REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - U.S. space startups have slashed workforces and restructured operations to survive amid an investment drought that has grounded once-lofty aspirations. Those struggles follow the April bankruptcy filing by satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit, which was owned by billionaire Richard Branson. "The focus for investors in this space is very different than what it was a couple years ago. The financial headwinds faced by rocket startups have triggered pain elsewhere as well. It shifted much of its focus to government defense programs as its commercial customers face tight capital markets, CEO Laurienti said.

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Persons: Mike Blake, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Joe Laurienti, Caleb Henry, Chris Kemp, Will Marshall, Quilty's Henry, Laurienti, Joey Roulette, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Elon, SpaceX, Astra, Labs, Ursa, Reuters, Planet Labs, Thomson Locations: Long Beach , California, U.S, Denver, Washington