Eye of the Dragon

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with Brian Berzin, Co-Founder & CEO of Thea Energy, to discuss stellarator fusion. Thea Energy is developing a planar-coil stellarator architecture spun out of Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. The company is focused on making fusion practical for utility-scale power generation by shifting stellarator complexity from precision hardware into software-controlled m...

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with Ben Bloom, Founder & CEO of Atom Computing, to discuss neutral atom quantum computing. Atom Computing is developing large-scale quantum computers based on neutral atom architectures. The discussion covers quantum computing fundamentals, Atom’s roadmap, energy efficiency, supply chain considerations, and the role of quantum systems in future compute infr...

Advisor at Balerion Space Ventures Doug McAdams sits down with Moshiel Biton, Co-founder & CEO of Addionics, to discuss advanced battery current collectors. Addionics is developing a 3D porous current collector platform designed to improve lithium-ion battery performance through architecture rather than chemistry changes. The conversation covers battery fundamentals, manufacturing scalability, and...

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with Richard Dinan, Founder & CEO of Pulsar Fusion, to discuss fusion propulsion. Pulsar Fusion develops high-power electric propulsion systems and is advancing its Sunbird fusion propulsion architecture for space transport. The discussion covers Hall effect thrusters, plasma testing, fusion exhaust architecture, and why fusion propulsion may be nearer-term...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Josh Giegel, Founder & CEO of Gambit AI, to discuss autonomous robot orchestration. Gambit AI is developing adaptive intelligence software that enables one operator to coordinate teams of unmanned systems across aerial, ground, maritime, and future space domains. The company is focused on reducing operator burden as robotic platforms prolifer...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Lee Rosen, Founder, President & CEO of ThinkOrbital, to discuss in-space infrastructure. ThinkOrbital is developing technologies for building large structures in space, including autonomous in-space welding and modular orbital platforms. The company is also applying its space-to-space X-ray imaging work to space domain awareness and terrestri...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Ben Haldeman, Founder & CEO of LifeShip, to discuss DNA archives on the Moon. LifeShip is building space-based archives that preserve human DNA, species DNA, art, knowledge records, and cultural artifacts. The company’s early missions use lunar and deep-space payloads as long-duration monuments and biological archives for humanity. Timestampe...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Nat Hamet, Founder & CEO of Quindar, to discuss satellite mission management. Quindar is building cloud-based software for satellite operations, mission management, and ground-segment coordination. The company helps operators manage hybrid satellite fleets, automate workflows, and improve reliability as space infrastructure becomes more proli...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Charles Black, Founder & CEO of Sen, to discuss live video from space. Sen is developing hosted camera systems that provide real-time video views of Earth from orbit. The company is building a consumer media platform around live space imagery, with plans for more cameras, higher-resolution views, and future lunar and deep-space coverage. Time...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Scott Graybeal, CEO of Caelux, to discuss perovskite solar technology. Caelux is developing power-generating glass that adds a perovskite layer to conventional silicon solar modules. The conversation covers solar manufacturing, space power, radiation resistance, and the role of perovskites in the next generation of photovoltaics. Timestamped...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Karthik Gollapudi, Founder of Sift, to discuss hardware observability. Sift builds data infrastructure and observability tools for complex machines, helping teams unify sensor data, logs, video, and test outputs. The company supports faster testing, root-cause analysis, and validation across aerospace, defense, robotics, maritime, automotive,...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Jake Schneider, Founder and President of Atlas Analytics, to discuss satellite-based GDP forecasting. Atlas Analytics uses satellite imagery, remote sensing, and machine learning to forecast GDP ahead of official government releases. The company aims to give investors, governments, and businesses earlier visibility into economic activity. Tim...

Balerion Principal Emerson Garnett sits down with Ioana Cozmuța, Founder & CEO of G-Space, to discuss microgravity research and manufacturing. G-Space is building a data, physics, and AI platform to help companies design, analyze, and optimize microgravity experiments. The company focuses on reducing trial and error so space-based materials, biotech, and manufacturing efforts can become repeatable...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Francho Garcia, Co-Founder & CEO of Arkadia Space, to discuss green chemical propulsion. Arkadia Space is developing hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion systems for satellites, launchers, capsules, and space vehicles above 100 kilograms. The company is focused on replacing toxic legacy propellants with affordable, flight-proven chemical propul...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Jacob Portukalian, Co-Founder & CEO of Cascade Space, to discuss deep space communications. Cascade Space is building a commercial alternative to NASA’s Deep Space Network using arrays of smaller parabolic dishes. The company aims to expand communications capacity for lunar, Lagrange point, asteroid, and Mars missions. Timestamped Overview 00...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Advisor Doug McAdams to discuss the nuclear fission renaissance and space nuclear power. The conversation covers naval nuclear propulsion, small modular reactors, advanced fuels, nuclear supply chains, and the role of fission in space power and propulsion. Doug also discusses where nuclear may matter most for defense, lunar infrastructure, Ma...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Matt Loszak, Founder & CEO of Aalo Atomics, to discuss nuclear power for AI data centers. Aalo is developing mass-manufactured nuclear power plants designed around the energy demands of AI data centers. The conversation covers reactor manufacturing, fuel supply, regulatory pathways, deployment models, and the broader role of nuclear power in...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Alex Hilger, Founder & CEO of Space Grid AI, to discuss optimizing shipyard operations with digital twins. Space Grid AI develops software that models space, equipment, and scheduling in heavy industry to improve resource allocation. The platform addresses inefficiencies in shipbuilding and maintenance by digitizing workflows that are current...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Harrison Box, Founder & CEO of Paladin Space, to discuss orbital debris removal. Paladin Space is developing a reusable, multi-capture system for removing fragments of space debris from orbit. The discussion covers debris risk, Kessler syndrome, defense applications, in-orbit recycling, and the company’s planned milestones. Timestamped Overvi...

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with Yanni Barghouty, Founder & CEO of Cosmic Shielding Corporation, to discuss radiation shielding. Cosmic Shielding Corporation is developing Plasteel, a radiation-shielding material and integration platform for space electronics, spacecraft systems, and future human spaceflight applications. The company is addressing radiation as a limiting factor for mod...

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with Mari Anne Snow, CEO of Eascra Biotech, to discuss Janus-based nanomaterials (JBNs) as a novel form of drug delivery, and in-space biomanufacturing. Eascra is developing Janus-based nanoparticles for targeted therapeutic delivery, with early applications in osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and solid tumors. The conversation examines how the platform works...

Balerion Analyst Barbara Savage sits down with Gary Orosy, Marketing Professor at SMU Cox School of Business, to discuss AI in business, defense, and space. Gary explains how AI has evolved from an analytical tool into a broad platform for research, workflow automation, and new product development across both academia and industry. He also discusses how AI is reshaping enterprise operations, defen...

Balerion Advisor Doug McAdams sits down with W. David Woods, Apollo historian, author, and researcher, to discuss how Apollo flew to the Moon. Woods explains the orbital mechanics, spacecraft architecture, navigation systems, landing procedures, and mission constraints that made Apollo possible. He also discusses how Apollo’s technical achievements shaped computing, communications, and planetary s...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Jon Quick, CEO of Launchpad, to discuss AI-driven manufacturing automation. Launchpad is developing software and modular robotics to reduce the cost and complexity of factory automation, particularly for small and mid-sized manufacturers. The discussion covers labor shortages, adaptable robotics, and the role of automation in rebuilding indus...

Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Stef Crum, Founder & CEO of Reditus Space, to discuss reusable reentry vehicles. Reditus Space is developing reusable satellites that enable microgravity manufacturing and return payloads to Earth for refurbishment and reuse. The company is focused on reducing the cost of orbital logistics to unlock new commercial applications in space. Times...