Talking Space

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin with tests of SpaceX's Falcon 9 as well as NASA's Orion capsule. We then discuss some commerical spaceflight regulations regarding the FAA. On our second trip around the table, we discuss hackers getting into NASA's systems, what they accessed, and how it happened. We then discuss some NASA budgetary news with hearings currently going on surrounding the subject. Then, we discuss some solar weather. On our final round, we discuss a NASA-designed biocapsule that could detect an ailment and automatically release medication to treat it. We then talk a little bit about Neil DeGrasse Tyson who has a new book out. Lastly, we take a look into ways of determining information about exoplanets.

You can read the full hacking report in PDF form by clicking here (or if you are listening on iTunes, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com)

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

Show Recorded - 3/5/2012

On the second part of this episode of Talking Space, we continue our first interview of 2012 with LCROSS's flight software lead, a software engineer for Northrop Grumman, musician, and public speaker Emory Stagmer. We continue where the show left off with a story about SpaceUp and tribbles. We then discuss a little bit about Emory's music career and delve into the world of tech of years goneby, incuding what a VAX is. We then discuss the current status of some of his satellites as well as discover the computing power which these million dollar machines run on. We finish off with the way that Emory began his unique transition to becoming a software engineer and gives tips on how you can be the next software engineer.

For the video regarding the "tribbles" visit youtu.be/7ayyisF5FOM (credit: ThinkGeek)

To listen to the entire version of "Water on the Moon" and to download a copy, visit the LCROSS website at http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/mission.htm

For more on Emory, follow him on Twitter as @VAXHeadroom and also be sure to check out his music website which includes some of his previous speaking engagements,UnTied Music.

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Emory Stagmer

Show Recorded - 2/20/2012

On the first part of this episode of Talking Space, we conduct our first interview of 2012 with LCROSS's flight software lead, a software engineer for Northrop Grumman, musician, and public speaker Emory Stagmer. We discuss what his job entails as well as what he has done on past spacecrafts. We get into a unique story on how the LCROSS mission was almost lost. We also discuss the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight as the first American to orbit the earth. Lastly, we discuss a little bit about SpaceUp...but, there's more to the story.

The interview with Emory is being broken up into two parts. Part two will be released Wednesday, February 29th, 2012, with the continuation of SpaceUp and some more great stories including a tale of tribble tossing.

For more on Emory, follow him on Twitter as @VAXHeadroom and also be sure to check out his music website which includes some of his previous speaking engagements, UnTied Music.

To read the LCROSS Flight Director's blog, visit http://bit.ly/ADLcem

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Emory Stagmer

Show Recorded - 2/20/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin round one with an overpressurization of a Soyuz capsule, delaying the next manned launch to the International Space Station and discuss the Soyuz "era of reliability". We then move on to a record number of candidates applying for NASA's next class of ASCANs, or astronaut candidaates. Round two begins with the continued adventures of Phobos-Grunt. We then move on to a petition for a stamp honoring the Pluto-mission, New Horizons. We then take a closer look at the Vega, and not the car model. On our third and final round, we discuss the progress of man-rating the Atlas V rocket. We then discuss a public service announcement made by comedian and pundit Stephen Colbert promoting ISS research. We finish off with a course correction and some fun facts about the Jupiter-bound spacecraft, Juno.

To sign the petition for a New Horizons USPS stamp, visit http://chn.ge/w88LBn

To see Stephen Colbert's public service announcement, visit http://youtu.be/HX_GZiNog_I

Also, to see when the International Space Station will be visible, visithttp://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

A BRIEF NOTE: This episode was recorded before the announcement of the passing of astronaut Janet Voss. Talking Space remembers her and has her family in our thoughts.

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

Show Recorded - 2/6/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin our first trip around the table with our insights into Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's (R) plan to have a permanent lunar base by the end of his 2nd term. We continue on with the first female cosmonaut to fly since the Soviet Union collapsed. We then move on to a look at the Liberty rocket. Continuing onto our second round, we look at safety risks regarding the ISS and if the current plan for crew evacuation in an emergency is adequate. We then move onto a boat crash carrying sensitive rocket parts. On our final go-around, we discuss more space debris news including everybody's favorite defunct satellite, Phobos-Grunt. We then continue on with the declassification of military satellites and lastly a look at robotic refueling in space.

Talking Space also remembers the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger (STS-51L), and Columbia (STS-107) during NASA's day of remembrance. To read Wayne Hale's post regarding the crews and their legacy, visit http://waynehale.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/what-would-rick-and-gus-and-dick-want/

To check out Astronomy FM, visit http://astronomy.fm

To see the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) as discussed in the episode, click here.

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

Show Recorded - 1/30/2012

On this episode, sticking with the new format, we discuss the recent WGS-4 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. We then proceed to how Opportunity, which is beginning its 8th year on Mars, will be spending the winter. We continue on with more on Phobos-Grunt and its demise. On our second go-around, we discuss how we're taking a look in real time at snowfall amounts. We then proceed to the naming of GRAIL-A and B, which just recently began orbiting the moon. We then move on to the groundbreaking for the exhibit which will house Space Shuttle Atlantis. On our final round, we discuss sea turtles being rescued at Cape Canaveral, a sci-fi movie made in space, and some space junk guidelines.

For information on NASA's Precipitation Measurement Missions, check out their Twitter account,@NASA_Rain or their website http://pmm.nasa.gov/GCPEx/blog

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

Show Recorded - 1/23/2012

On this episode, we return to our regular news show...except with a new round-table format, where the panelists find stories that are interesting to them and rotate sharing them with the team to discuss. On this episode, we cover the special announcement of SpaceX delaying their February 7th launch to the ISS. We then move on to the big story of the week: the Phobos-Grunt reentry and discuss where it landed and other debris-related stories. We then move on to a girl who snuck into a Russian rocket manufacturing facility. On our second go-around, we discuss Mars Science Laboratory's engine burn, and then stories involving both the blackness of space and the color of our own galaxy. On our third and final go-around, we discuss some information about Orion, satellites aiding in tsunami studies, and a new estimate of planets in our galaxy.

To learn more about space debris, listen to Episode 337

To see the website of the girl who snuck into the rocket facility (in Russian) visit http://lana-sator.livejournal.com/160176.html#cutid1

Also, feel free to let us know your thoughts on the new format by contacting us!

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

Show Recorded - 1/16/2012

After a long hiatus, Talking Space returns with a special look at the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), also known as Curiosity. Through Gene and Mark, both of whom were at the launch, we learn a little bit about Curiosty and its mission. We also hear from many members of the MSL team who give some facts and looks into Mars, the rover, and a day in the life both on Mars and for the team on Earth.

Clips in this episode include: Michael Meyer: lead scientist Mars Exploration Program, John Grotzinger: project scientist, MSL, as well as others who were associated with individual experiments onboard the rover such as ChemMin, MASCAM, and SAM.

For more on the MSL mission, visit the mission page at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

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

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

SPECIAL NOTE: Our regularly scheduled news shows return next week

Show Recorded - 1/8/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launch of the Mars Science Laboratory or Curiosity, which our very own Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman were in Florida to witness. You will even get to here the actual sound of launch, and an interesting sound it is if you listen closely. We then move on to the next name to leave NASA: Mike Leinbach. We then continue on to some interesting articles posted regarding NASAs budget. We finish off our main topics with the attempts to salvage the Russian mission Phobos-Grunt.

In our Talking Space Mad Minute, we talk about the Twitter account @KillerCuriosity, a new location for a space shuttle simulator, the official hand-over of space shuttle Enterprise's title, ice in Florida, and some interesting facts about Plutonium.

A photo was inserted here. To view it, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com

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

Show Recorded - 11/28/2011

On this episode of Talking Space, we change our format slightly. For our main topics, we discuss the return of the Expedition 29 crew to Earth after 167 days in space. We then move on to the upcoming launch of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity. We also discuss the issue of its main fuel source: Plutonium. We then discuss the new, finalized NASA budget. Although it saves something important, many other important items are cut. We finish off our main topics with YouTube's Space Lab, where students ages 14-18 can devise an experiment which could be performed onboard the ISS. The two winning submissions will actually be flown into space and flown aboard the space station.

On our newest segment, where we round up stories we couldn't cover in depth, we mention the congressional medal  handed out to some space heroes, a NASA facility which is not only a great place to work, but safe, an extended Mercury mission, a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Neutral Buoyancy lab being repurposed, and the return of Science Channe's hit show Meteorite Men.

For more information on YouTube Space Lab, to submit your video, or to check out their educational playlist, visit http://youtube.com/spacelab

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

Show Recorded - 11/21/2011