This month, the Evil Engineer brings a villain reaching for space with an unconventional ship back down to Earth.

Dear Evil Engineer,

You might recognise my name. I am indeed that biotech entrepreneur, who – after making Evil + Treachery magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in 2018, then the cover two years later when my start-up reached unicorn status – was exposed by a newspaper investigation and companion documentary series. Since then, I’ve been charged with a list of crimes that would make an FTX founder blush. My lawyer has advised me that I am certain to be condemned to decades in prison.

So, I’m going to forfeit my bail and escape somewhere with no extradition treaty: space.

I plan to drift through space for the rest of my life, an astronomical nomad. For this, I’ll need a spaceship fit for a biotech entrepreneur: a bioship. Could you advise me on how to build one?

Dear villain,

I’m sorry about your predicament. Remember that many of the most respectful figures in our community have had...