In this episode of Roid Rage, we’re joined again by Structures Engineer Wesley to break down the solar array system on DeepSpace-2. We cover what went wrong with Odin’s panels, how that failure shaped the new design, and the tradeoffs between rollout arrays, rigid panels, and sandwich panel structures. Wesley walks us through how the arrays are built, what makes them hard to deploy, and why materials like carbon fiber, Kapton, and magnets all create hidden structural risks. From peel strength and arc risks to hold-down design and flight-like test setups, this one will show what it really takes to power a deep space spacecraft.
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52:27
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52:27
Don't Look Up
We're doing something a little different for this week's Roid Rage episode. Matt (CEO) and Chap (Chief of Mining) tackle some comments and questions across our socials.
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38:36
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38:36
We’re Not Vibing 1,000 Models
When you’re building spacecraft, the difference between a pass and a failure can come down to how you built your FEM. In this episode, Structures Engineer Holly walks us through how we simulate Vestri’s structure before it ever hits the shaker table. From modal margins to mass tradeoffs, modular models to the limits of simulation—this is how CAD gets us close, and where real life breaks away.
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56:15
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56:15
Just Screws
Spacecraft don’t fail because of one big thing; they fail because of 100 small ones. This one’s about the small stuff: fasteners, helicoils, backshells, and epoxy. The spacecraft parts no one talks about until they fail. This week, Ashton helps us break down how minor hardware choices impact everything from integration, to thermal control.
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52:13
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52:13
Bang-Bang To An Asteroid
This week on Roid Rage, we dive into the brutal, thankless math of orbital mechanics with James, one of AstroForge’s Flight Dynamics Engineers. James walks us through how we get our spacecraft from a rideshare drop-off orbit to a fast-moving metal rock millions of kilometers away— without crashing into the moon or missing the asteroid entirely.We talk low-thrust trajectory planning, why everything’s harder without a propulsion team, how to optimize when you can barely steer, and why half the job is just educated guessing and praying your simulations are right.
A podcast by AstroForge on all things related to deep space mining - specifically, asteroid mining. We discuss, explore, and banter about the intricacies of space science and exploration. Hosted by Matt (CEO), Robyn (COO), and Chap (CoS). Buckle in, you're in for a ride.
Netherlands