Roid Rage

In this episode, we break down what mass budgets actually mean in the context of building flight hardware. Mechanical Engineer Eric joins us to talk about baseplate iterations, machining mistakes, margin shrinkage, and why even with careful design—everything ends up overweight. This one’s for anyone who thinks spreadsheets survive contact with the shop floor.

This episode breaks down how spacecraft autonomy is structured through mission modes: predefined system states that control how a vehicle behaves, recovers from faults, and configures its subsystems. Chap (CoS), Robyn (COO), and Matt (CEO) cover how and when transitions happen, what “Oh Shit Mode” actually is, and how AstroForge designs and tests mode architecture to prioritize survivability over ideal execution.

In Episode 18 of Roid Rage, Chap (CoS) and Matt (CEO) chat with Chris, Head of Avionics at AstroForge, about how we design the systems that keep a spacecraft alive. From power distribution and flight computers to deep space thermal challenges and build vs. buy decisions, this episode breaks down what makes avionics one of the most complex parts of any mission - and why starting from a blank slate makes it both harder and more fun.

Landing on an asteroid is nothing like landing on the Moon or Mars. In this episode, Matt (CEO), Robyn (COO), and Armand (Head of GNC + Flight Software) break down how we design for surface contact when there’s no GPS, no atmosphere, and almost no room for error. From autonomous targeting to sub-meter-per-second velocity control, we unpack what it takes to land in deep space - and why it matters for long-term mission success.

This week on Roid Rage, we’re digging deep into asteroids (figuratively): what they are, how to tell them apart, and why it’s a lot messier than the textbook diagrams suggest. Asteroid expert Dr. Cristina Thomas joins us to unpack the murky definition of M-types, how we even begin identifying asteroid targets, and what mining one could really look like. No space PhD required - just curiosity and a good pair of headphones.

What does success look like when you’re building a deep space mission on a startup budget? In this week's episode of Roid Rage, Chap (CoS), Robyn (COO), and Matt (CEO) break down how AstroForge approaches mission requirements — and why our version differs from the traditional playbook.

'Why Starting A Rocket Engine Is So Hard' by Everday Astronaut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAUVCn_jw5I

This week on Roid Rage, we’re joined by Demyan, Senior Mission Operations Engineer at AstroForge, to dig into the messy reality of planning and designing missions - in particular, deep space asteroid mining missions. Chap (CoS), Matt (CEO), and Demyan unpack how real-world constraints shape every decision, what tradeoffs actually matter, and where even well-built designs can fail.

In this episode of Roid Rage, we’re digging into how we build — and deliberately break — our Concept of Operations (ConOps) at AstroForge. Chap (CoS) is joined by Robyn (COO) and Matt (CEO) for a candid look at what actually goes into operational planning for a deep space mining mission.

This week, Chap (CoS) and Matt (CEO) sit down with Ashton, Head of Space Systems at AstroForge, to chat about the iterative process of qualifying hardware for deep space. From design to testing, Ashton shares his experiences leading the team through the building process of Odin - and what lessons he hopes to apply to Vestri.

In this episode of Roid Rage, we’re joined by Nathan and Kieran, two of the brains behind the code that powers our spacecraft. We dive into the world of flight software — the critical systems that keep our missions alive and on track. From booting up in space to surviving the harshest conditions, we talk through what it really takes to write code that flies. 

In this week's Roid Rage episode, we chat with AstroForge’s new Chief Business Officer (CBO), Krystle Caponio, to hear about what ultimately led her to asteroid mining. With 15+ years of experience as an aerospace exec, Krystle shares her journey in building value for the space industry through her wear-all-hats approach.

In today's episode of Roid Rage, Chap (CoS) sits down with Matt (CEO), Robyn (COO), and Josh (Head of Finance) to break down the differences between ERP, QRP, MES, and QMS - the key systems that make building spacecraft possible. We explore how these essential manufacturing and business systems work together, from managing ingredients and recipes to ensuring every slice meets quality standards.