This Week in Space (Audio)

It's safe to say we all would love a chance to fly to space, but there's wanting to reach space and then ACTUALLY launching into space. This week, as we hit Episode 100, we welcome back Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute to tell us exactly what it's like to fly on a private spaceplane. Alan, a planetary scientist and principal investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond, launched on a suborbital spaceflight in November 2023 on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane. He'll dish on what that experience is like, what it promises for future space science, and more. We also discussed Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander's farewell, a new air leak on the International Space Station, and when SpaceX may launch its Crew-8 mission to the ISS.

Headlines:

• Odysseus Moon Lander Incident: Intuitive Machines' lander successfully touched down on the moon but tipped over and broke a leg upon landing. Despite this mishap, the mission achieved many firsts and exceeded expectations.
• International Space Station (ISS) Air Leak: An update on a minor but increasing air leak in the Russian segment of the ISS, detailing efforts to pinpoint and fix the leak to ensure crew safety.
• SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Delays: Overview of the delayed SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the ISS, due to weather concerns and scheduling conflicts with the Odysseus moon lander launch.

Main Topic: Dr. Alan Stern's Virgin Galactic Flight

• Dr. Alan Stern's Background: Stern recounts his lifelong passion for space exploration, his involvement in over 30 NASA and European Space Agency missions, and his recent suborbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic.
• The Experience of Spaceflight: Stern describes the flight as the best workday ever, detailing the rocket's ascent, time in microgravity, and the camaraderie among the crew. He also mentions successfully completing all nine objectives of the flight.
• Future of Commercial Spaceflight: Discussion on the potential of commercial spaceflight to transform space science by making suborbital and orbital missions more accessible and affordable. Stern emphasizes the importance of human-led experiments in space and predicts a future where booking a spaceflight could be as common as booking an airline ticket.
• Risk and Reward of Space Travel: Stern shares his perspective on the risks associated with space travel, comparing it to the early days of aviation and expressing optimism for the future safety and normalization of space exploration.
• New Horizons Update: Alan talks on the New Horizons extended mission to study Kuiper Belt objects through 2028/2029. The Kuiper Belt structure itself continues to reveal its vast scale.

Host: Tariq Malik

Guest: Alan Stern

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What a year it's been so far! This week, Tariq and Rod look at some of the top headlines for 2024. So far, we've had a partially successful private lunar landing--the first for the United States since 1972--massive satellites hurtling out of orbit, more news on SpaceX's upcoming Starship activity, what's up with Blue Origin and New Glenn, the weirdest quasar story ever, and there's gold in them stars, says the James Webb Space Telescope. And we're just getting 2024 started! Join us for our deep dive into the headlines.

• The top story is the successful landing of the Odysseus lunar lander by Intuitive Machines on the moon's south pole, the first private spacecraft to do so. They discuss the mission's payloads, the last-minute fix using NASA's navigation system when their own failed, and the implications for future lunar operations.
• They cover the uncontrolled reentry of the defunct European ERS-2 satellite over the Pacific Ocean and how dealing with space junk has evolved.
• Varda Space Industries made history by successfully landing their private space capsule via parachute after seven months in orbit, a first and step towards autonomous in-space manufacturing.
• Exciting updates on SpaceX's Starship development - they may launch up to 9 missions in 2024 and are expanding infrastructure, targeting early to mid-March for the third launch of Starship.
• Blue Origin rolled out their New Glenn rocket to the pad for fit checks, inching towards a test flight this year.
• The farthest quasar yet has been discovered, called J0529-4351, with a brightness of 500 trillion Suns and a massive disk 7 light years wide. Showcases improving AI analysis of astronomical data.
• Using James Webb, astronomers directly observed heavy elements like gold being created for the first time in merging neutron stars. Proves long-standing theories on cosmic origins of heavy metals.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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We all think we know what NASA's up to, but there's nothing like hearing their plans directly from the top. This week, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, who is also a former astronaut, commander of the space shuttle, and US Air Force test pilot, joins us for a very special episode. We discussed the recently announced delays to the Artemis lunar landing program, NASA's long-term goals on the Moon, the overall trajectory of human spaceflight, Pam's favorite memories of her time in space, and — perhaps our favorite moment — her "gentle" rejoinder to a male pilot who hadn't had much experience flying with "ladies"! Be sure to join us for this exclusive interview.

Headlines:

• Members of Congress made the claim that Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon with a possible nuclear component. Could possibly be used to knock out satellites and crucial infrastructure like GPS and communications. Raises concerns and questions about the future of the peaceful exploration of space.
• Private lunar lander Intuitive Machines 1 launched successfully, carrying NASA payloads to the Moon's south pole. Marks ongoing progress in partnerships between NASA and commercial companies for robotic Moon exploration.
• NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft may be nearing the end of its operational life after 45+ years in space. Experiencing technical issues communicating with Earth due to its outdated systems. A remarkable achievement and inspiration nonetheless.

Main Topic: Interview with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy

• Melroy provides an overview of her role as Deputy Administrator, overseeing operations and execution of the Administrator's priorities.
• Discusses being inspired by Apollo and space exploration from a young age. Combined backgrounds in planetary science, test piloting, and astronaut experience inform her work.
• Emphasizes NASA's long-term vision for sustained human presence and exploration throughout the solar system, using the Moon as a proving ground.
• Explains how NASA is currently defining infrastructure requirements for Moon bases, pressurized rovers, communications, and more. International partnerships are expanding.
• Highlights the importance of Artemis missions for testing and maturing capabilities needed for Mars and beyond. Balancing technical challenges and schedule.
• Notes the convergence of robotic and human exploration seen with new commercial lunar landers supporting future astronaut missions.
• Reflects on personal highlights of seeing all aspects of space technology come together during spaceflights, and about the culture enabling teams to solve problems.
• Discusses the increase in opportunities for women now and in the future. Focusing on your goals and being part of the team.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Pam Melroy

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The moons of the outer solar system have become one of the primary targets of robotic exploration. Previous probes have detected what might be warm, salty oceans below the ice crusts of Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's Europa. NASA's Europa Clipper will soon be bound for that cold, mysterious world. And Erin Leonard, a project scientist on that mission, joins us to discuss what to expect and what the hopes for life miles below the ice might be. Join us for this exciting look at one of the most compelling bodies in the outer solar system!

Headlines:

• JPL Layoffs: Discussion on the recent layoffs at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, attributing them to budget constraints and cuts to the Mars sample return mission.
• AX-3 Mission Recap: Overview of the AX-3 mission's achievements, including its status as the longest private mission to the ISS and its all-European crew.
• Renaissance Astronomy Text: Analysis of a Renaissance-era astronomy book that may contain hidden messages, offering a unique glimpse into historical views of the cosmos.

Main Topic: Europa Clipper Mission

• Mission Overview: Erin Leonard explains her role in the Europa Clipper mission, emphasizing collaboration between scientists and engineers to bridge communication gaps.
  Path to Europa Clipper: Leonard shares her academic journey and how it led her to work on the Europa Clipper mission.
• Europa's Habitability: Discussion on what makes Europa a compelling target for life search in the solar system, including its subsurface ocean and salt content.
• Technical Challenges: Insights into the engineering feats required to design a spacecraft capable of surviving Jupiter's intense radiation environment.
• Scientific Instruments: Overview of the Europa Clipper's comprehensive suite of scientific instruments designed to study Europa's ocean, ice shell, and more.
• Potential for Life: Speculation on the conditions beneath Europa's ice shell and the mission's potential to discover signs of life.
• Launch Plans and Expectations: Confirmation of the Europa Clipper's scheduled launch in October on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Through engaging dialogue and expert commentary, this episode provides a thorough exploration of the Europa Clipper mission's objectives, challenges, and the broader implications for our understanding of life in the universe.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Erin Leonard

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Space and science TV has come a long way since the old-time staples like Mr. Wizard and the original Bille Nye, The Science Guy. On this episode of This Week in Space, History Channel producer Jeff Stepp joins us to talk about his work on "The UnXplained: With William Shatner" and other science shows—how are they conceived, what is production like, and what is the future of space and science-oriented media? We know Jeff to be a fine writer and responsible gatekeeper for high-quality, responsible science programming. Don't miss this one!

Headlines

• Boeing Starliner's Progress: Detailed updates on the Starliner spacecraft's developments, including overcoming technical hurdles for its crewed flight.
• Japan's Slim Lander: Exploration of Japan's moon landing attempt, highlighting the quirky yet successful deployment of rovers despite the lander's inverted landing.
• Exomoons Debate: A discussion on the ongoing debate among scientists about the existence of exomoons, showcasing the dynamic nature of space exploration research.

Main Topic: The Future of Space and Science Television

• Jeff Stepp's Career and Contributions: Introduction to Jeff Stepp's role in producing and writing for science and space TV shows, emphasizing his journey and the impact of veteran actors in narrating scientific documentaries.
• Challenges in Science Programming: Stepp discusses the challenges of producing engaging content in a landscape dominated by entertainment, touching on the balance between education and entertainment.
  - Evolving Formats and Audience Engagement: Exploration of new formats for science programming, addressing the need for storytelling and innovative approaches to captivate audiences.
• Viewer Desires and Future Directions: Consideration of audience queries on conspiracy theories and the selection of topics for shows like "The Unexplained," highlighting the interaction between producers and the viewing public.
  Working with Icons: Insights into the experience of working with William Shatner and other celebrities, underscoring their influence on the success and reach of science programming.
• Future of Science Television: Stepp shares his vision for the future of science and space television, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and the potential for hybrid formats to keep the audience engaged.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Jeff Stepp

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Climate change has become a top priority for all of us, including NASA. Space solar power—beaming energy from space 24 hours per day—has become a real possibility and is being studied internationally by the US, Europe, Japan, and China. It promises to provide a zero-emissions, zero-carbon source of energy worldwide—but it will take significant investment, development, and commitment. A recent NASA-backed study was positive but careful with its conclusions, and John Mankins, one of the first researchers of SSP in the US who continues to work on the concept, joins us to address the report and to talk about the possible future of limitless, clean, and affordable energy for a hungry world.

Headlines:

• Mars Ingenuity Helicopter - After a highly successful demonstration flight campaign on Mars with over 70 flights, NASA has announced the pioneering helicopter can no longer fly due to damage sustained to its rotors during its last flight. Despite this setback, Ingenuity has proven that flight is possible on Mars and paved the way for future rotorcraft explorers.
• SLIM Lander - Japan's SLIM lunar lander achieved a soft landing on the moon but tipped over on its side during touchdown, limiting its ability to collect science data. Still, Japan is hailing the mission as a success for proving precise landing capabilities that can be applied to future missions.
• Exoplanet Discovery - The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a new "hot and steamy" exoplanet called GJ 9872d that harbors water vapor in its atmosphere, making scientists excited about its potential to host life even though surface temperatures exceed 700°C.

Main Topic: Space-Based Solar Power

• Benefits - Space solar power collected in space and beamed wirelessly to Earth is carbon-neutral, available 24/7, and faces no weather disruptions, providing a major clean energy source.
• Viability - The core concept is scientifically sound and uses proven technology like satellites and wireless transmission. Recent advancements in areas like reusable rockets, modular hardware, and efficient solar cells have made costs far more viable.
• NASA Study - A recent NASA-commissioned study reached lackluster conclusions about economic feasibility, but used assumptions counter to emerging launch trends on achievable costs for launches and hardware production.
• International Competition - Other nations like China, Japan, and Europe are investing much more in research and planning than the US currently is, challenging the US to regain leadership in space solar power.
• Safety - Wireless power transmission systems can be designed to safely beam microwaves at intensities less than natural sunlight.
• SPS-ALPHA Concept - Modular design using sophisticated tracking mirrors, "sandwich modules" of solar panels, electronics, and transmitters. Features mirrors to keep panels illuminated as satellite orbits. Built of mass-produced, interchangeable parts requiring no new technology.
• Path Forward - Continue incremental technology advancements and on-orbit demonstrations to build confidence. Involve commercial space companies that can leverage economies of scale. Stress US origins of the concept and opportunity to lead in developing this carbon-free energy source.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: John Mankins

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2024 looks to be another exciting year in spaceflight! Despite the delay of the Artemis crewed lunar program, a number of exciting missions are queued up this year, among them the launch of Europa Clipper, ESA's HERA mission to Didymos, the first flight of Blue Origin's mammoth New Glenn rocket, and the first crewed flight of India's new spacecraft, the Gagaanyan capsule. We'll dive into these and more on this episode of This Week in Space!

Headlines:

• Japan became the 5th country to successfully soft land on the moon with their SLIM lunar lander, though it is having issues generating solar power due to its arrays not deploying properly. Despite this setback, Japan still declared the landing a success.
• Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander failed after launch, burning up in Earth's atmosphere over the South Pacific after losing contact following its launch on ULA's Vulcan rocket. This was a major setback for Astrobotic's first lunar delivery contract under NASA's CLPS program.
• Axiom Space launched their AX-3 mission, the third all-private crewed flight to the ISS. The crew is made up of an international mix from the U.S., Italy, Spain, and Sweden.

Main Topic: 2024 in Space

• Artemis Program Delays: NASA announced delays to the Artemis program, pushing back Artemis 2 to at least December 2025 and Artemis 3's lunar landing to 2026. Issues remain with the SLS rocket, Orion capsule, spacesuits, and especially SpaceX's Starship lunar lander, which needs many test flights before it is ready.
• Blue Origin's Progress: Blue Origin rolled out a pathfinder version of their New Glenn rocket to the launch site, signaling they are making progress with a planned launch in mid-2024. The rocket will have the biggest fairings of any currently available rocket.
• 2024 Missions: JPL and NASA have many big robotic missions launching in 2024, including the Europa Clipper to study Jupiter's icy moon, JUICE to also study Jupiter's moons for ESA, and Hera, which will observe the results of NASA's DART asteroid test. ESA is also working to get the delayed Ariane 6 rocket off the ground.
• India's Gaganyaan Capsule: India is making progress in developing their own indigenous crew capsule, called Gaganyaan, with plans to launch test flights in 2024 and 2025. This will be a major step in their ambitions for an independent human spaceflight program.
  

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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America's heading back to the Moon, but what does the public really think? This week, we talk with former NASA Chief Historian and Smithsonian Curator Dr. Roger Launius, who has studied, among many other things, public perceptions of NASA and spaceflight. Some spoilers: no, there was no "Golden Age" in the 1960s when the public was hugely behind the Apollo Moon landings; being a space historian is a lot of fun; and it probably doesn't really matter if China lands people on the Moon before the US does so *again*. Join us.

Headlines:
• Successful first flight of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket with engines from Blue Origin
• Payload - Astrobotic's Peregrine commercial lunar lander suffers propulsion leak en route to the Moon
• NASA engineers finally open stuck cover on OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule

Main Topic: Public Perceptions of Space Exploration
• Common perception of widespread public support and national unity around Apollo program is a myth
• Polls at the time showed concerns about cost and other spending priorities
• Support depended heavily on Cold War context; would not have happened otherwise
• Public support and approval polling for space exploration has remained fairly consistent over decades
• But support drops when funds are weighed against other priorities like social programs
• JFK tried multiple times to make Apollo a joint U.S.-Soviet program to save money
• His assassination allowed NASA to leverage his legacy to maintain support and funding
• Presidential bold visions for space require an urgent political problem to address
• Competition with China lacks the existential threat of the Cold War space race

Additional Topics:
• NASA is now doing business with more private-public and commercial partnerships
• But political factors and election cycles still hamper long-term continuity
• Preserving history and archives from the digital era will be extremely difficult
• Predictions: Boots on the Moon again within 10-15 years, Mars by 2040s

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Roger Launius

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Spend some time in a dark location and you'll see the night sky in all its glory. If you pick a night with no moon, the effect triples. Steve Fentress, recently retired director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium in New York, is our guide to the night sky this week. He'll enlighten us about the lore of the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, one of the more remarkable constellations in the sky, as well as a general tour of other notable constellations and their stories across the ages. And... he's even got a planetarium joke! Join us for this surprisingly entertaining look at the great above from a veteran storyteller.

Headlines:

• Vulcan rocket with ULA's new BE4 engine set for debut flight, launching NASA's CLPS moon landing mission with Astrobotic's Peregrine lander
• Controversy over human remains onboard Astrobotic lander; Navajo Nation protests not being consulted
• Juno spacecraft makes close flyby of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io, capturing stunning images

Main Topic: The Night Sky

• Steve's approach to appreciating the night sky focuses on visualization using basic math rather than just facts
• Overview of cultural interpretations of constellations and astronomical objects across ancient Chinese, Aboriginal Australian, and Pacific Islander cultures
• The 88 modern constellations officially recognized today trace back to ancient Near East, Greek, and 16th-century European traditions
• The Pleiades star cluster - one of the most prominent and universally viewed groups of stars
• Its seasonal visibility and blue color make it a prime target for binoculars
• Appearance ranges from 6 main stars to a sparkling cluster depending on conditions
• Known as the "Seven Sisters" across cultures; stories explaining its changing appearance
• Popular meteor showers, including the Perseids, Leonids, and Geminids
• How meteor showers coincide with Earth's intersecting dust trails left behind by comets
• Upcoming highlights: 2024 Perseids and peak viewing times

Get "Sky to Space:" https://amzn.to/3OfnFM3

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Steve Fentress

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Happy holidays! Rod and Tariq are taking the next two weeks off but will be back with our regularly scheduled programming on January 5th.

Host: Rod Pyle

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