SpaceBase Podcast

An interview with Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina — a medical doctor, space medicine researcher, educator, and global security advisor.

Ekaterina completed her medical training at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, with postgraduate studies at Harvard University. Her current research focuses on hypometabolic states in humans, such as torpor and hibernation, through interdisciplinary collaborations that span borders and institutions.

She has served as a guest lecturer at MIT, teaching Space Medicine and Crisis/Disaster Management, and has trained military and intelligence personnel on high-stakes global security issues. Ekaterina is a member of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Forum in Washington, DC, and her expert commentary has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Crisis Response Journal, and other leading publications.

Currently on medical assignment in New Zealand, she continues her work from a remote environment, all while balancing roles as a physician, mother, educator, and mentor to the next generation of space and security professionals.

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

Resources

Hiberia - Hibernational Intelligence Base for Education and Research and International Alliance

AlaskaX: Hybernational Science - an edX course exploring hibernation as a blueprint for resilience, drawing on the amazing strategies of animals that endure extreme Arctic winters.

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An interview with Dr. Ben Mallett — a senior scientist at the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute and co-founder of JxB Space Systems, a bold new space startup positioning New Zealand at the forefront of next-generation spacecraft propulsion.

Ben has been instrumental in developing superconducting magnet systems now operating aboard the International Space Station as part of the recently launched Heki mission. He led the creation of a superconducting flux pump. — a device that energizes spacecraft magnets using drastically less power than traditional systems. This is a milestone not just for New Zealand space tech, but for global efforts toward sustainable space propulsion.

Ben holds a Bachelors and Doctoral degrees in Physics from the the Macdiarmid Institute and Victoria University of Wellington.

Beyond the lab, he was selected into a global space accelerator program in 2023, where he helped shape the commercial vision for JxB while continuing to break technical ground. Ben just won the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation - Breakthrough Innovation Award  this month. 

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

Resources

Paihau-Robinson Research Institute

Heki Mission - a technology demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that launched in September 2025.

CHIASMA - connecting university students to STEM industries

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An interview with Stephan Reckie — a visionary leader, space entrepreneur, educator, and global connector. Stephan is the Executive Director of GEN Space, the space-focused arm of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a platform operating in over 170 countries to empower anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.

At GEN Space, Stephan helps catalyze the growth of "astropreneurs" — entrepreneurs leveraging the space economy — by fostering cross-border collaboration between startups, investors, policymakers, researchers, and educators.

Beyond GEN Space, Stephan holds multiple advisory and board positions with organizations that shape space innovation and policy, including EBAN Space, Beyond Earth Institute, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). He’s a champion for international cooperation, mentoring, and empowering underrepresented communities through space-related opportunities. He teaches space entrepreneurship internationally, mentors student-led ventures, and supports innovation ecosystems from Armenia to Italy to the U.S.

With a global mindset and a passion for expanding access to the space economy, Stephan brings a powerful perspective on how space entrepreneurship can uplift economies and societies worldwide.

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

Resources

Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) - operates in 200 countries with a mission to make it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and scale a business

GEN - SPACE- enabling ventures in all industries. Leveraging lower earth orbit access.

ISS National Laboratory - provides access to microgravity R&D on ISS

ESA Bussiness Incubation Centres - ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) are the largest network of incubators supporting space related start-ups in Europe.

Teachers in Space - non-profit educational organization that gets students excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing their teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections.

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An interview with Dr. Ben Taylor, a seasoned scientist, engineer, and project manager with over 15 years of experience delivering full-lifecycle space missions across the UK, Europe, and now Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ben is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute at the University of Auckland, and Co-Founder of Frond Space Systems, a startup offering compact and reliable end-of-life and deployable satellite systems.

Previously, Ben held leadership roles at the Surrey Space Centre and University College London, where he helped design, build, test, and operate CubeSats like ALSat-Nano, InflateSail, and RemoveDebris — missions that pushed the boundaries of small satellite technology and active debris removal. He’s also contributed to radiation detection research and calibration for the Galileo program, and has delivered presentations at major international space conferences.

Ben holds a PhD in Space Science from the University of Surrey, is a certified project management professional, and has been interviewed by major media outlets on cutting-edge space topics.

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

Resources

Auckland Programme for Space Systems - University of Auckland

University Nanosat Program - US Air Force

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An interview with Merve Balaban, Project Manager & Systems Engineer for Berlin Space Consortium, a german space company focused on the development, manufacturing and testing of space propulsion systems.  

Merve has bachelors and masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Technical University in Berlin and is currently working on her doctorate degree from the university of Dresden in Germany.

While  born and raised in Germany, her family is from Turkey and is involved in helping grow the aerospace ecosystem there while volunteering for organizations like Stellar Lab and the Space Generation Advisory Council.  She mentors students and young professionals interested in pursuing a career in the aerospace industry. Merve is currently lead for the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN) Mentorship Program initiative.

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

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An interview with Michael D’Angelo, the Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder of Phantom Space, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Wolverine Capital.

Mike is an innovator and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in space, aviation, biotech, and investment management. He has been a founding and executive team member of more than ten companies. He has held leadership roles at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, POET, Pratt & Whitney, and a multi-billion-dollar family office as EVP of Direct Ventures. Earlier in his career, Mike was an executive at a venture-backed aerospace startup where he led the development, flight testing, and FAA certification of three manned, rocket-powered aircraft. 

He holds multiple patents, and degrees in Mechanical and  Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from New Hampshire Univ and MIT, as well as an MBA from Cornell. He is an Edmund Hillary Fellow and a 5 time recipient of the Jonas Weil Entrepreneurship Fellowship from Cornell University.

Resources:

Rocket Racing League

Ceres Robotics

Quitnet Ventures

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

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We continue the alternating series for spotlighting Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN) in this episode.  

An interview with Remco Timmermans who represents one of GSEN's member organization Space Agenda, the leading global space industry events calendar in 2024.

Remco is an online marketing and communications specialist in the international space sector. He is a well-known space influencer and mentor to aspiring space communicators. Since 2025 he is the Communications Manager at space electronics manufacturer EmTroniX in Luxembourg.
 
 Before joining EmTroniX, Remco was founder and owner at Spaceside, a dedicated space marketing and communications agency. Remco is also co-owner and space event specialist at Space Agenda. He is a global faculty member at the International Space University, co-founder of the Space Communications Alliance, and a vice chair and symposium lead of the IAF Space Education and Outreach Committee.
 
Remco has an undergraduate degree in business administration and mechanical engineering, a master’s degree in business sciences, and he is a graduate of the International Space University Space Studies Program, where he also periodically teaches space management and business, with an emphasis on marketing and communications.

Resources
International Space University Space Studies Program

Space Communications Alliance

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

If you are keen to join the Global Space Enablers Network either as an individual or an organization, check out spaceenablers.net  We also hold periodic online Net-Connect networking sessions. 

GSEN Net Connect #5:  15 September 2025, Noon Pacific Time.  RSVP 

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An interview with Pavel Kalinin,  CTO at OutThere Astronautics, a New Zealand startup focusing on the development of optical communications systems for space applications.

Pavel was born in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia. He came to New Zealand with his family when he was 5 years old. 

Pavel has a degree in physics as well as aerospace engineering from the University of Auckland. While at the university, he participated in the Auckland Programme for Space Systems (APSS) competition where his team's proposal was selected to begin building a cubesat to send into Low Earth Orbit.

Resources
Auckland University Program on Space Systems (APSS)

University of Auckland Velocity Challenge

Mark Rober (Youtube)

The Martian by Andrew Weir

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

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An interview with Peter Kristof on spotlighting the space ecosystem in Hungary.

Peter is a multiple award-winning space professional, innovation expert, exited startup founder, corporate executive, and strategic consultant in digitalization, venture capital, as well as technology and economic development. He is a sought-after speaker at domestic and international conferences on these topics.

Serving as the chief innovation officer for DATelite, noted as a qualified Earth Observation solution provider, he realizes flagship projects aimed at digitalization, the creation of innovation ecosystems, and the development of the space and defense sectors, alongside colleagues with decades of international experience. As a leading expert and researcher for OpenExO with global presence, he investigates the connections and mechanisms of impact between disruptive innovations, accelerating technological advancement, and organizational and national economic transitions. As a member of the advisory board for Stradamus Inc., he deals with equity financing, creation of venture capital funds, and transaction advisory. Very recently, he joined KickSky Space Tech Accelerator and NATO DIANA as senior mentor. Recently, he co-founded the Space Lab at Obuda University, a cross-disciplinary unit fostering space research, engineering and student innovation.

In his social-professional roles, he works on strengthening the regional innovation culture as the vice president and space and defense working group lead of the Hungarian Association for Innovation, president of the Society of IT Leaders, and invited lecturer at University of Pécs and John von Neumann University. As the member of the advisory board of the Infotér Association, he organizes Central and Eastern Europe’s largest Space&DefenseConference.

Resources
Infoter Conference 2025 - Space and Defense Day: 14-16 October 2025

Hungarian Space Kaleidoscope 2023/2024

Obuda University Space Lab

UNISPACE Hungary 

4iG Group

Axiom 4 Mission - with Hungarian astronaut

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

If you are keen to join the Global Space Enablers Network either as an individual or an organization, check out spaceenablers.net  We also hold periodic online Net-Connect networking sessions. 

GSEN Net Connect #4:  13 May 2025, 2pm CEST.  RSVP 

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An interview with Amarit or "Aim" Charoenphan.  Aim is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder with a deep impact on the startup and innovation landscapes across Asia-Pacific. As President of the New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Managing Partner of Aim Ventures, he has backed over 40 investments, while also playing a key role in Thailand’s tech scene as a Partner at Unfold Ventures. His expertise spans from venture funding to community-driven acceleration, having served as ASEAN Director of Impact Collective and a Venture Partner at Mandalay Venture Partners, focusing on sustainable farm-to-fork innovations. In recent years, Aim has been actively involved in growing Thailand’s space ecosystem, working to connect local stakeholders with global space networks like GSEN. Recognized as an Obama Foundation Asia Pacific Leader and an Edmund Hillary Fellow, he has coached over 1,000 startup founders and advised ecosystem hubs in 30+ cities. A Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honoree and Thailand Startup Enabler of the Year, he continues to drive impact through investments, mentorship, and fostering tech and space communities worldwide.

Aim through Aim Ventures is a Core Member of the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN) and is a SpaceBase Ambassador.

Resources

Aim Ventures

Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

If you are keen to join the Global Space Enablers Network either as an individual or an organization, check out spaceenablers.net  We also hold periodic online Net-Connect networking sessions. 

GSEN Net Connect #3:  18 March 2025, 7pm NZT.  RSVP 

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