The Kármán Line

Orbital Data Centres: Why reality might not match the hype

What are orbital data centres (ODCs) and how do they differ from orbital edge computing? How do they solve the bottleneck of transmitting massive volumes of data from space to Earth? How believable is the central premise of the SpaceX IPO, that because space offers unlimited real estate, solar energy and natural radiative cooling it is therefore the future of Earth’s AI computing needs? Why are some experts sceptical and is there a danger that while AI demand is real, the infrastructure market could be a bubble waiting to happen? And why is developing sovereign ODC capabilities so “critical”? Join Alice and Jason Aspiotis, CEO and co-founder for a European space startup, as they talk about the “net present value” and future potential of ODCs, the lack of a “conviction to pursue something big” in Europe, and the terrifying or intriguing prospect of neuromorphic computing chips that mimic the low-power, high efficiency processing of the human brain. For more explanation, insight and expert opinions about the big issues shaping the future of space in the UK and beyond, register now for The Karman Line. https://www.thekarmanline.co.uk/ Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alice-bunn-obe-fimeche-fraes-ceng-3b5141/] UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukspace/] Jason Aspiotis, CEO and co-founder for a European space startup Jason Aspiotis | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-aspiotis/] Key topics covered: * Orbital edge computing * Orbital data centres (ODCs) * Data bottlenecks * ODCs as infrastructure * UK and European sovereign capability * ISAM (in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing) * Neuromorphic computing ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lord Heseltine: "You’re just playing in toy town”

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Why, the idea that Britain could compete alone with the technologies that were accumulated and available to the American capitalist system was “simply laughable”. Why “being European is not selling out British interests”. And why Margaret Thatcher told him: “If you want to get on and put your budget into this, you can, but you're not getting any of mine."  Join Alice and Lord Heseltine as they pick apart the negotiating contrivances and the wheeling and dealing to circumnavigate “turkeys not voting for Christmas” that ultimately put European space on the map. Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alice-bunn-obe-fimeche-fraes-ceng-3b5141/] UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukspace/]   Lord Heseltine, Member of the House of Lords Key topics covered: * Creation of the European Space Agency (ESA) * US "Star Wars" program and brain drain * Geopolitical case for European R&D collaboration * Impact of Brexit on science and technology ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Space sustainability: Turning orbital debris into a national niche

The idea of 14,000 satellites in low earth orbit sounds pretty scary but in context there’s over a million cars on the road in the UK alone and low earth orbit is a really big 3D space. So, should people be worried about space sustainability? Shouldn’t they just relax and remember there’s loads and loads of space out there?   Or should they still be scared? What happens when satellites do cross paths? If they’re all part of the SpaceX Starlink constellation they’ll talk to each other instantaneously and get out of the way. But what if the contact is with a satellite from another country? Is it fair to say they’re on the equivalent of email or telephone? And what if they do collide? Will it be like the experiment in 2007 when the Chinese fired a missile at a defunct weather satellite? On the one hand, “great shot lads, you’ve hit something moving at 4km per second” but on the other, “you’ve probably caused a millennia worth of debris problems”. If it’s within our capabilities to move bikes and cars and trains and planes around the world in an ordered fashion, shouldn’t it be well within human capabilities to extend the use of space?  Is there a role for the UK in being “the AA” of space and is the UK-New Zealand debris removal agreement a useful step down this road?  Join Alice and Jonners as they talk to Phil Buckley, partner at the Public Service Consultants and a specialist in space sustainability, about the perils and pitfalls of satellite traffic jams and an opportunity that the UK “could be absolutely brilliant at”. Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alice-bunn-obe-fimeche-fraes-ceng-3b5141/] UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukspace/]   Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-davies-174673170/] Phil Buckley, Partner at the PSC Phil Buckley | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-b-48b3ba4/] Key topics covered: * Space sustainability * The Kessler effect * Space debris * Starlink * UK-New Zealand agreement * Space traffic * The Fengyun weather satellite * Refuelling * Servicing ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Space comms: why rockets really aren’t the story

Why do people in the space sector think they have a comms problem and yet the public at large think space is sexy? Should we stop evangelising about the technology that gets stuff into space rather than the core marketing message? After all, KFC is about the chicken not the trucks that deliver it. What are the leadership opportunities in the UK from launch in Scotland and what is the “environmental conscience” behind that endeavour? And how did we end up with kids in St Austell working on global lunar space missions on the back of a famous “failure”? Join Alice, Jess Ratty from Halo Global and John Harrington UK editor of PR Week, as they confront the introspection of space and figure out better ways of confounding British understatement and amazing a world of would-be investors. Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alice-bunn-obe-fimeche-fraes-ceng-3b5141/] UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukspace/]   Jess Ratty, Founder and Leader, Halo Global Jess Ratty | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaratty/] John Harrington, UK Editor, PR Week John Harrington | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-harrington-a76a6b41/] PR Week UK [https://www.prweek.co.uk/] Key topics covered: * Communications * Marketing * Leadership opportunities * Saxa Vord launch * Environment * Spaceport Cornwall * Virgin Orbit’s “Start me Up” mission ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Space law: are existing legal frameworks fit for purpose?

With a mind boggling 1.8 million satellites filed for launch before 2030 how are we going to manage the congested and contested realm of space? We know about warfare in space but how about lawfare in space? Who actually owns the moon? More pointedly, who owns the resources of the moon?  How useful are the UK’s regulatory frameworks and how do you dispose of a fridge in low earth orbit? Join Alice, Jonners and international lawyer Joanne Wheeler, “the single powerhouse behind many of the space business successes”, as they mull on the legal challenges of an exponentially growing race for space. Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alice-bunn-obe-fimeche-fraes-ceng-3b5141/] UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ukspace/]   Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-davies-174673170/] Joanne Wheeler, Managing Partner, Alden Legal Joanne Wheeler | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-wheeler-mbe-467a8514/] Key topics covered: * International law * Regulatory frameworks * Moon mining * Moonrise project * Space congestion * Dual use ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.