Andy Lapsa

Yo, you gotta hear about Andy Lapsa. Dude’s a total boss in the space game. Went to Blue Origin first, yeah, the big league, where he crushed it developing engines like the BE-3 and BE-4. That’s where he cut his teeth on rocket tech, really learned what makes these babies tick. Then, in 2019, he jumped into the deep end and co-founded Stoke Space with his buddy Tom Feldman. The whole vibe? Making rockets that are fully reusable and launch again and again, super fast, like catching a flight. He’s straight-up convinced that this reusability thing is the key to making space cheap and routine, like, as easy as hopping on a plane.

And man, under his leadership, Stoke’s already hit some crazy markers. They tested a full-flow, staged-combustion engine, that’s next level tech, and even pulled off a vertical takeoff and landing of a reusable second stage. No bullshit. They’ve raised over $175 million from big names like Breakthrough Energy, Toyota Ventures, and Y Combinator, these guys see what he’s building and know it’s the real deal.

What’s wild is, Andy’s got a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Michigan and a BS from Cornell, so he’s legit smart. But more than that, he’s got this fire to really change the game. He’s all about quick, cheap, reliable rockets, believes that reusability isn’t just cool tech, it’s the future of spaceflight. It’s like he’s building the Tesla of rockets, making space accessible, not some exclusive club for the rich.

Bottom line? Andy’s the guy who’s not just dreaming about space, he’s actually making it happen. He’s got that rare mix of hardcore tech skills, big vision, and the guts to push boundaries. The dude’s pushing us all closer to the day space is as normal as catching a flight. No cap.