FCC spectrum license for a commercial mission into deep space! This marks a major milestone for the future of deep space exploration and asteroid resource extraction. A huge thank you to everyone at the FCC who played a role in making this possible, including the Office of Engineering and Technology, the Space Bureau, Chairwoman Rosenworcel and her team, Commissioner Simington, and Peter Dohm, who helped lead this effort. ?? Read our press release for more on this pivotal step toward accomplishing our mission’s goals: https://lnkd.in/g_vTBX3k #AstroForge #DeepSpace #FCC #SpaceExploration #SustainableFuture

Huge news! We're beyond excited to welcome space industry legend Hans Koenigsmann as an advisor to our team!??? Hans began his career at the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen, where he initially led avionics before managing the BremSat satellite mission. In 2002, he became SpaceX’s fourth technical employee, playing a pivotal role in shaping space exploration over the next two decades. As VP of Build and Flight Reliability, he oversaw countless successful launches, ensuring mission safety and reliability. His contributions earned him the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2014, NASA’s highest honor for non-government individuals. Hans’ unparalleled expertise will be invaluable as we continue pushing the boundaries of space resource acquisition. The future of deep space exploration is built on the foundation laid by those who came before us, and we are honored to have their guidance. Welcome to the team, Hans! ??

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means... "Transmissions: Episode 2" is live! ?? This week, we feature our Head of Structures, Benjamin Fields. He shares what it's like working with a stellar team at AstroForge, what he's looking forward to, and what motivates him. He seriously is our ultimate hype man. ?? Check out our YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gT8iKvsd #SpaceAF #DeepSpace #DeepTech #Transmissions

“AstroForge is a small team embarking on humanity-changing efforts. It will have so many positive impacts that are hard to even quantify. The byproducts of this are truly revolutionary… they would completely change every aspect of daily life for everyone.” Our newest advisor, Justin Chandler, shared his insights on our initiatives to extract Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) from space. He emphasized that these vital resources could provide cost-effective solutions to various issues, including energy scarcity. Justin, a former Air Force Colonel, brings extensive experience from the defense sector. His fascination with space began early - he recalls excitedly watching shuttle launches in his classroom as a child. Upon joining the Air Force Academy that integrated aviation and space under the Department of Defense’s mission, Justin ultimately pursued a career as a pilot, flying C-130s and KC-10s across four combat deployments. Later in a senior role with the USAF, he seized a unique opportunity to undergo Undergraduate Space Training, gaining insights into the space domain from a military perspective. Subsequently, he embarked on a 13-month fellowship with SpaceX, contributing to the first human launches with the Commercial Crew Program. From that point forward, he chose to focus on a career in space within the military. “Prior to the launch of the US Space Force in 2019, we had not stood up a new military service since the Air Force in 1947. There’s no playbook for how that looks or happens - there’s a lot to figure out both internally in the Pentagon and also with Congress, the President, and all stakeholders involved. It was fascinating getting to work for an incredible leader, General Saltzman, and see how space has changed to become a more contested, competitive, and war-fighting environment. Before, the US had the predominance to use space however we needed and could rely on capabilities provided by it - GPS, for example. Without that, we’re in a very vulnerable position. "One of the biggest strengths of our country is our innovative, free-market economy that allows smaller companies the freedom, competition, and ability to innovate and do something that nobody’s done before. Of course, any revolutionary step forward in technology requires some early government funding. The commercial use case is often lagging because there’s a lower amount of risk tolerance. "AstroForge has amazing opportunities to continue building advocacy on the government side. Their approach to keeping costs low and providing novel capabilities is very impressive. To be able to get the quantity of metals at the cost of what is possible with this effort is going to change humanity."