T-Minus Space Daily: “AI trained in space.”
Podcast by: N2K Networks
Host: Maria Varmazas
Date: December 11, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode covers groundbreaking news in space technology, with a spotlight on StarCloud's successful deployment and training of a large AI model in orbit—the first of its kind. Additional headlines include major contracts, new technology demonstrations, and key developments in space-enabled infrastructure. The guest segment features Jerome Hittel, CEO and Founder of Amplified Space, discussing advances in software-defined power systems for spacecraft and the company's ambitious plans for streamlining and disrupting the industry.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. StarCloud Trains First Large AI Model in Space (03:02–04:45)
- StarCloud, a startup backed by Nvidia, has launched StarCloud One, a satellite equipped with an Nvidia H100 GPU that’s 100x more powerful than previous in-orbit chips.
- They’ve trained and run Google’s Gemma model and even fine-tuned NanoGPT on Shakespeare’s works, all in orbit.
- The drive for orbital data centers:
- Traditional Earth-bound centers drain huge power and water resources, burdening infrastructures and harming the environment.
- By moving data centers to orbit, continuous solar power and natural cooling in space may cut costs and minimize environmental impact.
- StarCloud envisions gigawatt-scale orbital data centers competing with terrestrial server farms.
- Industry prediction: Orbital data centers tipped to be the biggest trend of 2026.
“StarCloud's vision is to move this energy-hungry computing all into orbit... where continuous solar power and natural cooling in the vacuum of space could dramatically reduce costs and environmental impact.”
— Maria Varmazas (04:12)
2. Headline News Highlights (01:02–09:08)
- DARPA awards BAE Systems a $16M phase 2 contract to create autonomous systems for tracking large numbers of terrestrial assets via new satellite constellations.
- Demonstration to scale up to larger, more complex constellations.
- Firefly Aerospace preps to host Volta Space Technologies’ wireless power receiver on its Blue Ghost Mission 2 lander to the far side of the Moon, a step toward lunar power networks.
- HawkEye 360 secures a $100M+ five-year contract with an unnamed international partner to provide advanced RF data and deploy dedicated satellite clusters.
- ESA, ViaSat, and Boeing collaborate to globalize the IRIS satellite-based aviation communications system—over 17,000 flights have used IRIS since 2024, improving routing and fuel efficiency.
- Enabling pilots and air traffic controllers to communicate more efficiently.
3. Industry News Brief with Alice Carruth (09:08–09:31)
- Momentous selected for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD contract, enabling them to contribute to missile defense, communications, and resilient tech demonstrations.
- References a Wall Street Journal article on the intensifying competition to bring data centers to space.
4. Interview: Jerome Hittel, CEO & Founder, Amplified Space (10:54–19:09)
Jerome’s Background and Company Genesis (11:05–12:38)
- Started in high school at Johnson Space Center, digitizing moon rock imagery.
- Worked as a technician and engineer on four deep-space missions—his power systems are operating on Mars and orbiting Jupiter.
- Left “old space” due to slow innovation; worked in IoT and electrified vehicle tech before founding Amplified Space.
“I ended up working on four deep spacecraft...develop [ed] power systems that are actually on the surface of Mars and orbiting Jupiter.”
— Jerome Hittel (11:18)
What Amplified Space Does (13:43–14:18)
- Specializes in software-configurable power systems for spacecraft.
- Delivers a single, scalable hardware solution for all spacecraft subsystems—solar, batteries, propulsion, reaction wheels, etc.—customizable through software.
“We have a single piece of hardware that we can program with software to be able to connect this to your batteries, your solar arrays, your power supplies, your propulsion system, your motor, your reaction wheels, your flight computer… the list goes on.”
— Jerome Hittel (13:47)
Industry Disruption Explained (14:18–15:10)
- Traditional approach: multiple hardware cards for each component, each with different software—adding risk and complexity.
- Amplified Space’s system: Unified, modular, with 70% common software—reduces risk and engineering effort.
Current Missions & Collaborations (15:20–16:29)
- Hex20 (India): Collaboration on their satellite bus.
- Portal Space Systems: “Mini Nova” platform on-orbit demonstration.
- Aegis Aerospace & International Space Station: Delivering systems for the ISS’s Missy platform (integration happening at the time of interview).
- Company scale: Accomplishing three flights next year with a team of only ~10 people.
“For a company our size with only 10 people...that’s really an accomplishment and I’m really proud of what our team’s done this year.”
— Jerome Hittel (16:22)
Partnership and Industry Approach (16:54–17:47)
- Prefers to work with partners and disruptors, not just customers.
- Cites strong synergy with Portal Space’s Jeff; both share a bent for industry transformation.
Vision and The Future (18:12–19:09)
- Envisions enabling family travel to space and making Amplified Space a foundational part of humanity’s expansion into space.
- Advocates for industry collaboration—“a rising tide lifts all ships” philosophy.
“I want to have our families going to space in the long term. The technology we develop here is part of that story...the whole industry has to kind of come together.”
— Jerome Hittel (18:13)
5. Quick Science News: MAVEN Mystery (19:36–19:57)
- NASA’s MAVEN orbiter at Mars is currently unresponsive after ten years of service; crucial for relaying Martian surface data to Earth. Investigation ongoing.
Notable Quotes
-
On the promise of orbital data centers:
“It’s been the race to Space within the Race to Space in the commercial industry right now... Orbital data centers of course.”
— Maria Varmazas (03:13) -
On industry disruption:
“You just see the fireworks going. Like, we see how disruptive each one of us is and how it’s just going to change how everybody does it in the future.”
— Jerome Hittel on meeting Portal Space’s Jeff (16:59) -
On collaborative industry growth:
“That old analogy of the rising tide lifts all ships is certainly true in this industry.”
— Jerome Hittel (18:54)
Important Timestamps
- StarCloud’s AI & Orbital Data Centers: 03:02–04:45
- Interview: Jerome Hittel, Amplified Space: 10:54–19:09
- Introduction & Background: 11:05
- Amplified Space Overview: 13:43
- Industry Disruption: 14:28
- Mission Details: 15:20
- Vision: 18:12–19:09
- MAVEN Mission Update: 19:36–19:57
Tone and Language
The episode maintains an enthusiastic, forward-looking, and genuine tone, combining technical insight with approachable storytelling. Host Maria Varmazas is encouraging and curious, while Jerome Hittel is candid and passionate about innovation and industry disruption.
Summary
This episode highlights the dawn of orbital data centers—underscored by StarCloud’s historic training of AI in space—alongside an industry snapshot featuring new contracts and technology demonstrations. The interview with Amplified Space founder Jerome Hittel gives listeners an inside look at how modular, software-defined power systems are simplifying spacecraft design and enabling affordable, rapid deployment with a small, agile team. Both the news and the interview exemplify a space industry rapidly innovating toward sustainable, scalable, and universally collaborative frontiers.