ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) – The sky is not the limit in New Mexico, especially when it comes to the mission of the U.S. Space Force. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby talk with two guests leading innovation, tech development, and national security efforts with the USSF in Albuquerque.
Gabe Mounce, Director of the Tech Engagement Office with the Air Force Research Lab New Mexico, and Matthew Fetrow, Senior Scientist with the USSF, explain what this newest military branch is focused on. University researchers, local tech companies, and Kirtland Air Force Base are playing crucial roles that New Mexicans may not know about.
How are private companies teaming up with the government to launch the future of space defense? And could space tourism really take off in our lifetime?
“How do we predict when a satellite is gonna fail, right?” Mounce said. “Or how do you better monitor the health of a satellite? And as you can imagine, that’s really important because it’s an object that’s remote in orbit, we can’t access it. Despite the fact that we have an international space station, we do not have enough yet capability for astronauts to be fixing satellites – yet.”
Mounce explains how locally developed technology is helping to solve that very problem. Listen to the full discussion above to learn why New Mexico is becoming a key player in the space race.
Watch Gabe’s TED Talk mentioned in the episode
Read more about how start-up companies are paired with USSF and DoD
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You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQE’s YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13.
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