Nicolas Gaume - Space Cargo Unlimited: Ex Terra podcast

European startup Space Cargo Unlimited is developing REV1, the first orbital manufacturing facility, targeting launch in 2025. On this edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talks with Nicolas Gaume, the co-founder and CEO of the company.

Space Cargo Unlimited plans to commercially operate a fleet of autonomous (i.e. unmanned) cargo vehicles capable of returning to Earth in order to exploit the potential of microgravity for commercial applications on Earth. The REV1 pressurized vehicle -a real floating space factory- will be used for specific missions, especially in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and new materials. REV1 will be able to create unique laboratory conditions and real clean rooms essential for this type of research and manufacturing.

The first REV1 vehicle, scheduled for launch in late 2025, will need to be able to adapt to any available and compatible launcher system. This last feature will make it unique to carry out new missions, especially in an equatorial orbit. Designed to be reusable for a total of 20 missions, the REV1 will carry payloads for 2-3 months in space.

REV1 Space Factory being developed by Space Cargo Unlimited and Thales Alenia Space.
This partnership agreement fully reflects Thales Alenia Space’s ‘New Space’ approach, which includes creating more and more synergies with start-ups and offering disruptive solutions, such as REV1, the first Space Factory, to evolve existing models. In the field of space exploration, Thales Alenia Space has already signed partnerships with emblematic start-ups. Moreover, the goal of the project initiated with Space Cargo Unlimited is perfectly in line with Thales Alenia Space’s ‘Space for life’ vision, by helping to make life better and more sustainable on Earth thanks to space.

How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.

00:00 - Start
00:13 - Intro Nicolas Gaume
00:46 - What is Space Cargo Unlimited?
01:36 - About Nicolas
02:35 - ISS Research Update
07:13 - Collaboration with Thales Alenia
08:19 - What is REV1?
09:14 - REV1 size
10:26 - What types of manufacturing can be done?
15:05 - Space Manufacturing
16:43 - When will it launch?
17:31 - Technology of space manufacturing
20:38 - Compatible launch systems
21:59 - Update on Orbite
24:46 - What do you see in Space Commerce over the next 10-15 yrs