SpaceBase Podcast

An interview with Jennifer Blackburne, a mechanical engineer on the propulsion team at Dawn Aerospace working on rocket propulsion and engine testing.  She has a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of South Dakota in the US, followed by joint degrees in turbomachinery and aeromechanics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki...

An interview with  Prof Guglielmo Aglietti or known mostly as Prof G. who heads the Auckland Space Institute – Tepunaha Atea at the University of Auckland.  Prof G was the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Space Engineering, and the Center Director for Surrey Space Center in the UK. He worked on a range of topics from space missions design and delivery, to hardware development,  downs...

An interview with Priyanka Dhopade, Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of Auckland. Priyanka's research expertise is in aerospace thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.  Previously she held a senior research position at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute based at University of Oxford. where she developed computational models for cooling systems in modern jet engine...

An interview with Jamal Olatunji.  Jamal is a Research Engineer at the Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington.  He has degrees in Chemical Engineering, chemistry and nanotechnology from Massey University. He is developing mathematical models of superconducting magnets and machines, and researching applications of high-temperature superconductivity to develop plasma rocket...

An interview with Mark Rocket, founder and CEO of KEA Aerospace, developing a solar-powered, unmanned aircraft that will fly continuously in the stratosphere for months at a time to collect frequent high-resolution aerial images. Mark was also a co-founder of Rocket Lab, and the President of Aerospace Christchurch, a group of individuals and organisations that want to grow the economic wealth and...

An interview with Jessica Tucker. Jessica  is a senior associate in systems engineering at Beca Applied Technologies, a consulting company focused on high-assurance systems and software engineering in defence and aerospace. Jessica has BS and MS degrees in Physics and has almost twenty years experience in aerospace. Prior to arriving in New Zealand she spent a long career working on compliance and...

An interview  with Fia Jones. Fia is CEO of Astrix Astronautics . Astrix is a satellite startup that aims at inventing an alternate power generation system, which produces more power without compromising functionality of a satellite.  In 2019, her team won the New Venture Category Prize at the  Velocity’s $100K Challenge .  Fia is pursuing a Physics degree at the University of Auckland when she fo...

An interview with Thomas Gardner,  Director of Engineering for Advanced Space, a space company supporting the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space. Prior to joining Advanced Space, he had experience as the Chief Engineer/Principal Mission Systems Engineer at Moon Express, as a Senior Principal Space Systems Engineer with the Raytheon Missile Systems  NASA/Space Application...

An interview with  Rafael Kargren.  Rafael has extensive background and career in the space industry spanning from ground communication systems to earth observation applications. He has been working closely on many space related projects with space agencies around the world including NASA, ESA, JAXA ISRO, Australian Space Agency, and a number of commercial companies such as SpaceX, RocketLab, Plan...

An interview with Kate Breach, an aerospace technical specialist at the New Zealand Space Agency.  Kate is an aeronautical engineer who has worked on military fighter jets and helicopters in New Zealand and the UK, led a team of UN military armistice inspectors in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, represented New Zealand  at international space meetings including the United Nat...

An interview with Nicholas Borroz, founder of space sector-focused consultancy Rotoiti and Filling Space, a social enterprise that democratices engagement with space.  Nicholas is completing his doctoral studies in international business at the University of Auckland. Before moving to New Zealand, he worked as a business intelligence consultant in Washington, DC, and before that as a Peace Corps V...

An interview with Dr. Craig Rodger, professor of space physics at the Department of Physics at University of Otago.  Craig has a BSc(Hons) in Physics, and a PhD degree in Space Physics.  His areas of research are in space weather, atmospheric electricity, and most recently carbon emissions in transport. He has won numerous awards including the University of Otago Excellence in Teaching Award, Full...

An interview with Miranda Satterthwaite, Antarctic Academy Director at the International Antarctic Centre.  Miranda has multiple degrees in Physical and Biological Sciences, Psychology and Political Science,  and Masters degrees in Business Administration and Education. In the past she has worked for the Centre for Earth Space Science Technology (Xerra), Lincoln University, and ARA Institute of Te...

An interview with Robin McNeil,  Engineering and Ground segment Manager at Great South where he oversees the space programmes.  Robin is called the "Dish Master" at the Awarua Ground Stations located in Invercargill.  In the past he has worked for Thermo Cell and the International Telecommunications Union. Robin has an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Univ...

An interview with Sarah Blyde,  Manufacturing Data Administrator at Rocket Lab.  Sarah has a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland, and a Masters of Space Studies from the International Space University.  She volunteers for Rocket Women, an international organization working to inspire the next generation of young women to pursue careers in STEM. In addit...

An interview with  Gary Freedman , founder and CEO of ElectricAir, a clean aviation company bringing electric flight to New Zealand. He’s worked for green energy companies in the UK.  like Ecotricity, the very first green energy company in the world, and with Meridian in New Zealand who only generate from renewable energy sources. His Pipistrel Alpha Electro is the first electric plane in NZ. In t...

An interview with  Chelsea Robinson ,  a serial impact founder with a background in complex problem solving. She cofounded Generation Zero , a movement of young kiwis aiming to build cross party political support for net zero emissions by 2050.  She is an Edmund Hillary Fellow from New Zealand currently based in San Francisco. Chelsea is the COO of Open Lunar , an organization seeking to catalyse...

An interview with  Max Arshavsky , CEO and Co-Founder of Zenno Astronautics, a satellite propulsion and software company based in Auckland with an aim to make space exploration commercially compelling and sustainable.  Max has degrees in Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Auckland.  He studied Mathematics and Physics at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute in...

An interview with  Dr. Allan Scott,  Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury, College of Engineering.  Allan has  a masters of Science in Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy from Cape Town.  HIs primary research is related to understanding the influence of material properties and environmental conditions on the durability of reinforced concrete structures, and the development of dur...

An interview with Mahima Seth, currently a science student at the University of Auckland, majoring in physics and geophysics. Mahima served as an Avionics Technician in the Royal New Zealand Airforce and for Rocket Lab.  She led the winning team of the 2018 Act In Space Hackathon, presenting the team's idea for "Autonomous Robotics system for in orbit repairs" at the International S...

An interview with Julia Rothman,  a kiwi with two decades of experience designing and launching space systems for the US Government. She worked as the Missile Defence Agency’s first Space Flight Test Engineer. She helped fund the development of new weather models and an Antarctic receiver site doubling the advance warning time for Category 5 hurricanes after Hurricane Katrina. Julia has spent the...

An interview with James Parr, Founder and CEO of Trillium Technologies – specializing in the application of merging technologies to grand challenges.  He is the Director of NASA’s Frontier Development Lab , an AI research accelerator based in Silicon Valley and FDL Europe in partnership with ESA.  He also co founded Open Space Agency – dedicated to the democratisation of space exploration through...

An interview with Philipp Sueltrop ,the Chief Technology officer for Kea Aerospace- a company working on a range of aerospace projects including a design of a high altitude pseudo satellite in partnership with the University of Canterbury.  Philipp has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a Masters in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and a Ph. D. on Rocket flight mechanics and con...

An interview with Jim Hefkey, the director of the Auckland Programme for Space Systems – an undergraduate program that challenges students to solve problems using satellites. He currently holds the position of Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland and has been part of a team working with University and Government to establish the Space Systems Institute for NZ. He also lecture...

An interview with Dr. Sian Proctor, CEO of Flight Ready systems.  Sian is a geoscientist, STEM communicator, and analog astronaut, who gets to travel and participate in unique learning experiences around the world. She was a PolarTREC teacher in Alaska, an astronomy educator ambassador to Chile, and a NOAA Teacher at Sea in Alaska. She has participated in the HI-SEAS program,  a NASA funded analog...