Unlocking the Future: Erika Wagner on Microgravity, Commercial Space, and Life on Earth

In our latest episode of Space Insiders, we sat down with Dr. Erika Wagner, a trailblazer whose career spans MIT, XPRIZE, Blue Origin, and now The Exploration Company. Erika’s journey—at the crossroads of aerospace and biomedical engineering—has been fueled by a lifelong passion for space, but her insights reach far beyond rockets and capsules.

Some of the key insights that stood out to me and Rob:

1. Space Research that Transforms Life on Earth

Erika emphasized how microgravity is a unique laboratory—one that unlocks discoveries we simply can’t make on Earth. From advanced drug formulations (like Merck’s work with Keytruda in orbit) to semiconductor manufacturing and next-gen materials, space isn’t just about exploration—it’s about enabling breakthroughs that improve life here on the ground. Funnily, now I seem to be constantly seeing Keytruda ads on Hulu. I think my TV is listening to me.....

2. Commercial Stations Will Scale What ISS Started

While the ISS has been invaluable for research, it wasn’t designed for large-scale commercial production. Erika highlighted how the coming wave of commercial space stations will change that. With faster logistics, greater accessibility, and the ability to scale experiments, industries from pharma to advanced manufacturing will have new pathways to innovate at the “pace of business” rather than the “pace of government.”

3. Global Collaboration is the Key to Acceleration

As Erika shared, The Exploration Company embodies a powerful model—combining European collaboration, international talent, and commercial partnerships to build capsules for space logistics. The result? Faster innovation, stronger cross-border ties, and a new era where space is not just a frontier, but an integrated part of the global economy.

Your Turn: Which industries do you think will benefit first from large-scale commercial space stations—healthcare, semiconductors, or something else entirely?

Join the conversation and share your perspective. And if you haven’t already, check out the full interview with Erika Wagner on Space Insiders—you won’t want to miss it.