Andrew

SWE, Builder, Maker, Girl dad, Husband to an amazing wife

[Andrew @AndrewLech85]

I’m excited to share that I’ve joined @valaratomics as Head of Software.

Building alongside people tackling some of the hardest engineering problems in the world has shaped how I think about great teams, ambitious missions, and what it means to truly build.

A big reason I’m making this move is @isaiah_p_taylor and his vision for the future of nuclear energy. It aligns deeply with something I’ve believed for a long time: energy capacity is one of the fundamental constraints on humanity’s continued progress. If we want to build more, compute more, manufacture more, explore further, and raise the standard of living around the world, we need dramatically more abundant energy.

I believe nuclear is the best path to getting there.

At Valar, I’ll be building a team of exceptional software engineers, people who are builders at heart, who want ownership, move fast, and are excited to turn ambitious ideas into real systems.

If the future of energy excites you as much as it excites us, DM me. We’re building.

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

This is an opportunity to work with SONAT SEN himself! Legendary nuclear engineer, critical to the most impactful nuclear projects of this century.

And, you get to do that at the world’s most hardware-focused nuclear startup.

Truly a generational opportunity

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

Announcing Valar Atomics' $1B series B led by Sequoia, with Valor Equity Partners, Atreides, Point72, Conviction, and others.

Alongside the $1B equity, we have closed a $200m credit facility led by Erebor and JPM.

I'm excited to welcome Shaun Maguire from Sequoia to our board.

[Blue Origin @blueorigin]

Saddle up. Ascending Node just launched. 🤠🚀

Blue Origin's new podcast, hosted by @ToryBruno and Tabitha Lipkin, is about the people, ideas, and breakthroughs building a road to space.

Available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the first episode: https://t.co/DjAhmwkoIJ

[Ian Tracey @ian_dot_so]

https://t.co/6aIhogx6xt

[Yuchen Jin @Yuchenj_UW]

OpenAI and Anthropic have opposite cultures.

OpenAI runs like a modern Bell Labs. 2-3 researchers spin up projects like GPT & Sora, then turn them into products. Maximal ambition, from each kind of model to robotics to AI device.

Anthropic is brutally focused. They believe coding is the path to AGI. Everything else is noise. No image models. No video models. No vagueposts.

It will be fascinating to see which one wins.

[Dave Limp @davill]

In a recent hotfire our BE-3U engine reached more than 211,500 lbf thrust. That makes BE-3U the highest thrust-to-weight hydrogen engine in history, at more than 90! Here is the video of that test for your enjoyment.

[Dave Limp @davill]

Jacklyn and “Never Tell Me The Odds” underway to port. Currently tracking for a Tuesday arrival

[Dave Limp @davill]

Some fun stills! Congrats Team Blue and NASA on an amazing day. Never tell me the odds!

[Eric Berger @SciGuySpace]

HOLY SHIT! They landed the booster. Huge congratulations to Blue Origin and everyone who worked their asses off to make this happen.

[Dave Limp @davill]

NG-2 is vertical at LC-36.
One step closer to Mars!

[Dave Limp @davill]

New Glenn’s first and second stages are now mated – a big step toward launch.  Here is a fun time lapse video (from the factory cameras) of us moving the integrated vehicle to the Transporter Erector (TE). The New Glenn simulator can be seen in the middle of the clip, an important part for ground support equipment validation. We will spend the next days on final checkouts and connecting the umbilicals.  Stay tuned for rollout and hotfire!

[Shaun Maguire @shaunmmaguire]

I cannot imagine a better NASA Administrator than Jared Isaacman

@rookisaacman

[Dave Limp @davill]

Meet our second booster, with all modules mated: “Never Tell Me The Odds.” I think the odds of landing this booster are a lot better than 3,720-to-1. Both strakes are in place, and BE-4 installation is well underway.  Great job by the team as we continue getting our second booster ready for launch.

[Dave Limp @davill]

Thank you, Major General Purdy, for joining us in Huntsville at our engine factory and Blue Ring manufacturing facility. Proud to support the future of national security space launches from Rocket City.

[Dave Limp @davill]

Blue Ring Pathfinder integrated. Jacklyn well underway. Launch license received. Here we go!

[Andrew @AndrewLech85]

Next stop launch 🚀🚀🚀

[Jeff Bezos @JeffBezos]

Next stop launch

[Jeff Bezos @JeffBezos]

Next stop launch

[Andrew @AndrewLech85]

Back on here and scoping things out :-)