A Spaceport—And Then Some.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmozis interviews Dr. Gabrielle Caswell, owner of Spaceport Australia, about the rapid evolution of NASA’s lunar strategy and the role of commercial space infrastructure. They discuss NASA’s shift to an iterative, capability‑based approach that could enable lunar landings as often as every six months, the move away from the Lunar Gateway toward surface infrastructure, and the upcoming nuclear electric propulsion test for Mars. Dr. Caswell shares how her diverse background—medical, marine diving, remote‑area emergency care, and environmental management—has shaped a hands‑on, problem‑solving mindset that is directly applicable to operating a spaceport and supporting the new cadence of commercial launches.
Space and Satellite Futures: The Chief Saboteur Just Got Orbited
In this episode of Orbited, Viasat co‑founder and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Hart shares four decades of satellite‑communications experience with the 2025‑20 Under‑35 cohort. He emphasizes the critical judgment of knowing when to change—avoiding sunk‑cost bias and staying outward‑focused...
Taxation in Outer Space: How Countries Could Vie for Star Power
Erika Isabella Scuderi, a tax law professor at the University of Florida, proposes a novel framework for assigning taxing rights to activities conducted in outer space. She argues that sovereignty should be linked to the launch origin, allowing nations to...
From Goddard’s Cabbage Patch to Artemis II.
In this episode, host Maria Varmazas chats with Jeff Carr, a veteran of NASA media and son of Apollo-era astronaut Capcom Jerry Carr, about the parallels between the Apollo 8 era of 1968 and today’s Artemis 2 mission. Jeff reflects on...
284: Etched in Crystal: Putting 3,237 Stories Onto a Lunar Rover
In this episode, host Beth Muld talks with Josh Haynes of Uplift Aerospace about the Stories of Space project's milestone of embedding 3,237 student and teacher messages into a 5‑dimensional crystal now attached to Astrolab’s Flip lunar rover. They explain...
Inside Space Systems Command: Col. Menschner | Spacepower Podcast
In this episode, Colonel Andrew Menchner, Deputy Commander of Space Systems Command (SSC), explains how SSC acquires, builds, and fields critical space capabilities—such as GPS, missile warning, and satellite communications—for the joint force, allies, and partners. He highlights the command’s...
Investing in American Manufacturing: Shey Sabripour Talks CesiumAstro's Ramp-Up
In this episode, Shea Sabripour, founder of Cesium Astro, discusses the company’s recent $270 million funding round and XIM financing aimed at expanding U.S. manufacturing in Texas. He outlines Cesium Astro’s evolution from software‑defined radios to full‑scale satellite missions, emphasizing a...
Better Satellite World: From Connectivity to Intelligence Episode 1: What Happens When the Network Thinks? Benny Retnamony of Quvia on...
In this inaugural episode of SSPI’s "Connectivity to Intelligence" series, host Tamara Bond‑Williams talks with Benny Rettnamone, founder and CEO of QVIA, about the challenges of handling massive data streams at the edge—on aircraft, ships, and offshore rigs—where connectivity is...
Exciting (But Crowded) Opportunities
In this episode, Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Lou Whiteman discuss how once‑sparse industries are becoming crowded with startups and IPOs, focusing on the space sector and the emerging nuclear power market. They highlight the rapid influx of launch companies,...
Designing for the Next Generation of GEO With Swissto12 CEO Emile De Rijk
In this episode, Swiss212 CEO Emil de Rijk explains how his company is disrupting the geostationary market by building smaller, faster, and more affordable satellites with advanced, in‑house RF payloads. He discusses the trade‑offs between payload flexibility and performance, the...
226 - Is Orbital Cleanup the Launchpad for Asteroid Mining?
In this episode, host explores the growing problem of orbital debris and its potential as a springboard for asteroid mining. Joel Sercel, CEO and founder of TransAstra, explains how his company’s capture technology can safely remove defunct satellites and repurpose...
Semiconductors, Satellites, and Scale With Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy
In this episode, Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy explains how her company provides end‑to‑end semiconductor services—from custom ASIC design and foundry access to wafer processing, packaging, board assembly, and final box builds—for aerospace, defense, and the rapidly growing new‑space sector....
Space Habitation Report – Mar.2.2026
NASA’s SpaceX CRS‑33 Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on Feb. 26, returning valuable microgravity biology experiments. The crew‑12 expedition arrived in mid‑February, expanding the ISS’s research agenda with European‑led experiments. Axiom Space announced a $350 million funding round to...
ISS Demonstration: A Tow Truck for Space.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmazas interviews Troy Morris, CEO and co‑founder of KMI, about the company’s successful in‑space demonstration of its articulated “tow‑truck” arms aboard the ISS. The demo involved over 200 days of testing, capturing unprepared...
Episode 146: Embodied AI on the ISS - Jamie Palmer
In this episode, Claire Asher talks with Jamie Palmer, co‑founder and CTO of Icarus Robotics, about developing free‑flying, dexterous robots to assist astronauts on the ISS and future commercial stations. Palmer explains how the robots—essentially microgravity drones with manipulators—are being...
Using AI to Train Space Warfighters
In this episode, Tom Patton talks with Dr. Belinda Merchan, Chief Scientist at Slingshot Aerospace, about how AI is transforming space warfare training. Traditional training relied on scripted scenarios, but Slingshot’s agentic AI uses physics‑based models and proprietary tracking data...
Better Satellite World: From Classroom to Community, Episode 4: What Makes the Signal Hold?
In this episode, Tamara Bond‑Williams talks with Vaibhav Magal, VP of the International Division at Hughes, about what makes satellite‑based school connectivity reliable, scalable and sustainable across emerging markets. They explain why schools are prioritized as community hubs, the technical...
Space Money: Tariffs, SCOTUS, Carveouts, And Space Business
In this episode, Laura Winter discusses with legal experts Bailey Reichelt and Nick Baker how the Supreme Court’s decision deeming President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs unconstitutional impacts businesses, including those in the...
Hypersonic Hustle & Orbital Muscle.
The episode highlights three major developments in the defense and commercial space sector: Stratolaunch securing a $90.8 million Department of War contract for the MACH‑TB 2.0 air‑launched test vehicle program, Agile Space Industries closing a $17 million Series A round to expand its small‑sat...
China’s Record-Breaking Investment in a Private Rocket Company.
In this episode, host T‑Minus chats with Michelle Lucas, CEO of Higher Orbits, about China’s surge in private‑sector space funding, highlighting iSpace’s $730 million raise to develop reusable rockets, Space Epoch’s new capital for a 2026 launch and sea‑recovery test, and...
225 - What Are the Biggest Untapped Opportunities in Satellite IoT?
In this episode, Jake Saunders, Vice President at ABI Research, breaks down the firm’s latest report on satellite IoT, highlighting a projected $3.1 billion market size by 2030. He outlines the most promising yet under‑served commercial verticals—such as remote agriculture, maritime...
Ep 38: Interview with Lt. General (Ret.) David Buck, President, BRPH Mission Solutions
In this episode, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David J. Buck discusses how his three‑decade Air Force career—spanning strategic missile, space launch, satellite command, and cyber operations—shapes his work leading BRBR Mission Solutions, a firm that designs and builds mission‑critical infrastructure for...
Artemis II: The Ground Teams Powering NASA's Moon Mission
In this episode of *Curious Universe*, hosts Padi Boyd and Jacob Pinter spotlight the Exploration Ground Systems that enable Artemis II, detailing the mobile launcher, the massive crawler‑transporter, and NASA’s recovery barge Pegasus. They interview astronaut Victor Glover, who emphasizes how...
From Pluto to Pharmaceuticals
In this brief episode, the host explains how NASA employs spectroscopy to decode the composition of planets and their atmospheres, from distant bodies like Pluto to potential applications in drug discovery. By examining how light interacts with matter, scientists can...
E695 | This Week in European Tech with Dan & Mads (Feat. Sam Marchant)
In this episode of Upside, Dan, Mads, and guest Sam Marchant dissect the surge of capital into enterprise AI, highlighting Anthropic’s $30 billion round and contrasting it with OpenAI’s shift toward consumer‑focused monetization. They explore the paradox of AI‑driven productivity, where...
A Million-Satellite Constellation, and Tough Sledding for Space Tourism
The episode explores SpaceX’s ambitious filing to launch up to one million satellites as an orbital data center, positioning the company toward a Kardashev Type II vision and highlighting regulatory waivers and the link to Elon Musk’s AI venture. It then...
Better Satellite World: The State of Space in the State
The episode reviews the current landscape of New York’s space and satellite industry, anchored by Empire Space’s data-driven census and ecosystem mapping. Guests discuss how the state’s regulatory environment, talent pool, and funding ecosystem are shaping growth, with insights from Patterson...
Mars to Table
NASA is back for seconds with a new food system design challenge.
EP37: Interview with Christopher Fedele, Business Development Director, L3 Harris
In this episode, Bill Woolf talks with Christopher Fedele, Business Development Director at L3 Harris, about the rapid evolution of propulsion technologies needed for contested space operations. Fedele explains how electric, high‑performance, and nuclear propulsion enable agile, survivable satellites that can...
Harnessing Nuclear Power
In this brief episode, the hosts discuss NASA's renewed partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop safe nuclear power systems for space missions. They explain how compact fission reactors could provide reliable energy for deep‑space exploration, lunar bases,...
NASA Wants to Bring Talent Back In-House.
In this episode, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlines a strategy to bring critical capabilities back in-house, emphasizing the restoration of the agency’s core competencies. The discussion highlights a $54.5 million contract awarded to Starfish Space for an Otter satellite‑servicing vehicle for...
Spinoff 2026
NASA technology brings the golden age of exploration to Earth.
SSPI-WISE Presents: New Orbits, New Rules of Space & Satellite Governance
The episode explores the rapidly changing landscape of space regulation and satellite governance, focusing on new orbital rules, debris mitigation, and licensing frameworks. Dr. Alice Bunn explains the UK Space Agency’s strategic priorities, Karen Cox discusses how LeoLabs’ tracking data...
Elon Wants Data Centers in Space?
In this episode, Jamie and Jaeden examine Elon Musk's recent acquisition of XAI by SpaceX, discussing how the merger could enable the creation of data centers in orbit and accelerate lunar manufacturing initiatives. They explore the strategic advantages of combining...
Designing the Future
Augmented Reality could help NASA produce future spacecraft for new missions of discovery.
The Crawler
In this brief 1‑minute‑30‑second episode, the host explains the engineering marvel of the massive crawler‑transporter that moves an eleven‑million‑pound rocket from the Vehicle Assembly Building to a launch pad over four miles away. The discussion highlights the crawler’s massive weight,...
First Deorbit-as-a-Service Contract Awarded to Starfish Space
The episode spotlights the U.S. Space Force SDA’s historic $52.5 million Deorbit‑as‑a‑Service contract awarded to Starfish Space, which will launch the Otter spacecraft to safely dispose of LEO satellites starting in 2027. It contrasts this with ESA’s $475 k award to Astroscale...
Space Power: The View From Down Under
In this episode, Laura Winter and Malcolm Davis discuss Australia’s evolving role in space security and defense amid a shifting global order. Davis outlines how Australia must modernize its national defense strategy, invest in indigenous space capabilities, and deepen collaboration...
Testing Robotics in Space
The future of in-space robotics relies on testing operations in space.
What Does It Really Take to Make Space Work for Your World?
In a 50‑minute Better Satellite World Awards roundtable, SSPI’s Tamara Bond‑Williams convenes leaders from Astroscale, INTEGRASYS, and River Advisers to discuss how satellite systems impact daily life on Earth. The panel delves into orbital sustainability, interference protection, spectrum access, and...
Tissue Engineering
The winners from NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge are taking their Earth-based research to space.
First Flight
The episode chronicles NASA's historic first flight of the X‑59 Quiet Supersonic Transport, detailing the years of design, development, and testing that led to its October launch. It explains how the aircraft's innovative shape and engine technology aim to dramatically...
Artemis II: Inside NASA’s New Ride to the Moon
In this episode, hosts Jacob Pinter and Padi Boyd take listeners inside NASA’s Artemis II mission, touring the Orion crew capsule with vehicle manager Branelle Rodriguez and exploring its life‑support, habitability, and waste‑management systems. They also sit down with Space Launch...
VC10X - Engineering Liquidity in Deeptech - Brad Harrison, Founder, Scout Ventures
In this 45‑minute episode, West Point graduate and former Airborne Ranger Brad Harrison explains how Scout Ventures applies military‑grade SOPs and a 40‑revision investment process to back frontier deep‑tech startups at the nexus of national security and innovation. He details...
The Infrastructure Revolution Behind Data Centers in Space With Ramon.Space CEO Avi Shabtai
In this episode, Ramon.Space CEO Avi Shabtai explains the vision of a distributed‑architecture data center in space, where a mesh of satellites functions as individual compute and storage nodes. He outlines the technical foundations—edge‑computing hardware, onboard processing, and inter‑satellite networking—that...
Protecting Human Health
NASA researchers monitor the atmospheric movement of pollutants to help protect human health.
Prioritizing Shortfalls
In this brief 1‑minute, 30‑second episode, NASA discusses how it is leveraging the rapid growth of the U.S. space economy to shape its own technology investment strategy. The agency highlights the importance of identifying and prioritizing “shortfalls” – capability gaps...
Sovereign Space, Smart Weather, and a Very Busy Orbit.
The episode spotlights major developments in the increasingly crowded orbital environment, including D‑Orbit’s $53 million Series D raise to boost M&A and in‑space computing, Loft Orbital’s selection as prime contractor for France’s DESIR radar‑imaging program, and Aalyria’s award from the U.S. Air...
Molecular Oxygen
In this episode, the host explores NASA's innovative approach to extracting molecular oxygen from lunar regolith by separating it from solid metals embedded in moon dust and rock. The discussion covers the underlying chemical processes, the engineering challenges of scaling...
Space and Satellite Futures: How Is INTEGRASYS Strengthening Satellite Operations. Through Software-Defined Capability?
In this New Member Spotlight episode, SSPI host Tamara Bond‑Williams interviews INTEGRASYS CEO Álvaro Sánchez about the company's software‑defined approach to satellite operations. Sánchez explains how INTEGRASYS tackles interference mitigation, spectrum awareness, and operational resilience, enabling operators to make long‑term...
