Space Business Podcast

Space Business Podcast #130 - Stephen Matier, Maritime Launch: Spaceports

Spaceports should become a bigger business going forward if all goes well in the space sector and we will have ever more rockets launching from ever more locations. This is why some private companies are now getting into this market. One of them is Maritime Launch from Canada, who are developing a spaceport in Novia Scotia. My guest this week, Founder & CEO Stephen Matier, will tell us all about what it takes to build a spaceport, operate it, and much more. Enjoy!
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Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" is available in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 Episode intro
02:00 Elevator pitch
03:31 Choosing Nova Scotia for a Spaceport
04:52 Challenges and Opportunities in Spaceport Development
10:02 Environmental and Safety Considerations
14:39 Infrastructure and Logistics
17:35 Business Model
27:49 Insurance and Liability in Space Launches
29:12 Canadian Space Law and Regulations
32:29 Sea Launch
34:41 Business Development and Customer Acquisition
40:11 Financing the Spaceport
40:51 Future of Global Spaceports
45:36 Community Support and Social License
47:26 Exciting Developments in Space Exploration
49:12 Sci-Fi

Space Business Podcast #129 - Kelly Weinersmith, Co-Author: A City On Mars

A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through? – That is the title of a book published in late 2023 which then became an instant NY Times bestseller and went on to win a 2024 Hugo Award. My guest this week is Kelly Weinersmith, one of its two authors, together with her husband. The book is a critical, and humorously written, examination of the question of whether humanity should settle space. It touches on everything ranging from legal aspects all the way to having babies in Space. For me as a die-hard proponent of humanity settling in space, this was a fun and insightful conversation to have. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, too!
https://www.acityonmars.com/
 
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" is available in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
00:00 Episode Introduction
01:41 Podcast Introduction
02:16 Summary and Insights on 'A City on Mars' book
03:15 Challenges of Space Settlement
03:35 Becoming a Space Settlement Enthusiast
05:08 Concerns About Human Reproduction in Space
09:09 Environmental Control and Life Support Systems
13:18 International Law and Space Resources
22:28 The Race with China and Future Prospects
28:30 Military Funding for Space Infrastructure
29:37 Geopolitics and Strategy in Space
30:49 Technological Gaps and Innovations
32:57 Reproduction in Space: Fun and Challenges
41:41 Mental Health and Well-being in Space
45:44 Arts, Religion, and Community in Space
48:15 Future Updates and Books
54:23 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #128 - Jordi Barrera Ars, Open Cosmos: Satellites as Shared Infrastructure

Open Cosmos is a prominent European new space startup providing and operating satellites. They recently won a EUR60MM contract to build a remote sensing constellation for the Greek government, beating out strong and established competitors. Their co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jordi Barrera Ars is my guest. Enjoy!
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" is available in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 Countdown00:10 Episode intro00:33 Podcast intro01:45 Elevator Pitch02:32 Challenges in Space Missions03:40 Data Cosmos: Simplifying Space Data03:53 Evolution of the Space Industry12:33 Open Constellation Concept13:39 Customer Collaboration and Data Utilization20:41 Marketplace of Applications24:14 Economic Advantages of Asset Optimization29:40 Customer Use Cases and Exciting Projects30:15 Innovations in Satellite Payloads32:18 Challenges and Opportunities in Space Data35:11 Future Steps for Open Cosmos36:45 Real-Time Data Delivery and Industry Trends44:23 The Impact of Starship on the Space Sector47:27 Trustworthy Data49:20 Favorite Sci-Fi

Space Business Podcast #127 - Will Crowe, HEO: Non-Earth Imaging

HEO, a space startup from Australia, uses sensors on-orbit to identify, characterize and monitor space objects at scale. Objects such as debris, but also active satellites. You can imagine there are a number of civil and defense use cases here. So-called Space Situational Awareness is a big topic these days. HEO’s founder & CEO Will Crowe is one of the best people to talk about it. Enjoy!
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" is available in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 Countdown00:10 Episode intro00:42 Podcast intro01:27 Introducing Will Crow and HEO's Mission02:48 HEO's Origin Story and Initial Focus on Asteroids04:20 Commercial and National Security Use Cases07:11 Recent Events and National Security Concerns10:42 Challenges and Countermeasures in Space Monitoring15:54 Customer Journey and Tasking Process17:51 Leveraging Existing Satellites and Partnerships23:58 Future Prospects and Monetizing Observation Time25:02 Understanding Spatial Resolution in Space Observation25:44 The Importance of High-Resolution Imaging27:42 Video vs. Still Images in Space Observation28:39 Data Handling and Analysis in Space Observation31:36 Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities37:20 Future Prospects and Technological Innovations42:22 Long-Term Vision and Sci-Fi46:16 Closing Remarks and Wrap-Up
 

Space Business Podcast #126 - Mo Shahzad, Relativity Space: Launch

Relativity Space, from Long Beach, California, is probably one the best-known launch startups in the world. They had a partially successful launch of their Terran One rocket last year, are now working towards the launch of the much larger Terran R, have 1200 employees and raised over $1bn in funding. My guest is their President & CFO Mo Shahzad and we talk about all things Relativity but also a little about the launch market in general. Enjoy!
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro2:30 Relativity Space summary5:13 Mo's career incl. switching to the space sector7:00 Acting as a "translator"13:00 Discussing difficulties with clients17:38 Hiring22:00 Steps on the way to Mars28:32 Production and flight cadence31:18 Pricing34:00 Relativity in the broader launch market38:31 Rideshare40:50 Ancillary products43:30 Vision45:48 Interesting things in commercial space49:00 Sci-Fi

Space Business Podcast # 125 - Ankit Anand, Kicksky

This week we are talking about KickSky, the first incubator for Indian space startups, which is having the demo day of its first cohort on 8-May. I am talking to Ankit Anand, Partner of Riceberg Ventures and a co-founder of KickSky. We talk about why the timing is right for an Indian space incubator, what the incubation program looks like, and many other things. For full disclosure, E2MC, the space venture fund where I am partner, is also part of KickSky. If you have any interest in Indian space, don’t miss this episode! 
If you are:
- an Indian startup interested in applying to KickSky- interested in becoming a mentor at KickSky- interested in joining KickSky's investor networkplease go to https://www.kicksky.space
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro2:19 Ankit's background and the Indian space ecosystem13:34 Space Sector in India - Government & commercial17:34 Kicksky's structure and program26:22 Mentoring31:16 Demo-day and practical examples37:12 Experience of being an incubator40:01 Future plans43:08 Apply to Kicksky43:37 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #124 - Johannes Torpe: A Designer domesticating Space

Johannes Torpe is a well-known Danish designer who, among many other things, was the Creative Director at Bang & Olufsen, and once owned a space-themed night club called NASA. He is passionate about what he calls “domesticating space” – bringing space closer to people at large, beyond the existing space community. We met at Spacecom in Orlando earlier this year and finally had a chance to schedule a podcast episode to talk about all this. Enjoy!
https://www.johannestorpe.com/
Golden space suit event: https://www.designindaba.com/videos/conference-talks/danish-designer-johannes-torpe-power-design-create-universes
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro2:36 Johannes's background6:05 Golden space suit entry11:15 Connecting people to the Space Renaissance18:42 Domesticating Space21:50 The Space Mountain Case and Space "Retroism"27:22 Potential ways of inspiring people31:06 Hotels & Resorts34:15 "Edutainment"37:07 NASA Nightclub42:36 Space & the arts47:57 Current space-related projects53:49 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #123 - José Manuel Rodríguez, PLD Space: Launch

PLD Space is a Spanish launch startup. Last October, they successfully completed a suborbital test flight of their Miura-1 rocket. We talk about that flight, their future plans on the way to orbital launch, the launch market at large, and many other things, with my guest, PLD’s CFO, José Manuel Rodríguez. Enjoy!
https://www.pldspace.com/en/Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro2:20 Elevator Pitch6:05 European access to space9:17 Business Model13:17 Specs18:10 Rocket engines19:20 Production capacity20:54 Scaling up23:41 Europe vs. other markets25:50 Customers28:50 Gaining trust with customers33:27 User guide35:40 Launch market39:10 Sovereign launch42:08 Spaceports44:18 Orbits47:00 Future milestones49:45 Team53:38 Other interesting space activities55:30 Sci-Fi

Space Business Podcast #122 - Alexandra Vidyuk, Space Ambition & Aloniq VC

Space Ambition is a very popular space blog on Substack, with over 11000 subscribers. Its founder Alexandra Vidyuk is our guest this week. She is also a space tech investor at Aloniq VC. We talk about both of her roles. Enjoy!
Space ambition blog: https://spaceambition.substack.com/
Aloniq VC: https://www.aloniq.com/
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro2:08 Alex's activities in the space sector3:10 Space Ambition origins5:48 Transitioning into the space sector7:23 What is Space Ambition?9:04 Topics11:42 "Spotlights"14:30 Insights from Spotlights17:30 Women in Space20:20 Dream guest21:61 Insights of space tech investors22:58 Other space media25:13 Getting into space investing27:28 Other deep tech areas vs. space29:33 Interesting areas in space31:33 Investor perspectives35:53 The Singapore Space Ecosystem38:58 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #121 - Aaron Kemmer, Max Space: Inflatables

Inflatable space modules is what we are talking about in this episode, and that is Max Space’s product, a company that just came out more publicly at Space Symposium. My guest for the episode is CEO & co-founder Aaron Kemmer, who some of you may remember from his previous role as a co-founder of the in-space manufacturing company Made in Space. Aaron and I talk about his motivation to set up Max Space, and how their inflatables can be used for example as habitats, research labs, manufacturing sites and even as sports and entertainment venues in space.For full disclosure: Max Space is a portfolio company of E2MC, the space venture capital fund founded by our host Raphael Roettgen.
https://getmaxspace.com/Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps:0:00 Intro2:26 Max Space3:32 Rationale for starting Max Space7:22 Inflatables9:26 Space in space13:13 In-space experiments15:51 Business model18:13 Customization for use cases21:13 User guide22:27 Life support and space hazards26:48 End of life planning30:18 Inflatables beyond Earth orbit35:50 Volume36:44 Fitting windows & other structures40:00 Inflating41:00 First module in space43:12 Major to-dos and milestones46:25 Regulatory process47:52 Long-term vision51:20 Other exciting things in the space industry55:07 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #120 - AdAstra - Space Talent Advisory

We are talking about the space job market in this episode. My guests are Seyka and Brian Mejeur, the founders of AdAstra, a space talent advisory or headhunting firm. Besides talking about the trends in the space job market in general, we also discuss some advice specifically for job candidates and for space founders. Make sure to listen in!
AdAstra website:
https://adastra.us/
Legacy vs. Startup Talent - article by Brian Mejeur:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/legacy-vs-startup-talent-brian-mejeur-apu2c/?trackingId=cxpwmH5ndwd5B9AjK0yI4w%3D%3D
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps
0:00 Episode intro2:07 Intro to AdAstra2:37 Life before AdAstra6:29 Market demand & scope of roles8:29 Advice for startups10:51 Startup culture vs legacy culture14:42 Advice for job candidates17:32 Pre-filtering21:22 Interview process25:45 Getting candidates from non-space companies29:40 Bottlenecks35:12 Restrictions on international candidates40:51 Gender imbalance in the space sector45:40 Subsector trends48:10 Roles & skills trends50:25 Regional Trends52:30 Compensation packages57:40 Protecting clients59:35 Space sector general interests1:02:24 Sci-fi

Space Business Podcast #119 - Luke Fischer, SkyFi: EO data

We are back talking about Earth observation. Specifically about how to make accessing and using EO data user-friendly. Our guest this week is Luke Fischer, co-founder & CEO of Sky-Fi, an Austin-based startup that is essentially an EO market place and app store. Luke tells us all about SkyFi and his view on the state of EO in general. Enjoy!
Follow us:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen/
Instagram -  www.instagram.com/raphael_space/
Learn more about space & the space economy:
SPACE ECONOMY BOOK: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro2:35 Elevator pitch3:40 EO data use now8:08 SkyFi's product11:42 A vision for space imagery14:30 Business development17:50 Business model & use cases20:20 Customer service21:30 Market education23:20 Government impact25:30 Trends, future tech & market gaps28:10 Regulatory restrictions 31:50 Consolidation potential impact37:20 User friendliness39:40 Interesting customer behavior & use cases43:40 Next milestones for SkyFi46:10 Ten-year vision49:15 SkyFi is hiring50:15 What else is interesting in the space sector?51:25 Sci-Fi