Free-Flying Stations, with Jed McCaleb & Max Haot (Vast)

Valley of Depth

#Trading #Business #Payload Space

36:16

DANMMMMM…Have I got a show for you! First, a lot of Sister Wives tea - new rumors have surfaced Janelle Brown is leaving the show. Plus, Gabe Brown gives a life update after losing and tragically finding his brother Garrison dead. Sadly, Garrison took his own life in March 2024. Then we head over to discuss the new Welcome To Plathville tea. The first pictures of Micah Plath have surfaced after being beat up by his brother Issac and it doesn’t look good for the future of his modeling career. Lastly, we discuss the latest in the Justin Baldoni v Blake Lively case, Justin is back on social media and it was the perfect social media return. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Open and new Sister Wives news 00:05:43 - Janelle Brown leaving the show? Sister Wives Closet is officially closed 00:12:45 - A new pic of Micah Plath’s broken nose has surfaced 00:18:18 - Justin Baldoni back on social media and Taylor Swifts team is pissed at Justin Baldoni MY Go Big Podcasting Courses Are Here! Purchase Go Big Podcasting and learn to start, monetize, and grow your own podcast. USE CODE: MOM15 for 15% OFF (code expires May 11th, 2025) **SHOP my Amazon Marketplace - especially if you're looking to get geared-up to start your own Podcast!!!** https://www.amazon.com/shop/thesarahfrasershow Show is sponsored by: Download Cash App & sign up! Use our exclusive referral code TSFS in your profile, send $5 to a friend within 14 days, and you’ll get $10 dropped right into your account. Terms apply Horizonfibroids.com get rid of those nasty fibroids Gopurebeauty.com science backed skincare from head to toe, use code TSFS at checkout for 25% OFF your order Nutrafol.com use code TSFS for FREE shipping and $10 off your subscription Rula.com/tsfs to get started today. That’s R-U-L-A dot com slash tsfs for convenient therapy that’s covered by insurance. SkylightCal.com/tsfs for $30 OFF your 15 inch calendar Quince.com/tsfs for FREE shipping on your order and 365 day returns Warbyparker.com/tsfs make an appointment at one of their 270 store locations and head to the website to try on endless pairs of glasses virtually and buy your perfect pair Follow me on Instagram/Tiktok: @thesarahfrasershow ***Visit our Sub-Reddit: reddit.com/r/thesarahfrasershow for ALL things The Sarah Fraser Show!!!*** Advertise on The Sarah Fraser Show: thesarahfrasershow@gmail.com Got a juicy gossip TIP from your favorite TLC or Bravo show? Email: thesarahfrasershow@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

about a year ago 58:57

MP3•Episode home

This week on Pathfinder, we're joined by Jed McCaleb, Founder, and Max Haot, CEO, the leaders behind Vast, a company pioneering the development of commercial space stations. Jed, a seasoned software entrepreneur, and Max, a veteran in space and internet ventures, bring their unique expertise to the ambitious goal of advancing human habitation in space.

Our conversation covers the critical aspects of creating economically viable space stations, the strategic role of life support systems, and the significance of reducing transportation costs. We also explore:

Space station economics, pros/cons of competition
Military opportunities and sensitivities in space station use
Integration of Launcher post-acquisition
Challenges and excitement of Haven One's launch
Vast’s product roadmap

And much more…

• Chapters •

00:00 Intro

00:53 Jed's career path and creating Vast

02:57 Balancing aspirations and making money

04:57 Max's history building business and how he came to Vast

08:49 Max's primary objective at Vast

11:22 Jed's experience building a hardware company

12:31 Market opportunity for a free flying space station

15:20 Haven 1

19:17 Building components in house

21:07 Materials use and construction safety

23:03 Vast's approach vs competitors

29:45 Importance of being first in the market

31:41 Is the market large enough to sustain multiple station providers?

33:25 Common misconceptions of space station investment

38:02 Vast x SpaceX partnership

40:55 Product roadmap

43:22 Coinciding with Starship timelines

45:06 Will Starship be converted into a space station?

46:10 Fundraising

47:09 Economics around Haven 1

51:37 Military applications

53:30 Utilization after acquisition

54:13 What excites you and keeps you up at night?

• Show notes •

Max’s socials — https://twitter.com/maxhaot

Jed’s socials — https://twitter.com/JedMcCaleb

Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam

Vast’s website — https://www.vastspace.com/

Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace

Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace

Pathfinder 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 Eastern

2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)

3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays

4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays

You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

132 episodes

Free-Flying Stations, with Jed McCaleb & Max Haot (Vast)

Valley of Depth

11 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Space station economics, pros/cons of competition
Military opportunities and sensitivities in space station use
Integration of Launcher post-acquisition
Challenges and excitement of Haven One's launch
Vast’s product roadmap

And much more…

• Chapters •

00:00 Intro

00:53 Jed's career path and creating Vast

02:57 Balancing aspirations and making money

04:57 Max's history building business and how he came to Vast

08:49 Max's primary objective at Vast

11:22 Jed's experience building a hardware company

12:31 Market opportunity for a free flying space station

15:20 Haven 1

19:17 Building components in house

21:07 Materials use and construction safety

23:03 Vast's approach vs competitors

29:45 Importance of being first in the market

31:41 Is the market large enough to sustain multiple station providers?

33:25 Common misconceptions of space station investment

38:02 Vast x SpaceX partnership

40:55 Product roadmap

43:22 Coinciding with Starship timelines

45:06 Will Starship be converted into a space station?

46:10 Fundraising

47:09 Economics around Haven 1

51:37 Military applications

53:30 Utilization after acquisition

54:13 What excites you and keeps you up at night?

• Show notes •

Max’s socials — https://twitter.com/maxhaot

Jed’s socials — https://twitter.com/JedMcCaleb

Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam

Vast’s website — https://www.vastspace.com/

Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace

Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace

Pathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes

• About us •

1) Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, sends M-F @ 9am Eastern

2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com)

3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays

4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays

You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/

132 episodes

#Trading #Business #Payload Space

All episodes

Valley of Depth

1
Redefining Air Mobility, with Marc Allen (CEO of Electra) 45:51

4 days ago45:51

45:51

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Marc Allen, CEO of Electra and former Chief Strategy Officer at Boeing. After nearly two decades at one of aerospace’s most iconic companies, Marc stepped away—and then doubled down—on aviation with a bold bet: a hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off in 150 feet, carries 1,000 pounds, and can land almost anywhere. In this episode, Marc breaks down why the future of flight is short-runway, low-noise, and mission-flexible—and how Electra’s EL-9 is carving out a new category of aircraft entirely. We also get into: Why hybrid-electric beats all-electric How Electra won over DOD and NASA The military’s growing demand for quiet, flexible airlift Why rotorcraft are ripe for disruption The company’s $13B+ order book And how Marc thinks about scaling from Boeing to startup • Chapters • 0:00 - Episode Introduction 0:58 - Marc's Transition: Boeing to Electra 3:13 - Electric Propulsion Breakthrough Moment 4:29 - Electra's Core Technology 5:17 - Importance of Electric Aircraft 6:52 - EL9 vs Helicopter Comparison 7:30 - Safety Features 10:06 - Automation Capabilities 10:54 - Charging Infrastructure 11:18 - Technology Maturity Level 12:41 - EL9 Market Potential 15:57 - Current Demand & Use Cases 18:17 - Operator Economics 20:20 - Air Force Partnership 21:16 - Defense Applications 23:43 - Autonomous Potential 24:41 - Future Aircraft Versions 26:08 - NASA's Interest 26:47 - Civil vs Defense Models 27:21 - Manufacturing Process 29:15 - Certification Timeline 31:32 - Key Challenges 34:24 - Fundraising Status 36:32 - Commercialization Costs 38:00 - Upcoming Milestones 38:24 - Team Size 39:03 - Scaling From Large to Small Company 41:15 - OEM Strategy 41:50 - 10-Year Vision 42:44 - Marc's Personal Interests 43:40 - Pilot Training Requirements • Show notes • Electra’s socials — https://x.com/ElectraAero 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.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.com Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com…

Valley of Depth

1
The Next Supercycle, with Erik Kriessmann (Partner at Altimeter) 51:56

11 days ago51:56

51:56

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Erik Kriessmann, Partner at Altimeter – the $10B crossover firm known for backing generational companies across tech, defense, and space. From sourcing early-stage deals to helping build world-class teams, Erik’s path into venture started with a deep focus on talent, giving him a rare edge in identifying high-potential founders and building lasting partnerships. In this episode, Erik shares how Altimeter thinks about concentrated investing, why the firm bets big on supercycles, and what it takes to earn a seat at the table with the best teams in tech. We also cover: How Altimeter defines a “supercycle” The firm’s bets across AI, defense, and aerospace What separates a good founder from a great one Why Altimeter backed Anduril and K2 His take on the Mars hype (spoiler: not yet) And how SpaceX changed the game for everyone …and much more. • Chapters • 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Did Erik know he was going to be an investor? 1:44 - Erik's career journey 9:05 - Going from building talent teams to working with CEOs directly 12:07 - The investment philosophy core to Altimeter's growth 15:31 - Public vs private side of Altimeter 16:42 - How decisions get made 19:35 - What is today's super cycle? 21:14 - What technologies is Altimeter currently excited about? 22:40 - What does Erik look for in a founder? 24:25 - How do geopolitics weigh in on Altimeter's investments? 27:20 - Space super cycle 28:56 - What is Erik on the lookout for in the space industry 31:04 - How about Mars? 33:42 - Why did Altimeter first invest in Anduril? 36:09 - Navigating the DoD procurement process 37:50 - Expanding margin with the government customer 40:27 - Are we in a defense tech bubble? 41:56 - Has Altimeter invested in pure play defense names outside of Anduril? 44:03 - Exit paths for Altimeter's investments 45:34 - Foreign defense investment opportunities 47:34 - What would Erik be doing if he wasn't an investor? 49:42 - What's Erik listening to these days? • Show notes • Erik’s socials — https://x.com/ekriessmann Brad’s socials — https://x.com/altcap 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.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.com Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com…

Valley of Depth

1
Engineered for Impact, with Christian Garcia (Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures) 57:23

18 days ago57:23

57:23

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Christian Garcia, Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures — the Bill Gates-backed climate fund investing in bold technologies to accelerate the energy transition across every sector of the economy. With portfolio companies tackling everything from geologic hydrogen to reusable rockets, BEV is redefining what it means to scale climate impact through hard tech. In this conversation, Christian shares how BEV thinks about breakthrough innovation, what makes a venture-backable climate solution, and why some of the most disruptive ideas look impossible—until they’re not. We also get into: BEV’s origin story How climate and national security are converging The firm’s approach to fusion, hydrogen, and aerospace Why BEV backed both CFS and Pacific Fusion What drew Christian to space — and Stoke Space in particular And his take on what’s really being underestimated in climate today • Chapters • 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - What is Breakthrough Energy Ventures and how is it different from a typical fund? 2:26 - BEV's investors and why are they interested 5:45 - Is there a defense interest at BEV? 9:00 - How did Christian get into this space? 11:13 - What is BEV currently focused on? 14:17 - What type of breakthrough is BEV investing in and when? 17:16 - Firms BEV co-invests with 18:34 - Seed and Pre-seed investing 25:43 - What is the goal of investing in multiple fusion companies? 30:23 - How does space fit in BEV's climate portfolio? 34:23 - How do you separate bold vision from wishful thinking? 38:03 - Balancing science and storytelling 42:08 - Tech that Christian has passed on 45:37 - A BEV company that Christian thinks will shock the world with its success 48:48 - What are some common misconceptions about climate tech? 51:28 - Rapidfire questions • Show notes • BEV’s website — https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/our-work/breakthrough-energy-ventures/ BEV’s socials — https://x.com/Breakthrough 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.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.com Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com…

Valley of Depth

1
Breakthrough Orbital Platforms, with Tejpaul Bhatia (CEO of Axiom Space) 1:09:33

25 days ago1:09:33

1:09:33

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Tejpaul Bhatia, the newly appointed CEO of Axiom Space — a company building one of the first commercial space stations and leading private human spaceflight missions to low Earth orbit. The company is gearing up for Ax-4, Axiom’s fourth mission to the ISS, which will fly astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and India under the command of Axiom astronaut Peggy Whitson. In his first interview (and podcast) as CEO, Tejpaul shares what the leadership transition means for Axiom, why he sees the company as a “forever business,” and how he plans to scale its station, suits, and astronaut programs into a thriving orbital economy. We also get into: Tejpaul’s journey from startup founder to Axiom CEO The state of the space station market and the case for demand What investors misunderstand about orbital infrastructure Axiom’s shifting revenue mix and modular station roadmap His take on the CLD program and U.S. industrial strategy How Tejpaul thinks about scaling trust, culture, and ambition in space • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 00:59 Tejpaul's transition into the CEO role 03:25 Tejpaul's background before Axiom 08:03 Reaction to being offered CRO role 10:50 Previous CEO's departure 12:57 Preserving vs evolving at Axiom 14:23 Initial priorities as CEO 19:06 Free-flying space station market 24:37 Number of future space station operators 27:06 Science projects vs commercial viability 32:44 Current and future revenue streams 38:11 Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) 41:21 Moving beyond NASA dependence 45:45 Technical roadmap 47:19 Astronaut program pricing 53:21 What investors miss about stations 56:04 Capital requirements and fundraising 01:00:07 Cost of first station 01:01:35 Axiom & SpaceX relationship 01:04:40 Tejpaul's personal interests • Show notes • Axiom’s website — https://axiomspace.com/ Axiom’s socials — https://x.com/Axiom_Space 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.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.com Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com…

Valley of Depth

1
Hypersonic Power Play, with Bryon Hargis (CEO of Castelion) 56:14

4 weeks ago56:14

56:14

We’re excited to launch Valley of Depth , our new podcast taking the place of our beloved (formerly known as) Pathfinder (RIP) podcast. Valley of Depth is about the technologies that matter—and the people building them. 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. In our inaugural episode, EP 001, we’re joined by Bryon Hargis, co-founder and CEO of Castelion, a venture-backed defense startup building affordable, mass-producible hypersonic missile systems for the U.S. and allied militaries. Castelion, founded by former SpaceX engineers, is taking a vertically integrated, fast-iteration approach to strike weapons—redefining how complex defense hardware is built. In this episode, we unpack the story behind Castelion’s formation, the rising hypersonic threat from China, how startups are challenging the dominance of traditional primes—and much, much more… • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 00:52 What inspired Bryan to leave SpaceX and start Castelion? 03:06 Non-nuclear deterrence 05:15 How SpaceX's culture influenced Castelion 07:44 Current team size 08:07 Cultural shift in defense hiring 10:04 Hypersonic missile advantages 12:03 US vs China capabilities 13:32 Tradeoffs vs exquisite systems 16:08 What's behind Bryon 18:02 Recent test results 20:54 Iterating safely 24:27 Castelion's DoD buyer 26:56 Navigating defense acquisition 32:11 Championing innovation 35:17 The Golden Dome concept 37:10 Requirements for Golden Dome 39:21 Startups vs primes race 40:49 Scaling missile production timeline 42:48 European market potential 44:19 Competition with defense primes 45:49 Capital requirements 47:26 Company vision 49:13 World impact if successful 50:48 Next milestones 52:14 Story behind the name • Show notes • Castelion’s website — https://www.castelion.com/ Bryon’s socials — https://x.com/hargsb 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.com Ignition: www.ignition-news.com Tectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com…

Valley of Depth

1
Beyond the Brief, with Ed Fyfe (Founder of Ed Fyfe Design) 57:43

14 weeks ago57:43

57:43

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Ed Fyfe, founder of Ed Fyfe Design, a creative studio focused on branding and visual identity for space and hardware companies. With a background in agency work and a passion for the space industry, Ed has built a reputation for helping companies craft compelling brand identities that stand out in a crowded market. In this episode, we explore the role of branding and design in the space industry and why it’s more than just a logo—it’s a strategic asset. We also discuss: – Ed’s journey from working in consumer branding to launching his own space-focused design practice – The importance of branding for space companies and when founders should prioritize it – How SpaceX, NASA, and other major players have influenced space industry branding – Common branding mistakes in the sector and how to avoid them – The impact of branded hardware and creative storytelling in making space companies memorable – The role of brand partnerships and what makes a good collaboration And more… • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 00:53 Ed's journey in design and branding 03:45 Why is branding and design important? 05:26 Why and when should a space company care about branding? 08:45 Why should a space company be thinking about branding? 10:38 Common branding mistakes space companies make 13:33 How much of brand identity is instinct? 15:38 How much of NASA's legacy influenced modern branding strategies 18:35 Historical branding elements in the space industry 21:56 How do you translate a company's vision into a brand identity? 33:34 EO industry's branding 39:43 Branded hardware 45:08 What are brand partnerships and do they matter? 50:14 Advice for space startups on beginning with a strong differentiated brand? 55:09 How to find, connect, and work with Ed • Show notes • Ed's website — https://edfyfedesign.com/ Ed's email — edfyfedesign@gmail.com Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

1
Inside SpaceX's Revenue, with Jack Kuhr (Research Director at Payload) 43:22

15 weeks ago43:22

43:22

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jack Kuhr, Research Director at Payload, for a deep dive into one of the most closely watched companies in the space industry—SpaceX. We break down Payload’s latest analysis of SpaceX’s revenue, exploring how the company’s launch business and Starlink network are shaping its financial trajectory. With our estimate of SpaceX’s 2024 revenue at $13.1 billion, this episode unpacks the numbers, key growth drivers, and what’s next. We also discuss: How Payload builds its SpaceX revenue model and refines estimates year after year The breakdown of SpaceX’s revenue across launch, Starlink, and other government contracts The rapid growth of Starlink—now at 4.6 million customers—and where the business is headed The future of Starship and its impact on Falcon 9, launch pricing, and industry competition Potential financial winners and losers when Starship becomes fully operational Speculative questions on SpaceX’s future, from a possible IPO to whether it can become the first trillion-dollar space company And more… • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 01:02 Jack's background 02:16 Constructing the SpaceX revenue estimates 06:17 How close our predictions were 08:01 Numbers rundown 10:02 SpaceX's percentage of global launch 10:45 SpaceX's price per launch 12:26 Does SpaceX need Starling to stay profitable? 13:55 When will Starship launch paying customers? 15:44 Starlink's next-gen satellites 18:19 Starlink's sub growth 20:38 Evolution of Starlink's pricing power 22:51 Where does SpaceX see the most growth? 25:12 Starlink's scalability and will it ever reach 50+ million customers? 29:03 SpaceX's other revenue generator 31:10 Will Starship make Falcon 9 obsolete? 32:37 Who loses when Starship becomes fully operational? 34:05 Will demand make up for the loss of cost per kilogram? 36:33 If SpaceX was a public company, how would investors react to these revenue figures? 39:19 Which SpaceX revenue stream could 10x? 41:03 Will SpaceX be the first trillion-dollar space company? • Show notes • Estimating SpaceX’s 2024 Revenue — https://payloadspace.com/estimating-spacexs-2024-revenue/ Jack’s socials — https://x.com/JackKuhr Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

1
Space to Grow, with Matt Weinzierl and Brendan Rosseau 1:02:32

16 weeks ago1:02:32

1:02:32

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Matt Weinzierl, Chair of the MBA Program and Professor at Harvard Business School, and Brendan Rosseau, a member of the strategy team for launch at Blue Origin. Together, they’ve co-authored Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier, a new book exploring the history, key players, and economic forces driving the momentum behind the space industry. We discuss: The evolution of space economics and how government-private sector dynamics are changing The role of NASA as an anchor customer and whether the model has limits The rise of defense-focused pivots in commercial space companies Market competition and whether we’re seeing monopolization in space The economic case for lunar activity, space stations, and emerging industries The biggest risks that could stall commercial space progress Their book launches on February 25, and this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the economic forces shaping the future of space. You can order here ! • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 04:00 HBS’s Space Program 06:36 An introduction to “Space to Grow” 08:50 The shift from space to defense 13:02 What to expect from the book 16:56 Space competition or monopolization? 21:52 How classic economic principles apply to space 29:24 Are we transitioning away from NASA to anchor customers? 33:36 Does space have the right financing structures in place to build this industry? 38:47 Economic case for the Moon (Mars?) 44:16 Viability of space stations 48:22 What space industries have the best economic potential in the next couple decades? 52:32 Biggest impediment to the space industry 55:43 Key takeaways from “Space to Grow” 59:05 Matt and Brendan's favorite books 01:01:13 Where to find Matt and Brendan • Show notes • Space to Grow — https://www.amazon.com/Space-Grow-Unlocking-Economic-Frontier/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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Subsurface Vision, with Jeremiah Pate (CEO of Lunasonde) 43:37

17 weeks ago43:37

43:37

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jeremiah Pate, founder and CEO of Lunasonde, a company pioneering subsurface imaging from space. Lunasonde is developing technology to map the Earth’s underground, leveraging low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to identify critical minerals and resources. With two satellites launched and the first full-tech satellite in their constellation set to launch in July, this episode dives into how Lunasonde is reshaping resource exploration. We also discuss: Lunasonde’s founding story and Jeremiah’s inspiration for the company The fundamentals of subsurface SAR and how it differs from traditional radar technologies The company’s royalty-based business model and its potential to disrupt the critical minerals industry Real-world applications, including a breakthrough discovery of a previously unknown copper deposit The long-term vision for Lunasonde, including applications beyond Earth and mapping resources on the Moon and asteroids Insights on the challenges of scaling a space startup and navigating regulatory barriers And more… • Chapters • 00:00 Intro 03:04 What is SAR? 05:19 What is subsurface? 06:29 Critical minerals and Lunasonde's approach to the market 07:49 Size & demand 10:20 System architecture 11:28 Lunasonde's launches 12:02 Interpreting SAR data 13:27 SubSAR vs seismic imaging or ground penetrating radar 15:25 Environmental reasons behind building subSAR 16:22 How to ensure accuracy and reliability of the data 17:08 Corona satellites 20:48 How does Lunasonde convince ideal customers to embrace new technologies? 22:48 Examples of discovering new deposits 24:09 Lunasonde's competitors 26:02 Why do people think subSAR is impossible? 27:12 Going beyond the Earth 28:39 Other revenue models 30:27 Commercial vs government traction 31:27 Is Lunasonde looking for partnerships with space mining startups? 32:14 Scaling path 33:09 Funding 34:11 What keeps Jeremiah up at night? 34:52 Long-term vision 36:53 Could orgs like NASA use Lunasonde's capabilities for more intensive resource hunting missions? 38:28 What would Jeremiah like to change in the space industry? 40:51 If Jeremiah wasn't working at Lunasonde, where would he like to work? • Show notes • Lunasonde’s website — https://www.lunasonde.com/ Lunasonde’s socials — https://x.com/Lunasonde/ Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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Spectral Revolution, with Awais Ahmed (CEO of Pixxel) 54:10

18 weeks ago54:10

54:10

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel, a company focused on developing hyperspectral imaging technology from space. Pixxel is developing the world’s first commercial hyperspectral satellite constellation, aiming to provide detailed insights into critical industries like agriculture, energy, and defense. With the recent launch of three Firefly satellites—the first in Pixxel’s commercial fleet—this episode explores the company’s progress and vision for the future of Earth observation. We also discuss: Pixxel’s founding story and Awais’ background in satellite engineering and Hyperloop competitions The fundamentals of hyperspectral imaging and its advantages over traditional imaging methods Pixxel’s satellite constellation plans and how they’re balancing commercial and government markets The role of AI in satellite imaging and its potential to unlock new applications Awais’ take on the evolving Earth observation market and the challenges of scaling a space startup And more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Impact of the new administration 02:32 - The story behind Pixxel 07:37 - Hyperspectral imaging 11:14 - How hyperspectral fits into the other types of satellite imaging 15:01 - How big is the satellite imaging market today? 17:30 - Government uses and advancements in hyperspectral 21:30 - Established commercial vs growing government markets 25:23 - What does Pixxel's constellation look like? 27:22 - Firefly vs Honeybee 28:03 - Customer experience at Pixxel 29:46 - AI's impact 33:44 - Most valuable part of the EO stack 36:05 - Starlink architecture and other EO businesses 37:49 - Pixxel's commercial traction 39:27 - What's a good margin profile? 42:01 - Valuation of public EO businesses 45:19 - Raising private capital in EO and fundraising plans 48:37 - Pixxel in 2035 50:22 - What else excites Awais besides EO? 51:29 - Pixxel's US office • Show notes • Pixxel’s website — https://www.pixxel.space/ Pixxel’s socials — https://x.com/PixxelSpace Awais’ socials — https://x.com/awaisahmedna Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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First Check, with Adam Draper (Founder of Boost VC) 57:48

19 weeks ago57:48

57:48

This week on Pathfinder, we welcome Adam Draper, founder and managing director of Boost VC, an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Mateo, CA, specializing in pre-seed deals in deep tech, including space. Boost VC’s track record includes early investments in space companies such as Varda, Starfish Space, and K2 Space. This episode explores the philosophy and strategy behind the firm’s approach to venture capital. In addition, we discuss: Adam’s journey into VC and the Draper family legacy in the industry The firm’s commitment to backing “impossible” ideas and frontier technologies Insights into investing in deep tech, from identifying committed founders to understanding market risks The importance of storytelling and momentum in aerospace and defense startups Boost’s role in shaping the future of space industries, from lunar water mining to satellite servicing and space manufacturing Predictions for the future of space and deep tech, including the rise of biopharma in orbit and even the search for extraterrestrial life And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Adam's background 07:48 - Boost VC 11:57 - How do you tell a founder has commitment? 14:04 - Signs of a founder with a real interest in space 17:54 - Making the case for the space market 20:51 - On the frontier 23:01 - Signs Adam looks for when he needs to step in and direct a company 28:20 - Investing in software vs. deep tech 30:43 - Early-stage pre-seed investing 38:07 - How would a founder differentiate themselves when it comes to fundraising? 43:25 - How to stay ahead of the curve with investing in space 48:36 - Craziest space deal Adam has invested in 51:46 - Adam's 2025 predictions • Show notes • Boost VC website — https://www.boost.vc/ Boost’s socials — https://x.com/BoostVC Adam’s socials — https://x.com/AdamDraper Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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Mach 1, Dawn Rises, with Stefan Powell (CEO of Dawn Aerospace) 1:00:50

20 weeks ago1:00:50

1:00:50

This week on Pathfinder, we’re ready to kick off 2025 with our first episode back from a brief holiday hiatus. Joining us is Stefan Powell, co-founder and CEO of Dawn Aerospace—a company focused on building scalable, sustainable space transportation solutions. After cutting their teeth with an in-space propulsion business, Dawn is now pushing the boundaries with Aurora, a rocket-powered plane that recently breaking the sound barrier (or Mach 1). In this episode, we explore: From Student Rocket Club to Thriving Venture: Stefan’s background and how his early rocketry experiences shaped Dawn’s mission. Satellite Propulsion: Why Dawn’s safer, scalable alternatives to traditional satellite fuel are gaining traction in the market—and how they enable near-term revenue. Aurora’s Breakthrough Flight: Hitting Mach 1.1, testing supersonic aerodynamics, and the path toward suborbital flight capabilities. Hypersonics & Beyond: Why government R&D and military programs are pouring billions into hypersonics research—and how Dawn plans to help solve the “access-to-test-time” gap. Aircraft-Like Space Access: Dawn’s long-term vision for truly rapid, reusable, runway-based vehicles that could revolutionize launch operations. Building for the Future, One Step at a Time: How Stefan thinks about scaling, capital efficiency, and bridging near-term commercial opportunities with an ambitious roadmap. …and much, more. • Chapters • 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:45 - Founding Dawn 00:06:33 - Core products 00:08:52 - Sustainability 00:11:25 - How Stefan got into the space industry 00:16:20 - What Stefan is developing with Aurora 00:19:09 - Recent flight 00:20:38 - Why is it important to go past Mach 1? 00:24:02 - Technical milestones before full orbital capabilities 00:26:43 - Hypersonics and building commercial ability 00:30:23 - Government customers 00:31:39 - Opportunities in hypersonic weapons? 00:33:02 - Payload capacity of first commercial launch vehicle 00:33:58 - Long-term scaling goals 00:37:15 - What is so difficult about building commercial hypersonic platforms? 00:42:05 - Most significant hurdles when it comes to scaling and manufacturing 00:44:32 - Building in New Zealand 00:46:38 - Revenue mix 00:48:15 - Capital efficiency 00:51:47 - Effect of Starship on the launch market 00:53:42 - What does success look like for Dawn over the next 10 years 00:56:25 - What Stefan has learned about being a CEO/Founder for 15 years 00:58:11 - Everything's on the table • Show notes • Dawn’s website — https://www.dawnaerospace.com/ Dawn’s socials — https://x.com/DawnAerospace Stefan’s socials — https://x.com/Stefan__Powell Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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Nuclear Power and Propulsion for a Lunar Architecture, with Joe Miller (BWXT) & Kerry Timmons (LMT) 52:22

23 weeks ago52:22

52:22

Quick PSA: This is our final Pathfinder episode of 2024! We’re so grateful for your support and can’t wait to bring you more content and a new format next year. Stay tuned! In our third and final episode of our special three-part Pathfinder series on lunar architecture—brought to you by our partners at Lockheed Martin—we’re focusing on how nuclear-enabled technologies will power and propel a sustainable future on the Moon. This episode ties together the insights from the series and offers a vision of how energy systems will enable humans to survive on the lunar surface and venture deeper into the solar system. Joining us are Kerry Timmons, Senior Manager of Business Development at Lockheed Martin for Lunar Infrastructure, and Joe Miller, President of BWXT Advanced Technologies. Together, they share their perspective on the role nuclear power and propulsion play in supporting a long-term presence on the Moon. We also discuss: How nuclear technologies provide reliable power during the lunar night and beyond The engineering challenges and solutions for deploying nuclear systems The interplay between nuclear and solar energy in a resilient lunar grid Applications for nuclear thermal propulsion The collaborative efforts required across government, industry, and international partners to make this a reality And much, much more… • Chapters • 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - Joe's background 00:02:47 - Kerry's background 00:04:19 - Vision for a thriving lunar infrastructure 00:07:13 - Nuclear and space 00:08:48 - Lockheed's history with nuclear 00:10:23 - Lessons from history that make current power systems in space more efficient 00:13:00 - Nuclear's importance for a sustained lunar presence 00:16:09 - Engineering challenges 00:18:54 - How does mass play a role in the design of the nuclear reactor? 00:20:24 - What will these reactors power? 00:22:04 - Regulation & safety 00:25:22 - Space Policy Directive – 6 00:27:03 - International alignment 00:30:24 - Propulsion 00:34:30 - Chemical vs. nuclear propulsion 00:38:53 - When will nuclear systems be ready for use? 00:40:06 - Economic reason for using nuclear propulsion 00:43:34 - Terrestrial application for nuclear 00:44:40 - Startup capabilities that Lockheed is interested in 00:47:25 - What tech breakthrough would you prioritize for the Moon? 00:49:36 - Innovation predictions in the next 10 years • Show notes • Lockheed Martin’s website — https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/space/human-space-exploration/water-based-lunar-architecture/lockheed-martins-lunar-architecture-novella-white-paper.html Lockheed Martin Space’ socials — https://twitter.com/LMSpace Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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Commodities & Tech of a Lunar Architecture, with Tim Cichan & Christie Iacomini (Lockheed Martin) 55:14

24 weeks ago55:14

55:14

In the second episode of our special three-part Pathfinder series on lunar architecture—brought to you by our partners at Lockheed Martin—we’re zooming in on the technologies and design principles that will help establish a sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon and pave the way for future missions to Mars. Joining us are Christie Iacomini, who manages Lockheed Martin’s lunar infrastructure technology portfolio, and Tim Cichan, the company’s space exploration architect. Christie and Tim walk us through the building blocks of lunar infrastructure, from robust power systems and reliable communications networks to habitats and mobility solutions. They also highlight the importance of resource utilization, the evolving role of public-private partnerships, and the collaborative efforts needed to turn ambitious concepts into practical solutions. We discuss: The role of vertical solar arrays, nuclear fission systems, and power grids in supporting lunar operations Communications challenges and the roadmap for building an interoperable lunar network Innovative habitats and rovers designed to withstand extreme lunar conditions Strategies for in-situ resource utilization, including extracting water ice and other key materials The significance of international collaboration and commercial engagement in achieving lasting lunar sustainability And much, much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 03:45 - What is a space architect? 04:42 - Lockheed's goal for Mars 08:23 - Technological advancements that have made a long-term Moon mission possible 09:52 - What does a successful Lunar mission look like? 11:46 - Power systems for Lunar and Mars missions and state of development cycles 18:15 - Tech in Artemis II and III 20:04 - Challenges for creating a seamless communications network for the Moon 22:34 - Effect of modern tech in space 27:10 - Lunar mobility capabilities 30:44 - Habitation 33:14 - Inflatable vs modular habitats 34:20 - Lunar resource utilization 36:42 - How to create seamless integration between mission-critical tech 41:55 - Planned contingencies 43:49 - Seemingly futuristic technology 45:54 - Getting around on the Moon 47:48 - How Lockheed works with other companies building Lunar architecture 49:01 - Technical milestones 50:58 - What will it take to land on the Moon on time? 52:07 - Inspirations for your work • Show notes • Lockheed Martin’s website — https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/space/human-space-exploration/water-based-lunar-architecture/lockheed-martins-lunar-architecture-novella-white-paper.html Lockheed Martin Space’ socials — https://twitter.com/LMSpace Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder 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 Eastern 2) Pathfinder publishes weekly on Tuesday mornings (pod.payloadspace.com) 3) Polaris, our weekly policy briefing, publishes weekly on Tuesdays 4) Payload Research, our weekly research and analysis piece, comes out on Wednesdays You can sign up for all of our publications here: https://payloadspace.com/subscribe/…

Valley of Depth

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ISAM in Defense Strategy, with Patsy Klein (Falcon Research) and Dennis Wille (Astroscale U.S.) 58:48

24 weeks ago58:48