All Segments
Yuk Chi Chan — On Rockets, Dog Years & Robotic Space-Snakes | Episode 238
13 segments available
My guest today is the human Swiss Army Knife, Yuk Chi Chan, who has packed more into the last decade than many people do in a lifetime. Yuk Chi is the founder of Charter Space, the first British space company to graduate from the Techstars Space Accelerator. Before that, he served as an officer in the Singapore army (hmm, so maybe I should have described him as a Singaporean Army Knife) and practiced as a space lawyer (it’s funny how much cooler being a lawyer becomes when you preface it with the word “space”). Suffice to say, Yuk Chi knows a lot about space. We had a blast discussing how ‘ownership’ of territory really works, why the sector impacts our daily lives FAR more than we think, and the mind-boggling mission of an intrepid robotic space snake. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack - https://newsletter.osv.llc/. Important Links: - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanyukchi/?originalSubdomain=uk - Substack - https://sorryspeakup.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile - Twitter - https://twitter.com/AstroLawyer - Charter Website - https://twitter.com/charter_space_ - Charter Twitter - https://twitter.com/charter_space_ Show Notes: 0:00:00 Intro 0:01:02 Yuk Chi Chan: The human Swiss Army Knife 0:02:46 The strangely antiquated tools of the space industry 0:11:06 Military training, problem-solving, and reframing the challenge 0:18:21 The single most important trait in a co-founder 0:23:27 Unlearning, cyclical culture, and robotic space snakes 0:35:37 The labyrinthine world of space insurance 0:44:00 Who owns space? 0:54:22 The angry man on Yuk Chi’s shoulder 1:06:27 Why Yuk Chi measures his life in dog years 1:15:23 Space insurance as Zeno’s Paradox 1:24:45 Why the space industry is WAY more ubiquitous than you think 1:33:40 Yuk Chi as Emperor of The World Books Mentioned: - Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said; by Philip K. Dick - Ubik; by Philip K. Dick
Segments Timeline
The Ubiquity of Space Technology
Yuk Chi Chan discusses how space technology is deeply integrated into our daily lives and the economy. He emphasizes the importance of ownership in space and the potential dangers of claiming and defending territory in this new frontier. This segment highlights the need for optimism and innovation in the face of challenges.
"all space technology is ubiquitous it affects every part of our lives every part of the economy the tricky thing about 3D Systems is that they generally require everybody to sign up to them I do think..."
Meet Yuk Chi Chan: The Human Swiss Army Knife
In this introduction, Jim O'Shaughnessy welcomes Yuk Chi Chan, founder of Charter Space, and describes him as a 'human Swiss Army Knife.' Yuk Chi shares his diverse background, including his experience as a space lawyer and military officer, setting the stage for a fascinating discussion on space technology and innovation.
"well hello everyone it's Jim o shasy with yet another infinite Loops today's guest uh yuk Chi Chan I love your name man and I've seen it I've seen it done the other way you're gonna have to educate me..."
Antiquated Tools in Space Industry
Yuk Chi Chan critiques the outdated tools used in the space industry, such as Excel and duct tape, which hinder progress. He shares insights from his experience in the industry and the need for better software solutions to facilitate space programming and operations, emphasizing the importance of innovation.
"was you named your software package ubic and I'm I'm taking it that that is a nod to one of my favorite science fiction authors Philip Kate dick it absolutely is Ive I I've read almost every single th..."
Military Training and Problem-Solving
Yuk Chi reflects on how his military training has shaped his approach to problem-solving in the space industry. He discusses the importance of logistics, communication, and the ability to adapt in high-stakes environments, drawing parallels between military operations and space missions.
"intrigued me about you is you're you're basically Outsider status uh coming in able to in my opinion use very effectively your military training because you know you I I love people who've been traine..."
The Key Trait of a Co-Founder
In this segment, Yuk Chi reveals what he believes is the single most important trait in a co-founder. He emphasizes the significance of trust and shared vision in building successful partnerships, particularly in the challenging landscape of the space industry.
"little bit about uh again we're we're we're uh relying on your army uh experiences because you you've also applied it to picking co-founders um and like one of the first things you list is trust it do..."
Unlearning and Robotic Space Snakes
Yuk Chi discusses the concept of unlearning in the context of innovation and creativity. He introduces the idea of robotic space snakes, illustrating how unconventional thinking can lead to groundbreaking advancements in space exploration and technology.
"that I I love about you is you share with me the enthusiasm for this momentum momentous and almost miraculous timeline we are living in the odds against right the odds against are like so ridiculously..."
Navigating Space Insurance
Yuk Chi delves into the complexities of space insurance, describing it as a labyrinthine world filled with regulations and uncertainties. He shares his experiences and insights on the challenges faced by companies in securing insurance for space missions.
"and what you are passionate about and what you're doing um you're also a lawyer and you hate the legal industry but love the law what do you what do you think might emerge over the next couple of deca..."
Who Owns Space?
In this thought-provoking segment, Yuk Chi explores the question of ownership in space. He discusses the implications of territorial claims and the ethical considerations surrounding the commercialization of outer space.
"think about the whole notion of ownership right like I I use a lot of memes and gifs on Twitter for example to joke around and well one of them is uh this GI of of uh United States astronaut landing o..."
The Angry Man on Yuk Chi's Shoulder
Yuk Chi shares a personal anecdote about the 'angry man' on his shoulder, representing the internal struggles and pressures he faces as an entrepreneur in the space industry. This segment highlights the emotional challenges of pursuing ambitious goals.
"one of the things that you say that I love is two things actually U I want to talk to a bit about the angry man on your shoulder and you see you you say he's there in a variety of guyses to basically ..."
Measuring Life in Dog Years
Yuk Chi explains his unique perspective on measuring life in 'dog years,' reflecting on the rapid pace of change and the importance of making the most of every moment. He shares insights on how this mindset influences his work and personal life.
"you that you do that I really like is you think of years and dog years and so of course I'm like okay isn't the standard measure of dog years 7 to one and so I log on to our large language model we ha..."
Space Insurance as Zeno's Paradox
In this segment, Yuk Chi draws parallels between space insurance and Zeno's Paradox, discussing the complexities and challenges of insuring space missions. He highlights the ongoing struggle to balance risk and innovation in the industry.
"has surprised you the most with your Enterprise and uh obviously um you know what was like the oh I didn't think about that and then how did how do you look at solving that problem or problems so not ..."
The Ubiquity of the Space Industry
Yuk Chi emphasizes how the space industry impacts our daily lives far more than we realize. He discusses the various ways space technology is integrated into everyday activities and the importance of recognizing its significance.
"things come to mind uh that would you would highlight as differences between doing space based deep Tech uh versus just deep Tech in general here on jerma well I think deep Tech is a very broad term a..."
Yuk Chi as Emperor of The World
In a light-hearted conclusion, Yuk Chi humorously reflects on the idea of being 'Emperor of The World.' He shares his vision for the future of space exploration and the role of innovation in shaping our collective destiny.
"listened to this podcast in the past you know that we have a final question for all our guests and that is we are going to create you as the emperor of the world you cannot kill anyone you can not put..."