Talking Space

Episode 233: Go With the Flow

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.

Episode 232: Lights, Camera, AMS

On this special episode, Gene sits down with Mark to discuss his recent expedition to the Kennedy Space Center for the arrival of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 2 (AMS02). Mark discusses its purpose aboard the ISS as well as talks with some of the members of the AMS02 team and the crew of STS-134 who will be bringing AMS02 to the ISS aboard space shuttle Endeavour on the final space shuttle flight. For more information on AMS02, visit their website at http://www.ams02.org Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Panel Members this week: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/18/2010

Episode 231: Around the World in 47 Minutes

On this episode, we go all around the world in 47 minutes. We start off discussing Discovery as she Endeavours towards the lost city of Atlantis...or as it seemed after the water main break at KSC. We then discuss it's payload, Robonaut 2, as well as the recent Progress docking to the ISS. Mark then talks about NASA sending up its pieces to the ISS via the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). We then move on to policy and some comments made by congressman and former NASA administrators alike. Lastly, how can $17.38 cents push a launch all the way until 2011? Find out by listening. For the article written on The Hill, please click here. [Link available at talkingspaceonline.com] The articles discussing the comments of Congressman Gordon and former NASA administrator Griffin can be found by clicking each of their names respectively. [Link available at talkingspaceonline.com] Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/12/2010

Episode 230: Happy Birthday Talking Space!

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

Episode 228: Rock 'n' Roll Maneuver

After returning from an unannounced two week vacation, it's Guy's Night Out as Gina was unable to join us. We start off recapping the ISS repair of the broken ISS ammonia pump. We then move on to some shuttle news as we discuss the processing of Discovery for her final flight: STS-133, as well as some washers in the External Tanks (liquid fuel tanks) constituting some x-rays. Ending the shuttle conversation, we discuss the STS-133 tweetup. We then discuss a fun little story about picking out wake-up music for the final two shuttle flights, so either vote or write your own! We then discuss a little policy including Deputy Administrator Lori Garver voicing her opinion on Constellation, the FAA getting involved in private space travel, SpaceX completing its Dragon capsule drop test, and a new program called Open Luna. To vote for a wake-up song or to submit your own, visit http://songcontest.nasa.gov For more information on Open Luna, visit http://openluna.org/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 8/23/2010

Episode 227: Long Distance Voyagers

Pull up your chairs for some travelers tales from both Gina Herlihy and Mark Ratterman. Gina visited the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia and describes her exploration through the museum. Mark was one of the lucky attendees at the International Space Station (ISS) NASA Tweetup hosted by NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The guest speaker was ISS Expedition 23 Astronaut T.J. Creamer. Mark offers insights into the event and discusses some of his other discoveries and meeting some old friends of the podcast. Mark also offers some of his  thoughts on the "27 Seconds " exhibit at the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum in New York. The team also discusses the failed ammonia cooling pump on the ISS and an analysis of the first spacewalk in support of removing and replacing the broken pump.  Other topics include the announcement by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation to create their own heavy lift rocket and the Mars Exploration Rover " Spirit" will it come back to life after this winter season on Mars or has it lost all of it's "nine lives"? Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein.  Panel Members: Gina Herlihy Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman Show Recorded on 8/8/2010

Episode 226: Are Near Earth Objects 'Rusty'?

On this episode, we invite on special guest, Apollo 9 astronaut and founder of the B612 foundation as well as a member of the Association of Space Explorers, Rusty Schweickart. Having logged thousands of hours in high performance jets as well as having performed an EVA (a spacewalk), Rusty comes on to discuss his role in the future of asteroids and their potential of impacting the earth, as well as working to avoid an impact if necessary. Also discussed was the future of manned space flight, where humans should go next, as well as other countries participation in the hunt for asteroids. Rusty's foundation, the B612 Foundation, is located online at http://www.b612foundation.org/ He has also authored the preface to the Association of Space Explorer's book The Home Planet, which is available on Amazon. Host this week: Gina Herlihy. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, Sawyer Rosenstein, and special guest Russell "Rusty" Schewickart Show Recorded - 7/26/2010

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 222A: Cosmopolicy

On this special episode, we all discuss a recent release by the United States Government entitled the National Space Policy of the United States of America. It discusses six key goals the government hopes to implement in terms of international cooperation in space as well as unmanned space exploration, manned space exploration, and military use of space. To view the full document, you may click here. The document is a PDF and needs Adobe Reader. If you do not have it, it is available for free at http://adobe.com We want to hear your comments. To send them to us, you can email us text or an .mp3 to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can send it to us at our Twitter account @talkingspace or our Facebook page at http://bit.ly/talkingspacefb. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/28/2010