Frank Mycroft

Some more insight into what we are building at Aerodome 📈🚀

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As a founder, asymmetry is your superpower. This is how you use it to win 🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Listen to a frank conversation with the CEO of Albers Aerospace, the fastest growing engineering company in the US according to Inc. magazine; John Albers and I discuss the US defense industrial base and defense technology's challenges ahead. #nonbetaalphapodcast #albersaero #irongatevc #21stcenturyconflict #supplychain #industrialpolicy #americanmade #warfighterready

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At long last, it’s takeoff time for urban aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration's approval this week of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles in the U.S. marks a significant milestone for the burgeoning air taxi industry. eVTOLs promise to revolutionize transportation by offering a faster, cleaner, and more convenient mode of travel, particularly in congested cities. These next-generation aircraft could drastically reduce commuting times and alleviate traffic congestion. What’s really cool is that these new regulations are the first for a completely new aircraft category since the 1940s. They cover many aspects, including design standards, pilot certification requirements, and operational procedures. The FAA has been working on developing these regulations for several years, resulting from extensive input from key industry players, aviation experts, and the general public. This approval is also a major win for the eVTOL industry including companies like Joby Aviation, Archer, LILLIUM GmbH, and GE Aerospace. It's expected to attract a huge amount of investment and speed up the development of commercial air taxi services. Traditional airlines are also embracing the future of flight. Southwest Airlines and Archer are moving forward with ambitious plans to establish eVTOL routes connecting South San Francisco, Napa, San Jose, Oakland, and Livermore, California within a few years. However, there are still some hurdles to overcome. Building the necessary infrastructure, gaining public trust, and ensuring safety are crucial challenges that must be addressed before air taxis begin zipping over major American cities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-NqhPb4 #aviation #eVTOLs #mobility

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The U.S. Department of Commerce just announced three major steps aimed at easing export restrictions on satellite and space-related technologies. This strategic move opens up new international sales opportunities for American space companies, boosting industry leaders like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and SpaceX. These changes, introduced by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), will not only empower U.S. businesses to thrive in the global space market but also strengthen international partnerships with allied nations—all while maintaining a focus on national security. This is a huge win for innovation and the future of space exploration! #SpaceX #Spacetechnology #Innovation #Enventure

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Want to get a wing up on how the standards are shaping up for flying multiple drones simultaneously? Don’t miss this session at #XPO2024 with Asylon Robotics and Anzen Unmanned.

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Who doesn't love chatting about the frontier of Space?! Loved getting this insiders look from Epsilon3 CEO Laura Crabtree (ex-SpaceX, Northrop Grumman) as the industry reshapes into a lightening fast startup ecosystem for us to marvel. Small teams are lowering the cost to access space. Homegrown automation software is dramatically reducing team size -- as Laura puts it: "You won’t see 50 people in a control room for launch…you’ll see 5 controlling 50 different assets and a couple of 100 assets that are mostly operating on their own." Personally i'm keeping a close eye on the new interconnectedness between space and the broader economy will spark a flywheel of innovation. 🎙️ Listen in to our discussion (link in comments) as we release today -- 5YF#16: Space command reimagined, automating mission control, new deep tech hubs, interstellar missions, and the future of space operations w/ Epsilon3 CEO Laura Crabtree To infinity!

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Enjoyed the thought-provoking panel, "Where Will the Space Industry Go Next," with Tibor Pacher and moderator Adam Janikowski, PhD at FII Institute 's #FII8 conference in Saudi Arabia.   I shared my belief that space today is like the early internet—its vast potential remains largely untapped. With AI and quantum computing driving breakthroughs, I’m betting the next big opportunities will emerge in orbital data centers, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors in low Earth orbit.   #SpaceEconomy #InfiniteHorizons #investment #technology live feed: https://lnkd.in/ecu2XNX6

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On this week's episode of Lobster Talks, we had the privilege of speaking with Daniel Driscoll, former military officer and co-founder of Elodin (YC W24). Elodin is building the "Unreal Engine for aerospace," a flight software development platform that promises to accelerate innovation and make space exploration more accessible. Key takeaways from our conversation with Dan: -From battlefield to launchpad: Dan's unique journey from serving in Iraq to leading a cutting-edge space tech startup. -The "Unreal Engine" analogy: How Elodin is changing the game for aerospace software development. -Disrupting the status quo: Why agile software practices are essential for the future of space. -Advice for founders: Dan's insights on identifying and solving problems in established industries. This episode is a must-listen! Check out the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eHp_WWGc #aerospace #softwaredevelopment #startups #innovation #spaceexploration #podcast #lobstertalks

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There is so much that is so damn impressive about Nominal's execution. The team identified a truly needed product in the world. More than that... They serve their customers. Sometimes Nominal is saving days of work for an engineer detangling the performance of new hardware in an autonomous fixed wing drone. Other times, helping implement a transformational change for engineering orgs, delivering iteration speed from simulation to range to unlock an RFP goal and contract win. They are building dual use -- powering the best of commercial and public sector teams. Whether a government contractor delivering on a $12b contract. A scaled public company, integrating AI into your roadmap on to your existing HW platform. A startup which is willing a first product into existence. Nominal is there for all the dual use hardware builders who live real time, live in physical world time. The real world runs real time. The real world runs Nominal and so excited to be on the journey. Also, hiring, https://www.nominal.io/, kind of a lot. If you are awesome, they want to talk to you.

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The rise of the commercial space industry has been likened to the Dot Com Boom of the mid 1980s. There is a lot of exuberance about the industry, and companies from large legacy defense contractors to startup microbusinesses are looking to cash in on the promise of space. From CubeSats to human spaceflight, space is a hot commodity right now and will be for the foreseeable future...https://lnkd.in/gyKmNbjV [Premium Content]

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Just finished reading "The Next Giant Leap" by Space Capital - a pioneering VC investing in the emerging Space Economy. The report speaks to how SpaceX’s Starship is more than just the most powerful rocket ever built—it is poised to reshape the global space economy in profound ways. With its immense payload capacity, reusable design, and lower cost per launch, Starship will unlock entirely new industries and transform existing business models. But how should industries and businesses evolve to align with this paradigm shift? 📈 Rethinking Business Strategies & Supply Chains - For businesses, Starship represents an era of mass-production over precision engineering. This means moving away from the focus on mass efficiency toward cost-effective, redundant, and scalable production. - In terms of supply chains, this opens opportunities for new players in manufacturing, materials, and space components. The demand for off-the-shelf parts and non-aerospace suppliers will rise dramatically. 💡 New Use Cases & Opportunities   The opportunities Starship unlocks go beyond launching satellites. - In-space manufacturing of high-value products like pharmaceuticals and advanced materials that cannot be created on Earth. - Mega-constellations of satellites for global broadband, expanding on what Starlink has already begun. - In-orbit assembly and servicing, allowing for larger space structures like telescopes or even habitats to be built in orbit, radically reducing costs. - Lunar infrastructure and resource extraction will become more viable, paving the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars. 📊 What Should Businesses Do Now?   1. Embrace Redundancy & Scale – Instead of focusing on one-off, high-cost solutions, businesses should embrace redundancy and mass production.    2. Simplify Design – With Starship’s payload capacity, there is less pressure to optimize for mass efficiency. Simplified, scalable designs will allow for faster production and iteration cycles, akin to how SpaceX rapidly tests and evolves Starship itself. 3. Develop Strategic Partnerships – Collaborating with forward-thinking space startups, suppliers, and even non-aerospace sectors will be essential to capitalize on the opportunities Starship provides. 🌌 A New Era of Innovation   Starship will democratize access to space, lowering the barriers for businesses to create and scale. The next decade will witness breakthroughs in scientific exploration, energy production, and in-space transportation that we can only begin to imagine today. #SpaceEconomy #Starship #Innovation #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #SpaceTech #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfSpace https://lnkd.in/gNdbwXdq

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ICYMI: Last week, I posted an article on my Forbes column to talk about the Modular Open Systems Approach (#MOSA), which is now required by law for very #DoD major defense acquisition program. So, if you expect to work on US #military #rotorcraft development efforts in the future, you should read this. In addition, the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (#NGRC) program will require MOSA, and commercial aircraft efforts will likely all look at modular and open systems approaches. In other words, just about everyone should get familiar with MOSA, how to incorporate it into aircraft developments and why. https://lnkd.in/ek-tn2nf Bell Flight #V280 #Valor #FLRAA #FVL #AAM #eVTOL #Standards #OpenSystems #Modular

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Get on it #spaceentrepreneurs. And for that matter, get on it if you would like to be a micro-donor. Times a-wasting... and the universe is expanding! To everyone else, please re-post this so we can get maximum visibility. #newspace #spaceeconomy

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An incredible deep dive from Nathan M. into the cultural and structural issues that are plaguing Boeing and how they got to where they are today. This article should be turned into a business school case study it's that good. And many of these issues aren't unique to Boeing. The focus on financial engineering over actual engineering is an issue at play in many scaled aerospace and defense companies. A definite must-read! https://lnkd.in/gkdpF2tM

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I completely agree with the WSJ article that suggests the troubles at Boeing and Intel Corporation are a national emergency. In the last 5 years the combined market value of the two has dropped by more than 50%. Especially in a geopolitical / geoeconomic context we cannot afford to loose the manufacturing and technology strength of these two companies. So what are the options ? - a government bail out. Never a great idea as it will encourage the next company towards failure - how about a partial equity stake by the government to invest cash - additional policy support like a protective tariff or some additional tax policy support - maybe merger support in the event a competitor wants to break up and buy Intel then don’t hold them to the usual antitrust hurdles None of these are perfect, and likley even messing with a free market system that we so love, but I am not sure at all the US is better of without a Boeing or Intel !! What do you think - any ideas ?

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I just want to emphasize that this rule is the first step toward real UAS integration the FAA will take. Part 107 was the easy part - small UAS in line of sight of the pilot. Part 108 is key to the first step for medium size UAS to be integrated into low risk airspace. It represents a critical first step toward the integration of UAS into the US airspace since congress mandated integration in the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act. Unfortunately, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is being held up at the Department of Transportation (NOT the FAA) for purely bureaucratic reasons. Because of the delay, the rule will likely miss the window for publication before the change of administrations and the inevitable hold on all rulemaking actions that always occurs during the change of administrations. If you care about UAS integration and the US leadership in aircraft automation in general, please forward the CDA/AUVSI OpEd to your congressional representatives. They all have websites where you can email them your concerns. Thanks!

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☀️ Space Weather Meets Silicon Valley: Mission Space at TechCrunch Disrupt Ever wondered how solar flares could impact your bottom line? At Mission Space, we're bridging the gap between cosmic events and business continuity. Join us at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, where we're unveiling our Space Weather Operation System (SWOS). This isn't just another tech demo - it's a glimpse into the future. Why it matters: The latest USA #SWAG survey reveals an industry-wide awakening to space weather risks Real-time monitoring is becoming crucial for Space & Earth based assets. 📍 Find us at Booth #G16 🕒 Let's chat about: How SWOS can integrate with your existing operations Custom solutions for your industry's unique challenges How Space Weather will be crucial thing for Cislunar economy Want to future-proof your operations against cosmic curveballs? Drop by for an out-of-this-world strategy session.  #SpaceWeather #spacetech #TechCrunchDisrupt #TechCrunch 

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Really great article on Space! Highlights Rocket Lab and their mission of small launches their Electron rocket has filled. It goes on to discuss the Neutron that is a medium lift vehicle. Rocket lab focuses on the taxi service where it takes individual payloads to specific orbits, but the new Neutron rocket is meant to compete with SpaceX and its Falcon 9. The article further discussed start ups, such as Relativity Space and ABL Space Systems. I was quoted around the maturity of businesses in this segment and discussed M&A activity. I highlighted that, "... for a company to be a consolidation target it needs some enterprise value; it needs sales and employees and contracts." I further went on to say that, "... those pure-play space companies, they are going to have a harder time because it is a slower cycle, versus a company that gets into space with a diversified book of business and will probably be more successful." #aerospace #space #mergersandacquisitions #thefactorydoctor https://lnkd.in/gsNrw2cA

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