The year was 1958; the space race was on. NASA’s first space satellite, Explorer 1, launched a Geiger counter and miniature tape recorder into space that registered astonishingly high radiation levels above Earth. This discovery gave humanity its first glimpse of the Van Allen radiation belts, named for James Van Allen.

Gravity Assist: Explorer 1 & Jim Green’s ‘Gravity Assist’

NASA’s interplanetary talk show, hosted by former Chief Scientist Jim Green, introduces you to space professionals working to take exploration into the future.

Science

On the Gravity Assist podcast we have interviewed dozens of scientists, engineers, and others dedicated to the mission of NASA space exploration. After five years, the show is coming to a close. Here are some final thoughts and episode highlights from the podcast team.

Season 5, Episode 32: Finale: Thanks for All the Gravity Assists

Gravity Assist Finale: Thanks for All the Gravity Assists

The James Webb Space Telescope awed the world on July 12 with its first images and data. And it’s just getting started with its exploration of the cosmos. Dr. John Mather, the observatory’s senior project scientist, has been working toward this milestone for more than 25 years.

Season 5, Episode 31: Meet a Webb Scientist Who Looks Back in Time

Gravity Assist: Meet a Webb Scientist Who Looks Back in Time

The world will get a first glimpse of the universe as never before when the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope come out on July 12. And this is only the beginning — the telescope will deliver all kinds of insights about galaxies, planets, and more, for years to come.

Gravity Assist: Explorer 1 & Jim Green’s ‘Gravity Assist’

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