Interview with David Oh, Chief Engineer NASA’s upcoming Psyche mission is a robotic spacecraft mission that will explore the asteroid 16 Psyche, which is believed to be made almost entirely of metal. The mission is scheduled to launch in October 2023 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026. The spacecraft will study the asteroid’s composition, geology, and magnetic field. The mission will also test a new laser communication technology that will allow for faster data transmission between Earth and the spacecraft. This interview features David Oh, a Chief Engineer for Psyche: Journey to a Metal World, a mission in NASA's Discovery program. David has experience in all phases of spacecraft development from conceptual design to deep space operations. He has worked on both Earth Orbiting and Interplanetary missions and has led teams of 20+ engineers in spacecraft design, testing, and operations. His expertise includes avionics, electric propulsion, low thrust trajectories, power systems, and spacecraft environmental interactions. For more information visit https://www.nasa.gov/psyche

We’re just a few weeks away for the Crew-7 mission, the seventh operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is a reusable spacecraft designed to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. It is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the ISS.

Crew Dragon is capable of carrying up to seven astronauts and is equipped with advanced features such as touch screen controls, an environmental control and life support system, and a launch escape system. The spacecraft is launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket and returns to Earth by splashing down in the ocean.

Since its first crewed flight in May 2020, Crew Dragon has successfully transported multiple crews to the ISS, including the upcoming Crew-7 mission.

This mission will transport four astronauts to the International Space Station: Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA, Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency), Satoshi Furukawa from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and Konstantin Borisov from Roscosmos. The launch is currently targeted for August 17th and will take place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

In this episode I’m pleased to present my recent interview with Crew 7 pilot Andreas Mogensen. This will be his second trip to space, following his 10-day ISS mission in 2015 where he became the first Danish citizen in space. During the Crew-7 mission, Andreas will be responsible for the spacecraft’s performance and systems, and will become the first European to serve as the pilot of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. In addition, Andreas will take over as Station Commander of the ISS in September.

In this interview, we will discuss Andreas’ role in the Crew-7 mission, his passion for space exploration, and some of the experiments that he will conduct on board the International Space Station during the 6-month mission.

For more info, visit

Nasa.gov

Esa.int

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Get ready to explore Jupiter’s icy moons with the European Space Agency's JUICE mission. Join us as we uncover the secrets of one of the solar system's most mysterious and fascinating places.

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ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, is a mission to study Jupiter and its three largest moons: Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. Launching in April 2023, JUICE will spend more than three and a half years studying the atmosphere, magnetic field, and magnetosphere of Jupiter, as well as the icy surface and subsurface ocean of the three moons. The spacecraft will be equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and a radar, to study the geology, chemistry, and potential habitability of the moons. JUICE will also be the first spacecraft to make in-depth observations of Ganymede, which is the largest moon in our solar system, and the only moon known to have a magnetic field. The mission will provide new insights into the formation and evolution of Jupiter and its moons, and will help to answer key questions about the potential for life beyond Earth.

For more information visit https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice

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Two Fascinating New Kids (and everyone else!) Books for Astronomy

Did you know that one of Saturn’s moons is so hollow it would float on water? Or that Jupiter might have diamonds floating in its clouds? Learn about these and others in 1,000 Facts about Space, a new book by astronomer Dean Regas, who joins us next in today’s episode.

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Dean Regas is an astronomer, writer, and educator who is best known for his work as the Outreach Astronomer at the Cincinnati Observatory, where he has been sharing the wonders of the cosmos with audiences of all ages for over a decade. He is the author of two books, "1000 Facts About Space" and "How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto", which are aimed at bringing the latest research and discoveries in astronomy to a wider audience. "1000 Facts About Space" is a fun and engaging guide to the universe, packed with fascinating facts and stories about stars, galaxies, planets, and more. Meanwhile, "How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto" is a humorous and practical guide for anyone who wants to learn more about the dwarf planet and the ongoing debate over its planetary status. Both books are perfect for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what's out there.

For more information visit CincinnatiObservatory.org

Timeline:
Welcome and introduction to Dean Regus.
0:00
How did the partnership with National Geographic come about?
1:48
Diamonds floating in the clouds of Jupiter and other amazing facts about space.
4:01
How did you decide on 1000 facts about space?
5:24
What motivated you to write this book?
10:36
Advice for those who want to get more into astronomy.
16:25
What’s happening at the observatory right now.
21:18
Astronomical events coming up!

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SpaceX Crew-6 is launching soon, with many first-time surprises.

The sixth SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station for NASA is scheduled to launch in a few days from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, mated atop a Falcon 9 rocket will carry two NASA astronauts, Mission Commander Stephen Bowen, and Pilot Woody Hoburg, along with UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who will join as mission specialists. 

During its 6-month mission, Crew-6 will conduct new and exciting scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and benefit life on Earth. Experiments will include studies of how particular materials burn in microgravity, tissue chip research on heart, brain, and cartilage functions, and an investigation that will collect microbial samples from the outside of the space station. These are just some of the more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations that will take place during their mission.  

This is the first spaceflight for three of the astronauts, including Mission Specialist Sultan Al Neyadi who joins us today.

Sultan will be making his first trip to space and will be the first UAE astronaut to fly on a commercial spacecraft. Once aboard the station, he will become a flight engineer for Expedition 69. Sultan was one of two people selected from more than 4,000 candidates to become the first Emirati astronauts. He went through the UAE Astronaut Programme at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, or MBRSC.

The MBRSC is a space research and development agency based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2006, the agency is responsible for developing and operating space projects and missions in the UAE. The MBRSC has played a key role in the development of the UAE's space program, including the launch of the country's first satellite, DubaiSat-1, and the development of the Emirates Mars Mission's Hope spacecraft. The center also conducts research and development in areas such as remote sensing, space science, and space exploration, and has partnerships with international space agencies and organizations.

Crew-6 Mission: https://blogs.nasa.gov/crew-6  

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center: https://www.mbrsc.ae/

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Joakim Espeland is the CEO and co-founder of QuadSAT, a Danish company that has developed brand new tools and techniques for testing and calibrating satellite antennas using a drone-based solution. He has already led the company from idea to $million revenue and continues to grow it. Early on, this technology was recognized as a “game changer” for the satellite industry. Satellite operators see QuadSAT’s technology as being a valuable alternative to traditional methods of antenna testing and the European Space Agency (ESA) sees it as having considerable market value to the satellite industry. QuadSAT has already worked with some leading companies, including OneWeb, SES, ESA, and Oxford Space Systems, amongst others.

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Quadsat is a cutting-edge drone technology company that specializes in testing satellite communications. Their innovative drone-based solutions allow for quick and efficient testing of satellite systems, reducing the cost and time required for traditional testing methods. Quadsat's drones can fly to specific locations and simulate satellite signals, allowing for real-world testing of satellite systems. This technology can be used by satellite operators, telecommunications companies, and government agencies to test and optimize their satellite networks. With Quadsat's technology, companies can improve their satellite communications and ensure that their systems are functioning properly before deployment. Overall, Quadsat is a leader in the field of drone-based satellite testing, providing reliable and cost-effective solutions to a wide range of clients.

For more information, visit quadsat.com

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Dragonfly, an upcoming mission from the Applied Physics Laboratory, is a pioneering project that aims to explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The mission will send a rotorcraft called Dragonfly to Titan's surface to study its geology, atmosphere, and potential habitability. Titan is of particular interest to scientists because it has a thick atmosphere, stable liquids on its surface, and a complex chemistry that is similar to that of early Earth.

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Dragonfly will be able to fly to different locations on Titan, land and take off again, and conduct in-situ measurements with a suite of scientific instruments. The mission is set to launch in 2027 and will arrive at Titan in 2034. The mission is expected to provide new insights into the origins of life and the potential for life elsewhere in the Solar System.

Elizabeth “Zibi” Turtle, the principal investigator for Dragonfly joins us to discuss this incredible mission.

Zibi was an associate of the imaging team on the Galileo mission and an associate of the imaging and RADAR teams on the Cassini mission. She also serves as a co-investigator working with the camera on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. She has co-authored many scholarly articles about planetary impact features, surface processes, and planetary imaging and mapping.

For more information about the Dragonfly mission, visit dragonfly.jhuapl.edu

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Season 4 starts February 1st! Here's a sneak peek at some of our episodes. 

The fourth season of "Your Space Journey" starts on February 1st! This season, we'll be taking you on an exciting journey through the latest and greatest in space exploration. First up, we'll be diving into the Dragonfly mission to Titan, led by APL. This mission will see a drone-like spacecraft explore the surface of Titan, one of Saturn's moons, by making multiple flights during a two-year mission.

Next, we'll be showcasing QuadSAT's cutting-edge drone technology, which is being used to test and improve satellite communications.

Then, we'll be learning from Dean Regas, the author of "1000 facts about space" and "How to teach grownups about Pluto", as he shares his knowledge and passion for space with us.

We'll also be following the ESA missions Juice and EUCLID, which will explore Jupiter's icy moons and study the large-scale structure of the universe respectively.

So get ready to join us as we embark on this exciting journey through the final frontier, and discover the latest and greatest in space exploration.

SPACE RACE 2.0: SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, NASA, and the Privatization of the Final Frontier
Interview with Author Brad Bergan

In this episode we’ll discuss SPACE RACE 2.0, a new book that follows the development of commercial space exploration to the present, including today’s major players SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. Joining me today is the book’s author Brad Bergan. Brad is senior editor at NFT Now. Previously, he was a contributing editor at Futurism and senior editor at Interesting Engineering, specializing in space and tech. As an investigative journalist, his words have been cited in Bloomberg, Discover, Business Insider, and NBC News.

SPACE RACE 2.0
Space Race 2.0 follows the development of commercial space exploration to the present. The first steps in private ventures are covered, such as those by Space Services Inc. and Orbital Science in the 1980s and ’90s, as well as today’s major players: SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic. While examining the hardware, Bergan also explores such considerations as the importance of design-forward equipment and the endgame: what ultimately is “in it” for firms at the forefront? Natural resources? NASA and ESA contracts? Commercial travel? Communications? And what legal boundaries, if any, restrain corporate interests in space?

Space Race 2.0 is the only authoritative photographic history of the efforts of private companies—often alongside NASA—to accelerate humankind’s exploration and understanding of the final frontier. It’s the ultimate visual look at this relatively young industry, looking back at recent remarkable decades—and ahead to what the future might bring.

For more info about Brad Bergan:
https://www.bcbergan.com/
https://twitter.com/filterthesnow

Interview with SpaceX Crew-5 JAXA astronaut, Dr. Koichi Wakata
(re-release interview from 2020).  

Dr. Koichi Wakata has accumulated more than 350 days in space spanning five missions, setting a record in Japanese human space flight history for the longest stay in space. He has flown on three space shuttle missions, and a Soyuz mission, and became the first Japanese Commander of the International Space Station. Dr. Wakata has held several key positions with JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, including serving as JAXA Vice President and Senior Advisor.

With the Crew 5 mission, Dr. Wakata made his fifth trip to space and now that he’s aboard the International Space Station, he will serve as a flight engineer for Expedition 68. Dragon was the third different type of spacecraft Dr. Wakata has flown to space.

 In this interview (from 2020), we discuss how Dr. Wakata became an astronaut, plus JAXA missions such as Hayabusa2, IKAROS, JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) and MMX (Martian Moons Exploration).

For more information, visit https://global.jaxa.jp/ 

In this episode we’ll discuss NASA’s upcoming Artemis 1 mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than the end of this month. The Space Launch System rocket, or “SLS” will propel the Orion spacecraft on its mission around the Moon and back to Earth. Artemis 1 will be an uncrewed flight test that will travel farther than any other human-rated spacecraft has traveled before. This mission, the first of an increasing series of complex missions, will demonstrate NASA’s capability to extend human existence to the Moon, and on to Mars. Joining me today from NASA’s Marshal Space Flight Center is Dave Reynolds, Deputy Program Manager for SLS Booster Subsystems. 

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Interview with Andreas Voigt, Satcoms Innovation Group

Satellite communications is a fast-growing industry with lots of challenges. In this episode we speak with Andreas Voigt, a leader in the SatCOM industry. Andreas has more than 20 years of experience in the satellite communications industry, serving as senior engineer for Eutelsat and as director of Satcoms Innovations Group, or SIG. Formed in 1997, SIG is an association that promotes innovation in the satcom industry to improve operational efficiency and reduce impact, saving time and money. It aims to do this by encouraging industry cooperation at engineering level through meetings, events and workshops, lobbying regulators and groups, and supporting innovation projects.

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For more info: https://satig.space/

Andreas' call sign: F4JKH

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Kevin LaRosa II is the Aerial Coordinator & Camera Pilot for Top Gun: Maverick. He’s one of Hollywood’s most sought-after pilot and aerial coordinators, licensed to fly a variety of aircraft ranging from helicopters and airplanes to Learjets and more. He’s known for his work on major blockbusters including Ironman, The Avengers, and Transformers 5. Kevin is an accomplished ATP rated pilot in a multitude of fixed wing and rotorcraft, and works heavily in the motion picture and television industries worldwide coordinating and directing film sequences in the air and on the ground.

Kevin joins me in this interview to discuss his career and his latest work which can be seen in Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick.

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About Kevin LaRosa II

Known for his work on major blockbusters like The Avengers (2012), Iron Man (2005) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Kevin LaRosa, II has worked on over 100 different motion picture and commercial productions.

An accomplished pilot like his father and grandfather, Kevin grew up with the sights and sounds of engines and propellers for as long as he can remember. Kevin’s father, Kevin LaRosa Sr, began taking him on movie shoots at the early age of 10 and by age 17, Kevin received his certificate to fly.

Today, Kevin is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after pilot and aerial coordinators, licensed to fly a variety of aircraft ranging from helicopters and airplanes to Learjets and more. Kevin is an ATP rated pilot trained and certified in a multitude of aircraft. He also holds type ratings in several Learjet models in addition to the C-130/ L-382 Hercules and the Sikorsky S-70/ UH-60, as well as an FAA Part 107 UAS rating for flying unmanned aircraft. Kevin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and the Motion Picture Pilots Association.

For more information, visit https://www.kevinlarosa.com

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Two Starlinks, two locations, two slightly different results. In this episode I tested out Starlink internet in two locations 1,000 miles apart. First we try it out in central Florida, then we go to Indianapolis to test another unit. We tested 4k, multiple 4k streams, FaceTime, multiple devices, upload and more. The results surprised us...

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About Starlink
Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet across the globe. Using advanced satellites in a low orbit, Starlink enables video calls, online gaming, streaming, and other high data rate activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet. Users can expect to see download speeds between 100 Mb/s and 200 Mb/s and latency as low as 20ms in most locations.

Starlink internet works by sending information through the vacuum of space, where it travels much faster than in fiber-optic cable and can reach far more people and places.

While most satellite internet services today come from single geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at about 35,000km, Starlink is a constellation of multiple satellites that orbit the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550km, and cover the entire globe.

Because Starlink satellites are in a low orbit, the round-trip data time between the user and the satellite – also known as latency – is much lower than with satellites in geostationary orbit. This enables Starlink to deliver services like online gaming that are usually not possible on other satellite broadband systems.

Starlink is ideally suited for areas where connectivity has been unreliable or completely unavailable. Without the bounds of traditional ground infrastructure, Starlink can be deployed in a matter of minutes to support emergency responders in disaster scenarios.  People across the globe are using Starlink to gain access to education, health services and even communications support during natural disasters.

For more information about Starlink, visit starlink.com.

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This is a tribute to the late solar astrophysicist Dr. Eugene Parker, featuring my phone interview with him from 2018.

In the mid-1950s Dr. Parker developed the theory of the supersonic solar wind and predicted the spiral shape of the solar magnetic field. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1967 and received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research by the American Physics Society for his fundamental contributions to space physics, plasma physics, solar physics and astrophysics for over 60 years. 

In his honor, NASA renamed the Parker Solar Probe after him, the first time in history that a space vessel was named after a living person. 

The Parker Solar Probe was launched in August 2018 and is still making incredible discoveries to this day. I was fortunate to interview Dr. Parker before the launch and grateful to present this interview to you today as we talked about heliophysics and the Parker Solar Probe mission. Dr. Parker passed away on March 15, 2022.

About Dr. Eugene Newman Parker
In the mid-1950s, a young physicist named Eugene Parker proposed a number of concepts about how stars — including our Sun — give off energy. He called this cascade of energy the solar wind, and he described an entire complex system of plasmas, magnetic fields and energetic particles that make up this phenomenon. Parker also theorized an explanation for the superheated solar corona, which is — contrary to what was expected by then-known physics laws — hotter than the surface of the Sun itself. His theory suggested that regular, but small, solar explosions called nanoflares could, in enough abundance, cause this heating.

More than half a century later, the Parker Solar Probe mission now provides key observations on Parker’s groundbreaking theories and ideas, which have informed a generation of scientists about solar physics and the magnetic fields around stars. Much of his pioneering work, which has been proven by subsequent spacecraft, defined a great deal of what we know about the how the Sun–Earth system interacts.

Born on June 10, 1927, in Michigan, Parker received a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from Caltech in 1951. He then taught at the University of Utah, and since 1955, Parker has held faculty positions at the University of Chicago and at its Fermi Institute.

He has received numerous awards for his research, including the George Ellery Hale Prize, the National Medal of Science, the Bruce Medal, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Kyoto Prize, the James Clerk Maxwell Prize, and the Crafoord Prize in Astronomy.

About Parker Solar Probe
NASA’s historic Parker Solar Probe mission is revolutionizing our understanding of the Sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar system, affecting Earth and other worlds. Parker Solar Probe travels through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.

Learn more about Parker Solar Probe and its mission at:
https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe 

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In today’s episode we’ll explore the growing problem of space junk and how the new company Privateer Space is working to help make space safer. Joining us today is Dr. Moriba Jah, the Chief Scientist of Privateer. Moriba is a co-founder of Privateer along with the company’s CEO Alex Fielding and the company’s president, Steve Wozniak.

Moriba is a renowned astrodynamicist, a space environmentalist, and an associate professor and the University of Texas at Austin. As Privateer’s Chief Scientist, he is the visionary behind Privateer’s innovative technology that will help keep the space environment safe as more and more satellites are put in orbit and human spaceflights expand. 

▻ About Privateer
Privateer is creating the data infrastructure that will enable sustainable growth for the new space economy.

Privateer’s proprietary knowledge graph technology offers much-needed enhancements to how they collect and process information about space objects. Even as orbital highways become more congested, this data and the applications built on it will allow space operators to maneuver safely and effectively.
‍
The first of many apps to be built on Privateer’s data engine is Wayfinder: an open-access and near real-time visualization of satellites and debris in Earth orbit.

For more information about Privateer, visit https://www.privateer.com/
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▻ About Dr. Moriba Jah
Moriba Jah is an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin where he is the holder of the Mrs. Pearlie Dashiell Henderson Centennial Fellowship in Engineering. He’s the director for Computational Astronautical Sciences and Technologies (CAST), a group within the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences as well as the Lead for the Space Security and Safety Program at the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Moriba came to UT Austin by way of the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory prior to that, where he was a Spacecraft Navigator on a handful of Mars missions.

For more information about Dr. Jah, visit https://flow.page/moriba

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In this episode we speak with Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a Mission Pilot for the new SpaceX Polaris Program. Kidd is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with more than 3,000 flying hours as a pilot and over 400 hours of combat time. Most recently Kidd served as the Mission Director for Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space last September that raised more than $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Kidd will be the Mission Pilot for the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 no earlier than the 4th quarter of this year. The Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, and fly higher than any Dragon mission to date. They will also attempt the first ever commercial spacewalk.

In addition to Kidd, Polaris Dawn’s crew will consist of Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander, Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist, and Anna Menon, Mission Specialist & Medical Officer.

In this episode we speak with Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a Mission Pilot for the new SpaceX Polaris Program. Kidd is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with more than 3,000 flying hours as a pilot and over 400 hours of combat time. Most recently Kidd served as the Mission Director for Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space last September that raised more than $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Kidd will be the Mission Pilot for the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 no earlier than the 4th quarter of this year. The Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, and fly higher than any Dragon mission to date. They will also attempt the first ever commercial spacewalk.

In addition to Kidd, Polaris Dawn’s crew will consist of Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander, Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist, and Anna Menon, Mission Specialist & Medical Officer.

▻ About Kidd Poteet
Scott “Kidd” Poteet is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served 20 years in various roles that include Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot, USAF Weapons School Graduate, Operational Test & Evaluation Pilot, and Flight Examiner. Kidd is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in the F-16, A-4, T-38, T-37, T-3, and Alpha Jet. Kidd has logged over 400 hours of combat time during Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Joint Guardian, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Resolute Support.

Following his Air Force career, Kidd served in various roles to include Director of Business Development at Draken International and VP of Strategy at Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR). He most recently served as the Mission Director of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in an effort to help eradicate childhood cancer. Kidd is also an accomplished collegiate runner and triathlete, competing in 15 Ironman triathlons since 2000, which includes four Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
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▻ About the Mission
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission from historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, during which they will work towards the following objectives:
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🔸 For more information, visit https://polarisprogram.com
💰 Support St. Jude Children's Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/donate/i4.html 

Fluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100393
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
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What will the James Webb Space Telescope discover? Will it be able to detect alien life? How does it compare to Hubble?

Find out in this interview with Lee Feinberg, JWST's Optical Telescope Element Manager. 

Lee Feinberg has been the Optical Telescope Element Manager for the James Webb Space Telescope at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for the past 20 years. Lee led the telescope technology development and led the telescope from architecture trades and design activities to manufacturing through integration and testing. He was also a member of the optics team that determined the optical prescription to correct the Hubble Space Telescope and performed independent testing of the mirrors that corrected Hubble. 

The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is an orbiting infrared observatory that will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, with longer wavelength coverage and greatly improved sensitivity. The longer wavelengths enable Webb to look much closer to the beginning of time and to hunt for the unobserved formation of the first galaxies, as well as to look inside dust clouds where stars and planetary systems are forming today.

For more information, visit https://webb.nasa.gov/

Interview with Homer Hickam

Homer Hickam is the New York Times #1 best-selling author of 19 books, including ‘Rocket Boys’ which became the major motion picture ‘October Sky’, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer. In this interview Homer talks about how his fascination with rockets began in October, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik. He also shares details of his newest book Don't Blow Yourself Up! and talks about his work with NASA and other space agencies.

Homer is a retired NASA engineer who worked on the Hubble Space telescope, trained U.S. and Japanese astronauts, and helped negotiate the use of the International Space Station with the Russians. Homer is a decorated Vietnam vet, carried the Olympic torch, taught David Letterman how to scuba dive, flew with General Chuck Yeager, dove on a sunken WWII German U-boat just off the North Carolina coast, and found four T-Rex skeletons as an amateur paleontologist. 

His best-selling books including his newest book Don't Blow Yourself Up! have been translated into dozens of languages and ‘Rocket Boys’ has been the most-read book in U.S. public schools for almost two decades.

For more info visit https://www.homerhickam.com

Interview with SpaceX Crew-3 pilot Tom Marshburn

Dr. Thomas Marshburn is the pilot of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and second in command for the SpaceX Crew-3 mission, which launched November 2021. He is responsible for spacecraft systems and performance. Once aboard the International Space Station (ISS), he will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer. 

Tom is a Statesville, North Carolina, native who became an astronaut in 2004. Prior to serving in the astronaut corps, the medical doctor served as flight surgeon at Johnson and later became medical operations lead for the ISS. 

The Crew-3 mission will be his third visit to the space station and his second long-duration mission.  Tom previously served as a crew member of STS-127 in 2009 and Expedition 34/35, which concluded in 2013.

Having flown the space shuttle, Soyuz and soon the Crew Dragon, in this interview Tom discusses some of the differences between these vehicles and even the pre-launch traditions for astronauts. He also talks about some of experiments planned for the Crew-3 mission, including a muscle sensor that will study how muscles atrophy in space, as well as the Cold Atom experiment, which aims to create the lowest temperature ever for studying gravitational fields. Tom also describes his emergency spacewalk experience with Chris Cassidy, when both astronauts had to fix an ammonia coolant leak in the ISS.

For more info, visit https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/thomas-h-marshburn/biography
https://www.spacex.com

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In this episode we dive into the new award-winning documentary about inspirational physics professor Gerry K. O’Neill. Gerry was a Princeton University professor who changed the face of space exploration during the 1970s and 80s with his plans for building human colonies in space. His innovative ideas inspired many, including Johnny Carson and Isaac Asimov. 

Producer Will Henry joins us today to discuss the new film, THE HIGH FRONTIER: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O’Neill.

About the film
The High Frontier: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O’Neill is an award winning documentary film about the life and influence of Gerard K. O’Neill told through the eyes of his peers, family and the younger generation he inspired during the 1970s and 80s who are now leaders in the modern day space race. Through old stories of “Gerry” as many called him, and the social impact he made on the world, this documentary pays tribute to the unsung hero of today’s space race, while hoping to inspire all ages and walks of life to reignite our planet’s space venturing spirit.

About Gerard K. O'Neill
This Princeton University physics professor changed the face of space exploration during the 1970s and 80s with his plans for building space colonies in free space in Earth orbit. These ideas, and a book he released, THE HIGH FRONTIER: HUMAN COLONIES IN SPACE, made an incredible impact on a generation fueled by Star Trek and a dream of venturing out into this unknown territory. Gerry made appearances on the Johnny Carson Show, the Round Table with Harold Hayes, even Isaac Asimov was a fan. Unfortunately, Gerry passed in 1992 from a battle with leukemia and his space colonies and dreams never came to fruition. Until now..
 
With Gerry’s story, and the help of everyone involved with the film, we hope to keep his dream alive and maybe even see a day where “O’Neill Cylinders” are above our own heads!

For more info, visit https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/
https://twitter.com/HighFrontierDoc
https://www.instagram.com/highfrontierdoc/
https://www.facebook.com/HighFrontierDoc/

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Are you interested in pursuing a career in space? 

In this episode we interview space consultant and author, Laura Seward Forczyk. Laura is the owner of Astralytical, a space consulting firm specializing in space science, industry, and policy. Laura & her company also offer space & aerospace career coaching services to students and professionals. In this episode we’ll dive more into the latest space news and find out more about how you can pursue a career in the space industry. 

About Astralytical
Astralytical is a woman-owned research, consulting, and publishing firm founded in 2016 and located outside of Atlanta. Their focus is high-quality big-picture outlook on the space sector including space-related scientific research, industry and policy analysis, career coaching, and communications. They welcome global clientele for consulting, coaching, project, or ongoing support. 

https://www.astralytical.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Astralytical/
https://twitter.com/Astralytical 
Laura’s Space on Space (blog): http://laurasspaceonspace.blogspot.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraforczyk/

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Interview with ESA Euclid Senior Project Manager, Giuseppe Racca.

Since 2012 Giuseppe has been responsible for the Euclid mission, a space-based optical/near-infrared survey mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) designed to investigate the nature of dark energy, dark matter and gravity by observing their signatures on the geometry of the Universe and on the formation of large structures over cosmological timescales. Euclid will use two main techniques in the detection of the signature of dark matter and energy: Weak Gravitational Lensing and Galaxy Clustering. The spacecraft is scheduled for a launch date in 2023 and is designed for 6 years of nominal survey operations.

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The mission is led by ESA with contributions from a consortium of several European scientific institutes and from NASA and is largely manufactured by European space industry.

For more information:

• https://twitter.com/ESA_Euclid 
• https://sci.esa.int/web/euclid 
• https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/euclid 
• https://www.euclid-ec.org/

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Cloud-Based Mission Control
In this episode we speak with Tyler Browder, CEO and founder of Kubos, a satellite software company. Tyler joins us to discuss how their company’s cloud-based mission control platform, Major Tom, helps operators take care of every aspect of a satellite’s flight software, from mission design and onboard software to hardware testing and mission operations in the cloud.

Major Tom, which uses Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), Amazon Identity and Access Management (IAM), Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR), and Amazon Route 53 to power its cloud-based mission control solution, will gives Kubos customers seamless control of their satellites through AWS Ground Station’s fully managed ground station as a service.

The wide-scale adoption of Major Tom by global customers with vastly different needs has been driven by a quickly changing space environment with lower and lower barriers to entry. Missions running on the software range from picosatellites, which are less than 1kg, through traditional-sized satellites and from small with a single satellite to full-scale constellations. Major Tom users, regardless of mission profile, will can add AWS Ground Station to their mission control.

Major Tom gives customers a modern interface that scales with the size of their mission and offers the ability to choose from multiple ground station networks without leaving the web application. Traditionally, mission control had to send emails or use multiple systems to schedule contact time with their spacecraft – neither of which met modern needs or budget constraints. Today, scheduling contacts can be done via a web browser with Major Tom and new ground station network providers can be easily added.

About Kubos
Kubos is a satellite software company that focuses on providing cloud technologies to the satellite industry through their mission control platform, Major Tom. Major Tom is a unified cloud platform to integrate and control ground segment applications and services, through out-of-the-box integrations, data analytics, real-time dashboards and a customizable commanding API. Customers have complete visibility and control across the entire space and ground segment. Kubos was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon with remote employees across the US. Visit kubos.com for more information.

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In this episode we explore speak with Jeromy Grimmett, the founder & CEO of Rogue Space Systems. Rogue is a new space startup company that is creating orbital robots, or “Orbots”, that will repair and service satellites using Artificial Intelligence. Their new service will increase satellite lifespans, reducing the need to replace expensive space assets; by repairing them. Their first Orbot, named LAURA, is scheduled to launch in early 2022, to be followed later in 2022 and 2023 by Orbots FRED, CHARLIE & BOB.

About Jeromy Grimmett 
Jeromy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rogue Space Systems Corporation.  He started his career in the US Army where he specialized in missile guidance systems for both ground and air defense platforms. Since then, he’s attended Harvard University’s School of Extension Studies where he pursuing Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Government and International Relations respectively.  After founding and running a successful technology services company, Jeromy founded Rogue Space Systems Corporation in 2020 and brought his expertise in AI, tech, and robotics to advance space systems, orbital vehicles and space services.

ROGUE SPACE SYSTEMS CORPORATION 
Rogue Space Systems Corporation is a Laconia, New Hampshire-based company that designs satellite vehicles and subsystems to provide on-orbit services to satellite operators both now and well into the future. Founded in 2020, the Rogue team is using its 50+ years of combined aerospace and defense experience to build a fleet of Orbital Robots (Orbot™) that will perform a variety of services for orbital assets in LEO, MEO, and GEO including inspection, maintenance, repair, overhaul, refueling, cargo transport and more. The fleet is supported by a first of its kind AI-enabled sensory observation platform.

Rogue Space Media
https://rogue.space/
https://www.facebook.com/roguespacesystems
https://twitter.com/roguespacecorp
https://www.instagram.com/roguespacecorp/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuGuMjYSWyeodtm26vce8vw
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rogue-space-systems-corporation/
Rogue Space now accepts Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) from investors on their crowdfunding offering on truCrowd.com

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Is there life on Europa and in our Solar System? We'll discuss this question and more in this David Brown interview that will talk about just how close we are to finding an answer about alien life in our own backyard. David's book, THE MISSION, discusses NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission and the scientists, engineers and other key figures behind this incredible endeavor to explore the Jovian moon. 
 
In this episode we are going to explore Europa, the ice moon of Jupiter, and the mission to get there. NASA is currently building the Europa Clipper spacecraft which will begin its voyage to the Jovian Moon in 2024. David is an award-winning writer, whose work appears frequently in The New York Times, Scientific American and Smithsonian. He is an Antarctic expeditioner, an endurance runner, a former U.S. Army paratrooper, and a veteran of Afghanistan. David just released his latest book: THE MISSION, an amazing behind-the-scenes narrative of NASA’s deep space mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa, where alien life just might exist in an ocean beneath the frozen surface.
 
DAVID W BROWN
https://www.dwb.io/​
 
EUROPA CLIPPER MISSION
https://europa.nasa.gov/​
 
THE BOOK
THE MISSION, or: How a Disciple of Carl Sagan, an Ex-Motocross Racer, a Texas Tea Party Congressman, the World's Worst Typewriter Saleswoman, California Mountain People, and an Anonymous NASA Functionary Went to War with Mars, Survived an Insurgency at Saturn, Traded Blows with Washington, and Stole a Ride on an Alabama Moon Rocket to Send a Space Robot to Jupiter in Search of the Second Garden of Eden at the Bottom of an Alien Ocean Inside of an Ice World Called Europa (A True Story)

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In this episode we discuss the news around NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission, the second rotational flight to the ISS which launched in late April 2021. We also feature an interview with European Space Agency's astronaut, Thomas Pesquet, where we are fortunate to have a pre-launch press conference Q&A with him and other Crew-2 astronauts. This episode will also discuss ESA’s quest to find new astronauts and open up space to people with disabilities.

0:00 Intro to Season 2 Episode 1
0:45 European Space Agency (ESA) & SpaceX News Updates
4:22 Shane Kimbrough & Thomas Pesquet Press Conference Questions Answered
6:37 Press Conference Bonus Question #1 for Thomas Pesquet
10:25 Bonus Question #2 for Thomas Pesquet
12:35 Bonus Question #3 for Thomas Pesquet
16:34 Closing Thoughts on ESA and the SpaceX Crew-2

Topics covered in this episode:

ESA PARASTRONAUT FEASIBILITY PROJECT
In a first for ESA and human spaceflight worldwide, ESA is looking for individual(s) who are psychologically, cognitively, technically and professionally qualified to be an astronaut, but have a physical disability that would normally prevent them from being selected due to the requirements imposed by the use of current space hardware. For more information visit https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astronaut_Selection/Parastronaut_feasibility_project

NASA SPACEX CREW-2 MISSION
NASA and its international partners have assigned crew members for Crew-2, which will be the second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.

Crew-2 is targeted to launch in spring 2021. The Crew-2 astronauts will remain aboard the space station for approximately six months as expedition crew members, along with three crewmates who will launch via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The increase of the full space station crew complement to seven members – over the previous six – will allow NASA to effectively double the amount of science that can be conducted in space. For more information visit https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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Planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern has been chosen to be the first to conduct NASA-funded science experiments while flying aboard a commercial spacecraft. In this interview Dr. Stern discusses the experiments he will perform aboard Virgin Galactic’s “SpaceShipTwo” on a suborbital mission from the Spaceport America launch site in New Mexico. He also discusses software upgrades coming to the New Horizons spacecraft in 2021, and as a proponent of Pluto, explains why it should be considered the ninth planet in our solar system. 

About Dr. Alan Stern
Dr. Alan Stern is a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant, author, and avid public speaker. Since 2001 he has led NASA’s $880M New Horizons mission that successfully explored the Pluto system and is now exploring the Kuiper Belt—the farthest exploration in the history of humankind. In 2018, he was named by the Administration to a six yearlong term to the U.S. National Science Board. In both 2007 and 2016, he was named to the Time 100 list. In 2020, NASA selected Dr. Stern to fly as an experimenter on a commercial suborbital spaceflight aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip2.

Since 2009, Dr. Stern has been an Associate Vice President and Special Assistant to the President at the Southwest Research Institute. Additionally, from 2008-2012 he served on the board of directors of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, and as the Chief Scientist and Mission Architect for Moon Express from 2010-2013. From 2011-2013 he served as the Director of the Florida Space Institute. Dr. Stern serves as the Chief Science Officer of World View, a near-space ballooning company that he is co-founder of. In 2016 and again in 2017 he was elected to be the Board Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Dr. Stern is also on the advisory board of Lowell Observatory.

Dr. Stern also maintains his own aerospace consulting practice. His current and former consulting clients include Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, Naveen Jain’s Moon Express Google Lunar X-Prize team, Ball Aerospace, Paragon Space Development Corporation, the NASTAR Center, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and the Johns Hopkins University.

His career has taken him to numerous astronomical observatories, to the South Pole, and to the upper atmosphere aboard various high performance NASA aircraft including F/A-18 Hornets, F-104 Starfighters, KC-135 Zero-G, and WB-57 Canberras. He has been involved as a researcher in 29 suborbital, orbital, and planetary space missions, including 14 for which he was a principle investigator; and he has led the development of 8 scientific instruments for NASA space missions. In 1995, he was selected as a Space Shuttle Mission Specialist finalist, and in 1996 he was a candidate Space Shuttle Payload Specialist. In 2010, he became a suborbital payload specialist trainee, and is expected to fly several suborbital space missions aboard Virgin Galactic vehicles in 2019-2020.

About SwRI
Southwest Research Institute is a premier independent, nonprofit research and development organization using multidisciplinary services to provide solutions to some of the world’s most challenging scientific and engineering problems. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, our client-focused, client-funded organization occupies more than 1,500 acres, providing more than 2.3 million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for approximately 3,000 employees who perform contract work for government and industry clients.

For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/

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Phone Interview with OSIRIS-REx Project Scientist Dr. Jason P. Dworkin

On October 20th, 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made history as it collected samples from asteroid Bennu, which are expected to return to Earth in 2023. For this episode I’m pleased to introduce Dr. Jason Dworkin, the project scientist for OSIRIS-REx, for an update and more details on the OSIRIS-REx mission.

About OSIRIS-REx
(Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer)
https://www.asteroidmission.org/
OSIRIS-REx seeks answers to the questions that are central to the human experience: Where did we come from? What is our destiny? Asteroids, the leftover debris from the solar system formation process, can answer these questions and teach us about the history of the sun and planets.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is currently orbiting Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid whose regolith may record the earliest history of our solar system. Bennu may contain the molecular precursors to the origin of life and the Earth’s oceans. Bennu is also one of the most potentially hazardous asteroids, as it has a relatively high probability of impacting the Earth late in the 22nd century. OSIRIS-REx will determine Bennu’s physical and chemical properties, which will be critical to know in the event of an impact mitigation mission. Finally, asteroids like Bennu contain natural resources such as water, organics, and precious metals. In the future, these asteroids may one day fuel the exploration of the solar system by robotic and crewed spacecraft.

About Dr. Jason Dworkin
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/jason.p.dworkin
Jason Dworkin is the Project Scientist for OSIRIS-REx and NASA's Senior Scientist for Astrobiology. Jason's objective is to assess the organic species available for the origin and early evolution of life with a focus is on understanding the extraterrestrial input and origin of molecules relevant for life. This objective has been to study increasingly documented and constrained systems, from plausibly early Earth chemistry, chemistry of astrophysically relevant laboratory ices, organic and chiral analysis of meteorites, to analysis of sample returned material and how to protect that material from contamination. This research employs modern analytical methods to examine authentic samples of the early solar system as well as laboratory models of ancient environments. This involves both directing research in the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and scientific leadership in NASA sample return and in situ missions.

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NASA’s aircraft SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) has confirmed for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. Previously NASA had discovered evidence for water in shadows of craters, but this new discovery has incredible implications for possible use of this water as a resource as NASA returns to the Moon. Lunar Geologist Dr. Sarah Noble joins us today to discuss this incredible discovery and its implications for the future of space exploration, especially with NASA’s plan to send the first woman and next man on the Moon in 2024.

In this interview Sarah discusses how SOFIA made this discovery, how much water was found, and future plans for investigating on the Moon, including NASA's VIPER rover, a mobile robot that will go to the South Pole of the Moon to get a close-up view of the location and concentration of water ice. 

About Sarah Noble (from NASA.gov)
Sarah Noble grew up in rural Minnesota, where from a very young age she was fascinated with space exploration, staring up at the moon and making plans to visit it one day. She started collage as an aerospace engineering major, because it was the only major with the word “space” in it, but stumbled into a geology class one day and fell in love with the science. Knowing her love of all things space related, her professors steered her towards planetary geology, the subfield of geology that studies how other planets (and moons and asteroids and comets and whatnot) form, evolve, and operate. She started her NASA career studying meteorites as an undergraduate intern at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. After graduate school, and a short adventure working for Congress, she returned to Johnson, and also spent time working at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama and Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland before finding her place at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. She has worked as a program officer and discipline scientist in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters since 2010 working on missions, as well as research and analysis programs. She is an avid painter and is passionate about sharing the joy and beauty of space exploration, both through science outreach and through her artwork.

For more information, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sofia

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In this interview, recorded via phone on September 29, 2020, I speak with Commander Mike Hopkins about this mission, his training and the challenges (and thrills) of commanding the SpaceX Crew-1 mission, currently scheduled to launch in mid-November 2020. 

BONUS: Mini-Interview with Felix Schlang of What About It!?
Felix joins me briefly to share how he became interested in space and his excitement for the future, especially SpaceX Starship. Felix is the host of "What About It!?", an amazing program on YouTube that explores Space, Rockets & Science, with new episodes on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check out his YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/ZSSolomon or visit https://whataboutit.space/

ABOUT SPACEX CREW-1
NASA is preparing to launch its first crew rotational flight of a U.S. commercial spacecraft with astronauts to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew-1 flight mission will carry astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker of NASA and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the space station from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

The launch will be the first time an international crew will fly aboard a NASA-certified, commercially-owned and operated American rocket and spacecraft from American soil. Following the launch, the Crew-1 astronauts are scheduled to arrive at the space station for a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

ABOUT COMMANDER MICHAEL S. HOPKINS (Source: NASA)
Michael S. Hopkins was selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2009. The Missouri native is currently training for Crew-1, the first post-certification mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft – the second crewed flight for that vehicle – and his second long duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

Hopkins and his crewmates are working closely with SpaceX to develop their new spacecraft systems, which will provide roundtrip crew transportation services to the International Space Station and, along with Boeing’s Starliner, return the ability to launch humans into space from United States soil.

Previously, Hopkins was member of the Expedition 37/38 crew and has logged 166 days in space. He launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station in September 2013. During his stay aboard the station, he conducted two spacewalks totaling 12 hours and 58 minutes to change out a degraded pump module.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University. Hopkins currently supports International Space Station Operations at the Johnson Space Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

In this episode we interview Thomas Kacpura regarding NASA’s SCaN program (Space Communications and Navigations). I was fortunate to travel to NASA Glenn Research Center earlier this year to meet with Tom and discuss this incredible program. SCaN provides communications services that are essential to the operations of NASA’s space flight missions. SCaN provides communications support to NASA and non-NASA missions by managing three networks: The Deep Space Network, the Near Earth Network and the Space Network.  

In this interview Tom provides an overview of SCaN, how the program has its roots in the 1950s, the three networks managed by SCaN, plus the incredible spinoffs generated by the development of SCaN technology.

For more information, visit https://www.nasa.gov/scan

Special thanks to Dylan Hagreen for sharing his space journey in this episode!

In this episode authors Michael Zeiler and Michael Bakich join us to discuss their fascinating new book, Atlas of Solar Eclipses, an adventure guide for the next 25 years of solar eclipses. This amazing atlas covers every type of solar eclipse around the world—total, annular and partial—with beautiful and informative maps to guide you to nature’s most stupendous site, a total eclipse of the Sun.

The Atlas of Solar Eclipses — 2020 to 2045 is an adventure guide for anyone entranced by celestial wonders and interested in seeking nature’s most stupendous sight, a total eclipse of the Sun. The atlas covers every type of solar eclipse around the world — total, annular, and partial — with beautiful and informative maps at overview, regional, and detail scales.   

You can view a preview of the atlas at https://tinyurl.com/AtlasOfSolarEclipsesPreview

The atlas spans 56 solar eclipses from 2020 to 2045. Emphasis is given to total solar eclipses in heavily populated areas, such as the 2024 April 8 eclipse across North America, the 2027 August 2 eclipse over Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, the 2035 September 2 eclipse passing over Beijing, Pyongyang, and Tokyo, the 2044 August 23 eclipse over Canada and Montana, and the 2045 August 12 eclipse crossing North and South America. Also covered in depth is the annular solar eclipse of 2023 October 14 crossing the western United States from Oregon to Texas.  

In this interview the authors discuss not only the book, but also tips for observing and photographing solar eclipses, as well as traveling to them and using the proper equipment. 

For more information, visit https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/books/atlas-of-solar-eclipses-2020-to-2045

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS INTERVIEW
SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES:
Make sure your solar eclipse glasses are safe by visiting https://eclipse.aas.org

SOLAR ECLIPSE MAESTRO:
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/Solar_Eclipse_Maestro_Help/pgs2/btoc1.html

SOLAR ECLIPSE TIMER:
https://www.solareclipsetimer.com/

Thanks to actress Zoe Perry ("Young Sheldon") for sharing her space journey (and as Sheldon's mom Mary Cooper) in this episode! 

Harvesting Resources from the Moon and asteroids

Hello and welcome to this exciting interview with Joel Sercel, the CEO and founder of TransAstra, a pioneering space company that is shaping the future of space exploration. Joel is a renowned expert in the field of space resource utilization and has been at the forefront of developing innovative technologies to harvest resources from the Moon and asteroids. Today, we'll be discussing how TransAstra plans to engineer the future of space by tapping into the vast resources available in space.

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In this interview we explore the company's latest breakthroughs, the challenges and opportunities involved in space mining, and what this means for the future of space exploration and the sustainability of our planet.

For more information, visit https://transastra.com/

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🌐 Website: https://www.yourspacejourney.com
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In this episode we continue our "Around the World in Space" series with the Canadian Space Agency.

Ken Podwalski, Program Manager for the Lunar Gateway at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) joins us to discuss the Canadian Space Agency's efforts for the upcoming Lunar Gateway and Canadarm3. The Canadian Space Agency was established in 1990 but Canada has been involved with space for decades. In fact, Canada was the third country to develop and build its own satellite, Alouette, that launched in 1962. CSA is well known for its development of Canadarm, the robotic arm used on the space shuttle, the International Space Station, and soon the Lunar Gateway.  

About the Gateway
NASA is spearheading the initiative to establish the Gateway, a space station in lunar orbit. About one-fifth of the size of the ISS, this new outpost will be developed, serviced, and utilized in collaboration with international and commercial partners.

The Gateway will be:

- a science laboratory;
- a testbed for new technologies;
- a rendezvous location for exploration of the surface of the Moon;
- a mission control centre for operations on the Moon; and
- one day, a stepping stone for voyages to Mars.

When fully assembled, the Gateway will include modules for scientific research and living quarters for crews of four astronauts. They will be able to live and work on the Gateway for up to three months at a time, occasionally travelling to the lunar surface to conduct science and test new technologies. Eventually, these missions could last longer in order to prepare for the deeper-space missions of the future.

Unlike the ISS, the Gateway will not be crewed continuously, though it will be inhabited at least once a year. As an artificial intelligence-based robotic system, Canadarm3 will be able to tend to the Gateway when no humans are on board, including operating science experiments aboard the lunar outpost.

About Canadarm3
Canadarm3 will be Canada's contribution to the US-led Gateway, a lunar outpost that will enable sustainable human exploration of the Moon. This highly autonomous robotic system will use cutting-edge software to perform tasks around the Moon without human intervention.

The smart robotic system will include several distinct parts, including a large, 8.5-metre-long arm, a smaller, more dexterous arm, and a set of detachable tools. Canadarm3 is designed to work autonomously. However, the system could also be operated by robotics flight controllers in Canada, or by Gateway crew during spacewalks. Canadarm3 will create more flight opportunities for Canadian astronauts and will give Canadian scientists a possibility to conduct research and experiments that cannot be done on Earth.

For more information, visit https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/

Special thanks to Kate Pierson of The B-52's for sharing her space story in this episode! 

We continue our series with countries around the world in this episode as we feature the European Space Agency (ESA). Joining us for this interview is Günther Hasinger, the director of science for ESA. Günther was born in Germany and earned his PhD in astronomy, later becoming a professor, researcher and author. He is the author of an award-winning book called Astronomy’s Limitless Journey: A Guide to Understanding the Universe, and the winner of the Wilhelm Foerster Prize for public dissemination of science.

In this interview we review several current and upcoming missions for ESA including Solar Orbiter, and its recent high-res images of the Sun from its first close approach this summer. Other missions discussed include Cheops (searching for exoplanets), BepiColumbo (Mercury Mission), and an extensive discussion on ExoMars and the upcoming 2022 launch of the Rosalind Franklin Rover, the first rover designed by ESA for Mars.

For more information, visit https://esa.int

Special thanks to Laen August of Alpha Control: A Lost in Space Podcast (https://alphacontrolpodcast.libsyn.com/website) for sharing his space journey in this episode!

In this episode our panel discusses NASA's upcoming Perseverance mission, including its passenger Ingenuity, the first ever helicopter designed to fly on Mars. Targeted for launch in July 2020, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover will seek signs of past life, set aside a returnable cache with the most compelling rock core and soil samples, and demonstrate technology needed for the future exploration of Mars.

MEET OUR PANEL
Joining us for this panel are Jenna Foertsch (https://www.jennafoertsch.com/), Ken Ruffin (board of advisor for the National Space Society at https://space.nss.org/) and Christian Ready, astronomer and creator of Launchpad Astronomy (https://youtube.com/christianready).

Mars Perseverance Mission Overview
The Mars Perseverance rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The Mars Perseverance mission addresses high-priority science goals for Mars exploration, including key questions about the potential for life on Mars. The mission takes the next step by not only seeking signs of habitable conditions on Mars in the ancient past, but also searching for signs of past microbial life itself. The Mars Perseverance rover introduces a drill that can collect core samples of the most promising rocks and soils and set them aside in a "cache" on the surface of Mars. The mission also provides opportunities to gather knowledge and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars. These include testing a method for producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, identifying other resources (such as subsurface water), improving landing techniques, and characterizing weather, dust, and other potential environmental conditions that could affect future astronauts living and working on Mars.

The mission is timed for a launch opportunity in July/August 2020 when Earth and Mars are in good positions relative to each other for landing on Mars. That is, it takes less power to travel to Mars at this time, compared to other times when Earth and Mars are in different positions in their orbits. To keep mission costs and risks as low as possible, the Mars 2020 design is based on NASA's successful Mars Science Laboratory mission architecture, including its Curiosity rover and proven landing system.

Mars 2020 Spacecraft
The spacecraft is the protective "spaceship" that enables the precious cargo (that is, the Perseverance rover!) to travel between Earth and Mars. It is separate from the launch vehicle that carries the spacecraft and the rover outside of Earth's atmosphere and gravitational pull. The spacecraft includes the mechanical units that safely carry and maneuver the rover through the Martian atmosphere to a landing on Mars.

For more information, visit https://nasa.gov/perseverance

We continue our series with countries around the world in this episode as we feature JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Joining us to discuss JAXA is astronaut Dr. Koichi Wakata.  Dr. Wakata has accumulated 347 days in space spanning four missions, setting a record in Japanese human space flight history for the longest stay in space. He has flown on three space shuttle missions, and a Soyuz mission, and became the first Japanese Commander of the International Space Station. Dr. Wakata has held several key positions with JAXA, including serving as JAXA Vice President and Senior Advisor.

In this interview, Dr. Wakata discusses JAXA, his experience as an astronaut, current missions including Hayabusa2 (which rendezvoused with near-Earth asteroid Ryugu in 2018 and is returning samples to Earth later this year), and IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun), launched in 2010 and became the first spacecraft to successfully demonstrate solar sail technology in interplanetary space.

Dr. Wakata also discusses upcoming JAXA missions including:
-SLIM: Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, which will demonstrate an accurate lunar landing
-JUICE: Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, a partnership with ESA & the USA)
-MMX: Martian Moons Exploration, a mission to travel to Mars and survey the red planet's two moons: Phobos and Deimos, including collecting a sample from Phobos to bring back to Earth.

ABOUT JAXA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was born through the merger of three institutions, namely the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). It was designated as a core performance agency to support the Japanese government's overall aerospace development and utilization. JAXA, therefore, can conduct integrated operations from basic research and development, to utilization.

In 2013, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its founding, JAXA created the corporate slogan, "Explore to Realize," which reflects its management philosophy of utilizing space and the sky to achieve a safe and affluent society.

JAXA became a National Research and Development Agency in April 2015, and took a new step forward to achieve optimal R&D achievements for Japan, according to the government's purpose of establishing a national R&D agency.

ABOUT KOICHI WAKATA
Dr. Koichi Wakata was born in 1963, in Saitama, Japan. He received B.S.in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987, M.S.in Applied Mechanics in 1989, and Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering in 2004, all from Kyushu University. Dr. Wakata was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1992 by the National Space Development Agency of Japan. He flew on the Space Shuttles Endeavour & Discovery, ISS, Soyuz TMA-14 & TMA-11M. Dr. Wakata was the commander of ISS Expedition 39 and has accumulated 347 days in space. Follow him on Twitter at @Astro_Wakata.

For more information, visit https://global.jaxa.jp/ 

Special thanks to Josh Malcak for sharing his space journey in this episode!

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The United Arab Emirates are just a few days away (July 15, 2020) from launching the Hope Probe to Mars. The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) - Hope Probe will be the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers when it reaches the red planet’s orbit in February 2021. The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, based in Dubai, is managing, developing and executing all stages of the program. 

Joining us from the Space Centre are Ayesha Al Sharafi, the EMM Lead for the Spacecraft Propulsion Subsystem, and Mohsen Al Awadhi, the EMM Lead Mission Systems Engineer.

Emirates Mars Mission Overview
The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) ​is the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) ​first mission to Mars. EMM is designed to ​orbit Mars and study the dynamics in ​the Martian atmosphere on a global scale, and on both diurnal and seasonal timescales. Using three scientific instruments on board of the spacecraft, EMM will provide a set of measurements fundamental to an improved understanding of ​circulation and weather in the Martian lower and middle atmosphere. Combining such data with the monitoring of the upper layers of the atmosphere, EMM measurements will reveal the mechanisms behind the upward transport of energy and particles, and the subsequent escape of atmospheric particles from the gravity of Mars.

For more information, visit https://www.emiratesmarsmission.ae/

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, founded in 2006, is home to the UAE National Space Programme.  The Centre builds and operates earth observation satellites, offering imaging and data analysis services to clients around the world. The Centre launched DubaiSat-1, DubaiSat-2, and recently launched KhalifaSat on 29  October  2018  from  Tanegashima  Space Center in Japan.  KhalifaSat was developed  100% in the UAE  by  a team of highly qualified Emirati engineers.

The Centre is responsible for the development of the Emirates Mars Mission and the Mars  Hope  Probe,  a  mission  to  reach  Mars  orbit  by  2021  and  gather  key  science  data  about Mars’ atmosphere, as well as the UAE Astronaut Programme, which saw the launch of Hazzaa AlMansoori,  first  Emirati  Astronaut,  to  the  International  Space  Station  on  a  scientific  mission on 25th September 2019, and the development of the Mars 2117 vision to build a human colony on Mars.

For more information about the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center visit https://www.mbrsc.ae/

Special thanks to Ben Cross (https://glimpsevideo.com/) for sharing his space journey in this episode!

Over the next few episodes, we're embarking on a new space journey; a short series highlighting various countries and their efforts for the future of space exploration. In upcoming episodes we'll be featuring interviews with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), the Canadian Space Agency, and more. Be sure to subscribe today (it's free!) so you don't miss a single episode!

The Rocket & Satellite Company, Pakistan's first private space company
In this episode we interview Sami Ullah Khan, the CEO of The Rocket & Satellite Company, Pakistan’s first private space company. The Rocket & Satellite Company will offer solutions for two major space issues: space debris and in-orbit satellite servicing.

About The Rocket & Satellite Company
THE ROCKET & SATELLITE COMPANY (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission Government of Pakistan and is Pakistan’s 1st Private Space Company.The company will cover and offer the low-cost solutions to three main areas:

1.    Space Launching System
2.    Satellite Manufacturing
3.    Ground Segment

In the long-term, The company will offer the solution for the two major Space issues:

1.    Space Debris.
The Solution will reduce the risk of Satellite and Spacecraft's in-Space collision due to Space debris
The Solution will save the millions $ of Space based companies. The focus is to provide the low cost Space technology and to provide the solution for the major issue which is the Space debris by combined use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Space tech.

2.    In-Orbits Satellite Servicing to increase the multi-million Satellite's life.
The company will address the in-orbit servicing to increase the Satellite life in Space. The company is providing platform for Scientists, engineers, professionals and students to offer their skills and sever the Space industries and provide the best solutions for the betterment of humanity.

For more information, visit http://TheRocket-SatelliteCompany.com
Social media: 
https://twitter.com/paksami
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paksami

Special thanks to Esteban Arcila for sharing his space journey in this episode!

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We interview Bob Balaram, Chief Engineer of the Mars Helicopter INGENUITY project at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in this episode to discuss this first-ever helicopter designed to fly on Mars. The Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is a technology demonstration to test powered flight on another world for the first time. It hitched a ride on the NASA Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in February 2021 and is now taking its first flights.

About Bob Balaram, Chief Engineer, JPL
Bob Balaram is Chief Engineer; a Principal Member of Staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Computer & Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985 where his doctoral thesis addressed the control of highly non-linear systems. He has been at JPL ever since and works in the area of Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL), Modeling & Simulation, Telerobotics Technology, and Mobility Concept Development.

Currently Bob is researching precision landing methods for Mars as well as advanced simulation techniques for planetary EDL. He led the team that developed a high-fidelity EDL simulator that recently received a NASA Group Achievement Award and has been adopted for use by the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission. He is also the co-developer of a simulator used for planetary rover simulation. Bob has led design teams for developing Mars aerobot (aerial robot) perception systems, a deep-diving Venus balloon gondola concept, and balloon-carried imaging sondes for deployment at Venus. He was also a co-developer of the Rocky-7 rover platform   a prototype and precursor to the new generation of rovers such as those on the MER mission.

His work in rovers spans machine vision for rover hazard detection, improved methods for rover position determination, rover system re-configuration, and software system architectures for rover development. Previously Bob was the lead engineer for machine intelligence on the JPL Telerobot Testbed where he led a team responsible for coordinating multiple robotic manipulators and vision-based sensing to achieve automation of servicing operations such as module change-out and assembly. He subsequently worked on the Remote Surface Inspection for the Space Station in the area of real-time, vision-based flaw detection of damage caused to the Space Station over its lifetime in orbit.

For more information on the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, visit https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/

For information on the Mars 2020 mission: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/

Thanks to Aaron Fishbein (http://aaronfishbein.com/) for sharing his space journey in this episode!

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In this episode we first briefly recap the successful launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavor, with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. Then we dive into our conversation with Dave Eicher to talk all about Galaxies! 

Dave Eicher is one of the most widely recognized astronomy enthusiasts in the world. He has been with Astronomy magazine for 34 years, beginning as an assistant editor and working through associate, senior, and managing positions. He has been the magazine’s chief editor since 2002. Dave joins us today to discuss his latest book, Galaxies: Inside the Universe’s Star Cities. 

About Dave Eicher
A native of Oxford, Ohio, Dave grew up around Miami University, where his father was a professor of organic chemistry. Rather than turning to chemistry, however, Dave was attracted to the stars as a 14-year-old when he spotted Saturn through a small telescope at a star party. Comet West really turned him on to observing, and Dave soon went far beyond to explore clusters, nebulae, and galaxies from his dark backyard — he soon was hooked on viewing deep-sky objects. 

In 1977, Dave founded and began editing the magazine Deep Sky Monthly. Five years later, the publication moved with Dave to Milwaukee, turned quarterly, and was renamed Deep Sky, which was issued regularly until 1992. In addition to his book writing, Dave has written or edited hundreds of articles on all facets of astronomy, science and hobby. In 1990, the International Astronomical Union named a minor planet, 3617 Eicher, for Dave in recognition of his service to astronomy. 

Dave become president of the Astronomy Foundation, the telescope industry and astronomy outreach group, in 2011.

Dave has appeared on CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News Channel, National Public Radio, and other media outlets to promote the science and hobby of astronomy. He has written planetarium shows for Adler Planetarium in Chicago and film scripts for NASA. 

In his free time, Dave has studied Civil War history; he has written eight books on the subject, including The Longest Night (Simon & Schuster), Dixie Betrayed (Little Brown), The Civil War in Books (University of Illinois Press), and Civil War High Commands (written with his father, John, Stanford University Press).

Dave is also enthusiastically interested in minerals and meteorites and has a collection of more than 1,500 specimens representing Earth and a smattering of asteroids in this branch of planetary science. 

An accomplished rock and blues drummer, Dave enjoys jamming with his colleagues at Kalmbach Publishing Co., and the focus is on blues and blues-rock, centering on the styles of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, the Allman Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and others. Dave is also a big fan of the Green Bay Packers, and during the football season, you will often find him in Lambeau Field.

He lives in Waukesha Township, Wisconsin, near Big Bend, with his wife, Lynda, and son, Chris

For more information about David, visit https://www.davideicher.com 
To check out Astronomy Magazine, visit Astronomy.com  
Galaxies: Inside the Universe’s Star Cities: https://myscienceshop.com/product/book/81404

Thanks to Jeremy Miller (https://www.jeremyrossmiller.com/) for sharing his space journey in this episode!

For the first time since 2011, astronauts are set to once again launch from U.S. soil aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon. The Demo-2 mission is set to launch from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:33 pm EDT Wednesday, May 27, 2020 (with a backup launch date of May 30th). Veteran astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be on this mission to the International Space Station.

In this episode we present our Zoom meeting with NASA Social Alumni Danielle Spinola, Jason Fields, Jordan Eichenblatt, Jeremy Miller and Chuck Fields, where we discussed this historic mission, shared concerns, expressed excitement and the amazing journey of America's human spaceflight program. 

NASA Launch America: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/dm2/
Commercial Crew Program: http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

About our panelists:
• Jason Fields https://www.fmofm.com/
• Danielle Spinola of Tupelo Honey Teas https://www.tupelohoneyteas.com/
• Jeremy Miller https://www.jeremyrossmiller.com/
• Jordan Eichenblatt of Hifive Creative  https://www.hifivecreative.com/ and Cholo Dogs https://www.cholodogs.com/

Eli Naffah is Chief of NASA's Space Communications and Spectrum Management Office.  In this interview, conducted onsite at NASA's Glenn Research Center, Eli discusses NASA's new Communications Services Program (CSP).

NASA has long been a leader in space communications services, but the agency is now looking to U.S. industry to develop healthy commercially-provided satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities, using radio frequency and optical systems, for near-Earth operations. The agency will continue to develop technologies and systems for deep space exploration, but for missions in low-Earth orbit, like those to the International Space Station, NASA believes using commercial SATCOM will help drive market innovation, improve efficiencies for NASA, and reduce costs for all providers and users. 

In the first step toward using these next-gen communications systems, NASA has established the Communications Services Program (CSP), which aims to better understand the current capabilities and the feasibility of integrating SATCOM systems into future agency missions in low-Earth orbit and eventually beyond. 

The first phase is positioned much like a “study,” where the CSP team will develop a strategy to identify and analyze NASA’s current usage and future communication needs. During this time, the team will also evaluate existing industry capabilities as we look to align all parties – those internal to NASA, within industry and among other government agencies – on possible future states. The CSP team will use the information already gathered under the Space Relay Partnership and Services Study solicitation to inform its work during this phase. 

Once the initial assessment is complete, NASA will begin to establish mutually-beneficial partnerships and award multiple contracts to develop and demonstrate system capabilities that meet various mission needs. This will lead to increased public-private collaboration, which will then bring us to the final phase, where NASA will acquire and transition to reliable and cost-effective SATCOM services from multiple industry partners.

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In this episode we discuss Intuitive Machines and how they plan on sending a lander to the Moon later this year!

Intuitive Machines is a Houston-based company that designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft for government and commercial customers. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Tim Crain, a respected engineer and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, the company has quickly established itself as a leader in the field of space exploration and technology. With a focus on reliability, innovation, and cost-effectiveness, Intuitive Machines is committed to advancing humanity's understanding of the universe and expanding our capabilities in space. Dr. Crain, who serves as the company's Chief Technical Officer, is an expert in the design and operation of spacecraft and has played a key role in the development of many of the company's most innovative and ambitious projects.

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About Dr. Timothy P. Crain
Tim received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow and Assistant Instructor. He began his professional career in 2000 at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX, where he was a lead engineer in the Engineering Directorate’s Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division.

During his tenure at JSC, he worked on the navigation design for Mars Science Lander and was the Orbit Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) System Manager for the Orion spacecraft. In 2009, Crain became the Flight Dynamics lead for NASA’s Project Morpheus that followed a low-cost, lean project development model to build and flight test a terrestrial version of a lunar lander incorporating advanced liquid methane propulsion, precision landing, and autonomous hazard detection and avoidance.

The experience on Morpheus demonstrated how small teams of motivated engineers could rapidly innovate and apply available and emerging technologies to solve tough technical problems effectively. This was a primary motivation for Crain co-founding Intuitive Machines with Kam Ghaffarian Ph. D and Mr. Steve Altemus in 2013.

Dr. Crain is a recipient of the NASA JSC Center Director’s Commendation Award, the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award, UT Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award, Orion Flight Dynamics Leadership Award, and a finalist for the NASA Rotary Mid Career Stellar Award. He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society (AAS), where he is an annual national chair, and he's on the board of directors at the AAS Rocky Mountain section’s Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference.

For more info: https://www.intuitivemachines.com/

NASA Project Morpheus: https://youtu.be/ftPZsKeAZTY

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👇👇👇 Your Space Journey
🌐 Website: https://www.yourspacejourney.com
📧 For business inquiries: info@yourspacejourney.com
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In this episode we welcome Tory Bruno, the president & CEO of United Launch Alliance. Tory joins us by phone to discuss how his interest in model rockets at the age of nine years old let to him pursuing a career in aerospace engineering, beginning at Lockheed Martin until he joined ULA in 2014. Tory discusses how ULA has achieved an incredible (and unsurpassed) 100% mission success rate, as well as the development of the new Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is set to launch in 2021 on its first mission with sending a lander to the Moon!

About Tory Bruno
Salvatore T. “Tory” Bruno is the president and chief executive officer for United Launch Alliance (ULA). In this role, Tory serves as the principal strategic leader of the organization and oversees all business management and operations. ULA is the nation’s most experienced space launch company with more than 137 successful consecutive launches since 2006 and a 100% mission success rate. 

About ULA's Vulcan Centaur
ULA is transforming the future of space launch, making it more affordable, accessible and commercialized with its new, next-generation rocket. Vulcan Centaur is superior in reliability, cost, weight and capability, and provides a solution for the nation’s most critical need: reliable access to space. Vulcan Centaur will do it all – affordability with higher performance – while continuing to deliver on ULA’s unparalleled reliability and precision.

For more information, visit https://www.ulalaunch.com

Special thanks to Wayward Plane of LaunchRats.com for discussing her space journey in this episode!

Interview with Tory Bruno recorded May 7, 2020. 

Music: Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/) by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/); licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sylvia France is the President of OrbitsEdge, Inc., a startup company on Florida’s Space Coast that helps companies collect and process huge amounts of data in space. This amazing company is working to create robust data centers in space--above the cloud, helping to reduce bottlenecks in data processing. 

Commercializing space needs more than launch capabilities and satellite communications. Today’s satellites are not designed to handle the huge amounts of space-born data. An in-orbit data infrastructure is necessary to drive growth and space commercialization.  OrbitsEdge’s core mission is to provide the missing piece, an in-orbit virtualized data infrastructure at the edge of space, that’s agile and adapts to new demands turning data into actionable insights. 

In the last decade, especially the last few years, low-cost reusable rocket technology has completely disrupted the projections of space industrialization. Getting satellites into space is getting cheaper and easier every day.  For cloud computing on Earth, the initial problems were processing capacity and data security. With the maturation of the Cloud, these problems have been resolved.  Now latency and bandwidth are the most common challenges. The Orbital Data Bottleneck encounters similar patterns: processing power, memory capacity, with bandwidth and latency being the most severe.  While Low Earth Orbit provides the best case scenario for satellite-Earth latency because of its proximity, there is also the future of data growth itself. 

Along with the growth of data, a remarkable increase in the number of satellites (such as Cubesats) are being launched with thousands planned in the following years. Being small, many may lack the processing and memory options that OrbitsEdge SatFrame™ 445 LE will provide, creating an Above-the-Cloud™ web service for data processing and analytics for satellites unable to meet the demands themselves.  The OrbitsEdge SatFrame is designed to protect a micro data center from the harsh conditions of space, especially radiation shielding and thermal regulation which requires a special design - especially considering the heightened thermal regulation demands of any data center.

About Sylvia France, President of OrbitsEdge
Started in Silicon Valley, working on the early GPS mapping systems, Sylvia has remained a dominant force in tech startup culture with 30+ years of extensive executive experience in all aspects of traditional and digital marketing.  She is a self-proclaimed “Space Baby” as her father was integral in early space exploration and honed her skills creating new market opportunities for her clients such as Apple, The Home Depot, Verizon and Bozell.

About OrbitsEdge™ Inc.
Headquartered in Titusville, Florida (Space Coast), OrbitsEdge™ Inc. accelerates the commercialization of space by providing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) EDGE micro-data centers that allow organizations to economically access and rapidly analyze vast amounts of data in space. OribitsEdge creates solutions using existing industry-standard technology, off-the-shelf analytics software, and proprietary technology. OrbitsEdge removes the barriers to rapidly enter the space market by providing specialized aerospace expertise to a wide variety of organizations.   

For more information, visit https://orbitsedge.com/

Thanks to Danielle Spinola of Tupelo Honey Teas (https://www.tupelohoneyteas.com/) for sharing her space journey in this episode!

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Backstage with Martha Davis of The Motels! In this episode we go backstage with Martha Davis & The Motels before her Valentine’s Day concert where she talks about performing (and her nunchi philosophy for reading the crowd), her upcoming SPACE-themed two-album set called “Escape From Planet Earth”.

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Interview with astronaut Fred Haise, the lunar module pilot of Apollo 13!

50 years ago the world witnessed the amazing story of Apollo 13, launched on April 11, 1970. Two days into the mission, an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks prevented the three astronauts, Commander Jim Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, from landing on the Moon. The entire world awaited the safe return of the crew for four days, as the three astronauts used the Lunar Module Aquarius as a lifeboat until successfully splashing down in the South Pacific on April 17, 1970.

In this episode, astronaut Fred Haise joins us by phone to discuss his amazing career, where he also served as backup for Apollo 8, Apollo 11 and Apollo 16 (and slated to be Flight Commander for the later cancelled Apollo 19). Fred also was heavily involved in the space shuttle program and successfully landed the space shuttle Enterprise for the very first time. In this interview Fred also describes his thoughts leading up to his rookie flight on Apollo 13, his thoughts when the oxygen tank exploded, and his description of what it what like as their spacecraft made its closest approach to the Moon. 

Fred currently serves on the board of directors for the INFINITY Science Center. For more information, visit https://www.visitinfinity.com/  

Special thanks to Jason Fields of “Florida is Sinking” podcast for sharing his space journey!

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