The risk radiation poses for space travel has captivated Richard Nederlander for his entire career. Now he’s working on software to help categorize the threat.
The 28-year-old has studied this issue since his days at Vanderbilt University pursuing a master’s in engineering. His technical understanding of the problem has matured through his PhD thesis, his work at Blue Origin, and now as a senior space environments engineer at Aegis Aerospace.
Threat assessment: In his current role, Nederlander is building a software tool that will allow systems engineers to evaluate the holistic radiation risks of their spacecraft. The system will provide a mission assurance process for NASA’s Gateway Deep Space Logistics project, which aims to build a commercial supply chain for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
By simplifying how to assess a craft’s radiation protection, Nederlander is trying to make deep space travel more accessible to commercial companies, which are often constrained by the high costs of traditional radiation-hardened technologies. The software will allow companies to more easily utilize COTS components, which drives down the cost of space travel without raising the risk profile of missions.
Inclusivity: Outside of his day job, he’s also actively working to make the space industry more supportive of diversity. He’s a member of a newly-founded group at the Kennedy Space Center, which supports and raises awareness for neurodivergent employees.
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French connectivity-from-space startup Constellation Technologies has received €9.3M ($10.1M) in seed funding to build and launch the first two satellites of its planned internet-beaming constellation in VLEO.
The pitch: Unlike SpaceX’s Starlink, which delivers internet connectivity directly to user terminals on Earth, Constellation Technologies’ satellites will serve telecommunications companies in remote and under-connected areas, who would then distribute connectivity to end users using their existing cellular and fiber infrastructure.
The company says their aim is to empower terrestrial telecommunication providers rather than compete with them.
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