This Week in Space (Audio)

TWiS 91: 2023 Holiday Special! - The Year in Review With Leonard David

Listen Later

This holiday special episode of This Week in Space covers a wide range of space topics from 2023, including asteroid sample return, China's space achievements, commercial lunar landers, Mars sample return challenges, UFO disclosure, and more.


Headlines:

  • The asteroid Bennu sample return mission delivers intriguing early findings, including organic molecules and "cauliflower" textured particles that may provide insights into the early solar system.
  • Speculative ideas on "dark life" forming from dark matter shortly after the Big Bang prompts discussion on expanding definitions of life.
  • Congress orders UFO records released within 25 years but allows military to withhold information threatening national security, disappointing those seeking full disclosure.

    • Main Topic: The Year in Review

    • Recap of major SpaceX milestones in 2023 with Falcon 9 reuse and Starship testing advances, though the lunar landing variant and orbital refueling still need work.
    • India bounces back from previous lunar landing failure with successful Chandrayaan-3 orbiter and Pragyan rover mission.
    • Mars sample return mission faces criticism for ballooning costs now exceeding $11 billion and delays pushing to 2030 or beyond.
    • OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return hailed as a major success story for 2023 despite minor parachute issue on re-entry.
    • Psyche and Lucy asteroid missions yield early surprises on unique asteroid properties.
    • China's 2023 space achievements and future plans make it a program to watch with possible Mars sample returns, an increased pace of lunar landings, and more... maybe even sample sharing with the US!
    • ULA readies new Vulcan Centaur rocket for a January launch — it's a critical path to the moon with the first commercial lunar lander onboard.
    • Artemis delays provide cover for missing elements like SpaceX's lunar lander, orbital refueling tests, and lunar surface EVA suits.
    • Guest Leonard David covers latest intrigue around government UFO briefings and disclosure efforts.

      • Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

      Guest: Leonard David

      Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

      Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

      Sponsor:

      • bitwarden.com/twit

        • ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        This Week in Space (Audio)By TWiT
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6

        4.6

        153 ratings

        More shows like This Week in Space (Audio)

        View all
        The 365 Days of Astronomy by 365DaysOfAstronomy.org

        The 365 Days of Astronomy

        352 Listeners

        Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

        Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

        1,357 Listeners

        SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy by Stuart Gary

        SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy

        295 Listeners

        Ask a Spaceman! by Paul M. Sutter

        Ask a Spaceman!

        837 Listeners

        Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

        Astronomy Cast

        2,875 Listeners

        Universe Today Podcast by Fraser Cain

        Universe Today Podcast

        555 Listeners

        Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries by Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley

        Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

        232 Listeners

        Main Engine Cut Off by Anthony Colangelo

        Main Engine Cut Off

        285 Listeners

        Houston We Have a Podcast by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

        Houston We Have a Podcast

        1,242 Listeners

        Off-Nominal by Jake Robins, Anthony Colangelo

        Off-Nominal

        86 Listeners

        The Supermassive Podcast by The Royal Astronomical Society

        The Supermassive Podcast

        324 Listeners

        NASA's Curious Universe by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

        NASA's Curious Universe

        858 Listeners

        Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

        Why This Universe?

        392 Listeners

        The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu by theliuniverse

        The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu

        69 Listeners

        The Astrophysics Podcast by Paul Duffell

        The Astrophysics Podcast

        54 Listeners