Explore every episode of the podcast This Week in Space (Audio)
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TWiS 208: Lander, Lander, Who's Got a Lander - Will SpaceX or Blue Origin Touch Down First? | 01 May 2026 | 01:06:26 | |
Lander, lander... who's got a lander? With NASA planning orbital tests of the Artemis landers in 2027 and a crewed landing in 2028, the pressure is on for SpaceX and Blue Origin to make good on their Human Landing System contracts. Who's actually going to put American astronauts back on the Moon first? This week's episode digs into the high-stakes race between the companies, surfacing new details and doubts about whether either lander will be ready in time. Both have to fly into Earth orbit, refuel multiple times, and perform robotic test landings on the moon (in addition to the Artemis III rendezvous and docking tests) before NASA can land astronauts on the moon — and they need to get it all done by 2028. We talk to Space.com's senior space guy, Mike Wall, about the risks and realities of the new space race to the moon. Headlines:
Main Topic: Lunar Landers and Artemis Program
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Mike Wall Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsor: | |||
| TWiS 209: Astronauts for America - The Best of the Best Speak Out | 08 May 2026 | 01:09:41 | |
Many of us grew up idolizing astronauts as the best of the best that America—and other nations—have to offer. After leaving NASA, many of them go on to relatively routine careers in business or academia, but some stay "on mission" and continue striving to improve the human condition. The 100-plus astronauts behind Astronauts for America, led by Garrett Reisman and Steve Lindsey—a Democrat and Republican—have decided to speak out about their concerns for our democracy. As the nonprofit's website says, "Astronauts For America is a nonpartisan organization of former NASA astronauts who have sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to science, evidence-based decision-making, public service, and the rule of law." Reisman and Lindsey join us for this important episode.
Main Topic: Astronauts for America—Combatting Political Polarization
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guests: Garrett Reisman and Steve Lindsey Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsors: | |||
| TWiS 210: ESCAPADES at Mars - Dr. Robert Lillis of the Mars ESCAPADE Mission | 15 May 2026 | 00:57:21 | |
Poor Mars. After a warm, wet childhood, the planet dried out and became cold and arid. And why? Mostly because it lost most of its atmosphere, scraped away by solar radiation. NASA's Maven mission studied the phenomenon of atmospheric loss for years, but has now gone silent. Enter Mars ESCAPADE—the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers—twin orbiters that will study the loss of Martian atmosphere more closely than ever before. The mission has been executed at a budget price. was largely built by industry upstart Rocket Lab, and launched on a New Glenn rocket. It will arrive at Mars in 2028, but we're giving you an early look at why it's an important and, frankly, very cool mission.
Main Topic: ESCAPADE Mars Mission—Twin Satellites to Study Atmospheric Loss
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Robert Lillis Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! | |||
| TWiS 211: Oysters in Space - With Jacob Scoccimerra of Monolith Space | 22 May 2026 | 01:08:58 | |
When one ponders the diet of Mars-bound astonauts, oysters don't often come to mind... but they should. As it turns out, the plucky bivalves have much to offer space voyagers, including water filtration and a ready source of protein. Jacob Scoccimerra, formerly of Nanoracks and now with Monolith Space, initiated a research project with students from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, to design, build, and operate a closed-circuit, automated support environment for oysters in a simulated space analog. It's a fascinating discussion that may leave you hungry.
Main Topic: Oysters in Space – Bioregenerative Life Support and Student Research
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Jacob Scoccimerra Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsor: | |||
| TWiS 212: Kabooms, Starship, and a Moon Base - What New Glenn's Explosion Means for NASA's Moon Base | 29 May 2026 | 01:02:33 | |
What a wild week in space news! We were all set to discuss Starship Test Flight 12 and NASA's recent press conference updating their lunar base plans, when on Thursday night, Blue Origin lost a New Glenn rocket on the pad during a static test. The explosion appears to have severely damaged the launch structure, LC36, along with the loss of the rocket. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But this does throw NASA's schedule for returning American astronauts to the moon into question, given that the agency had recently signaled their choice of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander for Artemis 4 in 2028. It's now a toss-up between the US and China, with the competition hotter--and closer--than ever. And of course, we'll still discuss Starship and the latest lunar base plans! Space.com's Mike Wall joins us. Headlines: Main Topic: NASA's Artemis Moon Base and Lunar Exploration Plans Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Mike Wall Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! | |||
| TWiS 213: Live From ISDC With Gerry Griffin - NASA Flight Director Breaks Down the Realities of Spaceflight | 05 Jun 2026 | 01:22:34 | |
Recorded live from the International Space Development Conference in McLean, Virginia, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik are joined by Apollo legend and former Johnson Space Center director Gerry Griffin. Griffin takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career, from his appointment as a flight director in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire, through the audacious decision to send Apollo 8 around the moon, all the way to the nail-biting rescue of Apollo 13. We also venture behind the scenes of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 film, where Griffin reveals the real story behind some of Hollywood's most famous dramatic liberties. It's a rare, firsthand account of the golden age of human spaceflight — from one of the few people who was there for all of it.
Main Topic: Jerry Griffin's Legacy in Space Exploration
(Note: Apologies for the video flickering that occurs in the podcast.) Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Gerry Griffin Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsors: | |||
| TWiS 214: Moon Man - With Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine | 12 Jun 2026 | 01:09:08 | |
There are NASA Administrators, and then there are NASA Administrators—all are very accomplished individuals, but some stand out for their unique backgrounds and on-the-job successes, and Jim Bridenstine is one of the latter. Entering service as the new NASA Administrator in 2017 with a background as a Navy pilot, Congressman, and museum director, he was an unconventional choice, and faced some headwinds in the appointment—but Jim turned out to be exceptional in the job, especially given the state of NASA when he took it on. Join us to hear his experiences with our favorite space agency and what he's doing today.
Main Topic: Jim Bridenstine & Quantum Space
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Jim Bridenstine Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsor: | |||
| TWiS 216: Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson | 26 Jun 2026 | 01:10:55 | |
We've had endless conversations about aliens and first contact--but what if a conversation with other intelligences is beyond our scope? Dr. Daniel Whiteson, particle physicist at CERN's Large Hadron Collider and professor at UC Irvine, joins us to explore less conventional thoughts on first contact. We look at the challenges of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligences, potential difficulties of communicating via non-terrestrial mathematics and physics, and the possibility that extraterrestrials might actually be terrestrial... but existing as denizens of the dark energy universe. One might be sitting in your lap right now! Join us for the far-ranging discussion. Headlines:
Main Topic: Dark Matter, Particle Physics, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Daniel Whiteson Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! | |||
| TWiS 215: Disclosure Day - With Dr. David Brin | 19 Jun 2026 | 01:06:22 | |
If you've seen "Disclosure Day" or "Age of Disclosure," you're going to want to join us for this fascinating discussion with famed bestselling sci-fi/sci-fact author Dr. David Brin. Long known for his universe-spanning visions, storytelling skills, and occasionally contrarian viewpoints, this episode will not disappoint! Our discussion ranged from reactions to Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" to why people believe in AI and more. This week's guest co-host is ace science journalist Susan Karlin.
Main Topic: Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" and the Alien Narrative
Host: Rod Pyle Co-Host: Susan Karlin Guest: Dr. David Brin Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! | |||
| TWiS 217: America in Space - 250 Years of Bold Firsts & Our Favorite Missions! | 03 Jul 2026 | 01:18:05 | |
Since 1958, the United States has been part of the spaceflight adventure, and since the mid-1960s has led in just about any category that counts. In this episode, we discuss the progression of American space efforts, review which flights launched or landed on July 4, and relive some of our very favorite US space missions of all time! "Headlines: Main Topic: 250 Years of America in Space Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Sponsors: | |||