Exponential Wisdom

Episode 90: A New Era of Human Spaceflight

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Peter and Dan discuss the recent launch and recovery of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which carried humans in a commercially built spacecraft to and from the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley splashed down on August 2, 2020 making it the first water landing since 1975.

In this episode:

  • Peter gives a quick history of the U.S. and Soviet Union space race, spanning the launch of Sputnik in 1957 to the recent 2020 launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
  • Peter breaks down the cost of a rocket launch and explains how SpaceX brought this cost down 10X by making the rockets reusable. 
  • Dan and Peter discuss why the next 10-20 years will be the era in human history wherein humans move irreversibly off planet Earth and into space.

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Episode 75: Private Space Exploration

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Peter and Dan launch into a comprehensive update on space exploration. As governments and corporations alike pursue reusable spacecraft, extra-planetary manufacturing tools and cheaper launch systems, this discussion focuses on the remarkable initiatives of private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, now eclipsing government capabilities in speed and scale.

In this episode:

  • Peter examines the primary reasons for which today’s space companies focus on reusable launch systems and landing large payloads on the Moon.
  • Dan and Peter discuss how the human body reacts to long-term, zero-gravity environments, as well as the precautions needed when living on the Moon or in extra-planetary colonies.
  • Peter describes three convergences that, while yet to materialize, will open trillion-dollar assets in space over the next few decades.

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Episode 50: Going to Mars

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Peter and Dan discuss recent events in the space industry, including the successful rocket launches of SpaceX, going to Mars and Peter’s vision of the next decade.

 

 

In this episode:

  • Peter talks about the launch of Falcon Heavy with a Tesla Roadster on the trajectory to Mars, and the safe landing of the side boosters at the Kennedy Space Center. 
  • Dan and Peter discuss the possibilities of sending humans on one-way missions to Mars and two-way missions, and their belief that people will go no matter what because they crave that level of exploration, adventure and significance. 
  • Peter discusses three tactics he believes have contributed to Elon Musk’s massive success as an exponential entrepreneur.

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Episode 46: Preparing for the Transportation Shakeout

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Peter and Dan discuss the latest technologies in the transportation industry. Electric autonomous cars, Virgin Hyperloop One, flying vehicles like Airbus and Uber Elevate, and Elon Musk’s Boring Company and SpaceX rockets.

 

In this episode:

  • Peter compares today’s (2018 – 2022) transportation transition to early 20th century history, when mass-produced cars started to outpace the horse and buggy in 1908.
  • Dan gives an example of the early adoption of autonomous elevators having an effect on the retail industry. Peter summarizes the implications of “car as a service,” which he believes will be 5-10x cheaper than owning a car because of the loss of car insurance, fuel, parking lots, not to mention fewer car accidents.
  • Peter gives an update on Virgin Hyperloop One and a few companies creating autonomous flying vehicles. How does this change where you live? Where you work? As transportation becomes more agile, faster and cheaper, Dan and Peter discuss why humanity will spread out.

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Episode 41: The Next Gold Rush is in Space

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Peter and Dan discuss entrepreneurial commercial space. Why is this happening now? Which companies are the most exciting to watch?

 

 

In this episode:

  • Peter describes three reasons this is happening now: individuals concentrating massive wealth, the explosion of material sciences, and how the field of artificial intelligence has taken simulation to the next level.
  • Peter gives a brief history of the space shuttle programs of the U.S. and Russia and discusses the dematerialization and demonetization of launch vehicles built by entrepreneurs today.
  • Peter discusses why asteroids are important in the future of space travel, what his company Planetary Resources is doing to mine these near-Earth asteroids, and why he believes the next Gold Rush is in space.

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