Talking Space

Elizabeth Howell from the Ottawa Business Journal and the award winning Pars3c Spaceflight blog joins Mark Ratterman and Gene Mikulka in this weeks Talking Space Installment. Don't worry, Sawyer Rosenstein and Gina Herlihy will be returning! Grist for this week's mill includes Coverage of STS 134 preparations at the Kennedy space Center along with two unfortunate events; the first fatal accident at Launch Complex 39A and the discovery of an illegal controlled substance just shy of the KSC secure area. The MESSENGER spacecraft became the first robotic emissary from Earth to go into orbit around Mercury. We discuss MESSGNGER's mission and the implications for planetary science going forward. An agreement was forged last week that commits the European Space Agency to supporting International Space Station operations through 2020. The panel discusses the implications for that agreement, what it means for the Station going forward and possible future international agreements between nations. A report by the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) indicated that if Canada is not too careful, it could loose its edge in robotics. The Shuttle and Station Remote Manipulator System (RMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator or DEXTRE robots have made significant contributions to the success of the Shuttle and Space Station programs. The team discusses the implications of this as well as the Canadian Space Budget going forward. In the "Who Get's a Retired Space Shuttle Orbiter" sweepstakes, another entrant has come on to the field. This past week Senators Richard Durban (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote a letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to consider Chicago's Adler Planetarium as a possible site for one of the Orbiters. With the April 12 announcement pending Gene, Mark, and Liz talk the battle being waged for one of the Orbiters and how political the process has become. To visit Elizabeth's blog, please go to http://pars3c.com and also The Ottawa Business Journal at http://www.obj.ca/ be sure to follow her on Twitter @howellspace Host: Gene Mikulka Panel Members: Mark Ratterman and Elizabeth Howell. Show Recorded 23 March, 2011 

On this Valentines episode of Talking Space, we lovingly start with, once again, STS-133 and how for once it has not been delayed but an official date is set for February 24th...for now. We then discuss the Stardust-NExT mission, formerly Deep Impact, as it passed close by to Tempel 1, the same comet in which it crashed into in 2005. We then discuss keeping Endeavour flight ready through 2017 as well as its possible commercial use. The big story, however, is the release of NASA's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 2/14/2011

On this episode, we talk a lot of rockets! We start by discussing the stringer issue on STS-133. After discussing its launch date, we move on to another way it can be delayed. Lead spacewalker and STS-133 astronaut Tim Kopra was injured while riding his bicycle. We then talk about Mark Kelly asking for a backup while he tends to his injured wife, Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Following that, we talk about the Soyuz TMA-21, now being named Yuri Gagarin. Listen to find out why. We then go into a tough debate on the proposed Heavy Lift Vehicle. Lastly, we discuss the board of directors at a spaceport in New Mexico and antimatter in thunderstorms. Would you go on a one-way trip to Mars? Why or why not? Send us an email at mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com or visit the Contact Us page on our website. You can also send it to us on Twitter as @talkingspace or on Facebook at http://bit.ly/talkingspacefb. Below is the video discussed by Mark. This video was made by NASA Goddard Flight. To download these types of short video podcasts, visit http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/iTunes/f0004_index.html A video was inserted here. To view it, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 1/16/2011

On this episode, we finally have the entire team back at the same time to make this episode. We begin with more delays of STS-133, which was no surprise to any of us. We then become surprised by the findings of an earth-like core on the moon as well as organics, the basic building blocks of life, found on Mars back in the 1970s by the Viking landers. We then offer our condolences and well wishes to the victims of the Tuscon, Arizona shooting which injured Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the wife of NASA astronaut and commander of STS-134, Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly). Rep. Gifford's brother-in-law, Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) is currently commanding Expedition 26 on-board the ISS, bringing up the question of what to do if a family emergency occurs when you're 200 miles above the earth. To visit Brian Shiro's blog post regarding the moon's core, please visit: http://bit.ly/dJ2ZQb To check out all of the projects occuring in the Zooniverse, including Old Weather, please check out: http://zooniverse.org Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 1/9/2011

On this episode, we talk about OpenLuna Foundation OpenLuna is a volunteer organization. They welcome and encourage participation. The OpenLuna Foundation was founded to return mankind to the moon through private enterprise. Listen to our conversation with Paul Graham, President/ Chairman of the Board and Debi-Lee Wilkinson VP of Membership/Development & board member. OpenLuna is innovative and open source. Yes! Open Source. This is a show you'll want to download, save and listen to several times. They joined us to talk about……… “Your Moon, Your Mission, Get Involved!” http://openluna.org/ And on twitter Follow OpenLuna @OpenLuna Hosts this week: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman and Sawyer Rosenstein Special Guests: Paul Graham and Debi-Lee Wilkinson of OpenLuna Foundation Show Recorded – 10/2010 & 12/19/2010

On this episode, we discuss the troubles preventing Discovery from flying on her final voyage. We talk about the cracks discovered in the external tank and what this could do to a launch date. We also discussed the recent Expedition 26 spacewalk aboard the International Space Station. We then delve into more space policy dilemmas as well as budgetary issues for the James Webb Space Telescope, the replacement for the aging Hubble Space Telescope. Lastly, we talk about some amazing finds by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory finding a newborn black hole. Host this week: Gene Mikulka. Panel Member: Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 11/15/2010

After the long delay, which we apologize for, we are back! On this show, we begin by discussing the recent success of the Deep Impact spacecraft on its EPOXI mission where it had its closest encounter ever with Comet Hartley 2. From there we move on to our discussion about Discovery's final flight: STS-133. Although we haven't been able to bring you our live launch coverage, we still have some great clips for you as well as discussions about the mission itself, the crew, the payload, and more. Special thanks to Mark Ratterman, Gina Herlihy, and CraftLass for being down at the Kennedy Space Center and getting the interviews and clips for us. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest CraftLass Show Recorded - 11/8/2010

Mark Ratterman attended the final roll out of Orbiter Vehicle 103, known as the Space Shuttle Discovery and describes his experiences while at the Kennedy Space Center. He also had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Stilson, NASA Flow Director overseeing Discovery's processing operations, a duty she has had since December 2000. Mark also attended the arrival of Space Shuttle External Tank Number 122 and helps to tell it's interesting story. Other items discussed include the change of command on board the International Space Sation, The return home of Expedition 24, JAXA having issues selling space on the it's KIBO module on board the ISS, ESA and SpaceX announcing delays, The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter taking a nap, and the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity turning into a Meteorite Hunter! Two pictures were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Gene Mikulka Panel Member: Mark Ratterman.

Are you 1...STOP! This episode, our 43rd episode ever, the 30th of this season, marks the one year anniversary of the Talking Space Podcast. On our birthday episode, we discuss how NASA's sending drones to spy on hurricanes, as well as the processing of Discovery. We then go on to discuss a possible crew announcement for 135, and then how the Russians are unhappy aboard the ISS with their lack of a shower. We then discuss the DM2 motor test, and Mark compares it to the Challenger accident with some surprising facts you might not have known! Lastly, we discuss NASA's new solar probe, how Denmark is planning to launch a rocket, and we then discuss our thoughts on Talking Space's 1st birthday. To add to the nostalgia, Gene regains the hosting seat as he had for the first episode we ever did released on 09/09/09. Host this week: Gene Mikulka. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Mark Ratterman, and Sawyer Rosenstein Show Recorded - 9/6/2010

On this humorous episode, the gang discusses the progress of STS-133, some maintenance on the crawler transporters, and the pending demolition of Launch Pad 39B, first used for the space shuttle on January 28, 1986. We then move on to discuss how NASA is helping out Chilean government in discussing the survival of the 40 trapped miners. We also discuss Kepler's findings of two exoplanets transiting one star. To wrap it up, Sawyer discusses his meeting with TJ Creamer at the Intrepid. As well, Gene recaps his time representing the Talking Space Podcast at SpaceUp DC held at George Washington University...oh yeah, and the tribble fights. Astronaut and friend of the show Tom Jones discussing NASA's role in the miners rescue on Fox News can be seen on their website To find out if an astronaut will be visiting a location near you, check out CollectSPACE's site For more information on Project Calliope, visit http://projectcalliope.com. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 8/30/2010