SpaceBase Podcast

An interview with  Max Arshavsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Zenno Astronautics, a satellite propulsion and software company based in Auckland with an aim to make space exploration commercially compelling and sustainable.  Max has degrees in Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Auckland.  He studied Mathematics and Physics at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute in Russia. 

In this interview, we talked to Max’s about his personal journey towards a career in the space industry, and how his cutting edge work on Zenno astronautics could have the potential to revolutionize satellite constellation propulsion, and on-orbit servicing - dramatically simplifying how we explore space.

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
 Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)
 
If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with  Dr. Allan Scott,  Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury, College of Engineering.  Allan has  a masters of Science in Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy from Cape Town.  HIs primary research is related to understanding the influence of material properties and environmental conditions on the durability of reinforced concrete structures, and the development of durability models to assist in the prediction of service life and the optimization of repair strategies.

Most recently, he is the co-founder of Aspiring Materials, a research service on the industrialization and implementation of strategies and materials that will reduce global industrial carbon dioxide emissions and provide 'boutique' answers for critical/unusual problems whether on Earth, Mars, or the Moon.

In this interview, we are going to learn about Alan’s work in material science  and how new innovation in developing carbon neutral  cement can be leveraged to buld critical components like space habitats and landing pads on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Additional Resources:

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
 Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)
 
If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with Mahima Seth, currently a science student at the University of Auckland, majoring in physics and geophysics. Mahima served as an Avionics Technician in the Royal New Zealand Airforce and for Rocket Lab.  She led the winning team of the 2018 Act In Space Hackathon, presenting the team's idea for "Autonomous Robotics system for in orbit repairs" at the International Space Festival in Tolouse, France. She was part of the 3rd Auckland Programme for Space Systems mission - a cubesat design project competition slated to go up in space via Rocket Lab's electron rocket.  

Mahima has given presentations for schools around the country talking about space and astronauts.  She is excited about sharing her passion for space, becoming an astronaut, and showcasing what New Zealand has to offer to the global space community.

In this interview, we are going to talk about Mahima's experience working towards her ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut, and proving that the first step is to muster the courage to know what you want, and have the perseverance to follow it through.

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
 Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)
 
If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with Julia Rothman,  a kiwi with two decades of experience designing and launching space systems for the US Government. She worked as the Missile Defence Agency’s first Space Flight Test Engineer. She helped fund the development of new weather models and an Antarctic receiver site doubling the advance warning time for Category 5 hurricanes after Hurricane Katrina. Julia has spent the last 5 years designing a system tracking space debris. She has degrees in Physics, Engieering and Business Administration.  

In this interview, we are going to talk about Julia’s career from NZ to the US then back again, her experience working on defense space and understanding the challenges, benefits, and roles that space technology play for national and global security.  

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
 Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)
 
 If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with James Parr, Founder and CEO of Trillium Technologies – specializing in the application of merging technologies to grand challenges.  He is the Director of NASA’s Frontier Development Lab, an AI research accelerator based in Silicon Valley and FDL Europe in partnership with ESA.  He also co founded Open Space Agency – dedicated to the democratisation of space exploration through citizen science and open hardware.

James is also pioneering a new Data Quest accelerator program in Australia and New Zealand focused on mitigating bushfire challenges in the region using AI, machine learning and space technologies.  The new week long sprint is set to debut on 7 August 2020. 

In this interview, we are going to talk about James’ journey from New Zealand to Europe and the U.S., establishing international space initiatives around the world, and his passion on leveraging space and technology to solve hard problems for the benefit of humanity. 

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with Philipp Sueltrop ,the Chief Technology officer for Kea Aerospace- a company working on a range of aerospace projects including a design of a high altitude pseudo satellite in partnership with the University of Canterbury. 

Philipp has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a Masters in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and a Ph.D. on Rocket flight mechanics and control from the University of Canterbury.

In this interview, we are going to talk about Philipp’s journey to New Zealand in search of the perfect space R&D environment, his work on rockets and high altitude platforms, and his focus to commercialise the stratosphere.

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with Jim Hefkey, the director of the Auckland Programme for Space Systems – an undergraduate program that challenges students to solve problems using satellites. He currently holds the position of Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland and has been part of a team working with University and Government to establish the Space Systems Institute for NZ. He also lectures in Engineering Systems, Technology Management and Engineering Management.  He is the POC for UNISEC in NZ, a global space organization created to build a world where space science and technology is used by individuals and institutions in every country.

He holds an M.E. in Manufacturing Systems, a postgraduate Business Qualification in Engineering Management and a postgraduate Teaching Qualification in Academic Practice. He has forty years’ engineering experience in manufacturing, automation and machine design. 

In this interview, JIm talks about the educational programs and opportunities available today for anyone interested in starting a career in space - from joining high powered rocketry clubs, to learning about building cubesats.  He talks about different educational programs and university space related courses on the horizon to help grow the space industry in New Zealand.

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

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An interview with Dr. Sian Proctor, CEO of Flight Ready systems.  Sian is a geoscientist, STEM communicator, and analog astronaut, who gets to travel and participate in unique learning experiences around the world. She was a PolarTREC teacher in Alaska, an astronomy educator ambassador to Chile, and a NOAA Teacher at Sea in Alaska. She has participated in the HI-SEAS program,  a NASA funded analog habitat for living on Mars in Hawaii. 

Sian has a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology and a PHd in Curriculum and Instruction on Science Education.  She is a  geology, sustainability and planetary science professor at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2009, she was short listed to the top 50 candidates for the NASA astronaut selection program out of 3,500 applicants. 

She’s been featured on numerous tv shows including the Discovery Channel show The Colony. She devotes a lot of her time in STEM communication and inspiring the next generation of space explorers.

In this interview, Sian talks about how life trows curve balls at us and brings abundant opportunities.  She talks about her experience as an astronaut candidate, to a four time participant of analog missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as exotic trips to the ends of the Earth in the name of environmental science and sustainability.

Hostd by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

Support the show

An interview with Haritina Mogosanu, Executive Director of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network and a research scientist for the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science. She is the Senior Science Communicator at Space Place at Carter Observatory and is also a founding board member of Kiwispace and New Zealand Mars Society. 

Haritina was educated in Romania, in horticultural engineering and has Master degrees in Environmental Management and International Security in Intelligence. She was nominated for the Wellingtonian of the year award in 2015, and awarded the International Year of Astronomy 2009 certificate of appreciation. She holds the honour of having Asteroid 7101 Haritina named after her.

 In this interview, we are going to talk about Haritina’s personal journey and influence in the growing space industry in New Zealand and her passion to educate and inspire everyone about space, astronomy and science.   

For more info on Haritina:
LinkedIn
NZ Astrobiology Network
Curious Minds

Resources
NASA
ESA
New Scientist
Milky Way Kiwi

Check out  Carl Sagan, Neil De-Grasse Tyson and Seth Siostak

Hostd by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

Support the show

An interview with Dr. Sarah Kessans, a US-born New Zealand scientist and biochemist, a multi-national champion in rowing and was in the top 50 applicants—out of over 18,000—in the NASA's 2017 Astronaut Candidate Selection.

She’s earned degrees in plant and molecular biologies, worked on a plant-based HIV vaccine, and is now working at the cutting edge of synthetic biology solutions to combat climate change, facilitate space settlements, and advance innovations in medicine and agriculture. Most recently, she got  a $500,000 Catalyst grant from MBIE to support her proposal to develop nanosatellites for protein crystallisation over the next three years.

In this interview, she talks about her passion for biology and adventure, both of which have yielded incredible experiences.  She talks about her perspectives on how biology can create humanity's sustainable pathway to future space settlements and how her work can lead to a thriving space synthetic biology research hub in the region.

For more info on Sarah:
Linkedin
University of Canterbury

Her resource recommendations:
NASA.gov
The Martian by Andy Weir

Hostd by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account.

Support the show