Valley of Depth

Join Joe Miller, President of BWXT Advanced Technologies, and Kerry Timmons, Senior Manager at Lockheed Martin, as they dive into the exciting future of lunar architecture powered by nuclear technology. They discuss how nuclear systems can provide reliable energy during the lunar night and the engineering challenges involved. Learn about the interplay between nuclear and solar energy and their vision for a thriving lunar economy, supported by collaborative efforts across various sectors. Plus, they explore advancements in nuclear propulsion that could revolutionize deep space travel.

Tim Cichan is a space exploration architect at Lockheed Martin, while Christie Iacomini is a senior program manager focused on lunar infrastructure technologies. They discuss the essential elements for establishing a sustainable lunar presence, including innovative power systems like vertical solar arrays and nuclear fission. The conversation highlights challenges in communications networks, the importance of in-situ resource utilization for water extraction, and the role of international collaboration in achieving long-term lunar sustainability.

This week on Pathfinder, we’re excited to bring you a special one-off episode, made possible by Astroscale U.S., the Denver-based subsidiary of Astroscale, a global provider of on-orbit servicing solutions. This episode dives into the DoD’s push to integrate commercial in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities to enhance flexibility, resilience, and sustainability in military space operations.Joining the discussion are retired Colonel Dennis Wille, Senior Director of Business Development for National Security at Astroscale US, and John “Patsy” Klein, Senior Fellow in Strategy at Falcon Research and a leading expert in space policy and strategy. Together, we unpack how ISAM technologies are transforming space operations and advancing U.S. leadership in the domain.This episode covers:The DoD’s commercial space integration strategy and ISAM’s role in enhancing operational resilienceThe challenges and opportunities of managing space debris and enabling active debris removalHow ISAM capabilities like refueling, repair, and inspection are reshaping spacecraft lifecyclesThe critical role of commercial partnerships in supporting national security objectivesThe future of space operations and the technologies poised to drive innovationAnd much, much more… • Chapters •00:00 - Intro04:12 - What is ISAM and why is it so important to the DoD's space strategy?06:08 - Patsy's role in commercial integration of ISAM08:49 - What is the DoD's commercial space strategy?10:57 - Astroscale's priorities14:53 - Why does the government care about debris removal?16:18 - Why does space junk removal help the US to maintain leadership in space?19:30 - PLEO and commercial opportunity22:49 - Tech capabilities being developed at Astroscale26:50 - Mature ISAM capabilities that we have today29:23 - Astroscale and DoD partnership31:07 - Government vs commercial customer makeup prediction32:19 - Policy/regulatory hurdles for ISAM34:17 - What will it take for commercial to become a bigger part of Astroscale's business?37:09 - Does ISAM have an education issue?39:18 - Technical gaps in ISAM40:50 - What technological advancements should we anticipate?42:24 - What defense strategies will ISAM create?45:06 - How Astroscale positions themselves against competitors47:59 - Advice for investors interested in ISAM49:28 - How can the US maintain their leadership role in space?51:53 - Book recommendations • Show notes •Astroscale’s website — hhttps://astroscale-us.com/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

In this discussion, Alex MacDonald, NASA's Chief Economist, and Rob Chambers, Director of Strategy for Human Space Exploration at Lockheed Martin, delve into the future of lunar architecture. They explore the ambitious Artemis program and the shift towards sustainable lunar operations. The conversation highlights the role of international partnerships and innovative technologies like nuclear power. They also reflect on lessons from Apollo, the evolving lunar economy, and the vision for a human presence on the Moon and beyond.

Chris Morales, a former naval officer and current Partner at Point72 Ventures, discusses the intersection of venture capital and defense technology. He explains how the emergence of low Earth orbit architectures is reshaping the space economy. The conversation highlights the significant challenges startups face in this realm, such as financial barriers and government funding impacts. Chris also analyzes SpaceX's influence on market dynamics and the future of space colonization, emphasizing the importance of strategic investments for national security.

This week on Pathfinder, we’re excited to welcome the one and only Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab continues to solidify its position as a leading end-to-end space company, offering launch services, spacecraft platforms, and in-house satellite manufacturing.In light of Rocket Lab’s Q3 earnings report, which saw a 55% year-over-year revenue increase and a growing backlog of over $1B, this episode dives deep into the company’s strategic and operational decisions driving its success.In addition, we discuss:Rocket Lab’s journey from its early days to becoming the world’s third most frequent launch providerThe development of Neutron and its significance in addressing medium-class launch demandPeter’s philosophy on efficient engineering and capital allocationThe rise of Rocket Lab’s spacecraft business and its role in the company’s end-to-end space strategyInsights into launch market dynamics, from smallsat needs to Starship’s impact on the industryAnd much more... • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:34 - Where is Peter Beck?01:20 - Space and the coming administration02:05 - Rocket Lab in the market and where they're going03:42 - Neutron's first launch04:24 - What's next after Neutron?05:41 - What will be the most dominant aspect of Rocket Lab in the future?07:10 - Hypersonics08:51 - Electron demand vs. supply10:02 - Electron after Neutron13:05 - Neutron's development timeline16:07 - How does Neutron compare to Falcon 9?17:20 - Neutron launch cadence18:12 - What leads to capital efficiency?21:03 - How Rocket Lab created successful projects23:04 - Aesthetics vs Engineering24:26 - SDA contract and de-risking25:23 - Why build both spacecraft and launch vehicles?27:33 - Why own and operate your own constellation?29:56 - DoD's proliferated LEO satellite services program30:40 - Frank Klein joining Rocket Lab31:50 - Operations and scaling philosophy33:25 - Outlook of the supply and demand for launch market35:13 - Is there still room for new launch startups?36:46 - Future of launch outside the US38:30 - Timeline on human spaceflight at Rocket Lab40:01 - Most strategic or technical risk that Rocket Lab currently faces41:14 - Rocket Lab and the Moon43:24 - Things to embrace in order to build a successful company44:30 - What keeps Peter up at night?45:16 - When will the space industry be welcomed by the public markets?49:20 - Things Peter is keeping an eye on51:03 - Date for humans on Moon and Mars • Show notes •Rocket Lab's website — https://www.rocketlabusa.com/Rocket Lab’s socials — https://x.com/RocketLabPeter's socials — https://x.com/Peter_J_BeckMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we explore the world of satellite deployment and launch services with Robert Sproles, CEO of Exolaunch. Exolaunch is a leader in satellite integration, offering launch services and deployment solutions for commercial and government clients.We explore how Exolaunch has built a cashflow-positive business with a remarkable track record of reliability, all without external funding. In addition, we discuss:Exolaunch's founding story and its bootstrapped growth from a university project in Berlin to a $100M revenue companyHow Exolaunch navigates partnerships with major launch providers like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and ArianeRobert’s insights on the demand for satellite launches and the need for diversity in orbital accessExolaunch's plans for the future, including scaling to support larger satellites and expanding their U.S. operationsThe broader ecosystem of launch services and how larger rockets like Starship and New Glenn fit into the marketAnd much more... • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:30 - Robert's background08:13 - What is Exolaunch and the products offered?10:02 - Founding of Exolaunch and building a company without the need for raising capital14:09 - Bootstrap from day one and future funding plans16:35 - From Arkansas to Germany19:02 - Robert transitioning to CEO21:16 - Current market for rideshare, deployment, and mission management23:45 - What is different about Exolaunch?25:48 - Are more launch companies good for Exolaunch and is SpaceX a monopoly?27:02 - Are transporter missions anti-competitive to other launch companies?30:13 - Future satellite trends31:42 - How larger launch vehicles affect Exolaunch33:33 - Is the launch market supplier demand constrained?35:35 - How do non-American operators feel about using American launch providers?37:39 - What does reliability look like?40:08 - Exolaunch's agility43:34 - Missions that pushed the boundaries of Exolaunch's capabilities45:36 - Exolaunch headcount and future plans46:32 - Growth areas47:37 - 10+ year outlook49:07 - What does Robert do outside of Exolaunch?52:26 - Places to eat in Little Rock, Arkansas • Show notes •Exolaunch’s website — https://exolaunch.com/Freeform’s socials — https://twitter.com/ExolaunchMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

This week on Pathfinder, we explore the future of 3D metal printing and manufacturing with Erik Palitsch and TJ Ronacher, co-founders of Freeform, a pioneering startup aiming to redefine industrial-scale additive manufacturing. Both SpaceX alumni, Erik and TJ share their journeys from leading projects on the Merlin and Raptor engines to co-founding Freeform, where they’re using high-power lasers and real-time process control to create a new era of rapid, scalable 3D printing.We dive into how Freeform’s approach is addressing longstanding challenges in the additive industry, from quality control to production speed. Erik and TJ outline their vision for Freeform as a “manufacturing as a service” model, where clients can access high-quality printed parts without the steep learning curve and costs of traditional additive systems. We also discuss:The engineering challenges they tackled at SpaceX and how that shaped Freeform’s technology and business modelFreeform’s technology, including their real-time closed-loop process that enables unprecedented print speeds and precisionTheir vision for the “factory of the future,” where autonomous 3D printing facilities operate globallyThe role of 3D printing in off-planet manufacturing and its impact on space explorationAnd much more… • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:35 - TJ's background02:15 - Erik's time at SpaceX before Freeform07:25 - How has materials in 3D printing changed in the past 10 years?12:27 - Manufacturing as a service and the tech at Freeform18:16 - 3D printing vs traditionally manufactured parts23:11 - What is the tech that Freeform is building?32:45 - True factory scale 3D printing37:10 - Traction beyond space38:06 - What Freeform is printing today38:41 - Revenue and customers41:53 - Manufacturing capability today and in the future43:51 - Advice for investors looking to invest in 3D printing49:18 - Future of 3D printing54:24 - What will off-planet 3D printing look like?57:08 - Favorite stories from SpaceX days60:47 - Milestones to look out for • Show notes •Freeform’s website — https://freeform.co/Freeform’s socials —https://x.com/freeform_futureMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

In this week’s pod, we dive into the world of space-based solar power with Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood and now founder of Aetherflux, a new startup aiming to change how we think about energy from space. Baiju takes us on his personal journey from building a public company to tackling one of the most ambitious ideas in the space industry. Drawing on a lifelong passion for space—rooted in his father's work at NASA—Baiju reveals how Aetherflux plans to bring to life a 1970s sci-fi vision: harnessing solar power from space to solve Earth’s most pressing energy challenges.Baiju shares the challenges and excitement of launching Aetherflux, and how his team is taking a modern approach to an old concept by using advanced laser technology and modular satellite networks. We also discuss:How Aetherflux is developing the first practical demonstration of space-based solar powerThe major potential applications, from powering forward-deployed military bases to remote mining sitesHow his experience at Robinhood shaped his entrepreneurial philosophy for solving massive challenges like global energyAetherflux’s ambitious timeline for a demo mission in 2026And much more... • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:44 - Robinhood to space03:51 - A father's influence06:54 - Why Aetherflux?11:15 - Natural resources in space12:18 - Why do we need solar power in space?13:53 - Market and applications for space solar19:53 - Lasers for power transmission23:02 - Efficiency gain / loss with space solar26:06 - Real time power delivery29:21 - Why not nuclear?31:37 - Space-based solar for space32:28 - Safety and regulation34:37 - Economics of space solar38:06 - Constellations at scale39:06 - Early revenue model40:09 - Competitors41:05 - Funding44:05 - An Apple moment48:19 - Aetherflux team, growth, and goals49:26 - Space startups that Baiju is excited about51:20 - Who would Baiju choose to play him in a movie? • Show notes •Aetherflux’s website — https://www.aetherflux.com/Aetherflux’s socials — https://twitter.com/AetherfluxUSABaiju’s socials — https://twitter.com/BaijuBhattMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

In this week’s Pathfinder pod, we bring in Karthik Gollapudi, CEO, and Austin Spiegel, CTO, of Sift, as they dive into the company's mission to build software tools for complex machines, with a focus on telemetry solutions. Sift’s platform enables end-to-end data ingestion, real-time analysis, and visualization, helping companies streamline the testing and operation of intricate hardware systems, such as spacecraft and rockets.Karthik and Austin share the story behind Sift’s founding and highlight the key role telemetry plays in improving safety and efficiency for hardware engineers. We also cover:How SIFT automates data review and reduces testing timeThe challenges of managing large data volumes in aerospace and beyondHow the company helps engineers identify anomalies and prevent failuresThe importance of real-time insights for complex hardware systemsTheir recent funding round led by Google VenturesAnd much more... • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:31 - What is Sift building?04:18 - Origins07:30 - Austin at Riot Games10:52 - Product walkthrough13:19 - Why is data ingestion so difficult?19:30 - What is a company doing if they're not using Sift?22:05 - How do you make sure that there's no data loss?24:50 - What does a user experience look like?27:44 - What does the demand look like for real-time telemetry?28:57 - Competition29:43 - Revenue model31:56 - How Sift's tools help their customers36:46 - What's next for Sift?39:04 - What keeps you up at night?44:56 - Long-term view45:54 - Companies to be excited for • Show notes •Sift’s website — siftstack.com/Sift’s socials — https://x.com/SiftStackMo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspacePathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspacePathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes • About us •Pathfinder is brought to you by Payload, a modern space media brand built from the ground up for a new age of space exploration and commercialization. We deliver need-to-know news and insights daily to 19,000+ commercial, civil, and military space leaders. Payload is read by decision-makers at every leading new space company, along with c-suite leaders at all of the aerospace & defense primes. We’re also read on Capitol Hill, in the Pentagon, and at space agencies around the world.Payload began as a weekly email sent to a few friends and coworkers. Today, we’re a team distributed across four time zones and two continents, publishing five media properties across multiple platforms:1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece,  comes out on WednesdaysYou can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/