EPISODE SUMMARY
This week’s Pathfinder features Livingston Holder, cofounder and CTO of Radian Aerospace. The Seattle-based startup is developing a fully reusable space plane designed for horizontal launch and landing.
EPISODE NOTES
The first single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) space plane? That’s exactly what we’re discussing on this week’s Pathfinder podcast. We interview Livingston Holder, cofounder and CTO of Radian Aerospace, which is developing a fully reusable space plane designed for horizontal launch and landing.
SSTO? Essentially, SSTO vehicles are designed to reach orbit using a single stage without discarding any hardware.
We explore Livingston’s background as a former USAF astronaut as well as the Seattle-based startup’s roadmap to build the world’s first SSTO space transport vehicle. In addition, we cover:
- Radian’s technology advantage
- Cultural and operational shifts in space missions
- Market positioning of SSTO
- Future applications and impact on space ops
And much more…
This episode is brought to you by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
• Chapters •
00:00 Intro & ITA Ad
02:12 Why space?
04:45 The astronaut program
06:06 Culture of NASA vs AF astronauts
07:29 Life after the program
09:24 Livingston’s path to Radian
12:39 What is Radian building?
16:05 Unique take off
18:17 Who designed the sled?
19:36 Single-Stage-to-Orbit
23:26 Nozzle extensions
25:10 Why now?
29:12 How Livingston met his cofounder
33:19 Where is Radian today?
38:19 First flight test projection
39:23 Capabilities and market positioning
43:19 Hypersonic travel
47:32 Government and commercial traction
49:41 Direct competitors
52:15 How expensive is it to build Radian’s spaceplanes?
54:43 What does Livingston do for fun?
• Show notes •
Radian’s website — https://www.radianaerospace.com/
Radian’s socials — https://twitter.com/RadianSpace
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