SPACE IN 60

Podcast: SPACE IN 60 Episode: CARLOS ENTRENA | Plus Ultra Space Outposts and the Lunar Economy Welcome to the SPACE IN 60 podcast, where hosts Clint Graumann and Andrew Pylypchuk bring you into the world of the NewSpace industry! Today, Clint and Andrew (missing birthday boy Chad today) kick off the episode with space news. It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for space developments; on the day of recording, in fact, Captain James Kirk himself (or, if you prefer, William Shatner) went to space! At ninety years old, he’s the oldest person to make the journey. Some space tourism is actually becoming routine, and we’re seeing significant progress in areas of both exploration and infrastructure building. The guest for today’s episode has a lot to say about this concept of infrastructure. His name is Carlos Entrena, and he is the CEO of Plus Ultra Space Outposts, a company looking to build lunar infrastructure. As the conversation gets underway, Carlos explains his background in space. He began his career in particle physics, and transitioned over time to where he is now - working on lunar outposts. Carlos wants to be an important player in the development of the space economy, and he believes that the moon is the first step. Then, perhaps the focus will shift to Mars and even asteroids. But as things stand now, with the moon squarely in view, there are still significant challenges to be addressed. The most ambitious part of his work, Carlos says, is the challenge is achieving financial sustainability without reliance on government handouts. In addition to this, Carlos and his team are working on lunar communication infrastructure, focusing on full and continuous coverage as well as a more accurate navigation system. Science and exploration are, of course, a huge part of Carlos’s work; at the same time, though, profit and revenue are important. In the short term, the path to profit is to work on the cost side of things and develop a strong value proposition. In the long term, Carlos says, we need people living on the moon! With a sustainable lunar economy, there can be more extensive infrastructure growth and expansion beyond the moon. For the immediate future, Carlos paints a picture of increasing lunar tourism, company navigation of difficulties posed by European governments (Plus Ultra is based in Spain), and efforts to be ambassadors for the downstream productivity of space technology for life on earth. Carlos leaves listeners with what he hopes to see soon: a collaborative and commercially oriented environment within the space industry. The episode ends with Clint’s and Andrew’s final thoughts, and with Andrew dreaming of the day when he can sign his daughter’s permission slip to visit the moon. But while he waits, you can still like, share with your friends, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Links: Connect with Carlos Entrena and connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter. Learn more about Plus Ultra Space Outposts. Connect with Clint Graumann on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Andrew Pylypchuk on LinkedIn and Twitter. Learn more about SPACE IN 60 and connect on Twitter.