SPEAKER INTERVIEW

Raquel Buscaino, Emerging Technology Lead, Deloitte

 

Hello Raquel! Could you tell us a little but more about yourself and what you do at Deloitte?

I lead Deloitte’s Novel & Exponential Technologies (NExT) team where my team and I sense, and make sense of, emerging technologies that are likely to change the way our world works and lives. From brain-computer interfaces and synthetic biology to space exploration and quantum computing, my team and I aim to distil signal from noise, value from hype, and profitable actions from ambiguous concepts.

When it comes to space exploration and the developing space economy, I believe we are at a true inflection point – space has never been more accessible or ripe with opportunity. Every day I’m inspired by the ingenuity, passion, and perseverance that permeates across the industry, and by the people and organizations who are innovating at the frontier to push the industry forward.

 

You will be joining us on Wednesday May 15, speaking on the ‘Missions to the Moon' panel session. Which technologies that enable lunar exploration excite you in particular and why? 

When it comes to Lunar exploration, I’m not just excited about us returning humanity to the Moon – I’m excited about us staying there with a sustained human presence. To this end, ISRU (in-situ resource utilization) technologies that allow us to harness the Moon’s natural resources for water, oxygen, fuel, and building materials are high on my list, and I hope that we can truly learn to ‘live off the land’ in a sustainable and equitable manner.

I’m also excited by potential advancements in energy and construction. A nuclear fission reactor that could provide safe and reliable energy to a settlement on the Moon would help us pass the long Lunar nights (which last about 14 Earth days) where solar power wouldn’t be available. As for construction, I think we are just beginning to scratch the surface of how 3D printing and advanced robotics will enable us to build and assemble structures in space.

 

Many timelines are pushed by commercial players in the industry, causing shorter lead and delivery times. What does this development mean for the implementation of emerging technologies in the industry, and have you seen many changes in terms of the adoption of new innovations?

The influx of commercial players and competition in the industry is a huge driver for innovation. Just thinking about where launch capacity and capabilities were a decade ago to where they are today is mind-blowing. I think the robust partnership between government and commercial players is creating an ecosystem that is helping the industry challenge orthodoxies and assumptions, while still maintaining the levels of safety and regulatory consideration needed to make sure the industry continues thriving.

 

What are the main challenges the industry is currently facing regarding implementing emerging technology? 

One of the biggest challenges in advancing space tech is just how tough space itself is. Whereas other industries might be able to easily port over emerging tech use cases from one industry to the next with minor modifications, there are few other industries outside of space that deal with such extreme temperatures, radiation exposure, or complex infrastructure deployments. Any new capability must be thoroughly tested so that it can withstand the harsh conditions that space presents.

The space industry is also a capital-intensive business that necessitates upfront investments for research and development, often with long periods before seeing a return on that investment. Coupling this high financial cost with a rigorous regulatory and safety environment, some companies might be less incentivized to invest in novel techniques and technologies.

Lastly, achieving interoperability with existing space assets is crucial. Because much of the infrastructure is built on existing systems, it can make it difficult to integrate emerging technologies easily. Although I am hopeful that industry standards and collaboration will improve and allow advancements across the industry to scale more effectively.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in space, without the limitations of time and resources, where would you go and what would be your preferred method of space transportation?

I would head to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. As an avid scuba diver, I’ve always been fascinated by water, and water worlds like Europa are no exception. I hope that humanity’s push to search for life outside of Earth will always continue forward. And as for the preferred method of space transportation? I’d have to go with a good ‘ole fashioned wormhole.

 

We look forward to seeing you in Long Beach, Raquel!