The sky's the limit for entrepreneurs who want to use new technologies to solve the world's problems. Singapore start-up Astroscale is focusing on the problem of space debris. An astonishing 29,000 objects larger than 10cm in diameter are estimated to be currently orbiting the earth, posing a real risk of serious damage to satellites in the event of a collision. We talk to founder Nobu Okada, who has a finance background and who has worked for companies including McKinsey and Bain Capital before launching his own ambitious start-up. We ask about his fascination for space, and how he manages global research teams from his office in Singapore.
1. How did you and the founding team come up with the idea of developing active space debris removal technology and what inspired your passion for the field?
My passion comes from my days at NASA as a teenager. I got to meet Mr Mohri, a pioneering Japanese astronaut who gave me a note saying “the challenge of space awaits you.” From that moment, I kept studying hard to achieve my goal of being involved in the space industry and making a difference.
Before starting this company last year, I was still something of an outsider.