{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"25765","rtpr_id":"nBwqbVVDa","ticker":"FJET","exchange":"NYSE American","all_tickers":["FJET"],"title":"Starfighters Space Adds Blue Origin Leaders to Accelerate STARLAUNCH Development","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-05-07T13:00:00.866Z","article_body":"Starfighters Space Adds Blue Origin Leaders to Accelerate STARLAUNCH\nDevelopment\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc. (“Starfighters” or the “Company”) (NYSE\nAmerican: FJET), the innovative aerospace company, owner and operator of the\nworld’s largest fleet of commercial supersonic aircraft, today announced the\nappointment of two senior leaders from Blue Origin’s New Glenn program,\nfurther strengthening its operational capabilities as it advances development\nof its STARLAUNCH platform.\n\nJose Arias has been appointed Vice President (VP), Space Operations, and\nCatrina L. Medeiros has been appointed Director, STARLAUNCH Operations. Mr.\nArias will oversee all space-related operations for the Company, with Ms.\nMedeiros leading execution of the Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH I\nprograms under his direction. Both bring deep experience executing and scaling\ncomplex aerospace systems from development through production and operations,\ncapabilities that are increasingly critical as Starfighters shifts from\ndemonstration to sustained, high-frequency mission execution.\n\n“We are building Starfighters to address the next barrier in the space\neconomy: not access, but execution,” said Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters\nSpace. “The challenge is no longer getting to space once, but doing it\nrepeatedly, reliably, and at operational tempo. That requires a fundamentally\ndifferent level of integration across engineering, propulsion, and flight\noperations. Jose and Catrina have lived that transition on one of the\nindustry’s most advanced launch systems, and their experience will\naccelerate our path to getting Starfighters to space.”\n\nJose Arias, Vice President (VP), Space Operations\n\nMr. Arias brings deep expertise in propulsion integration, production\nengineering, and high-tempo operational execution, with a proven track record\nof improving efficiency and throughput in complex hardware environments.\n\nHe joins Starfighters from Blue Origin, where he served as Senior\nManufacturing Engineer and Integration & Production Lead, working across\npropulsion system hardware in multiple roles of increasing responsibility. He\nled process improvements that reduced integration cycle time from 76 days to\n13 days, significantly increasing production throughput. A decorated U.S.\nMarine Corps veteran, Mr. Arias completed four overseas tours, received the\nPurple Heart twice, and graduated first in his class of 819 Marines. He holds\na Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South\nFlorida and is pursuing a Master of Science in Space Operations from\nEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University.\n\n“Starfighters is entering the initial operational acceleration phase of\ntheir business: focusing on executing missions faster and more efficiently,”\nsaid Arias. “My job is to bring my Blue Origin and Marine Corps experience\nto bear and deliver with that same discipline across all of our space\noperations, from integration through flight, and to accelerate the timelines\nthat get this platform to mission-ready.”\n\nCatrina L. Medeiros, Director, STARLAUNCH Operations\n\nMs. Medeiros will lead execution of the Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH\nI programs, bringing more than a decade of experience in aerospace\nmanufacturing operations, cross-functional integration, and production\nscaling.\n\nShe joins Starfighters from Blue Origin, where she served as Operations\nManager for the New Glenn Stage 2 and Precision Cleaning Facility programs,\nleading cross-functional teams and managing the transition from development\ninto production operations. Prior to Blue Origin, she spent over ten years at\nLockheed Martin Space Systems as a Senior Manufacturing Planner on the Orion\ncrew module program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Ms. Medeiros worked in\nall space sectors including civil, defense, and global supply chain. She holds\na Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Colorado Technical\nUniversity, summa cum laude.\n\n“Starfighters’ platform will bring a new level of flexibility and\nresponsiveness to space access,” said Medeiros. “What excites me is the\nopportunity to accelerate and drive execution on the programs that are already\nunderway - Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH I programs. My immediate\ntasking is to build the systems, processes, and teams required to deliver\nconsistently and at scale.”\n\nWind Tunnel in the Sky refers to using the F-104 to fly as an airborne wind\ntunnel. The F-104’s flight profile allows it to fly at MACH 2 for over ten\nminutes, generating the equivalent of 20 traditional 30-second ground wind\ntunnel runs and compressing what would otherwise take about ten days in a\nground facility into one 45-minute flight.\n\nThese appointments build on Starfighters’ recent momentum, including\nprogress on its STARLAUNCH 1 air-launch platform with GE Aerospace, an\nexpanded technical interchange with Blackstar Orbital, and a partnership with\nMu-G Technologies to support microgravity flight missions.\n\nMore broadly, the additions reflect the Company’s strategy to assemble an\noperationally proven team capable of moving beyond development into sustained\nexecution, positioning the Starfighters to meet growing demand across\ncommercial, civil, and national security space programs, where cadence,\nflexibility, and mission readiness are becoming the defining competitive\nadvantages.\n\nAbout Starfighters Space, Inc.\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc. is the only commercial company in the world with the\nability to fly payloads at sustained MACH 2+ and with the capability to launch\nthose payloads to space. Starfighters Space is an organization committed to\nparticipating in high-demand commercial space activities. Located at the NASA\nKennedy Space Center in Florida, the Company operates a fleet of modified\nsupersonic aircraft operationally configurable to act as the first stage\nlifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to space.\nAdditional activities include support research, pilot training, space flight\ntraining, and advanced scientific efforts including hypersonic testing as part\nof air launch partner development programs. Starfighters Space is working to\nposition its capability to become the most cost-effective launch provider in\nthe sector.\n\nFor more information about Starfighters Space, Inc. please visit:\nhttps://starfightersspace.com/\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarfightersspace.com%2F&esheet=54530300&newsitemid=20260507685405&lan=en-US&anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fstarfightersspace.com%2F&index=1&md5=1a9024b3ae15e8c578925e0687a6b3e7)\n.\n\nFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:\n\nExcept for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information\npresented in this news release constitutes “forward-looking statements” as\nsuch term is used in applicable United States securities laws. These\nstatements relate to analysis and other information that are based on\nforecasts or future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and\nassumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve\ndiscussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans,\nprojections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often,\nbut not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, or “does not\nexpect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”,\n“plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain\nactions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or\n“will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical\nfact and should be viewed as “forward-looking statements”. We have based\nthese forward-looking statements on information currently available to the\nCompany, assumptions the Company believes are reasonable and our current\nexpectations about future events or performance. While we believe these\nexpectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently\nsubject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our\nactual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in\nour forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could\ncontribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the ability to\nobtain the necessary permits and approvals to operate, the Company’s ability\nto develop new products and/or services, the approval of the Company’s\napplication for a launch license and the timing thereof, the Company’s\nexpansion to Midland, Texas, the adoption by the market of the Company’s\nmethod of satellite deployment, the Company’s continued business\narrangements, market trends and competition in the Company’s industry, the\nfuture diversification of the Company’s revenue streams and the assumptions\nunderlying any of the foregoing, and other factors discussed in the\nCompany’s filings with the Commission. Accordingly, readers should not place\nundue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release\nand in any document referred to in this news release. The forward-looking\nstatements contained in this news release are made only as of the date hereof.\nThe Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking\nstatements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\nThis news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of\nany offer to buy the Company’s securities.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507685405/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507685405/en/)\n\nMedia \n\nstarfightersspace@icrinc.com (mailto:starfightersspace@icrinc.com)\n\nInvestors \n\ninvestors@starfightersspace.com (mailto:investors@starfightersspace.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBwqbVVDa","title":"Starfighters Space Adds Blue Origin Leaders to Accelerate STARLAUNCH Development","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"FJET","created":"2026-05-07T13:00:00.866Z","tickers":["FJET"],"exchange":"NYSE American","article_body":"Starfighters Space Adds Blue Origin Leaders to Accelerate STARLAUNCH\nDevelopment\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc. (“Starfighters” or the “Company”) (NYSE\nAmerican: FJET), the innovative aerospace company, owner and operator of the\nworld’s largest fleet of commercial supersonic aircraft, today announced the\nappointment of two senior leaders from Blue Origin’s New Glenn program,\nfurther strengthening its operational capabilities as it advances development\nof its STARLAUNCH platform.\n\nJose Arias has been appointed Vice President (VP), Space Operations, and\nCatrina L. Medeiros has been appointed Director, STARLAUNCH Operations. Mr.\nArias will oversee all space-related operations for the Company, with Ms.\nMedeiros leading execution of the Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH I\nprograms under his direction. Both bring deep experience executing and scaling\ncomplex aerospace systems from development through production and operations,\ncapabilities that are increasingly critical as Starfighters shifts from\ndemonstration to sustained, high-frequency mission execution.\n\n“We are building Starfighters to address the next barrier in the space\neconomy: not access, but execution,” said Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters\nSpace. “The challenge is no longer getting to space once, but doing it\nrepeatedly, reliably, and at operational tempo. That requires a fundamentally\ndifferent level of integration across engineering, propulsion, and flight\noperations. Jose and Catrina have lived that transition on one of the\nindustry’s most advanced launch systems, and their experience will\naccelerate our path to getting Starfighters to space.”\n\nJose Arias, Vice President (VP), Space Operations\n\nMr. Arias brings deep expertise in propulsion integration, production\nengineering, and high-tempo operational execution, with a proven track record\nof improving efficiency and throughput in complex hardware environments.\n\nHe joins Starfighters from Blue Origin, where he served as Senior\nManufacturing Engineer and Integration & Production Lead, working across\npropulsion system hardware in multiple roles of increasing responsibility. He\nled process improvements that reduced integration cycle time from 76 days to\n13 days, significantly increasing production throughput. A decorated U.S.\nMarine Corps veteran, Mr. Arias completed four overseas tours, received the\nPurple Heart twice, and graduated first in his class of 819 Marines. He holds\na Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South\nFlorida and is pursuing a Master of Science in Space Operations from\nEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University.\n\n“Starfighters is entering the initial operational acceleration phase of\ntheir business: focusing on executing missions faster and more efficiently,”\nsaid Arias. “My job is to bring my Blue Origin and Marine Corps experience\nto bear and deliver with that same discipline across all of our space\noperations, from integration through flight, and to accelerate the timelines\nthat get this platform to mission-ready.”\n\nCatrina L. Medeiros, Director, STARLAUNCH Operations\n\nMs. Medeiros will lead execution of the Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH\nI programs, bringing more than a decade of experience in aerospace\nmanufacturing operations, cross-functional integration, and production\nscaling.\n\nShe joins Starfighters from Blue Origin, where she served as Operations\nManager for the New Glenn Stage 2 and Precision Cleaning Facility programs,\nleading cross-functional teams and managing the transition from development\ninto production operations. Prior to Blue Origin, she spent over ten years at\nLockheed Martin Space Systems as a Senior Manufacturing Planner on the Orion\ncrew module program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Ms. Medeiros worked in\nall space sectors including civil, defense, and global supply chain. She holds\na Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Colorado Technical\nUniversity, summa cum laude.\n\n“Starfighters’ platform will bring a new level of flexibility and\nresponsiveness to space access,” said Medeiros. “What excites me is the\nopportunity to accelerate and drive execution on the programs that are already\nunderway - Wind Tunnel in the Sky and STARLAUNCH I programs. My immediate\ntasking is to build the systems, processes, and teams required to deliver\nconsistently and at scale.”\n\nWind Tunnel in the Sky refers to using the F-104 to fly as an airborne wind\ntunnel. The F-104’s flight profile allows it to fly at MACH 2 for over ten\nminutes, generating the equivalent of 20 traditional 30-second ground wind\ntunnel runs and compressing what would otherwise take about ten days in a\nground facility into one 45-minute flight.\n\nThese appointments build on Starfighters’ recent momentum, including\nprogress on its STARLAUNCH 1 air-launch platform with GE Aerospace, an\nexpanded technical interchange with Blackstar Orbital, and a partnership with\nMu-G Technologies to support microgravity flight missions.\n\nMore broadly, the additions reflect the Company’s strategy to assemble an\noperationally proven team capable of moving beyond development into sustained\nexecution, positioning the Starfighters to meet growing demand across\ncommercial, civil, and national security space programs, where cadence,\nflexibility, and mission readiness are becoming the defining competitive\nadvantages.\n\nAbout Starfighters Space, Inc.\n\nStarfighters Space, Inc. is the only commercial company in the world with the\nability to fly payloads at sustained MACH 2+ and with the capability to launch\nthose payloads to space. Starfighters Space is an organization committed to\nparticipating in high-demand commercial space activities. Located at the NASA\nKennedy Space Center in Florida, the Company operates a fleet of modified\nsupersonic aircraft operationally configurable to act as the first stage\nlifting platform to carry payloads up to 45,000 feet for air launch to space.\nAdditional activities include support research, pilot training, space flight\ntraining, and advanced scientific efforts including hypersonic testing as part\nof air launch partner development programs. Starfighters Space is working to\nposition its capability to become the most cost-effective launch provider in\nthe sector.\n\nFor more information about Starfighters Space, Inc. please visit:\nhttps://starfightersspace.com/\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarfightersspace.com%2F&esheet=54530300&newsitemid=20260507685405&lan=en-US&anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fstarfightersspace.com%2F&index=1&md5=1a9024b3ae15e8c578925e0687a6b3e7)\n.\n\nFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:\n\nExcept for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information\npresented in this news release constitutes “forward-looking statements” as\nsuch term is used in applicable United States securities laws. These\nstatements relate to analysis and other information that are based on\nforecasts or future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and\nassumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve\ndiscussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans,\nprojections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often,\nbut not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, or “does not\nexpect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”,\n“plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain\nactions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or\n“will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical\nfact and should be viewed as “forward-looking statements”. We have based\nthese forward-looking statements on information currently available to the\nCompany, assumptions the Company believes are reasonable and our current\nexpectations about future events or performance. While we believe these\nexpectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently\nsubject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our\nactual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in\nour forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could\ncontribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the ability to\nobtain the necessary permits and approvals to operate, the Company’s ability\nto develop new products and/or services, the approval of the Company’s\napplication for a launch license and the timing thereof, the Company’s\nexpansion to Midland, Texas, the adoption by the market of the Company’s\nmethod of satellite deployment, the Company’s continued business\narrangements, market trends and competition in the Company’s industry, the\nfuture diversification of the Company’s revenue streams and the assumptions\nunderlying any of the foregoing, and other factors discussed in the\nCompany’s filings with the Commission. Accordingly, readers should not place\nundue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release\nand in any document referred to in this news release. The forward-looking\nstatements contained in this news release are made only as of the date hereof.\nThe Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking\nstatements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\nThis news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of\nany offer to buy the Company’s securities.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507685405/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507685405/en/)\n\nMedia \n\nstarfightersspace@icrinc.com (mailto:starfightersspace@icrinc.com)\n\nInvestors \n\ninvestors@starfightersspace.com (mailto:investors@starfightersspace.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-05-07T13:00:01.442953678Z","server_sent_at_ms":1778158801442},"received_at":"2026-05-07T13:00:01.546Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507685405/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"20167","press_release_id":"25765","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Capital Goods","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"executive_change","narrative":"Starfighters Space appointed Jose Arias as VP of Space Operations and Catrina Medeiros as Director of STARLAUNCH Operations, both joining from Blue Origin.\n\nThe hires are intended to strengthen operational capabilities and accelerate the STARLAUNCH platform as the company shifts from development to sustained mission execution.\n\nCEO Tim Franta highlighted that the new team's deep experience in scaling complex aerospace systems is critical to achieving high-tempo operations.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Blue Origin talent infusion signals operational ramp-up for STARLAUNCH."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"We are building Starfighters to address the next barrier in the space economy: not access, but execution","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Tim Franta","role":"CEO"},{"name":"Jose Arias","role":"VP, Space Operations"},{"name":"Catrina L. Medeiros","role":"Director, STARLAUNCH Operations"}],"products":["STARLAUNCH","STARLAUNCH I","Wind Tunnel in the Sky","F-104","New Glenn","Orion crew module"],"companies":[{"name":"Blue Origin","relationship":"industry_peer"},{"name":"Lockheed Martin Space Systems","relationship":"industry_peer"},{"name":"GE Aerospace","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Blackstar Orbital","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Mu-G Technologies","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"Strategic hiring of senior leadership from Blue Origin to accelerate the transition from development to operational execution for the STARLAUNCH platform."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"FJET"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small_cap","eventGravity":"senior_hires"}},"event_type":"executive_change","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"Starfighters Space appointed Jose Arias as VP of Space Operations and Catrina Medeiros as Director of STARLAUNCH Operations, both joining from Blue Origin.\n\nThe hires are intended to strengthen operational capabilities and accelerate the STARLAUNCH platform as the company shifts from development to sustained mission execution.\n\nCEO Tim Franta highlighted that the new team's deep experience in scaling complex aerospace systems is critical to achieving high-tempo operations.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Tim Franta","role":"CEO"},{"name":"Jose Arias","role":"VP, Space Operations"},{"name":"Catrina L. Medeiros","role":"Director, STARLAUNCH Operations"}],"products":["STARLAUNCH","STARLAUNCH I","Wind Tunnel in the Sky","F-104","New Glenn","Orion crew module"],"companies":[{"name":"Blue Origin","relationship":"industry_peer"},{"name":"Lockheed Martin Space Systems","relationship":"industry_peer"},{"name":"GE Aerospace","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Blackstar Orbital","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Mu-G Technologies","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:6c7fa2f5e3b62e83","schema_hash":"sha256:ee8f711bc9bfba0d","created_at":"2026-05-07T22:51:16.855Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small_cap","eventGravity":"senior_hires"}},"durationMs":null,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}