How Alex Fielding and Privateer Space Are Taking on Space Debris - Ep. 196
In this episode of the NVIDIA AI Podcast, host Noah Kravitz dives into an illuminating conversation with Alex Fielding, co-founder and CEO of Privateer Space.
Fielding is a tech industry veteran, having previously worked alongside Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on several projects, and holds a deep expertise in engineering, robotics, machine learning and AI.
Privateer Space, Fielding’s latest venture, aims to address one of the most daunting challenges facing our world today: space debris.
The company is creating a data infrastructure to monitor and clean up space debris, ensuring sustainable growth for the budding space economy. In essence, they’re the sanitation engineers of the cosmos.
Privateer is also focused on bolstering space accessibility. All of the company’s datasets and those of its partners are being made available through APIs, so users can more easily build space applications related to Earth observation, climate science and more.
Privateer Space is a part of NVIDIA Inception, a free program that offers go-to-market support, expertise and technology for AI startups.
During the podcast, Fielding shares the genesis of Privateer Space, his journey from Apple to the space industry, and his subsequent work on communication between satellites at different altitudes.
He also addresses the severity of space debris, explaining how every launch adds more debris, including minute yet potentially dangerous fragments like frozen propellant and paint chips.
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2023/05/23/privateer-space
The Human Behind the Genius
In this special episode, we share never heard before footage from Steve Wozniak alongside his cofounder and best man, Alex Fielding.
Listeners get an inside look into what drove Woz to building a computer, but also how Steve’s zest for life was applied beyond computers – from the rare opportunity to play Tetris on the side of a building or throw a concert across borders.
Full Privateer episode: https://a16z.simplecast.com/episodes/new-the-data-highway-above-with-privateers-steve-wozniak-alex-fielding-and-dr-moriba-jah
Full Privateer episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZZbrwxOs0y4
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The Data Highway Above with Privateer’s Steve Wozniak, Alex Fielding, and Dr. Moriba Jah
Many people consider space to be the next frontier and equally an infinite horizon to explore. But the reality is that not all “space” is the same and there are strategic zones that don’t only matter up there – but down here on Earth. Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) is one of those regions – a zone filled with satellites that support life on Earth, from agriculture to climate to navigation to defense. Unfortunately, these live satellites are not alone in our space highways. LEO is getting increasingly clogged with space debris; we’re polluting our skies just like we’re polluting our land.
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with all three cofounders of Privateer – Steve Wozniak, Alex Fielding, and Dr. Moriba Jah, as they explore just how much junk is up there, how this challenge is expected to progress with time due to lower launch costs, and ultimately, what infrastructure is missing in this fragile ecosystem – from tracking to global treaties to a sharing economy of satellites.
By the end of the episode, listeners should be more equipped to understand how our infrastructure in space vastly impacts life on Earth, how the preservation of this ecosystem is crucial, and how Privateer is providing the map to better understand and fix the issue.
Timestamps:
With Steve Wozniak
00:00 - Intro
3:24 - Why space and why now?
8:55 - The changing perception around space
13:29 - Exponential technologies and thinking different
16:32 - Inventors vs engineers vs visionaries
18:46 - Early days at Apple and moving towards the future
20:53 - Steve’s personal fascinations
23:58 - How vocabulary drives awareness
1:21:55 - Woz returns!
With Alex Fielding and Dr. Moriba Jah
24:43 - Is space really an infinite void?
25:55 - The growing pollution in space
29:14 - The impact of space down on Earth
30:34 - The challenge of space policy and governance
38:27 - Orbital highways and carrying capacities
41:05 - Dependence on space infrastructure and its fragility
45:14 - Privateer’s role in the evolving ecosystem
46:52 - Democratizing space through data sharing
49:45 - Can we undo the damage that’s been done?
52:01 - Determining intent in space
58:17 - Talent needed in the space industry
1:01:04 - Privateer’s biggest challenges
1:09:22 - Space stewardship and Hawaii’s kuleana
1:15:19 - Who inspires Alex?
Resources:
Privateer’s website: https://mission.privateer.com/
Privateer’s Wayfinder tool: https://mission.privateer.com/
Privateer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrivateerSpace
Steve Wozniak on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevewoz
Alex Fielding on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex__Fielding
Dr. Moriba Jah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/moribajah
Stay Updated:
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Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z
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Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Stay Updated:
Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube
Find a16z on X
Find a16z on LinkedIn
Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify
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Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding: cleaning up space junk with Steve Wozniak + Behind the scenes of working for Jason | E1465
First, Jason and Molly reflect on their time in previous tech recessions (03:06). Then, Privateer Space CEO Alex Fielding joins to discuss solving the space junk problem (18:02), the difficulties of mapping debris (33:25), and more. Then, Producer Rachel hosts an OK Boomer episode where she talks with the other Gen Z employees that work for Jason about how they got their jobs and what they've learned at Launch (1:00:21).
(00:00) Jason and Molly tee up today’s episode
(03:06) Ask JaMo: What do you remember about the tech industry during the dotcom era and recession?
(12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change?
(11:31) BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/twist
(12:45) Where was Molly in 2008 and how did her career change?
(18:02) Jason and Molly speak with Alex Fielding, CEO and Co-Founder of Privateer Space
(21:04) OpenPhone - Get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://openphone.com/twist
(22:20) More on the dangers of space junk
(32:12) AdQuick - Visit https://adquick.com/twist and mention TWIST to get $1000 off your first campaign.
(33:25) Is it humanly possible to clean space trash with so many variables?
(1:00:21) Producer Rachel tees up this week’s special OK Boomer segment
(1:10:31) OK Boomer: Rachel speaks with LAUNCH’s other Gen Z employees
Check out Privateer: http://www.privateer.com/
FOLLOW Alex: https://twitter.com/2345678
FOLLOW Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis
FOLLOW Presh: https://twitter.com/preshdkumar
FOLLOW Justin: https://twitter.com/Justinpfortier
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood
