June 20, 2025

This Week in Space 166: Live From the Swamps, ISDC 2025

1 hour 17 minutes

Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik broadcast live from the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference in Orlando, discussing the latest Starship explosion, missing universe matter discoveries, and answering listener questions about space camp experiences, astronaut communications, and the future of space exploration.

Headlines

Starship Explosion Investigation - SpaceX's 10th Starship prototype exploded during a static fire test, likely due to a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) failure, causing extensive damage to the test stand and potentially delaying future launches

Missing Universe Matter Found - Scientists discovered that about a third of the universe's baryonic matter (regular matter we can touch) exists in gossamer tendrils connecting galaxy clusters, solving a long-standing cosmic mystery

Black Hole AI Controversy - Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel questions whether AI-generated black hole models are accurate, as the AI processes noisy data that human scientists would typically filter out

Blue Origin NS-33 Launch - Six private citizens prepare for Blue Origin's next New Shepard flight, including a married couple, a philanthropist beekeeper, and other entrepreneurs

Summer Solstice Reminder - The official start of summer arrives June 21st, bringing longer days in the Northern Hemisphere and opportunities for stargazing despite shorter nights

Main Topic: Listener Q&A

Space Camp on a Budget - Advice for experiencing space camp affordably, including shorter adult programs, visiting during off-peak seasons, and exploring local affiliated programs

Astronaut Family Communications - ISS crew members stay connected with their families through internet protocol phones for video calls, scheduled contact times, email access, and social media posting capabilities

Starship Development Concerns - Discussion of SpaceX's timeline challenges, with multiple recent failures potentially impacting NASA's 2027 moon landing goals and opening opportunities for competitors like Blue Origin

International Space Cooperation - Analysis of whether ESA, India, or China might step up to fill gaps left by NASA budget cuts, particularly for missions like the cancelled VIPER lunar rover

Finding Real Spacesuits - Options for trying on authentic spacesuits include Space Camp, NASA touring events with glove boxes, and specialized companies offering suit experiences

The NASA Budget Crisis - Conversation about the proposed NASA budget cuts and their potential impact on American space leadership, with China potentially landing humans on the moon before the U.S. returns

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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