Best of: Developing electronics for the extremes of space

The Future of Everything

Space exploration and travel are two topics that are always exciting, and that have sparked a lot of enthusiasm about the future. Debbie Senesky, a previous guest on the show, researches ways to develop tiny, tough electronics that could help augment our abilities to further explore extreme environments, such as those found in space. Today we’re re-running a conversation Russ had with Debbie in 2017 on this topic. Enjoy.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces the episode, guest, Dr. Debbie Senesky and electronics for extreme environments.

(00:04:29) Challenges in Space Exploration

Dr. Senesky's insights into the challenges of space exploration, focusing on the need for tiny and tough electronics and introduces wide bandgap semiconductor materials.

(00:07:38) Operation Temperatures of New Materials

Discussion on the operational temperatures of wide band gap semiconductor materials, & contextualization of these temperatures in everyday life.
(00:10:13) Venus and it’s harsh environment

Introduction to Venus, and its unique characteristics as well as the scientific goals and reasons for studying it.

(00:13:10) History of Venus Missions and Exploration

Overview of past Venus missions, including the Venera program by Russia, and the challenges faced in engineering for these missions

(00:16:21) Engineering Challenges in Other Space Exploration

The conversation moves on to some of the other challenges posed by exploring other planets and areas of space including cold temps and power sources.

(00:18:03) Collaboration with Space Agencies

Discussion on collaborations between research labs and space agencies like NASA; Dr. Senesky explains her current area of research and opportunities for testing.
(00:21:15) The Space Industry Renaissance and Access to Space

Russ & Debbie discuss the current boom of the space industry, the technology and developments, as well as the challenges raised by it.

(00:23:34) Nanoscale Materials and Engineering Challenges

Introduction to nanoscale materials, their production, and their applications in space technologies.

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads or Twitter/X

Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X