Talking Space

Episode 538: To Launch or Not To Launch Is that The Question?

On this episode we discuss the multiple launch attempts by SpaceX of the SES-8 satellite. Frustration at lack of information provided by SpaceX to the press gets considerable attention from the Talking Space panel. Will it change when crew launches begin? We sure hope so. Did you know Kimbal Musk, brother of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk started a blog in November of 2005? It is named “Kwajalein Atoll and Rockets” http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/2005/11/kwajalein-and-rockets.html - Kimbal Musk also has a twitter account @kimbal though most of his recent tweets are not SpaceX related.

Comet ISON got our attention, now we say goodbye as its first trip around the sun did not end as so many hoped. Sorry but no incredible December holiday views of ISON are expected. Here is a link to the SDO Mission Blog and the post from November 29, 2013 describing the challenge that observing sun grazing comets presents. http://sdoisgo.blogspot.com/2013/11/where-was-comet-ison.html

On December 1, 2013 at 1730 UTC China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched a Long March 3B carrying the Chang’e-3 lander/rover to the moon. It was a welcome surprise to find @CCTVnews (China Central Television) provided live streaming coverage of the launch. They also requested participation from social media! The multiple camera views, commentary and length of coverage from prior to launch to after payload separation were appreciated by spaceflight enthusiasts eager to follow along. The European Space Agency is supporting Chang’e-3 to the moon. See this link to read more http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Helping_China_to_the_Moon

Emily brings us an introduction to her article on SpaceFlight Insider about the 30 years of spaceflight participation by European Space Agency. You’ll appreciate ESA even more for their contributions to manned spaceflight, exploration and certainly the International Space Station. Also we talk about the Spaceflight Insider Team and hear that “we ain’t seen nothing yet” regarding future plans. Here is the link to Emily’s December 1, 2013 ESA article http://spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/european-space-agency-celebrates-30-years-of-manned-spaceflight-looks-toward-the-future/

The Kepler Space Telescope is in the news again. A new plan may allow Kepler to reacquire its pointing ability and continue searching for exoplanets. Some great reading material is available for FREE from NASA. They have ebooks available supporting Kindle and other ebook readers. How about their most recent title"NASA's First A:Aeronautics from 1958-2008" Go to http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/ to find your next great read.

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman. Guest Panelist: Emily Carney from our partner The Spaceflight Group http://spaceflightinsider.com/

Show recorded 12/02/2013

Episode 337: Clean Up Time for Low Earth Orbit

Low Earth orbit is a mess, with flotsam floating around at speeds between 17,000 to 20,000 MPH. These pieces of space debris, some that are relics from the beginning of the space age are numerous. They are various sizes ranging from the very large, (spent boosters and the like) to the to the very small like bolts, washers and various pieces of small hardware. Their presence threatens communications and weather satellites, and yes piloted spacecraft and orbiting manned platforms like the International Space Station. A report issued last week by the National Research Council indicated that the orbital debris problem may have reached a tipping point where collisions of decommissioned satellites, empty boosters and smaller pieces will continually collied with each other. The result:more debris in low earth orbit causing the problem to get worse. This may prevent future utilization of low earth orbit, and cause a threat to orbiting satellites and yes the International Space Station. To talk about this problem further and discuss ways to solve this looming crisis, we asked two recent graduates of Singularity University's GSP 2011 class; Major Franz Gayl United States Marine Corps (ret) and the author of the book "It's Only Rocket Science", Doctor Lucy Rogers from the United Kingdom, both already quite accomplished in their respective fields to discuses the issue of space debris. Both had studied the issue of Earth Orbital Debris, and brainstormed ways to attempt to solve the problem while at Singularity university. You may follow Dr. Lucy Rogers on Twitter. Her Twitter address is @DrLucyRogers Links: Space Debris Research - http://www.spacedebrisresearch.com/ Web site of Dr. Lucy Rogers - http://www.lucyrogers.com/ Web Site for "It's Only Rocket Science" - http://www.itsonlyrocketscience.com/ Singularity University - http://singularityu.org/ Discovery News - "What Can We Do About the Space Junk Problem " by Dr. Lucy Rogers - http://news.discovery.com/space/space-junk-recycle-problem-110904.html

Episode 323: Meteorite Men 'Rock'

On this special episode of Talking Space, we welcome back co-host of the Science Channel original show "Meteorite Men" and now author, Geoff Notkin. We discuss some moments together at the Challenger Centers for Space Science Education and other personal topics. On top of that, we discuss his new book, available online only, Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space. We include talks about shooting stars, land owners with shotguns, late-night stargazing in graveyards, and some behind-the-scenes stories from the television show that you'll never see on air! To purchase a copy of Geoff's book, Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space, please visit http://meteoritehunters.tv. The book ships to anywhere in the known universe, so our international listeners are not excluded from this! For more information on Geoff Notkin as well as more on the Science Channel show "Meteorite Men", check out: http://meteoritemen.com for information on the television show To contact them through social media, check out their Facebook page http://facebook.com/meteoritemen and their Twitter account @meteoritemen as well as Geoff's personal account at @geoffnotkin For Geoff's website and to find out about if a meteorite is geniune or to purchase your own space rock, check out http://aerolite.org Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, guest panelist CraftLass with special guest, co-host of Meteorite Men and author, Geoff Notkin Show Recorded - 5/2/2011

Episode 236: Talking Space Tries

On this very special episode, we invite on special guest Mike Mullane: Air Force Colonel, veteran of 3 space shuttle flights, and author of Do Your Ears Pop in Space and 500 Other Surprising Questions about Space Travel as well as his astronaut memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. We discuss the details his memoir as well as his personal experiences in space flight. We also discuss the fact in which Col. Mullane few aboard STS-41 D, the maiden voyage of the space shuttle Discovery as we approach STS-133-her final fight. This is an episode not to be missed! To purchase Mike Mullane's books on Amazon, Do Your Ears Pop in Space and 500 Other Surprising Questions about Space Travel and Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, click on the title of the book and it will redirect you in a new window. [Note, links are attached here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com] For more information on Mike Mullane, visit his website: http://mikemullane.com Host this week: Gene Mikulka. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Mark Ratterman, Sawyer Rosenstein, and special guest Col. Mike Mullane Show Recorded - 10/14/2010

Episode 224A: Sara Cs A S-IC

Sara Howard, our guest on this Talking Space Exclusive interview played an integral part in that "One Giant Leap for Mankind". Working as a systems test engineer, she helped breathe life into the 138 foot tall S-1C, the first stage of the Apollo Saturn V rocket. Her duties at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, included examining the telemetry transmitted from sensors on board the S-1C during it's test firings. Sara helped to discover, correct, and repair causes of leaks, fires, and at times explosions. Her work verified that the the first stage of the Saturn V was ready carry humans on their lunar journey. Sara's contributions helped to insure the success of the historic Apollo 11 flight and subsequent Apollo lunar missions. Sara was one of the few women engineers that worked on the Saturn V, and is a trail blazer for women in the aerospace field. She is the author of Two books, "Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Moon” and "The Biggest Explosions in the Universe" She also writes her musings on many subjects on her blog "Inside the Apollo Project" Remember, for more information on our special Apollo 11 41st anniversary twalk.in show, email us at mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. All are welcome! Host this week: Mark Ratterman. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Sawyer Rosenstein Show Recorded as part of Season 1 in 2009 Listen now:

Episode 223: A True, American Hero

On this episode released especially on the 4th of July in the United States, we honor an American hero: Apollo 7 astronaut Walter "Walt" Cunningham. We discuss with him the state of America's space program, as well as looking back in the past to help predict the future. We also discuss aviation, piloting, and the recently-released National Space Policy of the United States of America and his opinion on it. Walter Cunningham is also the author of The All-American Boys, available from Amazon by clicking here. You can also find out more about him at his website: http://waltercunningham.com. Host this week: Gina Herlihy. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and Sawyer Rosenstein Show Recorded - 6/30/2010

Episode 110: Dr. Tom Jones Goes 'Sky Walking'

In this very special episode of the Talking Space Podcast, we have author and four-time space shuttle astronaut Dr. Tom Jones. With Dr. Jones we discuss his books Sky Walking, Planetology: Unlocking The Secrets of the Solar System, and Hell Hawks! along with his view on where NASA is going and much more! A special thank you to Dr. Jones also for coming on to participate in this interview and giving his insight. For more information on Tom Jones, visit his website at http://astronauttomjones.com and follow him on Twitter as @TomJones_Astro. To purchase his books from Amazon, either Sky Walking, Planetology, or Hell Hawks! just click on the name of the book and it will open a new window where you can purchase them. Hosts this week: Sawyer Rosenstein and Gina Herlihy. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Dr. Tom Jones. Announcer: Russ Dale , Space Tweep Theme Composed by: Todd Cecilio. Special thanks to all of the members of the Space Tweep Society (http://spacetweepsociety.org )  The folks at Spacevidcast (http://www.spacevidcast.com) for their support! Remember to email us with questions or comments as text OR an .mp3. Send it to spacetweeppodcast@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/talkingspace! Show Recorded - Monday, 12/14/2009