Podcasts about small satellites

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In the second episode of season 2, we hear from Dr. Femi Ishola, Founder and CEO of Phemotron Systems Corporation. Dr. Femi Ishola is an experienced Innovator, Entrepreneur, Engineer, and Researcher with a strong background in Electro-Optics, Space, and Satellite Systems Engineering. Accredited and licensed engineering practitioner by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering(COREN); Reg. No. R.4218. With over 15 years of professional experience in the global space industry, Dr. Femi brings a super-heavyweight perspective to aerospace engineering projects and gatherings across the continents! Founder and CEO of Phemotron Systems Corporation, a multinational new space company with operations in Nigeria, Japan, and USA. Served as a Researcher at the Japanese Space Communication Systems Laboratory, National Institute of Information Communications Technology (NICT), Tokyo, Japan. Systems pioneer and Project Manager at the National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria. Versatile in optical systems development, antennas, and microwave systems. Actively conducting research on Laser Communication technologies for Small Satellites, Drones, Beyond-5G integration, Beamed Energy Systems, and Unmanned Autonomous Systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2010, Incorporated Phemotron Systems Ltd in 2013, obtained a Master of Science degree from the International Space University, France, in 2014, and a Ph.D. degree from the Laboratory of Lean Satellites Enterprises and In-Orbit Experiments, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan in 2021. His Ph.D. research was focused on free-space optical communication technologies for small satellites. Completed advance satellite design course at the Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia. Dr. Femi served as the SSPI Nigeria Director of Student Affairs where he galvanized undergraduate student exposure to space education and general STEM activities. Dr. Femi participated and contributed to the Japanese Engineering Test Satellite (ETS-9) HICALI project and the 6U CubeSOTA optical communication terminal and mission development. He also participated in the Southern Australian Universities QB50 Collaboration Satellite project. He was the Pioneer and Project Manager of the Nigerian Space Agency Centre for Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP) Ground Control Station. Recipient of the Best and Most Innovative Project Award, SEEES National Universities Competition 2009, Kano State Government Award for the Best Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Project, in 2011, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Emerging Space Leaders Award, 2019 and the grand prize winner of 9th Annual SATShow (SATELLITE). Startup Space Competition, Washington DC, 2025.

An estimated 26,104 smallsats will be launched between 2023-2032 according to Novaspace. With so much growth on the horizon, how will regulatory efforts keep pace? What role will regulations play in terms of protecting the spectrum? How can interference be avoided to ensure a level playing field for new and incumbent players? Constellations discussed the role of regulation in the rapidly growing and evolving small satellite world with the ITU.

Key Takeaways: - SmallSats will be an essential element to deliver space superiority within the construct of Competitive Endurance - Improvements in space domain awareness and responsible counterspace operations are possible with SmallSats - The low cost, rapid development timelines, and versatility of SmallSats can keep the Space Force ahead of competitors and adversaries - Changes to space acquisition, operations, and sustainment will enable the full adoption of SmallSats into the space architecture ​​​​​

Japanese satellite startup Synspective Inc. said Tuesday it has agreed with Rocket Lab USA Inc. to launch 10 small satellites by 2027.

Une équipe de planétologues a utilisé la puissance du télescope Webb dans l'infra-rouge pour regarder de près les petits satellites internes des systèmes de Uranus et de Neptune, afin de caractériser leur composition de surface. On en sait plus, mais des questions demeurent sans réponse. Ils publient leurs résultats dans The Planetary Science Journal. Source JWST Spectrophotometry of the Small Satellites of Uranus and NeptuneMatthew Belyakov et al.The Planetary Science Journal, Volume 5, Number 5 (22 may 2024)https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad3d55

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we talk about cybersecurity issues as they relate to the space industry with Tim Fowler, Offensive Security Analyst at Black Hills Information Security.Tim's unique blend of curiosity, determination, and passion for problem-solving make him stand out in the cybersecurity world. As a frequent speaker on topics ranging from Information Security to Open Source software, Tim's mission is clear: to empower others to take control of their journey and make a positive impact in the world of cybersecurity. Currently Tim is working as an offensive security analyst for Black Hills Information Security - and he is here today to talk to use about the research he has been doing around cybersecurity in space…. and yes, it is as awesome as it sounds.Tim's upcoming training: Introduction to Cybersecurity in Space SystemsResources mentioned in the show:TREKS Cybersecurity FrameworkSpace Attack Research & Tactic Analysis (SPARTA)SPACE-SHIELDOpenSatKitNASA Core Flight SystemTiny GSOpenC3NASA Operational Simulator for Small Satellites

As the four Starling spacecraft drift into position, they will test the swarm technologies that are essential for future deep space missions.

A new report projects the smallsat industry will gather about $110.5 billion in market value over the next 10 years. Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Garrett Reim and Irene Klotz discuss the meaning of that growth, new technologies for flying satellites in autonomous formations and the U.S. Space Force's national security space needs.

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023  April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. A Vision for Proliferated Orbits and Small Satellites: Space Force leaders have repeatedly discussed the advantages they expect to accrue by placing a larger number of smaller, simpler satellites into orbit as part of integrated, collaborative low earth orbit constellations. Not only does this promise to deliver capability in a faster, lower-cost fashion, it also eliminates single points of failure. This panel will discuss this vision and provide an update regarding how Space Force leaders are seeing this concept evolve—driven both by operational requirements and the threat. Moderator: Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence Brig Gen Timothy A. Sejba, Program Executive Officer, Space Systems Command Brig Gen Timothy A. Sejba is the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power and the PEO for Battle Management, Command, Control, and Communications, Space Systems Command. He directs two diverse portfolios of over 60 programs and $12B+ encompassing a wide-range of mission areas, which include space domain awareness, space control, strategic warning and surveillance, defensive cyber operations, innovation and prototyping, and operational and tactical command and control systems. Col Eric Felt, Director of Space Architecture and Integration, USSF Col Eric Felt is the Director of Space Architecture & Integration of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition & Integration. Robert Atkin, Vice President of Asymmetric Systems Group, General Atomics-EMS Robert Atkin is the Vice President of the Asymmetric Systems Group with GA-EMS. Prior to this he was the President and CEO of Tiger Innovations Inc. which specialized in developing spacecraft and space-related systems for a broad range of US Government customers and particularly small, lightweight and low-power innovative solutions. Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

The University of Florida spinoff company Satlantis leverages deep-space astronomy technology to provide solutions closer to home. Story with images: https://explore.research.ufl.edu/satellite-mounted-telescopes-get-a-new-focus-earth.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A 10-year cycle on billion-dollar projects wasn't going to be sustainable… particularly given the threats we were seeing from our adversaries.” Dirk Wallinger, CEO, York Space Systems I went into my podcast recording with Dirk Wallinger hungry to learn about the business of designing, manufacturing, launching and managing small satellites.  In fact, in a pre-interview with Dirk, I asked for his permission to talk about the basics, transparently showing how little I know – he readily agreed and we had a longer than planned conversation about the industry, the evolving role of satellites in our lives, some curiosity-addressing aspects of satellite orbits and maintenance, and trends to watch for.  York is a 500 person Colorado company that's growing fast in its niche.   

On this edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talks with Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace, a company developing an innovative spaceplane as well as satellite thrusters fueled by "green" propellant. Dawn Aerospace is based in Christchurch, New Zealand, with offices in Delft, The Netherlands and New York City. The company builds thrusters for both small satellites and CubeSats, and is flight testing a spaceplane that can operate from standard airports to deliver satellites to orbit. Dawn's B20 thruster achieves performance equal to that of those using hydrazine propellants by using a unique, green-propellant combination; nitrous oxide and propylene. Having delivered this technology to both CubeSats and Small Satellites, Dawn is demonstrating this technology can be applied to satellites of all sizes. Using nontoxic propellants is naturally far less risky than using something like hydrazine, which is toxic at extremely low concentrations - 40 parts per million. Dawn's green propellants are great for the environment, but can also save the satellite operator about $500,000 per satellite by eliminating the safety precautions required to store and handle hydrazine. The Dawn Mk-II Aurora is designed for multiple flights per day to 100 km (66 mile) and above. Taking off and landing from standard airports, alongside normal aircraft, this vehicle merges the world of rockets and aviation. The Aurora, a sub-scale suborbital vehicle, has been built to demonstrate Dawn's core technology for daily access to space. It is the latest vehicle of a series that will one day deliver satellites and assets to, and return them from, space. The vehicle's 3U payload is capable of hosting scientific experiments. The next vehicle in Dawn's series, the Mk-III, will be based on this design, but much larger and capable of delivering 250 kg (≈550 pound) satellites to orbit. How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.

In order to ensure a resilient spacecraft production (e.g. Buccaneer Main Mission), we present our efforts to develop testing methodologies such as: space thermal testing using a thermal vacuum chamber, magnetometer testing using a Helmholtz cage, life cycle testing using external radiation chambers, and attitude control testing using a hemispherical air bearing table and Helmholtz cage.

As technologies become increasingly miniaturized, CubeSats could carry instruments to explore other worlds or communicate more efficiently.

Episode 36 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Ignacio Chechile, Chief Technology Officer of ReOrbit - a Finland-based manufacturer of reusable space systems - about innovation in NewSpace. We cover: What the NewSpace sector is and how it is characterized What makes spacecraft architectures different in today's missions The importance of software at all levels of a mission The concept of a software-defined satellite and what opportunities this is bringing to the industry You can find out more about ReOrbit here on their satsearch supplier hub.And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our weekly newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA] 

As the satellite market heats up and stock market cools, Morgan discusses the small satellite landscape with Marc Bell, co-founder, chairman & CEO of recently-public small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbit.

As the satellite market heats up and stock market cools, Morgan discusses the small satellite landscape with Marc Bell, co-founder, chairman & CEO of recently-public small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbit.

In this weeks podcast we are featuring a recent Future in Space Operations presentation by Barbara Braun and Sam Sims from the Aerospace Corporation, who spoke on "Policy Compliance Roadmap for Small Satellites." SmallSats proliferation in low Earth orbit continues due in part to the low barrier to entry, however one area that lacks universal standards is policy compliance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Satellites have been around for decades, but thanks to the new affordability of low earth orbit, they're finally more attainable, so it's no surprise that the market is on fire right now.    The question is, what are all those satellites being used for?    What opportunities do satellites afford us today, and what can we expect the satellite business to look like in a few years' time?    In this episode, co-founder of Terran Orbital, Marc Bell shares what he's most excited about in the satellite space. "If an iPhone has more computing power than a space shuttle, why is anyone still building a shuttle the size of a school bus?" -Marc Bell   Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode    The truth about space being crowded Is space really at risk of overcrowding, or can the growing traffic be managed effectively?   How satellite manufacturers hire How are satellite manufacturers identifying the best and brightest minds in the business? What does it take to stand out to these organizations?    How satellites will be taken into the future With technology moving at such a rapid rate, it's not uncommon for once cutting-edge innovation to become obsolete in a matter of years. How will the satellite business continue to adapt with the times?   Guest Bio-   Marc Bell is a space entrepreneur, passionate about pushing the needle forward. The co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Terran Orbital Corporation, Marc is at the helm of small satellite innovation. Marc was previously the Chairman and CEO of Globix Corporation, and in addition to countless other ventures including a publicly traded mortgage REIT, he is also a Two-Time Tony Award-Winning Stage Producer.    To find out more, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbellmiami https://www.terranorbital.com/    Learn More About Your Host:   Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM's, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.    Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

John Gedmark, CEO of Astranis – a microGEO satellite company based in San Francisco – joins the podcast to discuss the company's small satellite technology and its upcoming deployment in partnership with Peruvian mobile provider Grupo Andesat to deliver 4G broadband to millions of people in Peru.Sign up today for the Light Reading newsletter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Large and mega constellations of small satellites are being launched and planned for low earth orbit. This proliferated environment has various regulatory bodies depending on who owns the satellite and what the purpose of the mission is – civil, commercial, scientific, educational, or defense. Who has accountability? With more satellites comes higher demand for spectrum to communicate with – who gets priority? And then there's the question of debris – how do smart policies for debris mitigation, cyber security and proximity operations lessen the potential for smallsat debris? Aerospace experts Sam Sims and Barbara Braun speak to Colleen Stover about their research and upcoming paper “Navigating the Policy Compliance Roadmap for Small Satellites” in this episode!  

In this episode we speak with Bradford Space, an experienced, US-owned business with operations in New York and Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Seattle.The business develops propulsion systems, avionics, attitude and orbit control technology, microgravity workspaces, and provides logistics services for missions beyond low earth orbit. Bradford Space is also a satsearch member.Our guests are Khaki Rodway, Director of Business Development, and Patrick van Put, Managing Director of European Operations, and we discuss green propulsion in small satellites. We cover: The evolution of High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) and the benefits it can bring to small satellite missions. How HPGP is transported and handled by satellite integrators. The potential impacts of space debris and the overall Space Situational Awareness requirements in the near future. Using green propellant for emerging applications such as GEO/LEO refuelling and deep space missions. To find out more about today's guests please view the Bradford Space supplier hub on satsearch, and to stay up to date with all of our work, please join the satsearch mailing list to receive our weekly newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

In this episode we speak with Thomas Sinn of Deployables Cubed (DcubeD) - a Munich-based NewSpace company specializing in the development of deployable components and sub-systems for small satellites. We discuss: The use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components in satellites How to standardize and develop an existing product so that it can be considered a COTS system What space companies can do to industrialize processes and develop product portfolios to meet demand What capabilities and opportunities deployable systems can bring to satellite missions, and what the trade-offs can be To find out more about today's guests please view the DcubeD supplier hub on satsearch.com, and to stay up to date with all of our work, please join the satsearch mailing list to receive our weekly newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Dr. Zac Manchester, assistant professor of Robotics at CMU. explains to Tonya Hall why CubeSats hold the key to space exploration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we speak with Christoph Weis from WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH - a Germany-based manufacturer of advanced servo motor technology. We discuss: The company's experiences bringing industrial expertise from other sectors into the space industry How commissioning and pre-sales simulation can help demonstrate value Insights from WITTENSTEIN cyber motor on the space industry of today, and predictions for tomorrow What technical and product performance characteristics were most important for the business' product development For more information on today's guests please head to the WITTENSTEIN cyber motor supplier hub on the satsearch platform and to stay up to date with all of our work, please join the satsearch mailing list to receive our weekly newsletter.

Where traditionally large satellites have paved the way for some incredible innovations we use every day, such as GPS and weather forecasting, these small satellites are enabling even more of a space revolution, with their lower costs, closer proximity to earth, and fast build times. From internet connectivity anywhere on earth to 3D printing satellites, the future of satellites in space technology is an exciting place to be. In our first episode, we're exploring what the small satellite revolution means for satellite manufacturing and the data we can receive from space. With reduced cost and quicker development time, small satellites open up the space industry to a new range of organisations.Resources: The Satellite Applications Catapult Small Satellite Market Intelligence update is a quarterly report that follows the fast growing interest in small satellites with the intention to make data on the sector free and accessible. Click here to access. Visit our Projects Hub to find out more about our first two IOD launches: IOD-1 GEMS IOD-5 TARS Visit the Horizon Technologies News page to keep up-to-date on their activities Find out more about AMBER on the Horizon Technologies YouTube page. Correction: Since the time of recording we have launched our second IOD satellite – IOD-5 TARSGet in Touch:If you'd like to contact us about any episode of In-Orbit, collaboration opportunities, or to find out more about how we can help your business, please email marketing@sa.catapult.org.uk Satellite Applications Catapult: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook Horizon Technologies: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn AAC Clyde Space: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

A new company plans to launch small satellites from the belly of a drone. It joins the growing number of small launch companies popping up to send tiny payloads into space. So what's the market for these small satellites?

A new company plans to launch small satellites from the belly of a drone. It joins the growing number of small launch companies popping up to send tiny payloads into space. So what’s the market for these small satellites?

A new company plans to launch small satellites from the belly of a drone. It joins the growing number of small launch companies popping up to send tiny payloads into space. So what’s the market for these small satellites?

A new company plans to launch small satellites from the belly of a drone. It joins the growing number of small launch companies popping up to send tiny payloads into space. So what’s the market for these small satellites?

The successful launch of Iris aboard VV16 is a game-changer. Host Alexander Milas sat down with GHGSat founder Stephane Germaine, engineer Laura Bradbury, and Sir Martin Sweeting - a true pioneer in the field of constellation technology who gave us his view on what these developments mean for GHGSat and the world of climate emissions monitoring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Berlin Space Technologies and Azista Aerospace based in Germany and India respectively have entered into a joint venture to create a satellite production factory in Ahmedabad. Tom and Sunil talk about the thesis behind their partnership and the future they see for the JV.

Or Walkers Return, Splotched Christ, Small Satellites, Plane Poltergeists, Alien Chase

On this episode of On Orbit, we’re joined by Melissa Wuerl, Vice President Business Development for Spaceflight Industries, and Jason Armstrong, Director of Small Satellites for TriSept, for an episode dedicated to rideshare launch services and the impact they’ve made on opening access to space. Rideshare launching is like the carpooling of launch services. By placing very small satellites in the spaces between larger satellites on larger rockets, rideshare providers is able to provide low-cost options for satellite operators, while providing additional business to traditional launchers and increasing access to space. On Orbit special guest co-host Grace Graham and I spoke with Melissa Wuerl about Spaceflight’s historic SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission, which successfully launched more than 80 small satellites for a wide variety of operators, research organizations and universities on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in December 2018. Melissa shares stories from her team’s experience of assembling and executing on the mission, as well as a look forward to Spaceflight’s recently announced follow-up mission with New Space India.  After the break, I’m joined by Jason Armstrong, Director of Small Satellites for TriSept, for a chat about the company’s unique, one-of-a-kind rideshare mission partnership with Rocket Lab and Millennium Space Systems to test cutting-edge orbital debris removal technology, including a new space-tether that will latch on and deorbit inoperable spacecraft. We hope you enjoy our first dedicated episode/love-letter to rideshare launching!

Veronica Foreman is a payload engineer at the small-satellite launch provider Virgin Orbit. Before starting her career at Virgin Orbit, Veronica earned several academic accolades including an Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award at Georgia Tech, and a Best Masters Thesis award at MIT. What I find especially impressive about her Masters work on small-satellite constellations is that Veronica considered both the design of constellations, as well as the economic and policy challenges to small-satellite mission success. As Virgin Orbit's mission is to be the premier dedicated launch service for small satellites, Veronica has seemingly found the perfect place for her expertise and passion. One of the key features of Virgin Orbit's launch design is its air-launching system that drops the rocket (LauncherOne) from the wing of a Boeing 747 (Cosmic Girl), providing a movable launchpad. As Veronica explains in this episode, this capability provides Virgin Orbit unique advantages in terms of providing a dedicated launch service for small satellites. In this episode of the Aerospace Engineering podcast, Veronica and I discuss: Virgin Orbit's vision the unique advantages and challenges of an air-launched rocket system some of Virgin Orbit's key engineering technologies and the growing importance of satellite constellations If you enjoy the Aerospace Engineering Podcast you can support it by leaving a review on iTunes or by supporting it directly on Patreon, where patrons of the podcast receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content and special episodes. Thanks a lot for listening! This episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast is brought to you by AnalySwift. Do you work in the design and analysis of aerospace structures and materials? If so, AnalySwift’s innovative engineering software SwiftComp may be the solution you’re seeking. Used either independently for virtual testing of aerospace composites or as a plugin to power conventional FEA codes, SwiftComp delivers the accuracy of 3D FEA in seconds instead of hours. A general-purpose multi-scale modelling program, SwiftComp provides an efficient and accurate tool for modelling aerospace structures and materials featuring anisotropy and heterogeneity. SwiftComp quickly calculates the complete set of effective properties needed for use in macroscopic structural analysis. It also accurately predicts local stresses and strains in the microstructure for predicting strengths. Find out how others in composites are saving time while improving accuracy, considering more design options, and arriving at the best solution more quickly. A no-cost Academic Partner Program is now available for eligible universities. For a free trial, visit analyswift.com. SwiftComp: Right results. Right away. This episode is also sponsored by StressEbook.com, which is an online hub for you if you are interested in aerospace stress engineering. StressEbook.com provides world-class engineering services and online courses on the stress analysis of aircraft structures, as well as a free ebook and blog. No matter if you’re a junior or senior structural analyst, stressEbook.com provides you with the skills and know-how to become a champion in your workplace. Selected Links from the Episode Virgin Orbit's homepage Technical details about the LauncherOne rocket Follow Virgin Orbit on Twitter Virgin Orbit YouTube channel Veronica on payload processing 2018 Highlights LauncherOne hot fire Veronica's MIT Master thesis on second-generation LEO satellite constellations

Watch Dr. Kristina Hogstrom from JPL present her talk Small but Powerful - State of the Art in Small Satellites at the Keck Institute for Space Studies short course Exploring Once-in-a-Lifetime Targets on October 29, 2018.

On this episode I am speaking to Max Haot, who is the founder of Launcher, a rocket startup based out of Brooklyn, NY. Launcher was founded in early 2017 and is on a ten-year journey to deliver small satellites to orbit. More specifically, Launcher plans to deliver payloads of up to 300 kg into low-earth orbit cheaper than anyone else in the growing small launcher market; a market specialising on small satellites that will deliver GPS, internet services and earth imaging in the near future. The most difficult part of launching satellites into orbit is building a robust and reliable rocket engine. On top of that, the physics of the rocket equation dictate very stringent constraints on the mass of the rocket and payload. To launch a satellite into low-earth orbit, a typical liquid-oxygen/kerosene rocket is around 95% propellant on the launchpad. So any fuel savings from a more efficient rocket engine can go towards increasing the payload. Launcher has spent the last year working on their proof-of-concept engine, the E-1, and are now in the process of spending the next three years developing the 40x larger E-2 engine. Key to Launcher’s rocket engine is 3D printing and a staged combustion cycle. 3D printing allows for a reduction in parts, faster development times, and easier manufacturing of complex geometries such as integrated cooling channels, which all help to reduce costs. In a staged combustion cycle, a favourite of Soviet rocket engineers, propellant flows through two combustion chambers, a preburner and a main combustion chamber. The pressure produced by igniting a small amount of propellant in the preburner can be used to power the turbo pumps that force the remaining propellant into the main combustion chamber. The addition of the preburner leads to better fuel efficiency, but comes at the cost of greater engineering complexity. One of the things I love about Launcher is that they face this daunting engineering challenge with the utmost humility, documenting many of their failures and successes online for everyone to see. In this way, anyone can get a glimpse of what it means to build a rocket company from scratch. In this episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast you will learn: how Max got into the space industry the engineering details behind many aspects of the E-1 engine the advantages of 3D printing and stage combustion and Launcher’s current schedule for developing the full-size E-2 engine If you enjoy the Aerospace Engineering Podcast you can support it by leaving a review on iTunes or by supporting it directly on Patreon, where patrons of the podcast receive exclusive behind-the-scenes content and special episodes. Thanks a lot for listening! This episode is brought to you by AnalySwift. Do you work in the design and analysis of aerospace structures and materials? If so, AnalySwift’s innovative engineering software SwiftComp may be the solution you’re seeking. Used either independently for virtual testing of aerospace composites or as a plugin to power conventional FEA codes, SwiftComp delivers the accuracy of 3D FEA in seconds instead of hours. A general-purpose multiscale modeling program, SwiftComp provides an efficient and accurate tool for modeling aerospace structures and materials featuring anisotropy and heterogeneity. Not only does SwiftComp quickly calculate the complete set of effective properties needed for use in macroscopic structural analysis, it also accurately predicts local stresses and strains in the microstructure for predicting strengths. Find out how others in composites are saving time while improving accuracy, designing earlier in the process, and getting to market more quickly. For a free trial, visit analyswift.com. SwiftComp: Right results. Right away. This episode is also sponsored by StressEbook.com, which is an online hub for you if you are interested in aerospace stress engineering. StressEbook.

“Dear everyone,” wrote Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck during a reddit AMA in April, “I'm not building a bigger rocket any time soon.” Beck seems to get asked about expansion a lot. He and his Kiwi-US space company don't build craft whose names end in “heavy.” Their rockets don't land after launch. They're only about as tall as a five-story building and as wide as a bookshelf, and they heft just 500 pounds max into orbit.

Small satellite makers have promised to do a lot of things: change the way we communicate, change the way we see our planet, change the way we predict the weather. They're cheaper, faster to develop, and easier to update than their bigger and more sophisticated counterparts. But for all the revolution and disruption, they tend to keep their focus close, and largely cast their eyes down.

My guest this week is Michelle Mendes, the Executive Director and President of the Canadian Space Commerce Association. The Canadian Space Commerce Association is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2007 that describes itself as the national association for the space sector, representing industry, academia, professionals, young entrepreneurs and students. Michelle is also a member of the independent Space Advisory Board created by the government to provide ongoing input on Canada’s space sector. Today we’ll be talking about satellites, in particular how technology and miniaturization of components has allowed researchers and companies to build much smaller and less costly satellites for a variety of tasks including earth observation. We’re using these small satellites for farming, monitoring our climate, disaster response, ship tracking and more. Next February 13 -15 in Toronto the Association will be holding its second Canadian SmallSat Symposium. The first conference was held in February 2016 and was sold out. The Association is hoping to attract upwards of 400 people for the coming event.

A conversation with Roger Hunter, Program Manager for the Spacecraft Technology Program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.

Dr. Robert Zee is the only director the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace has known since its inception in 1998. Over the years SFL has been an innovator in the field of small satellites and without question can be regarded as one of its pioneers. Robert is my guest on this weeks podcast. What started as an idea has involved into a educational powerhouse in the small satellite field. SFL has produced engineers that have gone on to be part of startups such as Deep Space Industries. Along the way they also turned their original idea into a business. A business that is growing.  Today, SFL employs over 50 people and they have 18 satellites to their credit that have been launched to orbit that are performing well.  Currently they have 15 satellites in development and that number is increasing.  In my wide ranging interview with Robert you'll learn a little of SFL's history, their innovations, future plans and some of the challenges they face as small satellites go beyond low earth orbit.

My guest today is Jim Cantrell, CEO and founder of Vector Space Systems. Vector Space Systems may be a company that’s only a year old, but it's built on a strong heritage of individuals, hardware and they recently closed their Series A round of founding with Sequoia Capital for $21 million. They are building a family of launch vehicles and a small satellite constellation to become the Amazon Web Services in the sky. They are entering a market space where there is a shortage of small satellite launch capacity and if they can get their launch vehicles operational in the time frame they’ve set out, they have an opportunity to capture some of the small satellite launch market.

At 4 pm local time on May 25, Rocket Lab's Electron stood on the company's private launch pad on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. Perched on the edge of an eroding cliff, pointing toward the sky from the southern tip of the world, the little rocket—just 56 feet tall and 4 feet wide, meant to carry similarly small satellites—looked ready for its first trip to space.

Mike Johnson, Chief Designer at NanoRacks, joined me this week to talk about his incredibly interesting career in spaceflight, the past and future of NanoRacks, their NextSTEP proposal, and a handful of other topics. Mike Johnson | NanoRacks' Chief Technology Officer To boost commercial activity, NASA may add private airlock to ISS | Ars Technica NanoRacks To Catalyze Concepts for Deep Space Habitats NextSTEP Partners Develop Ground Prototypes to Expand our Knowledge of Deep Space Habitats T+17: NextSTEP Habitat Prototypes, and the Zombie Centaur - Main Engine Cut Off NextSTEP Pushes Forward to Ground Prototypes - Main Engine Cut Off Some More Details on NanoRacks’ Centaur Wet Workshop Concept - Main Engine Cut Off NASA Funds Plan to Turn Used Rocket Fuel Tanks Into Space Habitats - IEEE Spectrum Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

ROBOTS ON THE STATION ARE TESTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND A NEW FLOCK OF CUBESATS ALSO SHOT AWAY FROM THE STATION.

A pair of tiny eyes sees a big future for NASA’s latest Cubesats: IPEX and M-Cubed

Modern small satellites, taking advantage of the dramatic advances in commercial ‘off-the-shelf’ (COTS) technologies developed for the industrial and consumer markets, have developed capabilities that are rivalling their conventional large satellite counterparts but at considerably lower cost and shorter timescales to launch. This is changing the approach to space and enabling new business models. What is the reality of small satellite missions and how far can they go?

This presentation summarizes an internal research and development effort at The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) to create a methodology for estimating the cost of very small satellites, including picosats and CubeSats. Costing methodologies for picosatellites are of particular interest due to the fact that none of the currently available cost methodologies are applicable to this range […]

Scientists have created a tiny satellite payload that opens up a giant opportunity!

Eleventh meeting of Professor Lynn Rothschild's Astrobiology and Space Exploration course. (February 14, 2008)