10 Apr 2025

Are Heat Shields the Key to Unlocking the Space Economy?
The space economy is growing rapidly, driven by commercial operations with lower costs. Thermal protection systems enable spacecraft to endure the extreme environments of atmospheric entry, but how will developments in this industry impact the broader space economy?
Full profile interview
8 Apr 2025

Apptronik, Inc
Apptronik, Inc has emerged as a leader in humanoid robotics, combining advanced engineering with strategic partnerships to address industrial and future consumer needs. Founded in 2016 by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, the company now employs over 150 people and collaborates with NASA and Google DeepMind and major manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics.
Appears in IDTechEx Report

1 Apr 2025
Ion Exchange Membranes 2025-2035: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts
IDTechEx Report: Dr Jack Howley, Chingis Idrissov, Dr Conor O'Brien, Conrad Nichols, Eve Pope, Sona Dadhania and Dr Jiayi Cen
Full profile interview
24 Mar 2025

Solid Power
Solid Power was established in 2012 as a spin-out from the University of Colorado Boulder. Founded by Doug Campbell, Conrad Stoldt, and Sehee Lee, the company initially received funding from DARPA to explore next-generation solid-state battery technology. By 2013, Solid Power secured US$4.5 million in funding from ARPA-E and other non-dilutive sources, such as the Department of Defense and NASA. This early support enabled the company to transition out of the university's research labs and begin independent operations.
Full profile interview
17 Mar 2025

United Launch Alliance: SMART
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a major provider of rocket launch services. This profile focuses on SMART (Sensible Modular Autonomous Return Technology), which is currently in development and aims to enable the reusability of the Vulcan Centaur's two BE-4 booster engines.
Background
24 Feb 2025

ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH: Phoenix
ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH is a German aerospace company developing Phoenix, a low Earth orbit capable capsule that will use an inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (IAD) to withstand the atmospheric heating during re-entry. ATMOS intends to use this capability to enable space manufacturing.
Full profile interview
14 Feb 2025

Varda Space Industries
Varda Space Industries is a private American space research company headquartered in California and founded in 2021. The company designs, builds, and flies spacecraft to perform pharmaceutical operations in microgravity of low Earth orbit. It is one of a handful of private space companies to have successfully returned an object from low Earth orbit (along with SpaceX and Boeing).
Full profile interview
10 Feb 2025

Aerogel Technologies
Aerogel Technologies is a US-based manufacturer of aerogels, with a key focus on its polymer aerogel range, Airloy, using a roll-to-roll continuous process.