Matthew Ondler, President & Chief Strategy Officer, Aegis Aerospace

Invest: spoke with Matthew Ondler, president and chief strategy officer of Aegis Aerospace, about Houston’s growing leadership in commercial space, the emergence of in-space manufacturing, and the opportunities shaping the next era of aerospace. “NASA’s model is changing. Rather than owning landers, rovers, and other infrastructure, NASA increasingly wants to purchase services from commercial providers,” Ondler said.

What trends in the space and defense industry over the past year are affecting Aegis Aerospace and its strategy?

What is probably the most exciting to me is in-space manufacturing. NASA has conducted research on the International Space Station for many years, leveraging the microgravity environment to make things that cannot be manufactured on Earth. Some applications are in the biological realm, where researchers have used microgravity to better understand biological systems and discover new drugs.

The project we are involved with focuses on semiconductor manufacturing. Certain semiconductor materials can be manufactured much more effectively in microgravity. We have a demonstration planned for next year that is partly funded by the Texas Space Commission.

I think it will be one of the first real examples of a product that can be manufactured in space with a business case that closes. The material is valuable enough that it is economical to launch the raw material, manufacture it in orbit, and bring it back to Earth. Once that proof point exists, it will open the door for many other products that can only be manufactured in space.

You stepped into this leadership role during a period of rapid change across commercial space and national security. What are your top priorities for the company?

One priority is expanding our presence in the defense space. We have spent almost 30 years helping the Air Force and Space Force conduct experiments and research missions in space, and that activity continues to grow. There is increasing interest in robotics, robotic servicing, and other defense applications.

We want to continue expanding our ability to support the defense community while maintaining our long-standing work with NASA.

Where do you see the strongest business opportunities emerging over the next several years?

In-space manufacturing is certainly one of them. Companies such as Axiom Space and VAST are developing commercial destinations that will support not only NASA missions but also manufacturing in orbit. We are working with those companies as potential platforms for these manufacturing capabilities.

The moon also presents significant opportunities. Last year, Aegis flew the first woman-owned payload to land on the moon, and this year we are flying another payload with Intuitive Machines.

NASA’s model is changing. Rather than owning landers, rovers, and other infrastructure, NASA increasingly wants to purchase services from commercial providers. That creates opportunities for companies like ours to provide experiments and scientific payloads while commercial companies build and operate the infrastructure.

How are customer needs changing across NASA programs, defense contracts, and commercial space?

One of the biggest changes is speed. The new NASA administrator wants to return to the moon more frequently, and the defense community is looking for more rapid solutions from smaller, agile companies. That requires us to improve how we procure parts, engineer systems, and build hardware. I came from an environment where rapid prototyping was common, so it has been exciting to help move the company toward developing systems in months rather than years.

What lessons has the industry learned from recent lunar missions, and how close are we to building a sustainable lunar economy?

Space is still difficult. Reaching low Earth orbit remains challenging, and getting to the moon is even harder. However, advances in technology have dramatically lowered the barriers.

Companies like Intuitive Machines have demonstrated that organizations with only a few hundred employees can successfully reach the moon. That would have been difficult to imagine just a decade ago. Those advances, combined with decades of NASA research, are creating real opportunities to build sustainable commercial activity on the moon and in low Earth orbit.

How do you see artificial intelligence changing aerospace operations, engineering, and mission planning?

We are already using AI in several ways. One application is processing data in orbit. Communications bandwidth is limited, so AI can process information before it is transmitted back to Earth, allowing us to send only the most valuable data.

We are also using AI during the design process. One of the biggest constraints in spaceflight is reducing mass. AI tools help optimize component designs, and paired with 3D printing, they allow us to manufacture lighter parts.

Another important application is predicting failures. Spacecraft include significant redundancy because repairs are rarely possible once they are in orbit. AI will help predict failures earlier and optimize system design, potentially reducing unnecessary redundancy while improving operational planning.

What progress have you seen from the Texas Space Commission, and what role do Houston and the broader region play in the industry’s future?

I am one of the governor’s appointees on TARSEC (Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium), which advises the Texas Space Commission. The state is making significant investments because it recognizes opportunities beyond traditional aerospace.

Texas sees potential in areas such as biomedical research and semiconductor manufacturing in space. That broadens the space economy beyond companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Aegis Aerospace by creating opportunities for startups working in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and other emerging fields.

Houston also benefits from strong support from both the state and the city, including investments in the Houston Spaceport that continue to strengthen the region’s aerospace ecosystem.

What advantages does Houston offer the aerospace industry today, and what challenges remain?

Houston’s biggest advantage is its existing aerospace community built around the Johnson Space Center. Beyond that, the region has a tremendous intellectual base from the energy industry and the Texas Medical Center. That means access to engineers, technicians, machine shops, and manufacturers capable of supporting complex aerospace projects.

Houston also has access to investment capital and a culture that encourages ambitious ideas. I have lived here for 42 years, and one of the things I appreciate most is that Texas has a mindset that anything is possible. When you combine talent, capital, and that entrepreneurial culture, it creates a unique environment for innovation.

What skills are most in demand today, and how is Aegis approaching workforce development?

Workforce development is another priority for the Texas Space Commission. It is not that we are missing one specific skill. We simply need more people across the board. We need additional electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, software engineers, and technicians who know how to build spaceflight hardware.

Programs like Artemis are important because they inspire young people to pursue science and engineering. We are working with the Texas Space Commission to encourage students to stay interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to create programs that strengthen the future workforce.

Looking ahead, what gives you the most optimism about Aegis Aerospace’s future and Houston’s continued growth?

The current NASA administrator wants to increase the pace of lunar missions, and Houston remains the home of human spaceflight. That creates significant opportunities to continue supporting NASA.

The Space Force also has a growing presence in Houston, and defense budgets in space are much larger than NASA’s budget. That creates another area of opportunity.

We are also working with commercial companies such as Intuitive Machines, Axiom, and VAST. Of everything happening today, in-space manufacturing excites me the most. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

One thing I would emphasize is the importance of inspiration. I was 6 years old when I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, and from that moment, I never wanted to do anything else.

Space has a unique ability to inspire people. You could see it in the excitement surrounding the Artemis II mission and humanity’s return to the moon. It brings people together in a positive way.

As the world becomes increasingly complex, we will need more engineers, scientists, and software developers to solve difficult problems. Workforce development begins when children are 5 or 6 years old. We have to create opportunities for them to experience what is happening in space and inspire them to pursue those careers. Texas is investing in those efforts, and we are proud to be part of them.