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Space Business Podcast

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Apr 27, 2022 • 54min

#67 Bradford Space

Our guests this week are Ian Fichtenbaum and Chris Carpenter from Bradford Space. Bradford has been around for a while and their systems, such as propulsion and attitude control, have gathered quite a bit of space heritage already. Now they have an exciting new project. Hear about it in this episode!   Opportunities to learn more about space business: Check out the new edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy I am also designing a new live-taught course. Join the mailing list to get updates and early access: https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD Raphael's introductory book on the space economy recently came out in its Portuguese translation: https://www.amazon.com/Para-Cima-Economia-Espacial-Portuguese-ebook/dp/B09X5WV3WC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ROKTHNSCZCRI The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast Follow the podcast on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space Timestamps 0:00 Intro 2:25 Elevator pitch and company origins  6:54 Guests' backgrounds 12:50 The most capable space company 18:27 Mass manufacturing 21:18 Vertical integration and software side 25:43 Overall Strategy and long term value 32:14 Space transportation and use cases 38:11 Status of the project 44:48 Manufacturing vs operating 48:07 Vision for the company 50:54 What else is exciting in space? 52:34 Sci-Fi
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Apr 14, 2022 • 1h 8min

#66 Chris Hadfield

I have an Easter / Passover / Ramadan treat for you: my guest this week is none other than Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut. Among his many accomplishments are being the first Canadian to conduct EVA (colloquially a ‘spacewalk’) and also the first Canadian to serve as Commander of the Int’l Space Station. Besides that, he is also a musician and a writer, who recently published a thrilling novel called ‘The Apollo Murders’. We talk about all of this during this episode – you will not want to miss it. Enjoy & happy holidays!   Opportunities to learn more about space business: Check out the new edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy I am also designing a new live-taught course. Join the mailing list to get updates and early access: https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD Raphael's introductory book on the space economy just came out in its Portuguese translation: https://www.amazon.com/Para-Cima-Economia-Espacial-Portuguese-ebook/dp/B09X5WV3WC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ROKTHNSCZCRI The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Support us at https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast Follow the podcast on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/podcast_space   Links to things mentioned in the episode Creative Destruction Lab Space Stream: https://creativedestructionlab.com/streams/space/ Chris Hadfield's MasterClass online course: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/chris-hadfield-teaches-space-exploration The Apollo Murders (novel) https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Murders-Colonel-Chris-Hadfield-ebook/dp/B08W514GW2/   Timestamps 2:40 The post-astronaut life 6:02 We go to space for the benefit of what we're doing on earth 7:18 Cherished memories from space 8:48 The Overview Effect 12:02 Space tourism 17:57 Playing music in space and human behavior 20:46 Sports and reproduction in space 24:40 Mars 30:56 Life in space 38:30 Creative Destruction Lab 44:04 What is most exciting in space development? 49:30 Getting the space message out 55:03 The Apollo Murders 01:04:30 Sci-Fi
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Apr 8, 2022 • 47min

#65 Jakub Dziwisz, Orbify: simplifying satellite data apps

In this episode we are talking about analyzing satellite imagery for interesting use cases here on Earth. Our guest is Jakub Dziwisz from the startup Orbify. Their platform aims to make it really easy to deploy apps that take advantage of satellite imagery for use cases such as tracking deforestation and many others.   Opportunities to learn more about space business: Check out the new edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy Raphael is also designing a new live-taught course. Join the mailing list to get updates and early access: https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space Help us expand our work by becoming a supporter:  https://www.patreon.com/spacebusinesspodcast Timestamps 0:00 Intro 2:23 Elevator Pitch 5:26 Use cases 12:00 Origin of the company 15:52 How the platform work in practice 20:23 Data sources 22:51 Further use cases  26:34 More on data 28:48 Go-to-market 32:26 Revenue model 33:49 Capital intensity and funding 37:46 The Polish space ecosystem 41:18 What else is interesting in space? 43:13 Sci-Fi
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Mar 31, 2022 • 4min

The New Space Economy MOOC

New Space Economy MOOC: https://space4impact.org/new-space-economy-mooc/ Future course early save-the-spot:  https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD   The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space
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Mar 28, 2022 • 49min

#64 Ian Christensen, Secure World Foundation: Space Sustainability

We are talking about space sustainability this week. I sat down with an expert in the topic, Ian Christensen from the Secure World Foundation. A lot of the conversation is about space debris, but we also talk about some other interesting topics. Check it out. Opportunities to learn more about space business: Check out the new edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy I am also designing a new live-taught course. Join the mailing list to get updates and early access: https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space Space Sustainability Summit in London: https://swfsummit.org/   Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:20 Intro to Ian and the Secure World Foundation 5:21 What is space sustainability? 7:08 Space debris 11:53 Different approaches to avoiding future debris 15:00 Space traffic management 18:05 International cooperation in Space 22:28 What can we do about anti-satellite tests? 25:12 Other aspects of debris 26:24 Keeping the wider space environment safe 29:55 Nuclear waste in space 33:22 Space "ESG" 38:20 How can investors help out SWF 40:41 SWF due diligence checklist 43:28 SWF summit for space sustainability - https://swfsummit.org/ 44:47 Sci-Fi
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Mar 14, 2022 • 55min

#63 Bulent Altan, Mynaric: space laser communications

Our guest this week wears many hats in the space sector, but we will focus on one of them. After having been an early employee at SpaceX, Bulent Altan is now the CEO of Mynaric, a laser communications company. Space Lasers? Trust me, it is as cool as it sounds, both from a technology as well as business potential perspective. I share Bulent’s view that optical is the future of communications. Find out why in this episode. Opportunities to learn more about space business: Check out the new edX/EPFL Space Economy MOOC: https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-economy I am also designing a new live-taught course. Join the mailing list to get updates and early access: https://jfx8zhjodpz.typeform.com/to/t0VSuhVD The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 2:27 Bulent's story incl. why he chose laser communications 7:17 The current state of satellite connectivity 12:32 Downlinking satellites 15:21 Optical comms taking over 18:19 Laser tech talk 29:32 Optical's commercial advantage 40:15 Mynaric's to-do list 49:18 Space sector recent past and future 52:14 Sci-fi
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Mar 14, 2022 • 58min

#62 Peter Platzer, Spire

Our guest this episode is one of the best-known entrepreneurs in New Space, Peter Platzer, founder and CEO of Spire Global. We cover a lot of ground in our conversation, including talking about commercial space in general and about Spire’s new space-as-service offering. You don’t want to miss this one! The Space Business Podcast is sponsored by NanoAvionics. Follow the podcast on Twitter @podcast_space Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:19 The Luxembourg space ecosystem 4:50 Spire origin story 11:44 Drivers of New Space 19:26 Current state of remote sensing 22:43 Customers 26:00 Lessons from the computer industry 28:32 Call to arms for potential entrepreneurs 31:55 Rapid fire question on selected trends 37:16 Space as a service 55:54 Sci-Fi
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Mar 14, 2022 • 39min

#61 Matt Villarreal, Infinite Composites: pressure vessels

I thought we may should an episode once in a while talking about specific important components of spacecraft. This is the first such episode: my guest is Matt Villarreal, co-founder and CEO of Infinite Composites. They design and manufacture composite pressure vessels. If you don’t yet know what that is, you will after this episode. Enjoy! If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it! If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space). 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. In 2022, it will be published in English and Portuguese, too. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:56 Elevator pitch and background 7:00 Problems with the way tanks are traditionally done 9:05 Trying to push a non-traditional product in space 11:44 Where is the company right now? 13:45 The challenge of scaling up 15:26 Typical space customer 17:56 Space heritage 18:36 Growth strategy 20:43 Pricing 24:36 The competitive Landscape 30:10 Government contracts 31:05 Spaced Ventures 34:06 If you weren't doing Infinite Composites what else would you be doing? 35:04 Sci-Fi
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Jan 31, 2022 • 52min

#60 Nicolas Peter: Space in Europe, Entrepreneurship, ISU & more

I sat down with Nicolas Peter, who is a long-term veteran of ESA, having worked in the Director General’s office, among other roles. He currently serves as Professor of Space Policy and International Affairs at the International Space University (ISU) and also as ISU’s head of their new Space Policy and Entrepreneurship Lab. We discuss a range of topics including Europe’s role in space, space entrepreneurship and ISU. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it! If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space). 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. In 2022, it will be published in English and Portuguese, too. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:46 Bio 3:06 European space conference 5:50 New faces at space conferences 8:09 Space in Europe 15:51 Space in the capital markets 21:12 VC funds 26:40 Space ecosystem Europe vs. U.S. 31:55 ISU 35:45 Space data use cases 40:36 ISU transitioning alongside the space sector 46:21 Futurism 48:05 Sci-Fi
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Jan 21, 2022 • 54min

#59 Laura Forczyk: Becoming Off-Worldly

We will talk about space tourism this week. Laura Forczyk is back – she just published a book called “Becoming off-worldly” that talks all about space tourism and the space tourism experience. As an investor in space tourism and, hopefully, some day a customer, I’m really excited about this one. Enjoy! If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast app - we highly appreciate it! If you have comments or questions about the episode, email us at spacebusinesspodcast@gmail.com or post them on our Twitter (@podcast_space). 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. In 2022, it will be published in English and Portuguese, too.   Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:43 Laura's new book 7:13 Government astronauts, commercial and "in between" 9:28 Private space missions 14:36 Mental experience of spaceflight 25:43 Supply and demand 27:03 Who should go to Space? 32:38 The Overview Effect 35:34 Safety 38:45 The Moon 43:10 Medical emergencies in Space 46:00 High altitude balloons 48:27 Other topics & wrap-up

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