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.”