November 2024 TechCast | Arizona’s Space Odyssey: Leading the Final Frontier
In the latest episode of AZ Tech Cast, host Eric Miller chats with two innovators in the Arizona space sector.
Episode Overview
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Arizona is not just gazing at the stars—it’s building the future of space exploration. In this episode of AZ TechCast, industry trailblazers Jim Cantrell, founder of Phantom Space and a SpaceX founding team member, and Michael Mackowski, retired spacecraft engineer and space advocate, join host Eric Miller to explore Arizona’s dynamic role in the space industry. From pioneering satellites to shaping space policy, they’ll discuss how the state is driving innovation and opportunities in aerospace, making it a global hub for the final frontier.
This episode promises an inspiring journey into Arizona’s space ecosystem, exploring the technologies, policies, and people shaping our reach for the stars.
Jim Cantrell is the founder of several entrepreneurial start-ups, including Phantom Space, Vector, StratSpace and Vintage Exotics Competition Engineering and is a Founder and Managing Partner at Wolverine Capital. He is the Author of the book “Breaking All The Rules – The Inside Story Of The New Space Race”and “Two Hours Until Dawn – 25 Things Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Auto Racing”. He was on the founding team at SpaceX where he was the first VP of Business Development, and has held positions at NASA and the French Space Agency. Jim also served early roles with successful startups including Iceye, Skybox Imaging, York Space Systems and PlanetIQ. StratSpace has a long history in pivotal technical, financing and M&A roles in the aerospace industry’s most influential and innovative players until it was acquired in 2020.
Jim’s career also includes assignments at the French Space Agency CNES, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and has resulted in experience in over 46 satellite flight missions including the Iridium Next space telephone system, the Lightsail solar sail mission and Osiris-Rex which will return asteroid samples to the Earth. Cantrell is a world recognized technical innovator and has received numerous professional awards, is the author of twenty technical papers and has pioneered the concepts of software defined satellites, micro launch vehicles and space situational awareness sensors.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Cantrell also actively participates in road racing and has participated numerous times in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, the 24 Hours of Daytona Classic, SCCA championships in GT-1 and the World Racing League endurance racing championships. He is also a known expert and author on the Maserati automotive marquee.
He currently resides in Tucson with his wife Angela and his many children.
Michael J. Mackowski is a retired spacecraft engineer whose career spanned 45 years. He has worked on such programs as Landsat 8, the Fermi and Swift gamma ray observatories, the Iridium communications satellite constellation, several other NASA science satellites, and the Space Shuttle. He started his career with McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company in St. Louis, Missouri in 1977 and retired in 2018 as an employee of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (formerly Orbital ATK) in Gilbert, Arizona.
Additionally, Mr. Mackowski is very involved in space advocacy and promoting the benefits of space exploration. He
is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest professional society for engineers and scientists working the aerospace industry. Mr. Mackowski is the current chair of the AIAA History committee and a past chair of the Phoenix Section. He is a past president of the Phoenix chapters of both the National Space Society (NSS) and the Moon Society and was co-founder of the St. Louis chapter of the NSS in 1984.
He is also a well-regarded scale model builder, specializing in historical space vehicles. His research into making historically accurate models led him to publish a series of books on the subject, Space In Miniature. These builder’s guides have sold thousands of copies to hobbyists all over the world.
Mr. Mackowski is also very involved in pre-college (STEM) outreach, having organized many public events and campaigns to promote the benefits of space exploration to students as well as the general public. He manages several
websites and social media outlets for those local outreach events and organizations. For additional information on his background and other interests, please see: http://space-city-mike.net
Jim Cantrell |
Michael J. Mackowski |
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About AZTechCast
The official podcast of the Arizona Technology Council, AZTechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond. Through the art of the connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s hosts and guests share success stories, tech news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling Arizona’s growing technology ecosystem. Visit www.aztechcouncil.org/techcast to learn more or to listen to recent episodes.
About PADT, Inc.
Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, Inc. (PADT) is an engineering product and services company that focuses on helping customers who develop physical products by providing Numerical Simulation, Product Development, and 3D Printing solutions. The company is an Ansys Elite Channel Partner and a Stratasys Platinum Partner. They are also a channel partner for Flownex, EOS, and ZEISS #handsonmetrology. PADT’s worldwide reputation for technical excellence and experienced staff is based on its proven record of building long-term win-win partnerships with vendors and customers. Since its establishment in 1994, companies have relied on PADT because “We Make Innovation Work.” With over 90 employees, PADT services customers from its headquarters at the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, and from offices in Torrance, California, Lakewood, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico as well as through staff members located around the country. More information on PADT can be found at www.PADTINC.com.
