The Kármán Line

In a fight for space resources, industry and defence are winning. Is there still a bright future for space-based science? Space academic extraordinaire Prof. Kate Robson-Brown tells the full story of what it means to do science in space, and how to bridge the gap to industry: “There’s never been more opportunity for science to engage in space programmes than now.” Are nano-satellites made of wood possible? What’s the next big thing in microgravity innovation? How can the boundaries between academia and business be made as porous as possible? How can academics develop business skills? How can pathways for impact from academia to business be identified? How can academic experts present the latest evidence to the government? How will access to space change in an increasingly privatised space world? Key topics: Microgravity International Space Station Space Wooden satellites Academia Professor Kate Robson-Brown: UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact President of the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA). Previous co-chair of the Space Academic Network & Member of the Space Partnership Board. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the ultimate vision for the UK space sector? What skills do you need to succeed in space? Which international partners should the UK prioritise? How can industry help make the markets that the government has picked? In this exclusive Kármán Line Q&A, a heavyweight panel takes industry questions. No filter, no fluff, pure exchange from the industry for the industry. Contributors: Dr Alice Bunn, Co-Director, UK Space Agency Sam Adlen, Co-CEO, Space Solar Andrew Stanniland, Managing Director, MDA Space UK Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Innovation Clusters & Harwell Campus Dr Sarah Beardsley, Director, RAL Space Jonathan Davies, The Kármán Line Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A blockbuster cast of industry leaders debate the UK’s new space strategy with invited guests live at the Harwell Campus. What do they all think about the government as a procurer and facilitator of private growth capital? Why does Sam Adlen argue that the strategy lacks forward-looking economic ambition? What are the real benefits of alignment between DSIT, MOD and UKSA, as well as the explicit decision to prioritise four capability pillars – Satcoms, space domain awareness (SDA), ISAM and launch? Join Jonners and his guests as they debate how Government procurement, private capital and a “one-sector” coalition can turn strategic intent into binding contracts and global scale-ups. Contributors: Dr Alice Bunn, Co-Director, UK Space Agency Sam Adlen, Co-CEO, Space Solar Andrew Stanniland, Managing Director, MDA Space UK Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Innovation Clusters & Harwell Campus Dr Sarah Beardsley, Director, RAL Space Jonathan Davies, The Kármán Line Key topics covered: Live panel reaction to the UK Space Strategy at Harwell Campus State of the Space Nation 2026 report One Government approach vs One Sector execution Prioritising the four capability pillars Economic growth logic Rebooting execution: Contracts, anchor customers, and £7.8B committed spend UK Space and Defence Gateway launch & Investor Council Discovery science vs. short-term applied research (RAL Space / UKRI) Taking a VC portfolio approach to deep-tech risks & scaling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does winning the UK Space Agency's Active Debris Removal (UK ADR) contract position ClearSpace to capture defunct satellites? How do their multi-arm robotics and advanced machine-learning algorithms match up to the task? How does active debris removal establish a long-term national capability and commercial service layer in space? And what does a transition from R&D grants to major anchor contracts mean for hyper-scaling UK In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM)? Join Jonners as he talks with Rob Atchison, Managing Director of ClearSpace UK, about active debris capture, cross-domain defence resilience, and setting firm foundations for ISAM across Europe. Contributors: Jonathan Davies, The Karman Line Jonathan Davies | LinkedIn The Karman Line | Website Rob Atchison, Managing Director, ClearSpace UK Rob Atchison | LinkedIn ClearSpace UK | LinkedIn Key topics covered: The UK Active Debris Removal (UK ADR) mission Robotic multi-arm capture of non-cooperative, defunct satellites In-orbit inspection, station-keeping, hardware replacement, and deorbiting Transitioning from R&D grants to government anchor procurement contracts In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) Unlocking institutional private capital & venture hyper-scaling Orbital resilience for essential terrestrial infrastructure (maritime, healthcare) Cross-domain space defence (UK Space Command) & soft power Designing future satellites for modularity, servicing, and recycling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does Metalysis strip oxygen as a captured gas from metal oxides and convert the oxide into pure metal alloys? How will this help us to supply life support for lunar bases or create rocket propellant for deep-space refuelling? Once the oxygen is stripped away how can the remaining metal alloys be repurposed for 3D-printed infrastructure, landing pads or road surfaces? And how can Metalysis’ research help regolith inks to print electronic components directly in space? Join Jonners as he talks with Nitesh Shah, Director CEO, and Ian Mellor, Managing Director of Metalysis, about the extraction of lunar oxygen, high-performance engine alloys and domestic supply chain resilience. Find out how a UK company is pioneering technologies that will allow future exploration missions to “live off the land”. Contributors: Jonathan Davies, The Karman Line Jonathan Davies | LinkedIn The Karman Line | Website Nitesh Shah, Director CEO, Metalysis Nitesh Shah | LinkedIn Metalysis | LinkedIn Ian Mellor, Managing Director, Metalysis Ian Mellor | LinkedIn Metalysis | LinkedIn Key topics covered: Solid-state Cambridge FFC process & electrochemical oxide reduction In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon Extracting ~95% oxygen yield from aluminosilicate lunar regolith Regolith metal byproducts for lunar roads, landing pads, and construction AI and machine-learning-driven alloy discovery Sovereign production of C-103 (niobium-hafnium) rocket engine alloy Clean, energy-efficient domestic titanium production vs. traditional Kroll processing In-space 3D printing, conductive regolith inks, and electronics manufacturing Transitioning from R&D to commercial midstream manufacturing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.