Valley of Depth

Payload | Ignition | Tectonic
  • 4.7 (59)
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  • CADA SEMANA

Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies.

  1. HACE 8 H

    Engineering Mass Abundance, with Neel Kunjur (CTO of K2 Space)

    Smallsats have defined the last decade of space, but their limitations are clear: low power, limited throughput, and fragile unit economics. K2 Space is betting on the opposite. The company is building mega class and giga class satellites, platforms measured in tons rather than kilograms, that deliver unprecedented power, capacity, and resilience. By vertically integrating 80 percent of their systems in house, K2 is cutting costs by an order of magnitude and making industrial scale spacecraft a reality. On this episode of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Neel Kunjur, cofounder and CTO of K2 Space. Neel traces the journey from early Slack messages about the promise of MEO to a 160 person team building the largest commercial satellites ever attempted. He shares how K2 has reimagined subsystems like reaction wheels, high voltage power, and 20 kW propulsion to unlock entirely new mission architectures in MEO, GEO, and beyond.   We also discuss: Why MEO is such an underexplored orbital regimeThe engineering breakthroughs behind large reaction wheels and high voltage power systemsHow stackable satellites change constellation designThe long term vision for space infrastructure, from in space compute to energy harvesting…and more.     • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 00:56 – What's happened in the past two years since K2 has been on the pod 02:13 – The thesis behind K2 03:51 – What does Neel mean by aperture? 04:40 – Why do satellites need to grow in size and power? 06:59 – The rise in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) chatter 08:49 – Why did Neel leave SpaceX and start K2 with his brother? 12:04 – Building K2 for a post Starship world 14:10 – Current and future K2 offerings 15:32 – 20 Kilowatts vs a small LEO satellite 17:10 – Giga-scale satellite 18:40 – How K2 is able to deliver $15m satellite 21:13 – K2's innovations so far 23:01 – Engineering problems that larger satellite builders have to worry about 25:08 – K2's propulsion solution to get MEO 28:11 – Engineering for Starship's current MEO blindspot 29:18 – Neel's prediction on Starship's refueling rollout 30:14 – Innovation through simplicity 33:24 – How is K2 hiring the talent for their niche challenges 35:52 – How big is K2's team today 36:43 – Key takeaways from K2's first mission 38:22 – Mission Gravitas 39:59 – Orbit race 40:39 – Mission Gravitas: Commercial or DoD? 41:33 – K2's scaling plans 43:03 – Customized vs standardized 45:17 – Overspec'd by design 45:40 – Will K2's success spur more competition? 47:23 – Will satellites become robust, industrial hardware? 48:48 – What's enabled by these large platforms? 51:01 – The paradigm shift happening in engineering for space 52:42 – Will SpaceX own LEO? 55:05 – The name and branding behind K2   • Show notes • K2’s website — http://www.k2space.com/ K2’s socials — https://x.com/K2SpaceCo Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /   https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    59 min

  2. 17 SEP

    Proven Propulsion, with Kristin Houston (President of Space Power & Propulsion Systems of L3Harris)

    This episode is presented by L3Harris Technologies. On this special edition of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Kristin Houston, President of Space Propulsion and Power Systems at L3Harris. Kristin leads the team responsible for propulsion and space power systems across Artemis and beyond, from the RS-25 main engines to the Gateway’s high-power electric propulsion system to Fission Surface Power (FSP) on the Moon. We dive into how Artemis II is shaping up, the role of SLS, and why nuclear power and propulsion may be the linchpin of America’s long-term space presence. We also discuss: What Artemis II is designed to prove, and why precision on Artemis I mattered so muchHow Artemis ties directly into national security and the new lunar race with ChinaFSP – what it is, why it matters, and why NASA is accelerating it nowNuclear propulsion: hype vs. physics, and how soon it could be operationalWhy maneuverability in space is becoming the next strategic advantageGolden Dome and how propulsion/power innovations fit into the architectureThe propulsion milestone Kristin wants to see in the next 10 years…and much more. Check out this Valley of Depth on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 00:47 – Kristin's background 03:47 – Why are we going back to the Moon? 07:10 – State of the Artemis program 09:28 – L3Harris's involvement in Artemis 10:48 – What does success look like for Artemis 2? 12:38 – Orbital maneuvers and landing 14:35 – Lessons from Artemis I that's giving confidence into Artemis II 15:45 – Artemis II readiness, risk, and pacing 16:39 – What needs to go right in Artemis II 18:55 – The need for the SLS rocket 19:57 – The criticism of the SLS 22:28 – Could Starship and the SLS coexist? 24:33 – National security ROI for sustained Lunar operations 27:02 – Are we underestimating China? 27:40 – What if China gets to the Moon first? 31:13 – The question about power 34:59 – Minimum power requirements on the Moon 35:45 – Government's renewed focus on nuclear 36:57 – How far away are we from nuclear propulsion? 39:27 – Maneuverability in space 42:20 – Defense focused propulsion systems 42:57 – Golden Dome 46:11 – Propulsion milestones   • Show notes • L3Harris’s website — https://www.l3harris.com/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    51 min

  3. 4 SEP

    From Seabed to Space, with Tyler Bernstein (CEO of Zeno Power)

    Some environments are simply too harsh for traditional power sources. Solar panels fail in darkness, batteries die quickly, and diesel can’t reach. That’s where Zeno Power comes in. The company is pioneering nuclear batteries, compact systems that recycle radioactive waste into safe, reliable power for years at a time. On this episode of Valley of Depth, I’m joined by Tyler Bernstein, co-founder and CEO of Zeno Power. We trace the journey from a Vanderbilt classroom project to a venture-backed company with $70M in private capital, $60M+ in NASA and DoD contracts, and a working nuclear prototype. Tyler shares how Zeno is positioning itself to power critical frontier operations: autonomous systems on the seabed, satellites in orbit, and landers on the Moon. We also discuss: How a nuclear battery works and why Strontium-90 is Zeno’s starting fuelWhat it takes to safely turn nuclear waste into usable powerThe use cases that only nuclear batteries can unlockThe business model: selling units vs. power-as-a-service vs. revenue sharingNavigating the unique regulatory path for radioisotope systemsThe risks of scaling a nuclear startup…and much more. This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com.   • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro & WSBW Ad 01:26 – Tyler's background and how he came to co-found Zeno Power 04:13 – Is it normal for Vanderbilt to support their students' ideas and startups? 05:11 – Key mentors/validators of Tyler's business 07:06 – Zeno's products and $70M fundraising 09:12 – What is a nuclear battery and how does it work? 12:40 – How Zeno is carefully handling Strontium-90 14:39 – Future use cases for Strontium-90 15:53 – Advantages of nuclear battery 18:09 – Energy limits and stacking 19:30 – DoD and commercial customers 21:20 – Future business model 22:52 – How does Tyler think about pricing? 24:31 – How does regulation look for nuclear batteries? 27:00 – Will there be meaningful change coming out of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)? 29:03 – Competition 31:25 – Turning nuclear waste into valuable power 34:12 – The future of nuclear waste disposal 37:47 – Biggest technical risks Zeno is combating 40:46 – Scaling the Stirling generator 41:49 – Zeno's testing infrastructure 43:08 – What keeps Tyler up at night 47:16 – Is Tyler optimistic about the future of energy in the US? 48:41 – Zeno's legacy in 20 years   • Show notes • Zeno Power’s website — https://www.zenopower.com/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    50 min

  4. 28 AGO

    The Case for Continuity, with Pam Melroy (Former Deputy Administrator of NASA)

    Continuous human presence in orbit has been a cornerstone of U.S. leadership in space for 25 years. But recent changes to NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) strategy have Pam Melroy—former NASA Deputy Administrator and shuttle commander—sounding the alarm. She warns that shifting to short-duration missions risks ceding leadership in LEO and undermining U.S. readiness for Mars, opening the door for China to take the mantle. On this episode of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Pam to talk about the state of NASA, the future of space stations, and why requirements, the often overlooked backbone of program management, will determine whether the U.S. stays ahead. We trace her career from test pilot to shuttle commander to senior leadership at NASA, DARPA, and the FAA, and unpack what it means to build an architecture that actually holds together from LEO to Mars. We also discuss: Why continuous presence in LEO is a national security and leadership issueHow the CLD Phase 2 shift could reshape investor and partner confidenceThe role of SpaceX and Starship in the Moon–Mars roadmapWhat it takes to write requirements that don’t doom a program from the startPam’s vision of LEO, the Moon, and Mars in 2045…and much more. This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com. • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 00:55 – WSBW Ad 01:21 – The key to Pam's success 03:32 – The state of NASA 05:01 – NASA in the next decade if we stay in our current trajectory 06:58 – Why is maintaining a human presence in LEO so important? 10:18 – The changing CLD Strategy 15:29 – Cost and impact of continuous vs 30-day missions 18:01 – NASA's requirements 23:50 – Disintegration of requirements 27:32 – Impact of the shift in CLD strategy 29:52 – Why go back to the Moon? 31:35 – Does the media understand the impact of landing on the Moon and Mars? 35:19 – Why do 30-day missions make sense 37:53 – Will China beat us back to the Moon? 41:41 – Cultural impact if China beats us to the Moon 45:17 – Does the Artemis program have the right architecture to succeed? 47:46 – Is NASA too dependent on SpaceX? 52:47 – How much should the U.S. be interested 56:02 – What did leading the space shuttle teach Pam about leadership? 57:54 – Inspiring the next generation of space exploration 58:46 – Prediction 20 years later 01:01:37 – Aliens?   • Show notes • Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    1 h y 6 min

  5. 21 AGO

    Logistics Wins Wars, with David Tuttle (CEO of Rune)

    Logistics rarely makes headlines, but it wins or loses wars. Rune Technologies is betting that the future of contested sustainment won’t be built on warehouses and spreadsheets, but on software. The company recently raised a $24M Series A to accelerate that vision. On this episode of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Rune co-founder and CEO David Tuttle to talk about how the company is reimagining military logistics from the ground up. We trace Rune’s path from early prototypes to today’s TyrOS platform, discuss the cultural inertia inside the Pentagon, and unpack what it means to build software that commanders can trust under fire. We also get into: The founding story of Rune and the early technical unlocksBuilding TyrOS and winning adoption with frontline commandsWhat it takes to design software soldiers actually want to useWhy logistics is becoming a strategic lever in great power competitionThe long-term vision for software-defined sustainment…and much more. This episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com. • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 01:02 – WSBW 01:27 – The story behind the name "Rune" 03:02 – What is Rune building? 04:34 – David's background and how he ended up founding Rune 08:10 – Why David and Peter Goldsborough had to make Rune exist 10:43 – Logistics in warfare 13:02 – How logistics are still being tracked today and why it’s outdated 17:05 – How TyrOS changes the logistics of the battlefield 21:56 – Operating in denied or degraded environments 24:54 – Who's using Rune's products right now and future scaling 29:20 – What has surprised David the most 31:08 – Pilot to program of record with the DoD 33:39 – Competitive landscape 36:01 – Will Rune stay in Defense? 37:30 – Will software like Rune's change military doctrine? 40:28 – Software making decisions in life-or-death scenarios 42:45 – Contrarian beliefs about defense tech 46:12 – Milestones to look out for at Rune 47:32 – What does the US military look like if Rune succeeds? 48:59 – What does David do for fun?   • Show notes • Rune’s website — https://www.runetech.co/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    51 min

  6. 13 AGO

    Funding Deterrence, with Tommy Hendrix (Managing Partner at Decisive Point)

    Tommy Hendrix is Managing Partner at Decisive Point, a venture firm backing early-stage companies developing critical national security technologies. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we unpack what it really means to fund the future of national defense and how venture capital is becoming a tool of statecraft. A former Green Beret turned investor, Tommy brings rare insight into the geopolitical stakes, bureaucratic hurdles, and human motivations behind the new national security startup wave. From combat deployments in Iraq to due diligence in D.C., he’s seen the full arc of how technology shapes power. We get into Decisive Point’s playbook, from why it was built, to how it supports founders navigating the defense industrial complex. Tommy also shares lessons from working inside the machine, the firm’s approach to incubation, and how they decide when a startup can actually shift the deterrence equation. We also dive into: The strategic case for funding earlyWhy some military problems aren’t venture-scaleWhat it takes to build “weapons-grade” startupsThe ethics of AI-enabled kill chainsPrivate capital’s role in a new Cold WarHow the next great defense companies will be bornThis episode is brought to you by World Space Business Week, taking place September 15–19 in Paris. WSBW is one of the leading annual gatherings for the global space industry, bringing together executives, investors, government officials, and innovators from across commercial, defense, and satellite sectors. Learn more at wsbw.com. • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 01:14 – From Green Beret into venture 04:02 – Deployments that have shaped Tommy's venture career 10:54 – What is broken in the US's current procurement process for defense tech? 14:51 – A future without humans in the kill chain 18:42 – What has changed with defense tech investors? 24:05 – How does Tommy pick the right companies to invest in? 28:57 – Tommy's work in nuclear 32:19 – How helping a portfolio company go through bankruptcy gave Decisive Point a new lens for investment strategies 34:49 – How does the firm make decisions 37:37 – Companies that were good for the nation but difficult to justify long-term venture 39:54 – Must-haves for the US to win the tech race 42:55 – Tech gaps that need more focus 47:00 – Qualities of a founder Tom is looking for 49:22 – What Tom carried over from his military career into his investing career 52:01 – The driving force behind Decisive Point   • Show notes • Decisive Point’s website — https://www.decisivepoint.com/ Decisive Point’s socials — https://x.com/decisivepointvc Tommy’s socials — https://x.com/thomasehendrix Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /   https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    55 min

  7. 7 AGO

    Float. Foil. Fly., with Billy Thalheimer (CEO of Regent Craft)

    In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Regent cofounder and CEO Billy Thalheimer to explore a radical reimagining of coastal mobility, not with eVTOLs or hyperloops, but with high-speed electric seagliders that skim just above the water. Part hydrofoil, part aircraft, and fully electric, Regent’s vehicles operate in the sweet spot between aviation and maritime. They’re fast enough to replace short-haul flights, regulated like boats, and increasingly viewed by the Pentagon as a new class of strategic asset. Billy walks us through Regent’s founding story, from MIT aerodynamics to launching the world’s largest electric aircraft-by-another-name. We dive deep into the company’s dual-use strategy, its multibillion-dollar commercial backlog, and its early defense work with the U.S. Marine Corps. We also get into: The technical magic behind “float, foil, fly”Why flying 10 feet above water solves big infrastructure problemsRegent’s bet on maritime-first regulationHow seagliders fit into Indo-Pacific logistics and contested environmentsThe case for a new coastal transportation layer and why no one’s built it until now• Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 01:01 – Why Rhode Island? 03:15 – Startup community in Rhode Island 07:17 – Founding and origin behind Regent 12:10 – How things have changed since the ekranoplan 19:05 – How Regent's planes handle a rogue wave 20:52 – State of Regent's product build 24:35 – Who will be Regent's first operators? 26:11 – Regent's regulatory process as a maritime vessel 31:59 – What happens when the FAA decides to be involved? 36:02 – Commercial vs government use 38:15 – When did Regent start talking with the DoD? 43:34 – Scaling for dual use commercial vs military 46:34 – Raising $90m and common skeptical questions 49:39 – What does success for Regent look like? • Show notes • Regent’s website — https://www.regentcraft.com/ Regent’s socials — https://x.com/regentcraft Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear / https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/ • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    52 min

  8. 31 JUL

    Pulses Towards Power, with Conner Galloway & Alexander Valys (Co-Founders of Xcimer Energy)

    In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Xcimer Energy’s cofounders, Conner Galloway and Alexander Valys, to unpack one of the boldest bets in fusion: resurrecting a Cold War-era laser technology to build the fastest, most scalable path to commercial fusion power. Xcimer has raised over $100 million to bring its inertial confinement fusion system to life, starting with LPK, a high-powered prototype laser built in just four months, and progressing toward Vulcan, a full-scale, ignition-class reactor designed for the grid.   We also discuss: Why excimer lasers are making a comebackWhat Xcimer learned from building LPK in just four monthsThe Phoenix-to-Vulcan roadmap for commercial fusionLessons from NIF’s ignition milestone and its limitsThe case for fusion as infrastructure, not just scienceHow Xcimer is positioning itself in a crowded fusion landscape…and much, more.   • Chapters • 00:00 – Intro 01:24 – Payload Pro 02:06 – Recent changes in fusion 03:29 – Commercial fusion and perceptions on the tech 05:18 – Founding story of Xcimer 06:51 – Common approaches to fusion today 08:48 – Was the National Ignition Facility (NIF) the catalyst to start Xcimer? 12:22 – Convincing investors to invest $100m into Xcimer 13:34 – What is NIF's goal right now and can it produce electricity? 18:04 – Why hasn't the private sector solved the fusion problem? 20:25 – Xcimer progress report 23:07 – Xcimer's roadmap for the next bigger machine 24:41 – Coming up with Athena 25:33 – Addressing neutron damage 29:54 – The biggest unknown for Xcimer 32:29 – Who are Xcimer's first customers 35:03 – Cost per megawatt per hour to be competitive 37:23 – How much of Xcimer's supply chain is being verticalized 38:48 – Vaporizing a missile with a laser 41:27 – Other fusion companies Alex and Connor admire 44:28 – What inspires a founder or engineer to pursue less proven fusion methods? 47:28 – What drives Alex and Connor to keep on going? 49:02 – First commercial Xcimer fusion plant   • Show notes • Xcimer’s website — https://xcimer.energy/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Ignition’s socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /   https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/ Tectonic’s socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/ Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/   • About us • Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies. Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

    53 min
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Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world’s hardest technologies.

Información

  • Creador
    Payload | Ignition | Tectonic
  • Años de actividad
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodios
    149
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Arkaea Media Group
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Valley of Depth

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