Expandable Habitats In Space with Kirsten Whittingham
Meet Kirsten Whittingham, the President of Max Space, a company committed to lowering the cost of doing business in space through innovative ‘expandable’ habitation modules.
Kirsten’s journey from a space-obsessed child in rural Tennessee to leading a company at the forefront of space habitation reflects her relentless dedication and passion for the space industry.
With an aerospace engineering degree and experience as a flight controller at NASA for both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station, Kirsten brings invaluable insights into the future of space exploration and the role of cost-effective solutions in expanding humanity’s reach into space.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Kirsten’s journey from space camp to NASA.
• The significance of Max Space’s modular habitats.
• Challenges women face in a male-dominated industry.
• How space technologies benefit everyday life on Earth.
• Plans for Max Space’s 2026 mission with SpaceX.
Quote:
“We can’t limit ourselves with what we think can be accomplished… we need people who can innovate, who can come up with these big, maybe crazy ideas, and work with a team to figure out how to make it work.”
- Kirsten Whittingham
Episode Links:
• Connect with Kirsten Whittingham on LinkedIn
• Follow Max Space on LinkedIn
• Explore Max Space
• Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
• Raytheon (now RTX)
• Redwire Space (Made in Space)
• Axiom Space
• NASA
Credits:
Production by CxS Partners LTD
Executive Producer: Toby Goodman
Audio & Sound Design: Lee Turner
Artwork: Ryan Field