Talking Space

Episode 501: Five Times the Science

On the first episode of 2013 and our 5th season of shows, we welcome back for the 5th time the Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station and friend of the show Dr. Tara Ruttley. We discuss many experiments you might not have heard of currently going on aboard the International Space Station and some results of experiments we've discussed before. We talk about the connection between the Curiosity rover on Mars and ISS science. We discuss the science returned by Dragon and if the freezer failure affected the science. We also discuss the upcoming year long flight to the station and the scientific benefits. We discuss the fate of the spiders from the YouTube SpaceUp contest which we supported. We get a follow up on a fire experiment that was recently performed and get some teasers of results to come. Lastly, we hear about Dr. Ruttley's favorite experiements. For updates on the science going on aboard the station, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iss-science or follow them on Twitter: @ISS_Research Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Mark Ratterman and special guest Dr. Tara Ruttley Show Recorded - 12/17/2012

Episode 441: Trefft unsere Freunde aus Deutschland

"Trefft unsere Freunde aus Deutschland" Translation - Meet our friends from Germany

This speical episode covers some personal stories about NASA and the shuttle program. In particular, you get to meet my friends from Germany and listen as they tell some stories of travel and share their special memories about "our" shuttles. It is a pleasure to introduce Kalus Krueger from Hamburg, Germany and Alex von Eckartsberg from Frankfurt, Germany. We talk about launches and the transition/retirement of the orbiters. They made many trips for many years. Would you and I be as willing to commit that much time and money to see those inspiring spacecraft? I think you'll enjoy hearing them each talk about years of interest in the US Space Shuttle Program, not just at the end of the program, when much of the US started to pay attention again.

Please share with us one of your special moments from the world of spaceflight and space exploration.

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Send a written email or attach a short audio recording to an email sent to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com, and we may use it in a future show.

First up I'll be talking with Klaus and then Alex.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this special show from the 3 of us to all of you. -Mark

Show Recorded - 11/13, 11/16, and 11/23/2012

Episode 440: Apocalypse Now?

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the crashing conclusion of the GRAIL lunar gravity mapping mission and who they named the crash site after. Next we discuss a possible trip to Europa, but can we even think to afford it? Then we discuss a host of blogs worth checking out. On our second trip around the table, we dicuss North Korea's launch of a reported satellite. Then we discuss the 40th anniversary of Apollo 17 and an interesting article by Andrew Chaikin on the date. Then we discuss an e-book for kids. On our final trip around the table, we discuss the NASA Johnson Style parody and what it really means. Next we discuss the end of the world and why NASA is certain it won't happen. Finally, we discuss an interesting follow up to a spacesuit story and an update on a story from last week. To look at the blogs Mark mentioned, visit http://blogs.nasa.gov To view the e-book on nutrition and more, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/slsd/about/divisions/hacd/education/kids-zone.html For the NASA 2012 FAQ, visit http://www.nasa.gov/2012 and view the December 22nd video athttp://youtu.be/QY_Gc1bF8ds Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 12/17/2012

Episode 439: Is This the Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the next Mars rover, set to launch in 2020. We then discuss the failure of a Russian booster...again. We then discuss light bulbs in space. On the second trip around the table, we discuss the Russian launch site in Kazakhstan, Baikonour, and how it may go back to Kazakh control. We then discuss the launch of the US Military's ecret X-37B space plane. We then discuss a special beacon. On our final trip around the table, we take a trip of a world of "fantasy". We discuss a petition to te US government to build a death star. We then discuss the "Golden Spike" project, which hopes to get humans to the moon by 2020. We finally discuss Mark Kelly's fabulous children's book, "Mousetronaut". To view the website for the beacon at Mount Diablo, visit http://savemoutdiablo.org To view the petition to increase NASA's budget, visit http://wh.gov/NITC Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 12/10/2012

Episode 438: Curiosity About the Outer Solar System

On this epside of Talking Space, we talk about the "earth-shattering" discovery made by Curiosity that rumors had been circulating around before the announcement. We then talk about Voyager 1 reaching a new part of the solar system. We then discuss an update on Orion, including some cracks and how "made in America" it is. On our second trip around the table, we discuss an interesting discussion on NPR involving Chuck Yeager. We then discuss some big news about Reaction Engines. Then, we discuss a free e-book NASA has made available. On our final trip around the table, we discuss Atlantis being angled in preparation for its display and the crew that will be staying aboard the ISS for 1 full year. Lastly, we then discuss the discovery of water on Mercury and if it really is a big deal or not. To hear the NPR segment mentioned in the episode, visit http://sciencefriday.com/segment/11/30/2012/scifri-book-club-has-the-right-stuff.html To download "Earth as Art" the free NASA e-book, visit http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/earth_art_detail.html Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 12/3/2012

Episode 437: Robot of the Year Checks In

On this episode of Talking Space, the smaller-than-usual crew takes on the red planet, looking at news that some say will be groundbreaking while others say it's no big deal. We then discuss Curiosity checking in on FourSquare and some unique wind patterns it picked up. On our second trip around the table, we discuss some SpaceX failures you might not have heard about. We then talk about a NASA spinoff that won't make you hurl and a video game character detected by Cassini. On our third trip around the table, we discuss the new home for NASA 905. We also discuss a retiring former astronaut who we interviewed on Episode 309 and the tale of how our website stayed up during Hurricane Sandy. We add in a last minute story on some unlikely space-related candidates for Time's Person of the Year People's Choice vote. To vote for MSL, the Higgs-Boson, or Felix Baumgartner, visithttp://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2128881_2128882,00.html. Voting ends December 12th at 11:59pm EST. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 11/26/2012

Episode 436: Being @NASASocial

On this special episode, we talk to NASA's Social Media Manager John Yembrick and NASA's Deputy Social Media Manager Jason Townsend. We discuss the origins of the former NASA Tweetup now called NASASocial and the impact it has had on those who both planned it and those who participated. We also discuss NASA's trend-setting power and how they have become the top governmental social media agency. We then also discuss the topic we've been discussing on this show over the past month, and their view on traditional vs. social media after the SpaceX CRS-1 Social where participants were given the same access as members of the media. Learn all about @NASA's (and the other 500 Twitter accounts) inner workings and everything you wanted to know about NASA Socials. For information on NASASocial events, visit http://www.nasa.gov/social You can personally follow John: @yembrick and Jason: @jtowns Special thanks to our guest panelist Shannon Moore. Find her on Twitter as @ageekmom and visit her Wiki dedicated to NASA Tweetups/Socials at http://nasatweet.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and guest panelist Shannon Moore with special guests NASA Social Media Manager John Yembrick and NASA Deputy Social Media Manager Jason Townsend Show Recorded - 11/20/2012

Episode 435: A Final Farewell to the Space Shuttle

On this episode of Talking Space, we return after recovering from Hurricane Sandy. However, a piece of space history was impacted by the storm as the dome which houses the space shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum collapsed. Listen to find out why it came down. Next, we discuss SpaceX's successful test flight of Dragon's "grasshopper" and get into a discussion about why they are having an entirely reusable booster for future Falcon rockets. Lastly and most importantly, we discuss the official end of the space shuttle program and experience the excitement and emotion of the ceremonies through the recordings and stories of our own Mark Ratterman. Hear from former astronauts who flew Atlantis, including NASA administrator Charlie Bolden. To help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to automatically donate $10 or you can go to http://redcross.org to donate any amount. [An image was inserted here. To view it, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com] Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 11/6/2012

Episode 434: Skylon with SABRE - Single Stage to Orbit

We interview Reaction Engines LTD Mark Hempsell about the SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine). This is a breakthrough rocket engine in aerospace technology that can operate in both air-breathing and rocket modes. Join us as we talk about the SABRE rocket engine, the Skylon Spaceplane (runway to orbit) and LAPCAT (Mach 5 cruise Brussels to Sydney in 4.6 hours). Plan on spending some time looking over the Reaction Engines web site for an extensive download list of images, video's and technical documents. http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/index.html https://twitter.com/ReactionEngines Host this week: Gene Mikulka, Panel Member: Mark Ratterman Show Recorded 10/17/2012

Episode 433: The Traditional Way of Being Social

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the journey of Endeavour from Los Angeles International Airport through the narrow streets to its new home at the California Science Center. The shuttle got in later than expected, and we explain why. We then discuss the Red Bull Stratos jump, where Felix Baumgartner jumped from 24 miles to a safe landing on Earth, breaking some pretty impressive world records and almost not surviving. Lastly, we discuss the Dragon docking to the ISS, the failure of the Orbcomm payload which hitched a ride on the Falcon 9, and then we get into interviews. Mark sits down with many members of the CRS-1 NASA Social and get their opinion on the debate brought up last week of social media versus traditional media. Special thanks to the following for their interviews. You can click on a Twitter username to follow them. *Note, these are in order of how they appeared on the show: Adam Kostecki @AIAspeaks Manya Susoev @ManyaS Kara Haas @greenposgirl Emily Carney @emilyc1978 Stacey Severn @FanciFlautist Robert Neff @5wa Richard Hay @WinObs Molly Wood @mollywood For info on how to help the Planetary Society, visit http://planetary.org As well, apologies for the occasional audio issues, specifically in the beginning. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 10/15/2012