This Week in Space (Audio)

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This Week in Space (Audio) episodes

November 21, 2025TWiS 187: An Inspired Enterprise - A History of Star Trek with Glen Swanson
Were you inspired by "Star Trek" (or one of its innumerable spinoffs) as a young person? We know we were, so it was a pleasure to invite Glen Swanson, author of the new Star Trek history book "Inspired Enterprise" onto the show. We've all heard lore about the original series, but Swanson, who was previously the Chief Historian at the Johnson Space Center, used his prodigious skills to perform a deep dive into the topic. From Gene Roddenberry's original inspiration to working with Caltech, the RAND Corporation, and NASA; and on to the design of the good ship Enterprise itself (and the very popular AMT models that followed), this book provides everything you need to know to be a certified Trekker.
Headlines:
Comet 3I Atlas confirmed as a comet, not a spacecraft & NASA releases new images and details of the comet

SpaceX's Starship Version 3 booster suffers damage during test

Uranus reaches yearly opposition—best viewing opportunity
Main Topic: The Real Inspirations Behind Star Trek
Glen Swanson shares career highlights as a NASA historian and magazine founder

How Gene Roddenberry's background and influences shaped Star Trek

NASA's direct involvement and technical guidance for Star Trek's creators

The significant role of the aerospace industry, Rand Corporation, and real-world science in Star Trek's development

The story behind NASA and the Smithsonian Enterprise shooting model connections

AMT's plastic model kits fueled fan obsession and supported the show's visuals

Influences from movies like Robinson Crusoe on Mars and Forbidden Planet

Space Station K7 design's origins traced to NASA and Douglas Aircraft concepts

Star Trek's impact on inspiring real-life astronauts and the space community

Glen Swanson's book, "Inspired Enterprise," and how you can get a signed copy

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Glen Swanson

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1 hr 9 min
November 14, 2025TWiS 186: Snow on the Moon? - With Dr. Jim Green, Former NASA Chief Scientist
Snow on the moon? Yes, though not recently... but maybe billions of years ago. Recent discoveries indicate that the early moon, orbiting just 20,000 miles above our planet at the time, may have shared a dynamic magnetic field with that of the Earth, resulting in the moon having an early atmosphere about twice as dense as the Martian atmosphere is today! This has wide implications for planetary science, but perhaps our favorite is that it may have snowed both carbon dioxide and water ice on the moon back in the day. We're also talking about the amazing launch and recovery of New Glenn, the plight of the Chinese taikonauts aboard the Tiangong space station, and a recent SpaceX memo about—no surprises here—a delay to their lunar landing program for Artemis III. Join us!
Headlines:
China's Shenzhou Astronauts Still Dealing with Stricken Spacecraft

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Launches and Lands, Sends Probes Toward Mars

Comet C/2025 K1 Atlas Breaks Up After Solar Flyby

SpaceX Artemis Moon Landing Delayed to 2028
Main Topic: Moon Volatiles and Lunar Science
The Moon's Formation and the Giant Impact Hypothesis

Intertwined Magnetic Fields on the Early Moon and Earth

Transmission of Earth Atmosphere and Volatiles to Lunar Surface

Lunar Outgassing, Volcanism, and Creation of an Ancient Lunar Atmosphere

Permanently Shadowed Regions as Time Capsules of Early Moon and Earth

Scientific Importance of NASA's VIPER Rover for Analyzing Polar Ices and Volatiles

Commercial and Scientific Value of Moon's Minerals and Resources

Long-Term Preservation of Lunar Samples for Future Research

Early Moon Weather: Volatile Snow, Atmosphere Collapse, and What It Means for Lunar Resources

Educational Outreach through Virtual Space Science Experiences

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Jim Green

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1 hr 14 min
November 07, 2025TWiS 185: Gutting Goddard - Dismantling a NASA Center
As you may or may not know, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is in the administration's crosshairs. With cuts to their budget and staffing beginning under Elon Musk's DOGE, it has taken a different form with the government shutdown. Employees furloughed or retired from critical programs, laboratories shuttered, and entire facilities gutted--all without the approval of Congress. By the time the shutdown is over, NASA's primary research center--and the one most responsible for what many are now calling "the C-word," climate science--will be a shell of its former self. Josh Dinner, who recently completed a months-long investigative report, joins us. Also: Jared Isaacman is back in the running as NASA chief, the 25th anniversary of the ISS, and China now working with the US on orbital dangers.
Headlines:
Trump Renominates Jared Isaacman as NASA Chief, Sparking Political Drama

25 Years of Continuous Astronaut Presence on the International Space Station

China Initiates Rare Satellite Collision Avoidance With NASA

Apollo-Era Radio Telescope That Spied on Soviet Satellites Up for Sale

Mars ESCAPADE Missions Twin Probes Prepare for Launch on New Glenn Rocket
Main Topic: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Crisis
Goddard Hit by Accelerated Building Closures and Funding Cuts

NASA Employees and Lawmakers Accuse Agency Leadership of Breaking the Law

Climate Science and Political Motives at the Core of Goddard's Struggles

Union Power Stripped After NASA's Reclassification as National Security Agency

High-Profile Missions Like Hubble, the Nancy Roman Space Telescope, and LISA Facing Uncertainty

Loss of Talent and Institutional Knowledge Threatens Future Space Projects

Congress and the Public Urged to Support, But Outlook Remains Grim

Could New Leadership Reverse the Changes Brought to Goddard, or Reinforce Goddard's Decline?

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Josh Dinner

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58 min
October 31, 2025TWiS 184: Space is Scary! - Halloween Movies About Space
This week we look at why space can be scary with a survey of some of the best (and some of the most laughable) movies about critters from outer space! Witness the terror of men in floppy rubber suits! Cringe as the century plant-like triffids take over people's brains! Scream along with us as rock spiders on the moon devour astronauts' faces! It's a true potpourri of space-borne horrors as we discuss some of the best (okay, and worst) space sci-fi movies of all time!
Headlines:
NASA Science Centers Face Shutdown and Controversy During Budget Crisis

SpaceX Promises to Simplify Artemis 3 Moon Landing, Details Remain Vague

Night Sky Halloween Highlights: Two Can't-Miss Comets

Tribute to Buzz Aldrin's Late Wife, Anka Faur
Main Topic: Scary Space Movies—A Halloween Special
Classic 1950s Sci-Fi: The Thing from Another World, Terror from Beyond Space

Martian Invasions: War of the Worlds films and HBO/BBC Adaptations

Alien Franchise: From Horror to Action Blockbusters

Unique Entries: Day of the Triffids, Quatermass, Event Horizon, Apollo 18

Modern Space Horror: Life, Pandorum, Sunshine, and Sputnik

Real-Life Space Terror: Apollo 13's Harrowing True Story

Honorable Mentions and B-movie Picks: Green Slime, The Blob, Leprechaun 4, Jason X

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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1 hr 15 min
October 24, 2025TWiS 183: Lunar Lander Wanted! Apply Within - Artemis III Contract Opening Up?
Lander, lander, who's got the lander? Last week, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced that the agency would be re-opening the contract for the Artemis III lunar lander, which had previously been let to SpaceX to be fulfilled by their Starship Human Landing System. Unfortunately, that effort is well behind schedule, and the Trump administration has made landing astronauts on the moon, before China does, a national priority. With multiple refuelings and landing tests required, there is concern that SpaceX may not be able to fulfill their commitment before China's announced landing date of 2030. Elon Musk responded to the announcement with characteristic tack, with phrasing like "Sean Dummy" and him having a two-digit IQ. Mike Wall of Space.com joins us to dive into this rapidly evolving story.
Headlines:
Texas vs. the Smithsonian: The Fight Over Space Shuttle Discovery Heats Up

Artemis II Moon Rocket Fully Assembled, Awaits Rollout

California Senator Pushes State Funding to Support JPL Amid Federal Cuts

SpaceX Sets Record with 139 Launches, ULA Struggles to Keep Up

New Super-Earth Discovered Just 20 Light Years Away Near Gemini
Main Topic: The Lunar Lander Dilemma for Artemis III and Beyond
NASA Acting Chief Sean Duffy Announces Reopening Artemis III Lunar Lander Contract

SpaceX's Starship Faces Orbital Refueling Challenges and Timeline Doubts

Blue Origin Lurking in the Wings: Can They Deliver a Lander On Time?

Political Pressures: China's Moon Plans Drive US Urgency

Spacesuit Development Delays Threaten Artemis Timelines

NASA's Budget Woes and Layoffs Cloud Roadmap for Future Moon Missions

Speculation on Jared Isaacman's Potential Leadership of NASA

Broader Uncertainty Over Artemis IV, V, and Long-Term Lunar Strategy

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Mike Wall

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1 hr 11 min
October 17, 2025TWiS 182: The Dream is Alive - With NASA Astronaut Terry Hart
If you ever saw the IMAX spectacular, "The Dream is Alive," you've seen astronaut Terry Hart in action, capturing the Solar Max satellite with the shuttle's robotic arm. But even if you missed that film, Terry has had a fascinating career as an Air Force pilot, NASA astronaut, senior leadership at Bell Labs (more than once!), and as an academic and creator of a new aerospace engineering program at Lehigh University. Join us for an enjoyable hour with one of our favorite guys. Also, is Jared Isaacman back as the new NASA Administrator? Will the Orion capsule soon be used for non-NASA missions? And what's going on with the layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Lab? All this and more on This Week in Space.
Headlines:
Jared Isaacman Back in the Running for NASA Administrator

Lockheed Martin Considers Launching Orion on Rockets Other Than SLS

JPL Hit Hard by Layoffs and Uncertainty Amid NASA Budget Woes
Main Topic: Astronaut Terry Hart's Career, Space Shuttle Missions, and NASA's Evolution
Terry Hart Recaps a Multifaceted Aerospace Career from Bell Labs to NASA

Behind the Scenes of the IMAX Film "The Dream is Alive" and Shooting in Space

In-Depth Look at STS-41C: First Shuttle Rendezvous, Satellite Repair, and Pioneering On-Orbit Servicing

Long Duration Space Experiments and the Legacy of LDEF

Reflections on Challenger, Shuttle Risks, and Safety Culture in Human Spaceflight

The Ongoing Shift from NASA-Led Programs to Private Spaceflight Industry

Preparing the Next Generation: Aerospace Education and Lehigh University's New Graduate Program

Insights on Space Bees, Life Aboard the Shuttle, and Visions for the Future of Space Manufacturing

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Terry Hart (Astronaut)

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1 hr 18 min
October 10, 2025TWiS 181: World Space Week - A UN-Established Global Celebration of Space
World Space Week is a global celebration of all things space, bringing together thousands of participants from all over the planet to celebrate our future in space. Chartered by the United Nations in 1999, this year's theme is "Living in Space." The many associated events from across the world are a reminder to all of the importance of space in our lives and our future, and a clarion call to international youth of the value of their future involvement. We spoke with the WSW Association's executive director, Alma Okpalefe, who explained their origins, activities, and plans for the future. It's one of the premier space-related events of the year, and when you're done with the episode, you'll want to know more!
Headlines:
SpaceX Starship Flight 11 Set for Launch

6,000 Alien Planets Discovered—Where's Earth 2.0?

Mars Crew Study Reveals Diverse Teams Outperform "Alpha Males"
Main Topic: World Space Week 2025
Alma Okpalefe Shares Her Path from Legal Counsel to Space Leadership

Global Scope and Organization: 95+ Countries, Thousands of Events

Types of World Space Week Activities: School Outreach, Museum Events, Art Competitions

2025 Theme: "Living in Space"—Why It Was Chosen, What It Means Globally

Building Space Interest in Regions Without Established Programs

Outcomes and Impact: Inspiring Space Agencies, Universities, and Advocacy

Accessibility and Inclusion as Future Focus for Space Exploration

Advice for Young Space Enthusiasts: Get Involved and Dream Big

International Collaboration: Why Working Together Matters for Space Progress

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Alma Okpalefe

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59 min
October 03, 2025TWiS 180: NASA is Closed for Business - And Other Top Space Stories
This week we cover the headlines, from the shutdown of NASA, to the risky dismantling of the space shuttle Discovery (because Texas insists), to a rogue exoplanet's weird weather, and much more. Should we be worried about China investing in SpaceX? How about those close-up shots of the interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas? And are asteroids hiding out near Venus a threat to Earth? All this and more on episode 180 of This Week in Space.
Headlines:
NASA Suffers Major Disruption Amid Government Shutdown

Shuttle Discovery Faces Potential Forced Dismantling for Texas Move

China Might be Eying Perseverance Mars Samples in Race to Retrieve Martian Rocks

Near-Venus Asteroids Pose Hidden Threats to Earth

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Gets Close-Up for Mars Orbiters

Concerns Over Chinese Investments in SpaceX

China Fast-Tracks Lunar Landing Systems and Rocket Tests

James Webb Telescope Delivers First Rogue Exoplanet Weather Report

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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1 hr 9 min
September 26, 2025TWiS 179: The New Crew of Artemis II - Who Will Fly to the Moon in 2026?
It's almost time for Artemis II to fly to the moon! We got together with Space.com writer Josh Dinner, who joined our own Tariq to attend the "astro unveiling" of NASA's newest class of astronauts and a major press event surrounding the crew of Artemis II. The mission is currently scheduled to loop the moon in early 2026. Join us for the newest details!
Headlines:
NASA's Escapade Mission Gears Up for Mars Launch

Rocket Lab Prepares for First Interplanetary Mission

Dream Chaser Space Plane's ISS Debut Delayed, Contract Adjustments Announced

Simulated Universe Creates 3.4 Billion Digital Galaxies

Reflections on the Evolution of Space Missions—From Apollo to Artemis
Main Topic: Artemis II Updates and NASA's Next Generation Astronauts
Our Reporters Go Behind the Scenes at Johnson Space Center

Artemis II Launch Windows Announced for Feb-April 2026

Overview of Artemis II Crew and Their Spaceflight Experience

Mission Profile: Free Return Trajectory, Timeline, and Unique Features

Naming of Orion Capsule as "Integrity"

NASA Preps for Extensive, Real-time Media Coverage During Artemis II

Discussion of Public Enthusiasm and Challenges for Engaging a Modern Audience

Artemis II Crew Details, Training, and Scientific Goals

Addressing Orion Heat Shield Issues and Design Updates

Training for Artemis III: Simulating Lunar Gravity and EVA Preparation

NASA Unveils New Astronaut Class with Diverse Backgrounds

Discussion of Astronaut Demographics, Public Messaging, and International Partners

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Josh Dinner

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1 hr 9 min
September 19, 2025 TWiS 178: Tell It to the Mountain - Astronaut and Senate Hopeful Terry Virts Says NASA Needs a Major Rethink
There's a very elite club in astronaut circles, one in which former astronauts go on to political careers. The most elite are senators, and so far, John Glenn, Harrison Schmitt, and Mark Kelly have been members, and may soon be joined by Terry Virts, a former shuttle and ISS astronaut. He's got a lot to say about today's NASA, the budget, the Artemis program (he was the astronaut embedded with the SLS rocket program back in 2011), and much more. Col. Virts is also an author and filmmaker, among his other pursuits. Join us for the enlightening episode.

Headlines:

• Ukraine Destroys Russian Military-Used Radio Telescope in Crimea

• China's Surge in Spaceflight Triggers New Warnings About U.S. Competitiveness

• Stunning New Black Hole Images Revealed by Event Horizon Telescope

• Partial Solar Eclipse Coming, Visible Most Spectacularly to Penguins

Main Topic: Interview with Colonel Terry Virts—Astronaut and Senate Candidate

• Highlights of Terry Virts' Career: Air Force, Shuttle & Soyuz Missions, Space Station Command

• Motivation Behind Virts' Run for U.S. Senate in Texas

• Threats to American Democracy, Middle-Class Issues, and Human Rights Priorities

• How Astronaut and Military Experience Prepares Him for Political Office

• Views on the U.S. Space Program: Budget Cuts, Program Delays, and China's Lunar Ambitions

• Specific Critiques of Artemis, SLS, and Lunar Lander Strategies

• Advice for Aspiring Astronauts and Reflections on NASA's Challenges

• The ISS at 25: Collaboration, Science Achievements, and Personal Lessons Learned

• Space, Star Trek, and Geek Culture Moments from Virts' NASA Years

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Terry Virts

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1 hr 2 min

About This Week in Space (Audio)

From the publisher's feed

The new space age is upon us, and This Week in Space leaves no topic untouched. Every Friday, join Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine, Rod Pyle and Managing Editor of Space.com, Tariq Malik as they explore everything related to the cosmos.

You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month.