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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/