Looking Up

Dr. Janet Kavandi is a three-time shuttle astronaut, former Director of Flight Operations for NASA, and currently serves as director of NASA's John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In addition, she was recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame . Dean Regas and Anna Hehman are proud to welcome Dr. Kavandi to this episode of Looking Up .

Charles Bolden, Jr. is a retired Marine Major General and astronaut who most recently was the administrator of NASA. He joins Dean Regas and guest host Lauren Worley (who worked for Major General Bolden at NASA) to discuss his career and the state of space exploration today.

Previously released on October 10, 2018 Looking Up boldly goes where it's never gone before! It's a very special episode with actor, author, and recording artist William Shatner which resulted in a meeting between host Dean Regas and the pop culture icon. Tune in as he recounts that momentous night to Anna Hehman.

As we continue our celebration of Women's History Month , we welcome Valerie Ryder , a toxicology specialist at NASA's Johnson Space Center. She talks about the life of a toxicologist and the work she does to ensure air and water safety on the International Space Station. Dean also answers a kid's question about how old we'd be on other planets.

To celebrate Women's History Month , Dean and Anna are joined by Amy Shira Teitel, author a fascinating new book, Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight . It tells the unheralded story of two women, Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb , striving to be the first woman in space. Dean also delves into the viral broom challenge.

As astronomers continue to discover new planets and exoplanets in our solar system, a new way of gathering information about them is being spearheaded by a professor from The Ohio State University . Joining Dean and Anna after they talk a little Pi is Professor Scott Gaudi , project co-chair of the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Dean and Anna talk about the romance of space, and some of the myths that exist, plus they look ahead to some of what 2020 has in store in the skies when they talk with Sky and Telescope's news editor, Monica Young .

On Dean's wish list of guests for the podcast is someone from one of his favorite bands, a somewhat obscure group from the late 90s, early 00s who dressed in space suits and stayed, until the internet, anonymous. So on this episode, joining Dean and Anna Hehman, is Birdstuff (aka Brain Teasley) from the band Man or Astro-Man? and we think you'll enjoy this offbeat, but obviously joyous to Dean, interview.

Night Sky Odyssey is an augmented reality adventure that lets viewers, using a special headset, look into a dark sky, no matter what light pollution they may be in, and see the stars, constellations, and more. Dean Regas and Anna Hehman find out more from the program's operations and development director, Jon Marcotte , and science communicator Andres Fazekas .

The International Astronomical Union has been celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and one of its keystone projects was designed to promote and support diversity and inclusivity in the astronomy community. The project director, Hannah Harris , joins Dean Regas and Anna Hehman to discuss the early results of the project.