Congressman Mike Haridopolos Delivers Speech Recognizing Rockledge Company Eta Space and the Role of Community Banks in His District

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Friday, Congressman Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) delivered a speech on the House floor to recognize Eta Space, a small business from Rockledge, Florida, that is paving the way for America’s future in space exploration.

Orbital refueling is a critical step in charting America’s course back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. Thanks to the timely support of a local community bank, Eta Space has been able to develop an experimental satellite that will study the behavior of cryogenic fuels in orbit. This groundbreaking satellite is set to launch later this year, marking a significant milestone in advancing spaceflight technology.

A video of Rep. Haridopolos’ speech can be found here.

The full remarks are below:  

I rise today to recognize the incredible work of Eta Space, a business in my district that is shaping the future of American space exploration.

As we return to the Moon and set our sights on Mars, one major challenge remains: the ability to refuel spacecraft in orbit.

This requires storing fuels at temperatures hundreds of degrees below freezing and transferring them while traveling at 17,000 miles per hour in microgravity. That’s no easy task.

The dedicated team at Eta Space has been at the forefront of solving this challenge. But like so many small businesses driving innovation, they needed support at a critical moment. 

That support came from a local community bank that provided essential credit to keep their work moving forward. 

Thanks to that local support, Eta Space is thriving, and later this year, they will launch their LOXSAT satellite to advance the future of American spaceflight.

Community banks are the backbone of entrepreneurship, and on the Financial Services Committee under Chairman Hill, we are working hard to ensure that these banks remain strong so businesses like Eta Space can continue pushing America forward.

Congressman Mike Haridopolos represented Florida’s 8th Congressional District, encompassing Florida’s Space Coast, home to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center. Rep. Haridopolos was recently named Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.