Rethinking Space Infrastructure for a Contested Orbit | The Pair Program Ep105

What if satellites didn’t have to be disposable? In this episode, we are joined by Brian Taylor, Founder & CEO at Lux Aeterna, and Dr. Michael Nayak, CTO of XPRIZE, to explore the future of reusable satellite platforms. They discuss how satellites can be launched, recovered, refurbished, and redeployed, and what this could mean for the future of space operations.

Key topics include:

• The shift from disposable to reusable satellites.
• How satellite recovery and refurbishment work.
• The potential of fleet-based satellite operations.
• The role of XPRIZE and competition in driving innovation.
• What reusable satellites could mean for national security.

About Brian Taylor: Brian is the Founder and CEO of Lux Aeterna, a space infrastructure company developing reusable satellite platforms designed to launch, re-enter, and redeploy on demand. Before founding Lux Aeterna, he led advanced mechanical engineering programs at SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Loft Orbital. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and an M.S. from Georgia Tech.

Dr. Michael Nayak: Michael is the Chief Technology Officer of XPRIZE, as well as an advisor to venture capital funds and technology startups. He is a scientist, engineer, pilot, entrepreneur, science-fiction author, and futurist. Before joining XPRIZE, he was a Program Manager at DARPA, where he created and directed a portfolio of nearly two dozen programs with a combined value of over $700 million.

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Open Architecture, Closed Loop: Inside Industry Partnerships for Autonomous Maritime Systems | The Pair Program Ep104

We’re joined by Paul Lwin, Co-Founder and CEO of Havoc, and Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops, a Red Cat company, to explore how software and hardware partnerships are shaping the future of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). From open architecture and autonomy-driven vessel design to real-world testing and manufacturing at scale, the conversation looks at what it takes to move these systems from development to deployment. We also discuss the challenges of scaling hardware alongside software and how industry and government can work together to rebuild American manufacturing capacity and bring autonomous systems to the field.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why autonomy software and proven boatbuilding expertise work better together
• Designing vessels for extreme performance without onboard crews
• What real-world ocean testing reveals that simulations miss
• Coordinating multiple autonomous vessels through intuitive operator interfaces
• Scaling American manufacturing and navigating defense procurement

About Paul Lwin: Paul Lwin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Havoc, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Flight Officer who flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. With degrees in aerospace engineering and computer science, as well as an MBA from Yale, he has led Havoc from pre-seed stage to more than 40 autonomous vessels deployed in 18 months. He previously joined The Pair Program for Episode 67, “Rebuilding the Arsenal.”

About Barry Hinckley: Benjamin “Barry” Hinckley is an entrepreneur and third-generation boatbuilder who serves as President of Blue Ops, a Red Cat company. Appointed to launch Blue Ops in August 2025, he leads the development of its Variant 7 program and open-architecture approach, bringing together his experience in marine manufacturing, technology, and defense innovation.

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Rethinking Medevac: Autonomy for a Contested Pacific | The Pair Program Ep103

What happens when a wounded service member needs care, but a helicopter cannot reach them? Today’s guests, Major Sarah Blackthorne of the National Guard Bureau and Ben Pinx of Lyntris, explore whether autonomous vessels could deliver blood, medical supplies, and eventually patients across contested waters. Drawing on a Northern Strike exercise, they discuss:

• Why traditional casualty evacuation may fail in the Indo-Pacific
• How to deliver blood when aircraft cannot fly
• What happened when a team tested loading a patient onto an autonomous vessel
• The small design change that made loading easier for medics
• The ethical decisions involved in moving patients without a crew
• What a successful demonstration still cannot prove about real-world use

About Major Sarah Blackthorne: Sarah is a military healthcare leader in the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Surgeon’s Office. A registered dietitian with an MBA, she brings clinical and healthcare administration experience to medical readiness, policy, and training. As a medical planner for Northern Strike, she has helped prepare teams to deliver care when evacuation is delayed, supplies are limited, and they must operate under threat.

About Ben Pinx: Ben is Principal for Technology & Mission Solutions at Lyntris and previously led its Sensors & Autonomous Solutions business segment. His work spans autonomous platforms, sensing, command and control, and the delivery of technology for defense missions. Before joining industry, he held senior U.S. Army roles, including Chief of Experimentation at Army Futures Command, where he helped connect emerging technologies with operational needs.

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