Episodes
Saturday Nov 12, 2016
Episode 812: Hello Rocket
Saturday Nov 12, 2016
Saturday Nov 12, 2016
This week we’re (mostly) back to our regular programming, kicking off with two of our favorite subjects – the launches and landings of International Space Station crews, and it’s a busy season of shift changes via Kazakhstan. Since our last regular episode, we saw the conclusions of Expeditions 48 and 49 with some beautiful landings and the beginning of Expedition 50, with an additional 3 crewmembers scheduled to launch next week. Peggy Whitson, legendary astronaut, commander, and current holder of the record for spaceflight time for women, will not only add another long-duration mission to her impressive list of accomplishments, but will resume command for Expedition 51.
In other launch news, China’s Long March 5 joined the list of successfully-launched heavy lift vehicles last week while Worldview 4’s Atlas 5 launch issues spread across the country to affect GOES-R. It’s not all bad news for United Launch Alliance and their workhorse rocket, though, as Orbital ATK announced they will use it to launch another Cygnus on an ISS cargo mission. This time, rather than using it as a backup, it is for the additional rocket power enabling Orbital ATK pack a bit more cargo into Cygnus. Meanwhile, their competition, SpaceX, is narrowing down their investigation of the anomaly that took out the AMOS-6 mission, and is still planning to return to flight this year.
Moving from launches to space itself, we turn to NASA Goddard for some celebration and investigation. The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) set yet another world record, this time for using GPS at the highest altitude. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Noah Petro, also at NASA Goddard, about his background in lunar geology and the upcoming supermoon. Be sure to check out this cool visual! Finally, we close out this episode with a discussion of the successful failure of the ESA’s Schiaparelli lander.
Show recorded 11-07-2016
Host: Sawyer Rosenstein
Panelists: Kat Robison and Kassy Tamanini
Sunday Oct 23, 2016
Episode 810: From 67P and IAC with Love
Sunday Oct 23, 2016
Sunday Oct 23, 2016
We begin this episode with an ending, as Rosetta joined its companion, Philae, on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on September 30, with confirmation arriving at mission control in Darmstadt at 11:19 UTC. This is hardly a time for mourning, but rather the celebration of an ambitious mission accomplished and still more data to learn from. While we await those studies we invite you to check out the latest installment of Rosetta’s cartoon and the short film Ambition.
Meanwhile, back in the States, Orbital ATK was preparing to return the Antares to flight. Carrying their Cygnus cargo ship full of supplies headed to the International Space Station, this launch has been plagued by storms in the Atlantic and other delays, and our own Gene Mikulka headed down early to keep an eye on the process and discusses what this launch means for the launch facility, the area around it, as well as for Orbital ATK and NASA.
Speaking of recovering from mishaps, this brings us down to the Kennedy Space Center and the investigation of what happened with SpaceX’ AMOS-6. Was it the second stage helium tank… or could it have been sabotage? The Washington Post reports that an official from SpaceX wanted to investigate the roof of a United Launch Alliance building known as the SMARF. We discuss the rumors, innuendo, known facts, and when there might be some concrete answers that will allow SpaceX to prepare for future launches safely. Looking further ahead, how will this incident affect the larger space industry?
Looking still further ahead, we begin our coverage of the 67th International Astronautical Congress with a breakdown of Elon Musk’s presentation, Making Humans an Interplanetary Species with insights from in the room by Kat Robison and Kassy Tamanini. Is Musk’s plan to not only have SpaceX be the first to land on Mars but to move 100 people at a time to the red planet realistic? From the details he revealed (and didn’t) to the way the event was managed, we’ve got plenty to comment on.
An image was inserted here. To view it, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com.
Show recorded 10-10-2016
Host: Sawyer Rosenstein
Panelists: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, Kat Robison, Kassy Tamanini
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Episode 806: Objects In Motion
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Monday Apr 04, 2016
Episode 804: What Price The Moon?
Monday Apr 04, 2016
Monday Apr 04, 2016
A new episode and a new crew make their way to the international space station, we highlight the members of Expedition 47 and Astronaut Jeff Williams
who will assume command of the station under Expedition 48, and break
the US endurance record for time in space during this increment. Only
weeks after they have wrapped up the OA4 mission, OrbitalATK is is
poised to launch the Cygnus cargo craft the SS Rick Husband to the ISS.
We profile one of its experiments the Spacecraft Fire Experiment or SAFFIRE which will study how fires develop and spread in a confined space.
Could the US establish its own lunar base by 2022? NASA Ames Astrobiologist Chris McKay seems to think so, and do it for $10 Billion,
about the price of a US Aircraft Carrier. The base according to Dr.
McKay’s would be established under the McMurdo Antarctic base model, and
could be set up rather quickly. Dr. McKay’s paper was first published
in the New Space Journal and in light of ESA’s Lunar Village concept we discuss the merits of both ESA’s and Dr. McKay’s vision.
Host: Gene Mikulka
Panel Members: Kat Robison & Kassy Tamanini
Tuesday Feb 23, 2016
Episode 802: Ripples on the Cosmic Pond.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2016
Tuesday Feb 23, 2016
This
week we take a journey from the halls of Congress out through our solar
system, and then journey out to a point 1.3 billion light years away
from home. On February3rd, the Space Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
met to discuss the current status of NASA’s Journey to Mars, and how it
may survive past the current presidential administration. We examine
the winners and losers in the 2017 NASA budget proposal. NASA announces the Exploration Mission 1 Launch Director and we discuss the Cygnus OA-6 Mission launch delay.
The Year In Space increment on board the International Space Station is coming into the home stretch, while back on Earth, the primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is completed.
European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission continues, but without the Philae lander that made landfall on Comet 67P in November. There has been no response from Philae since July and ESA has announced they will stop trying to contact the spacecraft. We discuss some of the highlights and lessons learned from this milestone mission. NASA releases a terrain map of Pluto’s ‘heart’ region, based on New Horizon’s spacecraft data , revealing a few big surprises.
The final story: the discovery of gravitational waves from the collision of two massive black holes. These waves reached our own planet this past September and were detected by the freshly-upgraded advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), providing the first proof of parts of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. What does this mean and why is it so exciting? We break it down for you
The LIGO comic by Talcott Starr discussed in the episode can be found here and make sure to give it a like if you enjoy it.
Host: Sawyer Rosenstein
Panelists: Kat Robison and Kassy Tamanini
Monday Dec 14, 2015
Episode 716: A Swan Returns to the Stars
Monday Dec 14, 2015
Monday Dec 14, 2015
Come along with the Talking Space Team to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) as we bring to you the sights and sounds leading up to the return to flight of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus Cargo spacecraft (named after pioneering Astronaut Donald K. Slayton) and the resumption of ISS logistics delivery missions from US Soil. In this special expanded show, we discuss the mission , designated OA4, the Cygnus itself and just why we are launching from Florida and not the usual home port for Cygnus of Wallops Island, Virginia. Also why we are flying on United Launch Alliance’s AtlasV and not OrbitalATK's Antares booster. With wind measurements playing a huge factor in this launch (wind delayed in the launch three times) Mark Ratterman takes us on a tour of a key instrument, NASA’s Doppler Radar Wind Profiler. Once fully commissioned the system will make sure the “highway to space” is safe for launch vehicles leaving KSC. We spend some time with Mr. Frank DeMauro, OrbitalATK’s Vice President of Human Spaceflight Systems to discuss his career, his role in supporting this return to flight mission, and what the future holds for the Cygnus spacecraft.
There was a bit of controversy surrounding Space Exploration Technologies (Space X) and their future return to flight plans, we discuss. We also look at the company’s progress with reimagining historic Launch Complex 39-A. We also make commentary as to why we think their message last week surrounding their future launch plans became somewhat muddled.
In a future show, we will profile progress being made by United Launch Alliance at LaunchComplex 41 to support human missions. We’ll also examine Boeing’s efforts to get the former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 now known as the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility ready to fabricate the CST-100 Starliner , and NASA’s Launch Equipment Testing Facility , making sure that connections on the new Mobile Launcher will support the Space Launch System and Orion.
Talking Space wishes to thank NASA’s George Diller and OrbitalATK’s Frank DeMauro for their time with us.
For additional photographs/images go to our Team Blog page
Show recorded 12-07-2015
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein
Commentators: Mark Ratterman & Gene Mikulka
Friday Nov 20, 2015
Episode 715: Moments of Contemplation and Preparation
Friday Nov 20, 2015
Friday Nov 20, 2015
This
Past week, The Expedition 45
Crew on board the International Space Station had to contend with a bit of a power wrinkle
that may require a spacewalk next year to repair. They also observed a moment of silence
(as do we) for those lost in the Paris Terrorist Attacks. Preparations continue
for the Cygnus OA4 Cargo craft at
the same time, NASA further delays the announcing the winners of
the second round of Commercial Resupply contracts. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden continues to
be adamant that NASA will not take a lead role in Europe’s “lunar
village”.
Does that leave the door open for Federal Aviation Administration? What
happened to the Martian atmosphere, NASA’s MAVEN in
orbit around Mars has found the answer. The Martian Moon, Phobos may become rubble,
and Virgin Galactic hires its first woman pilot, Kelly Latimer..
Show recorded 11-16-2015
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein
Panel Members: Mark Ratterman, Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka
Friday Nov 13, 2015
Episode 714: Looking Through Crystal
Friday Nov 13, 2015
Friday Nov 13, 2015
The International Space Station celebrated its “crystal anniversary” of occupation on November 2nd, marking 15 years that humans have been continuously on board the orbiting facility. The Expedition 45 Crew paused to reflect on the anniversary and what it means for the future of space exploration going forward. During an investor conference call, CEO David Thompson of Orbital ATK says his company is on track for the Cygnus cargo vehicle to return to flight. NASA released its findings into the October 28th 2014 Orbital ATK Antares launch mishap, we discuss the findings.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says his agency is “doomed” if “Journey to Mars” roadmap is abandoned. The Cassini spacecraft captures a plume from Saturn’s Moon Enceladus while making an historic close flyby. Finally we profile the humble beginnings of the Paragon Space Development Corporation.
Show recorded 11-02-2015
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein,
Panel Members: Mark Ratterman, Kat Robison, Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka
Saturday Oct 24, 2015
Episode 712: A Tale of Two Swans
Saturday Oct 24, 2015
Saturday Oct 24, 2015
There's a new "Ironman" in space flight: Current Space Station commander, astronaut Scott Kelly , broke the US space endurance record recently and is gearing up for two upcoming US spacewalks on October 28th and November 6.
We open the strange case of star KIC8462852 some 1480 light years away in the constellation Cygnus the Swan that's is behaving in a weird manner. The conclusion: Aliens? You be the judge. A swan of a different feather: the Cygnus, cargo space craft built by OrbitalATK arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in preparation of the OA-4 mission and its return to flight. We also discuss return to flight efforts by SpaceX and Virgin Galactic and examine the implications surrounding NASA's Venture Class CubeSat launch contracts recently announced.
Mark Ratterman sat down with former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott to discuss her start in aviation and Kat Robison gives us a sneak peak at her experiences at the International Astronautical Conference held in Jerusalem, Israel.
Finally we celebrate the life of a legendary figure in spaceflight who's contributions still reverberate though the years even today: NASA's George Mueller who we lost on 12 October.
Presenters this week: Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka
Friday Sep 25, 2015
Episode 710: Orion in Waiting
Friday Sep 25, 2015
Friday Sep 25, 2015
We kick off the show with congratulations, an upcoming celestial event, and follow ups to two previous stories. First an update to rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne's attempt to purchase launch provider United Launch Alliance. We report on the preliminary results from the Ardbeg distillery experiment that flew to the International Space Station. We send congratulations to NASA's five new flight directors including a name that the audience may recognize. So is the world going to end this week? Umm, no but we do have a an upcoming Lunar Eclipse on September 27 for the Western Hemisphere, Europe, most of Africa, and parts of Asia to enjoy, local weather permitting! NASA TV will provide coverage starting 8:00 PM EDT on Sunday 27 September, Midnight GMT September 28.
NASA last week gave a status report on the progress of the Orion spacecraft, a linchpin in NASA's human space exploration effort, with a probable delay with the first piloted flight. The team examines the implications. The NASA Inspector General's Office released a report which casts some doubt on OrbitalATK's recover plan to resume cargo flights to the International Space Station. We shed some light of our own on the implied difficulties. Launch provider Blue Origin has decided to call Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force station home, not just to launch rockets but to build and test it's vehicles. We consider what this means for commercial space and the economy of Florida.
Show recorded 9/21/2015
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein, Panel members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and Kassy Tamanini (CraftLass)