Talking Space

Talking Space

By Gene Mikulka ,Mark Ratterman, Dr. Kat Robison, Larry Herrin, Heather Smith, and Sawyer Rosenstein (emeritus),NewsScienceNews Commentary
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Talking Space episodes

  • Episode 427: Winking at the Moon
    On this special episode of Talking Space, we remember the life of Neil Armstrong, who passed away August 25th at the age of 82. We remember his accomplishments, his close-encounters, his views on our space program past and present, and we hear about how he helped Sawyer get a job. We then discuss Curiosity and how the rover has taken its first drive on the surface of Mars and how that went. Lastly, we discuss more about the case of the Saturn V blueprints with 2 listener letters. Thanks again to Rich and Evan for sending us your follow-up letters.
    You can send in any questions or comments on any story as text or as a short .mp3 by email to[email protected]. You can also tweet it to us on Twitter as @talkingspace or write it on our Facebook wall at facebook.com/talkingspace.
    Click here to view the program "The Bottom Line" and their complete interview with Neil Armstrong.
    To see a list of all of the charities in which the Armstrong family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers, visit http://neilarmstronginfo.com/statement-regarding-memorials/
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman
    Show Recorded - 8/27/2012
    51 min
  • Episode 426: The Coronation of 'Coronation'
    On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the beginning of science for the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We discuss the use of the ChemCam's laser to examine its first sample, and talk about how the rock felt about it through its Twitter account. We then discuss the next discovery-class mission NASA has in store for 2016, and it involves the red planet. We then discuss the X-51A's recent test flight and how soon we can see 1 hour flights from New York to London. We then continue discussing the end of an era as Endeavour and Atlantis meet nose-to-nose for the last time as they each prepare to go their separate ways later this year. We then discuss the recent spacewalk performed on the ISS and another upcoming EVA this month. Lastly, we hopefully put an end to the much-talked-about Saturn V blueprint topic as we receive an email from listener Donald. Thank you Donald for sending in your email!
    To read the tweets of the rock Coronation on Mars, follow @N165Mars
    To view the article discussed in the listener email, visit http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_23_2012_p22-477250.xml
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member: Gene Mikulka
    Show Recorded - 8/20/2012
    44 min
  • Episode 425: Super Successes and Fantastic Failures
    On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the hottest space topic of the last two weeks: the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We then discuss the Commercial Crew integrated Capability initiative and who's getting money, who isn't, and who we feel should or should not have received any funding for furthering work on commercial efforts to send humans into space. We then go from the success of Mars to a couple of recent failures. We discuss the recent Proton upper stage failure, which has now been the cause of 3 satellites entering incorrect orbits in 1 year. We also discuss the major explosion of the Morpheus test vehicle. We then discuss the newest head of the astronaut office and what that title actually is. We then discuss a new website offering an interesting look at NASA spinoffs. Lastly, we read a listener letter discussing the much-talked-about subject on our show of the location of Saturn V blueprints.
    Special thanks to Evan Burton for sending us a listener letter. You can send any comments or questions to us by email at [email protected], sending us a tweet @talkingspace, or writing us on our Facebook wall at http://facebook.com/talkingspace
    For more pictures from Mars, visit http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl
    To see the Morpheus test flight, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hvlG2JtMts
    For information on Sally Ride, visit http://sallyridescience.com
    45 min
  • Episode 424: Geoff Rocks Around the Clock
    On this episode of Talking Space, we welcome back rock star, author, and co-host of the Science Channel show "Meteorite Men" Geoff Notkin back onto the program. We discuss with Geoff his new memoir, "Rock Star: Adventures of a Meteorite Man." We talk specifically about his life decision of punk music or meteorites. We also discuss his writings from music to books, fiction to non-fiction. During this conversation we discuss the question of whether art should be added to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. We then talk about the recent successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity, and the future implications of the mission on Mars exploration and more. We then discuss meteorites, from hunting locations to speaking events. Finally we talk about the "rock star" aspect and his reaction to meeting fans.
    For more on the TV show and to buy either of Geoff's books, visit http://meteoritemen.com
    To contact Geoff or to purchase meteorites, visit http://aerolite.org
    You can also keep up with the Meteorite Men on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest. Geoff is also now on http://goodreads.com where you can enter to win a free copy of Geoff's book.
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Craft Lass with special guest Geoff Notkin
    Show Recorded - 8/7/2012
    1 hr 2 min
  • Episode 423: From SpaceX to Spiders on Station

    On this episode, we begin by taking a listener letter from Rich Way discussing the blueprints for the Saturn V rocket and it's components and whether the tale he tells us is fact or fiction. We then hand it over to Mark with an update from Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station, Dr. Tara Ruttley. We hear about the SpaceX docking, student science experiments, what's arriving on the next supply ship, and how station science is helping us back on the planet.

    Thanks again to Rich for sending in your comment. You can send us your questions or comments that you'd like to hear discussed on air as a text email or a .mp3 by sending it to[email protected]

    For more on ISS research, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

    For more on CASIS (Center for the Advancent of Science in Space), visit http://www.iss-casis.org/

    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman with special guest Dr. Tara Ruttley

    Show Recorded - 7/9/2012

    51 min
  • Episode 422: And the Rocket's Red Glare
    On this very special episode of Talking Space, we commemorate one year since the end of the Space Shuttle program, when Atlantis lifted off on July 8th, 2011 at 11:29am EDT on STS-135. The entire team of Talking Space covered the event live on Astronomy.FM that day, and we bring you some of our favorite moments from the broadcast. We also present some never-before-heard interviews, as well as our thoughts on them. We also talk about our best memories from the days leading up to and including launch, compare previous launches, and talk about what one year means to us.
    Interviews in this show include STS-130 Pilot Terry Virts; STS-73, 93, and Expedition 26/27 Veteran Cady Coleman; STS-74, 100 veteran and future Expedition 34/35 commander Chris Hadfield; Space Suit Technicians Heather Paul and Mallory Jennings; and tweeters/listeners: Tina Canali, Jack Dearlove, Karen James, and Geoff Bergen
    To see images and read blogs from launch day, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com/135
    To listen to the nearly 3 hour launch broadcast in its entirety, visithttp://bit.ly/135broadcast
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman
    Show Recorded - 7/2/2012 with interviews recorded 7/7/2011 and 7/8/2011
    1 hr 14 min
  • Episode 421: News and Inside Discovery Views-Part 2
    On this episode, we talk about China's second docking attempt, except this time manual, and discuss the future of the Chinese space program and how the United States might react. We then discuss updates on the Space Launch System (SLS) and talk about our opinions on NASA's next program. Of course, the important part of this episode is the second part of Mark Discovers Discovery: Extended Edition. This time, we hear from some of the astronauts from Discovery's final flight, STS-133. Lastly, we get a listener question from Mark Zaugg on the gap between the Apollo and Shuttle program, as well as the significance of Mark's interviews.
    Thanks to Mark Z. for sending in his audio question. You can send your question in text form or as a .mp3 to [email protected] and we may answer it on the air!
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman
    Show Recorded - 6/25/2012 with additional recordings on 6/27/2012
    59 min
  • Episode 420: News and Inside Discovery Views-Part 1
    On thiis episode, we take one trip around the table. First, we discuss the recent successful launch of the Shenzhou-9, China's manned mission containing the first female "taikonaut" and the implications this has around the world. We then talk about the return of the US Air Force's X-37B and talk about some of the secrecy surrounding the ship. Lastly, we have another installment of "Mark Discovers Discovery" from Marks trip to the Kennedy Space Center to cover the departure of Discovery to the Smithsonian. In part 1 of Mark's 2 part extravaganza loaded with clips, we hear from members who worked on the shuttle and/or its retirement: Bart Panullo, Dorothy Rasco, Kevin Templin, and Stephanie Stilson. We also hear from STS-133 astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt.
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman
    Show Recorded - 6/18/2012
    53 min
  • Episode 419: Aerial Displays and Wing-Dings
    On this episode of Talking Space, we spend our entire first round discussing the successful SpaceX COTS 2+ mission. We talk about the on-orbit operations that occured, the landing, and what role this will play in the future of commerical spaceflight. We also discuss a test performed by Sierra Nevada. On our second round, we talk about Houston's "Shuttlebration" as they received the mockup orbtier Explorer as well as quite the "oops" as the test orbiter Enterprise heads to New York City. We then discuss two satellites that the NRO has decided to give to NASA and why that's so important. We then hear another great clip from Mark in his "Mark Discovers Discovery" series talking with one of the shuttle technicians. On our final go-around, we briefly talk about the US Air Force's X-37B and when it could be landing. We then discuss ExoMars and whether it's dead or alive. Lastly, we discuss a little bit about TDRS.
    To view the video Mark referenced, visit http://youtu.be/Q3GpP_XU_ps and be sure to tell them you heard about it on Talking Space!
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman
    Show Recorded - 6/4/2012
    47 min
  • Episode 418: An Opportunity for Curiosity
    On this episode, we welcome back Scott Maxwell who works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory driving Mars rovers. We first discuss the Mars Exploration Rovers, or MERs, Spirit and Opportunity. We talk about the end of Spirit, what was done, and what it was like saying goodbye. We then talk about the milestones and records that Opportunity is reaching having been on Mars for just under 100 months on it's planned 90 day mission. From there, we move on to Scott's next task, which will be driving the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity, when it lands on Mars in early August of this year. We talk about the differences in the rovers, the training involved, and about what Curiosity's mission will be on Mars.
    For more on the MERS, Curiosity, and their activities on Mars, visit http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov
    For more on Scott Maxwell, check him out on Twitter: @marsroverdriver or on Google+
    Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Mars rover driver Scott Maxwell
    Show Recorded - 5/20/2012
    51 min

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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!