When SpaceX lands a rocket or Rocket Lab develops a revolutionary engine, where do those innovations really come from?

In this episode of The Deepest Mountain, we explore a groundbreaking study that maps the flow of knowledge from government space agencies and academic research into the private aerospace industry. Using large language models, citation networks, and more than 6,000 aerospace research papers, researchers reveal how decades of public investment by organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency laid the foundation for today's commercial space revolution.

We'll examine the rise of the "NewSpace" era, the surprising divide between science-focused government research and engineering-focused private companies, and the critical role universities and aerospace researchers play in bridging the two worlds. Along the way, we'll uncover why some research fields become launchpads for innovation while others remain disconnected from commercial applications.

Join us as we follow the invisible pathways that carry ideas from laboratories and research centers to rockets, satellites, and the future of humanity's journey into space.