EPISODE SUMMARY
This week, we’re going live from Austin, TX, at Payload’s inaugural event, “The Ultimate High Ground: The Role of Space in National Security,” held during SXSW. Our episode features a fireside chat with Dan Goldin, the longest-serving NASA Administrator, from April 1992 to November 2001.
EPISODE NOTES
This week, we’re going live from Austin, TX, at Payload’s inaugural event, “The Ultimate High Ground: The Role of Space in National Security,” held during SXSW. Our episode features a fireside chat with Dan Goldin, the longest-serving NASA Administrator, from April 1992 to November 2001. Dan is known for leading NASA’s resurgence during one of its most challenging periods following the Cold War. His tenure was characterized by the philosophy of “faster, better, cheaper,” which established the foundation for the modern space industry.
We spend a considerable amount of time discussing Dan’s contributions outside NASA, including his tenure at TRW and his efforts at Cerberus, a leading private equity firm that is now heavily involved in aerospace and defense. Additionally, we explore:
- The next Sputnik moment
- Technology transfer between NASA and the DoD
- The challenges of the space industry today
- The opportunity in the space national security market
And much more…
• Chapters •
00:00 – Introduction
01:44 – Military and intelligence programs at TRW
03:49 – Potential unforeseen gaps in technology
06:35 – 1958 Space Act
10:17 – Life at Cerberus
14:12 – Common missteps from startups today
17:35 – Do startups understand physics?
19:29 – Overcrowding in parts of the market
21:18 – Where the opportunity is today
26:12 – National security…more than just weapons
28:54 – Directed energy
33:33 – What question is not being asked more often
35:19 – Cislunar space
38:24 – When will we land on the Moon?
38:50 – Are we underestimating or overestimating China’s capabilities?
39:21 – When will we land on Mars?
• Show notes •
Dan’s’ socials — https://twitter.com/dansgoldin
Mo’s socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislam
Payload’s socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspace
Pathfinder archive — Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@payloadspace Pathfinder archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/episodes