Space Business Podcast

#39 Josh Western, Space Forge: in-space manufacturing

This week I sat down with Josh Western, CEO of the UK-based space startup Space Forge, who are developing a spacecraft platform for in-space manufacturing. This is a really exciting field of commercial space activity, which is starting to happen in earnest now! https://spaceforge.co.uk/If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes
0:00 Intro
2:08 Elevator Pitch
3:36 Space Forge origin story
6:25 Why would someone produce something in space just to bring it back to Earth?
9:00 Examples of Space Manufacturing use cases
15:08 Economic Viability
18:34 Previous Experiments and Space Manufacturing Proof of Concept
19:40 The transition from the experimental phase to industrial scale producing
25:15 Re-entry
27:41 How flexible is the Space Forge platform?
30:09 Space Forge business model
35:31 Potential Space manufacturing platforms
41:12 Timetable for first flight
42:36 Vision for the company
44:03 In-space manufacturing for space
47:23 Wales
50:32 Space Forge is hiring right now! https://spaceforge.co.uk/
51:10 Sci-Fi

#38 Moon Society: Developing the Moon

This week’s guest is James Burk, the Vice President of the Moon Society. As you can imagine, we talked all about … the Moon, especially how we can develop a sustained human presence there. In this context, also check out the Moon Society's upcoming Lunar Development Conference: https://www.moonsociety.org/conferences/2021-ldc/If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes0:00 Intro
1:53 What is the Moon Society
2:39 Lunar Development Conference
3:08 The Moon Society's origin story
5:36 Moon exploration in the 2000s
7:32 Commercial lunar bases
12:27 Vision for lunar bases
16:55 Lunar base financing and economy
21:21 Transport capability to the Moon
24:53 Which lunar missions are most exciting
25:22 The viability of a lunar businesses
28:54 Required lunar infrastructure
30:41 The "new" space race
32:39 Law enforcement on the moon and in space
36:16 The Moon in Sci-Fi
40:11 Lunar base governance
45:12 Other aspects of lunar development
46:20 How to get involved in moon projects

#37 Laura Forczyk, Astralytical

This week’s guest is Laura Forczyk, a planetary scientist turned space consultant and also author. We talk about a wide range of subjects in space, including what is currently going on in space tourism.
If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes
0:00 Intro
2:00 The Blue Origin auction
7:25 Yusaku Maezawa's dearMoon and Space selection processes
11:50 Tom Cruise and artists in space
14:55 How do you build a sustainable business on the moon?
16:23 Space project timelines
19:03 Should funding make us more optimistic on space?
22:54 Laura's background
26:14 Writing a book on space tourism
30:03 NASA's Venus mission
32:42 The overview effect
38:37 A China vs. USA space race (or not)?
41:55 Sub-Orbital point to point flights
46:30 The space age Millennials & Generation Zs
49:21 Diversity in the space industry
51:34 Advice for the next generation in the space industry
54:08 What are relevant trends?
56:55 Sci-Fi

#36 - Aravind Ravichandran, Terrawatch Space

This week’s guest is my friend Aravind Ravichandran, previously of PWC’s space consulting group and now working on his own at Terrawatch Space. He is an expert on remote sensing / Earth observation, but I think you will find his perspectives on the space sector and space business very insightful in general. He also has his own space podcast, the Terrawatch Space podcast, where I was a guest a few weeks ago.
If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes
0:00 Intro
3:05 Aravind's current activities
6:14 Aravind's thoughts on space entrepreneurship
7:47 Aravind's consulting activities
9:42 Common misperceptions investors have about the space sector
13:33 Investor familiarity with downstream EO
17:41 Whose responsibility is it to educate about space
19:21 Interesting trends in upstream EO
26:51 Hosted payloads
33:38 Intelligence layer
39:00 Ideal team for an EO intelligence startup
42:21 Forward integration
45:42 Dissemination layer
51:32 EO example/success cases
54:32 What other activities besides EO are interesting
56:35 What else Aravind is excited about in space
58:58 India space
01:04:41 Sci-Fi

#35 Pangea Aerospace: Aerospikes

Do you know what an aerospike engine is? It’s a special type of rocket engine, the idea of which has been around for many decades, but it has been technologically difficult to pull off so far. That may all be changing now - it is what this week’s company is working on. I have Adria Argemi and Federico Rossi from Pangea Aerospace in Barcelona joining me. Enjoy! Full discloure: E2MC Ventures is an investor in Pangea.
If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes:0:00 Intro3:06 Barcelona's local space ecosystem6:20 The origin story of the company11:30 The basics of aerospike engines (Audio issues stop here!)17:28 The rocket equation and efficiency in rocket engines20:56 Differences between Pangea's and "regular" rocket engines25:00 Why has this not been done before?29:51 Materials used32:51 Reusability, size and clustering of the engine38:04 Potential plans for an entire launch vehicle41:08 Medium/long term vision46:22 Single stage to orbit"?49:50 Other good ideas of the past?51:25 Pangea is hiring!51:42 Sci-Fi

#34 Teach-in: Businesses in Space

In the first of a new type of episode giving 30min teach-ins on space topics, this episode gives an overview of key business activities in and around space.
If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Space economy infographic mentioned in episode: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/raphaelroettgen_spaceeconomy-investment-venturecapital-activity-6678638284408664065-3awV
Episode Notes
0:00 Intro2:16 Definition of Space Company4:26 Launch Companies7:54 Spacecraft and Components10:00 Satellite Communications 12:21 Remote Sensing14:21 Space Tourism16:53 In-space Manufacturing19:31 Orbit Services21:08 Other Space Business models

#33 Dr. M.V. "Coyote" Smith: Space-based Solar Power

Did you ever wonder why we do not produce solar energy in space at large scale? Space-based solar power is this week’s topic. I sat down with Dr. M.V. “Coyote” Smith, a professor of strategic studies at the Air University's School of Graduate Professional Military Education, who has been looking at space-based solar power for a long time. We discuss how it works and how we may finally make it happen.
If you have any comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode Notes:0:00 Intro2:06 Where does the "Coyote" comes from?3:20 From military to Space-based Solar Power (SBSP)13:26 The basics of SBSP15:20 The cost of space in the early 2000s16:45 SBSP tech details23:21 SBSP post the mid-2000s28:00 The new "game changers" for SBSP33:12 Station Keeping36:32 A renaissance for SBSP?39:14 Funding48:05 How to get involved54:08 Other exciting things beyond SBSP58:48 Sci-Fi

#32 Michael Laine, Liftport - Space Elevators

Do you know what a space elevator is? If you do not, it is what the words imply, minus cheesy elevator music (we hope, anyway). The idea for such an elevator to space has been around for over a 100 years and it regularly appears in science fiction. In real life, Michael Laine from Liftport in Seattle has looked at how to bring this into reality for the last twenty years or so. Join our conversation to learn about the current status and outlook of space elevators!
If you have any comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes:0:00 Intro2:09 Michael's Background8:51 What is a Space Elevator?14:26 Space elevator history18:41 Location in space20:28 Energy sources23:04 Dangers and hazards27:11 Other kinds of space elevators34:57 Do we have the technology to make a lunar elevator?38:46 What do relevant entities like NASA think about the idea?44:15 Michael's thoughts on current state of New Space48:31 Other tech, like space elevators, that may have been under-focused on / forgotten51:36 Science Fiction

#31 David Shilling: Mad Hatter heading for space

My guest this week is David Shilling, a world-renowned British designer who wants to go on a trip to the International Space Station.
If you have any comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes:0:00 Intro4:00 David's background6:16 How did the idea to visit the ISS come about?8:48 Space tourists10:56 How would you spend your time in Space?13:34 What are your thoughts on current space suit designs?15:15 The ISS design16:42 Axiom's private space station and space design18:09 The Soviet space program and doing shows in "dangerous places"20:54 Who would be the best crewmate for a space trip25:39 Space tourism has come a long way34:58 Space enthusiasts in Monac36:00 Reaching out to the next generation41:37 Bringing humanity to space48:31 Sci-fi

#30 Sven Przywarra, LiveEO - monitoring infrastructure from space

My guest this week is Sven Przywarra, co-CEO and co-founder of LiveEO.
LiveEO analyzes satellite data to generate actionable insights for non-space customers, e.g. in the railway or utility sectors.
If you have any comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space).
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5* rating on your favorite podcast app!
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode Notes:0:00 Intro2:50 The Space ecosystem in Berlin5:25 LiveEO9:48 New Space Vision11:01 Further steps of market validation for LiveEO13:58 Approaching customers from non-Aerospace industries18:48 Data sources21:51 Thermal imagery23:55 What other industries would you like to approach25:34 Challenges when trying to break into a new market26:00 Competitive landscape28:57 How does the service work30:58 Why go to the U.S. at this stage32:12 The financing round experience35:00 Exit options36:02 Where would you like to be in 5 years?36:13 If you were not doing LiveEO what would you be doing in the Space Industry37:57 Science-Fiction

#29 Gernot Groemer, OeWF - Analog Mars Missions and more

My guest this week is Gernot Groemer, the founder of the Austrian Space Forum, which does things like organizing analog Mars missions, conducting space research, and building cubesats. Gernot also has his own popular science TV show in Austria.
This will also be the first episode where we will try something new:
We have regularly received follow-up questions from listeners and have been answering them ad-hoc. We now want to open this up to everybody: so, if you do have questions about the episode, please email them to us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com. We will do our best to answer them all and if there is one that we judge of high general interest to all listeners, we will answer it on the next episode as well as on our Twitter.
Check out The Austrian Space Forum here.
Check out Gernot's science TV show here. (in German)
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
 
Episode notes:
0:00 Intro
3:00 Space in Austria
5:15 What is the Austrian Space Forum and who can join it
10:51 Collaborations with students
11:52 Analog Mars missions
16:35 Psychology research during analog missions
18:00 Typical duration of an analog mission
19:06 Simulating restricted access to food and other mundane things
21:48 What kind of scientific experiments are analog astronauts conducting?
23:55 Robot usage in the analog missions
24:38 Handling limited expertise in experiments
27:22 What kind of people are good for missions and what kind of people apply?
33:38 The next analog mission 
38:35 Other Forum projects
43:29 Apply to the Austrian Space Forum
43:47 Gernot's science TV show
47:26 What excites Gernot most about space at the moment?
48:29 Sci-fi

#28 Temidayo Oniosun - Space in Africa

The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics and produced in partnership with the International Space University (ISU). Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
If you got interested in learning more about the business opportunities in space, check out my online course at https://www.udemy.com/course/space-entrepreneurship/
If you speak German, also check out my recently published introductory book on the space economy.
Episode notes:
0:00 Intro
2:22 What is Space in Africa?
4:39 What's your background and how did you get into space?
5:16 The current state of the space economy in Africa
10:22 Increasing satellite activity in Africa
15:16 Other missions and projects beside satellites
16:54 How do international politics affect African space?
19:20 Main space applications in Africa
21:52 Is there enough coverage of Africa?
26:14 Are there enough space educational programs in Africa?
27:42 Do the potential customers in Africa understand the benefits of tspace?
30:57 Potential use cases for Africa of Starlink and others
34:50 Space startups in Africa
37:15 Exciting things in the African space economy right now
39:40 Examples of interesting space startups in Africa
42:02 Sci-fi