EP37: Interview with Christopher Fedele, Business Development Director, L3 Harris

Spacepower Podcast – Propulsion Trends & Maneuverability with L3Harris’ Chris FedeleIn this episode, host Bill Woolf speaks with Chris Fedele, a senior leader in propulsion and national security space at L3Harris. With over 30 years supporting land, sea, air, and space missions, Chris discusses how propulsion technologies are rapidly evolving to meet today’s contested space environment.Chris highlights how propulsion enables agility, survivability, and resilience for U.S. space systems. He explains the shift from predictable, long-duration orbits to highly maneuverable systems capable of avoiding threats, repositioning quickly, and sustaining operations in increasingly hostile environments.Key technologies discussed include electric propulsion, high‑performance propellants, VLEO maneuverability, and L3Harris’ leadership in nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion — capabilities that will not only reshape national security space but accelerate NASA’s path to Mars.Chris also emphasizes cultural transformation inside L3Harris: empowering engineers, fostering innovation, challenging old assumptions, and embracing speed. He offers advice for early‑career space professionals: be bold, question the status quo, and contribute new ideas.The episode closes with a discussion about future collaboration, innovation hubs, and how industry and government must work together to outpace adversaries and secure the space domain.