Only 3 days remain until launch at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — and the Space Stage is set to dive into the future of space technology and the next wave of innovation. Space industry leaders Adam Maher (Ursa), Dr. Lucy Hoag (Violet Labs), and Dr. Debra L. Emmons (The Aerospace Corporation) will discuss the ways AI is reshaping life beyond Earth.
Pushing boundaries: AI at the edge of the cosmos
It’s not just about rockets and satellites anymore. The true shift in space lies not in what we send up, but in the intelligence we bring with us.
Space is now the ultimate frontier for data. To truly leverage its potential, we need more than just connections — we need intelligence in orbit. This era is defined by on-orbit computing and autonomous systems, where smart edge technology instantly turns raw satellite data into meaningful insights.
AI is doing more than making missions efficient — it’s revolutionizing them. It drives unmatched speed, adaptability, and robustness, allowing missions to be managed and expanded in ways never before possible.
This Space Stage session, exclusive to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, goes beyond the hype to highlight the real trailblazers: those advancing intelligence to new extremes and fundamentally changing how fast, efficient, and resilient space operations can be.
Aerospace’s innovation leader: CTO shaping strategy and progress
Dr. Debra Emmons is the vice president and CTO at The Aerospace Corporation . She leads the company’s technology vision and investment decisions. Emmons oversees four divisions: eLab, which sets technical investment direction; xLab, which focuses on prototyping and operations; the Commercial Space Futures (CSF) office, which advances government missions by leveraging commercial solutions; and the Solution Accelerator, which delivers fast, independent, and impactful innovations for national benefit.
From idea to impact: Ursa’s radar transformation
Adam Maher is the founder and CEO of Ursa Space Systems , a company that helps clients make smarter choices with superior data. He launched Ursa in 2014 to realize a vision of connecting people to rich information sourced from synthetic aperture radar. Before Ursa, Adam was a systems engineer at MAXAR (Space Systems Loral), working on full satellite projects. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University.
Violet: The intelligence engine changing hardware development
Dr. Lucy Hoag is the founder and CEO of Violet Labs , a San Francisco startup aiming to transform the design and production of complex hardware with Violet — the first data orchestration platform built specifically for advanced hardware engineering. Before founding Violet, Hoag contributed to satellite, drone, and autonomous vehicle projects at DARPA, Google, Waymo, Lyft, and Amazon. Lucy holds both a BS and a PhD in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Image Credits:Kimberly White / Getty Images

