The Overview Podcast

This week on The Overview podcast, we hosted a talented aerospace engineer who is currently an Aeronautics and Astronautics graduate student at Stanford, Tycho Bogdanowitsch. Tycho has many unique experiences, from work in orbital debris mitigation to developing a market research report at a space investment firm. Anshuk sat down with Tycho to discuss:

🧑‍🎓 His internships and past experiences as a student at Columbia University.

🛰️ A look into the current “New Space” industry, filled with budding startups and rapid innovation.

🚀 A discussion into where commercial space is headed, and some trends Tycho is keeping his eye on.

🎧 Looking into Tycho’s list of favorite aerospace media, such as books, films, podcasts, etc.

Topics discussed:

* 0:00 — Introductions

* 0:20 — Working on the ‘Decavitator’ (the vehicle that holds the human-powered speed record on water) at MIT as an undergraduate

* 3:33 — Transferring to MIT as an undergraduate from Spain in the 1980s

* 5:10 — What skills help you succeed at a school like MIT?

* 6:45 — What extracurriculars did you do as an undergraduate?

* 8:25 — On the importance of student’s having initiative

* 9:27 — Experiences outside the classroom

* 10:31 — Being inspired to do more than we think we can

* 11:23 — What made you want to start graduate school instead of work in industry?

* 14:22 — Becoming a Stanford Professor

* 15:46 — How to best take advantage of career opportunities

* 16:45 — “In order to have one good idea you need to have ten bad ideas”

* 17:52 — You need to know when to quit

* 19:00 — Experience working at NASA

* 22:05 — Entrepreneurship and starting Luminary Cloud (https://www.luminarycloud.com/) and the best ways to make change

* 23:50 — The importance of NASA, and its role in being between industry and academia

* 26:45 — Advice for students applying to academic programs

* 28:30 — “Admissions offices are looking for interesting people”

* 29:09 — “Don’t get caught in the rat race”

* 31:03 — We have a responsibility to make the most out of the opportunities we’ve been given

* 32:45 — What selection committees are looking for in graduate students

* 35:47 — Grades are not the destination, the destination is learning

* 36:30 — The importance of presenting yourself well during interviews (and other soft skills)

* 38:11 — Professor Alonso’s vision for the Aeronautics and Astronautics department at Stanford University

* 41:17 — The most important areas in Aerospace engineering over the next 10-15 years

* 45:30 — Wrapping up

Evan and Cameron share their fascinating journey, from leading a student rocketry team, to interning at SpaceX, to finally launching Navier AI with support from Y Combinator after years of dreaming and brainstorming.

Things discussed:

* Starting a company and navigating the early challenges

* How aerospace students can approach their education to set themselves up to create impactful businesses

* Their biggest wins and toughest lessons as founders

* How they chose Navier AI (and what other ideas they almost pursued instead)

* The transition from working at established companies to becoming startup entrepreneurs in just weeks

Things discussed:

* Satoshi Kamiya

* Ancient dragon:

* Ryujin:

* Kirigami

* Rocket fairing limitations

* Miura folds

* Robert Lang

* InSight Lander

* Self-assembling structures

* Swarm robotics

* Starshade

* Make your own Starshade!

* Alexandra’s article 'How to Fold a Spaceship’

* Origami simulator

* Manan Arya:

* Oru Kayak

* Origami building designs

* Renee Zhao’s lab at Stanford