This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit’

techcrunch.com Apr 9, 2026

This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit’

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Apr 9, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Jeff Thornburg, a veteran rocket engineer, is leading Portal Space Systems in developing solar thermal propulsion technology, a concept studied by NASA since the 1960s. This technology concentrates the sun's heat to propel spacecraft at high speed, potentially offering better performance than current engines. With a $50 million funding round, Portal aims to bring this technology to orbit within two years, revolutionizing in-space mobility.

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Elon Musk predicts Grok will start to challenge Hollywood by the end…

Elon Musk has announced that xAI's model, Grok, will be capable of creating full movies by the end of 2026. A trailer for Homer's The Odyssey, created using Grok Imagine Video 1.5, showcases the AI's rapid strides in video generation. The 2-minute-plus trailer features 36 consistent shots, realistic special effects, and emotional depth, demonstrating Grok's capabilities in scale, physics, and cinematic workflow. Musk believes Grok will be "watchable" by the end of 2026 and "really good" by 2027.

💡 Hollywood's dominance may be challenged by AI-generated content, as Grok's capabilities raise questions about the future of cinematic authorship.

businesstoday.in · Jun 18

‘Hang in there, Elon’: Why Anand Mahindra’s 2018 message is going viral…

Industrialist Anand Mahindra has recalled a 2018 message he shared with Elon Musk, in which he encouraged the Tesla and SpaceX founder to "hang in there" amidst production challenges and doubts over his ambitious plans. Mahindra's message gained new relevance after Musk became the world's first trillionaire following SpaceX's record-breaking market debut. Mahindra reflected on Musk's resilience and ability to turn "tomorrow's impossibility into today's reality." Musk's net worth jumped to over $1 trillion after SpaceX's valuation increased to nearly $1.77 trillion.

💡 Mahindra's message highlights the long-term vision and resilience required to achieve groundbreaking success. By supporting Musk during a challenging phase, Mahindra underscores the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, particularly for innovators and entrepreneurs pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

cnbc.com · Jun 18

Amazon AI exec predicts first ‘commercially useful’ quantum computers in 5-7 years

Amazon AI executive Peter DeSantis predicts the first commercially useful small-scale quantum computers will be available in five-to-seven years. DeSantis leads a new Amazon organization focused on AI models, chips, and quantum computing. Quantum computing proponents claim the technology will solve problems current computers cannot. DeSantis' prediction suggests significant advancements in the field. The technology is expected to grow similarly to semiconductor capabilities. Amazon's investment in quantum computing indicates a strong commitment to the technology's potential. DeSantis' statement highlights the progress being made in quantum computing research and development, with potential applications emerging soon.

💡 Quantum computers will unlock solutions to complex problems, revolutionizing industries that rely on complex calculations. Breakthroughs in fields like medicine and finance will be driven by quantum computing's ability to process vast amounts of data quickly.

businesstoday.in · Jun 17

Could AI make money irrelevant? Elon Musk says the answer may lie…

Elon Musk has suggested that conventional money may lose relevance in a future where artificial intelligence (AI) gains access to enormous amounts of energy and surpasses human intelligence. According to Musk, harnessing just 1 millionth of the Sun's power for AI systems would result in computational capabilities far beyond human capabilities. This feat would require the construction of an extensive industrial infrastructure beyond Earth, including manufacturing solar panels and radiators on the Moon and launching them into deep space using a "mass driver." Musk believes that access to raw materials and abundant energy could become more important than traditional measures of wealth in a future dominated by advanced AI and automation.

💡 Musk's prediction of a money-less future highlights the potential for a fundamental transformation in the global economy, where energy and computation become the primary drivers of economic productivity. The notion that traditional currencies could become obsolete underscores the need for governments and industries to rethink their approach to wealth and value in a world where AI capabilities are increasingly linked to energy resources.

cbnc.com · Jun 17

Nvidia’s Huang pledges AI will boost manufacturing jobs. A test will come…

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is wagering that an AI buildout can revive US manufacturing, with a key test coming in Texas. Nvidia is unveiling plans for a major upgrade to its AI infrastructure as part of a $2 billion partnership with Coherent, the owner of a factory near Dallas. The factory will produce material for a laser to transmit data among computer chips. This project is part of Huang's vision to push past limits facing science and society. The factory groundbreaking is a significant step in Nvidia's efforts to boost US manufacturing. The company's computer chips have unleashed a revolution in artificial intelligence.

💡 Nvidia's investment in AI infrastructure could create a new model for US manufacturing, one that combines cutting-edge technology with domestic production. Revitalizing US manufacturing would boost local economies and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

businesstoday.in · Jun 16

Coding at 7, CEO at 16: Inside Pranjali Awasthi’s ₹100-crore AI journey

Pranjali Awasthi, a 16-year-old CEO, founded Delv.AI, an artificial intelligence company, after discovering a bottleneck in research during a virtual internship at Florida International University. She began coding at seven and was guided by her engineer father, laying the foundation for her technical trajectory. Awasthi launched Delv.AI in 2022 to help enterprises and researchers extract information from complex datasets, gaining rapid traction and securing funding from prominent investors, driving the company's valuation to ₹100 crore. Her journey showcases a passion for programming and innovation. Awasthi's company operates as a text analytics platform, streamlining research workflows.

💡 Awasthi's success underscores the potential for young innovators to drive technological advancements, particularly in AI. Her ability to identify and solve a real-world problem has earned her a spot among prominent tech entrepreneurs.