Today In Space

Wishing you nothing but improvement and the best for you in 2022!

Closing out 2021, we wanted to enter 2022 by recapping the story of James Webb Space Telescope as a beacon of hope that even with struggle, difficulty, and decades of doubt - humans can still perform great acts and complete the goals set out before them. After the successful Christmas day launch, the assembly process on the way to 1 million miles away from earth continues to be successful. Some of the most difficult moments are behind with more to come...

The journey to getting this astronomical marvel off planet and into space was a saga in its own right. It really resonated with me about what life is like as a human being on this planet called Earth. This week we discuss how similar the challenges that JWST faced is to what we face in today's world. There are so many lessons to take away that we can use to understand the struggle we go through in a post-pandemic world. Struggle may exist, but performing at the moment you need to is critical, and we have NASA, ESA, and CSA to thank for adding more life to the space telescope as it makes its way to L2.

We also try to discuss Lagrange Points, and what they are and why they are important. I do my best to make things simple, but of course, its not that simple to begin with. Bear with me as I discuss this 2 body phenomena, and share what lessons I took away from 2021, and the actions I hope to continue in 2022.

Happy New Year - and to building a fantastic future!

JWST Launch Reel Review (@todayinspacepod) https://www.instagram.com/reel/CX6TT0WDRTo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

JWST May operate for more than 10 years: https://www.aroged.com/2021/12/30/james-webb-space-telescope-saves-fuel-and-may-operate-more-than-10-years/ https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2021/12/29/nasa-says-webbs-excess-fuel-likely-to-extend-its-lifetime-expectations/

Record year for orbital launches: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_spaceflight

NASA Explains what a Lagrange point is: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/754/what-is-a-lagrange-point/

Detailed report on the stationkeeping maneuvers for JWST while at L2: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140007519/downloads/20140007519.pdf

Visual Representation of JWST orbit around the Sun: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYI55v9DHCR/

In this episode we cover the latest in all-things space since our last episode on Dec 9th.

- Blue Origin launched the 'Original Six' to the edge of space and back landing safely in West Texas.

- The Parker Solar Probe 'touched' the sun and it's corona for the first time, and some recent research linking solar wind and asteroid regolith with creating water which may explain the Earth's water 'budget'. One thing's for sure, our Sun is a main reason we have life as stable as we have it on Earth. To think it may also be 'wetting' the solar systems airless bodies is WILD

- Jame Webb Space Telescope launches on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 7:20AM EST. We discuss what JWST will do to expand our understanding of the universe and our existence. Where we come from.

Solar wind research: https://www-cbc-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6271594

Solar Wind Research paper abstract: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01487-w

https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/12/15/parker-solar-probe-touches-the-sun/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Origin_NS-19#cite_note-6

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1472199689403523077?s=20

Hope you are doing well and hanging in there during the holidays. Live Long and prosper...and keep spreading love & spreading science.

Alex G. Orphanos

This week we're talking about the balance as SpaceX is on red alert! Starship & the Raptor engine are at risk to bankrupt SpaceX if they don't figure it out soon. Elon's email to SpaceX employees was leaked and reveals what we have seen so many times from Musk - logical, almost Vulcan-like honesty.

All of this was revealed as SpaceX continues to battle their competition like Blue Origin (just chosen for a contract to develop Orbital Reef to replace the ISS) and Rocket Lab (who revealed their design for their Neutron Rocket, which will compete with Falcon9!).

While these companies duke it out for a share of the space economy, its a great time for space development as this type of healthy competition pushes us further towards sending the first woman and next man to the surface of the moon. And that's just the beginning of what's to come!

Thank you for joining us

00:00 - Introduction/SpaceX on Red Alert! 03:35 - Blue Origin win's Space Station contract 07:00 - Rocket Lab's newest rocket - Neutron 14:00 - Elon musk emails & 'typical Elon' 20:00 - Starship SN20 getting ready down at Starbase 23:00 - Closing thoughts, how to support the podcast

If you like what we are doing and want to support us, please subscribe to our SubStack (todayinspace.substack.com) and on the various platforms for the podcast. It's free for you and means so much for us! And don't forget to share with friends & family too.

Listen/subscribe to the podcast on: Apple Podcasts & Spotify

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Spread Love, Spread Science.

Alex G. Orphanos

Links, References for this episode:

Yusaku Maezawa launches to the ISS to train for trip around the moon: https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/12/08/japanese-billionaire-yusaku-maezawa-turns-space-tourist-blasts-off-to-international-space-station-aboard-russian-craft/amp/

SpaceExplored article on SpaceX Raptor Crisis by Derek Wise: https://spaceexplored.com/2021/11/29/spacex-raptor-crisis/ Elon being honest about Tesla & SpaceX almost dying https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/14/8605597/elon-musk-discusses-spacex-tesla-near-bankruptcy

Elon being honest about CRS-7 Flight Failure https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-destroyed-in-launch-mishap/

Elon's other emails - https://www.ibtimes.com/spacex-boss-elon-musk-threatened-drastic-action-against-employees-who-use-unnecessary-1972972 NASA certifying that Crew Dragon is the only certified craft for humans to go to space/ISS https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-awarded-three-more-commercial-crew-flights-nasa-boeing-2021-12?fbclid=IwAR350QUZJA-BjgzVTNThjAHeQRGBcvLAznuQ-lqUuaXQRkL-wPt3TTPT5bk Fairing recovery: Rocket lab vs SpaceX:

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/launch/neutron/

Blue origin: Orbital Reef gets chosen by NASA

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/nasa-selects-orbital-reef-for-space-station-replacement

00:00 - Introduction/SpaceX on Red Alert! 03:35 - Blue Origin win's Space Station contract 07:00 - Rocket Lab's newest rocket - Neutron 14:00 - Elon musk emails & 'typical Elon' 20:00 - Starship SN20 getting ready down at Starbase 23:00 - Closing thoughts, how to support the podcast

This week we are joined by Jordan Noone for an episode of People of Science. Jordan is currently the Co-Founder, CTO/Partner of Embedded Ventures, dubbed the "skunkworks of deep tech venture capitol" is investing in companies and technologies for space "beyond launch". There's so much focus on the rockets, but the whole reason we have rockets is to send payloads into space. If we solve the cost problem of going to space with reusability, then what comes next? How good is the stuff we are sending to space? Are we even ready for it? This is what Embedded Ventures is focused on solving for the space industry.

Jordan was previously a Co-Founder, CTO of Relativity Space, who are revolutionizing the additive manufacturing and aerospace world by combining 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics to create a rocket from raw material in 60 days with 100X less parts.

We learn about Jordan's STEM Origin story, which has ultimately led him to a unique perspective as a 28-year old multi-business entrepreneur and engineer. Speaking of unique - did we mention he worked at SpaceX on both Cargo & Crew Dragon, a small stint at Blue Origin, and the head of USC's Rocket Propulsion Lab? Buckle in folks, we're launching this podcast for what comes next in space!

Please welcome, Jordan Noone! https://www.jordannoone.com/

https://www.relativityspace.com/rockets

https://www.embedded.ventures/

Embedded Ventures R&D cooperative with USSF: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/embedded-ventures-announces-first-of-its-kind-cooperative-research-and-development-agreement-with-united-states-space-force-301398664.html

A Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US - and happy holidays to everyone around our planet Earth! We have a great travel podcast for you - perfect for the driving, shopping, traveling you'll likely be doing this week. Between Anti-Satellite tests, Orbital debris, and the 5 year anniversary of our 3D printing lab AG3D - there's a lot to cover!

Thanks for joining us

Have a great Thanksgiving!

A LOT has happened in the matter of a week in space...NASA & SpaceX continue work on HLS after months long delays, Blue Origin loses protest but strikes back with Orbital Reef for the next stage of Artemis.

We learn about the diverse group of technologies, capabilities, and companies that make up Orbital Reef - Blue Origin, Sierra Space, RedWire, Boeing, Genesis Engineering, and Arizona State University (ASU).

We explain WHY the HLS contract was so important to progress in space, and WHY Space Stations are a necessary technological development for us to truly have access to space for all.

HLS Contract Timeline: April 2021 https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/option-a-source-selection-statement-final.pdf November 4th, 2021 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.uscfc.44185/gov.uscourts.uscfc.44185.74.0_1.pdf

Blue Origin loses protest for HLS Contract with NASA https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/580161-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-loses-months-long-legal-battle-with-nasa

Orbital Reef, a Blue Origin company: https://www.orbitalreef.com/ https://blueorigin-static-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/orbital-reef-press-release.pdf https://blueorigin-static-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/orbital-reef-one-pager.pdf RedWire: https://redwirespace.com/capabilities/

This weeks episode we are talking about some important launches coming up this year if all goes well. Both missions are long awaited missions years in the making! Space Launch System is stacked inside the Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida for the first time. James Webb Space Telescope FINALLY (hopefully) gets ready for launch onboard an Ariane 5 rocket on 12/18/21.

Both missions have been a long time coming and it begs the question - what have we learned from these long delayed missions? What could we do better to have a rugged space program that isn't susceptible to political whims and a waining public interest? How did we make our 3dprinted Halloween costume of a SpaceX helmet like the one the Inspiration4 wore on their mission? All this and more!

We've got lot to chat about! We'd love to know what YOU think

James Webb telescope gets ready for launch - what to look out for: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-deployments-video

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/nasa-wants-to-buy-sls-rockets-at-half-price-fly-them-into-the-2050s/

A History of Hubble leading up to the Launch of James Webb Space Telescope: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/11/hubble-update-history/ Hubble Repair news coverage: https://youtu.be/nr3luugRaYQ

So much to catch up on from this month! Blue Origin sends Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to #space, LUCY launches to the Trojan Asteroids, and OrbitFab is launching the first satellite fueling station on a SpaceX Falcon9! & SO MUCH MORE

For anyone waiting for a new episode this month - thanks for your patience! Life got the best of me, and sorry you had to wait. But thanks to everyone who reached out. All is good, just busy working on my future! NASA launches the Crew3 mission on Halloween morning 2:21AM ET from Cape Canaveral, FL! We'll do a show covering the launch so we'll see you next week for another episode

LUCY heading to the Trojan Asteroids https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lucy/in-depth/ https://www.space.com/amp/lucy-asteroid-spacecraft-solar-array-issue-continues

Blue Origin Drama:

https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1445377244860407816?s=21

https://spacexmania.com/archives/553?fbclid=IwAR37Wg7ZRWRziPcLHgOrJJyySR44yV_MKAuHfeI5djt_8Nfz6WyBgtyUg-A

Orbit Fab Launch: https://spacenews.com/orbit-fab-to-launch-propellant-tanker-to-fuel-satellites-in-geostationary-orbit/

https://www-teslarati-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.teslarati.com/spacex-moon-lander-launch-first-deep-space-propellant-depot/amp/

This week we are closing out the exciting month of September and sharing more thoughts about the Inspiration4 mission. This first all-civilian mission has had a PROFOUND affect on me. Still processing just how much but it's really got me focusing on my own body & mind and wanting to make progress in a more healthier & fit me. NOT what I was expecting as my takeaway from this mission, but this really broke down my perception of astronauts as being required to be professionals. We are good enough to train basically anyone to become an astronaut now apparently.

I want to hear YOUR thoughts on what you've loved about Inspiration4 as well - so please reach out to us on social media @todayinspacepod on Twitter & Instagram, @todayinspace on TikTok, and /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook. Or email us at [email protected]

As always, the podcast is brought to you by AG3D Printing, our 3D printing lab where we bring people's ideas into reality! We sell fun gifts and things for around the home on our etsy shop etsy.com/ag3dprinting. And we also have our lab where you can bring almost any idea from notes on a page to a physical product with our iterative design process. Head over to ag3d-printing.com and follow us @ag3dprinting on Instagram to get a free quote on your project with us

FAA review of environmental impact - public comments open https://www.space.com/faa-releases-draft-environmental-review-spacex-starship

This week's episode begins with a recap of the successful Inspiration4 mission that successfully raised over it's $200 million fundraising and returned the crew of four back home to their families.

I am still searching for the right words to describe all that I am processing after this three day mission in space, that went farther than any current mission in orbit with the worlds largest window ever flown.

We follow up with the audio from our 40 minute live hangout on our Facebook page/Todayinspacepodcast with my brother Niko Orphanos on his Twitch channel and discord Watch the full broadcast from SpaceX that we had on in the background: https://youtu.be/dpFKNNl47AM Follow Nik on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/ngorphii Subscribe & Listen to the Weebs & Weights podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/519N565fUiPsaQS9cN23L7?si=LY0YlnyITcCx0e2EETRDAA&dl_branch=1