Whether you work in the Space industry or dreamed about becoming an astronaut as a kid, we all have some sort of a connection to Space.
Space enthusiast, Ben Gamble, brings you a weekly podcast all about Space. Although Ben currently works in events and hospitality, he has always had an interest in the Space industry. As a preliminary jump into the Space world, Ben created this podcast to explore what goes on in the industry with the dream of launching his own Space tech company later in life.
Ben hopes to connect people of all ages and encourage them to get involved in Space. AstroBen will be a podcast to empower Space enthusiasts, as well as discussing difficult topics. From rockstars to CEO's, astronomers to actors, expect to hear from diverse perspectives all with the shared obsession with the stars!
Building Humanity's Interplanetary Future with Skyler Chan of GRU Space
Explore the bold vision of Skyler Chan, founder and CEO of GRU Space, as he shares insights into creating humanity's first hotel on the moon, harnessing lunar resources, and pioneering space infrastructure. Discover how pragmatic engineering, strategic partnerships, and a focus on making space accessible are shaping the future.
In this episode:
Skyler's motivation to make humanity interplanetary and the significance of the lunar hotel project
The meaning behind "GRU" — Galactic Resource Utilization Space Inc.
ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization): Using lunar regolith to make bricks and building materials
Technical challenges of lunar brick-making and operational vs technological hurdles
The long-term vision: From lunar hotels to lunar cities and Mars habitats
Designing sustainable habitats against lunar radiation, vacuum, temperature swings, and dust
Collaboration with space agencies like Artemis and industry partners
The importance of practical, incremental steps to establish a lunar economy
The role of the lunar environment in resource extraction success
Building infrastructure for planetary settlement: hotels, robotics, mining, and resource chains
Addressing risks and safety in lunar habitat design
The inspiration from space pioneers like Chris Hadfield and Elon Musk
The influence of San Francisco's innovation ecosystem on GRU Space
Skyler's advice for young entrepreneurs eager to break into space
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Skyler Chan and GRU Space's mission
01:07 - The origin of the name "GRU" and space resource utilization
02:04 - The concept of lunar bricks and in-situ resource utilization
03:01 - Technical challenges in lunar brick-making and control systems
03:57 - The operational vs technological hurdles in lunar missions
04:37 - Long-term visions: Moon hotels, lunar cities, and Mars habitats
05:36 - Designing sustainable lunar habitats with radiation shielding
06:33 - The importance of off-world habitation systems
07:03 - Expansion beyond hotels to lunar infrastructure and resource industries
08:07 - Space tourism and resource valuation in space vs Earth
09:04 - The experience-driven design of lunar hotels
09:48 - Early inflatable lunar habitats and future modular expansions
10:18 - Long-term habitat safety features and radiation shielding
11:16 - Potential partnerships with lunar launch programs like Artemis
11:36 - How Artemis program fits into GRU Space's timeline
12:44 - The philosophical perspective on Earth borders and space peace
13:05 - The role of Y Combinator and Nvidia Inception in GRU Space's growth
14:24 - Skyler's youth and background in space training
15:04 - His lifelong obsession with space and early influences
16:17 - Mentors like Chris Hadfield and Elon Musk as inspiration
17:44 - The impact of Elon Musk on space innovation and inspiration
18:43 - Space's unifying role and societal inspiration
19:12 - Balancing big visions with realistic engineering steps
20:18 - Prioritizing first principles and de-risking lunar technology
21:42 - Overcoming lunar environmental hazards and safety considerations
22:55 - Collaboration within the space industry ecosystem
23:37 - Managing lunar hazards: vacuum, radiation, dust, temperature
25:04 - Strategies for lunar resource utilization and infrastructure
27:15 - The pragmatic approach: focusing on what is necessary for economic viability
28:13 - The concept of the "wedge" to kick-start lunar exploration
29:12 - The importance of providing human-centric experiences
30:11 - Final words of advice to aspiring space entrepreneurs
30:59 - Skyler's perspective on trusting your intuition and decision-making
33:23 - Wrap-up and upcoming milestones for GRU Space
33:59 - Final encouragement: Look up at the stars, not down at your phones
Resources & Links:
GrooSpace Official Website (https://gru.space/)
White Paper on Lunar Brick-Making (https://gru.space/WP)
Skyler Chan on X (Twitter)
GrooSpace on Instagram
Connect with Skyler Chan:
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Stay connected with us!
Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast
Website: www.astroben.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/
X: https://x.com/Gambleonit
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astrobenpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/
26 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Journey to the Stars: An Interview with Astronaut Aspirant Alyssa Carson
Explore the inspiring story of Alyssa Carson, a passionate space enthusiast aiming to become an astronaut and destined for Mars. From childhood curiosity to citizen science and space education, Alyssa shares her journey, insights into space missions like Artemis, and practical advice for the next generation.
In this episode:
● Alyssa shares her lifelong fascination with space and her earliest memories of curiosity about the cosmos
● The impact of space camp in shaping her passion and skills
● How her diverse experiences—water survival, zero G flights, pilot's license—prepare her for space
● The evolving goals of the space industry, including Artemis, Mars missions, and space tourism
● The importance of resilience, problem-solving, and staying adaptable in pursuit of space dreams
● Opportunities in astrobiology and microbiology related to Mars exploration
● Her perspectives on the future of space travel accessibility for ordinary people
● Tips and motivational words for young people dreaming of space careers
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Alyssa's space origin story
02:38 - The significance of space camp in her journey
05:42 - Building skills through diverse training experiences
09:28 - The interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology and microbiology
12:36 - Her studies at Florida Tech and focus on Mars exploration
16:15 - How "The Martian" movie aligns with her interests
17:27 - Moving into her PhD and future plans in space industry
21:34 - The trajectory of lunar and Mars missions, space tourism potential
23:33 - The significance of Artemis and lunar exploration for humanity
28:36 - Upcoming opportunities and her advice to young space enthusiasts
33:34 - Closing thoughts and Alyssa's message for aspiring astronauts
Resources & Links:
● So You Want To Be An Astronaut: The Book
● Ready For Lift Off: Becoming An Astronaut Of The Mars Generation (https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Liftoff-Becoming-Astronaut-Generation/dp/1955690391)
● Alyssa Carson - https://alyssacarson.com/
● NASA Artemis Program https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/
● Florida Tech Astrobiology Program
Connect with Alyssa Carson:
● X https://x.com/NASABlueberry1
● Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nasablueberry/
This episode is a must-listen for anyone dreaming of a future beyond Earth, offering a blend of personal motivation and industry insights.
Keep looking up at the stars and stay curious about the future of space in the UK and beyond!
Stay connected with us!
Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast
Website: www.astroben.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/
X: https://x.com/Gambleonit
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astrobenpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/
13 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Unlocking the UK Space Sector: Insights from John Abbott of Satellite Applications Catapult
Discover how the UK is leveraging academia, government policy, and industry collaboration to grow its space ecosystem. Join John Abbott as he shares the story of Catapult's role, UK's ambitions, and practical advice for aspiring space entrepreneurs.
In this episode:
The purpose and impact of the UK's satellite applications catapult
The significance of UK launch capabilities and recent developments with Allbex
John's background in geospatial data and transition into the space sector
The UK government's industrial strategy and funding landscape for space
How UK companies are solving real problems and expanding internationally
The importance of customer focus versus grant dependency in scaling startups
Strategies for fostering resilient and ambitious founders
The role of international partnerships, like the Taiwan Space Agency MOU
Practical advice for future space entrepreneurs in the UK and beyond
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to John Abbott and the UK's space industry context
02:00 - The purpose of the UK's satellite applications catapult
03:10 - Recent UK launch developments and Allbex exit
04:00 - John's geospatial and tech background explained
06:21 - UK's industrial strategy supporting space growth
08:00 - Key UK space companies and heritage
08:39 - Interlink with UK Space Agency and government programs
11:37 - Transition from traditional sectors into space entrepreneurship
13:14 - Why space is a sector of purpose and opportunity
15:52 - The importance of customer focus over grant-led projects
18:00 - Helping startups with a holistic approach: teams, market, funding
20:17 - UK ambition, government support, and international positioning
25:01 - Growing through international cooperation (Taiwan MOU)
28:16 - Balancing innovation with market needs at Catapult
31:00 - Assessing startup success factors: resilience, team, market
33:10 - The evolving space economy and reducing entry barriers
35:09 - Advice for future space founders and key takeaways
Resources & Links:
Satellite Applications Catapult
UK Space Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency)
Allbex
Open Cosmos
Space Forge (https://spaceforge.co.uk/)
Mag Drive (https://magdrive.co/)
Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) (https://www.tasa.tw/)
Space Solar Limited (https://spacesolar.co.uk/)
Connect with John Abbott:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Follow and learn more:
Satellites Applications Catapult on X
Gamble on It – Twitter & Instagram
AstroBen Podcast on Instagram/TikTok/LinkedIn
Keep looking up at the stars—and stay curious about the future of space in the UK and beyond!
Stay connected with us!
Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast
Website: www.astroben.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/
X: https://x.com/Gambleonit
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astrobenpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/
Inside a recent episode
Building Humanity's Interplanetary Future with Skyler Chan of GRU Space
Published 8 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And so what we're doing is we're using Lunar Regolith to make concrete, essentially, right? Building material, the world's first brick. And that's what we're doing in our first demo mission. So super exciting stuff. It's really cool. What's the hardest part about that technically? What is the hardest part about that? Because I don't know enough about the processes behind it. Yeah, the hardest part, frankly, is actually having it operate and function. It's the control system. It's just setting it up. To be quite honest, it arguably it's not a hard problem. Like technology, you know, to put people back on the moon, right? […]
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