Your Space Journey

Captain Scott Kelly is a veteran of four space flights, he commanded three expeditions to the International Space Station, and he’s spent 520 days living in space, including 340 consecutive days, the single longest space mission by an American astronaut. However, recently astronaut Christina Koch spend 328 days in space, just shy of Scott’s record by 12 days, but Christina did set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.  

Since Scott’s return to Earth he’s released his memoir entitled “Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery” and also “Infinite Wonder: An Astronaut’s photographs from a year in space.” In this interview Scott joins us by phone to discuss his amazing experience and his inspiration for achieving goals that are literally out of this world.

For more information about Astronaut Scott Kelly, visit https://www.scottkelly.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StationCDRKelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stationcdrkelly/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StationCDRKelly/ 
Tumbler: https://stationcdrkelly.tumblr.com/

Phone interview conducted with Scott Kelly in February 2018.

Special thanks to Dr. Ken Kremer (https://www.spaceupclose.com) for sharing his space journey!

Music: Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/) by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/); licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

How a child looking up to the stars in Switzerland became a NASA science leader

In this interview we go onsite at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen. As NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Zurbuchen is tasked with helping us answer some of humanity’s biggest questions: Where did we come from? Are we alone? How does the universe work? Dr. Zurbuchen is well versed in the practice of asking difficult questions that help us seek interconnected answers leading to real world impacts.

Zurbuchen is an award-winning astrophysicist, with honors including receiving the National Science and Technology Council Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award in 2004 and three NASA Group Achievement awards.

Since day one at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, DC, Zurbuchen has focused on inspiring learners of all ages and fostering an inclusive team of science leaders. Encouraging people to dive deeper and earn the future by striving for excellence today are key factors to the integrated approach he has adopted. Zurbuchen has created an environment where teams work together to achieve ambitious goals, excel well beyond the intended result and have the resources and support to achieve things they never thought were possible.

During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or coauthored more than 200 articles in refereed journals in solar and heliospheric phenomena. He has also been involved with several NASA science missions involving Mercury, the Sun and more. His experience here has driven his passion of cultivating leaders and highlighting talent throughout the agency. He has also been an advocate of sharing NASA’s messages on social media and can be found on Twitter at the handle @Dr_ThomasZ.

Special thanks to photographer Francis Murphy (https://fxmphotography.com) for sharing his space journey in this episode!

Interview with Dr. Zurbuchen recorded March 25, 2019 at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C.

In this episode we feature Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, a French American astrobiologist specializing in planetary science. She has been a Principal Investigator (PI) at the SETI Institute since 1998 and is also the Director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research. She leads projects in planetary science and astrobiology, develops science exploration strategies for Mars, Titan, and the Outer Solar System icy moons, and designs robotic field experiments. Nathalie has received several NASA & other research awards. Her work is featured in the US and international media, including the Discovery Channel, NOVA, National Geographic, Scientific American, Ted talks, and much more. 

For this interview I spoke with Nathalie just before her most recent research trip to the Andes, where she explores high altitude lakes where environmental conditions are analogous to early Mars. During the interview she describes her amazing work in astrobiology plus her incredible story of how she first met Carl Sagan while she was a student working on her thesis. 

For more info, visit https://www.seti.org/ 

Pale Blue Dot photo source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Voyager 1 illustration: NASA/JPL-Caltech, NASA/JPL-Caltech Photojournal

Special thanks to Melisande from Space Coast Florida Launches for sharing her space journey! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Space.Coast.Florida.Launches/ 

In this episode we speak with Tim Alatorre, the Senior Design Architect of the Von Braun Space Station, an incredible new space hotel underway by the Gateway Foundation. The Gateway Foundation was formed to build the first spaceport, with a three-part plan to develop a robust space construction industry, the first artificial gravity space station, and finally The Gateway—a destination hotel in space with amenities including luxurious suites, restaurant, lounge and unique gymnasium. 

For more information, visit https://www.gatewayspaceport.com/

Thanks to our special guest, Richard Gunther from The Digital Media Zone, for sharing his space journey (https://www.thedigitalmediazone.com/). 

In this episode we welcome Christian Patouraux, the CEO of Kacific, a next-generation broadband satellite operator. SpaceX just launched Kacific1 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket (JCSAT18-Kacific1) on December 16, 2019.  Kacific1 is a next-generation geostationary satellite that will stream high-speed, low-cost, ultra-reliable broadband to rural and suburban areas of the Pacific and South East Asia.  Kacific1 will connect previously unserved or under-served populations with affordable, high-speed broadband for healthcare, education, government services, businesses, and disaster relief. Its services will stimulate economic growth and provide greater access to the internet.

BONUS: At the end of this episode we feature launch photos from our remote camera 500 feet away from the pad and iPhone video from just over 2 miles away--PLUS high quality sound!

Interview recorded January 1, 2020 (Indianapolis, IN USA & Singapore)

For more information, visit https://www.kacific.com

Thanks to our special guest, Dean Regas, astronomer of The Cincinnati Observatory (https://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org) and co-host of the podcast Looking Up for sharing his space journey. 

In this episode we go behind the scenes of Boeing’s Starliner CST-100 Orbital Flight Test. As you may know, this was a milestone launch for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Boeing had previously conducted a successful pad abort test for Starliner in early November 2019. This orbital flight test, on December 20, 2019, was successful in that it launched and returned safely two days later; however the Starliner spacecraft, now named Calypso, was not able to dock with the International Space Station as planned. Over the next few minutes in this program we’re going to discuss our experience behind the scenes of this monumental mission as attendees of the NASA Social Program. I’ve invited my new friend Jason Fields (of "Florida is Sinking" podcast), who also attended, to discuss this incredible experience. 

Part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT) was the first launch of the CST-100 Starliner. The goals of the OFT mission were to demonstrate on-orbit operation of all systems; demonstrate the performance of the Guidance, Navigation and Control systems of the Atlas V and Starliner through ascent, on-orbit and reentry; verify acoustic and vibration levels as well as loads across Starliner’s exterior and interior throughout the mission; monitor launch abort triggers; demonstrated end-to-end operational performance and procedures; and demonstrate reentry and landing. 

All human launch systems, going back to the Mercury Atlas, traditionally conduct uncrewed test flights prior to crewed flights. The uncrewed flight allows the team to thoroughly evaluate all flight data against pre-flight predictions and make any necessary adjustments prior to flying astronauts. 

Jason’s blog:
http://www.floridaissinking.com/nasasocial-unexpected-revelations-on-americas-space-coast/

For more information: 
https://starlinerupdates.com/ 
https://nasa.gov/commercialcrew 

Dr. Robert Zubrin is president of Pioneer Astronautics and also president of The Mars Society.  He’s also the author of many critically acclaimed books, including “Mars Direct”, “How to Live on Mars” and “Entering Space”. He has appeared on major media including CNN, BBC, the Discovery Channel, & NPR.  In this interview Dr. Zubrin joins us to discuss his latest book, “The Case for Space: How the revolution in spaceflight opens up a future of limitless possibility".

For more information visit MarsSociety.org

Thanks to Jeff Ayers of Death Wish Coffee Company & Fueled by Death Cast (http://deathwishcoffee.com/deathcast) for sharing his space journey!

Brian May is a founding member of Queen, a world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer, also a Doctor of Astrophysics, 3-D stereoscopic photographic authority and a passionate advocate and campaigner for animal rights. In our latest episode Brian discusses his passions in music, space & photography, including his song New Horizons (created for the spacecraft which flew by Pluto, Arrokoth, and now deep into the Kuiper belt) and his book Mission Moon 3D.

This interview was conducted via phone with Brian in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2018 and in-person during Brian's visit to APL in Maryland, U.S. for the Arrokoth flyby on New Year's Day 2019. 

For more info, visit BrianMay.com

Special thanks to Molly Kearns of NASA Glenn Research Center for sharing her space journey.

Music: Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/) by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/); licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this episode we interview Peter Beck, the founder and chief executive of Rocket Lab. Since founding the business in 2006, Peter has grown Rocket Lab to become a globally recognized industry leader in space and a billion-dollar company employing world-class engineers and technicians.

Peter established Rocket Lab’s Electron orbital launch program in 2013. Peter also oversaw the development of the world’s first and only private orbital launch range, located on New Zealand's Māhia Peninsula. He played a crucial role in establishing international treaties and legislation to enable orbital launch capability from New Zealand. That capability was realized in January 2018 with Rocket Lab’s first orbital launch of the Electron rocket.

This interview was recorded (audio only) with Peter from his New Zealand company headquarters, when the 41st mission "Running Out of Fingers" was on the launch pad. For more information about Rocket Lab, visit https://www.rocketlabusa.com

Special thanks to Philip Shane of WhatTheIf.com for sharing his space journey.

Music: Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/) by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/); licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this episode, we feature my interview with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, conducted from his office at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. in early November 2019. In this interview we discuss his incredible space journey, as well as the current and future missions of NASA, including plans to return humans to the Moon, then later to Mars.

James Frederick “Jim” Bridenstine was nominated by President Donald Trump, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and sworn in as NASA’s 13th administrator on April 23, 2018.

Bridenstine was elected in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Bridenstine’s career in federal service began in the U.S. Navy, flying the E-2C Hawkeye off the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. It was there that he flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and accrued most of his 1,900 flight hours and 333 carrier-arrested landings. He later moved to the F-18 Hornet and flew at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN.

After transitioning from active duty to the U.S. Navy Reserve, Bridenstine returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be the Executive Director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium.
Bridenstine completed a triple major at Rice University, and earned his MBA at Cornell University. 
He has three children with his wife, Michelle.

For more information about the incredible current and future missions of NASA, visit https://www.nasa.gov 

Special thanks to Michael Seeley of WeReportSpace.com for sharing his space journey.

Music: Cylinder Eight (http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/) by Chris Zabriskie (http://chriszabriskie.com/); licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)