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
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Do you want to send your DNA to space - to orbit, or to the Moon? You can already do that: LifeShip is a California-based startup offering that service. They have already sold thousands of their kits. Hear about their story from founder Ben Haldeman, who was also an early employee at Planet, the well-known Eartly observation company. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:12 Elevator Pitch
3:33 Origin story
5:51 From inspiration to product
7:24 The product
8:50 First Space missions
10:18 Customer motivation
14:00 Go to market
15:42 Customer demographics
17:25 What the customer gets
18:42 Future missions
21:49 What if Aliens find it?
23:23 Bureaucracy and restrictions
24:46 How to protect DNA in space
26:08 Vision
29:31 Potential future products
31:59 Funding
33:21 B2B element
35:50 What else is interesting in space?
37:58 Sci-Fi
Friday Jul 21, 2023
Friday Jul 21, 2023
Big satellites, REALLY big satellites – for the age of Starship. That is what our guest company this week is working on – K2 Space from Long Beach, CA - and they just raised an $8.5MM seed round. I talk to their co-founder Karan Kunjur about their satellite platform, its potential use cases, and much more. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:08 Elevator pitch
2:48 K2's satellite platforms
5:05 Testing large satellites
6:14 Tech challenges
8:35 Operational orbit
10:10 Space debris
12:00 Origin story of K2
14:56 Use cases
18:19 Fitting in with emerging trends
22:41 Proving your use cases and building the market
24:49 Vertical integration
27:03 Propulsion
29:26 Business model
30:51 Timeline
32:32 Hosting
34:00 Vision
37:05 Future of the satellite industry
39:25 Advice for joining the space sector
41:25 What else is interesting in the space sector?
43:04 Sci-Fi
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Sex in Space – I feel like I don’t need to say anything else about this episode. But jokes aside – besides sexual health being an important issue on long duration space missions in general, one important topic is the question of reproduction in space. We touch upon these topics and more in my conversation with Simon Dubé, a post-doctoral researcher at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University on the topic of space sexology. Enjoy!Relevant article:
"Sexual Health in Space: a 5-year Scoping Review" -https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-023-00368-9"Technology-Based Sexualities"-
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:23 Simon's background
3:36 Erotic interactions in space
6:28 Articles about space sexology
7:46 Sex in space?
11:26 Artificial suppression in astronauts
13:14 Specific lines of research
19:25 Research methodology
25:06 Similar situations on Earth
31:58 Dream research project
36:03 Intimacy briefing for space explorers
39:11 The "mechanics"
44:03 Reproduction in space
51:22 Work to be done
52:00 Sci-Fi
Friday Jul 07, 2023
Friday Jul 07, 2023
We finally have a space startup from Asia (excl. Middle East) on the podcast. Many of you probably did not know that there is a late-stage space startup in Thailand. Mu Space is a Series C stage company manufacturing smallsats and their components. I caught up with their founder & CEO James Yenbamroong in person at the Mu Space headquarter office when I passed through Bangkok this week. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
Upcoming newsletter - sign up: https://spacebusiness.substack.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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro2:44 Elevator pitch3:09 Origin story5:54 Thai space ecosystem8:15 Supply chain and doing things from scratch9:39 Vertical integration11:42 Mu Space's satellite platforms13:04 Use cases14:40 Smallsats vs. cubesats17:00 Power18:45 More use cases21:18 On-board computing24:06 First missions27:10 Launch companies in Asia31:00 Regulatory restrictions33:34 Funding34:55 Satellite production and volume manufacturing39:08 Time from order to shipping42:00 Customers44:23 The Thai Food Space Mission 48:46 Mu Space's battery tech50:16 Trends in satellite manufacturing and lay of the land56:27 On-board propulsion systems58:58 Space-as-a-service01:01:05 Vision for Mu Space01:04:33 If James wasn't doing Mu Space, what would he do in space?01:06:25 Sci-Fi
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Impulse Space is a new startup focused on space logistics, including last-mile payload delivery. The company has a first mission scheduled for fall this year, and also announced a private Mission to Mars jointly with Relativity last year. We touch upon all of this and a lot more in my conversation with their COO Barry Matsumori. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
0:00 Intro2:05 Elevator Pitch2:34 Mission architecture3:45 The first mission5:01 Vehicle architecture/strategy8:05 Vision for In-space services13:37 Economic viability of small&medium launchers16:18 View of the land on OTV companies17:52 Primary users and use cases20:07 Revenue model20:53 The Mars mission23:02 Financing and pricing26:14 Tech needed to go to Mars28:51 Propulsion system and vehicle details33:40 Timeframe and production capacity36:03 Starship38:27 Vast space station deal40:54 Vision for the space sector42:30 Other areas that Barry is excited about43:52 Impulse Space in 10 years44:47 SpaceX Heritage47:19 Medium-term futuristic possibilities48:27 Sci-Fi
Friday Jun 09, 2023
Friday Jun 09, 2023
Greg Autry has worn many leadership hats in the space sector. He is currently the Clinical Professor & Director of the Space Leadership, Policy and Business Program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He was a presidential nominee (as CFO) at NASA and continues to hold roles at the agency. He was also chair of the FAA’s COMSTAC Safety Working Group. Our conversation ranges from space entrepreneurship over space safety to geopolitics in space. I think you’ll really enjoy this one. I did!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:22 Greg's bio
6:09 Is the Space Sector an appropriate place for entrepreneurs
8:34 Space Master program at Thunderbird
11:02 What does a NASA CFO do?
13:15 More on Thunderbird
22:09 NASA InSPA
26:50 In-space manufacturing
31:35 FAA COMSTAC
35:10 Commercial space flight participant regulation
39:18 Space traffic management
44:38 "Death by China"
48:29 Astropolitics
50:27 Quickfire questions on the space sector
59:23 A message for young people
1:01:49 Sci-Fi
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Establishing a human presence in the Venusian atmosphere and setting up a venture studio to help get us there? You bet. Founder and Chairman of Humans2Venus, Guillermo Söhnlein, is our guest this week.
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:38 Elevator Pitch
4:43 Why Venus?
11:35 Staying in the Venusian atmosphere
15:45 "Grand Vision" argument
19:04 Technology stack
27:47 Establishing a sustainable human presence
32:43 Business opportunities and business model
37:33 What is a venture studio?
42:55 Does is work for the space sector?
46:58 Overall status of the project
49:00 Sci-Fi
Friday May 26, 2023
Friday May 26, 2023
Episode 100 will give you a review & preview of the Space Business Podcast, incl. favorite sci-fi of our guests!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
0:00 Intro
3:55 Stats
11:17 Quotes
14:03 Sci-Fi
16:18 The future of this podcast
18:35 Calls to action
Friday Apr 28, 2023
Friday Apr 28, 2023
Nuclear fusion propulsion. Do I have your attention? Probably ... after all, we need to get to places like Mars, and beyond, faster than on the current chemical rockets. There are now actually some startups working on nuclear fusion propulsion and one of them, Princeton Satellite Systems, are our guests this week. Enjoy!JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
Do you want to specifically learn about investing in Space? Join the pre-release of Raphael's new live-taught course on Maven: https://maven.com/space-business-institute/investing-course
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:07 Elevator pitch
3:34 Future of space propulsion
5:13 Current state of fusion
10:16 Magnetic fusion
13:24 The FRC
16:47 Power budget
18:46 Terrestrial power generation use case
22:23 The Moon
25:03 What is left to do on the tech side
29:47 Timeline
31:01 Safety
33:15 In-space propulsion
36:44 NASA's past nuclear projects
37:54 Timing for prototype in space
42:43 Biggest obstacles
45:56 Beyond the current fusion engine proposal
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Friday Apr 21, 2023
My guest this week is Jesse Klempner, a partner in McKinsey’s Washington DC office. McKinsey is focusing more on space recently and has published a number of interesting articles (see below for some examples). We discuss why McKinsey is paying more attention to space now and how corporates can and do work with space, among other topics. Enjoy!
JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
Do you want to specifically learn about investing in Space? Join the pre-release of Raphael's new live-taught course on Maven: https://maven.com/space-business-institute/investing-course
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Example McKinsey space articles:
Space: The missing element of your strategySpace launch - are headed for a shortfall?The potential of microgravity: How companies across sectors can venture into space
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:45 Why McKinsey is focusing more on space now
5:15 Getting space & non-space companies to cooperate
9:35 Taking the friction out of space
14:07 Companies integrating space as an enabling technology
18:29 Space mining
22:17 Space-based solar power
23:33 Lunar business models
25:14 Talking about space with the biggest companies in the world
29:15 Successful case studies of corporates implementing space
31:05 Successfully implementing new tech in an organization
31:47 How corporates can inform themselves
34:01 Most exciting space use case
36:15 Favorite space business model if you were an entrepreneur
37:31 Sci Fi
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Space Biotech - this is the first episode in a new sub-series of episodes just on this topic. Ken Savin is the Chief Scientific Officer of Redwire, the American space holding company. Before that, he worked at the U.S. National Lab and for a long time in the pharma industry.JUST OUT: Raphael's fully revised introductory book on the Space economy, "To Infinity" - https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
Do you want to specifically learn about investing in Space? Join the pre-release of Raphael's new live-taught course on Maven: https://maven.com/space-business-institute/investing-course
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcastTimestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:27 Ken's Background
3:52 Use cases
6:59 Human tissue in space
10:00 Pre-clinical pharma testing and regenerative medicine
11:38 Crystal production in space
16:30 Mass production in space
20:07 Awareness of space in the biotech industry
23:50 Bridging two different sectors
34:37 Starship
36:55 Producing at scale in microgravity
42:11 Use cases predictions
48:47 Disease models
54:34 Life sciences in Deep Space
58:05 Sci-Fi
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Software for satellites. We are overdue to talk about it – it’s important and it could be a big business opportunity, for reasons you’ll hear about in this episode. My guest is Alvaro Alonso Ruiz, co-founder of the French startup Leanspace who raised a EUR6MM seed round last year. 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:
Check out the edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy
There is now a certificate for those wanting to enter the space sector: https://www.spacecertificate.com
Do you want to specifically learn about investing in Space? Join the pre-release of Raphael's new live-taught course on Maven: https://maven.com/space-business-institute/investing-course
The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics.
Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast
Timestamps
0:00 Elevator Pitch
4:30 Satellite ground segment software
5:36 Origin story
10:27 Product cycle and use case
14:43 Third-party vs. in-house software
18:50 Fusing data
20:45 ChatGPT
21:25 Data security
24:13 Target market and customers
28:57 New approaches to aerospace manufacturing
31:26 Leanspace approach
33:58 Vision
37:05 Biggest risks
39:25 Strasbourg
41:20 Sci-Fi