John and I introduced Megan to our Hotel Mars program for a discussion of her work with dormant blackholes and more. Megan presented research on tidal disruption events (TDEs) observed using the James Webb Space Telescope, which has revealed previously dormant black holes becoming active and providing insights into their environmental effects. The discussion covered the physics of TDEs, including their impact on surrounding gas and dust, as well as the challenges of studying dormant black holes and their relationship with galaxy size. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the limitations of current telescopes, the importance of time-domain astronomy, and the potential impact of the Golden Dome project on the space industry. Read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The same summary will be posted on our Substack page for the same day and date at doctorspace.substack.com.

I introduced Mark, who discussed the current turmoil at NASA, describing the agency as "rudderless" due to the stalled nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman as Administrator. Isaacman, known for funding private missions like Inspiration 4, was nominated by Donald Trump and had garnered bipartisan support, including backing from former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. However, his nomination unraveled after a post on Truth Social falsely labeled him a Democrat and criticized his connection to Elon Musk. Influenced by low-level staffer Sergio Gor—reportedly motivated by personal grievances—Trump withdrew his support. As a result, the nomination collapsed, and NASA remains without permanent leadership. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is currently serving as interim Administrator while also handling his existing responsibilities. Mark talked about Sean so don’t miss his commentary on this subject. Read the full summary for this day and date, www.thespaceshow.com, Tuesday, July 29, 25

Our Space Show Advisory board focused on NASA's proposed budget cuts and current funding discussions in Congress, where the Senate has approved a $24.9 billion NASA budget while the House is still working on its version. The group discussed NASA's budget allocation and space policy, including concerns about potential cuts to key programs and the need for balanced government-commercial space exploration efforts. Our program concluded by discussing planning and advocacy strategies plus communication approaches to influence space policy decisions, particularly regarding budget allocations and program priorities. Please read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this program and date, Sunday, July 27, 2025. You can also read it and see the video as well as hear the audio on our Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com.

Drs. Krylov and Pierce were with us to discuss the challenges in funding science for NSF, NASA & other groups. Our guests focused on challenges in science funding and peer review processes, with discussions about budget cuts, public pushback, and the need for advocacy and reform. Together we explored issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in scientific research and academia, including their impact on merit-based evaluations and graduate admissions. The conversation concluded with discussions about the role of private versus public funding in scientific research, the potential risks and benefits of AI in proposal evaluation, and the importance of maintaining funding for NASA and NSF research. Read the full summary for this program for this date at www.thespaceshow.com. You can also read the summary on our Substack page for the same date, July 25, 2025, doctorspace.substack.com.

Rand discussed various updates, including changes in NASA funding and personnel. The conversation covered topics such as space policy, lunar missions, commercial space ventures, and the challenges facing NASA and private companies in space exploration. The discussion also touched on the need for leadership in space policy, the potential for future missions to Venus and Mars, and the importance of public and congressional support for space initiatives. Read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, July 20, 2025.

This program covered various aspects of space research, technology, and exploration, including the role of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in advancing these fields. Discussions focused on challenges in human spaceflight, the importance of government investment in space research, applications of AI in space-related activities, and the development of nuclear technology for space missions. The meeting also addressed workforce development in the space program, the significance of satellite data in weather and climate modeling, and the balance between competition and cooperation in technological advancements. Please read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Friday, July 18, 2025. You can also read the summary at doctorspace.substack.com for the same day and date.

David discussed Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based company developing launch vehicles and spacecraft for lunar and Earth orbit missions. He noted that Firefly recently filed for an IPO to raise $100 million, primarily to pay down debt of $73.6 million and fund expansion. Despite losing $60 million in the first quarter and $231 million last year, Firefly has secured contracts and achieved a significant milestone by landing the first private lander on the Moon under NASA's CLPS program. The company is backed by major investment banks like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan for its IPO, which could be approved this year or early next year, pending SEC review.

David introduced John Hunt as the guest for the Tuesday Space Show program. John quickly turned to criticizing the Wall Street Journal's two-part series on UFOs/UAPs, arguing that it unfairly dismissed the subject as government disinformation. He highlighted several issues with the article, including its selective use of evidence, misrepresentation of sources, and failure to address key cases like the Maelstrom missile shutdown and Soviet incidents. John suggested the article was designed to reassure the public that there's nothing to the UFO phenomenon, rather than providing a balanced analysis. He also discussed the background of Lou Elizondo, the former head of the Pentagon's UFO program, and criticized the article's treatment of him. John concluded that the article was part of a broader campaign to discourage further congressional inquiries into UFOs. John also mentioned others brought forward in the Wall St. Journal article, both as to how the Journal article treated and dismissed them to many of the dismissed topics that John thought should have been addressed in the article. Read the full summary @ www.thespaceshow.com for Tuesday, July 15, 2025 or doctorspace.substack.com for the same day and date.

Our program with guest Jim Muncy covered NASA's current leadership situation and workforce challenges, including discussions about temporary administrators, potential job losses, and changes in federal government staffing policies. The conversation explored NASA's budget situation and space exploration priorities, with particular focus on the Appropriation Bill for Commerce, Justice, and Science, as well as the challenges posed by political divisions in Congress. Also discussed was the aging NASA workforce, modernization of engineering, and the need for younger innovative engineering and science. The discussion concluded with an examination of the commercial space industry's evolution and NASA's transition to new approaches for space exploration, emphasizing the need for effective leadership communication and bipartisanship in space policy.

John, David and Dr. Haym Benaroya discussed the progress and ongoing challenges of human exploration and habitation on the Moon and Mars. Since 2002, significant advancements have been made in data collection and our understanding of Martian and lunar environments. These improvements were contrasted with earlier speculative or fictional portrayals of space colonization. Professor Benaroya, a mechanical and aerospace engineering expert from Rutgers University, emphasized that while technological progress has been substantial, fundamental obstacles—such as low gravity and abrasive regolith—continue to pose major challenges for sustained human presence. Please read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this day and date, Wednesday, 7-9-25. In addition, it is on our Substack page for this day and date, doctorspace.substack.com.