Justin Lopas, Founder of Base Power, discusses building a modern power company and the need for batteries in supporting the grid. They explore unique battery deployment models, optimizing designs, and software strategies. The podcast delves into balancing customer needs, potential for DC power distribution, and scaling Base Power while driving costs down. Lopas shares advice for startup founders and visions for long-duration storage.

Episode 8: Ben Nowack built a fusion reactor in high school. Now he’s building huge mirrors in space that reflect sunlight onto solar farms at night.======(00:00) - Intro(00:39) - What Reflect Orbital is Building(02:30) - How the Satellite Mirrors Work(06:16) - Deploying the Mirrors in Space(10:14) - Mirror Size Considerations(13:51) - Dealing with Space Debris and Micrometeorites(17:07) - Early Demonstrations with High Altitude Balloons(23:11) - Advantages over Other Space Solar Concepts(28:56) - Target Customers and Business Model(35:57) - Constellation Size and Orbit Design(40:42) - Using Solar Sailing for Propulsion(49:38) - Benefits of Solar Sailing for Space Exploration(54:06) - Tiny Force of Solar Sailing and Payload Limitations(55:58) - Maintaining Altitude vs Pointing at Solar Farms(59:14) - Attitude Control with Control Moment Gyros(01:02:44) - Desaturating Control Moment Gyros(01:05:21) - Monte Carlo Simulations for Constellation Design(01:11:00) - Monte Carlo Simulation 101(01:13:38) - Exciting Developments in Solar and Energy(01:22:17) - Sunlight as a Service Business Model(01:24:04) - Wrap Up and How to Learn More======Links:Christian Keil: https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleBen Nowack: https://twitter.com/bennbuildsReflect Orbital: https://www.reflectorbital.com/First Principles:Reflectance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReflectanceSolar power: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/135642main_balance_trifold21.pdfRadiation pressure for solar sailing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pressure#:~:text=The%20assertion%20that%20light%2C%20as,and%20Gordon%20Ferrie%20Hull%20inCMG “control moment gyroscope“: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_moment_gyroscopeMonte Carlo simulation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method======Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm======Checkout the video version here —> http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🛎️ Follow to stay updated with new uploads

Nato decided against building a laser-powered rocket in favor of Longshot Space: a gun powered by pressurized air that can shoot payloads into orbit.======(00:00) - Intro(00:42) - Nato's Early Idea for a Laser Rocket at Astranis(02:30) - Nato Initially Being Skeptical of Longshot's Gun Idea(04:02) - Writing a Simulation that Showed a 4km Gun Could Reach Orbit(05:43) - Deciding to Join Longshot Full-Time after an SBIR Grant(07:22) - What Longshot is Building - A Massive Gun to Launch Payloads to Orbit(09:40) - Comparing Longshot to Hyperloop and SpinLaunch(10:52) - The Projectile's Trajectory after Exiting the Gun(13:35) - Reasons for Choosing a Gas Gun over Railgun or Traditional Gun(16:11) - The Critical First Moments after the Projectile Exits the Gun(18:02) - Longshot's Plan to Start with Hypersonic Testing(20:24) - Target Launch Costs of $10-$500 per kg, Orders of Magnitude Cheaper(23:28) - Using Space Tugs to Enable Different Orbits from an Equatorial Gun(26:08) - Drastically Lower Costs Enabling Things like Tractors on the Moon(28:30) - The Path from Garage Prototype to Orbital Launch System(31:44) - Traditional Rockets vs Gun Launch Physics and Engineering(35:35) - Iterating on Burst Disk Design to Get Microsecond Timing(44:04) - Going from Failed Mach 2 Shots to Mach 4 by Improving Projectiles(46:54) - Doing Hypersonic Testing in a Converted Auto Shop(49:14) - Iterating on Ways to Safely Catch Hypersonic Projectiles(51:53) - Using High Speed Cameras to Analyze Projectile Behavior(54:04) - Light Gates to Trigger Precise Timing of Barrel Accelerators(56:40) - Parts of the System with High vs Low Confidence(59:54) - Nato's Philosophy as a Generalist Engineer(01:03:15) - The Elegance of Passive Analog Guidance like the Sunbeam Toaster(01:07:17) - Being Okay with Initially Being Bad at Things to Become a Generalist(01:09:30) - Preference for Working on Civilization-Changing Mega Projects(01:10:26) - Conclusion======Links:Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleNato Saichek – https://twitter.com/natosaichekLongshot Space – https://www.longshotspace.com/======Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm======Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads

Engineer Danielle Fong discusses her innovative approach to power generation using light energy, highlighting the potential for portable energy-dense solutions. She explores the limitations of traditional batteries and combustion engines, focusing on developing new processes for compact power generation. Fong delves into managing high temperatures, recirculating heat for efficiency, and engineering solutions to minimize losses in the system. The conversation also touches on rapid learning through experimentation and balancing exploratory work with systematic testing.

Entrepreneur Garrett McCurrach discusses developing underground hyperlogistics delivery drones in the podcast. Topics include challenges in autonomous logistics scaling, designing efficient delivery systems with robots, rails, and totes, leveraging underground infrastructure, and the potential impact of last mile logistics innovation.

Augustus Doricko discusses using weather-modification drones to tackle water scarcity by seeding clouds with ice nucleation agents. He explains the technology behind Rainmaker, the challenges of water scarcity, and the benefits of cloud seeding. The podcast explores the science of clouds, precipitation enhancement, and the positive impact of cloud seeding on water supply. It also touches on using rainwater drones for farm irrigation and government involvement in weather modification programs.

Explore the innovative concept of Thermodynamic Computing by Extropic, offering a new kind of computer with vast potential. Delve into the challenges of Quantum Computing and the limitations of Gaussian distributions in ML. Learn about harnessing noise with Thermodynamic Computers, disrupting AI from First Principles, and the early applications in probabilistic domains. The podcast dives into scaling digital computers, gaining confidence in the idea over time, and the future of AI with Thermodynamic Computing.

Casey Handmer, CEO of Terraform Industries, discusses synthesizing hydrocarbons from the atmosphere using solar energy. He highlights the urgency for synthetic hydrocarbons, the importance of cheap solar energy, and the process of capturing methane. The podcast delves into the Sabatier Reaction, commercialization plans, and expanding into synthetic fuels.

Sponsor: Secure by Design -  http://tinyurl.com/5ds2pyjv======[Series Premiere] Founder Ian Brooke gives his first public interview to talk about Astro Mechanica, a new startup building electric-adaptive jet engines. And, possibly, the world’s fastest plane. And the cheapest way to orbit. (It’s an ambitious startup idea.)======(00:00) - Intro(01:27) - What Astro Mechanica is Building(05:50) - Jets vs. Rockets(12:07) - How to Generate Thrust (15:07) - Engineering Challenges for Traditional Turbofans(17:07) - The New Paradigm: Electric Adaptive Jets(24:23) - Specific Impulse and Efficiency(32:07) - Ramjet vs. Scramjet(38:12) - Staging Considerations(42:25) - Fastest Plane Ever Flown: SR-71 Blackbird and its Challenges(44:07) - Transitioning from Ramjet to Rocket(47:27) - Building the Next Boeing(53:07) - Everyone Gets a Private Jet(56:07) - Why Start with Space Launch? (1:06:07) - Where You Go From There(1:10:07) - Why Everyone Loves Toyotas(1:16:12) - The Supersonic Jet Engine Next Door(1:19:57) - Starting the Company(1:23:07) - What’s Next?(1:27:37) - How Do You Do What You’re Doing?(1:31:07) - hiring@astromecha.co======Links:Astro Mechanica – https://astromecha.co, hiring@astromecha.coIan Brooke – https://twitter.com/k2pilotChristian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleFirst Principles:Specific Impulse (ISP) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_impulseRocket Equation – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsiolkovsky_rocket_equationNavier Stokes Equations – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navier%E2%80%93Stokes_equationsPower-to-Weight Ratio – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-weight_ratio======Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm======Checkout the video version here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9🔔 Follow to stay updated with new uploads

Episode 0: On First Principles, Christian Keil ( https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle ), Host and Chief of Staff at Astranis, dives into the complex world of deep tech startups — and hopes to make them approachable, and PhD-optional.======Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm