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A Free and Open Exchange of Ideas and Opinions on All Things Space. If it's above the Kármán Line, it's on our radar. Now at https://talkingspaceonline.com!
Episodes
Thursday Oct 31, 2013
Thursday Oct 31, 2013
Thursday Oct 24, 2013
Thursday Oct 24, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space we discuss release of the Cygnus capsule from the ISS and an upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9.1 Dragon launch. Also the most recent test flight of the SpaceX Grasshopper and the reusability it may provide.
Sierra Nevada readies for a drop test of their Dreamchaser test vehicle. Did you hear about the concern raised on twitter that the Near Earth Object discovered Oct 8th could hit earth on a future pass in 2032. Odds are 1 in 63,000 of a hit from this 1300 ft long object. Gene says don't worry, rest easy and check the facts from sources like NASA or the B612 Foundation.
Want to be part of the Mars Artic 365 Mission? Crew of 6 volunteers will spend 365 days at Flashline Mars Artic Research Station at Devon Island near Resolute in Nunavut, Canada. See http://ma365.marssociety.org/ for all the details.
There has been a launch delay of a Minotaur 1 from Pad 0B at Wallops Flight Facility due to the US Government shutdown. Original launch date was Nov 4 and is now scheduled for Nov 19. Also a Delta IV was scheduled to launch on Oct 23 but is being delayed to look into possible problems following an Oct 2012 Delta IV launch due to reduced thrust the second stage RL10B-2 engine.
How about a sleeping trip to the Red Planet? Well the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program announced 2013 Phase I and II Selections. One of which included a proposal from Spaceworks Enterprises Inc. for research on a "Torpor Inducing Transfer Habitat For Human Stasis To Mars".
See http://goo.gl/gBGnce for links to all selections.
Jellyfish born in space have difficulty adapting when returned to earth. Swimming does not come naturally in 1 G following birth in microgravity. Sawyer brings us the story "Debugging a Live Saturn V". Take a few minutes and read this for yourself from the memoirs of a Saturn V "Rocket Scientist", it is phenomenal!
http://www.zamiang.com/posts/2013/10/13/red-team/
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 10/21/2013
Thursday Oct 17, 2013
Thursday Oct 17, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the earth flyby of JUNO. All's well that ends well but the spacecraft dropping into safe mode made for a tense departure from earth outbound for its rendezvous with Jupiter in 2015. Gene refers to an article (linked here) by Ken Kremer detailing JUNO's return to full operation. To see the fun series of video's by Bill Nye teaching all about JUNO Watch "Why With Nye" http://missionjuno.swri.edu/why
DARPA proposes an experimental spaceplane, the XS-1 and it sounds good to us. Space based reality shows? Really, seriously? Well the NBC network and Virgin Galactic are behind it so stay tuned.... Roscosmos has a changing of the guard, with problems the past couple of years it sounds necessary.
We comment on a listener letter and cover a lot of ground about STEM and our ideas of how it can positively change lives.
LADEE is in orbit with some interesting science ahead. We remember Dr Mike Wargo who championed the moon at NASA HQ
We touch on the greatness of Astronaut and American hero Scott Carpenter.
He passed away on 10 October 2013 in Boulder Colorado.The web site http://scottcarpenter.com/ will reintroduce you to to this "Steely-Eyed Rocket Man"
Godspeed, Scott Carpenter
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 10/14/2013
Thursday Oct 10, 2013
Thursday Oct 10, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space, we take a deeper look into the effects of the government shutdown on NASA and the US space program as a whole. We then look deep into commercial space with Cygnus' recent docking and the launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9.1, which may or may not have had a malfunction depending on who you ask. We also look at a recently announced lawsuit between Orbital Sciences and the Virginia-based organization running the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport or MARS. We then look at Juno's near pass of Earth this week, even though you can't find out about it on NASA.gov. On our second trip around the table, we look at the newly renamed shuttle Independence, which was the model that was originally at the Kennedy Space Center and is now at Space Center Houston. Lastly, we dive into the new movie "Gravity" and take a spoiler-free look at the fuss surrounding the movie and give your our opinion on it.
Also, we are proud to announce our partnership with the Spaceflight Group! This means we'll be able to provide you with more stories and more interviews with the people making the news and other amazing behind-the-scenes people. Please check them out at http://spaceflightinsider.com and like them on Facebook by clicking here!
For mroe info on Juno, visit http://missionjuno.swri.edu (Works even during the government shutdown)
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 10/7/2013
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Monday Sep 30, 2013
Monday Sep 30, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the launch of Orbital Science's Cygnus resupply vehicle on its demo flight to the ISS and a minor issue it hit. We then talk about the next crew going up to the ISS and look at the "resolution" for the minor failure aboard the previous Soyuz. On our second trip around the table, we look to see if Curiosity really did find methane on Mars or not. We then get right back into a hot topic on this show: Plutonium-238. On our final trip around the table, we look at some launches coming from Asia, including China and preparations by North Korea. Lastly, we discuss a follow-up to last episode's story about the use of LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 09/23/2013
Friday Sep 20, 2013
Friday Sep 20, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the return of the Soyuz TMA-08M. Although the crew returned safely, there was a major flaw with the craft. We then take a look at Orbital Science's first attempt to send its Cygnus resupply craft to the International Space Station aboard its Antares rocket. On our second trip around the table, we discuss Voyager reaching interstellar space, but is that actually leaving the solar system? We then go into the debate over who gets the famous pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center and where the battle is going now. On our final trip around the table, we discuss the new, affordable Epsilon rocket launched from Japan. Finally, we look at some harsh comments about the future of the ISS.
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 09/16/2013
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Friday Sep 13, 2013
Friday Sep 13, 2013
On this episode Sawyer and Gene discuss the LADEE launch via the Orbital Minotaur V rocket and the upcoming Orbital Cygnus cargo test flight to the ISS via the Antares rocket. Also discussion of the $44 billion budget estimate by DOD, NASA and GAO for the cost to launch government satellites through 2018. Gene talks about the interview of former NASA manned spaceflight director Chris Kraft by Eric Berger of the Houston Chronical. A Cosmonaut gets out of the program, anyone else want out of the space program?
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka (Mark Ratterman deleted due to time constraints)
Show Recorded 09/09/2013
Wednesday Sep 04, 2013
Wednesday Sep 04, 2013
On this very special two-part episode celebrating four years of Talking Space, we continue our talk with PGAV Destinations, the company behind the design and building of the space shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. We go into the story behind the shuttle reveal, and the simple theater tricks used to make a lasting impression. We also discuss the interactive exhibits and learning tools from simulators to tires to slides. Also mentioned is some of the last-minute additions to the exhibit, including the first model of the space shuttle designed by Max Faget. We also focus on the people of the shuttle program and how they were highlighted in the exhibit. Lastly, we look into all of the hooray moments and all of the "oops" moments of the build, plus much more!
For more info on PGAV Destinations, visit http://www.pgavdestinations.com/
For more info on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and to buy tickets, visit http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
A set of tires from STS-135 are on display in front of Atlantis. Credit: Sawyer Rosenstein To view all of the images, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman Special Guests FromPGAV Destinations: Vice President and Project Manager Emily Howard, Exhibit Designer Doug Nickrent, Graphic Designer Amanda Yates, Architect Dave Myers
Show Recorded 08/21/2013
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Wednesday Aug 28, 2013
Wednesday Aug 28, 2013
On this very special two-part episode celebrating four years of Talking Space, we talk with PGAVDestinations, the company behind the space shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. In this first part, we discuss how they got the space shuttle and their reactions to finding out what they'd be building. We then go in depth into the behind-the-scenes of the building surrounding the shuttle. This includes discussions on the design of the outside of the building, the large model solid rocket boosters and external tank, the structure of the building, and how you get a shuttle in the building, safely, on an angle, suspended above the ground. Also, we find out how you maintain the shuttle now that it's on display and "keep the good dirt and get rid of the bad dirt", plus much more!
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week where we go inside the actual exhibit and look at the reveal, the exhibit itself, and everyone's favorite parts.
For more info on PGAV Destinations, visit http://www.pgavdestinations.com/
For more info on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and to buy tickets, visithttp://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
The exterior of the space shuttle Atlantis exhibit as viewed from the road leading up to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Sawyer Rosenstein
A close-up of Atlantis inside the exhibit with scorch marks visible on the
thermal blanket. Credit: Sawyer Rosenstein
To view all images related to this episode, visit http://talkiingspaceonline.com
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman Special Guests From PGAV Destinations: Vice President and Project Manager Emily Howard, Exhibit Designer Doug Nickrent, Graphic Designer Amanda Yates, Architect Dave Myers
Show Recorded 08/21/2013
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Thursday Aug 15, 2013
Thursday Aug 15, 2013
On this episode of Talking Space, we start by tie everything in to the ISS. We begin with a discussion on whether or not the ISS will make it past its current planned deorbit date, and not because of age, but because of budget and politics. We then discuss how the world isn't going to end as the sun's poles flip. We then discuss an upcoming conference which we've talked a lot about in the past, the 100 Year Star Ship Symposium, and look at some of this year's topics. On our second trip around the table, we discuss a system that tracks space debris and how the sequester is set to shut it down eminently. Mark then takes us on a quick trip with three stories in three minutes. On our final trip around the table, we discuss some new updates with Reaction Engines and single stage to orbit systems. We then look at Elon Musk's new "Hyperloop" system which could revolutionize high speed rail systems. We finish off with how lasers and communications are making their way to the ISS.
Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman
Show Recorded 08/12/2013