A Primer on Space: The Final Frontier - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 19]

Jul 28, 2021

Join Tren Griffin, a Microsoft director and space enthusiast, as he explores the burgeoning space economy. He examines the history of satellite technology and highlights the potential for the industry to hit $1 trillion by 2040. Griffin discusses revolutionary innovations like CubeSats and how reusability is reshaping launch costs. He dives into the complexities of space law and discusses the future of human habitation on the Moon and Mars, emphasizing cooperation in this shared frontier.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Space Economy Dynamics

The space economy is driven by space-to-earth and earth-to-space interactions, with ground services dominating.
Lower launch costs, like those achieved by SpaceX, could revolutionize space usage by enabling new applications and services.

ANECDOTE

Sputnik and Cost-Plus Contracts

Sputnik's launch triggered the space race, leading to massive US investment in space exploration.
This era fostered cost-plus contracts, hindering innovation by disincentivizing cost reduction in space ventures.

INSIGHT

Orbital Considerations

Different orbits (LEO, GEO, MEO) offer unique advantages and disadvantages for space technology.
Lower orbits are cheaper to reach, while geostationary orbit maintains a fixed position relative to Earth.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Today, we will be covering the endlessly fascinating market of Space. While we typically focus on an individual company for Business Breakdowns, we thought an industry primer was the best approach for this expanding market. With Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos directing so much energy to the promise of space, it is impossible not to dream about what lies ahead. To cover this endless topic, I’ll be joined by a previous guest, Tren Griffin. While Tren’s full-time job is a director at Microsoft, his experience with satellites and endless curiosity make him ideal for this conversation. We cover how our ground economy is enabled by space today, what excites him most about the space to space opportunities in the future, and how space compares to other network foundations. I hope you enjoy this great space primer with Tren Griffin.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

-----

Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, Inc. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.

Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.

Show Notes

[00:02:19] - [First question] - The current size and scope of the space economy

[00:04:42] - Important historic milestones that helped us get to where we are today

[00:12:33] - The varying levels of orbit and what they unlock for technology

[00:19:22] - How expensive launches were and what they are now with SpaceX and Starship

[00:22:08] - Overview of the Starlink project and using it to recoup infrastructural setup costs

[00:27:32] - Whether or not launch will ever become more than just a commodity

[00:31:01] - Different types of satellites and earth-orbiting technology

[00:34:23] - Thoughts on in-space manufacturing as an emerging industry

[00:35:33] - Future colonization of the moon, Mars, and humanity leaving the Earth

[00:38:19] - The importance of dreaming big to inspire those around you

[00:42:36] - Potential reasons why space may not become a new frontier

[00:44:41] - Politics and the militarization side of open space

[00:47:19] - Legalities and the need for a space treaty

[00:49:41] - Whether or not humans will be living on the moon by 2035

[00:51:03] - What the benefits will be of a colony on Mars if we can establish one on the moon