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:

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