HeyJaredThe DownLink
Your weekly digest of interviews and the must-reads from the intersection of space, business, and defense. thedownlink.substack.com
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 23, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Aug 5, 2026
Latest episodes
U.S. Space Academy: "Doesn't It Make Sense?" (opens the original)
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States are already vying to become the home of the White House's proposed Space Academy, but what critical problem set should it solve? Do we really need it? This episode — Part 2 of this two-part series and following last week's episode on the National Space Transportation Policy — focuses on the "Establishing the United States Space Academy" proclamation. Laura Winter speaks with retired Space Force Gen. David "DT" Thompson, the first Vice Chief of Space Operations; retired Space Force Lt. Gen
What’s the Payload the President’s 1,000-Launch Memo Should Deliver? (opens the original)
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States are already vying to become the home of the White House's proposed Space Academy, but what critical problem set should it solve? Do we really need it? This episode — Part 2 of this two-part series and following last week's episode on the National Space Transportation Policy — focuses on the "Establishing the United States Space Academy" proclamation. Laura Winter speaks with Gen. David "DT" Thompson, USSF (Ret.), the first Vice Chief of Space Operations; Lt. Gen. John Shaw, USSF (Ret.), f
Space Force: Targeted Growth In a Time of Budgetary Uncertainty (opens the original)
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While operating on the brink of a government shutdown has become the not-so-new normal, a fresh take on the Space Force's FY 2027 budget request shows the service branch's plan to normalize real growth through dramatic, yet targeted, programmatic increases. Laura Winter speaks with Sam Wilson, Director of Strategy and National Security, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access
Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains (opens the original)
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Companies rarely know how a military is using their satellites — and that blind spot could quietly turn commercial infrastructure into a legitimate target, putting the civilians and humanitarian workers who depend on that same infrastructure at risk. The International Committee of the Red Cross calls it a "knowledge gap." Laura Winter speaks with two representatives from the ICRC Regional Delegation for the U.S. and Canada — Jonathan Horowitz, Deputy Head of the Legal Department; and Laura Walke
SpaceX's Q2: A Neo Cloud With a Rocket Side Hustle (opens the original)
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SpaceX posted its first earnings report as a public company this week, the same week its first share unlock hit the market, more than doubling the float. Elon Musk says revenue will top $1 trillion by 2030, but the plan is murky. Laura Winter speaks with Chris Quilty, Founder and CEO of Quilty Space, George Pullen, Chief Economist at MilkyWayEconomy, and Lou Whiteman, stock analyst at The Motley Fool. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces
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