Astro Ben Podcast

Explore the bold vision of Skyler Chan, founder and CEO of GRU Space, as he shares insights into creating humanity's first hotel on the moon, harnessing lunar resources, and pioneering space infrastructure. Discover how pragmatic engineering, strategic partnerships, and a focus on making space accessible are shaping the future. In this episode:  Skyler's motivation to make humanity interplanetary...

Explore the inspiring story of Alyssa Carson, a passionate space enthusiast aiming to become an astronaut and destined for Mars. From childhood curiosity to citizen science and space education, Alyssa shares her journey, insights into space missions like Artemis, and practical advice for the next generation. In this episode:  ● Alyssa shares her lifelong fascination with space and her earliest mem...

Discover how the UK is leveraging academia, government policy, and industry collaboration to grow its space ecosystem. Join John Abbott as he shares the story of Catapult's role, UK's ambitions, and practical advice for aspiring space entrepreneurs. In this episode: The purpose and impact of the UK's satellite applications catapult The significance of UK launch capabilities and recent developments...

Exploring Space Innovation with Dan Hart Join us in this episode as Dan Hart shares his incredible journey from childhood curiosity to leading transformative space ventures. Discover the lessons learned from rocket failures, the evolving industry landscape, and the future of space exploration. In this episode: Dan's early fascination with space and engineering sparked by tinkering with toys and cu...

In Episode 117 of The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben sits down with Mamta Patel Nagaraja, former Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at NASA, who recently left the agency amid its office closures in February 2025. Mamta reflects on her career leading biomedical and physical sciences for the ISS, Artemis, and commercial space missions, while sharing candid insights on NASA's cha...

This week on The Astro Ben Podcast , we dive into the world of space launches with Marino Fragnito, Avio's Chief Commercial Officer and Launch Services Director. Appointed in September 2024, Marino drives Avio's Vega C and Ariane 6 programs while navigating the competitive space market in March 2025. With a career spanning Airbus, Arianespace, and Thales Alenia Space, he shares insights on commerc...

This week on The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben sits down with Mark Sasson, co-founder and CEO of Pinpoint Search Group, as he launches Operation Voyager to tackle the space sector's talent gap in March 2025. From his roots in cybersecurity to his new frontier in space, Mark shares a compelling story of industry evolution, drawing parallels between these booming fields. We dive into proven strategies for...

In this week's episode of The Astro Ben Podcast (sponsored by SkyFi), we dive into the cosmos with the legendary Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer known for his extensive work in cataloging space objects and his invaluable contributions to the space community. Ben and Jonathan discuss his journey, the importance of space tracking, and his monumental effort to transition his private space library to...

In this episode, sponsored by Sky Fi, Ben journeyed with Kate Van Dam from her days as a Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot to her current role leading strategy at SkyFi. They explore SkyFi's mission to democratise access to geospatial data, touching on the ethical implications, privacy concerns, and the revolutionary potential of this technology. Kate shared insights on how her military backgro...

In this episode of The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben speaks with astronaut and mission assurance expert Dr. John "Danny" Olivas from Intuitive Machines HQ. The conversation centers around the IM-2 Lunar Lander mission, set to land at the Moon's south pole in early 2025. Danny shares exclusive insights into the technology on board, including NASA's PRIME-1 drill, Nokia's Lunar Surface Communications Syst...

In this episode, Ben sits down with Remco Timmermans to explore the dynamic world of space industry marketing and events. They discuss Remco's journey into space, the emotional power of rocket launches, and how space is becoming a true people's industry. The conversation covers the space industry's outlook for 2025, the curation of industry events, the debate between live and virtual events, and t...

In this episode of the Astro Ben Podcast, we chat with Emily Carney, space historian, journalist, and co-author of the new book Star Bound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program . OUT JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS (LINK BELOW) Emily shares her insights on the cultural and societal impact of America's space exploration journey and why understanding our space history is vital for the next ge...

In this episode, Ben explores the extraordinary journey of Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne, a trailblazer in the field of aerospace engineering. Camille reflects on her impactful career at NASA, where she led key human spaceflight programs and advanced groundbreaking science missions. She shares insights into her work at Arusha Space, promoting space-based solutions for global sustainability, and her...

In this weeks episode, Nicolina Elrick takes us behind the scenes of her extraordinary journey to space with Blue Origin. Nicolina is a multi-faceted leader in both philanthropy and entrepreneurship, and on this weeks episode shares what it's like to break through the Kármán line and experience the profound awe of space. We explore the pivotal moments of her flight, her reflections on seeing Earth...

This episode explores Yanni Barghouty's work with Cosmic Shielding Corporation (CSC) and their mission to create next-generation radiation shielding solutions for the space industry. Yanni shares his journey from biomedical engineering to space entrepreneurship, discusses the challenges of developing advanced materials for radiation protection, and provides insights into the future of space safety...

Episode 106 covers Giuseppe Reibaldi's work with the Moon Village Association, a pioneering non-governmental organisation that unites both spacefaring and non-spacefaring nations to collaborate on lunar exploration. Ben and Giuseppe discuss how MVA partners with industry, academia, and the public to create a shared vision for humanity's future on the Moon. The MVA's unique platform fosters coopera...

In episode 105,   Ben welcomes Adriano V. Autino, the visionary behind Space Renaissance International, an organisation dedicated to advancing civilian space development and the space economy. Adriano shares his insights on how humanity can expand beyond Earth, the importance of developing low-cost access to space, and the role of space in the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals and why "Space" s...

In this episode, Ben sits down with John Conafay, a US Air Force Veteran and the CEO & Co-Founder of Integrate, a company that's revolutionising space mission management through cutting-edge software solutions. With a wealth of experience from his time at Spire, Astranis, SpaceFlight, and ABL Space Systems, John shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of the new space economy. They d...

In this episode, Ben sits down (again) with Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of the upcoming book  'Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age' They discuss the Polaris Dawn mission, the state of the space industry, NASA's Crew-9 launch delay, and the latest breaking stories in the space industry. Eric shares his thoughts on Elo...

In episode 102, chats to Roman Chiporukha, founder of SpaceVIP and co-founder of the luxury lifestyle management firm Roman & Erica. They dive deep into the burgeoning world of private space exploration, discussing the fascinating journey of introducing the final passenger to Axiom's Ax-1 mission—a $50 million ticket to the first all-private space mission to the International Space Station. Roman...

In episode 101, Ben chats to   Kirsten Whittingham, President of Max Space. Kirsten shares insights into her diverse and impressive career in the aerospace industry, from generating significant revenue at Axiom Space to overseeing the development of innovative expandable habitats at Max Space. The conversation delves into the unique technology behind Max Space's scalable habitats, the challenges a...

In this milestone episode, we had the honour of speaking with Nicole Stott, a retired NASA astronaut, artist, and author. Nicole shared her inspiring journey, including her space missions on ISS Expedition 20 and 21, and STS-128 and STS-133. We explored her unique experiences, such as participating in the first live tweet-up from space and painting with watercolour in microgravity. Nicole also dis...

In episode 99, we had the privilege of hearing the remarkable journey of Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University and aspiring astronaut. From being a finalist for NASA's Astronaut Candidate program to winning a ticket to space through a raffle with MoonDAO, Dr. Jahangir's story is a testament to the power of persistence and the limitless possibilities of space exploration....

In Episode 98, Ben speaks with Andrew Parris, a space industry veteran who worked at NASA for over a decade. Andrew shares captivating stories from his time with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions, including his travels to Moscow and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. He also discusses his transition into commercial spaceflight and space communication, highlighting his work with inno...