Orlando Aerospace Engineer hosts happy hours to connect people in Space industry
Florida's Space Coast stands as our nation's premier gateway to human spaceflight, being the only location in our country where astronauts are launched into space. Our region is home to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, both integral to space exploration endeavors.
While there have been some notable layoffs recently, the global space economy has been experiencing significant growth, with projections estimating its value to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, up from $630 billion in 2023.
For one individual here in Orlando, the pursuit of working in the space industry isn’t just a career, it’s a lifelong passion driven by his excitement for human spaceflight and the potential for discovery and innovation.
Hunter Hatchell studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and later, completed his Masters in Aerospace Engineering-Bioastronautics at the University of Colorado Boulder.
After earning his Master’s, Hunter Hatchell worked on advanced spacesuits and lunar exploration projects at NASA but found himself burned out and searching for deeper purpose. Seeking both career opportunities and a stronger sense of community, he traveled across the country, networking in different space hubs before ultimately deciding to return to Florida.
For Hunter, he is equally as passionate for building community which soon led him to connect with Space Happy Hour, a national initiative that brings together engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts to foster relationships, share insights, and create career opportunities within the space sector.
Interested in wanting to connect people in the Space industry, Hunter joined Space Happy Hour as a volunteer and now is the host for their events here in Florida. Rather than starting his own community building initiative, Hunter said, “When I met the people behind Space Happy Hour my core values and interest for community building aligned very well with them. The space industry is across the entire country, and by working with a bigger organization, I get to tap into some of those other engineers, other professionals, other business members that have interest in the larger part of the industry.”
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For Space Happy Hour here in Florida, there have already been a number of successful outcomes for people who’ve attended. Hunter said, “One person who lived out of state visited my event and shared how it helped gain him insight and confidence to land a role at SpaceX at the Cape. Another was a start up here in Orlando that secured business with another space company in Colorado when they met at our event.”
Other positive outcomes have included helping people who were recently laid off from Blue Origin find community, insight and resources to help them reset.
Hunter said his goals with Space Happy Hour is to just grow it further and continue to help others and meet cool space professionals. “I’ve met many connections I wouldn’t have expected to find or wouldn’t have had access to without Space Happy Hour.”
The next Space Happy Hour event is happening on Thursday March 27th at 6pm in Titusville. You can register here
