Talking Space

By Gene Mikulka ,Sawyer Rosenstein, Mark Ratterman, Dr. Kat Robison and Larry Herrin

Technology

What's Talking Space about?

A Free and Open Exchange of Ideas and Opinions on All Things Space: Now at http://talkingspaceonline.com!

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Talking Space episodes:

04.08.2024
Episode 1605: Getting the NAC of Things
Is the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) system becoming unglued? During the NAC Science Committee meeting on March 21st, there were significant questions about the Primary NAC and its ability to deliver recommendations to NASA's leadership expeditiously so they can be...
03.23.2024
Episode 1604: Starship Flight 3 Recap; Safely Watch the April 8 Solar Eclipse
We have all the latest on Starship Flight 3, the last Delta IV Heavy and the fate of LC-37, and the upcoming April 8th total solar eclipse. And much more!
03.08.2024
Episode 1603: IM-1 Lunar Mission Recap; Interview with Launch-Viewing Rookie
We review the successful Intuitive Machines IM-1 lunar lander mission, and Mark interviews award-winning artist Agnes Garbowska for her impressions of the IM-1 launch -- her first in-person launch experience.
02.21.2024
Episode 1602: IM-1 Lunar Lander Launches Successfully; Deep Cuts at JPL a Heartache
Join us for a rollercoaster of emotions as we discuss the joy of the successful launch of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 lunar lander, as well as the heartache of the massive layoffs of employees and contractors at JPL.
02.08.2024
Episode1601: Taking Non-Traditional Space Companies and Artisans From Concept to Launchpad: A Conversation With Chantelle Baier of 4Space
Chantelle Baier is Sparking Curiosity, Expanding Imagination and Growing Love For Space with 4Space the first female-owned space company going to the moon! Listen to this first episode of Talking Space as we kick off our 16th year.
12.28.2023
Episode 1515: What Do Aussies Think About Space?
First off, apologies are in order for our extended absence from your podcast-hungry ears. We try our best to record on a consistent basis, but sometimes there’s a perfect storm of Life Events getting in the way for the Talking...
11.05.2023
Episode 1514: Starship vs. the Fish People, MSR Woes and a Powerful Tale from ASCEND
There’s a lot going on this time around, as usual. First, in the news roundup: Starship: The Lawsuit pitting the Center for Biological Diversity against the FAA and SpaceX proceeded mostly as expected (with a notable exception). The FAA awaits the...
09.22.2023
Episode 1513: What’s a WR? How does it Affect Starship’s Next Launch Date?
So much has happened so fast in the last couple of weeks related to SpaceX’s pursuit of Starship’s Flight 2 launch license. Look at all these goings-on: September 10, 2023: The list of 63 corrective actions specified in the Mishap Investigation...
09.17.2023
Episode 1512: Pretty Plasma Trail, But Not from Starship Anytime Soon?
This episode brings lots of Space news from around the globe, as well as from our own back yards. Literally. First off: both Sawyer and Mark witnessed the plasma trail from the latest Crew Dragon reentry from their own back yards....
09.04.2023
Episode 1511: Looking Outside the Bubble – A Conversation With Nathan Price
How many people outside the space community know about the Artemis Moon to Mars program? What do people who don’t follow spaceflight think of the current program? If given a chance, would YOU go to the Moon or Mars? Our...
08.20.2023
Episode 1510: Artemis III – A Different Mission?
A final task for Aeolus. Updates on Artemis II, Starliner, Starship/Boca Chica. Buzz Aldrin and the Apollo XI American flag raising. Who could want more? We’ve got more anyway.
07.30.2023
Episode 1509: Starship Launch Delays – a Triple Whammy?
Spaceflight and launch delays go together like apple pie and ice cream, don’t they? And lately, the reasons for Starship’s potential launch delays are piling up like cars during a foggy morning rush hour on the interstate. It’s all in...
07.23.2023
Episode 1508: Starship, ULA & STEM news
Spacesuits, lawsuits, science instruments and a discussion on ULA’s Vulcan rocket. Need more? Well how about OSIRIS REX, STEM, STEAM and Apollo! These topics and a little backstory from us on Talking Space - Episode 1508
07.14.2023
Episode 1507: A Secret Mission and … OceanGate’s Titan?
You may ask, “Why are we talking about the OceanGate Expeditions’ Titan submersible tragedy in a podcast dedicated to space-related stuff?” The commonality with undersea exploration is the lack of Human Commercial Spaceflight Safety Regulations. Do we need more regulation?...
07.02.2023
Episode 1506: Shocking Answers to Your Starship Lawsuit Questions
Talk all you want about the delays caused by repairs/mods to the launch pad and re-certifying the Autonomous Flight Termination System, the real issue that is grounding Starship at Boca Chica is this one thing: The Lawsuit. You know … the...
06.10.2023
Episode 1505: SpaceX Can’t Slow Down; Starliner’s Pet Black Swan
This episode is packed full of news and insights. Let’s get to it! In the News Roundup: NASA selects the second lunar lander partnership for the Artemis moon missions Rocket Lab scoops up a bargain with purchase of lease for Virgin Orbit’s Long...
05.19.2023
Episode 1504: Space Debris Risks – Perception vs. Reality With a Little Human Nature Thrown In
We talk with NASA’s Dr. Mary K. Kaiser about how scientists objectively calculate risk versus subjective risk perception; dealing with Low-Probability/High-Consequence Risks; and the realities of basic human nature. Also how this relates to the issue of space debris and...
05.05.2023
Episode 1503: Of Spaceplanes and Starships
In this installment, we welcome Larry Herrin, a former 10-year-old Apollo astronaut, as the newest pundit on the Talking Space podcasting team. We forgot to mention in the show that Larry is also Mark Ratterman’s cousin! As his inaugural contribution, Larry...
04.25.2023
Episode 1502: 50-50 and More
We start this week off with a roundup of news from NASA with the announcement of the Artemis II crew, its Mars Habitat, the second independent review of the Mars Sample Return, and a celebration of two missions hitting 50...
04.04.2023
Episode 1501: New Season, New Era
Talking Space returns for its fifteenth season with a new format! First up, we have a brief roundup of news, including Kathy Lueders retirement from NASA, with Ken Bowsersox set to take over Space Operations on May 1st, the cessation...
11.05.2022
Episode 1407: The ”Endurance” of Commercial Crew
The Talking Space team was on site as the Crew-5 astronauts and cosmonaut made their way to the ISS. Hear the launch audio plus what went on behind the scenes when a hurricane threatened the mission and ground infrastructure. Full show...
08.21.2022
Episode 1406: Launchapalooza
August 4th, 2022, was one of the most active launch days in recent memory. The Talking Space Team attempts to check all the boxes bringing a little insight into each one, including some launch audio from the Mighty AtalsV that...
08.01.2022
Episode 1405: Launch Weather for the Win(d)
On this episode of Talking Space with Mark Ratterman and Dr Kat Robison we have an excellent interview from Mark with Kennedy Space Center’s Dr Kristin Smith and Kathy Rice, both of whom are in KSC's weather office. Special thanks to KSC’s public affairs...
05.12.2022
Episode 1404: A New Era in Commercial Space
This episode we take a unique look at the historic Axiom-1 mission to the ISS from multiple perspectives. That includes our own Sawyer Rosenstein who was at the press site for the launch and our own Mark Ratterman who viewed the...
04.14.2022
Episode 1403: The First Four Miles to the Lunar Surface
Our Mark Ratterman was on hand at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the rollout of America's new launch vehicle: NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion Spacecraft sitting atop the 322 foot stack. . It was the first...
03.11.2022
Episode 1402: The Heavens Above, The Troubles Below
The concept that space unites nations on Earth is tested like never before. In a rare single topic installment of Talking Space, the team pauses its regular reports and observations of the space sphere and examines the impact of the current...
02.28.2022
Episode 1401: Rockets and Future Visions
On a very SpaceX-centric edition of Talking Space to start 2022, The team looks at the SpaceX Polaris Program that hopes to test elements needed for operating the SpaceX Starship, including the first Extra-Vehicular Activity or Spacewalk for a private...
11.16.2021
Episode 1306: Zero-G and I Feel Fine - Mission: Astro Access
On this very special episode of Talking Space, we discuss something very few people have ever experienced, Zero Gravity. However, 12 Zero-G flyers just made history. 12 ambassadors for "Mission: Astro Access" completed the first ever microgravity flight for people with...
10.06.2021
Episode 1305: Space is Open for Business
If it seemed like average people flying into space was something from the future, this episode is proof that the future is now...or is it? In this episode of Talking Space, we start with the launch of the first all-civilian orbital...
07.20.2021
Episode 1304: Billionaire Battle?
This episode takes us all over the world from the U.S. to Russia, from public to private. It's a global and low earth orbit episode of Talking Space. Has Russia's Roscosmos become a little more "Space-X" like in their launch coverage...
05.11.2021
Episode 1303: Rocket Roulette
The era of US crew transitions onboard the International Space Station has resumed with the launch of the Crew 2 mission to the orbiting facility and the return of the Crew 1 astronauts via the Commercial Crew Space X Crew...
04.13.2021
Episode 1302: Turn it Up to SN-11
This episode is full of plenty of rockets and missions going up....and one that went down explosively. On this episode, we begin with two crew launches. First the Soyuz MS-18 mission and why an American astronaut was added only a few...
03.23.2021
Episode 1301: Three Cheers for Mars
One week, three crafts, one planet. On this first episode of Season 13 we're aiming for Mars. We discuss three successful missions arriving at the red planet within one week of each other, the "Hope" mission from the United Arab Emirates,...
02.24.2021
Episode 1207: Farewell 2020
Better late than never, so here's an episode full of launch and landing audio! We begin with the launches Talking Space was fortunate to be at, including the first launch of the upgraded SpaceX Cargo Dragon, the much delayed Delta IV...
12.05.2020
Episode 1206: All For One, Crew-1 For All
From the Earth to the Space Station to the Moon, Talking Space is proud to be a part of history! On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launch of the Crew-1 mission, sending four astronauts to the International...
11.03.2020
Episode 1205: "Scrubtember" Leads to "Grabtober"
On this episode of Talking Space, we go from the high-highs of space exploration to the low-lows of launch scrubs. We begin with the announcement of water being found on the light side of the moon. We talk about the unique...
08.18.2020
Episode 1204: From Liftoff to Splashdown
On this episode of Talking Space, we tackle two major stories, the launch of Mars 2020 and the landing of Crew Dragon Endeavour. We start with the launch of the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter. We look at some of...
07.28.2020
Episode 1203: 3 Missions, 1 Planet
On this episode of Talking Space, the main focus is on Mars as three countries send missions to the red planet. We discuss the United Arab Emirates first mission to the red planet and the implications it has for the country...
07.01.2020
Episode 1202: Suborbital, Orbital, and Interplanetary
The “band” is back together to review some breaking news on the launch date for NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. We talk about the activities on the International Space Station, where NASA Astronauts Chris Cassidy performed a 6-hour 7-minute...
06.15.2020
Episode 1201: Dragon, Arriving
On this special episode of Talking Space, we devote the entire episode to the successful launch of Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station. The crew successfully launched in their Crew Dragon capsule on Demo-2, marking the first...
05.27.2020
Episode 1108: The Path to #LaunchAmerica – In Flight Abort
With astronauts set to return to space from U.S. soil for the first time in almost nine years, Talking Space is going back through the archives to bring you never-before-heard episodes on what it took to get to the historic...
05.26.2020
Episode 1107: The Path to #LaunchAmerica - Demo-1
With astronauts set to return to space from U.S. soil for the first time in almost nine years, Talking Space is going back through the archives to bring you never-before-heard episodes on what it took to get to the historic...
11.19.2019
Episode 1106- On the Shores Of the Ocean of Storms: Celebrating Apollo 12
In this installment of Talking Space, on the very day fifty years ago we look back at the accomplishment that was the Apollo 12 mission by letting its crew Mission Commander Charles " Pete" Conrad, Command Module Pilot Richard Gordon, and...
11.09.2019
Episode 1105: Apollo 4 - Paving the Way to the Lunar Surface
In this special edition of Talking Space, we look back into the NASA audio archives and discover a hidden gem that might get lost in United States space flight history. On November 9, 1967, months after the United States lost three...
02.21.2019
Episode 1104: Mars Done?
After examining the current launch log book and going over some significant breaking news with the Mars Exploration Rover Mission and NASA's current lunar aspirations, the team discusses the latest findings from the New Horizons mission. We then celebrate the...
01.29.2019
Episode 1103: Challenger: An American Tragedy - A Conversation With NASA's Hugh Harris
In this special edition of Talking Space, we talk to the man who was for many years was the voice of Shuttle Launch Control at the Kennedy Space Center, Mr. Hugh Harris. Born in December of 1932 he served as an...
01.28.2019
Episode 1102: Apollo 1
In this special edition of Talking Space, we observe the anniversary of Apollo 1 allowing the crew to tell their own story and talk to us through courtesy of the NASA Internet Audio Archive. While launch preparations for Apollo 1 were underway, NASA...
01.28.2019
Episode 1101: China Has Landed On the Moon, Whither America?
The Talking Space Team says hello to 2019 with a wrap up of 2018 launch activities and a very spirited discussion of what the future may bring in the area of commercial space launch here in the US with new...
12.24.2018
Episode 1011 : Apollo 8 - A Christmas Card From 1968
What would Talking Space sound like if it were able to reach across the gulf of time to 1968 fifty years ago and cover the Apollo 8 mission: humanity’s first piloted spacecraft to successful orbit the Moon and return home to Earth? That...
12.13.2018
Episode 1010: Wisdom From A Legend in Heliophysics
Back in mid -August of 2018 as a phalanx of reporters and social media attendees awaited the launch of the Parker Solar Probe, we were all given a grand opportunity to listen to and glean a little wisdom from Dr....

What's Talking Space about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Talking Space episodes:

Episode 1605: Getting the NAC of Things

Episode 1604: Starship Flight 3 Recap; Safely Watch the April 8 Solar Eclipse

Episode 1603: IM-1 Lunar Mission Recap; Interview with Launch-Viewing Rookie

Episode 1602: IM-1 Lunar Lander Launches Successfully; Deep Cuts at JPL a Heartache

Episode1601: Taking Non-Traditional Space Companies and Artisans From Concept to Launchpad: A Conversation With Chantelle Baier of 4Space

Episode 1515: What Do Aussies Think About Space?

Episode 1514: Starship vs. the Fish People, MSR Woes and a Powerful Tale from ASCEND

Episode 1513: What’s a WR? How does it Affect Starship’s Next Launch Date?

Episode 1512: Pretty Plasma Trail, But Not from Starship Anytime Soon?

Episode 1511: Looking Outside the Bubble – A Conversation With Nathan Price

Episode 1510: Artemis III – A Different Mission?

Episode 1509: Starship Launch Delays – a Triple Whammy?

Episode 1508: Starship, ULA & STEM news

Episode 1507: A Secret Mission and … OceanGate’s Titan?

Episode 1506: Shocking Answers to Your Starship Lawsuit Questions

Episode 1505: SpaceX Can’t Slow Down; Starliner’s Pet Black Swan

Episode 1504: Space Debris Risks – Perception vs. Reality With a Little Human Nature Thrown In

Episode 1503: Of Spaceplanes and Starships

Episode 1502: 50-50 and More

Episode 1501: New Season, New Era

Episode 1407: The ”Endurance” of Commercial Crew

Episode 1406: Launchapalooza

Episode 1405: Launch Weather for the Win(d)

Episode 1404: A New Era in Commercial Space

Episode 1403: The First Four Miles to the Lunar Surface

Episode 1402: The Heavens Above, The Troubles Below

Episode 1401: Rockets and Future Visions

Episode 1306: Zero-G and I Feel Fine - Mission: Astro Access

Episode 1305: Space is Open for Business

Episode 1304: Billionaire Battle?

Episode 1303: Rocket Roulette

Episode 1302: Turn it Up to SN-11

Episode 1301: Three Cheers for Mars

Episode 1207: Farewell 2020

Episode 1206: All For One, Crew-1 For All

Episode 1205: "Scrubtember" Leads to "Grabtober"

Episode 1204: From Liftoff to Splashdown

Episode 1203: 3 Missions, 1 Planet

Episode 1202: Suborbital, Orbital, and Interplanetary

Episode 1201: Dragon, Arriving

Episode 1108: The Path to #LaunchAmerica – In Flight Abort

Episode 1107: The Path to #LaunchAmerica - Demo-1

Episode 1106- On the Shores Of the Ocean of Storms: Celebrating Apollo 12

Episode 1105: Apollo 4 - Paving the Way to the Lunar Surface

Episode 1104: Mars Done?

Episode 1103: Challenger: An American Tragedy - A Conversation With NASA's Hugh Harris

Episode 1102: Apollo 1

Episode 1101: China Has Landed On the Moon, Whither America?

Episode 1011 : Apollo 8 - A Christmas Card From 1968

Episode 1010: Wisdom From A Legend in Heliophysics

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