#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