Engineering for Fun Gets You Places in the Space Industry: An Interview with Nelson Smith Artwork

SpaceBase Podcast

SpaceBase is a social enterprise who's mission is to democratize access to space through education, entrepreneurship and community building starting in New Zealand. This podcast is dedicated to creating the journey from space enthusiast to space entrepreneurs through insightful interviews with aerospace specialists, investors, and entrepreneurs sharing their experience and knowledge of the space industry, and their personal journeys.To support the podcast, please consider becoming a patron.Since its incorporation in 2017, SpaceBase has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups to deliver over 100 educational presentations and workshops, national space and aerospace competitions, as well as helping birth space communities and organizations locally and globally. SpaceBase also assists in technical due diligence, consulting projects for investors, industry stakeholders, and space startups. SpaceBase created a platform for the NZ Aerospace Directory and a free course, Catalysing a Space Industry in Your Region, for anyone interested in creating a local space industry. Recently, it delivered the Space for Planet Earth Challenge competition for the Pacific region in partnership with satellite company Planet.

All Episodes

SpaceBase Podcast

Engineering for Fun Gets You Places in the Space Industry: An Interview with Nelson Smith

February 24, 2023 • Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom • Episode 49

An interview with Nelson Smith, co-founder of Aquila, a tech company based in Auckland focused on wireless energy infrastructure for terrestrial and space applications. Nelson did his bachelor’s degree in Engineering in Mechatronics and Product Development at the University of Auckland and Massey University. He has worked as a Guidance,Navigation and Control Engineer for Rocketlab and has been involved in multiple engineering, software, and automated projects in the past decade.

In this interview we learn from Nelson how developing a portfolio of engineering projects, coupled with some startup smarts can accelerate your career in the space industry.

Hosted by: Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder and CEO, SpaceBase
Music: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons (3.0)

If you like our work, please consider donating to SpaceBase through The Gift Trust or RSF Social Finance (for US charitable donations) and indicate "SpaceBase" gift account. Or be a SpaceBase Patreon sponsor!

Support the show