Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Interstellar Lab Founder & CEO Barbara Belvisi to discuss autonomous biospheric systems and life-support for Earth and orbit.
Barbara explains how Interstellar Lab evolved from an ambitious lunar greenhouse concept into a dual-use platform generating revenue on Earth while building toward deployment in orbit and beyond. Designed from the outset as sealed, AI-controlled biospheric environments, Interstellar Lab’s inflatable “biopods” regulate atmosphere, light spectrum, humidity, and water recycling with minimal human intervention. The discussion explores commercial traction with global cosmetic leaders, NASA-backed research initiatives, integration into future commercial space stations, and the long-term vision for scalable life-support infrastructure as humanity expands beyond Earth.
00:00 – Introduction & Founder Background
Aidan introduces Barbara Belvisi and Interstellar Lab’s mission. Barbara shares her transition from venture capital into building space-enabled life-support systems.
02:30 – The Original Vision: Lunar Greenhouses
How the company began with a concept for growing plants on the Moon and evolved into a broader biospheric systems platform.
05:00 – What Is a Biopod?
Overview of Interstellar Lab’s sealed, inflatable structures and AI-controlled environmental regulation systems.
08:00 – Closed-Loop Environmental Control
How the system regulates CO₂, oxygen, humidity, temperature, water recycling, and light spectrum with minimal human input.
12:00 – Why Commercialize on Earth First
Dual-use strategy: generating revenue through high-value botanical production while refining space-grade systems.
16:00 – Market Focus: High-Value Botanicals
Why the company avoided commodity crops and instead targets rare, high-value cosmetic and fragrance ingredients.
20:00 – Commercial Traction & Partnerships
Discussion of contracts with major global cosmetic brands and early revenue from terrestrial installations.
25:00 – Automation & Autonomy by Design
How space constraints (limited crew time, resource efficiency) drove deep automation and AI integration from the start.
30:00 – Expansion to LEO & Commercial Stations
ISS retirement, NASA grants, and potential integration into upcoming commercial space habitats.
35:00 – Lunar Deployment Strategy
Inflatable ETFE structures, modular transport concepts, and long-term plans for lunar greenhouse infrastructure.
40:00 – Engineering & Materials Deep Dive
Structure design, overpressure systems, membrane materials, environmental dashboards, and modular scalability.
45:00 – Economics of Life-Support Systems
Efficiency gains, resource optimization, and the economic case for autonomous biospheric infrastructure.
50:00 – Biodiversity & Resilience Applications
Testing rare or endangered species and implications for ecological resilience on Earth.
55:00 – Long-Term Vision: Earth → Orbit → Moon → Mars
Barbara outlines the roadmap from terrestrial commercialization to off-world deployment and sustainable life-support systems.
