The Kármán Line

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.

Does sub-centimetre, non-trackable space debris pose an existential threat to satellites and orbital infrastructure? How can ultra-lightweight "black box" sensors turn a spacecraft's surface into an impact detector to diagnose anomalies? What do satellite operators need to unlock affordable, named-peril collision insurance through Lloyd's of London? And how can a "neighbourhood watch" network of sensor-equipped satellites build live space domain awareness to protect the space economy? Join Jonners as he talks with Dan Terrett, Co-Founder and COO of Odin Space, about the 130 million rogue “poppy seed bullets” flying around, punching holes in satellites and the challenge this presents to insuring a market that is moving from frontier to real economy at an incredible pace. Contributors: Jonathan Davies, The Karman Line Jonathan Davies | LinkedIn The Karman Line | Website Dan Terrett, Co-Founder & COO, Odin Space Dan Terrett | LinkedIn Odin Space | LinkedIn Key topics covered: Lethal, non-trackable sub-centimetre orbital debris Odin Space "black box" impact sensing & diagnostics Instant failure attribution vs. unexplained spacecraft anomalies Lloyd's of London & named-peril collision insurance Space Domain Awareness (SDA) & "Neighbourhood Watch" network alerts Transitioning from seed venture risk to mature institutional capital Commercial space platforms & hosted payload risk management (D-Orbit) Space sustainability & the Astra Carta Transatlantic synergy: US satellite ecosystem & UK financial/insurance markets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the true balance between human spaceflight and robotic exploration when it comes to science, inspiration, and decision-making capabilities? How is space transitioning from a niche frontier to an everyday commercial workplace? What role do regulatory frameworks, such as the United Nations, the Artemis Accords, and the Astra Carta, play in keeping orbit and the lunar surface safe and sustainable? And how can the UK Government act as an "anchor customer" to bridge the commercial "valley of death" for domestic space startups? Join Alice and Jonners in this special episode recorded in Chichester Marina with British astronaut Tim Peake as he shares insights on space adaptation syndrome, commercial space stations, lunar research bases, global space traffic management, and the future of human exploration to Mars. Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Davies, The Karman Line Jonathan Davies | LinkedIn The Karman Line | LinkedIn Tim Peake, Astronaut Tim Peake | LinkedIn Key topics covered: Human spaceflight vs. robotic exploration Space Adaptation Syndrome (nausea & gravity adjustment) Normalising space as a commercial workplace Transition from space stations to commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Artemis programme & sustainable lunar research bases Astronaut selection mindsets, psychological profiles, and stress testing International space cooperation & soft power (ISS legacy) Governance, leaseholds, and regulatory frameworks on the Moon The Astra Carta & space sustainability Human exploration of Mars Government as “anchor customers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can a malleable, plant-based bio-leather grown off-grid in Scotland transform under extreme heat into an RF-transparent, rock-like ceramic shield? What does Draconite mean for the economics of spacecraft re-entry and thermal protection systems? How does self-taught material science disrupt traditional "old space" gatekeeping and university lab paradigms? What are the dual-use applications of biomimetic thermal shields across space re-entry, defence satellite protection, and terrestrial wildfire mitigation? Join Alice and Jonners as they talk with the astonishing Alisha Fuller-Armah, CEO and founder of Draconite, about her journey from scaling a Caribbean wedding venue to inventing a self-vitrifying, plastic-free thermal protection material and proving it works by pointing a blow torch at her own hand! Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Davies, The Karman Line Jonathan Davies | LinkedIn The Karman Line | LinkedIn Alisha Fuller-Armah, CEO & Founder, Draconite Alisha Fuller-Armah | LinkedIn Key topics covered: Draconite bio-based thermal shield technology Self-vitrification and heat-soak insulation vs. traditional ablation RF transparency during re-entry communications Off-grid, low-cost cellulose fermentation & sovereign manufacturing UK Space Agency Accelerator & scaling deep tech Defence applications (anti-laser satellite shrouds) Overcoming academic gatekeeping through self-taught science PFAS-free, traceless, and non-toxic space materials Terrestrial wildfire and passive fire protection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.