Podcast Summary
Addressing the challenge of fuel in space travel: Aerospace engineer Natalia Bailey and her company, Accion Systems, are developing tiny ion drive engines for use on satellites like CubeSats, requiring minimal fuel and preventing collisions among increasing satellites, serving as a stepping stone for more efficient travel through the solar system.
Space travel involves dealing with different scales, especially when it comes to moving around once in orbit. The challenge is the weight of fuel needed for conventional propulsion. Aerospace engineer Natalia Bailey and her company, Accion Systems, are addressing this issue by developing tiny ion drive engines for use on satellites like CubeSats. These engines require minimal fuel and can help prevent collisions among the increasing number of satellites in space. Moreover, they serve as a stepping stone for more efficient travel through the solar system. The conversation between Sean and Natalia also touched on the importance of organization in space and their shared interest in broader space travel. Despite some audio quality issues, the discussion offers valuable insights into the future of space travel and exploration. For employers, the best way to find the right candidate isn't through a traditional search. Instead, they can rely on Indeed, the matching and hiring platform with over 350 million monthly visitors. With its advanced matching engine, Indeed helps employers find quality candidates quickly and efficiently. Mindscape listeners can receive a $75 sponsored job credit by visiting indeed.com/mindscape.
Growing concern over space debris from increasing satellite launches: The increasing number of satellites in orbit could lead to the Kessler Syndrome, where debris makes low Earth orbit unusable for earth-facing applications. Efforts are being made to mitigate this by encouraging temporary stays in orbit and limiting lifetimes.
The increasing number of satellites being launched into Earth's orbit, estimated to be around 1000 per year and growing, is a cause for concern due to the potential for collisions that could create thousands of new pieces of debris. This debris could lead to the Kessler Syndrome, a potential scenario where the amount of debris becomes so great that it makes low Earth orbit unusable for earth-facing applications. However, the industry is taking steps to mitigate this issue by encouraging temporary stays in orbit, with most satellites having a lifespan of only a few months to 20 years. The UN and various space agencies prefer that objects only have a 20 to 25-year lifetime in orbit. Additionally, there are special geosynchronous orbits where satellites orbit once every 24 hours, which are more expensive and used by a few large companies and space agencies, and are much further out from Earth. The environment in these orbits is changing as more satellites are being launched.
Accessible Space Industry with Smaller Satellites: The space industry is becoming more accessible and affordable with smaller satellites like CubeSats, which have reduced launch costs and are within reach of high schools, individuals, and businesses.
The space industry has become more accessible and affordable due to private investment, advancements in technology, and the increasing demand for Internet connectivity. This has led to the development of smaller satellites like CubeSats, which are standardized in size and can significantly reduce costs. A CubeSat is a 10cm x 10cm x 10cm satellite, and the launch costs for these satellites have decreased, making it possible for high schools, individuals, and businesses to participate. The number of space companies has grown exponentially in recent years, and they launch from various sites around the world. Most of these satellites serve communication or earth observation purposes, such as broadband Internet, IoT services, and imaging for national security, climate, agriculture, and asset tracking.
Exploring the World of Satellites: Science, Technology, and Education: From earth and atmospheric science to personal finance apps, satellites play a crucial role in various sectors. Students can engage in science projects, while apps aid language learning and financial management. New propulsion systems are being developed for smaller satellites, opening up endless possibilities.
There are various types of satellite missions, including earth and atmospheric science, communications, and military applications. Many high school students are engaged in science-based projects, such as taking pictures of Venus or creating their own space telescopes. For language learners, apps like Babbel can help reconnect with conversations in a new language. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps manage and cancel unwanted subscriptions, saving an average of $720 a year. Satellite companies like the one discussed don't just build satellites but also provide propulsion systems to maneuver them in orbit. Traditional ion engines used in larger satellites don't scale down for smaller ones, and new solutions are being explored. Overall, the intersection of science, technology, and education continues to offer exciting opportunities for exploration and innovation.
Ion Engines vs. Chemical Propulsion for Satellite Propulsion: Ion engines offer greater fuel efficiency for satellite propulsion, but require an onboard power source and have challenges with scaling down for smaller satellites. Despite these challenges, their fuel efficiency makes them a popular choice for the industry when time on orbit is available.
Ion engines offer more fuel efficiency compared to traditional chemical propulsion for satellite propulsion, but they require an onboard power source for electrical conversion. Ion engines work by ionizing atoms and accelerating them using an electric field, whereas chemical propulsion relies on the release of chemical energy to produce thrust. While ion engines have been used in larger spacecraft, scaling them down for smaller satellites is a challenge. Conventional ion engines use a neutral gas, such as xenon or argon, which is ionized by high-energy electrons. However, there are inefficiencies in this process, including the loss of ions to the walls of the chamber. Despite these challenges, the fuel efficiency savings make ion engines a viable option for many in the industry, especially when the required time on orbit is available.
Using Ionic Liquids in Ion Engines for Scalability: Axion overcame the challenge of scaling down ion engines by using ionic liquids as propellant, eliminating the need for a large ionization chamber and reducing engine complexity and size.
Axion, a company devoted to developing a better technology for ion engines, faced challenges in scaling down the technology due to the need for ionization and the resulting high energy electrons that often hit the chamber walls, melting materials. To overcome this issue, they explored using an ionic liquid as a propellant instead of a gas. With ionic liquids, positive and negative ions exist in a liquid state over a wide temperature range, and applying the same electric field used in ion engines can extract and accelerate ions of one polarity. This eliminates the need for a large ionization chamber and reduces the complexity and size of the engine. The main difference is that in chemical propulsion, the propellant is the same as the fuel that gets burned and expelled, while in this case, the ionic liquid is carried as a pre-ionized propellant, and a separate power source, electricity, is used to extract and accelerate the ions. This approach allows for the development of ion engines that are more efficient and scalable for use in satellites of various sizes.
Innovative micro-thrusters extend satellite life in orbit: Axion's tiny thrusters, producing micro-newtons of force, can extend satellite life and change orbit, with plans for more launches this year.
Axion's innovation in space propulsion lies in their tiny, centimeter-sized thrusters that produce micro-newtons of force. These thrusters, which consist of thruster chips, can be glued to the walls of a satellite already in orbit to extend its life and change its orbit. Axion's technology, which uses a combination of solar energy and batteries, has demonstrated a lifetime of over 1,000 hours, and each chip produces between 12.5 and 50 micro-newtons of force, equivalent to a mosquito landing. While this force may seem insignificant, it can accumulate and enable commercial missions in space where there is no gravity or atmospheric drag to compete against. The current limitation is in the power supply system, making it challenging to launch larger systems from populated areas. However, there is potential for advancements in power sources to make larger-scale launches possible. Axion's technology focuses on in-orbit propulsion and has already been launched into space multiple times, with plans for more launches this year.
Advancements in Space Industry with Challenges: Space industry advances with 3D printing and electric tech, but faces uncertain demand and high costs. Military and gov't dominate, protecting assets crucial as space becomes accessible. US considers new military branch, engine tech could improve interplanetary travel, but conventional rockets remain for planet launches.
The space industry is on the brink of significant advancements, with companies innovating through 3D printing and electric technology. However, challenges such as uncertain demand and high costs persist. The military and government continue to dominate the market, but as space becomes more accessible, protecting assets and ensuring security will be crucial. The US is considering creating a separate military branch for space, and advancements in engine technology could lead to more efficient interplanetary travel. Despite these changes, conventional rockets will likely continue to be used for launching from a planet's gravity well.
Exploring Space: Building Orbiting Stations Instead of Settling on Other Planets: Focusing on creating habitable environments in space could be a more feasible next step for humans, rather than settling on other planets due to the risks and challenges of terraforming unfamiliar environments. The pursuit of space exploration is driven by a desire to understand the origins of the universe and the formation of planets.
The future of space exploration may involve building orbiting stations rather than settling on other planets due to the risks and challenges of terraforming unfamiliar environments. The speaker suggests that focusing on creating habitable environments in space, such as around Earth or at Lagrange points, could be a more feasible next step for humans. While some may see the need to find new planets as a response to our inability to control the climate on Earth, the speaker argues that the long-term survival of humans may depend on mastering life on this planet and diversifying our habitats within it. The idea of constructing artificial habitats in space can be approached incrementally, but the challenge lies in transporting construction materials into space. Ultimately, the speaker sees the pursuit of space exploration as driven by a desire to understand the origins of the universe and the formation of planets.
Exploring asteroids for valuable resources: The potential benefits of mining asteroids for valuable materials could outweigh the costs, despite the complex economic arguments.
While there's still much to learn about space exploration and the resources it offers, the potential benefits of harnessing asteroid resources could outweigh the costs. Technologically, it's feasible to mine asteroids for valuable materials, although the economic argument is more complex. As for capturing objects in space, such as comets, it's a challenging task but not impossible. The recent discovery of Oumuamua, an interstellar object that passed through our solar system, highlights the importance of studying such phenomena. While the specifics of these missions require further study, the potential rewards could be significant.
The intriguing theory of Oumuamua being an alien probe: Oumuamua, an interstellar object, fueled theories of extraterrestrial origins due to its peculiar shape and trajectory, but skepticism remains. The Breakthrough Starshot project illustrates humanity's drive to explore the cosmos and discover potential extraterrestrial life.
The discovery of an interstellar object named Oumuamua, which passed through our solar system in 2017, has sparked intriguing theories about its possible extraterrestrial origins. Some believe that it could be a probe sent by an alien civilization, despite skepticism from many scientists. The object's peculiar shape and trajectory have fueled speculation that it could have been propelled by advanced technology. Even if this theory is not proven, many remain hopeful that studying Oumuamua could yield valuable insights into the universe and potential extraterrestrial life. Additionally, the Breakthrough Starshot project, which aims to send tiny spacecraft to Alpha Centauri using powerful lasers, illustrates the human drive to explore the cosmos and the possibility of discovering other forms of life. Despite the challenges and seemingly impossible goals, the excitement lies in the potential discoveries that could be made.
Exploring Interstellar Travel and the Probability of Extraterrestrial Life: Despite the challenges of interstellar travel and the uncertainty of extraterrestrial life, scientists continue to explore new ideas for overcoming these obstacles and expanding our understanding of the universe.
The limitations of human biology and the vastness of the universe may make it challenging for us to travel to other stars at the speed of light. However, there are potential solutions such as cryogenic preservation, extending human lifespans, or even sending the ingredients for a human being or memories instead. The speaker also believes that the probability of extraterrestrial life reaching a self-replicating stage is high, but the survival of that life to develop intelligent technology is uncertain due to potential planetary catastrophes. The Fermi Paradox, the question of why we haven't encountered extraterrestrial life yet, remains a mystery, with the speaker favoring the idea that intelligent life may be rare or difficult to achieve. Overall, the challenges of interstellar travel and the potential existence of extraterrestrial life require patience, innovation, and a willingness to explore new ideas.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence: Belief in contact with advanced civilizations, focus on electromagnetic signals and bacterial life, skepticism about energy usage, ongoing ambition to become an astronaut, preference for scientific missions, growing influence of space tourism, development of advanced ion engines, quest for knowledge and discovery in the cosmos
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence continues, with a focus on detecting electromagnetic signals and exploring evidence of bacterial life on other planets. The optimism lies in the belief that it's only a matter of time before we make contact. However, some skepticism remains regarding advanced civilizations potentially wasting energy on broadcasting signals into space. Personally, the intervietee remains intrigued by the mysteries of the universe and harbors an ongoing ambition to become an astronaut, even with the advent of private space travel. While she expresses a preference for scientific missions in space, she acknowledges the growing influence of space tourism. The development of advanced ion engines is seen as a key component in our exploration of the solar system. Overall, the quest for knowledge and discovery in the cosmos remains a driving force.