They're making strawberry jam in space.
Plus, how high-performers use AI as a multi-revenue cheat code at work.
SPACE JAM: REDWIRE IS GROWING STRAWBERRIES IN ORBIT AND INVESTORS ARE LOVING IT. Redwire just landed a contract to run the world’s first commercial space greenhouse on the ISS — and the market responded with an 11%+ stock pop. They’re not just sending up another experiment. They’re trying to grow actual food in space.
—> WHY STRAWBERRIES? They’re basically the perfect space crop. High in nutrients, relatively fast-growing, and tough enough to handle microgravity. Plus, who doesn’t want fresh strawberries on a long mission? Redwire will use its PONDS tech and a special biostimulant made from space-adapted microbes to see if they can produce better, more nutrient-dense berries in orbit.
—> THE BIGGER PLAY: This isn’t just about strawberries. It’s about figuring out how to sustainably feed astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. If you can grow fresh produce in space, you reduce the need for constant (and expensive) resupply missions from Earth. It’s a step toward real self-sufficiency beyond our planet.
—> MEET THE FUTURE: When a space company’s stock jumps because they’re growing berries in orbit, it shows investors are starting to see serious commercial potential in space agriculture.
Source: mtf.tv
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 155. The year is 2026. The planet is Earth.
The planet has completed roughly 42.4 percent of its orbit around the Sun. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn. iHeart | iTunes | Spotify | Amazon | Pandora. Sign-up to receive the future in your inbox here.
Back to the future...
SPACE
BOEING 737 IS BECOMING NASA’S NEW “VOMIT COMET” FOR MOON TRAINING NASA is bringing back the legendary Vomit Comet — and this time, it’s a modified Boeing 737. The plane will fly parabolic arcs to simulate lunar gravity so astronauts and equipment can train for Artemis Moon missions in actual 1/6th gravity conditions.
--> HOW IT WORKS: The aircraft will perform special flight paths that create about 23 seconds of lunar gravity at a time. It’s the same concept as the old Vomit Comet that trained shuttle astronauts, just updated for the Moon. Expect plenty of floating, testing gear, and yes — some motion sickness.
--> WHY THIS MATTERS: Long-duration Moon missions need real practice in low gravity. Walking, working, and handling equipment on the lunar surface feels very different from Earth. This 737 will let NASA test procedures, suits, and tools in the actual gravity environment astronauts will face — without leaving Earth’s atmosphere.
--> THE BOEING ANGLE: Yes, it’s a Boeing 737 being turned into a vomit-inducing training plane while the company is still dealing with Starliner issues. But NASA clearly still sees value in using Boeing hardware for critical Artemis support work. The future of human spaceflight sometimes looks exactly this weird.
Source: mtf.tv
FUTURE OF WORK
HIGH PERFORMERS USE AI AS CHEAT CODE TO HACK MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS. Welcome to 2026, where top talent is no longer betting everything on one employer. The old social contract is dead, and high performers are quietly building backup plans — including second full-time W-2 jobs — as their own form of private unemployment insurance. I dive into the study on the latest episode of HELLO FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli In an interview with fiscal policy expert Mattie Duppler, founder of Forward Strategies.
—> THE NEW REALITY: Nearly 80% of professionals now see a second full-time job as essential for financial security. More than half are still mostly working in-office at their primary role. It’s a strategic hedge against instability, layoffs, and one-directional loyalty.
—> AI CHANGED THE MATH: High-output employees are using AI tools to finish what used to be a full week’s work in around 30 hours while still exceeding expectations. Reality check: The people companies say they want to keep are the ones most able to build options elsewhere.
—> THEY’RE AIR-GAPPING THEIR INCOME: High performers are treating their careers like a portfolio instead of a single bet. They’re diversifying revenue streams so no one employer controls their livelihood. It’s not hustle culture — it’s rational risk management in an economy where volatility is the new normal.
Source: mtf.tv
ROBOTS
UKRAINE IS USING ROBOTS AND AI TO ACTUALLY WIN — NOT JUST SURVIVE Ukraine has shifted from a defensive war of attrition to actively talking about victory, and robots are a big reason why. By leaning heavily into drones, ground robots, and AI systems, Ukrainian forces are neutralizing Russia’s numerical advantage on the battlefield.
—> WHAT’S ACTUALLY WORKING: Ukraine is running robot-forward attacks and using networked AI defenses that link sensors, interceptors, and remote operators (sometimes working from Kyiv or even other countries). These systems have reportedly intercepted up to 90% of incoming Russian drones and missiles. Ground robots are also being used to hold or retake territory without putting as many soldiers in harm’s way.
THE BIGGER SHIFT: Russia’s traditional advantage — throwing more troops and equipment at the problem — is becoming less effective against cheap, fast, and increasingly autonomous systems. Ukraine has rapidly built a domestic drone and robotics industry that’s producing, modifying, and deploying systems at scale. This has damaged Russian oil infrastructure and forced Russia to change how it operates.
—> WHAT IT SIGNALS: This war is becoming a real-world test of how robotics and AI change modern conflict. Ukraine is proving that a smaller force with superior technology, tactics, and adaptability can punch well above its weight. The lessons being learned here — on both sides — will shape how militaries around the world think about future wars.
Source: Defense One
With gratitude,
Kev
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