Episodes
Friday Apr 15, 2016
Episode 805: Changing of the Guard
Friday Apr 15, 2016
Friday Apr 15, 2016
The Kepler Spacecraft ran into trouble last Friday but thanks to heroic effort by the team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kepler’s search for Exoplanets can resume. We discuss the SpaceX Dragon Cargo Resupply Mission 8 and it’s cargo specifically the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) to be attached to the International Space Station. SpaceX also proved at least part of their business model by landing the first stage of their Falcon 9 booster on a drone ship. We discuss the implications. At the 32nd Space Symposium, United Launch Alliance and Bigelow Aerospace announced a partnership to loft Bigelow’s B330 expandable modules in 2020, thus creating a new independent space station separate from the ISS without NASA. The team looks at this groundbreaking deal. ULA was also making news this week at the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), presenting it’s blueprint for a cis-lunar economy once more independent of NASA. All of this looks at space not just a place for exploration but economic opportunity, the team discusses and explores what a future could look like.
In the second half of the show, the team opens up part one of it’s NEAF roundup with David Shoemaker of the Advanced LIGO Project and Hans Koeningsmann of SpaceX The second half of our NEAF roundup will be coming up in Episode 806.
Host: Sawyer Rosenstein
Panel Members: Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka
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
Thursday Nov 05, 2015
Episode 713: IAC 2015 In The Spotlight
Thursday Nov 05, 2015
Thursday Nov 05, 2015
The theme for IAC 2015 this year was "Space: The Gateway for Mankind's Future" and we review the various gateways starting to open though the International Space Station, leveraging cis-lunar space, and finally humanity declaring "Earth independence" setting sail for Mars. The episode includes commentary from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and new European Space Agency Director General Johann-Dietrich Wörner. On various concepts including analysis of NASA's Journey to Mars outline and ESA's vision for a permanent research outpost on the lunar surface.
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
Saturday Oct 10, 2015
Episode 711: Water, Water, Everywhere...
Saturday Oct 10, 2015
Saturday Oct 10, 2015
So you want to be a Martian? On October 1st NASA held an event at the Kennedy Space Center to explain more about the agency's push to send the first humans to Mars and our own Mark Ratterman was there and provides insights. We highlight Two Deserts, One Sky a project by Danielle Adams a doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona, and briefly discuss new solar power technology. United Launch Alliance (ULA) puts 100 successful launches in the books sending Mexico's Morelos-3 communications satellite into orbit on into orbit on October 2nd. However as the company looks toward Launch 101, the joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing heads into uncharted territory and uncertain waters as a launch services provider. The team discusses.the challenges that lay ahead for the firm.
On September 28 NASA announced the confirmation that brine water has at certain times, been collecting on the surface of Mars. The initial report made on 4 August 2011 (which we discussed on Episode 334 ) was confirmed with a NASA press conference and the team examines the announcement itself, the reaction to the announcement in some circles, and the implications not only for NASA's planned human Mars exploration efforts, but for the future of human solar system exploration going forward.
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein,
Panel members: Mark Ratterman, Kat Robison, Kassy Tamanini (CraftLass) & Gene Mikulka
Sunday Apr 26, 2015
Episode 703: Don't Shoot the MESSENGER
Sunday Apr 26, 2015
Sunday Apr 26, 2015
Sunday Mar 29, 2015
Episode 701: Return to Flight
Sunday Mar 29, 2015
Sunday Mar 29, 2015
In our "Return to Flight" episode we discuss NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission and it's implications for learning more about how space weather impacts life here on Earth. With the new International Space Station Commercial Cargo Contracts coming, two new players have come on the scene but with very familiar names. Sierra Nevada Space Systems puts its new entry, a cargo version of the Dreamchaser Spacecraft into consideration and Lockheed Martin puts its Jupiter Exoliner hat into the ring.The controversial Mars One program gets placed under the microscope as the team discusses the fallout from Elmo Keep's piece on the Medium web site. We launch a new segment, exploring how NASA technology impacts everyday life hear on Earth profiling medical spinoffs. Finally we look at a NASA sponsored program, FIRST Robotics. Our Mark Ratterman is leading a team of students, Team 3556 " Get Smart" competing in the event.
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Mark Ratterman, Gene Mikulka, Kathryn Robison and Kassy Tamanini aka Craft Lass..
Friday Nov 07, 2014
Episode 618: The Future Belongs to the Brave
Friday Nov 07, 2014
Friday Nov 07, 2014
On a sobering edition of Talking Space, the team gathers to discuss the loss of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two on 31 October, 2014 over the skies of the Mojave Desertin California. The ill fated test flight of the VSS Enterprise left the pilot, Peter Siebold,hospitalized and sadly took the life of it's co-pilot Michael Alsbury. The acting administrator of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Christopher A. Hart released some intriguing information during a late night 2 November Press conference that may be the first piece of the puzzle in determining the cause of the accident. Mark Ratterman offers additional insight into how the NTSB painstakingly conducts an accident investigation.
The team then focuses back to the Eastern Shore of Virginia and discusses the information released by Orbital Sciences CEO David Thompson during an investor call on 29 October concerning the failure of the Antares launch vehicle and the loss of the ORB3 Cargo Mission to the International Space Station. The ORB3 Cargo mission was launched on 28 October and disappeared into a fireball over the skies of Virginia's Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport. The Cygnus cargo ship, Donald K Slayton, was to have docked with the orbiting platform on 2 November. The team discusses was known about the accident on the record date.
Scaled Composites has set up an on line fund to help the family of Michael Alsbury, the pilot lost in the SpaceShipTwo accident. If you wish to contribute visit the GoFundMe site at this link
Show recorded 11/3/2014
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, Kathryn "Kat" Robison and Kassy Tamanini aka Craft Lass
Sunday Jul 13, 2014
Episode 612: All the SpaceFest-ivities Part 1
Sunday Jul 13, 2014
Sunday Jul 13, 2014
On this episode of Talking Space, we begin our two part discussion of a recent trip to Pasadena, California for SpaceFest VI. The event features astronauts, artists, and other vendors and speakers as a way to talk about current topics in the space community and meet some of the people who made the past possible. During this part, we talk about the events leading up to the event including a tour of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a visit to Endeavour at the California Science Center. We then begin talking about the opening event with the Apollo astronaut panel. Afterwards, we talk about what was on the floor of the event, and a special birthday celebration for an astronaut.
Tune in to Part 2 to hear about the panels and discussions as well as a look at another Californai conference that happened around the same time.
Images were inserted here. To view them visit http://talkingspaceonline.com
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Gene Mikulka
Show recorded 06/06/2014
Listen now:
Friday Apr 18, 2014
Episode 609: Mars Madness
Friday Apr 18, 2014
Friday Apr 18, 2014
On this episode of Talking Space, we talk with the Executive Director and co-founder of Explore Mars, Chris Carberry. In the interview, we discuss what Explore Mars is all about, and as you can guess, it has a lot to do with Mars. We begin with discussing the upcoming "Humans 2 Mars", or H2M conference coming up in Washington D.C. from April 22nd to the 24th. We then go into his thoughts on manned vs. robotic, the best way to get to Mars, and jumping off points such as the moon and the ISS. We also go into some of the STEM programs that they are participating in, and look at the future of Mars exploration.
For more on Explore Mars, visit their website http://exploremars.org/.
For more on the H2M conference, visit http://h2m2014.exploremars.org/
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Mark Ratterman and special guest Chris Carberry from Explore Mars.
Show Recorded 4/7/2014