The Kármán Line

Why is the orbital region between 10 km and 500 km currently empty? How can operating in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) transform Earth observation, direct-to-device mobile connectivity, and telecommunications? How does VLEO solve the LEO problem of satellite collisions and failures creating space debris that lingers for decades? How do you solve the extreme engineering challenges of atmospheric drag, atomic oxygen corrosion, and continuous propulsion? And how is the UK positioning itself as a global gateway for this emerging space domain?Join Alice and Jonners as they talk with Anatolii Papulov, CEO and Co-founder of New Orbit, about pioneering VLEO satellite platforms, high-speed experimental iteration, and bringing "American velocity with European depth" to the UK space ecosystem.Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedInThe Karman Line Anatolii Papulov, CEO and Co-founder of New OrbitAnatolii Papulov | LinkedInNew Orbit | LinkedIn Key topics covered:Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO)Direct-to-device connectivityAtomic oxygen corrosionElectric propulsion systemsSelf-cleaning orbits & Space sustainabilityRapid iteration & In-house testingSovereign space manufacturingUK space talent & Scale-ups

How is geopolitics disrupting standard launch operations? Why are nations, including the UK, looking to build localised infrastructure rather than rely on giant space operators like the US? And rather than overriding local communities and sensitive environments, how can the next generation of spaceports prioritise “space for good”? Why is the space industry a communications basket-case? For a sector so clearly cool and exciting, how is it that the storytelling becomes pigeon-holed for “billionaires or physicists” rather than firing imaginations with concepts like “intergalactic architects”? How can movies like Wall-E and The Martian help shift the dial? To combat severe workforce shortages, how should primary school educators be inspiring a more diverse, radical group of creative problem solvers? Why do formative educational choices limit rather than expand career paths for young people? Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Melissa Quinn, Spaceport BuilderMelissa Quinn | LinkedIn John Hudson, Chief Survival Instructor, UK militaryJohn Hudson | LinkedIn Caitlin Gould, Founder, TECwomen and TECgirlsCaitlin Gould | LinkedInTECwomen CIC | LinkedIn Key topics covered:Sovereign capabilityGeopoliticsCommunicationEmerging talentPsychological resilienceEnvironmental complianceLocal communities

Why does the UK struggle to scale-up early-stage innovations? Must the Government move from being a core funder to a primary procurer? And how do we define sovereignty in an age where standalone defence is complex? Does true sovereignty mean carefully selecting international partners and alliances? If modern space infrastructure, like maritime surveillance and drone tracking, relies on dual-use military and civilian technology how do commercial and security sectors ensure this becomes second nature? And why are stock market pricings and rail logistics crucial in securing long-term, cross-departmental government funding? Join Alice and former UK Science Minister, Ian Taylor, as they track the shift of space from an uncoordinated, low-profile portfolio to becoming part of the UK's Critical National Infrastructure. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Ian Taylor, Strategic Advisor and former UK Science MinisterIan Taylor | LinkedIn Key topics covered:Government as first userSovereignty as protectionDual-use technologyMaritime surveillanceDrone trackingPublic value

What is the “commercial paradigm shift” that transitions space research into commercial space production? How does this shift help build a global supply chain for high-value terrestrial industries? Why will manufacturing substrates like gallium nitride or diamond in space allow companies to bypass decades of Earth-bound defect correction research? How do we move from building complex, multi-million-pound machines that we burn up on re-entry to reliable methods for bringing satellites back to Earth for refurbishment, reuse and upgrading? And how do we do this while reducing the cost of return by a factor of 10? Join Alice and Andrew Bacon, the CTO and co-founder of Space Forge, as they talk about building autonomous, “unscrewed mini-space factories”, super-clean environments, uniform temperatures and perfect material mixing, far away in higher orbit and safe from human contamination. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Andrew Bacon, CTO and co-founder of Space ForgeAndrew Bacon | LinkedInSpace Forge | LinkedIn Key topics covered:In-orbit manufacturingUltra-vacuum/low contaminationMicrogravityAutonomous space factoriesInnovation in re-entryLow ballistic coefficientSustainability and the environmentGlobal supply chainCommercial space production

What are the critical sovereign capabilities that DIP will be funding? Does DIP do enough to acknowledge the role of space as national infrastructure that underpins the UK defence stack? How will geospatial imagery and ISR data translate into active frontline capabilities? Can the UK securely guarantee that its international systems can operate without external interference? And why are “responsive launch” and assured access to space missing from the DIP? Join Jonners and the Head of Policy at UKspace, Stephanie Ayres, as they discuss the DIP not as a “final outcome” but as a “blueprint” for a long-term journey.   Contributors:Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedIn The Karman Line | WebsiteStephanie Ayres, Head of Policy UKspaceStephanie Ayres | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Key topics covered:UK Defence Investment Plan (DIP)Sovereign capabilitiesIntelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)Deep space radarOrbital asset protectionFoundational infrastructureLaunch capabilitiesEarth observation (EO)Position, Navigation, Timing (PNT)Freedom of action

Did you know that the UK space industry is roughly the same size as the UK music and video games industries? And that beyond direct revenue, nearly £1 in every £5 of UK GDP is supported or enabled by satellite services? Or that, because the UK public sector budget is 0.2% of GDP compared with 0.8% for the EU, our market is more commercially driven and innovative? So how to get to the next level? Should the UK Government pivot its role from grant provider to “anchor customer”? Should the UK build more strategic, resilient partnerships, for example with the Nordic and Baltic nations, with Germany, Japan and Southeast Asia? Will the SpaceX IPO crowd new capital into competing launch vehicles that, if regulation can be stripped back, will “grease the wheels” for facilities like SaxaVord to succeed? And why, in five years or less, will regular landings on the moon become normalised and “boring”? Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Doug Liddle, Chair of UKSpaceDoug Liddle | LinkedIn Greg Sadlier, Co-founder and director of know.spaceGreg Sadlier | LinkedInknow.space | LinkedIn Key topics covered:SpaceX IPOUK space industrySovereign characteristicsGeopolitical partnershipsFive-year outlookDomain awarenessOrbital inspections and defenceAsteroid miningSaxaVord

What are orbital data centres (ODCs) and how do they differ from orbital edge computing? How do they solve the bottleneck of transmitting massive volumes of data from space to Earth? How believable is the central premise of the SpaceX IPO, that because space offers unlimited real estate, solar energy and natural radiative cooling it is therefore the future of Earth’s AI computing needs? Why are some experts sceptical and is there a danger that while AI demand is real, the infrastructure market could be a bubble waiting to happen? And why is developing sovereign ODC capabilities so “critical”?Join Alice and Jason Aspiotis, CEO and co-founder for a European space startup, as they talk about the “net present value” and future potential of ODCs, the lack of a “conviction to pursue something big” in Europe, and the terrifying or intriguing prospect of neuromorphic computing chips that mimic the low-power, high efficiency processing of the human brain.For more explanation, insight and expert opinions about the big issues shaping the future of space in the UK and beyond, register now for The Karman Line. https://www.thekarmanline.co.uk/Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedInJason Aspiotis, CEO and co-founder for a European space startupJason Aspiotis | LinkedInKey topics covered:Orbital edge computingOrbital data centres (ODCs)Data bottlenecksODCs as infrastructureUK and European sovereign capabilityISAM (in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing)Neuromorphic computing

The idea of 14,000 satellites in low earth orbit sounds pretty scary but in context there’s over a million cars on the road in the UK alone and low earth orbit is a really big 3D space. So, should people be worried about space sustainability? Shouldn’t they just relax and remember there’s loads and loads of space out there?  Or should they still be scared? What happens when satellites do cross paths? If they’re all part of the SpaceX Starlink constellation they’ll talk to each other instantaneously and get out of the way. But what if the contact is with a satellite from another country? Is it fair to say they’re on the equivalent of email or telephone? And what if they do collide? Will it be like the experiment in 2007 when the Chinese fired a missile at a defunct weather satellite? On the one hand, “great shot lads, you’ve hit something moving at 4km per second” but on the other, “you’ve probably caused a millennia worth of debris problems”.If it’s within our capabilities to move bikes and cars and trains and planes around the world in an ordered fashion, shouldn’t it be well within human capabilities to extend the use of space?  Is there a role for the UK in being “the AA” of space and is the UK-New Zealand debris removal agreement a useful step down this road? Join Alice and Jonners as they talk to Phil Buckley, partner at the Public Service Consultants and a specialist in space sustainability, about the perils and pitfalls of satellite traffic jams and an opportunity that the UK “could be absolutely brilliant at”.Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedInPhil Buckley, Partner at the PSCPhil Buckley | LinkedInKey topics covered:Space sustainabilityThe Kessler effectSpace debrisStarlinkUK-New Zealand agreementSpace trafficThe Fengyun weather satelliteRefuellingServicing