Episodes
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
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
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)Friday Aug 28, 2015
Episode 708: Contrasts
Friday Aug 28, 2015
Friday Aug 28, 2015
HTV5 launched recently supporting International Space
Station resupply, successfully docking on 24 August, 2015. To learn more about
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency HTV Program see http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/index.html
Future ISS resupply will also be supported by Orbital ATK via ULA's ATLAS V
carrying the Cygnus capsule to Station. Dates have not been set yet for those
launches.
Kat brings us some news about the Mars One Project and a public debate at the recently concluded Mars Society Conference to read more and for links to the video of the debate “Is Mars One Feasible?” check out this Tech Insider article http://www.techinsider.io/mars-one-mit-students-mission-not-feasible-debate-2015-8
Mark after reading the NTSB Accident Report for Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two brings us his thoughts about that tragic test flight. To learn more about the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation follow this link http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/
Listen close and you’ll almost see the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex “Forever Remembered” Exhibit. Gina Herlihy talks about her experience of seeing it for the first time. If you have not seen this yet you’ll find you can’t wait for your next trip to Florida’s Space Coast and KSC.
Sawyer spoke with International Space Station Program Manager Mike Suffredini just prior to his retirement. News about the ISS is always interesting. Hear what we think about increasing the ISS to a seven person crew and going beyond 2024.
Show Recorded 8/24/2015
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, Kathryn Robison and Gina HerlihySunday Apr 26, 2015
Episode 703: Don't Shoot the MESSENGER
Sunday Apr 26, 2015
Sunday Apr 26, 2015
Friday Oct 31, 2014
Episode 617: The Loss of Antares
Friday Oct 31, 2014
Friday Oct 31, 2014
On this special episode of Talking Space, we throw out our originally-scheduled show to discuss the loss of the Orbital Sciences Orb-3 mission. The Antares rocket had a failure upon launch and exploded within 20 seconds of lifting off. The rocket was unmanned, carrying a Cygnus spacecraft with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station. In this episode we break down the facts of what is known and what is not known. We also discuss what was said in the press conference and where both Orbital and NASA stand. One interesting examination we look at is how all different forms of media covered the event from national news to local to Orbital themselves. We then look at the next steps in the investigation and the future state of the ISS as well as Orbital Science's contract with NASA for these resupply missions. Also included is a brief discussion of some of the science experiments onboard that were lost.
If you find any debris, DO NOT keep it as a souvenir or even touch it. Call the Incident Response Team at 757-824-1295.
This is obviously an ongoing story, and keep in mind this was recorded on the night of the launch failure. We will continue to update via Twitter and future episodes as information becomes available. Our hearts go out to the team at Orbital Sciences and to all of those who had experiments or equipment onboard.
Show recorded 10/28/2014
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Milulka, Kathryn "Kat" Robinson and Kassy Tamanini aka Craft Lass