Space exploration is a rising business form that many startups are indulging in. Odysseus is making new kinds of interplanetary missions possible and more accessible. We speak with Jordan Vannisten, Co-founder & CEO at Odysseus, to understand the future of space exploration and the high-end technologies they use to help humankind raise its consciousness about space travel and exploration.

How did Odysseus come to be? Tell us the story.

Since I was a kid, I have been passionate about space exploration. And so, I chose to study Aerospace Engineering. During that time, I met Julien Hennequin and after completing our Master’s, we ended up working on common space projects; him in the nanosatellite industry and me at the European Space Agency. I then went to Taiwan to study a Ph.D. in astrophysics and I became one of Julien’s customer. During that time, I also worked on a Martian nanosatellite mission together with Marco Agnan.

All three of us had complementary backgrounds; space agency, satellite industry, and space laboratory. We all knew Taiwan as we had spent some time there either for studying, internship or vacation. Taiwan had Space activities for more than 20 years but no dedicated space industry, thus the three of us founded our company here this is how Odysseus came to be!

Talk us through some of the high-end technology you use as part of Odysseus’s development plans.

At the moment, we are working on ARGO, which is an electrical micro-propulsion system for small satellites, together with a laboratory from the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. Such technology is useful for trajectory maneuvers, station keeping, and de-orbiting.

We are also working on Birdy-T with Paris Observatory in France and NCKU. Birdy-T is a small satellite module for autonomous guidance, navigation, and control. This technology is useful for constellation missions and to reduce their mission operation costs. Also, it is mandatory for interplanetary missions in the context of trajectory changes during the cruise and proximity operations of asteroids.

How important have partnerships been in furthering Odysseus’s mission?

Local and international partnerships are keys for our activity, especially in the Space R&D domain. By working with different partners around the globe, we can build the best of each team and construct a strong consortium around our unique space technologies.

Tell us about some of Odysseus’s interesting projects.

We are currently supporting several small satellite missions with our system engineering and project management expertise. Examples include working on IGOSAT, COMPOL and the BIRDY family missions.

IGOSAT (Ionospheric & Gamma-ray Observations SATellite) will study the total electronic content of the Ionosphere by GPS occultation and detect gamma rays and electrons above the poles and the South Atlantic Anomaly.

COMPOL is an international CubeSat project for X-ray polarimetry for astrophysics study.

And the BIRDY family CubeSats will carry the Birdy-T module. BIRDY-1 and BIRDY-2 will demonstrate the full capability of the module to be used in the context of proximity operations of an asteroid with BIRDY-3.

What is the future of space travel and exploration? Do you reckon it will grow by leaps and bounds?

Recently, with the rise of the NewSpace philosophy, we now develop faster, better and cheaper access to Space. I am thus convinced that Space activities will exponentially grow in the coming years.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain name? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

Not being a common domain name and fitting perfectly with our activity, the .SPACE domain name was a natural choice for us. As Space activities increase, I am sure the .SPACE domain name has a bright future coming ahead.

How did SIS start? Tell us the story.

SIS was born out of the dire need for the satellite industry to optimize the deployment and operation of all spacecrafts and satellites. SIS provides services that add a few more years of operational life to satellites that already in-orbit. This way, satellite companies now have the flexibility to better manage the maintenance and procurement of new satellites. Partnering with DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) on its RSGS (Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites) project will help us support the business structure to make on-orbit satellite servicing a reality by 2021.

SIS provides a kind of roadside assistance to satellite operators. How does this on-orbit servicing work?

Our SIS service vehicle will be launched in 2021 and will have the capability to provide multiple missions every year for on-orbit services such as inspection, repair, repositioning, augmentation and refueling to existing spacecrafts and satellites. With its two dexterous robotic arms and the various tools, it will carry, we will be able to respond to scheduled and emergency servicing needs for our customers across the globe.

How has establishing numerous partnerships helped you? Why has it been so essential to get these partners on board?

Partnerships were absolutely essential to SIS. Our partners brought well-proven experience in space and robotics to our group. SSL provided their satellite manufacturing excellence, MDA their robotic arm heritage, DARPA their support for leading-edge space technologies, NRL their space robotics mission capabilities, and DRAPER provided their remote proximity operations software. All combined, our partners have performed more than 200 robotic missions in space to date.  

How does SIS plan to change the way satellite operators think about space infrastructure?

SIS is enabling an entirely new space infrastructure. Not only can satellite operators extend the life of their on-orbit spacecrafts, but they can design new satellites, with an external plug-in module that is capable of augmenting or upgrading the functionality whilst the satellite is in orbit. In addition, SIS can provide buildup and assembly of larger satellite structures in-space.

What is the future of space travel and exploration? Do you reckon it will grow by leaps and bounds?

Our industry is on the cusp of a next-generation space age. Investors are enthusiastic about funding space technology innovation, and numerous commercial companies are preparing to offer services for space tourism, space exploration, asteroid mining, etc. When you add the several low earth orbit (LEO) constellations being deployed over the next few years, we will be enjoying a very buoyant and competitive space services industry.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

Since our business is all about space technology, the .Space domain name fits perfectly with our core competence and industry niche.

How did Oqtec start? Tell us the story.

The objective of the company is to disrupt the connectivity sector of the Oil & Gas industry. OQ Technology is developing the world’s first universal plug & play IoT device that can provide ubiquitous, low cost, and low complexity connectivity anywhere in the world by leveraging on scalable satellite infrastructure, terrestrial compatible wireless technology, and integrated ICT platform.

Our business proposition is to use satellite infrastructure to extend the reach of the emerging terrestrial IoT (Internet of Things) networks to remote and sparsely populated areas that would otherwise remain unconnected to the Internet.

What are some of the exciting projects you’ve worked on or are currently working on? Tell us about them.

We have developed a new wireless IoT technology and are currently building a global satellite constellation network dedicated to IoT applications. This should allow data accessibility from anywhere, including remote and rural areas. Also, we are preparing our first demonstration satellite to be launched next year.

 

How does OQ use technology to deliver innovative solutions?

Our technology helps companies to reduce the capital expenditure and operational expenditure because of our 3LC strategy – low complexity, low cost and low consumption. Our wireless technology is compatible with the existing standards, this allows customers to integrate their assets easily and re-use available software/hardware without incurring a high migration cost. Also, software upgrades would be done remotely and power for devices can survive for years on a battery.

How is IoT making its way in the oil and gas sector?

Internet of things, as a technology, is starting to penetrate the oil and gas sector. One of the key benefits offered by IoT is remote monitoring of plants and assets. With IoT technologies, the systems are connected to one network that can relay information back to a device such as a smartphone or a tablet that is connected to the same network. This information helps oil and gas workers to better understand how the system is performing.

Also, IoT helps improve predictive maintenance standards and improve overall management efficiency. Other uses of IoT in the oil and gas sector include real-time event-driven messaging, such as sending alerts by systems to other connected devices if they begin to fail. Pipeline monitoring is another key advantage offered by IoT technology as it enables oil and gas companies to effortlessly monitor and inspect pipelines.

What are some of your biggest challenges?

Internet of Things is a new technology trend and customers need to be educated about the benefits it can bring to them and what applications they could use. Many customers are still unaware of the value of IoT data and how to implement IoT solutions in their enterprise, and what are the best practices. Spreading this knowledge is the biggest challenge for us.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

We are a telecommunication company that utilizes space infrastructure for serving its customers – this is where .SPACE came in. Besides, we are an innovative startup and want to be different as we ride the latest wave of trends in the startup world. Since we move and adapt quickly, it is in our DNA to be different from big elephant corporates, and opting for a distinctive, relevant domain name did just that for us!

What inspired you to start Stargazers? Tell us the story.

Stargazers.space is a company that will allow anyone equipped with a smart-tablet to control one of our astronomic observatories. We are building several observatory sites right from Australia to the USA to Europe to South America, and Asia. This will enable anyone from any location on the planet to observe the sky at any time under any local weather conditions.

The interface is meant to be supremely user-friendly as everything can be done from the tip of your fingers. Initially, it was a private remote telescope project. But it has transformed into a project that will profit everyone. We wish to bring outer space to everyone!

How does the Stargazers app work? What makes it so unique?

Install the Stargazers App on your iPad and select the observatory you wish to take control of. You can then book time on that telescope and select an area, from the sky map, of the area you wish to point the instruments at. Then, you will receive a live video feedback from the 3 cameras that are installed on the telescope – one on the 12 inches main tube for maximum zoom, and 2 others on smaller tubes so you can have a wider angle of view centered on the same object. There is one camera outside to watch the entire sky at once. It is very useful to spot meteorites, clouds or just the beauty of outer space. It is also possible to capture high-resolution pictures.

How has social media helped you spread the word and acquire customers?

Social media is the way to find users that do have the tech know-how suited for our application. It is the primary medium that we are considering since it is where our future customers are located. Social media empowers people to share pictures and their experience of using the app with friends and relatives – which is another reason why social media is at the heart of our own community. Also, with social media, we would like to build an international astronomy club.

Share with us 5 pro-tips you would give to budding technology startups.

• The first thing to be sure of is the interest your product or service rises on your targeted customers.
• Use social media, forums and anything you find, to see if people are complaining about something missing in your field of activity. If your searches overlap and go the way you expect, then you can have a more direct approach to get a more precise market vision.
• Ask people about your idea. Look for criticism. Listen to their arguments. Criticism is more important than opinion already going your way. Plan your business model accordingly because there is no point in starting something that may not be profitable.
• Make informed decisions when it comes to R&D.
• Find the right people to compliment your product. You can’t do everything by yourself. You have to let other people back you up in the fields where you have no expertise. The team you build is what will give birth to your project.

What are your future plans for Stargazers?

We are currently building our test site and are planning to build a few public sites starting in 2018. Our application is ready for iPad and we are adapting it for smartphones this year. Android will be followed by Apple TV and game stations. The application will also be released in 2018 on Apple store.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

We are in the field of astronomy and space. No other domain could be a better choice to immediately state what we are doing. We‘ve extended the name of the company to include it. It is something that completely makes sense in our business and it became part of our DNA. People immediately know our field of activity and it is a domain extension which differentiates us from .com. And, to be honest, the .SPACE domain name has panache.

How did GlenX come to be? Tell us the story.

We started our journey talking about inspiring and helping the community at large. We began by spreading our wings to educational programming to help local schools and professionals, and most recently we have delved into the business of coworking spaces.

 

What services do you offer your members? Who can apply for membership?

We offer affordable workspaces in a monthly membership model instead of an expensive office lease. We enable working in a communal environment with services that include high-speed internet, computer screens, printing facilities, refrigerator, and all other amenities required.  We hold weekly events for our members to network, engage, collaborate and grow their skill sets.

Anyone over the age of 21 can apply for membership. Through our partner network, our members can go visit any other coworking space within the network for up to 3 times a month at no charge (our network includes 50+ places around the world)

What are the trends you foresee in the coworking space business?

Coworking is already prevalent in big cities. However, there is tremendous room for growth of coworking spaces in smaller towns. These communal coworking spaces provide a desirable solution to work outside of your home, to connect with the community, and potentially collaborate with others.

What makes GlenX different from other coworking communities?

We are all about social impact. We are set up as a non-profit organization that started out as a community organization with a strong focus on initiatives that help promote education and innovation. As part of our key offerings, we now indulge in the incubation of new ideas and acceleration of existing businesses. We have our eye on the future, to meet the demands that are not yet met, and expand to numerous small-town locations and rural markets in the future.

How has the journey been? Give us a glimpse of some fun startups/entrepreneurs that took shape at GlenX.

Since we shifted our focus several times, the journey has been a road of many zigzags of unexpected directions. We are grateful for where we are today and we only entered the coworking market after our bid for Rethinking High School education in America with XQ Institute fell slightly short. We started an entrepreneurial program at one of the highs schools that we serve, and this gave shape to a student-operated skateboard business. With the beta launch of these entrepreneurial programs, we hope to expand to 10 high schools next year, then progressively across Colorado, and subsequently throughout the US.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain name? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

The .Space extension has gained commendable popularity among coworking communities because it fits perfectly with their core competency. Personally, I like names that are short and make perfect sense and, so we opted for GlenX.Space. The .Space domain name has served us well for our brand, and we appreciate it being available. Within the coworking community, everyone knows of it and many are using it as part of their web address. Not only that, the .space extension is becoming a trend that is publicly recognized as a ‘cool domain extension’ for coworking brands.

Starting something creative and fun? Get it on a .SPACE domain! Buy it on a domain registrar website or on get.space! 

• How did Artecology come to be? Tell us the story.

Founded in 2015, Artecology is a collaboration between the public arts collective Eccleston George and ecological consultancy Arc Consulting. We had been working together for some time trying to find new ways to combine art and science and shape better places for people and wildlife. However, we wanted to take things further by creating urban environments that would bring ornament and aesthetics back into public places and simultaneously create hotspots for biodiversity. And so, we have embarked on a fascinating mission to design bio-receptive architecture with an ecological design.

You have partnered with Exeter University to support ‘Climate Change: Solutions’. Tell us about it.

From geological time to human time, from geogenic cycles over eons to the decades of accelerated anthropogenic change, much of our work in Artecology is about creating refuge habitats for intertidal sea life threatened by ‘coastal squeeze’. However, in 2017 we had an excellent graduate from Exeter, Daneen Cowling, working with us on Artecology projects and on her MSc research into sea chemistry.

Through Daneen, and given the relevance of our location (the beautiful Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight) and our work, we teamed up with the fine folks at Exeter. This way we provided a special page on our website with a section on Artecology in the course content. The course is free and is part of the fantastic FutureLearn program. Read more about it here.

What are the projects Artecology is currently commissioning?

We have just sent a batch of new Vertipools for a large sea defense project along the River Arun – this is a world’s first! Also, we are working with architects and bryologists to combine functional, ornamental and ecological designs in the creation of complex folded and patterned cladding, tiles, and panels for new and old buildings.

How important have partnerships been in furthering Artecology’s mission?

Partnership and collaboration are at the very heart of Artecology’s view of the world –  they are the engines of our creation! We work with universities, agencies, regulators, engineers, architects, planners, housing associations, schools, and communities.

Collaboration is an effective way to kickstart action, get past the barriers we too often invent for ourselves and for our organizations. Our work is about natural and social capital, about public places and public life, about biological health and ecological resilience, and these are all fundamentally shared experiences.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain name? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

We chose .Space because it is a clear and intuitive domain name that denotes a clean and uncluttered web address – just what we needed to get the Artecology name out into the world! However, Artecology is all about space, about volumes and areas in the urban environment and about our shared uses and experiences of these spaces with the natural world. I’m certain that this congruity between the name and purpose has also helped to reinforce our message.

How did Earthling Beauty start? Tell us the story.

The seeds of Earthling Beauty were sown in my mind when I was a little girl. I would pretend to make potions for skin and hair out of my parents’ flower garden. Officially though, I launched the brand as a means to fund my urban farming nonprofit, The Edible Apartment.

Also, I was tired of searching for a skincare line that was as good as the formulas I’d been making for myself over the years. Even the expensive ones in stores seemed like watered down versions of my own creations. And so, I developed my own brand – one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Tell us about the Edible Apartment.

The Edible Apartment is my beloved urban farming nonprofit that I founded for people living in apartments who wish to learn how to grow their own food. As far as I know, we’re the only organization focused solely on creating organic mini-farms on apartment building sites.

The gardens provide a sustainable food source, make the neighborhood beautiful and build a strong community. Although the residents don’t own the land, they are still able to reap the many rewards of growing food, even in the middle of the city.

How important a role has social media played to help Earthling Beauty acquire customers and a strong following?

Social media has been instrumental in building awareness and fans for the brand. We share information about the quality of the ingredients that we use and the ethos behind Earthling and the urban farms. We never pay for reviews, but somehow people just find us “organically.”

There have been many YouTube and Instagram influencers that have shared the Earthling love and built awareness about our mission.  In turn, this awareness then translates into customers, who have helped support the nonprofit.

What are the trends you foresee in the vegan beauty care industry? Will global markets experience a growth in vegan beauty products in the years to come?

I have found that even Earthlings who aren’t vegan want to use a vegan skincare line because they understand the purity of ingredients as well as the integrity and intention behind the product. There is a huge growth in the global vegan beauty market and this evident from our growing international fans and customers.

What are your future plans for Earthling Beauty?

My plans for Earthling Beauty are actually based on my goals for The Edible Apartment. I’m going to build 1000 Edible Apartments all over the EARTH. So, my plans for Earthling Beauty are to have enough sales to make that happen.

Why did you choose a .SPACE domain name? How is it helping you develop a unique online brand?

Well, since the brand is called Earthling, a .SPACE domain seemed fitting. The ethos of the company is about making things better for individuals and the collective planet, in other words, making space for a new generation focused on health, wellness, and consciousness.