#137 | Self-Assembling Space Habitats | Ariel Ekblaw, Aurelia Institute & Foundry

Space Business Podcast

Ariel Ekblaw is an MIT aero-astro engineer who founded the MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, and developed a new technique to build large-scale space structures. She now runs the Aurelia Institute, a non-for-profit dedicated to building humanity’s future in space and the Aurelia Foundry, a space-focused VC fund. We talk about all of these things in this episode. Enjoy!

🕰️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:47 - Ariel’s Background

06:07 - Self-Assembling Space Structures

10:44 - Applications of Space Real Estate

22:45 - Balancing Form and Function

25:13 - Vision for Aurelia Foundry

26:54 - Promising Sectors for Investment

33:12 - Unexplored Space Manufacturing Use-cases

35:40 - Future of Space Urbanism

38:34 - Challenges and Concerns in Space

41:29 - Recurrent Thoughts on Space

43:29 - Sci-Fi Favorites

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/
🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast

🔗 Follow Raphael:

🔷LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelrottgen/

🌐Instagram - https://.instagram.com/raphael_space/

◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC

To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy:

1. "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy
   This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities.
   📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO
2. edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC
   This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments.
   🎓 https://www.edx.org/course/new-space-
3. Space Business Newsletter
   📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/