Podcast Summary: T-Minus Space Daily – “Who is needed for the future space workforce?”

Date: February 22, 2026
Host: Maria Varmazes (N2K Networks)
Guests:

• Tahara Dawkins (Astroscale US)
• Mary Baldino (Director of Sales and Marketing, ViaSpace)

Overview

This episode, recorded live at Commercial Space Week in Orlando, Florida, explores the evolving needs of the space industry’s workforce. Maria Varmazes is joined by Tahara Dawkins (Astroscale US) and Mary Baldino (ViaSpace) for an in-depth discussion on recruitment, retention, culture, diversity of roles, and how to ensure the future space workforce is skilled, passionate, and sustainable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of the Space Workforce

• Recruitment vs. Retention

  • Tahara Dawkins challenges the claim that recruitment is the sector’s main problem, arguing that retention—particularly for mid-career professionals—is posing the bigger issue.
  • The industry is “really heavy on senior leaders,” but struggles to keep mid-level talent engaged and advancing.
    • (02:32) “We can get people in but for some reason we're not keeping them through that mid-level area…So we're really heavy on senior leaders in space. But that mid level, it's just really hard to keep people in throughout that process.” – Tahara Dawkins

• Changing Culture and Adaptation

  • Mary Baldino points out the challenge in finding people that match both the skill and passion requirements while also aligning with evolving company cultures, especially as small startups scale quickly.
    • (03:15) “As the aerospace and space industry grows and changes, there's new dynamics and new cultures and it's sometimes hard for somebody who's been trained a certain way to adapt to some of the new technologies and new management styles and cultures.” – Mary Baldino

2. Defining and Expanding “Space Jobs”

• What Is a Space Job?

  • Dawkins pushes for a broad definition: not just engineers and astronauts, but also policy experts, artists, doctors, lawyers, marketers, and more.
    • (05:23) “What is a space job? Is it Engineers and astronauts or is it much bigger? I argue that it's much bigger and maybe it doesn't need to have a definition because space touches every aspect.” – Tahara Dawkins

• Passion Over Pedigree

  • Both guests stress that success in the space workforce isn't restricted to STEM backgrounds. Passion for the mission and company culture is just as important as formal qualifications.
    • (06:44) “It's not always the most highly educated person, it's the passionate person. And it's not just engineers anymore... Your HR people, your marketing people, your artists. There is a job for everyone in space. You just have to be passionate.” – Mary Baldino

3. The Role of Culture in Retention and Fulfillment

• Culture as an Attractor and Retainer
  • Both guests share their startup experiences and the critical need to find (and build) company cultures that support learning, collaboration, and genuine belief in the mission.
    • (09:06) “Finding the culture, but also finding an environment where the employees were genuinely happy and passionate and believed in the mission was extremely important for me.” – Tahara Dawkins
  • Company size can impact the ability for employees to integrate and feel valued; both prefer smaller startup cultures.

4. Broadening Space Industry Outreach

• Breaking Out of the “Space Silo”

  • Dawkins suggests that space people need to talk to non-space audiences, actively engaging with other industries to explain the relevance and diversity of space roles.

    • (14:30) “Space people traditionally like to go to space events to talk to space people about space things. The answer to me is we've got to stop that. I make it a point to go to two non space events every year to talk about space to people that aren't traditionally talking about space.” – Tahara Dawkins

  • Branding the Mission

    • There is a need to improve space industry branding so that people outside traditional space circles see potential career paths.
    • (15:17) “Once we get better at branding... it will be easier to see yourself in a job that you didn't even know existed.” – Tahara Dawkins

• Reverse Outreach

  • Mary Baldino proposes bringing non-space professionals (from fields like medicine, accounting, hospitality) into space events, exposing them to possibilities and fresh perspectives.
    • (16:07) “When you have people in the medical field or the accounting field or hospitality, even bringing them into the space events so that they can see their place, so that it enhances the dream, but also it gives a brand new perspective to what our businesses need that we're not going to get in our bubble.” – Mary Baldino

5. The “Skilled Technical Workforce” and Future Training Needs

• Defining “Skilled Work” in Space

  • Dawkins advocates adding “technical” to “skilled workforce,” emphasizing roles that go beyond typical STEM positions.
    • (17:20) “The skilled technical workforce, which has not been defined, is an important factor because it's as mission critical as the STEM part of space. It's not an either or, it's an ‘and'. We need both.” – Tahara Dawkins

• Aging Workforce & The Urgency for Youth

  • Alarmingly, 68% of defined space jobs are filled by workers over 55. Retaining and attracting young, mid-level talent is a pressing need.
    • (18:32) “It's 68 of space workers. For the jobs that we do define are over 55. That's huge. And there's no other industry that has these big numbers.” – Tahara Dawkins

• Tech Evolution Means Fast-Changing Skill Demands

  • The sector now relies on recently-developed technologies (additive manufacturing, AI, cybersecurity.), so educational outreach and early training is critical.
    • (19:53) “Many of the newer companies...rely on technology that hasn't been around that long, you know, 10, 20 years. So that workforce doesn't have the skill sets.” – Mary Baldino

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (02:32) “We can get people in but for some reason we're not keeping them through that mid-level area in life in space is aging for that reason. So we're really heavy on senior leaders in space.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (05:23) “What is a space job?...maybe it doesn't need to have a definition because space touches every aspect.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (06:44) “It's not always the most highly educated person, it's the passionate person...” – Mary Baldino
• (09:06) “I did not want to go...to a bigger company where I'd be lost in the shuffle while I'm trying to learn the space industry part of it.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (14:30) “Space people traditionally like to go to space events to talk to space people about space things. The answer to me is we've got to stop that.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (17:20) “The skilled technical workforce, which has not been defined is an important factor because it's as mission critical as the STEM part of space. It's not an either or, it's an ‘and’.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (18:32) “68% of space workers for the jobs that we do define are over 55. That's huge.” – Tahara Dawkins
• (20:51) “Space is for everyone, and we welcome you here.” – Mary Baldino
• (20:54) “There's a place in space for everyone. You are welcome, you're wanted, and more importantly, you're needed. All the skill sets.” – Tahara Dawkins

Actionable Advice & Calls to Action

• For space professionals:

  • Go to non-space events and connect with professionals from other sectors. Mentor newcomers and highlight diverse career opportunities.

• For outsiders/interested professionals:

  • Network, seek mentors, ask about “A day in your life?” of space professionals, and don’t assume a STEM or technical background is required.

• For companies & educators:

  • Improve branding and outreach to demystify space careers for non-traditional candidates and young talent. Diversify early education initiatives beyond space hubs.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• State of the Space Workforce & Retention Challenges – 02:32–04:38
• Defining Space Jobs & Broadening Opportunities – 05:20–06:44
• Culture and Its Role in Retention – 06:28–10:54
• Broadening the Talent Pipeline & Outreach – 13:16–16:33
• The Skilled Technical Workforce, Aging Demographics and Training Needs – 17:20–20:42
• Final Takeaways / Closing Thoughts – 20:51–21:42

Conclusion

This lively episode underscores a central theme: the future of the space industry depends on recognizing space as a multidisciplinary field that welcomes and needs talents of all backgrounds. Recruitment is not the challenge—retention, evolving skillsets, and proactive cultural adaptation are. The call is clear: embrace broader definitions, break out of silos, amplify inclusive outreach and branding, and make space “for everyone.”