From Iron Dome to the final frontier: Hilla Haddad Chmelnik on Israel's defense legacy and the race

Hilla Haddad Chmelnik, CEO of Moonshot Space, envisions Israel becoming the "FedEx to space" by leveraging kinetic launch technology. Drawing parallels to the success of the Iron Dome, which she helped certify for operational use, Chmelnik emphasizes the importance of innovative thinking and starting from a blank page.

Moonshot Space is developing a system that uses electricity to accelerate payloads through a ground-based tube. Unlike traditional rockets that rely on chemical propulsion, this kinetic launch method aims to significantly cut costs. Chmelnik projects that the price per kilogram for space launches could drop from $4,000 to a few hundred dollars, making regular deliveries to space stations and orbital infrastructure economically viable.

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Chmelnik, who also has a background in the Israeli Air Force and served as Director-General of Israel's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, believes Israel is well-positioned to lead in this emerging field. She acknowledges that the United States and China are also pursuing similar breakthroughs, framing the endeavor as a race that Israel can win. The conversation highlights the evolution of Israeli technology from defense achievements like the Iron Dome to ambitious commercial ventures in space.

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FedEx to space