In this episode of TECHNE Connect To Visionaries, we speak with Sanjay Vijendran, Co-Founder & CTO of TerraSpark, about his journey from Mars exploration to building the future of space-based energy.
Sanjay shares his career journey, from working on NASA’s Phoenix Mars Mission, helping develop technology that explored the Martian surface, to spending over a decade at the European Space Agency developing future Mars exploration concepts.
After recognising the potential of space-based solar power, Sanjay moved from ESA into entrepreneurship and founded TerraSpark, a company focused on delivering clean and reliable energy from space to Earth.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Sanjay’s journey from NASA Mars missions to founding a space energy company
- Why space-based solar power could become a future source of clean energy
- How advances in reusable rockets, satellite manufacturing and commercial space have changed what is possible
- TerraSpark’s approach to proving the technology at smaller scale before building larger orbital energy systems
- The engineering skills needed for the next generation of space companies
- How startups are creating opportunities for engineers to work across multiple disciplines
Sanjay also shares his vision for the future of space infrastructure, the growth of commercial applications in orbit, and what success looks like for TerraSpark over the next decade.
A great conversation for engineers, founders and anyone interested in the future of space, energy and the companies building the next generation of orbital infrastructure.
The Techne Connect Podcast 🎧
Thank you for listening to Techne Connect! This podcast takes you inside the companies and conversations shaping the future of engineering.
From space and defence to robotics, AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and next-generation mobility, each episode features the founders, engineers and technology leaders building tomorrow's world.
Through candid discussions on innovation, leadership, product development and career journeys, the podcast uncovers the ideas, challenges and breakthroughs driving the world's fastest-moving industries. Whether you're an engineer, founder, investor or simply fascinated by emerging technology.
Techne Connect offers a front-row seat to the people creating what's next.
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