Talking Space

On this special episode of Talking Space, Mark and Sawyer travel down to the Kennedy Space Center to cover the launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. Discussed in this episode is the events leading up to the first launch attempt, the scrub itself at T-0.5 seconds on the first attempt, and the reactions to the scrub. You'll also hear stories of some of the launch attendees as well as hear directly from members of SpaceX and NASA talking about the launch, their companies, and more.

Clips in this episode include NASA's Director of Commercial Spaceflight Development Phil McAlister, NASA Manager, Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Alan Lindenmoyer, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, and SpaceX Co-Founder and CEO Elon Musk.

To view a photo fo the Falcon 9 on the launch pad taken by Talking Space's Sawyer Rosenstein, visit http://twitpic.com/9miche

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 5/21/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the busy week of launches including the first launch of the week, a manned Soyuz launch to the ISS, as well as the last of the week being SpaceX. We then move on to a large dose of space shuttle retirement news including the final power down of Endeavour, the de-mating of Enterprise from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, and the ways that the museums owning those two vehicles are raising money for their exhibitions. We then continue on to another of Mark's shuttle retirement interviews from the Kennedy Space Center, and in fact we get two of them this week. This week Mark gives us SCA Flight Engineer Larry LaRose and United Space Alliance Senior Aerospace Technician Richie Van Wart. Following that we answer a listener question regarding future engines. We conclude with another space junk story and how the "asteroid" Vesta may not in fact be an asteroid.

A special thank you to Joe Haberthier for sending in his listener question. You can send yours in as a written question or a .mp3 to [email protected] or by visiting our Contact Us page on our website.

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 5/14/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the reasons for another delay of the SpaceX launch to the International Space Station, now scheduled for May 19th. We then discuss the upcoming Soyuz launch carrying 3 new crew members to the ISS. After discussing a recent Atlas V launch, we talk about Planetary Resources, a company with some big-name backers who are planning to mine Near Earth Asteroids, or NEAs. We talk about our thoughts on the success and benefits of the new program. Following that, we discuss a company's plan to create scotch in space. We then discuss a very unique blog post on the late astronaut Janet Voss. Finally, we continue our space shuttle retirement coverage with an interview with a member of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft crew.

To read the blog post on Janet Voss, visithttp://wiki.nasa.gov/cm/blog/ISS%20Science%20Blog/posts/post_1328802418652.html

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Mark Ratterman and special guest Craft Lass.

Show Recorded - 5/7/2012

On this special episode of Talking Space, we take a look at the events surrounding the retirement of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the relocation of Enterprise. We begin with Mark's recounting of his week at the Kennedy Space Center and the events surrounding the preparation and departure of Discovery. We then get a brief look into Discovery's arrival at the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport as well as the transfer ceremony of Enterprise from our correspondent Craft Lass. From there, we move to Enterprise's arrival in New York City where Craft Lass looks at the flyover of New York and Sawyer takes a look at the official ceremony at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Special thanks to the following people for their interviews: Stephanie Stilson, Discovery Flow Director; Sen. Charles Schumer (NY-D); Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy; Joe Engle, Enterprise Test Pilot; SCA Pilot Bill Rieke; Astronaut Mario Runco; and Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President-Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.

Click on the images below to see a full-sized version and to get the full effect. More images are available on our "Photo Album" page.

[Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com]

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Mark Ratterman and special guest Craft Lass.

Show Recorded - 5/1/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the results of North Korea's attempt at launching a rocket into space and the repercussions of the results. We then talk about the opportunity for any member of the scientific community to submit a proposal for a Mars mission. On our second go-around, we talk about SpaceX's upcoming launch and a readiness review recently conducted, as well as touching upon some NASA budgetary information. We then finish off our story format with doubts about science being performed onboard the International Space Station.

To alleviate those doubts, our very own Mark Ratterman sat down with Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station Tara Ruttley to get an update on some of the science currently onboard and soon to be onboard the ISS.

PROGRAM NOTE: There will be no episode next week, April 23, due to activities surrounding the retirement of the space shuttles. We will return with a special space shuttle show on May 2nd.

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

Show Recorded - 4/16/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the mystery and concern surrounding the upcoming North Korean rocket launch. We then discuss the current situation of Plutonium-238 and if it's as bad as was reported or not. We then discuss some former NASA members becoming entrepreneurs.On our second go-around, we discuss a record that we almost tied for, but lost because of Pluto. We then talk about an all too popular topic on this show, space junk. Then, Mark talks about the history of the T-38 and if it's still important with the shuttle program over. On our final go around, we make a VERY special announcement regarding our shows.

SPOILER:

Talking Space will be covering the final retirements of the space shuttles throughout the month of April. Mark will be covering Discovery's departure from KSC, Gene will be covering Discovery's arrival in Washinton DC and Enterprise's departure, and Sawyer will be covering Enterprise's landing in New York City. Listen to the episode to hear exactly what we'll each be doing.

Due to this schedule, we will have a show next week, April 18th, however, there will be no show on April 25th. We will return with a space shuttle special on May 2nd.

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 4/9/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we take a look at another CBS "60 Minutes" piece, except this time on the current condition of Florida's "Space Coast" after the end of the shuttle program. We then discuss some congressional hearings involving some commercial spaceflight. Following that we talk about sustaining a space to ground network. On our second go-around, we discuss the Express AM-4 satellite and the questionable call to deorbit it. We then discuss an update on SpaceX as well as the questionable future of ESA's ATV. We then discuss another use for Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. On our final go-around, we discuss a milestone for the Space Launch System. We talk about plans to recover engines from Apollo 11 off the ocean floor. Lastly, we discuss an interesting slide show released by the Goddard Space Flight Center.

To view the 60 minutes piece, or to read the transcript if outside of the USA, visit http://cbsn.ws/HmUTRq

Also, to view the Goddard video discussed by Mark, check out http://geeked.gsfc.nasa.gov

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 4/2/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launches of ATV-3 to the International Space Station and the Intelsat 22 communications satellite. We then discuss the possibility and probability of whether China, with cooperation from ESA, become an ISS partner. We then move onto a news briefing for the International Space Station talking the next Expedition to the station, SpaceX updates, as well as an update on a pump brought back on STS-135. On our second go-around, we discuss the YouTubeSpace Lab winners and their experiments. We then discuss a near-miss with the station and a piece of space junk. We then discuss an extraordinarily powerful laser. On our final go-around, we talk about wind and a bizarre anomaly on Mars, we then discuss the 100th birthday celebration for the late Dr. Wernher Von Braun. Lastly, we discuss some technologies being used from NASA technology right back here on planet Earth.

To see the NASA press conference on YouTube, visit http://youtu.be/16rfcTbU_D4

To see the winners of the YouTube Space Lab competition and their experiments, visithttp://youtube.com/spacelab

To view the images of the bizarre cloud seen on Mars visit http://on.io9.com/GZ284Q

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 3/26/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss a piece aired on the CBS program "60 Minutes" about SpaceX and discuss our thoguhts on that as well as getting test subjects into a seven-person crewed mockup of the Dragon capsule. We then discuss China's plan for a female astronaut, or taikonaut, and when they might fly. We then talk about the FAA's involvement with Virgin Galactic's activities in the Mohave Desert and other private companies. On our second go-around, we discuss some Russian activities going on. We then discuss a look for fossils on Mars. We then discuss how a satellite that was declared lost might not be after all. On our final trip around the table, we learn a little bit about what's going on with NuSTAR and its status. We then move on to a launch of 5 rockets in 5 minutes. Lastly, we talk about Boeing and all-electric spacecrafts.

To see the SpaceX story on 60 Minutes, visit http://cbs.com/60minutes

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 3/19/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin with the announcement of NASA's prolonged dependcy on Russia's Soyuz rocket as well as some other NASA budgetary news. We then discuss the new Angry Birds: Space which is working in cooperation with NASA. We then discuss a satellite aimed at helping with the ozone layer as well as Earth's weather. On our second go-around, we discuss SpaceX's possible use of launch pad 39A. We then talk about a 'maglev' train to space. Next the topic turns to a new X-plane which has an added safety feature. On our final trip around the table, we discuss a debris tracking system by Lockheed Martin. We then talk about whether artifacts dating back to the Apollo era belong to the astroanuts or the government. Lastly, we discuss a laser able to detect important features on exo-planets.

To view the trailer for Angry Birds: Space, visit http://youtu.be/lxI1L1RiSJQ

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

Show Recorded - 3/11/2012