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That's exactly what I imagined. Especially since the entire industry basically works with the government. I was thinking of working for or at one of space star

That's exactly what I imagined. Especially since the entire industry basically works with the government. I was thinking of working for or at one of space startups: SpaceX, Blue Origin, Planetary Resources, Virgin Galactic, and the mars one foundation. The truth is, my goal is to eventually start my own company.

lifeisstillgood 13y ago
Can I suggest to just start - there are going to be a gazillion suppliers to SpaceX etc - if you want to be in the industry, you can be in. If you want to put your stuff in space or even orbit, may I suggest looking at micro satellites - there is going to be a vast number of things people will want doing that are going to be within the capability of a large lump of silicon. And the big boys will happily take a dozen iphone equivalents and put them in LEO in passing. That to me is the growth area Edit: sorry seemed a bit off dumped the hobbyist reference - just thinking of the issues of orbital speed - until / if orbital speed is achievable for an cluster of iPhones dangling from a weather ballon, then everything depends on huge great rockets. And SpaceX and it's ilk, for all the impact, is only expecting to see a halving of launch costs. It is going to remain a big government big industry game for a very very long time.
- kilroy123 13y ago
  Agreed, I should just start. Next year, I'm going to attend a few conferences, just to learn more about the industry, chat with people etc. The cost do need to dramatically drop, for say, large scale mining operations to happen. I think we'll ultimately need a space elevator or something extreme. Maybe that's possible with LOTS of advances in carbon nanotube tech... If so, I think several governments could be persuaded to put up funding in the future. Just like we did with the International Space Station.
- elements 13y ago
  I like this advice. I worked with someone who built an aerospace company around an ultra-reliable actuator design he developed with a friend. They had put hardware on dozens of missions, including some inter-planetary missions, before they were acquired a few years later. A lot of the advice he gave me centered around understanding how supplier contracts are granted / won, and the importance of building relationships and a reputation in the industry. The biggest thing that stuck with me, though, was that it was even possible for a startup company to put hardware in space, let alone mission-critical stuff. So, I second the "just start" suggestion. Maybe I'll take the same advice myself some day.
programminggeek 13y ago
If the goal is to start your own company, then start your own company.
typpo 13y ago
Kilroy, I'm the author of this post -- if you're a software engineer interested in space, maybe we should stay in touch (email in profile). I definitely had a hard time figuring out how to "break in" to commercial space and I get the sense there's a shortage of higher-level software talent in the industry. As commercial space matures, there is greater opportunity for people like us to get involved. I agree that a lot of aerospace seems Dilbert-esque. I think (and hope) there will be opportunity to change that in the long term.
- vonmoltke 13y ago
  I would like to shoot you an email as well, if you don't mind. I left my defense aerospace job after 9.5 years because I just couldn't make it work in that kind of Dilbert-esque environment. I gave it 9.5 years because I really love the problems, the systems, and the technology.

lifeisstillgood 13y ago

Can I suggest to just start - there are going to be a gazillion suppliers to SpaceX etc - if you want to be in the industry, you can be in. If you want to put your stuff in space or even orbit, may I suggest looking at micro satellites - there is going to be a vast number of things people will want doing that are going to be within the capability of a large lump of silicon. And the big boys will happily take a dozen iphone equivalents and put them in LEO in passing. That to me is the growth area Edit: sorry seemed a bit off dumped the hobbyist reference - just thinking of the issues of orbital speed - until / if orbital speed is achievable for an cluster of iPhones dangling from a weather ballon, then everything depends on huge great rockets. And SpaceX and it's ilk, for all the impact, is only expecting to see a halving of launch costs. It is going to remain a big government big industry game for a very very long time.

kilroy123 13y ago
Agreed, I should just start. Next year, I'm going to attend a few conferences, just to learn more about the industry, chat with people etc. The cost do need to dramatically drop, for say, large scale mining operations to happen. I think we'll ultimately need a space elevator or something extreme. Maybe that's possible with LOTS of advances in carbon nanotube tech... If so, I think several governments could be persuaded to put up funding in the future. Just like we did with the International Space Station.
elements 13y ago
I like this advice. I worked with someone who built an aerospace company around an ultra-reliable actuator design he developed with a friend. They had put hardware on dozens of missions, including some inter-planetary missions, before they were acquired a few years later. A lot of the advice he gave me centered around understanding how supplier contracts are granted / won, and the importance of building relationships and a reputation in the industry. The biggest thing that stuck with me, though, was that it was even possible for a startup company to put hardware in space, let alone mission-critical stuff. So, I second the "just start" suggestion. Maybe I'll take the same advice myself some day.

programminggeek 13y ago

If the goal is to start your own company, then start your own company.

typpo 13y ago

Kilroy, I'm the author of this post -- if you're a software engineer interested in space, maybe we should stay in touch (email in profile). I definitely had a hard time figuring out how to "break in" to commercial space and I get the sense there's a shortage of higher-level software talent in the industry. As commercial space matures, there is greater opportunity for people like us to get involved. I agree that a lot of aerospace seems Dilbert-esque. I think (and hope) there will be opportunity to change that in the long term.

vonmoltke 13y ago
I would like to shoot you an email as well, if you don't mind. I left my defense aerospace job after 9.5 years because I just couldn't make it work in that kind of Dilbert-esque environment. I gave it 9.5 years because I really love the problems, the systems, and the technology.