Casual Space

This week on Casual Space, it's just Beth, a clean room, and one very real Moon rover. Beth takes you behind the scenes at Astrolab in Hawthorne, California, where she came face to face with FLIP, the rover getting ready to carry thousands of human stories to the lunar surface. Yes, she geeked out. No, she's not sorry.

Beth walks through why landing on the Moon is only half the job (you still have to get around once you're there), what FLIP is built to demonstrate, and how it fits into Astrolab's bigger FLEX rover vision. Then comes the moment that made it all real: spotting the 5D crystal, engraved with Stories of Space submissions, inside the rover. Those stories have already flown to the International Space Station, the stratosphere, and even underwater. Next stop: the Moon.

In this episode, Beth discusses:

• Why sticking the landing is just the beginning, because mobility is how you actually explore

• What FLIP is designed to demonstrate, and where it fits in Astrolab's larger FLEX vision

• The Stories of Space journey so far: the ISS, the stratosphere, underwater, and now the lunar surface

• Why this mission's stories are engraved on a 5D crystal instead of riding along on micro SD cards

• The Moon's less charming qualities, including clingy lunar dust and extreme temperatures

• How FLIP will roll off its lander, and why those wheels deserve a closer look

• What it felt like to see the rover and the payload inside the clean room

• Why exploration is about more than hardware: it's about the people and stories we bring along

Key takeaways

"The story of space exploration is a story that belongs to everyone."

"The future isn't coming. It's already here."

"Exploration has never been only about where we're going, but about who we bring with us."

Stay connected

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Got a great guest suggestion or idea for the show? E-mail me at [email protected]

New! Patches4Space

Beth teams up with astronaut, geoscientist, and artist Dr. Sian Proctor to decode the stories stitched into NASA mission patches. Small patches, big stories.

Episodes and patch stories: https://space2inspire.art/pages/patches4space

What keeps a Mars rover running after 14 years on another planet? What fixed a juddering solar array on the International Space Station? And what tiny robot — small enough to hold in your hand — recently hitched a ride to the lunar South Pole?

The answer to all three: Castrol. And this week, Beth sits down with Chris Lockett, Global Technology Director at Castrol, to pull back the curtain on one of space exploration's most quietly essential partners.

Chris brings nearly 30 years of experience with BP and Castrol, working across the UK, China, Japan, South Africa, and beyond. His work spans Formula One racecars to Mars rovers — and now, the Moon. In this episode, he shares how Castrol's lubrication technology has been part of humanity's greatest space achievements since Apollo, and what it's taking to help us return to the lunar surface.

From "outgassing" and extreme vacuum conditions to an actual in-space oil change performed by an astronaut on a spacewalk, this conversation is packed with jaw-dropping moments. Chris also gives us a live show-and-tell — showcasing a replica Perseverance Rover and a real, working AstroAnt — the tiny MIT-designed robot that rode along on the recent mission to the lunar South Pole inside its own little garage on top of the rover.

Who thought lubrication engineering could be this fascinating?! This episode will change your mind.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Castrol's space heritage dates back to Apollo — and has continued through the Space Shuttle, the ISS, Hubble, Mars rovers, and Artemis 2
• What "outgassing" is, why it's a serious problem in the vacuum of space, and how it can blur a telescope lens
• How an astronaut performed an in-space oil change on the ISS's solar array — using Castrol grease — to fix a dangerous juddering problem
• Why the lunar South Pole is so important as a future staging post for deeper space exploration (ice, hydrogen, lava tubes — yes, really!)
• What co-engineering means and how Castrol works in partnership with companies like Lunar Outpost to design solutions for environments no one has ever accessed before
• What the AstroAnt is, how it works, and why swarms of them could be the future of spacecraft maintenance
• What Chris looks for in the next generation of space innovators — hint: it starts with curiosity

Watch the Documentary: Don't miss Drive Me to the Moon — the full documentary featuring Chris, Castrol, and Lunar Outpost's mission to the lunar South Pole. It's a beautiful, emotional, and inspiring behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to explore the Moon. Watch it at: castrol.com — search Drive Me to the Moon

About Chris Lockett: Chris Lockett is the Global Technology Director at Castrol, part of the BP Group. With a background in chemical engineering from his university studies in the UK, Chris joined BP as a graduate and has spent nearly three decades working across engineering, strategy, and technology roles. He now leads Castrol's global team of hundreds of technologists who develop lubrication solutions for everything from Formula One to Formula E, electric vehicles, industrial applications, data centers — and space.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I'd love to hear it!

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Got a great guest suggestion or idea for the show? E-mail me at [email protected]

What does it take to go from studying the universe… to flying through it?

On this episode of Casual Space, Beth welcomes Dr. Steven A. Hawley—NASA astronaut, space shuttle veteran, and author of his new book, Eyes to the Stars, A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation. Listen to enjoy the remarkable journey of a young astronomer from Kansas who never expected to become an astronaut—and what happened when he said "yes" anyway.

Steve shares the quiet but powerful decisions that shaped his career: staying open to opportunity, embracing uncertainty, and trusting preparation when timing finally aligned. From his early fascination with astronomy to deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, this conversation reveals what spaceflight is really like—both technically and personally.

You'll hear behind-the-scenes insights from the Space Shuttle era, including the realities of astronaut selection, the discipline of mission training, and the teamwork required to operate in one of the most high-risk environments humans have ever entered.

Eyes to the Stars by Steve Hawley on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Stars-Memoir-Shuttle-Generation/dp/1960259571

Hubble Space Telescope https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/

Artemis Program https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/

Whether you're an aspiring astronaut, a space enthusiast, or someone navigating your own uncertain path—this episode is a reminder that the journey to the stars often begins with simply staying open to possibility.

An earlier version of this episode got corrupted on export, so the audio cut out part of the way into the episode. That has been fixed in this version. Apologies for the inconvenience!

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Dr. Danny Jaques, a 36-year veteran science educator, Space Camp Hall of Famer, and founder of Danny's Rocket Ranch, joins Beth for a review of the Project Hail Mary film adaptation.

A lifelong educator who has taken nearly 600 students to Space Camp and spent decades bringing science to life in the classroom, Danny brings a perspective to this conversation that you simply cannot get anywhere else. Beth and Danny dig into what works, what got left on the cutting room floor, and what the film means for the next generation of students, astrobiologists, and space dreamers who will walk out of the theater wanting to know more.

If you haven't read the book yet, consider this your sign. Then come back and listen to this.

Dr. Danny Jaques & Danny's Rocket Ranch

• Website: https://www.dannysrocketranch.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannysRocketRanch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannysrocketranchspacesalsa
• X: https://x.com/drr_spacesalsa
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannysrocketranch

Project Hail Mary

• Movie Website: https://www.mgm.com/movies/project-hail-mary
• Book by Andy Weir: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135202
• Audiobook narrated by Ray Porter: https://www.audible.com/pd/Project-Hail-Mary-Audiobook/B08G9PRS1K

Josh Hanes, whose work at Uplift Aerospace focuses on expanding access to space through student-centered education and immersive experiences, returns to the show with major updates on what's happened since STORIES of Space submitted its community database at the end of 2025. https://www.upliftaerospace.com

Beth and Josh celebrate two landmark achievements: the successful laser engraving the story database from STORIES of Space into a 5D crystal along with over 3,000 messages from students, teachers, and community storytellers around the world, an extraordinary archival medium capable of preserving data for potentially millions of years, and the integration of that crystal onto Astrolab's FLIP rover on March 2nd, 2026.

Josh explains how 5D crystal technology works, using femtosecond lasers to modify atomic structures within crystal, storing terabytes of data in a piece no larger than a quarter. He walks through the mission patch artwork created by Dr. Sian Proctor, who implemented a word cloud of student messages into a design now displayed prominently on the rover itself.

The FLIP rover, a pathfinder mission for Astrolab's larger FLEX rover planned for the Artemis program, is targeting the lunar South Pole and is expected to launch in the middle to late part of 2026. When it arrives, it will carry the dreams, hopes, and words of STORIES of Space contributors as part of what Josh describes as a living archive of humanity at this pivotal moment in history.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone following the STORIES of Space journey, or for anyone who wants to understand just how close we are to a genuine paradigm shift in humanity's relationship with space. The future is not a promise on the horizon anymore, it is already being built. Follow along at https://www.upliftaerospace.com and across their socials at @UpliftAerospace on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

Have you read "Project Hail Mary," by Andy Weir? No spoilers in this episode, as Beth reviews three of the main characters, and wonders how they will make the leap from page to the silver screen.

Project Hail Mary on Amazon

The deadline for submitting stories to the Moon on MISSION 06 with STORIES of Space has been extended to December 28! In this episode, Beth selects & shares five recently submitted stories that will be sent to the Moon. Hundreds more will be sent to the moon along with these inspiring stories. Will yours be one of them?

You have until December 28 to submit your story at storiesofspace.com

About STORIES of Space

Stories of Space is a non-for-profit organization that collects personal narratives about space, and sends them into space. MISSION 06 will take stories to the lunar surface, creating a lasting legacy.

Learn more at storiesofspace.com

This week on Casual Space, Beth is joined by two extraordinary guests: Josh Hanes, CEO of Uplift Aerospace and Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, artist, educator, and founder of Space2Inspire to share an announcement that's truly out of this world.

Josh, whose background spans physics, advanced propulsion concepts, and aerospace leadership with a mission to expand access to space for all through innovative education and immersive experiences, explains how Uplift's journey has grown from astronaut training to student-centered lunar missions. https://www.upliftaerospace.com

Dr. Proctor, best known as the first African-American woman to pilot a commercial spacecraft on the Inspiration4 mission and a celebrated science communicator and artist, shares how her experiences have shaped her work in space, art, and education. https://space2inspire.art

Together with Beth, they unveil STORIES of Space MISSION 06, a groundbreaking initiative that is taking human-written stories and student messages to the Moon aboard Astrolab's FLEX rover. This mission blends creativity, STEM learning, and legacy, preserving voices and visions from classrooms and communities in laser-engraved crystal time capsules and symbolic artwork.

You'll hear how this collaboration unites awe, imagination, and education, inspiring students to think bigger and dream longer, and how this mission invites listeners to send their story to be embedded onboard a rover that will help explore the lunar surface!

This episode is a must-listen (and watch on YouTube) for anyone curious about how storytelling, art, and space exploration intersect—and how your own story might find its way to the lunar surface. Visit storiesofspace.com to submit your original work before the December 16 deadline and become part of this historic lunar journey.

This week on Casual Space, Beth welcomes back a very special guest: Stephen Matier, President & CEO of Maritime Launch Services, to celebrate Canada's history-making commercial suborbital launch completed at the end of November. Fresh from the launch pad in Canso, Nova Scotia, Beth and Steve sit down to reflect on the extraordinary milestone for Canada's growing space sector and share the personal, behind-the-scenes stories that made the mission unforgettable.

You can both listen AND watch this conversation on YouTube, where Beth shares exclusive launch-day footage, photos, and the emotional moment when the STORIES of Space payload took flight. https://www.youtube.com/@casualspacepodcast83

Let's Celebrate Canada's New Era of Space Access

Listen as Steve shares the significance of this suborbital mission—how it strengthens Canada's sovereign launch capability, what makes Spaceport Nova Scotia so strategically powerful, and why this successful demonstration matters for future orbital flights. You'll enjoy hearing Steve reflect on the countless preparations, the coordination with national agencies, and the humbling reality of seeing years of work soar into the atmosphere.

STORIES of Space: A Payload with Heart

Beth shares the profound impact of having STORIES of Space selected as the featured payload on this mission—representing storytellers from across Canada and around the world.Together, they discuss why sending stories to space is more than symbolic—it's deeply human, deeply connective, and essential to inspiring the next generation of explorers. Steve and Beth recount the unscripted moments from the launch site • the anticipation• the countdown• the roar of the rocket• the incredible sense of community• and the moment the payload carrying hundreds of stories lifted off to complete the 5th mission in just two short years!!!

These reflections shine a light on the teamwork, passion, and persistence behind a mission that will shape Canada's space future.

This episode includes special launch images, videos, and behind-the-scenes moments you won't want to miss. https://www.youtube.com/@casualspacepodcast83

Learn More about Maritime Launch Services and our STORIES of Space MISSION 03 success at https://www.maritimelaunch.com/news

This week on the Casual Space Podcast, I'm joined by my friend, adventurer, and all-around visionary Jessica DeAngelo — founder of Hike to Become®, author of the international bestseller The Wild Advantage, and the leader behind a movement that encourages us to step outside (literally) to find the clarity, creativity, and calm we keep trying to chase indoors.

Jessica works with leaders from companies like Amazon, Nike, and Uber to help them break out of the boardroom mindset and reconnect with the part of themselves that already knows the answer. Her 31-day outdoor awareness challenge and executive nature-based retreats have helped hundreds of professionals solve complex problems, unlock breakthrough ideas, and return to their work with purpose (and joy!).

In our conversation, we talk about:

• Why your brain actually works better outdoors (and what the science says about it)

• How movement, nature, and curiosity come together to unlock new thinking

• The surprising truth behind burnout — and why "working harder" is the opposite of the solution

• What happens when you finally make space to hear your own ideas again

• The magic that comes from small steps (or walks) taken consistently

This isn't just a conversation about hiking. It's about learning to reclaim the part of ourselves that thrives in wonder, exploration, and stillness — whether that's on a trail, in your neighborhood, or simply stepping away from the demands that never seem to end.

As someone who has hiked with Jessica, learned from her, and taken the Hike to Become challenge myself, I can tell you this: The shift is real. And powerful. You don't have to summit a mountain to rediscover your clarity — you just need to be willing to step outside and listen.

Jessica DeAngelo

• Founder & Chief Hiking Officer of Hike to Become®

• TEDx Speaker

• Executive Retreat Leader & Strategy Facilitator

• Author of The Wild Advantage: Why Your Brain on Nature Is Your Boldest Business Move

• Lover of wide open skies, big ideas, and good snacks

She lives in Boise with her husband and two spirited kiddos who remind her that adventure is always within reach — especially when you're holding a granola bar.

Where to find with Jessica

Website: www.jessicadeangelo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-deangelo-mba/ Instagram: @hiketobecome

If today's conversation inspires you to get outside — even just for five minutes — then you're already on your way.

Let's go find what's waiting for you out there.