Rafael Mentges
@mentges.bsky.social
Space Economist. Interested in European Integration, industrial policy, innovation, strategic sovereignty, and of course things like launchers, SatCom, EO ...
I have another profile focused more on my old interests: Macro, monetary policy and banking.
I have another profile focused more on my old interests: Macro, monetary policy and banking.
Pinned
Rafael Mentges
@mentges.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Ok, here is an updated version of my space policy starter pack.
Let's make #BlueSpace the best platform for space news, space econ and space law discussions.
@sharestuff.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/PRWt1qf
Let's make #BlueSpace the best platform for space news, space econ and space law discussions.
@sharestuff.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/PRWt1qf
Interesting piece about the limits of LLMs and super intelligence.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Computer scientist Yann LeCun: ‘Intelligence really is about learning’
The AI pioneer on stepping down from Meta, the limits of large language models — and the launch of his new start-up
giftarticle.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Interesting piece about the limits of LLMs and super intelligence.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
🚨 Publication alert 🚨
I am happy to announce that the paper
“Reaching for the society: The commercialization effects of NASA technology licensing” (with @anjaroesner.bsky.social) will appear in the December issue of Research Policy!!
Link: doi.org/10.1016/j.re...
I am happy to announce that the paper
“Reaching for the society: The commercialization effects of NASA technology licensing” (with @anjaroesner.bsky.social) will appear in the December issue of Research Policy!!
Link: doi.org/10.1016/j.re...
September 29, 2025 at 7:56 AM
🚨 Publication alert 🚨
I am happy to announce that the paper
“Reaching for the society: The commercialization effects of NASA technology licensing” (with @anjaroesner.bsky.social) will appear in the December issue of Research Policy!!
Link: doi.org/10.1016/j.re...
I am happy to announce that the paper
“Reaching for the society: The commercialization effects of NASA technology licensing” (with @anjaroesner.bsky.social) will appear in the December issue of Research Policy!!
Link: doi.org/10.1016/j.re...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
I have some broader remarks on PLAN modernisation and trends in 2025 in this piece by @kakiuchan.bsky.social. Thanks for reaching out! My own longish overview on @navalnews.com will also publish with the next days, in two parts.
www.newsweek.com/china-plans-...
www.newsweek.com/china-plans-...
China's plans to dominate at sea in 2026
China has built the world’s largest navy by hull count as part of its push to field a "world-class" military.
www.newsweek.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
I have some broader remarks on PLAN modernisation and trends in 2025 in this piece by @kakiuchan.bsky.social. Thanks for reaching out! My own longish overview on @navalnews.com will also publish with the next days, in two parts.
www.newsweek.com/china-plans-...
www.newsweek.com/china-plans-...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
It's been a while since I've created new art, although I've got a couple of things I'm preparing. In the meantime, why not start your 2026 by following a bunch of cool artists who like to paint space?
🐡🔭
go.bsky.app/T9Xcq1M
🐡🔭
go.bsky.app/T9Xcq1M
December 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
It's been a while since I've created new art, although I've got a couple of things I'm preparing. In the meantime, why not start your 2026 by following a bunch of cool artists who like to paint space?
🐡🔭
go.bsky.app/T9Xcq1M
🐡🔭
go.bsky.app/T9Xcq1M
Where do they find all these crazy people?
And why does anyone vote for them?
And why does anyone vote for them?
Eric Adams is going to use cryptocurrency to fight antisemitism. Eric Adams is going to use samurai swords to fight food waste. Eric Adams is going to use 100 rubber duckies to fight prostate cancer. I would believe literally any combo of words hellgatenyc.com/eric-adams-s...
Eric Adams Says His Next Gig Is Fighting Antisemitism With Cryptocurrency
How? Don't ask.
hellgatenyc.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Where do they find all these crazy people?
And why does anyone vote for them?
And why does anyone vote for them?
AI forecast to put 200,000 (10%) European banking jobs at risk by 2030
“Many banks have quoted efficiency gains coming from AI and further digitalisation to the tune of 30 per cent,”
On a positive note, that could free up some talent.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
“Many banks have quoted efficiency gains coming from AI and further digitalisation to the tune of 30 per cent,”
On a positive note, that could free up some talent.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
AI forecast to put 200,000 European banking jobs at risk by 2030
Morgan Stanley analysts predict roles in back and middle offices will bear brunt
giftarticle.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:12 AM
AI forecast to put 200,000 (10%) European banking jobs at risk by 2030
“Many banks have quoted efficiency gains coming from AI and further digitalisation to the tune of 30 per cent,”
On a positive note, that could free up some talent.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
“Many banks have quoted efficiency gains coming from AI and further digitalisation to the tune of 30 per cent,”
On a positive note, that could free up some talent.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
There is actually a fragrance that is supposed to smell like space or what astronaut smell directly after an EVA
Who is nerd enough to buy this? Please show hands ☺️
Who is nerd enough to buy this? Please show hands ☺️
Eau de Space - "The Smell of Space" Fragrance, 100ml
Decades ago, NASA designed a fragrance to train astronauts on how Outer Space actually smells. Now we're releasing it to the world. Your very own Eau de Space, "The Smell of Space", in a 100ml custom ...
eaudespace.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:33 AM
There is actually a fragrance that is supposed to smell like space or what astronaut smell directly after an EVA
Who is nerd enough to buy this? Please show hands ☺️
Who is nerd enough to buy this? Please show hands ☺️
You might have heard that there are dogfights between satellites in space.
But what does that really mean when orbital mechanics makes things kind of weird?
How do you approach other objects in space?
@scottmanley.bsky.social with an explanation. I just wish it would have been a bit longer.
But what does that really mean when orbital mechanics makes things kind of weird?
How do you approach other objects in space?
@scottmanley.bsky.social with an explanation. I just wish it would have been a bit longer.
How Real Satellites Dogfight - Proximity Operations In Space Explained
YouTube video by Scott Manley
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
You might have heard that there are dogfights between satellites in space.
But what does that really mean when orbital mechanics makes things kind of weird?
How do you approach other objects in space?
@scottmanley.bsky.social with an explanation. I just wish it would have been a bit longer.
But what does that really mean when orbital mechanics makes things kind of weird?
How do you approach other objects in space?
@scottmanley.bsky.social with an explanation. I just wish it would have been a bit longer.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Assez peu de bruit autour du décollage du nouveau satellite BlueBird-6 d'AST Spacemobile.
Pourtant en terme de pollution lumineuse (et radio) du ciel de nuit, on parle d'une antenne de 223m² (oui vous avez bien lu l'unité).
AST veut en envoyer au moins 60 satellites en orbite.
Pourtant en terme de pollution lumineuse (et radio) du ciel de nuit, on parle d'une antenne de 223m² (oui vous avez bien lu l'unité).
AST veut en envoyer au moins 60 satellites en orbite.
December 29, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Assez peu de bruit autour du décollage du nouveau satellite BlueBird-6 d'AST Spacemobile.
Pourtant en terme de pollution lumineuse (et radio) du ciel de nuit, on parle d'une antenne de 223m² (oui vous avez bien lu l'unité).
AST veut en envoyer au moins 60 satellites en orbite.
Pourtant en terme de pollution lumineuse (et radio) du ciel de nuit, on parle d'une antenne de 223m² (oui vous avez bien lu l'unité).
AST veut en envoyer au moins 60 satellites en orbite.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
On the plus side, LLMs also reduce barriers for non-native speakers, facilitate the discovery of prior literature, and remove traditional signals of scientific quality such as language complexity. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
December 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM
On the plus side, LLMs also reduce barriers for non-native speakers, facilitate the discovery of prior literature, and remove traditional signals of scientific quality such as language complexity. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
China announced the Justice Mission 2025 hours ago, a military exercise that will take place around Taiwan.
Live-fire exercises will take place tomorrow on 12/30.
Live-fire exercises will take place tomorrow on 12/30.
December 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
China announced the Justice Mission 2025 hours ago, a military exercise that will take place around Taiwan.
Live-fire exercises will take place tomorrow on 12/30.
Live-fire exercises will take place tomorrow on 12/30.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
China’s massive fishing fleet had spent 73,000 hours in ONE month ravaging the waters right off the Galápagos Marine Reserve
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
#China is ranked as the world’s worst nation in IUU fishing index.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
#China is ranked as the world’s worst nation in IUU fishing index.
November 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM
China’s massive fishing fleet had spent 73,000 hours in ONE month ravaging the waters right off the Galápagos Marine Reserve
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
#China is ranked as the world’s worst nation in IUU fishing index.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
#China is ranked as the world’s worst nation in IUU fishing index.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Discussing the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities and presenting a theoretical framework for maximizing the benefits of Ukraine’s rebuilding effort to highlight the welfare effects of different allocations of post-war infrastructure, from Glaeser, Kirchberger, and Parkhomenko www.nber.org/papers/w34598
December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Discussing the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities and presenting a theoretical framework for maximizing the benefits of Ukraine’s rebuilding effort to highlight the welfare effects of different allocations of post-war infrastructure, from Glaeser, Kirchberger, and Parkhomenko www.nber.org/papers/w34598
That reminds me of another "fun planetary fact":
It is raining diamonds on Neptune.
Or, at least, some scientists think that's possible.
It is raining diamonds on Neptune.
Or, at least, some scientists think that's possible.
My family doesn't often tolerate my "fun planetary facts," but today's "did you know that the tallest mountain on Venus is covered in condensed heavy metal snow" did produce some interest
December 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
That reminds me of another "fun planetary fact":
It is raining diamonds on Neptune.
Or, at least, some scientists think that's possible.
It is raining diamonds on Neptune.
Or, at least, some scientists think that's possible.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Huge news: the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for AeroSpace Heritage has been officially granted "observer" status by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. We're the first heritage professionals to receive such recognition. www.linkedin.com/posts/joraye...
#aerospace #spaceheritage #culturalheritage #icomos #iscoah | Gai (Gaygysyz) Jorayev
Many milestones have marked the three years since the creation of our ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on AeroSpace Heritage (ISCoAH), but this may well be our most significant international ...
www.linkedin.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Huge news: the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for AeroSpace Heritage has been officially granted "observer" status by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. We're the first heritage professionals to receive such recognition. www.linkedin.com/posts/joraye...
Until this morning I thought I have gotten too old for love at first sight ...
December 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Until this morning I thought I have gotten too old for love at first sight ...
The EU and Member States should treat the Heritage Foundation as an extension of a hostile authoritarian government and restrict access to funding and MPs or even ban them right away.
The conservative think tank behind Donald Trump’s Project 2025 roadmap is looking for new friends across the Atlantic.
On the agenda: pro-natalism, freedom of expression and opposing trans rights.
🔗 politi.co/3XipQST
(First published in November.)
On the agenda: pro-natalism, freedom of expression and opposing trans rights.
🔗 politi.co/3XipQST
(First published in November.)
December 28, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The EU and Member States should treat the Heritage Foundation as an extension of a hostile authoritarian government and restrict access to funding and MPs or even ban them right away.
Merry Christmas from Hamburg 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Merry Christmas from Hamburg 🎄
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
The Taiwan Space Agency has tapped Avio to launch four FORMOSAT Earth observation satellites aboard Vega C rockets.
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-to-laun...
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-to-laun...
Avio to Launch Four Earth Observation Satellites for Taiwan - European Spaceflight
The Taiwan Space Agency has tapped Avio to launch four FORMOSAT Earth observation satellites aboard Vega C rockets.
europeanspaceflight.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The Taiwan Space Agency has tapped Avio to launch four FORMOSAT Earth observation satellites aboard Vega C rockets.
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-to-laun...
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-to-laun...
The United States appears to be sliding toward a religious-ideological system that places belief above facts.
"the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”"
"the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”"
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The United States appears to be sliding toward a religious-ideological system that places belief above facts.
"the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”"
"the paper did “not answer the questions for the assignment,” contradicted itself, relied on “personal ideology” over evidence and “is at times offensive.”"
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Incredible story. Wherever you are on the spectrum on gender issues, it seems that the student confused normative [how should people behave wrt their sex] with positive [the essay question - responding to study on how gender conformity or otherwise affected popularity]. 0 points is fair enough.
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
December 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Incredible story. Wherever you are on the spectrum on gender issues, it seems that the student confused normative [how should people behave wrt their sex] with positive [the essay question - responding to study on how gender conformity or otherwise affected popularity]. 0 points is fair enough.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Zur Weihnachtszeit ist es ja oft bisschen ruhiger. Dann kann man mal sowas lesen und darüber nachdenken, was man selbst machen könnte um Europa im Ernstfall zu verteidigen. Ich bin der Meinung die EU ist es wert - scheitern wir, sind wir nur mehr Vasallen Chinas, Russlands und der USA..
Meine diesjährige Reise ins Baltikum geht dem Ende entgegen. Und es ist mir ein großes Bedürfnis zu sagen, was alle längst wissen sollten.
Russland bereitet sich auf einen Angriff gegen die NATO vor. Der Kreml schlägt alle diplomatischen Angebote aus. Dieses Russland ist unser Feind.
Russland bereitet sich auf einen Angriff gegen die NATO vor. Der Kreml schlägt alle diplomatischen Angebote aus. Dieses Russland ist unser Feind.
December 24, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Zur Weihnachtszeit ist es ja oft bisschen ruhiger. Dann kann man mal sowas lesen und darüber nachdenken, was man selbst machen könnte um Europa im Ernstfall zu verteidigen. Ich bin der Meinung die EU ist es wert - scheitern wir, sind wir nur mehr Vasallen Chinas, Russlands und der USA..