# From Hypersonics to AI Workflows: How Ursa Major Is Scaling Rocket Production

- Show: [Additive Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack)
- Published: 2026-05-26
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 33
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f3350475

## Summary

Thomas Pomorski of Ursa Major discusses the company's progress in hypersonics, solid rocket motors, and in-space propulsion, highlighting the successful flight of the 3D-printed Hadley engine and the Draper engine with AFRL. He details Ursa's 'unit cell' manufacturing approach for solid rocket motors to avoid fixed tooling costs and demonstrates how his small team uses AI tools like Claude Code to rapidly prototype slicer features and build data-monitoring web applications. Pomorski explains that while AI significantly boosts development productivity by acting as a force multiplier for experienced engineers, production validation remains a challenge due to the difficulty of verifying AI-generated code and surrogate models.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=6) Introduction and Ursa Major Year Update
- [2:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=126) Hypersonic Flight Milestones and Draper Engine
- [2:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=126) Solid Rocket Motors and Unit Cell Manufacturing
- [17:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=1074) AI in Additive Workflows and Productivity
- [29:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=1767) Live Claude Slicer Demo and Prompting
- [38:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=2314) Production AI Readiness and Validation Challenges
- [46:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=2800) AI-Built Web Monitor and Automation Roadmap
- [1:03:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production#t=3784) Advice for Students and Career Outlook

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ursa Major (company)
- EOS (company)
- Hadley engine (product)
- Draper engine (product)
- AFRL (company)
- Shadow Launch (company)
- Claude Code (tool)
- Polaris slicer (tool)
- M415 (product)
- M400 (product)
- M290 flex (product)
- Dendrite (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [HIBT Lab! Ursa Major: Joe Laurienti](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti) (How I Built This)
- [21. AI Rescues Firefighters, NASA Prints Spacecraft Parts, Plug & Play Prosthetics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-08-21-ai-rescues-firefighters-nasa-prints-spacecraft-parts-plug-play-prosthetics) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Inspirations and Aspirations - Recanting Rocket Rationale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-06-26-inspirations-and-aspirations-recanting-rocket-rationale) (The Amp Hour)
- [How Protolabs turns CAD files into parts in under 24 hours](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-14-how-protolabs-turns-cad-files-into-parts-in-under-24-hours) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [S4E43 Kevin Surace | How To Use AI For Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-10-s4e43-kevin-surace-how-to-use-ai-for-engineering) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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