Talking Space

Talking Space

By Gene Mikulka ,Mark Ratterman, Dr. Kat Robison, Larry Herrin, Heather Smith, and Sawyer Rosenstein (emeritus),NewsScienceNews Commentary
Download on the App Store

Talking Space episodes

  • Episode 803 Two Deserts, One Sky

    In a departure from our usual fare of space news and policy, this week we took some time to contemplate the skies. Danielle Adams, a doctoral candidate at The University of Arizona in the School of Middle East and North African Studies with a minor in the School of Anthropology stopped by to discuss her current project with us. Two Deserts, One Sky is a project in cultural astronomy connecting the present day desert sky in Arizona across time to the desert skies observed by Arab cultures between the 9th and 12th centuries CE. Danielle weaves the stories recorded by these past cultures in with instructions on how to view the asterisms in the night sky with naked eye observing. In this episode, we speak with Danielle both about Two Deserts, One Sky and how her interest in astronomy and Arab culture led her to the pursuit of this project. 

     

    We often speak about the importance of NASA in the community on our show, and this episode provided us with an opportunity to showcase how NASA supports not only those in the STEM fields, but important social science research as well. Two Deserts, One Sky is funded as an outreach project by NASA through the Arizona Space Grant Consortium, along with The University of Arizona’s School of Middle East and North African Studies and the School of Anthropology.


    Show Recorded 2-29-16

    Host this week: Kassy Tamanini

    Special Guest: Danielle Addams 

    Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Kat Robison


    51 min
  • Episode 802: Ripples on the Cosmic Pond.

    This

    week we take a journey from the halls of Congress out through our solar
    system, and then journey out to a point 1.3 billion light years away
    from home. On February3rd, the Space Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
    met to discuss the current status of NASA’s Journey to Mars, and how it
    may survive past the current presidential administration. We examine
    the winners and losers in the 2017 NASA budget proposal. NASA announces the Exploration Mission 1 Launch Director and we discuss the Cygnus OA-6 Mission launch delay.

    The Year In Space increment on board the International Space Station is coming into the home stretch, while back on Earth, the primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is completed.

    European

    Space Agency’s Rosetta mission continues, but without the Philae lander
    that made landfall on Comet 67P in November. There has been no response
    from Philae since July and ESA has announced they will stop trying to contact the spacecraft. We discuss some of the highlights and lessons learned from this milestone mission.  NASA releases  a terrain map of Pluto’s ‘heart’ region, based on New Horizon’s spacecraft data , revealing a few big surprises.

    The

    final story: the discovery of gravitational waves from the collision of
    two massive black holes. These waves reached our own planet this past
    September and were detected by the freshly-upgraded advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO),
    providing the first proof of parts of Albert Einstein’s theory of
    general relativity. What does this mean and why is it so exciting? We
    break it down for you

    The LIGO comic by Talcott Starr discussed in the episode can be found here and make sure to give it a like if you enjoy it.

    Host: Sawyer Rosenstein

    Panelists: Kat Robison and Kassy Tamanini





    52 min
  • Episode 801: Not to Mention...

    This season premiere kicks off with a look at the past,

    starting with the NASA tragedies that still loom large today, particularly with
    the 30th anniversary of STS-51L last week. Moving a bit closer to
    the present, we go over some of the most notable stories of 2015 and discuss
    what they might mean for the future, from the dazzling images of Pluto from New
    Horizons to the (sometimes literal) highs and lows of commercial spaceflight. Over
    our hiatus, SpaceX in particular had some major accomplishments as well as
    another attempt to land on their ocean barge, Of Course I Still Love You
    (OCISLY), to learn from, and we speculate on what this could mean for their
    future. Meanwhile, the omnibus spending bill for 2016 passed and was signed
    into law, and for once there was a lot of good news for NASA. We delve into
    some of the details, how this happened, and what this means for NASA missions and
    the American space industry moving forward. This brought us into this year and
    the extraordinary efforts by the team building and testing the James Webb Space
    Telescope a couple of weeks ago.

    Also in January, our own Kassy Tamanini and her

    partner and special guest John Wood were among the first to participate in a
    Meteorite Hunting Boot Camp, led by good friend of the show and past guest
    Geoff Notkin. Love meteorites and always wanted to know the nitty gritty
    details of the experience? These neophytes share what they learned, how it
    felt, and what it’s like to visit your first strewn field. If this convinces
    you to try it yourself, you can sign up for the next Boot Camp, coming up this May (spaces are running out quickly,
    though, so get on it or sign up for Aerolite emails to learn about future
    events, and don’t forget to tell them we sent you).

     

    Show recorded 2-1-2016

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein,

    Panel Members: Kassy Tamanini, Kat Robison, and special guest

    John Wood

    1 hr 2 min
  • Episode 801: Not to Mention…

    This season premiere kicks off with a look at the past,
    starting with the NASA tragedies that still loom large today, particularly with
    the 30th anniversary of STS-51L last week. Moving a bit closer to
    the present, we go over some of the most notable stories of 2015 and discuss
    what they might mean for the future, from the dazzling images of Pluto from New
    Horizons to the (sometimes literal) highs and lows of commercial spaceflight. Over
    our hiatus, SpaceX in particular had some major accomplishments as well as
    another attempt to land on their ocean barge, Of Course I Still Love You
    (OCISLY), to learn from, and we speculate on what this could mean for their
    future. Meanwhile, the omnibus spending bill for 2016 passed and was signed
    into law, and for once there was a lot of good news for NASA. We delve into
    some of the details, how this happened, and what this means for NASA missions and
    the American space industry moving forward. This brought us into this year and
    the extraordinary efforts by the team building and testing the James Webb Space
    Telescope a couple of weeks ago.
    Also in January, our own Kassy Tamanini and her
    partner and special guest John Wood were among the first to participate in a
    Meteorite Hunting Boot Camp, led by good friend of the show and past guest
    Geoff Notkin. Love meteorites and always wanted to know the nitty gritty
    details of the experience? These neophytes share what they learned, how it
    felt, and what it’s like to visit your first strewn field. If this convinces
    you to try it yourself, you can sign up for the next Boot Camp, coming up this May (spaces are running out quickly,
    though, so get on it or sign up for Aerolite emails to learn about future
    events, and don’t forget to tell them we sent you).

     

    Show recorded 2-1-2016

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein,

    Panel Members: Kassy Tamanini, Kat Robison, and special guest
    John Wood
    1 hr 2 min
  • Episode 716: A Swan Returns to the Stars

    Come along with the Talking Space Team  to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

    (KSC) as we bring to you the sights and sounds leading up to the return to
    flight of Orbital ATK’s
    Cygnus Cargo spacecraft (named after pioneering Astronaut  Donald K. Slayton) and the resumption of ISS logistics
    delivery missions from US Soil.  In this special expanded show, we discuss
    the mission , designated OA4,
    the  Cygnus itself and just why we are launching from Florida
    and not the usual home port for Cygnus of Wallops Island, Virginia. Also why we
    are flying on United Launch
    Alliance’s AtlasV and not OrbitalATK's Antares booster. With wind measurements playing a huge
    factor in this launch (wind delayed in the launch three times) Mark Ratterman
    takes us on a tour of a key instrument, NASA’s Doppler Radar Wind Profiler. Once fully commissioned
    the system will  make sure the “highway to space” is safe for launch
    vehicles leaving KSC.  We spend some time with Mr. Frank DeMauro, OrbitalATK’s Vice President of Human
    Spaceflight Systems to discuss his career, his role in supporting this
    return to flight mission, and what the future holds for the Cygnus
    spacecraft.

    There was a bit of controversy surrounding Space Exploration Technologies

    (Space X) and their future return to flight plans, we discuss. We also look at
    the company’s progress with reimagining historic Launch Complex 39-A.  We
    also make commentary as to why we think their message last week surrounding
    their future launch plans became somewhat muddled.

    In a future show, we will profile progress being made by United Launch

    Alliance at LaunchComplex
    41 to support human missions. We’ll also examine Boeing’s efforts to get
    the former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 now known as the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility ready to
    fabricate the CST-100 Starliner , and NASA’s Launch Equipment Testing Facility , making sure that
    connections on the new Mobile Launcher will support the Space Launch System and
    Orion.

    Talking Space wishes to thank NASA’s George Diller and OrbitalATK’s Frank DeMauro for

    their time with us.

    For additional photographs/images go to our Team Blog page

    Show recorded 12-07-2015

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein

    Commentators: Mark Ratterman & Gene Mikulka

    1 hr 17 min
  • Episode 715: Moments of Contemplation and Preparation
    This
    Past week, The Expedition 45
    Crew on board the International Space Station had to contend with a bit of a power wrinkle
    that may require a spacewalk next year to repair. They also observed a moment of silence
    (as do we) for those lost in the Paris Terrorist Attacks. Preparations continue
    for the Cygnus OA4 Cargo craft at
    the same time, NASA further delays the announcing the winners of
    the second round of Commercial Resupply contracts.  NASA Administrator Charles Bolden continues to
    be adamant that NASA will not take a lead role in Europe’s “lunar
    village”.
    Does that leave the door open for Federal Aviation Administration? What
    happened to the Martian atmosphere, NASA’s MAVEN in
    orbit around Mars has found the answer. The Martian Moon, Phobos may become rubble,
    and Virgin Galactic hires its first woman pilot, Kelly Latimer..

    Show recorded 11-16-2015

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein

    Panel Members: Mark Ratterman, Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka


    53 min
  • Episode 714: Looking Through Crystal

    The

    International Space Station celebrated its “crystal anniversary” of occupation on
    November 2nd, marking 15 years that humans have been continuously on
    board the orbiting facility. The Expedition 45 Crew paused to reflect on the anniversary
    and what it means for the future of space exploration going forward. During an
    investor conference call, CEO David
    Thompson of Orbital ATK says his company is on track for the Cygnus cargo
    vehicle to return to flight.  NASA released its findings into the October 28th
    2014 Orbital ATK Antares launch mishap, we discuss the findings.

    NASA

    Administrator Charles Bolden says his agency is “doomed” if “Journey to Mars” roadmap is abandoned. The Cassini
    spacecraft captures a plume from Saturn’s Moon Enceladus while making
    an historic close flyby. Finally we profile the humble beginnings of the Paragon Space Development
    Corporation.  

     Show recorded 11-02-2015

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein,

    Panel Members: Mark Ratterman, Kat Robison, Kassy Tamanini & Gene

    Mikulka

    59 min
  • Episode 713: IAC 2015 In The Spotlight
    In this special edition, the Talking Space Team puts the  66th Annual International Astronautical Congress which took place in Jerusalem, Israel between October 12th and 16th into focus. Our first stop is a paper presented by our own Kat Robison on the issues surrounding scientists communicating the importance and relevance of their own research to the public.  

    The theme for IAC 2015 this year was "Space: The Gateway for Mankind's Future" and we review the various gateways starting to open though the International Space Station, leveraging cis-lunar space, and finally humanity declaring "Earth independence" setting sail for Mars. The episode includes commentary from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and new European Space Agency Director General Johann-Dietrich Wörner. On various concepts including analysis of NASA's Journey to Mars outline and ESA's vision for a permanent research outpost on the lunar surface. 

    Commercial ventures were also a topic at IAC 2015 and the team examines a new launch services company, Bloostar with an interesting approach to placing 100 kg (220 lbs) payloads into orbit. 

    We end our visit to Jerusalem with an interview Kat conducted with NASA astronaut Suni Williams who was selected to fly one of the first Commercial Crew missions to the International Space Station. 

    Talking Space congratulates Kat Robison on her presentation at IAC 2015 and thanks both Kat and Kassy Tamanini for their work in preparing this episode.  
    1 hr 1 min
  • Episode 712: A Tale of Two Swans
    There's a new "Ironman" in space flight: Current Space Station commander,  astronaut Scott Kelly , broke the US space endurance record recently and is gearing up for two upcoming US spacewalks on October 28th and November 6.  


    We open the strange case of star KIC8462852 some 1480 light years away in the constellation Cygnus the Swan that's is behaving in a weird manner. The conclusion: Aliens? You be the judge. A swan of a different feather: the  Cygnus, cargo space craft built  by OrbitalATK arrived at the Kennedy Space Center  in preparation of the OA-4 mission and its return to flight. We also discuss return to flight efforts by SpaceX and Virgin Galactic  and examine the implications surrounding NASA's Venture Class CubeSat launch contracts recently announced.  


    Mark Ratterman sat down with former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott to discuss her start in aviation and Kat Robison gives us a sneak peak at her experiences at the International Astronautical Conference  held in Jerusalem, Israel. 


    Finally we celebrate the life of  a legendary figure in spaceflight who's contributions still reverberate though the years even today: NASA's George Mueller who we lost on 12 October. 


    Presenters this week: Kassy Tamanini & Gene Mikulka

    1 hr
  • Episode 711: Water, Water, Everywhere...

    So you want to be a Martian? On October 1st  NASA  held an event at the Kennedy Space Center to explain more about the agency's push to send the first humans to Mars and our own Mark Ratterman was there and provides insights. We highlight Two Deserts, One Sky a  project by Danielle Adams a doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona, and briefly discuss  new solar power technology.   United Launch Alliance (ULA) puts 100 successful  launches in the books sending Mexico's Morelos-3 communications satellite into orbit on into orbit on October 2nd. However as the company looks toward Launch 101, the joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing heads into uncharted territory and uncertain waters as a launch services provider. The team discusses.the challenges that lay ahead for the firm.  


    On September 28 NASA announced the confirmation that brine water has at certain times, been collecting on the surface of Mars.  The initial report made on 4 August 2011 (which we discussed   on Episode 334 )  was confirmed with a NASA press conference  and the team examines the announcement itself, the reaction to the announcement  in some circles, and   the implications not only for NASA's planned human Mars exploration efforts, but for the future of human solar system exploration going forward.  


    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein, 

    Panel members:  Mark Ratterman, Kat Robison, Kassy Tamanini (CraftLass) & Gene Mikulka

    1 hr

About Talking Space

From the publisher's feed

A Free and Open Exchange of Ideas and Opinions on All Things Space. If it's above the Kármán Line, it's on our radar. Now at https://talkingspaceonline.com!