The Weekly Space Hangout is recorded every Friday on the Cosmoquest G+ page. Join Fraser Cain and our rotating group of space journalists for the rundown on this week's space, science and astronomy news.
Please welcome our guest tonight, John Powell, President of JP Aerospace, a nonprofit that launches student designed Pongsats (i.e., experiments that fit inside of a ping pong ball,) and other experiments to the edge of space using balloons. To date, over 80,000 students have participated in this program with plans to expand it even further. … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: December 16, 2020 – John Powell Tells Us About PongSats and Airship to Orbit" The post Weekly Space Hangout: December 16, 2020 – John Powell Tells Us About PongSats and Airship to Orbit appeared first on Universe Today.
We are pleased to once again welcome Casey Dreier from the Planetary Society to the WSH. Casey will update us (as much as possible) about Space Policy changes that may occur once the new American Presidential administration takes office on January 20, 2021. As Chief Advocate, Casey is the public face of The Planetary Society’s … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: December 9, 2020 – Casey Dreier: Are Changes Coming to NASA/US Space Policy?" The post Weekly Space Hangout: December 9, 2020 – Casey Dreier: Are Changes Coming to NASA/US Space Policy? appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are joined by Dr. Ingrid Daubar, Planetary Scientist from Brown University studying impact cratering within our solar system. Dr. Daubar is part of a team that has been using a new AI classification tool to identify geologic features on planetary surfaces, such as Mars. Ingrid has been involved in planetary science for … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: December 2, 2020 – Dr. Ingrid Daubar, Planetary Scientist, Brown University" The post Weekly Space Hangout: December 2, 2020 – Dr. Ingrid Daubar, Planetary Scientist, Brown University appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are aired Fraser’s pre-recorded interview with Dr. Olivier Witasse, Project Scientist on the JUICE mission. Olivier studied fundamental physics and astrophysics at the universities of Paris XI (Orsay) and Lyon between 1990 and 1996. He obtained a PhD at the University of Grenoble in 2000. In 1995, he successfully completed the exams … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: November 25, 2020, Dr. Olivier Witasse, Project Scientist, the JUICE Mission" The post Weekly Space Hangout: November 25, 2020, Dr. Olivier Witasse, Project Scientist, the JUICE Mission appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are airing Fraser’s pre-recorded interview with Dr. Ralph Lorenz, planetary scientist and aerospace engineer from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Ralph is the Mission Architect of the upcoming Dragonfly Mission to Titan, and the author of the new book, Saturn’s Moon Titan Owners’ Workshop Manual. Ralph was a member of the … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: November 18, 2020 – Dr. Ralph Lorenz, Planetary Scientist and Dragonfly Mission Architect" The post Weekly Space Hangout: November 18, 2020 – Dr. Ralph Lorenz, Planetary Scientist and Dragonfly Mission Architect appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are excited to welcome Amy Ross, NASA Space Suit Engineer, to the WSH. Amy is the team lead for the Exploration Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) Pressure Garment Subsystem (PGS) as well as Space Suit Pressure Garment Technology Development. The team’s primary focus is the design, fabrication, qualification testing, and flight hardware delivery … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: November 11, 2020 – Amy Ross, NASA Engineer and Space Suit Designer" The post Weekly Space Hangout: November 11, 2020 – Amy Ross, NASA Engineer and Space Suit Designer appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are excited to welcome Pranvera Hyseni (Pran) to the Weekly Space Hangout. Pran is a celebrated science popularizer and the founder of “Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo” (AOK). She completed her B.A. in geography in 2019 at the University of Pristina, and now she’s pursuing her Master’s in Planetary Science at the University … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: November 4, 2020 – Pranvera Hyseni, Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo" The post Weekly Space Hangout: November 4, 2020 – Pranvera Hyseni, Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Natalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute (SI), to the show. In addition to heading the strategic vision for science and exploration at the SI, Nathalie leads research projects in planetary science and astrobiology, develops science exploration strategies for Mars, … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: October 28, 2020, Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, SETI Institute" The post Weekly Space Hangout: October 28, 2020, Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, SETI Institute appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are excited (and honored) to welcome Dr. Jill Tarter to the Weekly Space Hangout. Best known for her work in the field of SETI, tonight Jill will be discussing the search for technosignatures. Dr. Jill Tarter is the Emeritus Chair for SETI Research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California and … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: October 21, 2020, Dr. Jill Tarter and the Search for Technosignatures" The post Weekly Space Hangout: October 21, 2020, Dr. Jill Tarter and the Search for Technosignatures appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are joined by Dr. Jane Huang and Dr. Jonathan Willams from the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA). Dr. Huang, Dr. Williams, and their team recently discovered some surprising information about the size and shape of some protoplanetary disks. The post Weekly Space Hangout: October 14, 2020, Drs. Jane Huang & Jonathan Williams, Protoplanetary Disks appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we welcome back to the show Dr. David Warmflash. Since he was last with us, David has been named as Co-Principal Investigator and Medical Director for a new NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBRI) Phase I study titled "Mixed-Reality Holographic Training System to Enable High-Value Surgical and Complex Medical Procedures by Astronauts." The post Weekly Space Hangout: October 7, 2020, Dr. David Warmflash Discusses Mixed-Reality Surgical System appeared first on Universe Today.
This week, we welcome Dr. John Kiss from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG). Tonight, Dr. Kiss will be discussing the sensory physiology of plants in space research, including the effect of Mars’ levels of gravity on plant development. John Z. Kiss is the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNCG, … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: September 30, 2020, Dr. John Kiss Discusses the Growth of Plants in Space" The post Weekly Space Hangout: September 30, 2020, Dr. John Kiss Discusses the Growth of Plants in Space appeared first on Universe Today.
Terry Virts, one of only four astronauts in history to have piloted a Space Shuttle, flown a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, performed space walks, and commanded the ISS. He’s written HOW TO ASTRONAUT: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth, the book for everyone who wants to know what space travel is really like. Fun fact: … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: September 23, 2020, Col. Terry Virts (USAF ret.) Tells Us “How to Astronaut”" The post Weekly Space Hangout: September 23, 2020, Col. Terry Virts (USAF ret.) Tells Us “How to Astronaut” appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Merav Opher, Professor from the Astronomy Department of Boston University and the Director of the SHIELD (Solar wind with Hydrogen Ion charge Exchange and Large-Scale Dynamics) DRIVE Science Center. Using data from NASA’s planetary science missions, SHIELD scientists use data/computer modeling to predict the characteristics of our … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: September 16, 2020 – Dr. Merav Opher Discusses the Shape of the Sun’s Heliosphere" The post Weekly Space Hangout: September 16, 2020 – Dr. Merav Opher Discusses the Shape of the Sun’s Heliosphere appeared first on Universe Today.
Welcome to the Season Premiere for the new season of the Weekly Space Hangout! We had a productive – and yes, restful – two months during our hiatus, but it is great to be back with everyone! For tonight’s season premiere, we are excited to welcome Astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack to the show. Katie has … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: September 9, 2020 – Dr. Katie Mack Discusses “The End of Everything”" The post Weekly Space Hangout: September 9, 2020 – Dr. Katie Mack Discusses “The End of Everything” appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Siemion, Director of the Berkeley SETI Research Center, to the WSH. As an astrophysicist, Andrew’s research interests include high energy time-variable celestial phenomena, astronomical instrumentation and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). He is also the Principal Investigator for the Breakthrough Listen program. Andrew received his … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: July 1, 2020 — Dr. Andrew Siemion, Director of Berkeley SETI Research Center" The post Weekly Space Hangout: July 1, 2020 — Dr. Andrew Siemion, Director of Berkeley SETI Research Center appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are airing Fraser’s pre-recorded interview with Elizabeth Howell and Nicholas Booth, co-authors of the new book The Search for Life on Mars: The Greatest Scientific Detective Story of All Time. Their book documents our quest to find life on the Red Planet. Long-time viewers of the WSH will remember Elizabeth as one … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: June 24, 2020 — Elizabeth Howell & Nicholas Booth, The Search for Life on Mars" The post Weekly Space Hangout: June 24, 2020 — Elizabeth Howell & Nicholas Booth, The Search for Life on Mars appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are joined by Dana Backman, an astrophysicist with a Ph.D. from the University of Hawai’i. He was an infrared astronomy researcher at Kitt Peak Observatory and NASA Ames, then a professor of physics & astronomy at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dana has also taught introductory astronomy at Santa Clara … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: June 17, 2020 — Dana Backman, Director of NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors" The post Weekly Space Hangout: June 17, 2020 — Dana Backman, Director of NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are VERY excited to welcome our good friend Paul M. Sutter back to the WSH. Longtime viewers/members of our community remember Paul as one of our regular show contributors for a number of years. Paul’s most recent book, “How to Die in Space”, hit the stores yesterday and he is here tonight … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: June 3, 2020 — Paul Sutter and How to Die in Space" The post Weekly Space Hangout: June 3, 2020 — Paul Sutter and How to Die in Space appeared first on Universe Today.
Due to an unexpected power failure, tonight’s guest, Shytoya Palmer, was unable to join us. We will be rescheduling her appearance as part of our next season. So tonight our panel presents a News Roundup! Hosts: Fraser Cain (Website: Universe Today ; Twitter: @fcain) Allen Versfeld (Website: Urban Astronomer ; Twitter: @urbanastronomer) Annie Wilson (Twitter: @BinaryAblaze) Moiya … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: May 27, 2020 — News Roundup" The post Weekly Space Hangout: May 27, 2020 — News Roundup appeared first on Universe Today.
This week we are joined by Dr. Sarah McAnulty. Sarah is a squid biologist and the executive director of the science communication non-profit Skype a Scientist which matches scientists with people all around the world. To learn more about Skype a Scientist visit their webpage https://www.skypeascientist.com/ and follow them on Instagram (@SkypeAScientist), Twitter (@SkypeScientist) and … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: May 20, 2020 — Dr. Sarah McAnulty from Skype A Scientist" The post Weekly Space Hangout: May 20, 2020 — Dr. Sarah McAnulty from Skype A Scientist appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Kimberly Cartier (kimberlycartier.org ; @AstroKimCartier) Pamela Hoffman (EverydaySpacer.com ; @EverydaySpacer) Chris Carr (@therealCCarr) This week we are pleased to welcome Seth Shostak to the Weekly Space Hangout. Seth is Senior Astronomer and Institute Fellow at the SETI Institute. With degrees in physics and astronomy from Princeton University and Caltech, he has … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: May 13, 2020 – Dr. Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute" The post Weekly Space Hangout: May 13, 2020 – Dr. Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Brian Koberlein (BrianKoberlein.com / @BrianKoberlein) Dave Dickinson (www.astroguyz.com / @astroguyz) Alex Teachey (alexteachey.com /@alexteachey) This week we are pleased to welcome Chris Carberry to the Weekly Space Hangout. Chris is CEO and Co-Founder of Explore Mars, Inc, and helped to turn that organization into one of the most influential space nonprofits … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: April 29, 2020 – Alcohol in Space with Chris Carberry" The post Weekly Space Hangout: April 29, 2020 – Alcohol in Space with Chris Carberry appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Pamela Gay (Cosmoquest.org / @StarStryder ) Moiya McTier (https://www.moiyamctier.com/ / @GoAstroMo) Allen Versfeld (https://www.urban-astronomer.com/ / @uastronomer) This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Fred Watson to the WSH. Fred is Australia’s first Astronomer-at-Large, an outreach and advocacy role within the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. He is graduate of the universities … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: April 22, 2020 – Dr. Fred Watson talks Exploding Stars and Invisible Planets" The post Weekly Space Hangout: April 22, 2020 – Dr. Fred Watson talks Exploding Stars and Invisible Planets appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Brian Koberlein (BrianKoberlein.com / @BrianKoberlein) Beth Johnson (@planetarypan)) Michael Rodruck (@michaelrodruck) This week we are please to welcome Laura Forczyk to the Weekly Space Hangout. Laura is the owner of space consulting firm Astralytical specializing in space science, industry, and policy, and offering space career coaching services. In January 2020, her … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: April 15, 2020 – Rise of the Space Age Millennials with Laura Forczyk" The post Weekly Space Hangout: April 15, 2020 – Rise of the Space Age Millennials with Laura Forczyk appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dave Dickinson (www.astroguyz.com / @astroguyz) Beth Johnson (@planetarypan) Veranika Klimovich ( @VeranikaSpace) This week we are excited to welcome Colonel Mike Mullane to the Weekly Space Hangout. Mike was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: April 8, 2020 – Colonel Mike Mullane, Astronaut" The post Weekly Space Hangout: April 8, 2020 – Colonel Mike Mullane, Astronaut appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Kimberly Cartier (KimberlyCartier.org / @AstroKimCartier ) Pam Hoffman (EverydaySpacer.com / @EverydaySpacer) Michael Rodruck (@michaelrodruck) Announcements: This week we are airing Fraser’s prerecorded interview with Dr. Robert B. Hayes, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University. Dr. Hayes is co-author of a recent paper published January 7. 2020, in … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: April 1, 2020 – Dr. Robert B. Hayes and Radiation Shielding in Space" The post Weekly Space Hangout: April 1, 2020 – Dr. Robert B. Hayes and Radiation Shielding in Space appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Beth Johnson (@planetarypan) Moiya McTier (https://www.moiyamctier.com/ / @GoAstroMo) Dr. Brian Koberlein (BrianKoberlein.com / @BrianKoberlein) This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Meng Jin, Research Scientist at the SETI Institute, to the Weekly Space Hangout. Meng uses numerical modeling techniques to analyze Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and related events [e.g., CME-Driven Shocks and Solar … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: March 18, 2020 – Dr. Meng Jin and Modeling Coronal Mass Ejections" The post Weekly Space Hangout: March 18, 2020 – Dr. Meng Jin and Modeling Coronal Mass Ejections appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Morgan Rehnberg (MorganRehnberg.com / @MorganRehnberg & ChartYourWorld.org) Pam Hoffman (EverydaySpacer.com / @EverydaySpacer) Chris Carr (@therealCCarr This week we are airing Fraser’s PRERECORDED interview with Dr. Jon Willis, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Victoria, Canada. Jon lead the team of astronomers that recently discovered … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: March 11, 2020 – Dr. Jon Willis talks Galaxy Cluster XLSSC 122" The post Weekly Space Hangout: March 11, 2020 – Dr. Jon Willis talks Galaxy Cluster XLSSC 122 appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Kimberly Cartier (KimberlyCartier.org / @AstroKimCartier ) Dave Dickinson (www.astroguyz.com / @astroguyz) Veranika Klimovich ( @VeranikaSpace) Tonight we welcome Annie Dickson-Vandervelde, Emily Wilson. and Dr. Joel Kastner to the WSH. Annie led this team of Rochester Institute of Technology astronomers which used Gaia data to discover what may be a giant baby … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: March 4, 2020 – Did RIT Scientists Find A Baby Giant Planet?" The post Weekly Space Hangout: March 4, 2020 – Did RIT Scientists Find A Baby Giant Planet? appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Allen Versfeld (https://www.urban-astronomer.com/ / @uastronomer) Beth Johnson (@planetarypan) Moiya McTier (https://www.moiyamctier.com/ / @GoAstroMo) This week we welcome Czarina Salido to the Weekly Space Hangout. Czarina is the Executive Director of Time In Cosmology and the founder of the 501(3)(c) non-profit Taking Up Space. Taking Up Space is a program that sends Native American girls to Space … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: February 26, 2020 – Czarina Salido of Time In Cosmology is ‘Taking Up Space’" The post Weekly Space Hangout: February 26, 2020 – Czarina Salido of Time In Cosmology is ‘Taking Up Space’ appeared first on Universe Today.
Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain) Dr. Brian Koberlein (BrianKoberlein.com / @BrianKoberlein) Carolyn Collins Petersen (TheSpaceWriter.com / @spacewriter) Michael Rodruck (@michaelrodruck) Tonight we are airing Fraser’s interview with John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic Technology. John earned his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. While at Carnegie Mellon, John led … Continue reading "Weekly Space Hangout: February 19, 2020 – John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic" The post Weekly Space Hangout: February 19, 2020 – John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic appeared first on Universe Today.