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The DownLink Podcast

The DownLink
Space Force
Spacex
China
NASA
Space Economy
Golden Dome
Tariffs
United States Space Force
Artemis Program
Artificial Intelligence
Donald Trump
Government Spending
Space Warfare
Russia
Missile Defense
Department Of Defense
United States
War Fighting
U.S. Space Force
Iron Dome

From the Defense & Aerospace Report... This is The DownLink Podcast, hosted by Laura Winter. From the intersection of space, business, and defense... Not just what's over the horizon, but what's happening above it. The DownLink Podcast is 2023, 2024, and 2025 Defense Media Award-winner.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes244Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Institutional investors are diversifying their portfolios to include alternative assets, such as private equity and private credit. With the SpaceX IPO, some are seeking stakes in the space category, but do they understand what they're buying? From t... more

A year after German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius spoke about offensive capabilities and pledged €35B to build up military space power, the interest, desire, and need for resilient space systems have grown alongside the increasing number of hyb... more

YouTube

Space venture funding hit a record $3.1 billion in September — but the industry's real problem could be a scarcity of rockets, even if SpaceX’s Starship comes on-line. Laura Winter speaks with Chris Quilty, Founder and CEO of Quilty Space, and Lou Wh... more

YouTube

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman knows that breathing efficiently is really the trick that unlocks human deep space travel. He recently paid a visit to Honeywell Aerospace in Arizona and learned more about the company's clever answer that has the po... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Torsten Kriening
Publisher and CEO of SpaceWatch Global
SpaceWatch Global
Episode: Words First, Then Money, Now Hardware
Chris Quilty
Founder and CEO of Quilty Space
Quilty Space
Episode: Q3: Big Checks and Rocket Risk
Lou Whiteman
Aerospace and Space Analyst at The Motley Fool
The Motley Fool
Episode: Q3: Big Checks and Rocket Risk
Meghan Pipitone
Lead engineer for air revitalization at Honeywell Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace
Episode: Don't Waste a Molecule. Close the Air Loop.
Dean Cheng
Expert on China's PLA and Chinese space power
The Heritage Foundation (implicitly referenced as Dean's affiliation in context)
Episode: U.S.-China Summit: Trump, Xi, and the State of the Space Race
Charles Galbreath
Retired Space Force Colonel, Director of the Mitchell Institute's Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence
Mitchell Institute for Space Power Studies
Episode: Orbital Space Weapons — Meh, Pivotal, or Both?
Jennifer Reeves
Retired Air Force Colonel, Senior Fellow at the Mitchell Institute's Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence
Mitchell Institute
Episode: Orbital Space Weapons — Meh, Pivotal, or Both?
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator
NASA
Episode: Orbital Space Weapons — Meh, Pivotal, or Both?
DT Thompson
First Vice Chief of Space Operations, retired Space Force general
Space Force
Episode: What’s the Payload the President’s 1,000-Launch Memo Should Deliver?

Host

Laura Winter
Host of The DownLink Podcast focusing on space, business, and defense; regular host/interviewer with deep domain coverage in space policy and defense tech.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • Good but short

    The shows are interesting and the guests and topics are great but every episode Laura says they’re running out of time. There’s a constant need to wrap up the episode and a lot more color around the discussion of topics is leftbout.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jk,:
    United States7 months ago
  • Best in Class Space Activities Analysis

    This is an excellent resource for accurate information and analytics concerning space issues. The moderator is excellent. Laura is great

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LarryLeibrock
    United Statesa year ago
  • A Must Listen

    I followed the show now for a couple of years, and find the conversations invigorating, enlightening, and always energetic! Don’t miss the opportunity to listen as often as you can to the new content, or as I have done, go back and listen to the previous episodes. This podcast is perfect for my PhD track in Aerospace science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T Space Engineer
    United States2 years ago
  • Still one of my favorite podcasts

    Thank you for researching the topic and preparing well for the discussion on this podcast. The advanced work prior to the show is evident. I also, enjoy how the host keeps the conversation on topic and follows up on vague answers from guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    briancreighton
    United States2 years ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you for making a professional and well run podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    briancreighton
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listener notes praise for topic depth and preparation, with feedback on pacing.
Guests bring deep expertise and industry context.
The host delivers professional, well-prepared discussions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Don't Waste a Molecule. Close the Air Loop.
Q: What role do the Sabatier reactor and methane pyrolysis play in closing the loop?
The Sabatier reactor converts CO2 and hydrogen into water and methane, allowing partial oxygen recovery and water recycling, while methane pyrolysis serves as the final step to recover the remaining oxygen by splitting methane into carbon and hydrogen for reuse, bringing the system closer to full air revitalization closure.
Don't Waste a Molecule. Close the Air Loop.
Q: How does the system handle contaminants and maintain air quality?
The ionic liquid selectively captures CO2 and some VOCs, while a scrubber with hollow fiber membranes keeps the air clean before the CO2 is processed in a stripper; this preserves oxygen and makes the air returned to the cabin safer and more comfortable.
Don't Waste a Molecule. Close the Air Loop.
Q: What is Cedrals and how does it improve air revitalization compared to current systems?
Cedrals uses a continuous liquid sorbent to absorb CO2 and water while avoiding reliance on space vacuum, enabling oxygen recovery within the system and reducing mass and moving parts versus traditional solid-bed, cycle-based systems like the ISS setup.
Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains
Q: What is the relationship between Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law in this context?
Geneva Conventions are four treaties that sit within the broader body of international humanitarian law, which also includes customary law; in practice, IHL guides what is lawful in armed conflict and how civilians and civilian objects should be protected, including in space.
Space Tech: Where "Resilient" Isn't a Policy Cliché
Q: How does Open RAN affect DoD connectivity and interoperability?
Open RAN decouples software from proprietary hardware, enabling multi-vendor, secure, interoperable networks, and allowing private 5G deployments that are open, modular, and easier to secure through standard interfaces.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The DownLink Podcast

What is The DownLink Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on space, defense, and technology with a heavy emphasis on space policy, national security, and industry dynamics. Episodes frequently explore space power, international competition (notably U.S., China, and allied perspectives), space governance, and the evolving roles of military and civil space actors. Guests range from senior military leaders and government officials to think-tank analysts, NASA and Space Force insiders, and space industry financiers, offering a blend of strategic foresight, policy analysis, and practical implications for the space economy. A standout trait is the ability to connect high-level policy with concrete industry impacts, including launch reliability, space infrastructure, and international pa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The DownLink Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The DownLink Podcast:

1. Defense & Aerospace Report
2. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
3. The Asia Chessboard
4. The Proceedings Podcast
5. Planet Money

How many episodes of The DownLink Podcast are there?

The DownLink Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 244 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The DownLink Podcast?

Recent guests on The DownLink Podcast include:

1. Torsten Kriening
2. Chris Quilty
3. Lou Whiteman
4. Meghan Pipitone
5. Dean Cheng
6. Charles Galbreath
7. Jennifer Reeves
8. Jared Isaacman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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