Talking Space

Episode 432: The Taming of the Dragon

On this episode of Talking Space, we cover the successful launch of the Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon capsule on the 1st commercial operational resupply mission to the ISS. All appeared to go well with the exception of an engine anomaly about 79 seconds into flight. Listen to find out what it is. We then get into a lengthy discussion of "traditional media" versus social media, which came about after NASA allowed NASA Social participants equal access to events and interviews as the press for launch. One panelist is not too happy about this. As an update, after the recording date, Dragon was successfully berthed to the station on Wednesday, October 10th. We want to hear your opinion on the idea of NASA Social participants getting the same access as media! Send us your thoughts as a text or .mp3 file to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can tweet it to us as@talkingspace or post it on our Facebook page as well at facebook.com/talkingspace Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 10/8/2012

Episode 431: Jumping to Earth and Beyond

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the arrival of Endeavour in Los Angeles as well as her arrival and some of her celebrity onlookers. We then discuss the upcoming SpaceX launch to the ISS, their first operational flight, and talk about our thoughts on if it'll fly on it's first attempt. We then also talk about Orbital's Cygnus capsule and their rocket rolling out to the pad at Wallops Island. To finish off trip one of two around the table, we discuss a high-altitude jump being taken from the edges of space, what's involved, and some of the details behind the Red Bull Stratos world record jump attempt. On our second trip around the table, Mark has a very special interview with space.com's Clara Moskowitz about the 100 Year Starship Symposium and some of the challenges associated with a long duration flight into the depths of space. For more on the 100 Year Starship Symposium, visit http://symposium.100yss.org/about-100yss For some of Clara's stories on the convention as well as other topics, search http://space.com Be sure to also follow Clara on Twitter: @ClaraMoskowitz Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Mark Ratterman with special guest space.com writer Clara Moskowitz Show Recorded - 10/1/2012

Episode 430: My Science in Space, Ready, Set, Go!

On this episode of Talking Space we talk with Carl Carruthers about how to get your science project on the International Space Station. Starting in 1998 Carl has navigated the complex process to have his research fly in space. Now he wants to share how much easier it is with resources currently available through NASA, CASIS, Implementation Partners and others. Download this show to keep as a resource for the day when someone says "I wish I could get my experiment in orbit". We hear about several previous of Carl's previous projects that flew on shuttle and his upcoming project that will fly to the ISS via SpaceX Dragon capsule early in 2013. We also talk about crew health in space & early detection of osteoporosis (EDOS) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/EDOS.html Carl mentions searching for more information about bisphosphonates in microgravity - so go ahead and search that term and learn more. Check out the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education at http://ncesse.org/ For information about the Space Florida ISS Research Competition and the workshop on Oct 5 that Carl will speak at go to http://www.spaceflorida.gov/iss-research-competition/ Carl's great writeup titled "How Can I Get My Science Project on the International Space Station" with all the links  is at http://www.theproteinwrangler.com/2012/07/19/how-can-i-get-my-science-project-on-the-international-space-station/ on Twitter follow him at https://twitter.com/proteinwrangler Host this week: Mark Ratterman, Panel Member: Gene Mikulka with Special Guest Carl Carruthers Show Recorded - 09/26/2012

Episode 429: Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the recent return of both the Soyuz TMA-04M carrying a crew of 3 and the "return" of JAXA's HTV-3. We then discuss a race against the ISS, and it's not as impossible as it seems. We then discuss a delay with the next Soyuz, the TMA-06M and the reliability of the vehicle. On our second trip around the table, we discuss the delay of the departure of Endeavour and a brief look at each of the exhibits. We then discuss a very patriotic set of waypoints in the Washington DC area. We then discuss some budgetary woes to end the second trip around the table and to begin the third. We then move on to the winners experiments in the YouTube Space Lab contest being flown and performed onboard the ISS. Finally, we look at the memorial ceremony for Neil Armstrong held at the National Cathedral. For more on Racin' the Station, visit http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?fEID=13750 To view the map with the aviation waypoints, visit the White House blog at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/09/10/faa-commemorates-911-nextgen-arrival-profiles-national-airport Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/17/2012

Episode 428: Brushing Up on MacGyver

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss preparations being made for the departure of Endeavour for the California Science Center, the final shuttle to fly aboard the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. We also talk about some concerns the residents of Los Angeles are expressing regarding preparations. We then discuss the recently announced reasons for the allocation of funds for NASA's CCiCap program and the concerns the agency has with some of the proposed designs. On our second trip around the table, we discuss a MacGyver-esque repair aboard the ISS that involves using a toothbrush on a spacewalk. We then move on to some impressive research being done by NASA employees. We then discuss India's recent launch and the impact this is having on the launch market as well as the morale of the US. Finally, we use our last trip around the table to answer some listener letters ranging from Neil Armstrong to what defines a legend. As well, Talking Space celebrates its 3 year anniversary with the release of our first episode on September 9, 2009. Thanks to Iain and Rich for the letters. Don't forget to send in your questions or comments as a letter or a .mp3 to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com for it to possibly be discussed on the show. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/12/2012

Episode 427: Winking at the Moon

On this special episode of Talking Space, we remember the life of Neil Armstrong, who passed away August 25th at the age of 82. We remember his accomplishments, his close-encounters, his views on our space program past and present, and we hear about how he helped Sawyer get a job. We then discuss Curiosity and how the rover has taken its first drive on the surface of Mars and how that went. Lastly, we discuss more about the case of the Saturn V blueprints with 2 listener letters. Thanks again to Rich and Evan for sending us your follow-up letters. You can send in any questions or comments on any story as text or as a short .mp3 by email tomailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can also tweet it to us on Twitter as @talkingspace or write it on our Facebook wall at facebook.com/talkingspace. Click here to view the program "The Bottom Line" and their complete interview with Neil Armstrong. To see a list of all of the charities in which the Armstrong family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers, visit http://neilarmstronginfo.com/statement-regarding-memorials/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 8/27/2012

Episode 426: The Coronation of 'Coronation'

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the beginning of science for the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We discuss the use of the ChemCam's laser to examine its first sample, and talk about how the rock felt about it through its Twitter account. We then discuss the next discovery-class mission NASA has in store for 2016, and it involves the red planet. We then discuss the X-51A's recent test flight and how soon we can see 1 hour flights from New York to London. We then continue discussing the end of an era as Endeavour and Atlantis meet nose-to-nose for the last time as they each prepare to go their separate ways later this year. We then discuss the recent spacewalk performed on the ISS and another upcoming EVA this month. Lastly, we hopefully put an end to the much-talked-about Saturn V blueprint topic as we receive an email from listener Donald. Thank you Donald for sending in your email! To read the tweets of the rock Coronation on Mars, follow @N165Mars To view the article discussed in the listener email, visit http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_23_2012_p22-477250.xml Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Gene Mikulka Show Recorded - 8/20/2012

Episode 425: Super Successes and Fantastic Failures

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the hottest space topic of the last two weeks: the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We then discuss the Commercial Crew integrated Capability initiative and who's getting money, who isn't, and who we feel should or should not have received any funding for furthering work on commercial efforts to send humans into space. We then go from the success of Mars to a couple of recent failures. We discuss the recent Proton upper stage failure, which has now been the cause of 3 satellites entering incorrect orbits in 1 year. We also discuss the major explosion of the Morpheus test vehicle. We then discuss the newest head of the astronaut office and what that title actually is. We then discuss a new website offering an interesting look at NASA spinoffs. Lastly, we read a listener letter discussing the much-talked-about subject on our show of the location of Saturn V blueprints. Special thanks to Evan Burton for sending us a listener letter. You can send any comments or questions to us by email at mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com, sending us a tweet @talkingspace, or writing us on our Facebook wall at http://facebook.com/talkingspace For more pictures from Mars, visit http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl To see the Morpheus test flight, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hvlG2JtMts For information on Sally Ride, visit http://sallyridescience.com

Episode 424: Geoff Rocks Around the Clock

On this episode of Talking Space, we welcome back rock star, author, and co-host of the Science Channel show "Meteorite Men" Geoff Notkin back onto the program. We discuss with Geoff his new memoir, "Rock Star: Adventures of a Meteorite Man." We talk specifically about his life decision of punk music or meteorites. We also discuss his writings from music to books, fiction to non-fiction. During this conversation we discuss the question of whether art should be added to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. We then talk about the recent successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity, and the future implications of the mission on Mars exploration and more. We then discuss meteorites, from hunting locations to speaking events. Finally we talk about the "rock star" aspect and his reaction to meeting fans. For more on the TV show and to buy either of Geoff's books, visit http://meteoritemen.com To contact Geoff or to purchase meteorites, visit http://aerolite.org You can also keep up with the Meteorite Men on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest. Geoff is also now on http://goodreads.com where you can enter to win a free copy of Geoff's book. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Craft Lass with special guest Geoff Notkin Show Recorded - 8/7/2012

Episode 423: From SpaceX to Spiders on Station

On this episode, we begin by taking a listener letter from Rich Way discussing the blueprints for the Saturn V rocket and it's components and whether the tale he tells us is fact or fiction. We then hand it over to Mark with an update from Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station, Dr. Tara Ruttley. We hear about the SpaceX docking, student science experiments, what's arriving on the next supply ship, and how station science is helping us back on the planet.

Thanks again to Rich for sending in your comment. You can send us your questions or comments that you'd like to hear discussed on air as a text email or a .mp3 by sending it tomailbag@talkingspaceonline.com

For more on ISS research, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

For more on CASIS (Center for the Advancent of Science in Space), visit http://www.iss-casis.org/

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman with special guest Dr. Tara Ruttley

Show Recorded - 7/9/2012