#157 – Natalya Bailey: Rocket Engines and Electric Spacecraft Propulsion

Natalya Bailey is a rocket propulsion engineer from MIT and now CTO of Accion Systems. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Munk Pack: https://munkpack.com and use code LEX to get 20% off - Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off - Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium - Sun Basket: https://sunbasket.com/lex and use code LEX to get $35 off EPISODE LINKS: Natalya's Twitter: https://twitter.com/natalya926 Accion Systems: https://accion-systems.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (06:51) - Intelligent life in the universe (10:52) - Life in our solar system (12:57) - Humans on Mars (16:31) - Robots vs human in space exploration (17:25) - AI in space (21:30) - How rocket engines work (26:47) - How ion engines work (31:10) - How colloid engines work (40:07) - Material science (42:57) - Nuclear powered rocket engines (47:56) - Electric propulsion out in space (51:23) - Satellites (56:17) - Photo of Earth from the Moon (57:55) - Humans on Mars (1:00:17) - Propulsion without fuel (1:08:12) - How to build a rocket company (1:15:10) - SpaceX and commercial spaceflight (1:19:42) - Advice to startup founders (1:26:18) - Book recommendations (1:34:36) - Meaning of life