Naked Astronomy, from the Naked Scientists

European Space Agency reserve astronauts John McFall and Meganne Christian join Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss their latest training, a new private space station mission and crossing the Atlantic in winter. And, as the joint ESA and Japanese Bepi-Colombo spacecraft prepares to arrive at Mercury, they meet mission project scientist Geraint Jones to discuss this ambitious mission. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

We're back! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been launched to investigate exoplanets and the 'dark forces' that make up the universe. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by Astropartigirl Dr Sophia Gad Nasr to give an insight into the new mission. They also speak to the UK's new space minister, Liz Lloyd, and Sue reports from Wally Funk's celebratory remembrance service in Dallas with guests including astronaut Eileen Collins. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The Space Boffins are on holiday in Bavaria, so where better to hang out than an asteroid impact crater?! The team visit the ReisKrater Museum to find out about the massive asteroid impact that devastated Central Europe 15 million years ago and now serves as an astronaut training ground. They also celebrate Wally Funk; mark 15 years of the Space Boffins podcast; celebrate the Beagle-2 Mars Lander, and an exclusive archive find: a film about the UK's first satellite, Ariel-1... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Space traveller Trevor Beattie joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to describe his obsession with space and flight in Virgin Galactic's space plane. The Space Boffins also discuss NASA's new Moonbase plans and Richard chats to rocket scientist Helen Lewin about the incredible RS-25 rocket. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Richard Hollingham is at the Kennedy Space Center for the (historic) launch of Artemis II to the Moon. Sue Nelson joins him from Space Boffins HQ to hear Richard's launch day audio diary and interviews with astronaut Sian Proctor and Artemis engineer Sian Cleaver from Airbus. Plus Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman answers a listener question, and NASA (or Nasa) head Jared Isaacman answers Richard's question on Earthrise. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Broadcaster and author Dallas Campbell joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss NASA's new plans for Artemis, space culture, Alien and Clangers. Sue also meets the UK team working on the joint European and Chinese space weather mission, Smile. Plus, we hear from the producer/directors of the new Project Hail Mary film and Sue reveals what she thinks about it. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do you control a spacecraft on the way to the Moon? NASA flight director, Fiona Antkowiak, shares plans for the Artemis II mission and reveals the secrets of Mission Control. We also hear what goes on in the Orion Mission Evaluation Room (MER) from MER lead Trey Perryman; Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham discuss the 'type A mishap' that befell the Starliner mission, and Sue talks to UK companies Space Forge and Bio Orbit about the future of factories in space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by member of the first crew to fix a satellite in orbit, Terry Hart. He discusses this month's Challenger 40th anniversary, and the spy satellite NASA used to check for Shuttle damage. The team also talk space emergencies with the UK Space Agency's senior exploration manager Meganne Christian, and space journalists Ken Kremer and Andrew Cook look ahead to 2026 in space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

It's the bumper end of year edition featuring the first European Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Frank De Winne. He joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to chat about his two missions, working together in space and the future of space exploration. We also meet Mark Craig, the director of the new Apollo 1 movie, visit a Moon museum in Pittsburgh and get emotional in a Wally Funk themed exhibition. All that plus Wes Anderson chat, and a postcard competition. And we'll be back in 2026!Contact us via @spaceboffins... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham get up-close with a Moon lander taking shape at Astrobotic in Pittsburgh. The first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle, Eileen Collins, discusses a new film about her life: Space Woman. Plus, two new space quilts, complete with UFOs, at the Royal Astronomical Society... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists