In this exhilarating episode of Hangar X Studios, host John Ramstead is joined by Charlie Burgoyne, founder and CEO of Valkyrie, a cutting-edge scientific R&D firm likened to a private DARPA. From miniaturizing a data center to fit inside an Altoids tin and sending it to the moon, to revolutionary breakthroughs in battery tech and graphene materials for aerospace, Charlie unpacks the present and future of innovation. Charlie shares his experiences across NASA, DARPA, and Valkyrie, exploring AI, defense applications, autonomous vehicles, and the future of air mobility. The conversation weaves deep scientific insights with real-world applications, all rooted in values-driven innovation. Whether you're a technologist, pilot, investor, or simply curious about where aerospace and materials science are heading, this episode is a masterclass in what's possible when stubborn curiosity meets breakthrough science. Episode Highlights How Valkyrie’s tech ended up on the moon Shrinking a data center from pizza box to chewing gum size Sodium batteries with 80x lithium-ion density Graphene’s multifaceted future: from wings to waste disposal Why autonomous flight is easier than autonomous driving The future of EVTOLs and urban air mobility Creating science teams built on honor, love, grit, and hope What makes Valkyrie a transformative force in industry and defense Key Points & Timestamps [00:00:00] Charlie's background in government, NASA, DARPA, and how it shaped Valkyrie [00:02:16] Sending AI-enabled data storage to the moon with Lone Star Lunar and Valkyrie [00:04:40] Valkyrie’s mission: American science serving American values [00:06:01] Company culture at Valkyrie: built on values and low attrition [00:07:24] Sodium-based batteries: 80x density over lithium-ion [00:09:03] Introduction to graphene and its applications in tran...