Liftoff

By Relay

Liftoff was a podcast about space, the universe, and everything. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the major developments as explained by enthusiastic space fans Stephen Hackett an... more

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FAQs about Liftoff:

How many episodes does Liftoff have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

Liftoff episodes:

June 01, 2021151: Off to the Arctic Circle With You
It's budget time, and Stephen is here with the numbers. He and Jason are both excited about the final steps before the JWST launches. That, and a bunch of news updates this fortnight!
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Tuparev Technologies: Learn more about the new FITS Guide now.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership Zhurong is Rolling on Mars - Universe Today APOD: 2021 June 1 - Satellites over Orion Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive In Sweden’s Far North, a Space Complex Takes Shape - The New York Times Space Station May Host Wave of TV Shows and Films - The New York Times Webb’s Golden Mirror Wings Open One Last Time on Earth | NASA ESA - James Webb Space Telescope launch kit Webb telescope launch date slips again | Ars Technica Budget Documents, Strategic Plans and Performance Reports | NASA NASA Administrator Statement on President’s FY 2022 Funding Request | NASA NASA budget goes all-in on science, stays the course on Moon lander | Ars Technica Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) | NASA Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) | NASA State of NASA Address from Administrator Bill Nelson - YouTube
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43min
May 18, 2021 150: Worming It Up
This fortnight, Jason and Stephen catch up on what NASA's new administrator has been saying about the future of the agency, and China's actions in space, both near and far away.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership China's Rocket Debris Landed Near Maldives: Here's What to Know - The New York Times NASA Administrator Statement on Chinese Rocket Debris | NASA Rocket Lab’s 20th Electron launch ends in failure with the loss of its payload | TechCrunch Rocket Lab recovered the first stage from its failed May 15 launch, a silver lining for its reusability program | TechCrunch China's newly landed Mars rover Zhurong likely to roll into action this weekend | Space China Lands Rover on Mars – SpacePolicyOnline.com Senate Committee Approves 2021 NASA Authorization, Requires Second HLS System – SpacePolicyOnline.com Orion Spacecraft Adorned with Iconic NASA Worm Logo – Artemis Artemis I Rocket and Spacecraft Receive “Worm” Welcome | NASA NASA chief Bill Nelson talks rockets, Moon plans, and partnerships - The Verge Biden space advisers urge cooperation with China - POLITICO Membership - Relay FM
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41min
May 06, 2021149: $5,999,999,999.99
There's a new boss at NASA, and he already has a mess to deal with in the contested Human Landing System contract with SpaceX, which is seeing success in Texas with Starship testing. Then, an update on Mars missions and a goodbye to Michael Collins.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership A Message from NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson to the NASA Workforce - YouTube Vice President Kamala Harris to lead National Space Council - CBS News NASA Suspends HLS Contract With SpaceX – SpacePolicyOnline.com Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin protests NASA’s $2.9 billion Moon contract with SpaceX - The Verge Bill Nelson backs NASA decision on lunar lander in confirmation hearing | Ars Technica Tianhe, the Core of the Chinese Space Station | The Planetary Society This Is What Legally Happens If An Uncontrolled Rocket Damages Something | The Planetary Society Skylab (Re-entry and debris) - Wikipedia SpaceX's Starship SN15 lands successfully! - SpaceFlight Insider Liftoff #144: Elon Being Elon and the Early Days of SpaceX, with Eric Berger - Relay FM How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster - SpaceX on YouTube Ingenuity shifts from technology to operations demo after successful fourth flight - SpaceNews NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts First Oxygen From Red Planet – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Michael Collins, ‘Third Man’ of the Moon Landing, Dies at 90 - The New York Times Liftoff #62: Get Out of Low Earth Orbit - Relay FM Liftoff #103: Apollo 11 - Relay FM Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys - Amazon.com: Books
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51min
April 19, 2021148: Space Suits as a Service
With its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's first flight compete, NASA has made history, opening the door to missions beyond landers and rovers. Also: what SpaceX's Human Landing System contract means for the SLS and the future of NASA leadership.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Tuparev Technologies: Learn more about the new FITS Guide now.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership NASA Statement on Nomination of Pam Melroy for Agency Deputy Administrator Artemis Moonwalkers, Space Station to Use NASA-Industry EVA Services | NASA NASA and Boeing Targeting August/September for Starliner’s Uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 Launch Crew-2 Flight Readiness Review Begins as Falcon 9 Rocket and Crew Dragon Reach the Launch Complex – Commercial Crew Program NASA SpaceX Crew-2 ‘Go’ for April 22 Launch – Commercial Crew Program An Astronaut's Heart Shrank From Space Travel, Study Finds - The New York Times Artemis I Core Stage Being Readied for Shipment to Kennedy – Artemis NASA Ground, Marine Teams Integral to Moving SLS Rocket to Pad | NASA Elon Musk’s SpaceX will build NASA’s lunar lander - The Verge NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon | NASA Eric Berger on Twitter: "For perspective on what "commercial space" means: SpaceX's bid for the entirety of its Human Landing System, $2.9 billion, is about what NASA spends each year on SLS and associated ground systems development." The Orbital Index | Space: weekly, technical, curated. NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter achieves historic powered flight on Mars - The Verge First Video of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter in Flight, Includes Takeoff and Landing (High-Res) - YouTube NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan Will Look for Origins, Signs of Life | NASA
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49min
April 08, 2021147: Astronaut To Be Named Later
This fortnight, Jason and Stephen discuss traffic management at the International Space Station, upgrades to KSC's ground systems in preparation for SLS and the instruments that will fly with Europa Clipper.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Technology Untangled: Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership SpaceX rocket debris creates a fantastic light show in the Pacific Northwest sky - The Verge SpaceX rocket debris lands on man’s farm in Washington - The Verge SpaceX launches Starship SN11 rocket prototype, but misses landing | Space Musk says methane leak doomed latest Starship test flight – Spaceflight Now Photos show pieces of SpaceX's SN11 scattered across Boca Chica after failed landing Four astronauts took a Dragon for a spin on Monday morning | Ars Technica NASA, SpaceX Relocate Crew-1 Dragon; More Crewed Flight Preps Continue – Commercial Crew Program A Billionaire Names His Team to Ride SpaceX, No Pros Allowed - The New York Times SpaceX is adding a glass dome on Crew Dragon for 360 views of space - The Verge NASA’s Mars Helicopter Survives First Cold Martian Night on Its Own NASA’s Mars helicopter ready for pre-flight checkouts – Spaceflight Now RS-25 Rocket Engines Return to Launch NASA’s Artemis Moon Missions | NASA
Aerojet Rocketdyne has upgraded 16 RS-25 engines,
Under Pressure! New Rainbird System Will Protect Artemis II – Kennedy Space Center Under Pressure! New Rainbird System Will Protect Artemis II – Kennedy Space Center NASA Begins Major Assembly of Rocket Stage for First Crewed Artemis Mission – Artemis NASA’s Europa Clipper Builds Hardware, Moves Toward Assembly | NASA On the Path Towards Unprecedented Science – NASA's Europa Clipper Pimm's Cup Cocktail Recipe | Michael Chiarello | Food Network ESA Science & Technology - JUICE
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1h 7min
March 23, 2021146: Reverse Origami
The SLS has completed a full-length hot fire test and NASA is on the verge of having a new administrator, all while SpaceX continue to move ahead with its Starship testing.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Fortnite, from Epic Games: Embrace your wild side in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 6: Primal.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership LEGO Space Shuttle Discovery debuts as new 2,300-piece set - 9to5Toys NASA’s new Mars rover is about to spawn a tiny helicopter - The Verge Starship SN11 returns to pre-launch testing - Super Heavy BN1 rollout to follow - NASASpaceFlight.com Oumuamua: It Came From Another Solar System - The New York Times NASA Mega Moon Rocket Passes Key Test, Readies for Launch | NASA NASA has begun a study of the SLS rocket’s affordability [Updated] | Ars Technica What are the sparks flying at the bottom of SSMEs at the time of launch? - Space Exploration Stack Exchange NASA has begun a study of the SLS rocket’s affordability [Updated] | Ars Technica President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Bill Nelson for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | The White House Biden Nominates Bill Nelson to Lead NASA - The New York Times Here are five questions we would ask the nominee for NASA administrator | Ars Technica NASA Commits To Building Mandated Heavy-lift Rocket - SpaceNews
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58min
March 09, 2021145: Sad Mole
March is here, and it brings with it a lot of space news. On Mars, Perseverance is busy with a lot of firsts, even as Insight says goodbye to an old friend. In Texas, SpaceX keeps churning out test vehicles as the SLS program readies for a second hot fire test. Elsewhere, China and Russia join forces to build a lunar space station.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Tuparev Technologies: Learn more about the new POLIS initiative now.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership NASA’s Perseverance Drives on Mars’ Terrain for First Time | NASA Images from the Mars Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars Location Map for Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars Octavia E. Butler: NASA names the Perseverance rover's landing spot for the author - CNN NASA Awards Mars Ascent Propulsion System Contract for Sample Return | NASA NASA InSight’s ‘Mole’ Ends Its Journey on Mars | NASA Russia partners with China for lunar space station - The Verge SpaceX's SN10 Starship prototype lands after epic test launch — but then explodes | Space SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas | Ars Technica SpaceX acquires former oil rigs to serve as floating Starship spaceports - NASASpaceFlight.com Green Run Update: Engineers Repair Valve for Mid-March Hot Fire Test – Artemis Mammoth Artemis I Rocket Boosters Stacked on Mobile Launcher – Artemis NASA's new race to put a woman on the moon - 60 Minutes - CBS News SpaceX Should Build NASA's Rockets Amid $20bn SLS Cost: Ex-NASA Administrator Lori Garver NASA | Exploration Systems Suppliers in America Allan McDonald, Who Refused To Approve Shuttle Challenger Launch, Dead At 83 : NPR
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42min
February 23, 2021 144: Elon Being Elon and the Early Days of SpaceX, with Eric Berger
Jason and Stephen are joined by Eric Berger to discuss his new book Liftoff, which covers the origins of SpaceX. Eric is the Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and the book comes out on March 2. The guys also discussed the landing of Perseverance, the Starship test flights and who may be the next NASA Administrator.
Guest Starring:
Eric Berger
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX – HarperCollins Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / Twitter NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover Provides First Audio Recording on Mars | NASA The Insane Engineering of the Perseverance Rover - YouTube Linux has made it to Mars - The Verge How NASA Designed a Helicopter That Could Fly Autonomously on Mars - IEEE Spectrum The FAA is no longer concerned with SpaceX’s Starship SN9 and SN8 - The Verge Starship SN10 hopeful for launch "this week" - Super Heavy waiting in the wings - NASASpaceFlight.com A politician who said politicians shouldn’t run NASA wants to run NASA | Ars Technica Breaking Defense on Twitter on Nelson/Melroy Rumor Green Run Update: NASA Investigating Valve Performance Before Second Hot Fire – Artemis NASA sees “reasonable chance” of first SLS launch this year - SpaceNews
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53min
February 19, 2021 143: The Perseverance Landing and "For All Mankind" with Ron Moore
On this bonus episode, Jason and Stephen speak with Ron Moore, co-creator, writer and producer of For All Mankind. Topics covered include the challenges writing for a parallel timeline and a bit about episode 1 of the new season after a spoiler warning is given.
Guest Starring:
Ron Moore
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership Mars Perseverance Mission Overview | NASA First Image From Perseverance on Mars - NASA For All Mankind - Apple TV+ For All Mankind - Apple TV+ Press For All Mankind: The Official Podcast on Apple Podcasts For All Mankind - TeeVee - The Incomparable Jason and Dan on "For All Mankind" - Apple Podcasts
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53min
February 11, 2021142: Not To Sound Like a Parent, But...
Jason and Stephen are getting back to the news, and talk about Alan Shepard's golf balls, the state of NASA's programs under the Biden administration and what NASA would do if the SLS program were ended. Lastly, they discuss the upcoming Inspiration4 mission.
This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes: Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership Remastered images reveal how far Alan Shepard hit a golf ball on the Moon | Ars Technica Golf on the moon: Apollo 14 50th anniversary images find Alan Shepard's ball and show how far he hit it - BBC Sport Mars Mission From U.A.E. to Arrive and Orbit Red Planet - The New York Times China's Tianwen-1 enters orbit around Mars - SpaceNews Mission Overview - NASA Mars Landing Toolkit: Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars White House says its supports Artemis Program to return to the Moon [Updated] | Ars Technica NASA delays moon lander awards as Biden team mulls moonshot program - The Verge NASA to use commercial launch vehicle for Europa Clipper - SpaceNews NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost | NASA So long Senator Shelby: Key architect of SLS rocket won’t seek reelection | Ars Technica Green Run Update: NASA Proceeds With Plans for Second Hot Fire Test – Artemis Artemis I Boosters Take Shape – Artemis Artemis 1 SLS booster stacking nearing completion - SpaceFlight Insider St. Jude joins world’s first all-civilian mission to space - St. Jude Inspire | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital SpaceX Planning to Fly First All-Civilian Mission This Year; Two Seats Donated to St. Jude Backers – 512 Pixels Inspiration4 - Home
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56min

FAQs about Liftoff:

How many episodes does Liftoff have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.