Space Business Podcast
Space is rapidly growing into an exciting ecosystem for business. In this podcast we hear from entrepreneurs, executives, investors and others about the many opportunities that exist. This podcast is produced by the Space Business Institute in partnership with the International Space University.
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Episodes
Saturday May 16, 2026
Saturday May 16, 2026
Space-based solar power – it’s a hot and electrifying topic again (sorry for the pun!) What is the state of the art? What are the commercial use cases? How do the economics look? We’ll dive into this and more with our guest Marc Berte, CEO & Founder of Overview Energy. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:07 Elevator Pitch
02:25 Dr. Evil to Reality
03:54 Why Space Solar Now
04:26 Mark’s Background
06:08 SBSP History
14:40 System Architecture and Safety
22:13 Solar Cells and Economics
25:28 Satellite Lifetime Design
28:32 More on Solar Cells
31:20 Integration and Unknowns
33:19 Manufacturing at Scale
34:32 Supply Chain Bottlenecks
37:02 Electricity Market Segments and Pricing
44:27 Meta Data Center Deal
47:08 New Contract Model
51:27 Roadmap and Milestones
53:14 Other Space Opportunities
56:22 Science-Fiction
57:43 Dyson Sphere
🔗 OVERVIEW ENERGY
🏠Website:
https://www.overviewenergy.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Japan: This week we are getting an introduction to the Japanese space ecosystem. My guest is Francois Poncin. He is the Chief Operating Officer of the SPACETIDE Foundation, which does many things, but one of them is organizing what is arguably Japan's biggest and most important space conference.
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:45 SPACETIDE
02:56 Francois' Background
04:53 Japan Space Policy
08:34 Space Strategy Fund
12:31 JAXA & Other Government Stakeholders
17:01 Universities
18:41 Startups
21:06 Investors & Funding
23:33 Corporates
27:01 Public View of Space
29:48 Breaking Into Japan
33:41 SPACETIDE CONFERENCE
39:40 Favorite Science-Fiction
🔗 SPACETIDE
🏠Websites:
SPACETIDE 2026 website: https://events.spacetide.jp/event/Tide2026/summary
SPACETIDE corporate page:
https://spacetide.jp/en/
COMPASS report download page:
https://spacetide.jp/en/business/knowledge/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Samara Aerospace is a San Francisco-based space startup that has come up with a very interesting new tech solution for pointing satellites accurately and quickly. Now they are developing a satellite bus based on this technology. Our guest this week is Patrick Haddox, Samara's co-founder and CEO. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:26 Elevator Pitch
02:05 Solar Panel Pointing Tech
04:17 Origin Story
05:30 Testing and Flight Data
06:48 Why Pointing Matters
08:40 Go To Market Plan
10:22 Hummingbird Bus
11:18 Why Build the Whole Bus?
14:17 Satellite Bus Market
17:28 Constellation Strategy
19:22 Partnerships
20:08 Orbital Data Centers
21:48 Cicada Payload Results
22:51 Hummingbird One Roadmap
23:53 Funding & Hiring Plans
24:28 Golden Dome
25:19 Hinge Tech & Reliability
27:51 Company Culture & Hiring
29:16 Name origins
30:23 Why San Francisco?
31:40 Favorite Science-Fiction
🔗 Samara Aerospace
🏠Website : https://www.samaraaerospace.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Friday Mar 27, 2026
Friday Mar 27, 2026
Exolaunch is a company that is an integral part of the space ecoystem. They sit in the middle between people wanting to launch satellites and the launch/rocket companies. They have already helped get many hundreds of satellites to space. CEO Robert Sproles is our guest this week. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:06 Episode start
01:28 Exolaunch Elevator Pitch
03:14 Why Robert Joined Exolaunch
05:12 Hardware and Transporter Missions
07:36 End to End Mission Support for Customers
11:01 Compliance incl. ITAR
12:33 Multi Launcher Strategy
13:50 Choosing the Right Rocket
15:42 Tracking New Launchers
16:58 What Customers Value Most
17:52 Exolaunch's Value to Launch Providers
19:35 Shaping Mission Design
21:43 Launch Capacity Outlook
23:23 Sovereignty Considerations
24:38 Preparing for Starship
26:16 Launcher Agnostic Hardware
28:14 Responsive Launch
29:49 Reliability and Smooth Deployment
33:04 Satellite Design Trends
36:00 AI and Space Data Centers
37:05 Biology Payloads and Return Cargo
39:13 Shared Launch Matchmaking
40:44 Beyond LEO Missions
42:09 Ten Year Vision
43:43 Sci-Fi
🔗 Exolaunch
🏠Website : https://www.exolaunch.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
Elevation Space is a Japanese startup working on downmass – bringing things back from space to Earth – leveraging Japan’s strong heritage in reentry and recovery technologies. CEO and co-founder Ryohei Kobayashi in our guest. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:35 Elevator Pitch03:49 Origin Story09:11 Product & Missions17:22 Payload Strategy18:53 Customers & Use Cases25:05 Post-ISS Future28:45 Milestones32:42 Long-Term Vision37:24 Closing: Japan Space Ecosystem + Sci‑Fi Favorites
🔗 Elevation Space
🏠Website : https://elevation-space.com/en
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
The most beautiful launchsite in the world – that is my description for this week’s episode. Andøya Space is a space launch center in Northern Norway. It is kind of what you would imagine if Disney’s Frozen had a rocket launch site. Jokes aside, it is a serious strategic asset that has launched rockets since 1962 and now has German launch company Isar Aerospace as an orbital launch customer. My guest to talk about all this is Andøya Space’s CEO, former Vice Admiral Ketil Olsen. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
00:41 Intro to Andøya Space03:12 Historical Background04:56 Location aspects10:45 Transition to Orbital Launches15:01 Commercial Aspects18:18 Infrastructure21:25 Regulations23:51 Liability considerations25:34 Technology Safeguard Agreement with the U.S.27:08 Future Plans31:45 Building a Space Ecosystem33:58 Visiting Andøya Space40:36 Closing remarks
🔗 Andøya Space
🏠Website : https://andoyaspace.no/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Open Cosmos, a European space scale-up, has cemented a reputation as a reliable provider and operator of satellites for various mission types. Now they have secured priority spectrum to build a new LEO broadband satellite communications constellation. Co-founder and CEO Rafel Jordá Siquier is our guest to tell us about it. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:13 Elevator Pitch
02:05 Today's News: Spectrum Rights for Satellite Communications
04:24 The Journey of Open Cosmos
06:02 Innovative Business Models
13:46 Manufacturing Capabilities
19:52 Future Plans and Partnerships
24:02 What It Takes To Build A LEO SatComm Constellation
31:19 Synergy Between Earth Observation and Communications
36:02 Spectrum & Regulatory
43:41 Vision for the Future and Favorite Science-Fiction
🔗 Open Cosmos
🏠Website : https://www.open-cosmos.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Apex Space is a Los Angeles based satellite bus manufacturer. They want to productize satellite buses and build them at scale for government and commercial customers. Our guest is co-founder and CEO Ian Cinnamon. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:00 Welcome & Elevator Pitch
03:06 Origin Story
10:33 Challenges in Satellite Manufacturing
14:18 Vertical Integration and Supply Chain
19:23 Global Competition
22:03 Apex Space's Product Line
23:06 Introduction to Robust Satellite Platforms
27:53 Business Model
30:38 Markets
34:15 More on Manufacturing
36:25 Current Status & Future Plans
40:39 Favorite Sci-Fi
🔗 Apex Space
🏠Website : https://www.apexspace.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
This is my preview of what the year 2026 may hold for the Space sector - including in launch, lunar, space applications, science, government, finance, events, etc.
🕰️ Timestamps:
00:00 Podcast Intro
00:57 Intro: Preview of 2026 in the Space Sector
02:45 Launches & Rockets
07:27 Lunar Missions
09:12 Space Stations & Downmass
11:05 Human Spaceflight
12:01 Space Applications
14:51 Space Science Missions
15:39 Government Space
17:35 Finance, Funding & Investments
19:13 Selected Space Events
20:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
There has been a lot of recent talk about a potential SpaceX IPO. I sit down with Aaron Burnett, co-founder and CEO of Mach33, to discuss. Mach33 and Ark Invest collaborate on an open-sourced SpaceX financial model. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:25 Episode Overview: SpaceX IPO and Business Model
03:07 Aaron Burnett
04:54 Understanding SpaceX's Businesses
09:31 Launch Business
17:51 Starlink
36:30 Margins, Cashflows and Valuation
43:54 Potential Future Business Lines
51:42 Mars and Long-Term Value
56:25 Potential Tail Risks
1:01:30 When to Sell?
🔗 SpaceX model by Ark Invest & Mach33: https://github.com/ARKInvest/ARK-Invest-Mach-33-SpaceX-Valuation-Model
🔗 Mach33 website: https://www.33fg.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Space lasers again! Odysseus Space from Luxembourg focuses on providing optical communications solutions between Space and Earth as a service. If you seem to notice that is not the first episode on optical communications, you’re right – I think this will be a potentially very big theme going forward. Our guest this week is Odysseus’ CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Vannitsen. Enjoy!
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
01:14 Elevator Pitch02:44 Optical Communications07:02 Business Model13:09 Interoperability and Integration15:17 Space-to-Ground Communication Architectures18:41 Security and Geopolitical Considerations22:18 Future of Optical and RF Coexistence24:10 Challenges in Optical and Radio Communication26:44 Satellite Requirements32:05 Marketing and Business Development34:05 Commercial Operations and Ground Stations38:57 Future Plans40:20 Luxembourg's Space Ecosystem42:35 Origin Story44:59 Closing: What else in Space? & Favorite Science-Fiction
🔗 Odysseus Space
🏠Website : https://www.odysseus.space/home
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Magma Space is a U.S. startup with advanced technology to help keep satellites stable / jitter-free, which is more important to satellite communications and remote sensing than you may realize. We have Magma's CEO & Co-Founder Alessandro Stabile as our guest to help explain.
🕰️ Timestamps:
0:00 Podcast Intro
02:02 Elevator Pitch
04:31 Markets & Customers
10:11 Origin Story
15:50 Technology
21:46 Superconducting Materials in Space
22:35 Magnetic Levitation and Shielding
23:55 Testing and TRL Levels
24:35 Future Applications and Challenges
27:27 Scaling Production
28:22 Magnets
30:08 Vision for the Future of Space Technology
35:39 Orbital Edge Accelerator experience
37:42 DC Space Ecosystem
39:31 Science Fiction
🔗 Magma Space
🏠Website : https://www.magma-space.com/
🔗 Follow us:
🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/
🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast
🔗 Follow Raphael:
◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC
🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen
🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/
To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:
"To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space EconomyThis book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOCThis course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
Space Founder NewsletterA new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8
Space Business Newsletter📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/