Space Business Podcast

spacebusiness

Space is rapidly growing into an exciting ecosystem for business. In this podcast we hear from entrepreneurs, executives, investors and others about the many opportunities that exist. This podcast is produced by the Space Business Institute in partnership with the International Space University.

  1. 13h ago

    #178 | Heritage Meets New Space | Kristin Houston, Rocketdyne

    My guest this week is Kristin Houston, CEO of Rocketdyne, the propulsion company behind engines like the RL10, and that has just become an independent company again after more than 60 years of heritage, most recently as part of Aerojet Rocketdyne and L3Harris. We talk about what it takes to combine that legacy with new space speed and culture, how the RL10 was modernized with additive manufacturing (cutting its part count by about 98%), the booming demand from national security, Golden Dome and in-space mobility, new propulsion paradigms, nuclear propulsion and power (and when we might see a reactor on the Moon), synergies within the AE Industrial portfolio, scaling production and the supply chain for a world of up to 100,000 satellites, the talent race, what the industry needs from government, risks like ASAT debris, and Rocketdyne's plan to roughly double its thruster output next year. Enjoy! 0:00 — Cold Open 0:32 — Intro 1:27 — Welcome & Introducing Rocketdyne 2:08 — From Aerojet Rocketdyne to Independent Company 5:56 — Culture: 60 Years of Heritage Meets New Space Speed 10:04 — RL10 Modernization & Additive Manufacturing 12:53 — Strategy in a Booming Space Market: What to focus on? 14:24 — National Security incl. In-Space Propulsion 18:01 — New Propulsion Paradigms 20:25 — Next-Gen & Nuclear Propulsion 22:42 — Nuclear Power 33:29 — Portfolio Synergies within AE Industrial 35:28 — The Space Industrial Base 38:43 — Talent 41:27 — Wish List for Government 43:56 — Risks 47:15 — Next Milestones 51:19 — Science Fiction Favorites 52:51 — Outro 🔗 Rocketdyne https://rocketdyne.com/ 🔗 Kristin Houston https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-houston-6827946/ 🔗 Follow the Podcast: 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast 🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ 🔗 Follow E2MC (Raphael's space VC): ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/E2MC_VC 🤝🏻LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/e2mc-space/ 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: 1. "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO 2. edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓 https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy 3. Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 4. Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

    #178 | Heritage Meets New Space | Kristin Houston, Rocketdyne
  2. Oct 24

    #177 | Bluetooth to Space | Alex Haro, Hubble

    My guest this week is Alex Haro, co-founder and CEO of Hubble Network, which is building a low Earth orbit satellite constellation that any Bluetooth chip can talk to directly, with nothing more than a software update. We get into how a Bluetooth "whisper" can be heard from orbit, Hubble's B2B model, early traction and the path to 60 satellites, use cases from asset and package tracking to livestock, wildfire detection and even butterflies, how Hubble compares with AirTags, privacy and unauthorized tracking, and the company's next milestones after its $200 million Series C. Enjoy! 0:00 — Cold Open 0:23 — Intro 1:19 — Welcome & the Elevator Pitch: Bluetooth to Space 2:46 — Origin Story 7:28 — Why the Name "Hubble"? 8:14 — The Technology: How a Bluetooth Whisper Reaches Orbit 15:30 — Just a Software Update: No New Hardware 17:09 — A B2B Business Model 18:32 — Early Traction & the Path to 60 Satellites 21:43 — Early Use Cases: Asset & Package Tracking 25:44 — Hubble vs. AirTags 27:45 — Remote Areas, Indoors & Battery Life 32:38 — The Use Cases Alex Is Most Excited About 35:50 — Opportunities for Entrepreneurs 39:31 — Livestock & Agriculture 42:16 — Privacy & Unauthorized Tracking 44:15 — Next Milestones, Series C & Launch 48:08 — Science Fiction Favorites 50:20 — Outro 🔗 Hubble Network https://hubble.com/ 🔗 Alex Haro https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderharo 🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast 🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ 🔗 Follow E2MC (Raphael's space VC): 🤝🏻LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/e2mc-space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: 1. "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO 2. edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓 https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy 3. Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 4. Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

    #177 | Bluetooth to Space | Alex Haro, Hubble
  3. Oct 16

    #176 | Science Fiction | Mary Robinette Kowal

    Something a little different this week: a science fiction special! My guest is Mary Robinette Kowal, the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Lady Astronaut series and The Spare Man. We talk about getting the space science right in hard sci-fi, how AI, politics and spirituality show up (or don't) in science fiction, and how talking with her cat Elsie through word buttons has changed the way she thinks about first contact with aliens. Enjoy!   0:00 — Cold Open 0:25 — Intro 2:25 — Elevator Pitch 3:00 — The Spare Man: A Murder Mystery in Space 5:39 — Borrowing Story Structures from Other Genres 9:21 — World-Building in Sci-Fi and Fantasy 11:52 — Hard Science Fiction and Working with Experts 16:51 — Hardest Technical Topic: Rocket Crashes 18:59 — Real-World Space Tech vs. Fiction 21:02 — Why Are There Still Hotshot Pilots? 22:28 — AI in Science Fiction 27:42 — Politics and Writing the Future 32:18 — Utopias vs. Dystopias 35:06 — Spirituality in Space 37:14 — Advice for Aspiring Writers 38:57 — First Contact and Talking to Aliens 39:47 — Talking with Elsie the Cat 48:26 — Favorite Science Fiction 49:59 — Mary Robinette's Next Book 🔗 Mary Robinette Kowal https://maryrobinettekowal.com/   🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast 🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ 🔗 Follow E2MC (Raphael's space VC): 🤝🏻LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/e2mc-space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

    #176 | Science Fiction | Mary Robinette Kowal
  4. Oct 6

    #175 | Space Infrastructure | John Rood, Momentus

    Momentus is one of still relatively few space companies listed on a stock exchange.  Their offerings include satellites, hosted payload services, and last mile transportation for other people's satellites. CEO John Rood is our guest this week to tell us all about that, and also what it is like to be a publicly-listed space company. Enjoy! 1:29 — Elevator Pitch 2:11 — Momentus Satellites and Orbital Service Vehicles 3:02 — Spacecraft Market Positioning 5:40 — Market Differentiation 9:58 — Technology Roadmap 11:49 — Proximity Operations 14:10 — Government vs Commercial Customers 19:45 — Common Mistakes with Government Customers 24:27 — Space Truck Deep Dive 39:03 — Launch Market 42:52 — Product Roadmap 54:48 — Favorite Science Fiction 🔗 Momentus https://momentus.space/   🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast   🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇  Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO  edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

  5. Sep 29

    #174 | Persistent Imaging | Mark Keremedjiev, Orbital Sentry

    We have another episode on remote sensing, and my guest is Mark Keremedjiev from a startup called Orbital Sentry. Mark tell us why persistent monitoring from geosynchronous orbit makes sense for use cases including wildfires.   0:00 — Introduction 1:11 — Welcome & Elevator Pitch 2:13 — The LEO Data Access Problem 4:29 — Wildfires & a Dynamic World 6:05 — XPRIZE for Wildfire Detection 8:29 — LEO Limitations 11:23 — The GEO Solution 13:40 — Costs & Improvements 16:00 — Declining Costs 17:20 — The Spatial Challenge 21:09 — Temporal Resolution 22:34 — Defense Applications 27:09 — Data Strategy 31:48 — Go-to-Market 37:27 — Sensor Technology & In-Space Compute 41:45 — 10-Year Vision & Favorite Science-Fiction   🔗 Orbital Sentry https://www.orbitalsentry.ai/   🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast   🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇  Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO  edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

  6. Sep 13

    #173 | Optical Communications | Rohit Jha, Transcelestial

    Space lasers - we are talking about space lasers again -- for optical communications rather than more sinister purposes, at least for the moment. Our guest this week is Rohit Jha from Singapore-based startup Transcelestial. Optical communications are becoming an even bigger topic than they have been before, in part thanks to orbital data centers. We talk all about that, and much more, in the episode. Enjoy.    1:38 — Elevator Pitch 4:47 — Laser History & Why Now 8:05 — Tech Stack 9:36 — Terrestrial Product for Telcos 11:58 — Go-to-Market 18:22 — Defense Product 23:26 — Space Product 27:52 — Commercial Space Strategy 36:09 — Supply Chain 42:35 — Orbital Data Centers 49:29 — Singapore 50:57 — Future Plans 55:05 — Science-Fiction 🔗 Transcelestial https://transcelestial.com/   🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast   🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇  Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO  edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

  7. Aug 4

    #172 | Space Research | Lucie Low, Axiom Space

    Lucie Low is the Chief Science Officer of Axiom Space, a prominent space company developing its own space station and conducting private astronaut missions, among other activities. Lucie and I talk about what interesting use cases are for in-space research and manufacturing, what remains to be done to make it a large-scale reality, and other related topics. Enjoy! 🔗 Axiom Space https://www.axiomspace.com/   0:00 — Intro 1:15 — Lucie's Background 2:57 — What Does a CSO Do? 4:03 — Why Research in Space? 7:33 — Favorite Use Cases 8:10 — Neuroscience Use Cases 10:38 — R&D vs. Manufacturing 14:30 — Microgravity Applications 17:11 — Key Remaining Challenges 20:26 — Autonomous Research vs. Humans 24:16 — Challenging Use Cases 33:00 — Keytruda 35:27 — Inbound vs. Outbound Customers 36:20 — Unlimited Funding Use Case 41:05 — How Researchers Can Work with Axiom Space 44:36 — Funding Sources 47:19 — Expanding to Europe 49:13 — Favorite Sci-Fi 🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast   🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇  Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/ To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO  edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

  8. Jul 6

    #171 | An Exchange for the Space Sector | Tejpaul Bhatia, Nebex

    Nebex is a new exchange for the global space sector. It just came out of stealth recently, but it already raised a $30 million seed round led by Google Ventures. The co-founder and CEO, Tejpaul Bhatia, is our guest for this episode. Enjoy.    TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Podcast Intro 1:45 — Elevator Pitch 3:01 — The Problem: Cross-Border Space Friction 15:06 — Real-World Examples incl. Axiom 34:04 — The Product: Exchange vs. Marketplace 37:40 — Business Model 50:41 — Regulation, Market Making 55:48 — Product Timeline & Alpha Launch 55:59 — Onboarding Space Founders 1:01:13 — What Else Is Exciting in Space? 1:03:57 — Nebex Name Origin 1:06:45 — Favorite Science-Fiction   🔗 Nebex 🏠Website: https://www.nebex.com/   🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast     🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇  Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelroettgen 🌐Instagram - https://instagram.com/raphael_space/   To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO  edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne-new-space-economy Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/

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About

Space is rapidly growing into an exciting ecosystem for business. In this podcast we hear from entrepreneurs, executives, investors and others about the many opportunities that exist. This podcast is produced by the Space Business Institute in partnership with the International Space University.

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