Commercial Spaceflight Starter Kit
Resources to help you stay current and informed about Commercial Spaceflight, and the growing part tech plays in it.
Space
If you don’t have time to keep up with all of the news or to spend time analyzing the current state of NewSpace, these will help.
Main Engine Cut Off
A blog and ‘short, weekly podcast about spaceflight, exploration, policy, and strategy in the modern era and near future’, hosted by Anthony Colangelo. A great way to understand why things happen the way they do in the space industry.
SPEX Cast
A podcast created students at the Rochester Institute of Technology that ‘dives into a variety of space topics’ including the cutting edge of spacecraft engineering, potential future missions, discoveries. Its really helpful for understanding how nuance in the technical side of space commercialization drives outcomes. This along with the rapport of the hosts, and guests like ULA CEO Tory Bruno make the content both engaging and informative.
Are We There Yet
A podcast by the NPR station on the space coast focusing mostly on the complex set of technologies and organizations getting us to mars, and help us live sustainably in space.
Scott Manley’s YouTube Channel
A Software engineer at apple and devotee of the Kerbel Space Program and other space games. Scott combines entertaining gameplay with apt analysis and commentary on the factors driving the space industry.
Novi Orbis
Shameless Plug… While you’re at it, don’t forget to click the follow button by my name so that sometimes my medium posts will show up on your medium feed (their ‘follow’ mechanism is spotty) and follow me on twitter to actually see new posts from Novi Orbis.
Venture Capital/Startup
Understanding the world of venture capital and software startups. Lots of good advice on dealing with the quirks of running a growth startup.
A16z Podcast
A great view into the investor perspective on the bleeding Edge of software that’s ‘eating the world’. Produced by Andersen Horowitz’s Sonal Chokshi. Always entertaining and informative.
YC Podcast
YC is a prominent force that helped shape the the culture and environment of Silicon Valley. The podcast covers the challenges, philosophy, and counterintuitivity of starting a high-growth startup.
NewSpace Ventures Email List
A daily list of new/previously undiscovered companies in the space industry. Believe it or not, there are usually at least 5 new ones every day and often times many more. It’s a great way to find companies that might otherwise slip under your radar.
Industry Information
Published reports and documents to read if you want a deep dive into the development and current state of NewSpace.
NASA Tech Roadmaps
All of the tech NASA needs, along with why and when it needs it for the foreseeable future, serves as a great overview of everything that goes into launch, exploration, and operations systems.
The NewSpace Handbook
Created by the Secure World Foundation, this document outlines everything you need to know as a Space Startup founder, from market dynamics to regulatory nuance.
SpaceX Mars Report
Elon Musk published the SpaceX Mars Plan in a scientific journal. Services as a good accounting of what goes into a launch system, as well as the business forces that guide decision making.
Deloitte Aero and Defense Report
Understand the Aerospace industry as a whole, and how space activity current fits into it.
FAA Launcher Report
The FAA has the inside track on any and all launcher projects in the US and around the world. This report is updated yearly to reflect progress of the launch industry, and also provides an accounting of the various subsectors supporting launch.
Did I miss any?
If there is a good resource that I missed, or you discover a new one, let me know and I’ll add it to the list! (I’m guessing there are a few books that everyone should read that I’ve left out)
Disclosure: My statements and opinions are my own, and do not represent those of any organization with which I am associated.
