# HIBT Lab! Ursa Major: Joe Laurienti

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-04-20
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti

## Summary

Joe Laurienti, founder and CEO of Ursa Major, explains how he leveraged his experience at SpaceX and Blue Origin to launch a company focused on 3D-printed rocket engines in 2015. He details the strategic decision to use additive manufacturing to reduce part count and cost, the company's early adoption of off-the-shelf metals before developing proprietary alloys, and the rapid 'fail fast' testing philosophy that defined their prototype development. Laurienti also discusses the geopolitical shift following the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea, which created a domestic supply gap for rocket engines, and Ursa Major's current role in supporting both commercial space launches and U.S. hypersonic defense programs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=0) Introduction: Joe Laurienti and Ursa Major's Mission
- [1:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=119) Laurienti's Early Life and Aerospace Education at USC
- [6:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=393) Working at SpaceX and Blue Origin: Learning Propulsion
- [11:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=695) The 2014 Geopolitical Shift and Domestic Engine Supply Gap
- [15:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=939) Founding Ursa Major and the 3D Printing Strategy
- [21:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=1307) Early Prototyping, Testing, and Securing Venture Capital
- [28:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=1695) Navigating the Valley of Death and Investor Relations
- [31:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=1905) Hypersonic Weapons and Defense Applications
- [35:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti#t=2120) The Future of Space Exploration and Lower Earth Orbit

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ursa Major (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Blue Origin (company)
- Falcon 9 (product)
- Dragon (product)
- Hadley (product)
- Ripley (product)
- Arrowway (product)
- Starlink (product)
- SLS (product)
- Aerojet Rocketdyne (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Lockheed Martin (company)
- Orbital Sciences (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Why Ursa Major is Betting Big on Additive Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing) (Additive Snack)
- [From Hypersonics to AI Workflows: How Ursa Major Is Scaling Rocket Production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-26-from-hypersonics-to-ai-workflows-how-ursa-major-is-scaling-rocket-production) (Additive Snack)
- [Why AM is Mission Critical to Launcher's Quest to Reach Orbit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-02-21-why-am-is-mission-critical-to-launchers-quest-to-reach-orbit) (Additive Snack)
- [AM Rocket Engines and Space Nuclear Power with Omar Mireles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-06-23-am-rocket-engines-and-space-nuclear-power-with-omar-mireles) (Additive Snack)
- [How MIT is Pushing the Boundaries of AM Research in Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-02-28-how-mit-is-pushing-the-boundaries-of-am-research-in-space) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

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