First Principles with Christian Keil The Deep View

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Episode 9: Justin worked at SpaceX and Anduril before starting Base Power, which is aiming to build a modern power company — and an energy trading business on top of it.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:41) - What Base Power is Building
(03:26) - How Texas' Energy Grid and Market Works
(08:42) - Sponsor Break
(09:28) - Why Batteries are Needed to Support the Grid
(14:09) - Base Power's Unique Battery Deployment Model
(19:35) - Optimizing the Battery System Design
(24:14) - Streamlining the Deployment Process
(29:03) - Build vs Buy Decisions Across the Value Chain
(32:18) - Software Strategy Across Device, Cloud, and Customer
(36:00) - Balancing Customer Needs with Grid Services
(39:06) - Potential for DC Power Distribution in Homes
(40:31) - The Vision for Long-Duration Storage
(43:51) - Scaling Base Power and Driving Costs Down
(48:18) - Defining the Interfaces and Controlling the Value Chain
(52:04) - Advice for Startup Founders and Closing Thoughts
(56:11) - Conclusion

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Links:
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleJustin Lopas – https://twitter.com/JLopasBase Power - https://www.basepowercompany.com/
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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.

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(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

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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
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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.

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(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

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Links:
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleNato Saichek – https://twitter.com/natosaichekLongshot Space – https://www.longshotspace.com/
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Episode 6: When heated, sodium emits energy via visible light at 2.1eV (or 589 nm wavelength). So, if you make an engine that heats up sodium, you can tune a solar cell to exactly that frequency and capture light efficiently — giving you the portability of a battery with the energy density of hydrocarbons.
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(00:00) - Intro(00:32) - Danielle’s Background(04:40) - Early Interest in Energy and Fusion Research(08:14) - Leaving Academia to Become an Entrepreneur(11:40) - Starting LightSail and Innovating in Compressed Air Energy Storage(15:35) - Reflecting on LightSail and Compressed Air Energy Storage(19:48) - Limitations of Batteries, Engines, and Fuel Cells(22:30) - The Vision for Portable, Energy-Dense Power Generation(27:16) - Rethinking Combustion and Light Generation for Compact Power(31:56) - How the New Power Generation Process Works(37:58) - Managing High Temperatures and System Components(42:26) - Recirculating Heat for Higher Efficiency(48:38) - Theoretical Limits and Practical Challenges(52:50) - Engineering Solutions to Minimize Losses(58:32) - The Experimental Approach to Rapid Learning(01:02:54) - Balancing Exploratory Work with Systematic Testing(01:07:40) - Developing the Craftsmanship of Research(01:11:15) - Managing Company Priorities while Preserving Creativity(01:15:18) - Advice for Learning and Advancing Technology(01:18:36) - Building Real Projects and Sharing Knowledge(01:22:10) - Conclusion
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Links:Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleDanielle Fong – https://twitter.com/DanielleFong Lightcell Energy – https://www.lightcellenergy.com/
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Episode 5: Garrett wants to deliver any good in under ten minutes, for under a quarter, using drones that burrow underground.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:50) - What Pipedream is Building
(02:17) - Garrett's Background and Learning to Build Businesses
(04:02) - How Pipedream Moves Things Efficiently in Cities
(07:07) - Why Pneumatic Tubes are Not the Solution
(10:08) - How Pipedream's System Works with Robots, Rails, and Totes
(13:20) - Designing the Track to Handle Curves and Turns
(17:27) - Pipedream's Initial Focus on Instant Pickup and Curbside Delivery
(20:12) - The Vision for Edge Warehouses and Hyperlogistics
(23:05) - The Key Challenges in Scaling Autonomous Logistics
(28:37) - Why Last Mile Delivery Speed is More About Deployment Than Robot Speed
(31:10) - The Hardest Problems Pipedream is Solving
(37:14) - How Pipedream Decided on Underground Delivery Infrastructure
(41:37) - Leveraging Existing Utility Installation and Regulation Practices
(44:49) - Believing in the Vision Despite Skepticism
(47:53) - The Huge Potential of Last Mile Logistics Innovation
(50:51) - Garrett's Journey to Find a Meaningful 10-Year Opportunity
(54:49) - Realizing Underground Infrastructure was More Feasible Than Expected
(57:22) - Taking the Unconventional Path Despite Discouragement
(01:00:00) - The Engineering Appeal and Potential Impact of Last Mile Logistics
(01:04:02) - Borrowing from Proven Utility Distribution Models like Water and Sewage
(01:07:07) - The Perfect Timing and Conditions for Logistics Disruption
(01:11:35) - Cities' Incentives to Support Underground Utility Infrastructure
(01:14:27) - Conclusion

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Links:
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleGarret McCurrach –  https://twitter.com/thegarrettscott Pipedream - https://www.pipedreamlabs.co/======

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Episode 4: Augustus Doricko isn’t trying to play God with his weather-modification company, Rainmaker, but he does admit that quelling hurricanes or creating atmospheric rivers would be pretty based. By using cheap drones to disperse ice nucleation agents, Augustus will literally make it rain — and save the American West in the process.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:41) - What Rainmaker Technology is Building
(01:27) - Augustus' Background
(03:58) - Why Cloud Seeding and Water Scarcity are Important Problems
(07:07) - The Dialectic on How to Solve Water Scarcity 
(10:08) - How Weather Modification and Cloud Seeding Work
(13:20) - How Rainmaker Identifies Suitable Clouds for Seeding
(17:27) - How Rainmaker Delivers Seeding Agents to Clouds
(20:12) - Rainmaker's Nucleation Agent Dispersion Mechanism 
(23:05) - Rainmaker's Search for Alternative Nucleation Agents
(26:37) - Attribution of Precipitation to Cloud Seeding 
(31:10) - Rainmaker's Initial Target Market and Value Proposition
(37:14) - Extending Rainfall Benefits with Cloud Seeding 
(41:37) - Rainmaker's Pricing Model
(44:49) - Government Interest and Spending on Weather Modification
(47:53) - China's Leadership in Weather Modification   
(50:51) - The Need for Pro-Human, Pro-Environment Climate Engineering
(52:52) - Technical and Business Challenges for Rainmaker
(54:49) - Advice for Aspiring Engineers in Weather Modification
(57:22) - Positive Sum Aspects of Cloud Seeding
(01:01:27) - Government Contracting Potential for Rainmaker
(01:04:02) - Identifying Easy vs. Challenging Components of Rainmaker's System
(01:07:07) - Conclusion and Advice for Aspiring Weather Modification Engineers

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Links:
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyleAugustus Doricko – https://twitter.com/ADorickoRainmaker – https://www.makerain.com/
First Principles:
Ice Nucleation – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_nucleusDrainage basins – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_basinNucleation via Drone – https://asr.science.energy.gov/news/program-news/post/14630Weather Modification – https://libguides.library.noaa.gov/weather-climate/weather-modification-project-reports
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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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