Episodes
Tuesday Jul 12, 2011
Episode 329: The Final Countdown
Tuesday Jul 12, 2011
Tuesday Jul 12, 2011
On this episode of Talking Space, the team picks themselves up after a long week of covering the STS-135 mission and discuss the final flight of the space shuttle program. We talk about Atlantis's now 13 day mission to the ISS, its purpose, and some moments of anticipation as the clock ticked down to launch. We mention the significance of the end and hear some stories from the people of the future of manned spaceflight as well as some funny stories of the training for this mission. Also, check out some pictures still being posted on our blog at http://talkingspaceonline.com/135. And don't forget, a full show on our amazing adventures for this launch will be coming up in the very near future! NOTE: We couldn't complete this episode without thanking everybody who helped to make our live broadcast of the launch a complete success, especially those at the website http://astronomy.fm who hosted us and lent us their servers for this historic event. A copy of the broadcast will be available shortly on our website. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 7/10/2011
Tuesday Jul 05, 2011
Episode 328: It's Been A Blast!
Tuesday Jul 05, 2011
Tuesday Jul 05, 2011
On this episode, we orbit around Atlantis and her final flight signifying the end of the 30 year space shuttle program. We discuss the current status of STS-135, as well as listening to some updates from the NASA personnel working on the mission and the true importance of the mission. We then listen to Charlie Bolden’s comments on NASA’s future endeavors. Following this, we discuss a program on CNN: “Atlantis: The Final Frontier”. After that, we discuss an article which “ruffles Gene’s feathers” in The Economist. We also mention another article talking about America’s space program and if it really matters. Lastly, we discuss an article by “Bad Astronomer” Phil Plait giving his view on NASA’s shuttle program. Don’t forget to tune in to our live launch coverage of STS-135. Coverage begins on Friday, July 8th at 10:30am EDT/14:30 UTC with launch scheduled for 11:26 am EDT on http://astronomy.fm Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 7/3/2011
Wednesday Jun 22, 2011
Episode 326: Talking Space Live For 135
Wednesday Jun 22, 2011
Wednesday Jun 22, 2011
On this episode, we begin with a status update of STS-135, from the tanking tests, to a leaky valve, to a very interesting view on what will be in Atlantis's payload bay. We also make a big announcement about Talking Space's coverage of STS-135. An announcement for the ages, not to be missed! We talk about the Multi-Puropse Crew Vehicle (MPCV) taking a tour around the states as well as an announcmement about a date for the announcement of the new Space Launch System (SLS). We then conclude with a heated, interesting discussion that occured at a Republican debate in New Hampshire regarding the United State's space program and its future. To learn about Symbiotic Modulation, check out the site mentioned in the show:http://sciencestorm.com/award/0414463.html For a visual to help out on the audio clip supplied by Mark, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com for the link Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/19/2011
Wednesday Jun 08, 2011
Episode 324: Runways, Crawlerways, and On Their Ways
Wednesday Jun 08, 2011
Wednesday Jun 08, 2011
On this episode of Talking Space, we have a lengthy discussion regarding the final landing of the space shuttle Endeavour, ending a career spanning 25 missions since 1992 ending with STS-134. Mark was at the Kennedy Space Center for landing and we have his updates and interviews. We then discuss with him his experience with the rollout of STS-135, the final flight of Atlantis and the space shuttle program, which occured the night before into the morning of landing. We also mention the launch of Expedition 28, which upon this release launched successfully. We then discuss the SAC-D satellite or Aquarius launching with some Earth science experiments onboard. We then play a conversation from last week's episode which was deleted regarding astronaut Harrison Schmitt giving the idea of eliminating NASA and starting fresh. We then mourn the loss of former KSC Director Lee Scherer. To view the launch videos from Ames Research Center discussed in the show, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/shuttle_station/features/sts-134_launch_photo-video.html A photo was inserted here. To view it, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com We just recently updated our website! If you haven't checked it out, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com and be sure to send us your feedback! Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/5/2011 Listen now:
Tuesday May 31, 2011
Episode 322: The Ghost of Spacecraft Past
Tuesday May 31, 2011
Tuesday May 31, 2011
On this clip-filled episode of Talking Space, we begin with the conclusion of the STS-134 mission, recapping the final spacewalks and the outline for the end of Endeavour's operational career. We then briefly discuss STS-135 before delving deeper into it through a special interview which Mark obtained with Space.com writer Denise Chow. We then move on to talk about the rebirth of Orion as the Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle, or MPCV, and listen to clips from an interview with Doug Cooke from NASA. Then we finish off by discussing the official loss of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit, who last year became stuck upon a rock. Contact was unable to be reestablished, and we bid her farewell. To read Denise Chow's articles, check out the website http://SPACE.com and you can follow her on Twitter as @DeniseChow Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 5/29/2011 Listen now:
Tuesday May 24, 2011
Episode 321: Booster Ignition and Liftoff!
Tuesday May 24, 2011
Tuesday May 24, 2011
On this episode of Talking Space, we countdown 3, 2, 1, as we did on May 16th live on Astronomy.FM reporting on the final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. We go into a deep discussion on the subject of STS-134's timeline and payloads, including the spectacular Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, or AMS. We then move on to talk about a US Senate hearing on human spaceflight and national security. Listed below is the transcripts of Frank Slazer, Dr. Christopher Chyba, and Capt. Frank Culbertson. We then move on to the case of the busted lunar sample seller, and lastly provide the final result of the BTS-1 mission onboard their Inspiration 1 capsule. The links to the testimonies of the following people to the US Congress are available on http://talkingspaceonline.com: Dr. Christopher Chyba, Professor of Astrophysics and International Affairs, Director, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University Captain Frank L. Culbertson Jr., Astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station Frank Slazer, Vice President of Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association The link to the updates on BTS-1 from Camilla herself can be read at http://camilla-corona-sdo.blogspot.com/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 5/22/2011
Thursday May 19, 2011
Episode 320 Days of Future Past
Thursday May 19, 2011
Thursday May 19, 2011
In this special episode of Talking Space, Gene Mikulka recounts his experiences during NASA's Kennedy Space Center's "Once and Future Tour" conducted for members of the media before the first launch attempt of Shuttle Endeavour on Shuttle Mission STS 134 on April 27, 2011. The first stop on the tour is a demonstration of a new LIDAR designed by a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Ball Areospace, the system is engineered to make rendezvous and docking of any new piloted or robotic spacecraft far more safer than it is today. Called the Sensor Test for Orion RelNav Risk Mitigation or STORRM for short, it is a prototype system that will be tested by Shuttle Endeavour during the STS 134 Mission. Representatives from both companies explain what STORRM is and how it will be tested. Next was a demonstration of the current Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit or EMU know by the rest of us as a Spacesuit. Gene was able to speak to one of the space suit engineers about how the suit is built and how it helps protect spacewalkers and is to follow for future spacesuit designs. The last stop on tour was a visit to Orbiter Processing Facility Number 2 which is usually the home of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Today Space Shuttle Discovery resides within. She is being prepared not for her next mission to the International Space Station, but for display at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. Discovery's new mission will be that of Human Space Flight Ambasador nd her Flow Director, Stephanie Stilson, explains how Discovery is being prepared for her new role.
Tuesday May 10, 2011
Episode 318: Turn to Page Talking Space of your History Books
Tuesday May 10, 2011
Tuesday May 10, 2011
On this episode of Talking Space, we start with the update on STS-134, the final flight of Endeavour, and its new launch date. By the way, don't miss our live launch coverage beginning on May 16th at 8:30am EDT on http://astronomy.fm! We then discuss the 50h successful Atlas V launch. We move on to SpaceX's possibility of combining two of their preparatory flights, COTS-2 and COTS-3, possibly leading them to an ISS docking sooner than later. Following that, we crack open some history books on the 50th anniversary of Alan Shepard's flight, the first American in space. The next topic became the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the amazing Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Lastly, we went on to discuss a spacesuit for sale and the recovery of the BTS-1 team, consisting of a rubber chicken (@Camilla_SDO), a teddy bear, (@AstroFuzz), and a stuffed pig (@SkyeBleu). We wish them all the best! For more information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, visit http://astronautscholarship.org Please note: We did have technical problems, and we realize some audio is muffled or is skipping and difficult to understand. We are aware of the problem and working to fix it. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 5/9/2011
Tuesday May 03, 2011
Episode 317: The STS-134 Scrubcast
Tuesday May 03, 2011
Tuesday May 03, 2011
On this episode of Talking Space, we devote the entire show to the days leading up to the scrub of the launch of the shuttle Endeavour on Friday, April 29, 2011. Mark and Gene participated in press events at the Kennedy Space Center, and we discuss tours of launch pads, astronaut interviews, and more! Listen in for some spectacular stories you can ONLY hear here! Also, stay tuned for a STS-134 clip show. To view the pictures mentioned in the show, click on the Photo Album link on our website, http://talkingspaceonline.com. Below are some teaser images. (Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 5/1/2011
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
Episode 316: The Space Shuttle Shuffle
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
On this episode, we begin with STS-134 and the Flight Readiness Review setting the launch date and time as April 29th at 3:47pm EDT. Endeavour will be launching on her final mission carrying the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) and a special payload which survived the Columbia disaster in 2003. We then move on to NASA's CCDev, or the Commercial Crew Development Agreement, and who will be getting money supporting their concepts ranging from $22 million to $92 million. Lastly, we get into a heated argument about an editorial posted online and in the New York edition of the New York Times calling the space shuttle Enterprise, which will soon be housed at the Inrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York city, a pile of garbage and a hand-me-down. The article to which is referenced from the New York Times is available online at http://nyti.ms/halISu Don't forget to tune in to http://astronomy.fm at 3pm EDT on April 29, 2011 for LIVE STS-134 launch coverage! Even if you can't make the live launch, check out the site, which replays our podcasts throughout the week, but the difference is, you can chat with other fans live in their chatroom. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 4/24/2011