Global Connectivity, With Chris Taylor (Aalyria) Valley Of Depth podcast

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

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

10 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

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

17 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

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

24 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

1
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

1
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

1
ISAM in Defense Strategy, with Patsy Klein (Falcon Research) and Dennis Wille (Astroscale U.S.) 58:48

24 weeks ago58:48

58:48

This week on Pathfinder , we’re excited to bring you a special one-off episode, made possible by Astroscale U.S., the Denver-based subsidiary of Astroscale, a global provider of on-orbit servicing solutions. This episode dives into the DoD’s push to integrate commercial in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities to enhance flexibility, resilience, and sustainability in military space operations. Joining the discussion are retired Colonel Dennis Wille, Senior Director of Business Development for National Security at Astroscale US, and John “Patsy” Klein, Senior Fellow in Strategy at Falcon Research and a leading expert in space policy and strategy. Together, we unpack how ISAM technologies are transforming space operations and advancing U.S. leadership in the domain. This episode covers: The DoD’s commercial space integration strategy and ISAM’s role in enhancing operational resilience The challenges and opportunities of managing space debris and enabling active debris removal How ISAM capabilities like refueling, repair, and inspection are reshaping spacecraft lifecycles The critical role of commercial partnerships in supporting national security objectives The future of space operations and the technologies poised to drive innovation And much, much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 04:12 - What is ISAM and why is it so important to the DoD's space strategy? 06:08 - Patsy's role in commercial integration of ISAM 08:49 - What is the DoD's commercial space strategy? 10:57 - Astroscale's priorities 14:53 - Why does the government care about debris removal? 16:18 - Why does space junk removal help the US to maintain leadership in space? 19:30 - PLEO and commercial opportunity 22:49 - Tech capabilities being developed at Astroscale 26:50 - Mature ISAM capabilities that we have today 29:23 - Astroscale and DoD partnership 31:07 - Government vs commercial customer makeup prediction 32:19 - Policy/regulatory hurdles for ISAM 34:17 - What will it take for commercial to become a bigger part of Astroscale's business? 37:09 - Does ISAM have an education issue? 39:18 - Technical gaps in ISAM 40:50 - What technological advancements should we anticipate? 42:24 - What defense strategies will ISAM create? 45:06 - How Astroscale positions themselves against competitors 47:59 - Advice for investors interested in ISAM 49:28 - How can the US maintain their leadership role in space? 51:53 - Book recommendations • Show notes • Astroscale’s website — hhttps://astroscale-us.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
A Future Lunar Architecture, with Alex MacDonald (NASA) & Rob Chambers (Lockheed Martin) 1:05:00

25 weeks ago1:05:00

1:05:00

This week on Pathfinder, we’re kicking off a special three-part series on lunar architecture, brought to you by our friends at Lockheed Martin. To kick off the series, we’re exploring the future of lunar architecture more broadly with Rob Chambers, Director of Strategy for Human Space Exploration at Lockheed Martin, and Alex MacDonald, Chief Economist at NASA. In this episode, Alex and Rob share their perspectives on the complexities of building sustainable lunar missions and the critical technologies shaping the future. The discussion dives into the integration of international collaboration, public-private partnerships, and groundbreaking innovations that will enable humanity’s return to the Moon and its next steps across the solar system. We also cover: NASA’s Artemis program and the Moon-to-Mars exploration strategy The role of international and commercial partnerships in advancing lunar missions Foundational infrastructure, including habitats, rovers, and nuclear power systems Lessons from Apollo and how they inform today’s approach to sustainable lunar exploration The evolving lunar economy and what it might mean for humanity’s future in space And much, much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - Rob's and Alex's background 04:22 - NASA's vision for the Moon 09:15 - NASA and Lockheed: their history with the Moon 13:36 - Lessons from previous Lunar missions 16:34 - What has changed to allow partnerships to be more efficient? 25:13 - Challenges working with international agencies 30:35 - Helium-3 mining and other lunar business models 37:14 - Lockheed's Lunar Roadmap 43:05 - Who are the other players in the Artemis program and collaboration? 49:56 - Resiliency and risk 55:13 - End goals for Lunar missions in the next 100 years 01:02:41 - When are we landing on the Moon? • 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

1
From F-18s to Term Sheets, with Chris Morales (Partner at Point72 Ventures) 48:51

26 weeks ago48:51

48:51

This week on Pathfinder, we are joined by Chris Morales, Partner at Point72 Ventures, for a discussion on venture capital’s role in shaping the space and defense technology landscape. In this episode, Chris provides a detailed overview of Point72 Ventures’ strategic approach to investing, drawing on his background as a former naval officer and his experience in venture capital. The conversation covers key trends and challenges facing the space and defense sectors, with a focus on how startups can navigate this evolving ecosystem. In addition, we discuss: Point72 Ventures’ investment framework and focus on emerging technologies critical to national security The growth of the space economy, from the adoption of proliferated LEO architectures to in-space mobility innovations Evaluating companies across different stages of maturity The role of government programs and non-dilutive funding SpaceX’s impact on market dynamics and its broader implications for venture-backed companies Structural and financial barriers that space and defense startups face, and how investors can help address them • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Chris's Thanksgiving must-haves 02:15 - Point72 Ventures overview 05:35 - History with space 06:42 - Why did Point72 Ventures first get into space? 09:00 - Chris's thesis about the space industry 10:49 - Proliferated LEO 12:11 - Predictive work and investments 13:02 - At what stage in a company is Point72 Ventures looking to invest? 13:53 - How does space fit into the investment strategy? 15:51 - What happens when a portfolio company isn't hitting their milestones? 17:12 - The process 18:39 - How Point72 Ventures separates itself and what it provides beyond capital 20:31 - Public and private sides of the firm 21:13 - Market dynamics 24:05 - Is there enough government funding for startups, and are they winning enough contracts? 27:29 - Does SpaceX's valuation make sense? 29:47 - Starship vs. Starlink business prediction 32:42 - Is SpaceX a monopoly? 33:26 - Is SpaceX a concern when it comes to investing in the industry? 35:04 - Biggest issues facing startups today and how can investors help 39:04 - Over and under-hyped areas of the market 40:36 - Space ventures in the next decade 42:25 - Gaps in the market 43:37 - Advice to founders looking to start a space company 45:00 - Mars 47:00 - What does Chris do for fun? • Show notes • Point72 Ventures’ website — https://p72.vc/ Point 72 Ventures’ socials — https://x.com/p72vc Chris’ socials — https://x.com/MrChrisMorales 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
End-to-End Space, with Peter Beck (CEO of Rocket Lab) 52:54

27 weeks ago52:54

52:54

This week on Pathfinder, we’re excited to welcome the one and only Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab continues to solidify its position as a leading end-to-end space company, offering launch services, spacecraft platforms, and in-house satellite manufacturing. In light of Rocket Lab’s Q3 earnings report, which saw a 55% year-over-year revenue increase and a growing backlog of over $1B, this episode dives deep into the company’s strategic and operational decisions driving its success. In addition, we discuss: Rocket Lab’s journey from its early days to becoming the world’s third most frequent launch provider The development of Neutron and its significance in addressing medium-class launch demand Peter’s philosophy on efficient engineering and capital allocation The rise of Rocket Lab’s spacecraft business and its role in the company’s end-to-end space strategy Insights into launch market dynamics, from smallsat needs to Starship’s impact on the industry And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:34 - Where is Peter Beck? 01:20 - Space and the coming administration 02:05 - Rocket Lab in the market and where they're going 03:42 - Neutron's first launch 04:24 - What's next after Neutron? 05:41 - What will be the most dominant aspect of Rocket Lab in the future? 07:10 - Hypersonics 08:51 - Electron demand vs. supply 10:02 - Electron after Neutron 13:05 - Neutron's development timeline 16:07 - How does Neutron compare to Falcon 9? 17:20 - Neutron launch cadence 18:12 - What leads to capital efficiency? 21:03 - How Rocket Lab created successful projects 23:04 - Aesthetics vs Engineering 24:26 - SDA contract and de-risking 25:23 - Why build both spacecraft and launch vehicles? 27:33 - Why own and operate your own constellation? 29:56 - DoD's proliferated LEO satellite services program 30:40 - Frank Klein joining Rocket Lab 31:50 - Operations and scaling philosophy 33:25 - Outlook of the supply and demand for launch market 35:13 - Is there still room for new launch startups? 36:46 - Future of launch outside the US 38:30 - Timeline on human spaceflight at Rocket Lab 40:01 - Most strategic or technical risk that Rocket Lab currently faces 41:14 - Rocket Lab and the Moon 43:24 - Things to embrace in order to build a successful company 44:30 - What keeps Peter up at night? 45:16 - When will the space industry be welcomed by the public markets? 49:20 - Things Peter is keeping an eye on 51:03 - Date for humans on Moon and Mars • Show notes • Rocket Lab's website — https://www.rocketlabusa.com/ Rocket Lab’s socials — https://x.com/RocketLab Peter's socials — https://x.com/Peter_J_Beck 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
Direct to Deployment, with Robert Sproles (CEO of Exolaunch) 54:59

28 weeks ago54:59

54:59

This week on Pathfinder, we explore the world of satellite deployment and launch services with Robert Sproles, CEO of Exolaunch. Exolaunch is a leader in satellite integration, offering launch services and deployment solutions for commercial and government clients. We explore how Exolaunch has built a cashflow-positive business with a remarkable track record of reliability, all without external funding. In addition, we discuss: Exolaunch's founding story and its bootstrapped growth from a university project in Berlin to a $100M revenue company How Exolaunch navigates partnerships with major launch providers like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Ariane Robert’s insights on the demand for satellite launches and the need for diversity in orbital access Exolaunch's plans for the future, including scaling to support larger satellites and expanding their U.S. operations The broader ecosystem of launch services and how larger rockets like Starship and New Glenn fit into the market And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - Robert's background 08:13 - What is Exolaunch and the products offered? 10:02 - Founding of Exolaunch and building a company without the need for raising capital 14:09 - Bootstrap from day one and future funding plans 16:35 - From Arkansas to Germany 19:02 - Robert transitioning to CEO 21:16 - Current market for rideshare, deployment, and mission management 23:45 - What is different about Exolaunch? 25:48 - Are more launch companies good for Exolaunch and is SpaceX a monopoly? 27:02 - Are transporter missions anti-competitive to other launch companies? 30:13 - Future satellite trends 31:42 - How larger launch vehicles affect Exolaunch 33:33 - Is the launch market supplier demand constrained? 35:35 - How do non-American operators feel about using American launch providers? 37:39 - What does reliability look like? 40:08 - Exolaunch's agility 43:34 - Missions that pushed the boundaries of Exolaunch's capabilities 45:36 - Exolaunch headcount and future plans 46:32 - Growth areas 47:37 - 10+ year outlook 49:07 - What does Robert do outside of Exolaunch? 52:26 - Places to eat in Little Rock, Arkansas • Show notes • Exolaunch’s website — https://exolaunch.com/ Freeform’s socials — https://twitter.com/Exolaunch 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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The Future of Manufacturing, with Erik Palitsch & TJ Ronacher (Co-Founders of Freeform) 1:02:14

30 weeks ago1:02:14

1:02:14

This week on Pathfinder, we explore the future of 3D metal printing and manufacturing with Erik Palitsch and TJ Ronacher, co-founders of Freeform, a pioneering startup aiming to redefine industrial-scale additive manufacturing. Both SpaceX alumni, Erik and TJ share their journeys from leading projects on the Merlin and Raptor engines to co-founding Freeform, where they’re using high-power lasers and real-time process control to create a new era of rapid, scalable 3D printing. We dive into how Freeform’s approach is addressing longstanding challenges in the additive industry, from quality control to production speed. Erik and TJ outline their vision for Freeform as a “manufacturing as a service” model, where clients can access high-quality printed parts without the steep learning curve and costs of traditional additive systems. We also discuss: The engineering challenges they tackled at SpaceX and how that shaped Freeform’s technology and business model Freeform’s technology, including their real-time closed-loop process that enables unprecedented print speeds and precision Their vision for the “factory of the future,” where autonomous 3D printing facilities operate globally The role of 3D printing in off-planet manufacturing and its impact on space exploration And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - TJ's background 02:15 - Erik's time at SpaceX before Freeform 07:25 - How has materials in 3D printing changed in the past 10 years? 12:27 - Manufacturing as a service and the tech at Freeform 18:16 - 3D printing vs traditionally manufactured parts 23:11 - What is the tech that Freeform is building? 32:45 - True factory scale 3D printing 37:10 - Traction beyond space 38:06 - What Freeform is printing today 38:41 - Revenue and customers 41:53 - Manufacturing capability today and in the future 43:51 - Advice for investors looking to invest in 3D printing 49:18 - Future of 3D printing 54:24 - What will off-planet 3D printing look like? 57:08 - Favorite stories from SpaceX days 60:47 - Milestones to look out for • Show notes • Freeform’s website — https://freeform.co/ Freeform’s socials —https://x.com/freeform_future 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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Harnessing the Sun, with Baiju Bhatt (CEO of Aetherflux) 53:26

31 weeks ago53:26

53:26

In this week’s pod, we dive into the world of space-based solar power with Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood and now founder of Aetherflux, a new startup aiming to change how we think about energy from space. Baiju takes us on his personal journey from building a public company to tackling one of the most ambitious ideas in the space industry. Drawing on a lifelong passion for space—rooted in his father's work at NASA—Baiju reveals how Aetherflux plans to bring to life a 1970s sci-fi vision: harnessing solar power from space to solve Earth’s most pressing energy challenges. Baiju shares the challenges and excitement of launching Aetherflux, and how his team is taking a modern approach to an old concept by using advanced laser technology and modular satellite networks. We also discuss: How Aetherflux is developing the first practical demonstration of space-based solar power The major potential applications, from powering forward-deployed military bases to remote mining sites How his experience at Robinhood shaped his entrepreneurial philosophy for solving massive challenges like global energy Aetherflux’s ambitious timeline for a demo mission in 2026 And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Robinhood to space 03:51 - A father's influence 06:54 - Why Aetherflux? 11:15 - Natural resources in space 12:18 - Why do we need solar power in space? 13:53 - Market and applications for space solar 19:53 - Lasers for power transmission 23:02 - Efficiency gain / loss with space solar 26:06 - Real time power delivery 29:21 - Why not nuclear? 31:37 - Space-based solar for space 32:28 - Safety and regulation 34:37 - Economics of space solar 38:06 - Constellations at scale 39:06 - Early revenue model 40:09 - Competitors 41:05 - Funding 44:05 - An Apple moment 48:19 - Aetherflux team, growth, and goals 49:26 - Space startups that Baiju is excited about 51:20 - Who would Baiju choose to play him in a movie? • Show notes • Aetherflux’s website — https://www.aetherflux.com/ Aetherflux’s socials — https://twitter.com/AetherfluxUSA Baiju’s socials — https://twitter.com/BaijuBhatt 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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Telemetry Unleashed, with Karthik & Austin (CEO & CTO of Sift) 49:34

33 weeks ago49:34

49:34

In this week’s Pathfinder pod, we bring in Karthik Gollapudi, CEO, and Austin Spiegel, CTO, of Sift, as they dive into the company's mission to build software tools for complex machines, with a focus on telemetry solutions. Sift’s platform enables end-to-end data ingestion, real-time analysis, and visualization, helping companies streamline the testing and operation of intricate hardware systems, such as spacecraft and rockets. Karthik and Austin share the story behind Sift’s founding and highlight the key role telemetry plays in improving safety and efficiency for hardware engineers. We also cover: How SIFT automates data review and reduces testing time The challenges of managing large data volumes in aerospace and beyond How the company helps engineers identify anomalies and prevent failures The importance of real-time insights for complex hardware systems Their recent funding round led by Google Ventures And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:31 - What is Sift building? 04:18 - Origins 07:30 - Austin at Riot Games 10:52 - Product walkthrough 13:19 - Why is data ingestion so difficult? 19:30 - What is a company doing if they're not using Sift? 22:05 - How do you make sure that there's no data loss? 24:50 - What does a user experience look like? 27:44 - What does the demand look like for real-time telemetry? 28:57 - Competition 29:43 - Revenue model 31:56 - How Sift's tools help their customers 36:46 - What's next for Sift? 39:04 - What keeps you up at night? 44:56 - Long-term view 45:54 - Companies to be excited for • Show notes • Sift’s website — siftstack.com/ Sift’s socials — https://x.com/SiftStack 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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Algorithmic Debris Management, with Chiara Manfletti (CEO of Neuraspace) 40:28

34 weeks ago40:28

40:28

In this week’s Pathfinder pod, Chiara Manfletti, CEO of Neuraspace and former President of the Portuguese National Space Agency, discusses the growing importance of space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management. Neuraspace is a Portuguese startup that is developing a software platform that provides satellite operators with risk assessments, maneuvering advice, and insights on space debris. Chiara explains Neuraspace’s mission to tackle the challenges of space debris and why it's essential to develop better tools for managing space traffic. She also shares the story behind Neurospace’s founding, the company’s growth, and their innovative approach to automating satellite operations. We also discuss: The threat of space debris and its long-term implications How Neuraspace integrates multiple data sources The role of space situational awareness in the future of autonomous spacecraft Differences in commercial and government customer needs The long-term vision for making space a safer, more sustainable place for satellites and other assets And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - What is Neuraspace? 02:14 - The founding vision 04:07 - Is space debris an issue? 08:18 - Unnecessary maneuvers 09:40 - Neuraspace's ecosystem 11:17 - Neuraspace's ground-based hardware 12:36 - Challenges acquiring the right data amidst competition 14:17 - Value chain of space situational awareness 15:26 - Benefits of having a company focused on intelligence 17:40 - How Neuraspace predicts collision events 20:22 - Challenges integrating different sources of data 22:00 - Automation and level of control satellite operators 24:37 - Scaling 26:39 - Catalysts for satellite threat detection 28:24 - Primary customers 28:53 - Expectations of governments vs. commercial clients 30:05 - State of orbital debris globally and how Chiara thinks it'll change 31:12 - Competitors today 32:25 - Revenue model 33:36 - Work Neuraspace does with regulatory bodies 34:20 - Funding 36:07 - Long-term vision for Neuraspace • Show notes • Neuraspace’s website — https://www.neuraspace.com/ Neuraspace’s socials — https://x.com/neuraspace Chiara’s socials — https://x.com/chiaramanfletti 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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Mega Scale Prop Production, with Saurav Shroff (CEO of Starpath) 1:02:33

35 weeks ago1:02:33

1:02:33

The cost to build a mass scale propellant production system on the Moon? Much less than $100M according to Starpath cofounder and CEO Saurav Shroff. The LA-based startup is developing the infrastructure for lunar resource extraction—including a power plant, a fleet of rovers, and a processing plant. In this episode, Saurav breaks down Starpath's approach to off-planet fuel production and how it can enable cost-effective and reusable space travel. He also shares his thoughts on the future of lunar and Martian colonization and how propellant production plays a pivotal role in making interplanetary travel economically viable. We also discuss: The technical hurdles of producing propellant on the Moon and Mars The impact of propellant production on reducing the cost of space travel The potential customers and business models How Starpath’s approach complements the vision of companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin The long-term vision for a human presence on the Moon and Mars, and what it will take to get there And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 01:25 - What is Startpath? 04:11 - How was Starpath founded? 07:28 - The team 08:55 - Starpath with and without SpaceX 13:20 - Mega scale propellant production 16:30 - What type of propellant is Starpath making? 20:15 - What is Starpath building? 24:56 - Why build this power system yourself and why not nuclear? 28:56 - Plant & Rover 35:35 - Plan for success 39:59 - Speculation on SpaceX's propellant production 43:49 - Who else is a potential customer? 45:49 - Revenue model 48:27 - Investors and common misconceptions 50:26 - Capital needs 51:43 - Competitors? China? 54:37 - First fuel production prediction 56:03 - 10-year vision 58:16 - Other businesses Saurav is excited about 1:00:17 - Which celebrity will play Saurav? • Show notes • Starpath’s website — https://starpath.space/ Starpath’s socials — https://twitter.com/StarpathSpace Sarah’s socials — https://twitter.com/SauravShroff5 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 • 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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Fission Surface Future, with Lindsay Kaldon (NASA) 1:04:57

36 weeks ago1:04:57

1:04:57

This week on Pathfinder, we sit down with Lindsay Kaldon, NASA’s Fission Surface Power Project Manager, to explore NASA's plans for deploying small nuclear reactors on the Moon and Mars as part of the Artemis missions. Before her current role at NASA, Lindsay spent over a decade in the DoD, where she worked as an Air Force officer specializing in electronic warfare, keeping pilots safe at extreme altitudes. With a background in both electrical and nuclear engineering, Lindsay’s experience spans high-altitude spy planes, drones, and EMP defenses for Navy ships, giving her a unique perspective on technology in extreme environments. In this episode, Lindsay walks us through NASA's efforts to deploy small nuclear reactors on the Moon as part of the Artemis missions and beyond. She also explains how her defense background prepared her for managing the technical and regulatory complexities of space nuclear power. In addition, we cover: The history of nuclear systems in space, from SNAP-10 to today's advancements NASA's collaboration with industry partners The role of nuclear power in supporting long-term lunar and Martian missions The technical challenges of fission in space The potential future of nuclear propulsion and energy solutions for space exploration And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Lindsey's role at NASA 01:07 - Power reactors in space and when the project started 08:05 - Highly enriched uranium 10:21 - Importance of NASA's long-term nuclear goals 13:53 - RPS vs FSP 16:44 - Lindsey's background 24:14 - Why not work in a nuclear sub? 29:54 - How does the team evolve in the next 5 years? 35:26 - Why should a company bid for phase 1 of NASA's plan to return to the Moon? 38:01 - Overall architecture of NASA's FSP needs 40:43 - Supply chain problems 44:12 - Technical challenges of nuclear in space 50:16 - Who regulates space nuclear? 52:11 - DOD & NASA 57:33 - Milestones to look out for 01:00:21 - The state of nuclear on Earth • Show notes • NASA FSP website — https://www.nasa.gov/tdm/fission-surface-power/ 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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Platinum or Bust, with Matt Gialich (CEO of AstroForge) 56:03

37 weeks ago56:03

56:03

This week on Pathfinder, we welcome back Matt Gialich, cofounder and CEO of AstroForge, to discuss the company’s plans to mine platinum group metals from near-Earth asteroids and its recent Series A funding . In this episode, Matt provides updates on AstroForge’s upcoming missions, the challenges of developing a cost-effective method for extracting and refining space resources, and how the company is addressing the technical complexities of deep space exploration. He also delves into the specifics of the $40 million Series A round, which will support AstroForge's next two missions, and how the company is balancing risk with innovation to lower costs. In addition, we cover: AstroForge’s approach to refining metals in space and their proprietary low-power refinery The economics of the asteroid mining market Lessons learned from previous mining efforts The importance of scalability and mission flexibility The regulatory landscape and its evolution as the industry grows And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Matt's background and AstroForge 01:52 - Platinum group metals and why we need to mine them 04:14 - Beyond just platinum mining 08:27 - Bird scooters to JPL 11:40 - What makes space mining companies fail and who are AstroForge's current competitors? 15:37 - How large is the PGM market today? 18:34 - Developments at AstroForge since July 2023 21:46 - Plan for Mission 2 23:32 - How do you choose (and image) an asteroid? 27:19 - What does the architecture of the end system look like 28:13 - Materials processing 28:51 - Technical challenges 31:08 - Cost vs Risk 36:32 - State of space mining regulation and how it will evolve 38:25 - How other countries are viewing space mining 44:18 - Plans with Series A proceeds 45:03 - Common investor misconceptions 48:53 - Government contracts 50:10 - Long- term vision 51:20 - Are we ready for a killer asteroid? 53:49 - Who's playing Matt in the movie about AstroForge? • Show notes • AstroForge’s website — https://www.astroforge.com/ Matt’s socials — https://twitter.com/MattGialich 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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Space Marketing Playbook, with Brian D'Erario (Payload) 59:27

39 weeks ago59:27

59:27

This week’s Pathfinder pod features Brian D’Erario, the man who keeps the lights on at Payload as the Director of Client Partnerships. Brian’s role is to bring in all the revenue that makes everything at Payload possible (no pressure, Brian!). With experience working with over 97 partners, Brian has been instrumental in shaping Payload's approach to brand awareness and lead generation. Brian shares his journey from selling B2B hardware and software to government contractors, to his time at Morning Brew, and finally joining Payload to drive partnerships in the space sector. We explore Brian's background, including his work with various industries and his insights into the unique challenges of marketing within the space industry. We also discuss: The marketing strategies that space companies often overlook The importance of brand awareness even during the R&D phase How startups can compete with the primes The role of content in engaging B2B audiences Effective conference strategies for maximizing impact And much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - What does Brian do at Payload? 01:51 - Brian's background 04:33 - Morning Brew 08:09 - Initial assessment of space marketing strategies 10:39 - Do space companies market themselves well? 12:27 - Marketing your product before you start selling 19:46 - Brand awareness vs lead generation 27:40 - When does it make sense for a startup to spend money on marketing? 31:44 - How can a startup develop a marketing plan for a product that competes against a prime competitor? 34:46 - Creating engaging B2B content 41:31 - Agency vs in-house 43:39 - Conference strategies 47:44 - The Marketing Playbook 52:53 - Brian’s publication 55:11 - Partnerships consultant 57:15 - From hockey to pickleball • Show notes • Brian’s Marketing Newsletter — https://payloadspace.com/marketing-deep-tech-newsletter/ Brian’s socials — https://twitter.com/derariob 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
Dodging Debris, with Tony Frazier (CEO of LeoLabs) 53:26

40 weeks ago53:26

53:26

This week’s Pathfinder pod features Tony Frazier, LeoLab’s newly appointed CEO, to discuss the critical role the company plays in building a living map of orbital activity for space operations. With over $120M of private capital raised, LeoLabs has continued to expand its global network of ground-based radars, currently cataloging over 22,000 objects in LEO. Tony shares his journey from a 13-year career at Maxar to joining LeoLabs, driven by his belief in the company's mission to enhance space safety and security. We explore Tony's background, including his experience managing billion-dollar P&L operations at Maxar and his involvement with Iridium, which shaped his understanding of the risks posed by debris. We also discuss: The founding story of LeoLabs The unique advantages of ground-based radar network compared to other tracking methods The exponential growth in orbital objects Scaling a radar system to meet the demands of a rapidly proliferating LEO environment The future of space traffic management and the impact of regulation And much, much more… • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:33 - What is LeoLabs? 01:34 - Where is LeoLabs based and how long have they been around? 02:42 - How did Tony end up at Leo Labs? 04:26 - The mission 08:04 - Why LeoLabs hired Tony? 09:55 - How important is debris and traffic management? 13:52 - The Kessler Syndrome 15:48 - LeoLabs' architecture 23:08 - Competitor differentiation 25:29 - Advantages of a space-based architecture 28:14 - Scaling 30:09 - 3rd-party data integration 32:12 - Current demand for situational awareness and future predictions 35:06 - Market catalysts 39:38 - How LeoLabs makes money 41:41 - Data tracking for the lowest tier subscription 44:26 - Government vs commercial bookings 44:59 - What makes LeoLabs attractive to investors? 48:16 - Is the goal to become a public company? 49:26 - Killer asteroids 50:07 - Favorite space-related media • Show notes • LeoLab’s website — https://leolabs.space/ LeoLab’s socials — https://twitter.com/LeoLabs_Space 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
100% Reusability, with Andy Lapsa (CEO of Stoke Space) 58:10

41 weeks ago58:10

58:10

This week on Pathfinder, we welcome back Andy Lapsa, cofounder and CEO of Stoke Space. Stoke has made remarkable strides since Andy's last appearance on the show two years ago. They've grown to over 140 employees and developed innovative full-flow staged combustion cycle engines and reusable upper-stage prototypes. Andy shares his insights on the challenges and progress in creating fully reusable launch vehicles, emphasizing the importance of rapid reusability for reducing costs and increasing availability and reliability. We dive into Andy's background, including his ten years of experience at Blue Origin and his decision to start Stoke Space to accelerate the pace of innovation. We also discuss: The unique technical approach of Stoke and the architecture of their first launch vehicle, Nova The strategic decision to focus on second-stage reusability and how it differentiates Stoke from other providers Thoughts on the current state of launch and the market potential for multiple providers The importance of manufacturing and scalability in achieving high-frequency launches Stoke's proprietary software, Fusion, and its role in optimizing operations And much more... • Chapters • 00:00 - Intro 00:34 - What's changed since our last episode? 03:04 - Why Andy started Stoke? 07:09 - Andy's time at Blue Origin 09:14 - What makes Stoke different from other launch providers? 12:14 - Focusing on 2nd stage launch first 14:47 - Payload capacity 15:53 - Why has it taken so long for SpaceX to work on fully reusable launch capabilities? 18:36 - Is there a market for multiple launch providers? 21:32 - Growth in launch demand 29:04 - Value proposition for working with Stoke 30:25 - Getting to orbit 36:24 - Minimum viable success 37:59 - Product roadmap post-Nova 40:03 - Investor misconceptions about launch 42:21 - The factory is the product? 44:52 - Fusion 53:29 - What keeps Andy up at night? 54:47 - Funding 55:19 - Stoke's big vision 56:12 - Who plays Andy in the movie about Stoke? • Show notes • Stoke’s website — https://www.stokespace.com Stoke’s socials — https://twitter.com/stoke_space Andy’s socials — https://twitter.com/AndyLapsa 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 Station Foundations, with Colin Doughan (Gravitics) 51:49

42 weeks ago51:49