Podcasts about Falcon Heavy

Open Line Discussion – 4451 10-26-25Quick Summary: The meeting began with technical discussions about audio issues and upcoming show scheduling, including a fundraising campaign for The Space Show. The group then engaged in extensive discussions about space exploration, focusing on SpaceX's Starship program, NASA's lunar lander projects, and the geopolitical competition with China regarding moon missions. The conversation concluded with debates about rocket system capabilities, cost effectiveness, and the need for strong leadership at NASA to navigate both technical challenges and political considerations.Detailed Summary:Our program started out with David making a few general program announcements. We talked about upcoming shows, including a potential cancellation for Friday. The conversation then shifted to space settlement, with John mentioning a recent podcast about Tesla's financial results and its focus on automation and robots for future space missions. David expressed skepticism about Starship's readiness to take humans to the moon before China and before Trump leaves office, emphasizing the political importance of achieving these goal before the end of 2028.David announced the start of the annual fundraising campaign for The Space Show, a non-profit 501C3 program, which begins around Thanksgiving. He encouraged listeners to call into live programs using Zoom Phone lines, which offers better audio quality than the previous toll-free line. David expressed gratitude to the donors who have supported the show for nearly 25 years, allowing it to continue. He also invited non-donors to participate in the program and contribute to the fundraising campaign through various payment methods on both The Space Show website, www.thespaceshow.com and our Substack site, doctorspace.substack.com.Early on I shared excitement about a new physics book by Daniel Whiteson that explores universal scientific concepts, including the possibility of alien understanding of our known physics. I also highlighted the ongoing debate between Transportation Secretary/NASA Administrator Sean Duffy and Musk regarding the delays for both the SpaceX's human lunar lander but also Blue Origin's human lunar lander projects, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to prioritize returning to the moon and beating China to it. Phil suggested a structured debate to address the technical aspects of NASA's decision to open lunar lander bidding, advocating for a more in-depth analysis of the issue.Our Zoom group discussed the possibility of organizing a debate on the Starship Human Lander Engineering Design Program, with Phil suggesting it could be a shorter, 40-minute format to attract a wider audience. David expressed concerns about the debate's impact, noting that previous attempts to influence policy through debates were unsuccessful. The group also touched on the potential for sharing debate clips on platforms like YouTube and Substack to increase exposure.The group talked about SpaceX's position and the challenges of organizing an independent audit of SpaceX's delays. They debated the feasibility of an independent panel examining technical and policy factors contributing to SpaceX's delays, with concerns raised about SpaceX's proprietary information and the current hyper-partisan environment. The conversation shifted to the broader context of U.S. space exploration, with Charles suggesting focusing on establishing a long-term lunar facility rather than rushing to beat China to the moon, while others emphasized the importance of cislunar economy and political competition in reaching the moon as soon as possible.Our Space Show participants looked at options for returning to the moon, with Ajay presenting two possible solutions: an Apollo-like lander or a modified Blue Moon Mark 1.5. Charles and others expressed concerns about the feasibility and wisdom of using old Apollo technology, arguing for a more modern approach. The discussion also touched on potential NASA administrators, with Sean Duffy and Jared Isaacman being considered as candidates. David emphasized that the NASA administrator serves at the president's pleasure and would likely follow the president's agenda rather than any personal or corporate interests.The group discussed the influence of political leaders, particularly Trump, on space policy and the role of advisors like Jared Isaacman. They explored the potential impact of a major incident involving China's space program on U.S. policy and SpaceX's development timeline. The conversation also covered milestones for both SpaceX's Starship program and China's lunar mission plans, with Marshall inquiring about China's key milestones for moon travel. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment that the topic had been covered extensively, and David invited participants to bring up other topics for further discussion.The conversation went back to discussing the challenges and limitations of SpaceX's Starship and Falcon Heavy systems, while expressing concerns about Starship's current performance and suggesting a hypothetical collaboration between SpaceX and another company that was quickly dismissed by Michael and others due to interpersonal conflicts. Marshall presented data on Falcon 9's cost-effectiveness, claiming it had reduced space transportation costs to $2,500 per kilogram, though Phil disputed these figures, suggesting a more realistic cost of around $6,000-10,000 per kilogram. The discussion concluded with Phil explaining the mass-to-orbit ratios of different rocket systems, noting that Starship's approach was closest to the Space Shuttle's method of transporting large amounts of mass to orbit.The focus continued on the challenges and limitations of SpaceX's Starship program, particularly regarding the mass fraction required to reach orbit and the reusability concerns. They debated whether Starship could achieve the goal of 100 flights before carrying humans, with Charles and Marshall expressing skepticism about meeting this target within the given timeframe. The conversation also touched on the cost and complexity of refurbishing reusable rocket stages, comparing it to the Falcon 9 program.We talked about the potential of China beating the U.S. to extract lunar water, while I emphasized the geopolitical risks of China's lunar ambitions and the need to prioritize returning to the moon before them. John Hunt raised concerns about the government shutdown potentially hindering NASA's observations of the 3i Atlas comet, leading to a decision to invite Avi Loeb back on the show to discuss it further. The conversation also touched on ESA's planned probe for the 2030s and the Europa Clipper mission's potential to observe the comet.As we neared the end of our program we discussed the geopolitical implications of China potentially establishing a presence at the South Pole, with Marshall expressing concern about mining rights claims. Phil suggested focusing on demonstrating technological superiority rather than racing China to specific destinations. John Hunt argued that being beaten by China might actually motivate the U.S. space program, while others noted that the current political climate makes long-term planning difficult. The conversation concluded with a debate about NASA's future leadership and potential reorganization, with some emphasizing the need for someone with both technical knowledge and visionary leadership.Please see the video of this program at doctorspace.substack.com.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223 (Not in service at this time)For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.com for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4455 ZOOM: Arkisys CEO David Barnhart | Sunday 02 Nov 2025 1200PM PTGuests:ZOOM, Dave Barnhart, CEO of Arkisys updates us with interesting news and developments Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The Space Show presents Phil Swan, Friday, 10-24-25Quick recapThe program focused on economic and technological aspects of space exploration, particularly Mars voyages, with Phil Swan presenting his analysis of kinetic energy costs and the need for long-term strategic planning. The discussion covered various propulsion technologies, cost considerations for different rocket systems, and the potential for in-situ resource utilization on Mars. The group explored concepts like mass drivers, lunar industries, and the economic viability of Mars cyclers, while emphasizing the importance of developing cost-effective solutions for human space travel and long-term settlement on Mars and the Moon.Detailed Summary: Phil Swan, the lead principal engineer for the Atlantis project, presented his recent Mars Society Conference talk, focusing on the economic aspects of kinetic energy for Mars voyages. He emphasized the need for a long-term strategy that makes Mars valuable to humanity, beyond just the initial journey. The discussion touched on the historical reluctance to use terms like “colonization” due to negative connotations, and Phil noted the importance of understanding the economics of kinetic energy in space travel. The program also included updates on podcast availability and ways to support the Space Show.Phil discussed the importance of developing a sophisticated space strategy that combines high-level merit with institutional capacity to support it. He compared humanity's expansion across Earth to potential space exploration, noting that exponential thinking is necessary to set realistic goals and expectations for space travel. Phil emphasized the need to apply exponential thinking to space problems rather than relying on linear thinking, as this approach could lead to more accurate timelines for reaching celestial destinations like the Moon and Mars.Phil referenced the technological advancements required to reach the Moon and Mars, highlighting the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous as a pivotal innovation. He emphasized the need for new technologies to enable human settlement on Mars and addressed the challenge of long-term value recognition for such endeavors. Our guest proposed a staged approach to Mars exploration, outlining key stages like “Boots on Mars,” “Research Outpost,” “Expansionist Drive,” and “Keystone Industries,” each with its value proposition and enablers. He concluded by identifying the high cost of interplanetary transportation as a significant barrier to progress, emphasizing the need for cost-effective solutions to make Mars exploration feasible.The group discussed the concept of Mars cyclers, with Phil explaining that they would serve as infrastructure for repeated Mars travel, though questions remained about their economic viability and technical feasibility. They explored the idea of self-sustaining biospheres on Mars cyclers and Mars bases, with Phil noting that technology would play a crucial role in maintaining these environments. The discussion concluded with Phil addressing the question of Mars's independence, comparing it to the interdependence between continents and suggesting that Mars would eventually become more self-supporting over time, though it would initially rely on supplies from Earth.We also discussed the need for more advanced propulsion technologies beyond chemical rockets, such as nuclear plasma or fusion rockets, to enable more efficient space travel. Phil highlighted the challenge of securing funding for long-term space exploration projects compared to immediate investments like Starlink, attributing this to society's short-term focus. Marshall and Phil agreed that governments might be better at making long-term investments, while David noted cultural differences in budgeting practices, particularly between the U.S. and China. Phil suggested that future space missions could serve as a test to compare different economic and political systems, similar to the Cold War moon race, which he argued was won by the American free-market system. John Hunt observed that the lack of competition from the Russian space program in the 1970s led to a reduction in space technology development in the U.S.Our guest presented a slide showing the delta V requirements for various destinations in the solar system, emphasizing the need for cheaper and faster transportation methods. He discussed the potential for using aerobraking and the economic benefits of lunar industries producing products for low Earth orbit. John Jossy suggested considering near-Earth asteroids for mining, which Phil acknowledged as a viable option with lower delta V requirements. The group also touched on the economics of low Earth orbit and the potential for lunar materials to be used in space industries.Phil explained the concept of delta-v and air braking, noting that while aero braking reduces the need for fuel, some mass is still required for the heat shield and other landing equipment. He discussed a paper titled “Cost vs. Delta V” that outlines the methodology for converting air braking delta-v into an equivalent rocket-based delta-v. Phil then presented a graph illustrating the relationship between delta-v and cost per kilogram for various missions, highlighting that costs scale exponentially with delta-v requirements. He noted that reusable rockets and infrastructure-based solutions could potentially reduce costs and provided examples of how different launch systems performed compared to the cost curve.The group discussed the cost-effectiveness of different rocket technologies, particularly comparing the Space Launch System (SLS) to Falcon Heavy. Phil noted that while Falcon Heavy was slightly more cost-competitive for some missions, SLS was still a viable technology that offered good value for its Delta V capabilities. John Hunt highlighted the issue of low production quantities for SLS, which limited cost savings from experience curve effects. The discussion concluded with an examination of Mars mission costs, with Phil presenting estimates for sending humans to Mars, including the cost of crew, provisions, and life support systems.Phil presented a detailed analysis of Mars mission costs, highlighting that a round-trip mission would cost $38 trillion, but could be reduced to $2.7 trillion through in-situ resource utilization and a Mars propellant plant. The discussion clarified that the Europa Clipper mission was launched by Falcon Heavy, not SLS, and Phil agreed to review the cost numbers later. Phil also explained the energy efficiency advantages of mass drivers compared to rockets, suggesting that Mars should consider implementing mass drivers for future space operations.Phil then presented a detailed analysis of mass drivers, discussing their potential for Mars and Earth-based applications. He explained the physics and economics of mass drivers, highlighting their cost advantages over rockets for Mars missions. The group discussed technical challenges, including G-forces and atmospheric entry, with Phil addressing concerns about safety zones and aiming. The conversation ended with a brief discussion on human transportation to Mars, noting the need for further exploration of options beyond cargo transport.Our guest discussed the challenges of improving human space travel to Mars, focusing on reducing costs and enhancing comfort and safety. He suggested increasing the mass budget, improving ecosystems, and using more efficient propulsion methods like mass drivers. David inquired about nuclear propulsion, but Phil explained that it may not be practical due to the weight of radiators compared to solar panels. They also discussed the limitations of current mass driver technologies, such as SpinLaunch, which can only replace the first stage of a rocket and cannot achieve the necessary delta V for Mars travel. Phil emphasized the need for a 1,000-fold cost reduction to enable long-term human settlement on Mars and the Moon.As we were moving to the end of the program, Phil discussed the challenges and inefficiencies of using aircraft carrier electromagnetic catapults for launching rockets into space, explaining that such systems would be too expensive and impractical compared to traditional rockets. He also explored the concept of linear motor launchers for space travel, noting that while they could potentially compete with rockets for long-distance missions like Mars travel, they are not cost-effective for low Earth orbit missions. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing a long-term strategy for lunar and Martian exploration, as well as the need for better institutional and public evaluation of complex space travel ideas.Audio is posted at www.thespaceshow.com for this date and Substack, doctorspace.substack.com. Video is also posted on the Substack site for this program.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223 (Not in service at this time)For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.com for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4455 ZOOM: Arkisys CEO David Barnhart | Sunday 02 Nov 2025 1200PM PTGuests:ZOOM, Dave Barnhart, CEO of Arkisys updates us with interesting news and developments Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Please note that due to our 501C3 status with One Giant Leap Foundation, all donation, subscriptions and gifts must go through PayPal, Zelle or by check to The Space Show in Las Vegas. See the large PayPal button on our website home page, www.thespaceshow.com for details these supporting ways to help The Space Show. We are working to be an approved nonprofit for Substack support but the process is tedious and lengthy. In the meantime, we do ask for and need your support.Quick summary: Our program explored lunar exploration and habitation concepts, focusing on lava tubes and the challenges of robotic mapping and structural analysis. The discussion concluded with conversations about lunar transportation, power requirements, and the importance of maintaining public interest in space exploration, while also touching on the role of AI in education and research.David and John Jossy discussed personal matters, including John's upcoming meeting with his son and David's struggles with overeating. They briefly touched on political topics, such as the upcoming New Jersey governor's race and concerns about New York City's direction. Haym joined later and shared his focus on lunar lava tubes, including their structure and potential for habitation, but noted he hadn't made any new progress on habitats recently. Space Show Zoom participants included Dr. Charles Lurio, John Hunt, John Jossy, Marshall Martin, Dr. Ajay Kothari, and Joe Pistritto.I announced upcoming guests for the space show, including Sam Ximenes who is the founder and CEO of Astroport Space, Mike Gruntman, and Homer Hickam for the next Hotel Mars program. I also discussed progress on getting podcasts back on various platforms and the challenges of accepting donations through Substack due to our nonprofit status. Dr. Haym Benaroya, a mechanical engineering professor at Rutgers University, was introduced as the guest for the day, having previously appeared on the show and authored books on lunar exploration.Haym reported strong student interest in space and lunar engineering at Rutgers, with many students pursuing independent research projects and finding placement at companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and NASA. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in spacecraft and mission design, and while he hasn't pursued commercial work himself, he is interested in studying lunar lava tubes as a logical progression from his previous lunar habitat research. His current research focuses on the structural stability of lava tubes, particularly examining the trade-offs between pressurized and unpressurized tubes, which serves as a valuable training ground for students.Our Zoom Space Show participants in this program, along with Dr. Benaroya, discussed lunar habitat options, with Haym explaining that lava tubes would be more suitable for third-generation habitats due to access and infrastructure challenges. Haym suggested that initial lunar structures would likely be cylindrical pressure vessels or inflatable modules that could be pre-constructed and shielded with regolith, with 3D printing as a future possibility once energy and robotic capabilities improve. Marshall raised the need for an exploratory rover to map lava tubes, with Haym confirming that some students have developed small-scale models with LiDAR equipment for this purpose.The group discussed the exploration and potential habitation of lunar lava tubes, emphasizing the need for robotic technology to assess their structural stability and safety. Haym and others highlighted the challenges of robotics on the Moon due to factors like regolith and radiation, suggesting a high reliance on robotics but acknowledging their complexity. Marshall mentioned the use of seismic technology to map lava tubes, while Joe referenced a presentation on a tethered rover concept for exploration. The conversation also touched on the balance between human and robotic efforts in preparing lava tubes for habitation, with Haym suggesting a significant robotic presence. David asked about the feasibility of similar efforts on Mars, and Haym noted that while gravity might differ, many challenges would remain similar.We continued talking about the potential for lava tubes on the Moon and their possible water content, with Haym noting that while water could theoretically accumulate in tubes, it would be a longer process than in permanently shadowed regions. They explored the temperature conditions in lava tubes, with Haym citing a source that suggested temperatures around 63 degrees Fahrenheit, though the accuracy of this measurement in a vacuum environment was questioned. The conversation then shifted to the need for lunar landing pads, with David raising the question of current technological readiness and the necessary robotic construction methods, emphasizing the need for structural analysis and material selection.We did focus on the challenges and potential solutions for lunar landing pads, including their structural stability and regolith displacement. Haym highlighted concerns about the instability of tall rockets landing on the moon and proposed two classes of landing sites: sintering the surface or using ceramic-like plates. John Jossy mentioned Ethos Space's work on a regolith compacting device, though David noted their timeline was far off into the future. The conversation also touched on the need for engineering tests and inspections for lunar infrastructure while suggesting that Sam, our upcoming Sunday guest, could provide insights on regolith-based landing pads. The discussion concluded with a consensus that energy, particularly fission energy, would be crucial for mapping lava tubes and other lunar activities.We continued with a discussion of power requirements for lunar and Martian bases, while noting that the current proposed nuclear power is sufficient for now, future needs will require megawatt-scale power. They agreed that cables would be the simplest method to transport power to construction sites, though Marshall emphasized the uncertainty of permanent vs. temporary needs on the moon. The discussion concluded with predictions about lunar missions, with Haym and others expressing confidence that China will send a person to the moon within 5-8 years, while Joe noted uncertainty about American lunar missions in the same timeframe.The group discussed various concepts for lunar transportation, including maglev trains and rovers, but noted that current U.S. lunar ambitions lack key components like a lander and the Gateway station, which was revived by Sen. Cruz for Artemis missions 4 and 5. They debated the status of Boeing's Starliner and Orion programs, with Orion being considered in good shape despite some heat shield issues, while NASA is exploring alternative rocket options like Starship, New Glenn, or Falcon Heavy. The discussion concluded with David raising the importance of communicating the value of lunar missions to the general public, emphasizing the need for clear benefits that could be realized within a reasonable timeframe.Zoom participants along with Haym talked up the benefits of lunar exploration, with Haym explaining that while students are excited by the prospect of space activities, the long-term economic benefits could include advancements in civilian technology, a lunar-based economy, and access to helium-3 for fusion reactions. Ajay noted that the excitement factor, similar to Hollywood, is important for public engagement, while Haym mentioned potential medical benefits of conducting cancer research in lunar gravity. The discussion highlighted that while immediate benefits might not be apparent, the cumulative economic and technological impacts over 50-100 years could significantly benefit society.The group discussed the potential for mining lunar resources and the importance of maintaining public interest in space exploration. They agreed that frequent and exciting missions, such as those involving lava tubes or live broadcasts, could help generate public enthusiasm. Joe noted that the Eclipse missions might be more exciting than Artemis, while Marshall mentioned the high viewership of the Starship test flight. When asked, Haym shared how artificial intelligence is being used in his spacecraft course to help students produce polished summaries of papers, reducing their workload.Haym discussed the integration of AI in education and research, sharing his experience with using AI tools to assist in teaching and conducting research. He highlighted the potential of AI to accelerate research processes and optimize habitat design, emphasizing the need for human oversight to guide AI's capabilities. John Jossy brought up the work of the Purdue University's Brazilian Extraterrestrial Habitats Institute on automating habitats and using AI for design, which Haym acknowledged as impressive. The group discussed the rapid pace of AI development and its potential to transform future technology, including its application in space missions. David asked about the path from academic theories and projects to real-world lunar missions, but the response was vague.Haym emphasized the need for affordable lunar missions to test technologies in the actual lunar environment, highlighting the importance of both commercial and governmental efforts. He noted that while small landers have made progress, costs remain a significant challenge. Haym also discussed his previous work, including his books on space exploration and lunar habitats, and shared insights on AI in academic writing. The conversation concluded with a discussion about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), where Haym expressed skepticism about the technology claims but acknowledged the possibility of extraterrestrial origins.The conversation ended with participants expressing appreciation for the discussion and format, and David announced the next meeting with Sam on Sunday. Haym and others shared positive feedback on the new Space Show format, and David highlighted the challenges posed by AI, including its impact on website security and data privacy. Charles and Joe discussed the broader implications of AI on the web, with Charles noting the degradation of web content and Joe emphasizing the technological battle between defenders and attackers. David expressed frustration with the costs and technical challenges of defending against AI-driven attacks, and the group agreed on the need for ongoing vigilance and adaptation.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223 (Not in service at this time)For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.com for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4447: ZOOM Sam Ximenes of Astroport Space Technologies | Sunday 19 Oct 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Sam XimenesZoom: CEO & Founder of Astroport Space Tech, Sam Ximenes, is with us to discuss their lunar work, his being featured by National Geographic and more. Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Meeting assets for Doug Loverro discussion are ready! Friday, 9-12-25We welcomed national security consultant Doug Loverro back to the program which focused on discussing NASA's lunar exploration program and its challenges, with participants expressing concerns about the current complexity of the mission architecture and its potential for failure. We explored alternative approaches and architectures, including simpler lander options and reusable vehicle systems, while considering the geopolitical implications of China's space program and the need for U.S. technological leadership. The discussion concluded with proposals for an independent review of NASA's space program to assess its feasibility and recommend potential changes, with emphasis on the importance of maintaining American prominence in space exploration. Space Show supporters John Jossy, Dr. Ajay Kothari and Dr. Phil Swan were with us for this program.Our guest Doug Loverro expressed concerns about the current space exploration plan, highlighting its complexity and potential scheduling issues. He emphasized that while the long-term goal of using readability and refueling in space depots is supported, the short-term plan faces criticism due to its complexity and reliance on new technologies. Doug also addressed the debate about the necessity of returning to the moon, arguing that it is important for maintaining global technological leadership and potentially having a strategic advantage in future space exploration efforts.Our guest, a former NASA official, and his co-authors argue that NASA's current approach to returning to the moon may not be sufficient to beat China's timeline. They highlight the need for a more focused and accelerated strategy, drawing on their extensive experience in space system development. The authors emphasize the importance of the U.S. being the first to return to the moon, a goal supported by political leaders, while acknowledging differing opinions on the necessity of such a mission.Doug expressed concerns about NASA's complex architecture for returning to the moon, highlighting that it requires multiple unprecedented tasks to succeed and risks failure due to its complexity. He emphasized that simpler, more sustainable methods exist for establishing initial lunar capability while working on long-term solutions. David inquired about NASA's rationale for designing such a complex program, to which Doug explained the program's origins from previous administration goals and the challenges of aligning different elements. Douglas suggested that NASA's new leadership, including Acting Administrator Duffy, should consider an independent body to assess the current plan's feasibility and potentially recommend changes.The discussion focused on the challenges and feasibility of using SpaceX's Starship for human lunar missions. Phil raised concerns about the technical difficulties of reusing Starship for orbital refueling and landing on the moon, while Doug acknowledged these challenges but emphasized that SpaceX has demonstrated rapid development capabilities. Ajay once again suggested considering Falcon Heavy as an alternative, and Doug shared his experience with Falcon Heavy's development. The group discussed the need for an independent team to evaluate different architectures and involve experts from various companies and organizations to accelerate progress.Doug and David discussed the geopolitical implications of China's potential moon and Mars missions, with Doug emphasizing the importance of technological leadership and the need for a better plan to compete with China. They agreed that the U.S. has already ceded some ground in scientific research to Chinese universities, but both expressed optimism about the potential to rebuild American technological and economic leadership through increased investment in science and technology. The conversation concluded with David asking for Doug's and the group's proposed solution to the current lunar program issues, though Douglas did not provide a specific answer in the transcript.Doug and Ajay discussed the challenges and potential solutions for returning to the moon. They agreed that using a lunar lander based on storable propellants and existing technology would be simpler and more cost-effective than the current plans involving Starship. Doug suggested using the Blue Moon Lander, which could potentially be refueled by a Starship, as a viable option. They also discussed the importance of starting with easier missions in equatorial locations before attempting more challenging ones at higher latitudes.Doug explained that Artemis is not a specific architecture but an intent to return to the moon, and he believes it is compatible with existing law. He noted that while SpaceX conducts internal design reviews, there is a lack of external scrutiny compared to traditional NASA processes. Our guest expressed concerns about the current state of the program, citing a lack of detailed information in NASA briefings and the opinions of former NASA administrators who doubt the current plan's viability. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the program's status to inform Congress and potentially lead to changes in the plan.Doug explained that an independent review of NASA's space program could be completed within 45 days, similar to a previous review he led at NASA. He emphasized that with full access to technical information and NASA's cooperation, such a review could provide clear answers about the program's viability by the end of October, with a preferred path forward identified by January 2026. David inquired about the necessary steps to initiate this process, and Douglas identified the need for Secretary Duffy's involvement to gain access to detailed technical knowledge and NASA's support, stressing that the review should not be perceived as a fight but rather as a collaborative effort to find the right answers.Doug and Ajay expressed their commitment to keeping the U.S. in the lead, emphasizing their shared goal of maintaining national prominence. Doug criticized NASA's leadership turnover and lack of continuity, which he believes has hindered the long-term success of the moon program. Phil raised concerns about potential moisture issues in SpaceX's Starship heat shield tiles, which Doug acknowledged but could not definitively address. John inquired about the feasibility of placing a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, to which Douglas expressed doubt about the difficulty of this task.Douglas the challenges and complexities of refueling missions for space exploration, highlighting the need for a fuel depot and tanker systems, and noted that simpler architectures might have lower development costs but could lead to higher long-term operational expenses. Ajay emphasized the cost-effectiveness of reusable vehicles, citing Falcon 9 as an example, and suggested that simpler, expendable vehicles are not cost-efficient in the long run. The group debated whether the current approach to lunar exploration, involving the Space Launch System (SLS) and Gateway, aligns with the goals of the Artemis program, with John and Phil expressing concerns about the architecture's feasibility and cost. David encouraged further analysis and discussion on alternative architectures while noting the importance of meeting geopolitical objectives in space exploration.Thank you.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4430 ZOOM Dr. Gerta Keller | Sunday 14 Sep 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. Gerta kellerzoom Dr. Keller discusses her book, "The Last Extinction: The Real Science Behind The Death of the Dinosaurs"Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Meeting assets for The Space Show Present Mike Gold are ready! 8-29-25Hi David LivingstonThe following assets for the meeting - The Space Show Present Mike Gold are now available.Our program began with discussions about UAP research and national security concerns, including Michael Gold's involvement with NASA's UAP Independent Study Team and his testimony before Congress. The group explored space exploration initiatives, focusing on commercial space activities, human spaceflight capabilities, and international collaboration through the Artemis accords. The conversation concluded with discussions about budget and fiscal challenges, particularly regarding NASA's funding priorities and the need for strategic objectives in space exploration, while also addressing national debt concerns and immigration policies. He went on to discuss his new role at Redwire, focusing on international space business, particularly in Europe where he sees significant growth potential due to the continent's efforts to develop independent space capabilities. He expressed concern about national security threats related to drone technology, noting that if a conflict with China were to occur, they would likely employ similar tactics to Ukraine's against Russia. The discussion concluded with Gold revealing his involvement with NASA's UAP Independent Study Team and congressional testimony on the topic. Space Show participants including John Hunt, John Jossy, Dr. Ajay Kothari, Marshall Martin, guest Dr. Hank Alewine, Bill Gowan and Dr. Doug Plata.As for speaking on the UAP issue and concerns, our guest talked about the importance of addressing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), particularly adversary drones, which he believes could pose a significant threat similar to what Ukraine did to Russia. He expressed concern about the stigma surrounding UAP and emphasized the need for enhanced anti-UAV capabilities to protect military bases, critical infrastructure, and nuclear facilities from potential drone attacks. Gold noted that while the current administration is more attentive to UAP issues, further acceleration in developing drone technology and defense strategies is necessary to prevent future conflicts.He brought up the NASA UAP Independent Study Team's findings and expressed disappointment with the treatment of academic members who faced ridicule and threats for their participation. He highlighted the need for a more objective scientific approach and emphasized the importance of analyzing data and witness testimony from pilots, such as those involved in the Tic Tac incident. Gold also suggested that NASA conduct an archival review and leverage AI/ML to search for UAP-related data, and proposed expanding the NASA ASRS system to include UAP reporting.The group discussed the potential for using the ASRS reporting system to transform pilots, crew members, and passengers into sensors for detecting unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which could provide valuable data for national security and scientific research. Marshall highlighted the growing global internet connectivity and increased bandwidth, enabling rapid deployment of cameras and sensors to capture anomalies. John Hunt shared insights on the historical context of UAP sightings, particularly around nuclear facilities, and expressed skepticism about some conspiracy theories. Michael emphasized the need for NASA to play a role in collecting and archiving UAP data, while also noting the challenges posed by the physics of UAP sightings. The discussion concluded with optimism about the future of UAP research, particularly under the leadership of NASA's interim administrator, Sean Duffy, and the potential for bipartisan support in Congress.We moved on with a discussion about the importance of human spaceflight and the potential for commercialization of the International Space Station (ISS). He highlighted Redwire's recent developments in bioprinting and pharmaceuticals, including the creation of a subsidiary called Space MD to commercialize space-grown crystals for drug development. Michael addressed concerns about the ISS's commercialization and its impact on funding for Moon and Mars initiatives, emphasizing that all three should be pursued simultaneously. He also touched on Redwire's global operations, including its presence in Europe and plans for expansion. The discussion concluded with questions about the timeline for bio printed medical implants and potential collaboration on artificial gravity technologies.The group talked about several space exploration initiatives, focusing on seed crystal development for drug creation and agricultural research in microgravity. Michael Gold highlighted Red Wire's collaboration with NASA and Vast for flying a pillbox in Haven One, emphasizing the importance of microgravity for various fields including agriculture and organ fabrication. Ajay raised concerns about the lack of focus on lunar infrastructure and cargo missions, suggesting the use of Falcon Heavy for cost-effective cargo transport to the moon. The discussion also touched on the need for human spaceflight capabilities to compete with China and the importance of cargo systems, with Michael noting that the administration plans to enhance the CLPS program with CLPS 2.0 for more robust lunar surface operations.Much was said about the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords and their success in bringing 56 countries together, with Doug proposing the need for a follow-on to coordinate international lunar exploration as Starship development progresses. Michael Gold emphasized the importance of leveraging the accords to optimize investments and collaborations among nations, while expressing caution regarding potential deals with China due to national security concerns and IP theft. The discussion also touched on Redwire's focus on innovation to address economic challenges and create new opportunities for America.The group discussed the potential of SpaceX's Starship for space manufacturing, with Michael highlighting its cost-effectiveness for launching large payloads like medical laboratories. They explored the economic and strategic importance of space exploration, with Gold emphasizing the need for continued investment in space capabilities to maintain American leadership and national security. The conversation also touched on the future of the International Space Station (ISS) and the importance of developing commercial space stations, with Gold advocating for maximizing ISS utilization while advancing plans for a Commercial LEO Destination (CLD).The group discussed the challenges of reducing the national debt, with Hank and David agreeing that current spending rates outpace revenue growth, making it difficult to balance the budget. They explored potential solutions, including selective increases in legal immigration and the role of automation and AI in the workforce, with Hank expressing concerns about AI's impact on education and cheating in online courses. The conversation concluded with a discussion of the demographic challenges facing many countries, including the United States, and the need to consider alternative approaches to immigration and education in response to these changes.As for the challenges of addressing the national debt and deficit, Hank noted that increased federal revenue through taxation has not led to reduced spending. David and Marshall highlighted how tax increases can reduce production and marketing, while John Hunt suggested that gradual inflation could help reduce the debt over time, though this approach faces political and economic challenges. The conversation also touched on the potential for state and local governments to handle certain services more efficiently, with Hank questioning the necessity of some federal rolesThe group discussed space policy and budget issues, with Hank expressing concerns about NASA's funding and the broader space sector's impact on national debt. Hank, who wrote the first paper on space accounting, emphasized the need for a complete rebranding of NASA's objectives in the new space economy and highlighted the lack of courage among academics and practitioners to discuss fiscal responsibility in space spending. The conversation also touched on the challenges of having open discussions about space funding priorities, with Hank noting that such conversations often become political and lead to excessive spending through Continuing Resolutions.As we were nearing the end of the program, we discussed NASA's priorities and budget, with Hank emphasizing the need to focus on strategic objectives and eliminate inefficiencies, particularly in activities that could be better handled by the private sector. They critically examined the cost and timeline issues of the SLS program, with Hank noting that NASA's infrastructure is often spread across congressional districts to secure funding. The conversation also touched on China's advanced space program and its potential to surpass the U.S. in lunar exploration, highlighting the need for the U.S. to accelerate its efforts. Mike offered his comments and thoughts on this issues as we closed our meeting.Be sure to watch the Zoom video of this program at doctorspace.substack.com. The audio will also be posted there as well as The Space Show website.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:No program on Sunday August 31 due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The Space Show presents Dr. A.J. Kothar via Zoom leading a discussion on how best to return & get infrastructure to the Moon. Tuesday, August 12, 2025Our discussion centered on Ajay Kothari's proposal to use multiple Falcon Heavy rockets for lunar missions as a cost-effective alternative to NASA's SLS and SpaceX's Starship. Kothari argued this method could be implemented within two years at an estimated cost of $400–600 million, and would avoid political pushback by serving as a complement rather than a replacement for existing programs. His plan involves docking multiple upper stages in low Earth orbit, then sending them to the Moon to land infrastructure payloads like nuclear power components. However, participants raised concerns over technical feasibility, payload delivery, landing mechanics, and cost estimates. By the way, do see Ajay's presentation which has been uploaded to our blog for this program.Phil presented Ajay's slides for the group to refer to during our program. Our continued discussion addressed leveraging current SLS/Orion infrastructure, despite general dissatisfaction with their limitations.Key technical concerns included the following by those in the Zoom meeting with Dr. Kothari:* Rick questioned the structural viability of connecting multiple upper stages, referencing challenges faced by Falcon Heavy.* Phil noted possible high costs and a lack of existing control systems.* Doug challenged Ajay's assumptions on Falcon Heavy's actual payload capabilities, prompting references to NASA's verified data.* Ajay explained his design accounts for partial reuse and optimized payload delivery, and he agreed to prepare a comparative metrics table for future presentations.Broader discussion shifted to Artemis program challenges, with skepticism from David and others about the realistic timeline and lack of cohesive leadership. Participants debated whether public-private partnerships, government direction, or commercial entrepreneurs like Musk and Bezos should lead space efforts. Ajay supported a hybrid approach, emphasizing infrastructure-building, not just symbolic landings.Additional topics includedThe strategic value of nuclear power (e.g., Kilopower project) for lunar manufacturing.* The importance of establishing infrastructure at the Moon's South Pole, including potential use of water ice as a fuel resource.* Phil's critique of NASA's over-reliance on commercialization.* Charles's belief that China will reach the Moon first, citing inconsistent U.S. program management.* The program concluded with debate over the realistic date for returning humans to the Moon, with predictions ranging from 2028–2029, and acknowledgments that China's progress may influence U.S. urgency.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4418: Michael Listner, Atty | Tuesday 19 Aug 2025 700PM PTGuests: Michael ListnerMichael will talk about administration space policy changes, commercial space and more for one hour.Broadcast 4420: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 20 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4420: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 20 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4421: Mari Anne Snow (Zoom & livestream) | Friday 22 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: Mari Anne SnowMari, CEO of Eascra Biotech, talks about their in space pioneering precision therapeutic delivery solutions for challenging tissues, including articular cartilage, kidneys, & ECMBroadcast 4422: TBD | Monday 25 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonGuest TBDLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The program focused on Ajay Kothari's proposal to use multiple Falcon Heavy rockets instead of Starship or SLS for lunar missions, which he argued would be more cost-effective and implementable within two years despite technical challenges raised by other participants. The group discussed broader concerns about the Artemis program's leadership, timeline feasibility, and competition with China's lunar ambitions, with some members expressing skepticism about returning to the moon while others emphasized the importance of establishing infrastructure like nuclear power systems. The conversation ended with participants debating when humans would actually return to the moon, with estimates ranging from 2028-2029, and David announcing upcoming shows including Hotel Mars and an appearance on Coast to Coast. Please read the full summary of this program at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, August 12, 2025. In addition, the video and audio archive will soon be published at doctorspace.substack.com.

Our program with guest Jim Muncy covered NASA's current leadership situation and workforce challenges, including discussions about temporary administrators, potential job losses, and changes in federal government staffing policies. The conversation explored NASA's budget situation and space exploration priorities, with particular focus on the Appropriation Bill for Commerce, Justice, and Science, as well as the challenges posed by political divisions in Congress. Also discussed was the aging NASA workforce, modernization of engineering, and the need for younger innovative engineering and science. The discussion concluded with an examination of the commercial space industry's evolution and NASA's transition to new approaches for space exploration, emphasizing the need for effective leadership communication and bipartisanship in space policy.Jim Muncy discussed NASA's current leadership situation, explaining that NASA has had a temporary administrator since January and that Jarod Isaacman was nominated but not yet confirmed as administrator. He highlighted Jackie Jester's role as an excellent leader in legislative affairs and deputy chief of staff, noting her previous experience with Relativity and the Senate Commerce Committee. Jim also mentioned that NASA is currently dealing with uncertainty around 2,100 potential job losses, though he did not elaborate on this point other than pointing out the aging workforce and why plus the need for innovative engineering and science to be competitive with the private sector.Jim did spend time discussing the proposed changes in federal government staffing under the current administration, noting a reduction in the overall number of employees. He explained the implementation of a deferred retirement program that allows employees to announce their resignation in March, work remotely until September, and then officially retire. Jim also mentioned the administration's requirement for federal employees to return to in-office work, which has been met with resistance from some employees who had become accustomed to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guest highlighted these NASA workforce challenges, noting that many employees are eligible for retirement and the agency has traditionally attracted long-term workers. He emphasized the contrast between NASA's older, more static workforce and the younger, more diverse nature of commercial industry, explaining that the Trump administration has shifted away from specific diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, resulting in some staff reductions. He suggested that changes in program priorities and funding may lead to some employees leaving NASA, but he did not anticipate mass departures or the closure of NASA centers.Jim mentioned the leadership changes at NASA, noting that Secretary Duffy was appointed as the interim administrator to provide political direction, while Janet Petro previously served as the acting administrator focusing on executive orders. He predicted that a new associate administrator would soon be named to serve as a general manager and oversee the implementation of the President's and Secretary's directives into actual programs. Jim expressed optimism about the shift towards an economic focus for space exploration, suggesting that someone with expertise in public-private partnerships would be ideal for the associate administrator role. He also explained the current tension between the executive and legislative branches regarding budget allocation and implementation, emphasizing the administration's belief in the executive branch's authority to manage day-to-day operations without significant legislative interference.Concerning the budget and Congress, the Appropriation Bill for Commerce, Justice, and Science stood out noting that NASA funding was planned on being maintained at last year's levels despite initial concerns about a 24.3% cut. Muncy expressed approval of the administration's approach to space exploration, which integrates human spaceflight and robotic missions, allowing for common hardware and technology across missions. Our guest criticized JPL's lack of innovation in the Mars sample return project, suggesting alternative methods and emphasizing the need for a more integrated and cost-effective approach to space exploration.Jim continued focusing on the challenges NASA faces due to political divisions in Congress, predicting a likely continuing resolution instead of a normal appropriation process. He suggested that the administration might prioritize a 4th Artemis mission using SLS without the Exploration Upper Stage and utilize existing gateway elements in a restructured approach combining commercial LEO destinations. Muncy also mentioned the possibility of using a 5-meter Centaur upper stage to replace the interim boosters and proposed a compromise where one additional SLS flight could be funded alongside commercial and space science initiatives. He emphasized that under a continuing resolution, NASA may terminate programs not prioritized by the administration, and he expressed a preference for increased funding in planetary science, lunar exploration, and astrophysics.Jim emphasized the need to transition NASA's focus from an unsustainable to an affordable and sustainable architecture for human exploration, aiming to make the moon part of Earth's economy. He suggested reducing unnecessary fixed costs and increasing public-private partnerships, commercial activities, and research in areas like mining and life support systems. In addition, he highlighted the importance of lowering the cost of keeping people alive and productive in space, enabling more economic and scientific experiments. He proposed setting clear metrics, such as the number of people living and working in space, to measure NASA's success and drive down costs further.When I asked Jim the path forward in implementing what Jim wanted as a space program, he discussed the Space Frontier Foundation's mission to promote the idea of space as a frontier for humanity, emphasizing that it is a place with unique resources like unfiltered solar energy and microgravity. He contrasted this view with the government's approach, which he sees as a program focused on national security and economic benefits. Muncy did introduce a third perspective, viewing space as an industry, which he sees as a transitional stage between government-led programs and a fully developed space economy.We discussed the evolution of the commercial space industry, highlighting its growth and competition since 2005. Our guest noted the success of multiple U.S. launch companies and the shift from a government monopoly to a competitive market, expressing hope that the current administration would support this vibrant industry, comparing it to the real estate industry in New York. He also addressed the need for congressional approval and suggested explaining the vision to both Congress and their constituents. Jim did emphasize that the industry has come a long way since 2009-2010, when there was only one operational commercial launch provider.Nearing the close of the program and in the form of a brief summary, Jim discussed the evolution of the commercial crew program and NASA's transition to new approaches for space exploration, emphasizing the need for leadership to communicate these changes effectively to Congress and the public. He highlighted the importance of selecting a change-oriented NASA administrator and suggested that former administrator Jarod Isaacman could play a key role in advocating for these shifts. He expressed cautious optimism about the current administration's space policy, noting potential improvements in commercial partnerships and licensing reform, while acknowledging that progress may be slower than desired. Jim also touched on the need for bipartisanship in space policy and criticized the lack of constructive dialogue on NASA's budget, urging a more balanced discussion of its merits and flaws.Note that Jim received two detailed and lengthy listener phone calls, one from John Hunt and the other from Dr. Kothari We also we received several email listener questions and comments. Artemis, SLS, Orion were additional topics discussed as was the use of Falcon Heavy to get us to the Moon faster and cheaper.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4401 BY ZOOM: John Hunt | Tuesday 15 Jul 2025 700PM PTGuests: John HuntThis is a Zoom show. Listening instructions will be posted on the blog prior to the show. Topic: Re the UAP Matter: Our own JOHN HUNT Vs.The Wall Street Journal! Don't miss it!Broadcast 4402: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 16 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4403: Dr. E. Talaat, CEO of USRA | Friday 18 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. Elsayed R. TalaatWe present Dr. E. Talaat, CEO and President of USRABroadcast 4404: Rand Simberg | Sunday 20 Jul 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Rand SimbergRand speaks on this important and memorable day in historyLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Meeting SummaryThe main portion of the meeting focused on space policy and technology, including debates about SpaceX's role in the U.S. space program, the feasibility of reusable rocket technology, and comparisons between U.S. and Chinese space capabilities. The discussion concluded with conversations about NASA's future, recent rocket nozzle issues, and Relativity Space's new leadership, with participants exploring a range of strategic and technical considerations for the future of the space industry.I introduced our Tuesday evening guest, Robert (Bob) Zimmerman, who noted the 15th anniversary of his website Behind the Black and encouraged listeners to support it through donations. Our discussion began by examining the ongoing tension between President Trump and Elon Musk regarding the BBB (Build Back Better) initiative. Bob expressed concern that the emotional and irrational nature of this debate could harm the American space program, which heavily relies on SpaceX. He emphasized the need for rational budget discussions and entertained the idea of a new political party. He also pointed out that Musk's Starship program might continue even without government funding, thanks to revenue from Starlink.The conversation then shifted to the feasibility of reusable rocket technology. Bob recounted how a physicist in 2013 had claimed orbital reuse was physically impossible—something Musk has since disproven. A back-and-forth discussion with several attendees explored the technical and economic implications of reusable systems.Phil and Bob discussed the difficulty of having rational conversations about budget cuts and program funding in today's polarized political environment. Bob contrasted SpaceX's fast-paced innovation under Elon Musk with Blue Origin's slower progress under Jeff Bezos. Marshall inquired about SpaceX's launch timeline, and Bob acknowledged Musk's aggressive goals but also noted potential delays, especially following the recent Starship test failure. Doug raised concerns about payload capacity for Mars missions, prompting Bob to describe Musk's iterative approach to achieving long-term goals.The Zoom discussion with Bob eventually focused on the capabilities and limitations of SpaceX's Starship, especially for lunar and Mars missions. Dr. Doug, Ajay, Phil, and Bob shared calculations suggesting Starship would require 10 to 40 in-orbit refueling operations to complete these missions. Bob emphasized that Starship's reusability and potential for mass production fundamentally change the cost and risk models compared to expendable rockets. Ajay suggested that Falcon Heavy might offer a faster and more cost-effective path to human-rated lunar missions. I eventually directed the discussion to a new topic.Bob criticized the U.S. space program's focus on beating China back to the Moon with a “flags and footsteps” approach reminiscent of Apollo. Instead, he advocated for a long-term strategy emphasizing infrastructure development and cargo missions, supporting Dr. Kothari's proposal of using Falcon Heavy as a cost-effective alternative to the SLS. Participants largely agreed that fostering a diverse space industry involving multiple private companies would be more sustainable than a single government-led mission. Dr. Kothari, however, stressed the urgency of staying competitive with China's growing lunar ambitions.The group compared the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. and Chinese space efforts. Bob praised the U.S. model of private enterprise, contrasting it with China's centralized, government-led approach. David expressed skepticism about NASA's Artemis program, while Phil suggested that Chinese advances might serve as a wake-up call to U.S. complacency.Later, Retired Lt. General Steve Kwast was mentioned as a potential NASA administrator. David noted his strong support for commercial space and his national security perspective. This led to a broader conversation about NASA's future. Rick expressed concern that budget cuts could weaken NASA, even suggesting a potential merger with the Space Force. Bob countered that NASA's budget hadn't been slashed as severely as feared and reiterated the importance of private-sector leadership, drawing historical parallels to pre-WWII science funding. The role of the National Space Council was also discussed, with Bob expressing skepticism based on past experience. Attendees agreed on the need for a balanced public-private approach to space exploration.Toward the end of the meeting, Bob brought up recent rocket nozzle issues, highlighting two concerning incidents: a Vulcan rocket nozzle detaching during launch, and a static fire test failure of an SLS solid rocket booster. He questioned whether these failures pointed to systemic problems at Northrop Grumman. The conversation also touched on ULA's potential sale, which Bob noted had drawn no interest after Vulcan's second launch. A question about sabotage was raised, but Bob dismissed it as speculative, noting no credible evidence and pointing instead to the importance of internal quality control.Bob elaborated that sabotage concerns were rare in the U.S. space sector, crediting companies like SpaceX for maintaining strict performance standards by quickly addressing internal issues. He praised innovative company cultures that encourage creativity and problem-solving. Phil and David voiced concerns about waning public interest in space. Bob attributed this to educational shortcomings and the lack of competitive media. He concluded that both freedom and competition are essential for revitalizing education, media, and public engagement with space exploration.As the program wrapped up, Bob brought attention to Relativity Space's new CEO, Eric Schmidt, and his ambitious plans for the company. There was speculation about Schmidt potentially launching data centers in space, drawing parallels to Musk's Starlink initiative. Bob noted that Relativity has shifted its focus from solely 3D-printing rockets to pursuing the most efficient paths to space access.We concluded by thanking Bob and all participants for the engaging discussion and wished everyone a great July 4th holiday weekend.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4395: ZOOM: Bob Zimmerman | Tuesday 01 Jul 2025 700PM PTGuests: Robert ZimmermanzOOM: Bob returns for news and updates we all want to hear.Broadcast 4396 Hotel Mars with Dr. Simone Marchi | Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Simone MarchiThe shaping of terrestrial planets by late accretions will be his topic.Friday, July 4, 2025: No program for the July 4th holiday. | Friday 04 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program for the July 4, 2025 holidaySunday, July 6, 2025: No program as part of the July 4th holiday weekend. | Sunday 06 Jul 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program today as part of the July 4th holiday weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

SpaceX conducted its ninth test flight of the Starship Launch Vehicle atop a Falcon Heavy booster from Starbase, Texas. See all the highlights from the test launch.

SpaceX conducted its ninth test flight of the Starship Launch Vehicle atop a Falcon Heavy booster from Starbase, Texas. See all the highlights from the test launch.

Ajay was back with us to discuss his approach to returning to the Moon using Falcon Heavy rather than the infrastructure planned for in Artemis. Our guest went through the economics supporting his plan but also the faster timeline which he said would assure us getting back on the Moon before China. In the second half of our program, our guest promoted the use of a Molten Salt Thorium reactor for our power, also in space. He pointed the progress being made on bring thorium power to market in both China and Russia. He talked extensively about the reserves of thorium for the US, China, etc. and the advantages in using Thorium Please read the full summary of the show at www.thespaceshow.com for this program on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Dr. Kothari was with us to discuss the recent congressional hearing on Artemis and return to the Moon programs as he attended the hearing. You can find the hearing on YouTube if you want to watch. Ajay reported on the two guests, the need for a sustainable program, then he talked about his own ideas for a sustainable program to the Moon using Falcon Heavy. Our guest has put his information on our blog for this show so do check it out, including his PDF on returning humans to the Moon. We got several questions and calls, some which inquired about the process to get ideas before the policy makers. Please read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Tim Berry is the head of manufacturing and quality at Jet Zero. He previously worked at SpaceX on the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon and Starship rocket programs as well as Starlink. After decades of working with rockets, he transitioned to commercial aviation and Jet Zero's mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Tim Berry is the head of manufacturing and quality at Jet Zero. He previously worked at SpaceX on the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon and Starship rocket programs as well as Starlink. After decades of working with rockets, he transitioned to commercial aviation and Jet Zero's mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In this episode, Tim talks about dealing with failure and how accountability and a sense of urgancy contribute to building world class products and businesses. 

Spaceflight News— Epsilon can't stop exploding (space.com) (youtu.be) (PDF: jaxa.jp)— A Dragonfly on a Falcon Heavy (satellitetoday.com)Short & Sweet— Old spaceport, newish rocket (europeanspaceflight.com)— New rocket, new spaceport (spacenews.com)Questions, Comments, Corrections— From the intro: New Glenn on the pad (space.com) (blueorigin.com)This Week in Spaceflight History— 3 Dec, 2003: Shuttle Training Aircraft loses part of an engine (iasa.com.au VIA web.archive.org) (en.wikipedia.org) (simpleflying.com)— Next week (12/10 - 12/16) in 1970: Equatorial eyes

Dragonfly is taking a Falcon Heavy to Titan, What's inside Uranus?, Russia's cargo ship delivers a stinky smell to the station, and testing robots to go under the ice on Europa.

Dragonfly is taking a Falcon Heavy to Titan, What's inside Uranus?, Russia's cargo ship delivers a stinky smell to the station, and testing robots to go under the ice on Europa.

Will SpaceX be able to deliver Starship in time for Artemis? Will Elon and Donald cancel SLS and replace it with Falcon Heavy? Is there any chance for real competition with SpaceX? How serious is the space race with China? Finding out the answers in this interview.

Will SpaceX be able to deliver Starship in time for Artemis? Will Elon and Donald cancel SLS and replace it with Falcon Heavy? Is there any chance for real competition with SpaceX? How serious is the space race with China? Finding out the answers in this interview.

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us! Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s Headlines: - The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech. - SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company. - NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations. Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant: - The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles. - SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind. - The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available. - SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate. - Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars. - The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Eric Berger 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: uscloud.com

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us! Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s Headlines: - The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech. - SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company. - NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations. Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant: - The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles. - SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind. - The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available. - SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate. - Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars. - The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Eric Berger 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: uscloud.com

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us! Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s Headlines: - The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech. - SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company. - NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations. Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant: - The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles. - SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind. - The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available. - SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate. - Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars. - The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Eric Berger 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: uscloud.com

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us! Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s Headlines: - The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech. - SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company. - NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations. Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant: - The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles. - SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind. - The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available. - SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate. - Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars. - The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Eric Berger 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: uscloud.com

Today's show features NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which launched on October 14th, 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket, setting the spacecraft on its 10-year journey to explore Jupiter's moon Europa.  Europa Clipper carries nine instruments to study this ocean world covered by an ice shell to determine if there are places in the watery depths … Continue reading "Europa Clipper"

Liftoff! Europa Clipper is on its way to explore Europa, Jupiter's ocean world.

On October 13, SpaceX and Elon Musk successfully launched their Starship rocket into low-Earth orbit. Then, in a milestone moment for space technology, they successfully captured the rocket's Super Heavy booster with “chopstick” arms on the launch tower upon reentry, marking the first time a booster was ever caught in mid-air.The achievement is a mind-blowing feat of human engineering — one that hasn't gotten nearly the recognition that it deserves. Today on Faster, Please! — The Podcast, I talk with must-read space journalist Eric Berger about the role of SpaceX in the new, 21st-century Space Race, the significance of the company's achievements, and our potential to become a spacefaring, inter-planetary species.Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Techica, and is the author of both Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX and his most recent excellent book, Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age.In This Episode* Starship's big reentry (1:43)* Race (back) to the moon (8:54)* Why Starship? (11:48)* The Mars-shot (18:37)* Elon in the political area (22:10)* Understanding SpaceX (24:06)Below is a lightly edited transcript of our conversationStarship's big reentry (1:43)James Pethokoukis: After the launch tower caught that booster stage of the rocket, I saw someone on Twitter a day later say, “Hey, do you guys remember over the weekend when SpaceX sent a Statue-of-Liberty-sized object to space and then caught it when it came back down? That was amazing!”So two things: First, as a space guy, what was your reaction? Two, beyond the sheer coolness of it, why was this an important thing to happen?It seemed inconceivable a few years ago, but now, all of a sudden, it's the future of rocketry, just like that.Eric Berger: Just from a space perspective, it's epic to see, to use your adjectives, the Statue of Liberty comparison. I mean, it's a small skyscraper, but they essentially launch that thing to space at thousands of miles per hour, then it slows down, it comes back right where it took off from, hovers, and it falls precisely into these two arms that are designed to catch it. The cool thing is that we'd never seen anything like that before. It seemed inconceivable a few years ago, but now, all of a sudden, it's the future of rocketry, just like that.the significance of this, of course, is SpaceX has shown that with the reusability of the Falcon 9 rocket, it can really change the economics of launch. This year they've launched 101 times. No country had ever done that many launches before in a year. They're going to launch 95 percent of all the mass into orbit this year with primarily the Falcon 9 Rocket, and all that's because the first stage is entirely reusable, they're flying them more than 20 times now, and so they're just taking that and scaling it.What was amazing about the tower catch this weekend was the fact that it really removes the need for landing legs. You may think, “Well, what's the big deal about that?” Well, there's a lot of mass involved with those landing legs: You need powerful actuators to drive them, you need hydraulic fluid, and that's a lot of dead mass in the vehicle. Also, it's not insignificant to transport the rocket from wherever it lands, either on a boat or on land, to the factory and to refurbish the rocket and launch again. Ideally, with this step, they're eliminating days from that process of reuse and ideally, in the future, they're literally going to be catching the rocket, setting it back on the launch mount and then potentially flying again.So it's not just the Starship, right? So for the other launches, is this is going to become the landing procedure?No, it will be just for Starship. They will continue to fly Falcon 9 as is. That's a mature product, everyone's pretty comfortable with that vehicle. But, look, other companies have tried different things. When Rocket Lab was trying to reuse its small Electron vehicle, its plan was to have the first stage come back under a parachute and then basically swoop in with a helicopter and catch it so that the rocket didn't fall into the ocean. That ended up not working.It seems very whimsical.Well, it made sense from an engineering standpoint, but it was a lot more difficult to snag the rocket than they ended up finding out. So, up until now, the only way to get a rocket back vertically was on a drone ship or landing straight up, and so this is a brand new thing, and it just creates more efficiencies in the launch system.What is the direction now, as far as launch costs and the continued decline of launch costs if this will be the new landing procedure for Starship?It's impossible to say that, of course. We can look to a Falcon 9 for an analog. SpaceX sales started out selling Falcon 9 for $60 million, it's upped that price to about $67 or $68 million — still the lowest-cost medium-lift launch vehicle in the world, but that's the price you or I or NASA would pay for a rocket. Internally, the estimate is that they're re-flying those vehicles for about $15 million. So, in effect, SpaceX has taken the cost of the lowest-price vehicle on the market and divided it by four, basically.Starship, of course, can lift much more payload to orbit than Falcon 9. By some measures, five to 10 times as much, eventually. And so if they can get the cost down, if they can make the first and second stage reusable, I think you're talking about them bringing the cost down potentially another order of magnitude, but they've got a lot of work to get there.I think the second most common comment I saw on social media — the first one being like, “This is amazing, I'm crying, this is so cool” — the second one is, “Why is NASA not using this Starship to get to the moon?” It seems like progress is being made quickly, and you mentioned the costs, I think people are just befuddled. It's a question you must get a lot.The reality is that if we want to go to the moon before 2030, we probably need to do it with a combination of NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Starship. It's a complicated answer, but the reality is that NASA, in conjunction with Congress, has basically, over the last quarter of a century, pivoted away from reusable launch vehicles, and at one point in the early 2000s, they were actually funding three different reusable launch vehicles. The most famous of those, of course, was the Space Shuttle. It stopped funding the Space Shuttle in 2011 and it went back to developing this large, expendable rocket called the Space Launch System. That was the tried and true pathway, and no one really had faith in what SpaceX is doing. And so now here we are, almost 15 years later, and SpaceX has gone out and proved it with the Falcon 9, the Falcon Heavy, and now Starship.The reality is that if we want to go to the moon before 2030, we probably need to do it with a combination of NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Starship. In 2021, NASA did select Starship as its lunar lander. So Starship is a critical part of the architecture. Probably the most challenging part, actually, is getting down to the lunar surface and then getting back up reliably. And so Starship plays a key role, and I just really think that it's inevitable that Starship and potentially Blue Origin's architecture will be how humans get to the moon and back, but we're kind of in an interim period right now.Is it just sort of too late to switch?Yeah, it is. It's too late to switch. You could conceive of scenarios in which humans launch in Crew Dragon, transfer over to a Starship, and then come back in Crew Dragon, but even then you've got some challenges. And the problem — problem is the wrong word, but one of the major issues with Starship is that it has no redundancy when you come back and land. It has got to nail the landing or people inside of it die. So you're going to want to see hundreds of Starship launches and many, many successful landings in a row before you put people on the vehicle. And to have the idea of launching humans from Earth to the moon at this point, we're pretty far from that. I would think a decade from now, at least, and by then China will be on the moon. And so it's really a matter of, do you want to sort of continue to delay the human return of the moon, or do you want to take the tools that you have now and make your best run for it?Race (back) to the moon (8:54)Since you brought it up, are we going to beat China to the moon with the SLS?Very much an open question. The SLS Rocket is basically ready. In its current form, it performed very well during Artemis I. It's obviously super expensive. You may have seen the Europa Clipper launch on Monday of this week, that launched on a Falcon Heavy. For almost a decade, Congress mandated NASA that it launched on the SLS rocket, and that would've cost 10 times as much. NASA paid about $200 million for the Clipper launch on Falcon Heavy, SLS would've been in excess of $2 billion, so it's a very expensive rocket, but it does work, it worked well during Artemis I. The best way we have right now, Jim, to get astronauts from Earth out to lunar orbit is SLS and the Orion deep spacecraft vehicle. That will change over time, but I think if we want to put humans on the moon this decade, that's probably the best way to do it.Is it going to be a close call? I don't want to overemphasize the competition aspect, but I guess I would like to see America do it first.It's going to be close. NASA's current date is 2026 for the Artemis III moon landing. There's no way that happens. I think 2028 is a realistic no-earlier-than date, and the reality is SpaceX has to make a lot of progress on Starship. What they did this past weekend was a great step. I think the key thing about the fact of this weekend's launch is that it was a success. There were no anomalies, there's going to be no investigation, so SpaceX is going to launch again. As long as they continue to have success, then they can start popping these off and get to some of the really key tests like the in-space propellant transfer tests, which they hope to do sometime next year.[W]hen you're on the moon, there's no launch tower, there's no launch crew, you've just got the astronauts inside Starship, and if that vehicle doesn't take off on the moon, the crew's going to die. So it's got to work.What Starship will do is it'll launch into low-earth orbit, and then it'll be refueled, and it'll go to the moon, and you need lots of launches to refuel it. And then really the key test, I think, is landing on the moon, because the South Pole is pretty craterous, you've got to have high confidence in where you land, and then the big challenge is getting back up to lunar orbit safely.Think about it: When you watch any rocket launch, you see this very detailed, very intricate launch tower with all these umbilicals, and all of these cables, and power, and telemetry, and stuff, and humans are looking at all this data, and if there's any problem, they abort, right? Well, when you're on the moon, there's no launch tower, there's no launch crew, you've just got the astronauts inside Starship, and if that vehicle doesn't take off on the moon, the crew's going to die. So it's got to work. And so that's really a big part of the challenge, as well, is getting all that to work. So I think 2028, for all that to come together, is a realistic no-earlier-than date, and China's pretty consistently said 2030, and they're starting to show off some hardware, they recently demonstrated that suggests they have a chance to make 2030.On sale everywhere The Conservative Futurist: How To Create the Sci-Fi World We Were PromisedWhy Starship? (11:48)What is the commercial case for Starship, assuming that these next launches continue to go off well? What is it supposed to be doing here on Earth and in Earth orbit?The next big race is to deliver internet, not to a dish that you set up, but actually to your mobile phone. It's called direct-to-cell, and you need much bigger satellites for this. And so SpaceX needs the Starship to launch these satellites, so that will really be the commercial use case for Starship in the near term.Its primary function, and I think the most important function for SpaceX in the near term, is launching these much larger Starlink satellites. I think it's been pretty well proven that there's a large demand for broadband internet from low-earth orbit. Starlink has now up to four million customers and they're actually signing almost at an exponential rate. Then growth, the business is profitable. So that's been super impressive. The next big race is to deliver internet, not to a dish that you set up, but actually to your mobile phone. It's called direct-to-cell, and you need much bigger satellites for this. So SpaceX needs the Starship to launch these satellites, so that will really be the commercial use case for Starship in the near term.I think once the vehicle starts flying reliably, we're going to see where the commercial customers go because we've never really been in a launch environment where you're not really constrained by mass and, more importantly, by volume. You can just build bigger, less-efficient things. Instead of hyper-managing your satellite to be small, and light, and compact, you can kind of make trades where maybe you have a lower-cost vehicle that's bigger. The capability of Starship with its voluminous payload fairing and being able to lift a hundred or more tons to low-earth orbit for low cost — entirely new regime. And so I think it's a case of Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come,” and in the near term, Starship will be the business case, and longer-term we'll see some unique opportunities.You've been covering this for quite a while, documenting, books, including your most recent book. Really an amazing ride as a space journalist for you here.I've been covering space now for two decades, and really with a focus on commercial space over the last decade because I think that's where a lot of the excitement and innovation is coming from. But the reality is that you've got this whole ecosystem of companies, but the 800-pound gorilla is SpaceX. They're the company that has consistently had success. They are the only provider of crew transportation services for NASA, still, even five years after their initial success, and they're the only provider right now that's launching cargo missions to the space station. They've got huge Starlink satellites, constellation. As a journalist, you really want to understand the biggest, most dominating force in the industry, and that's clearly SpaceX, and so that's why I've chosen to dedicate a lot of time to really understand where they started out and how they got to where they are, which is at the top of the heap.The story that you lay out in your book, which came out last month — Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age — to me, it's still a story people mostly don't know, and one that I think a lot of non-space reporters don't understand. What are some common misunderstandings that you come across that make you feel like you need to tell this story?I think, until recently, one of the things that people might say about SpaceX is, “Well, what's the big deal? NASA's launched humans to orbit in the past, NASA's launched cargo, they had a reusable space vehicle in the Space Shuttle.” What's different is that SpaceX is doing this at scale, and they're building for a long-term plan that is sustainable.I'll give you an example: The Space Shuttle was reusable. Everything was reusable except the external tank. However, you needed a standing army of thousands of people to pour over the Space Shuttle after it came back from space to make sure that all of its tiles and every piece of equipment was safe. Now, when it was originally sold to Congress back in the 1970s, the program manager for the space shuttle, George Mueller said that the goal was to get the cost of payload-to-orbit for the Space Shuttle down to $25 a pound, which sounded great because then they were saying dozens of people could fly on the vehicle at a time. Well, of course, at the end of the day, it only ever flew at a maximum of seven people, and the cost of payload-to-orbit was $25,000. So yes, it was reusable, but it was the kind of thing that was super expensive and you couldn't fly very often. You could do limited things.It's really the first vehicle we ever developed to go to Mars. SpaceX is doing some of the same things that NASA did, but it's doing them better, faster, and a lot cheaper.SpaceX is proposing kind of an order-of-magnitude change. We went to the moon in the 1960s with the Lunar Module, and everyone remembers it carried two astronauts down to the lunar surface. And that whole thing launched on a giant stack, the Saturn V rocket. So if you were to take the Lunar Module and replace the astronauts and just use it to deliver cargo to the moon, it could take five tons down to the lunar surface. Starship, in a reusable mode, can take a hundred tons. If you send an expendable version of Starship, it's 200 tons. And oh, by the way, even if you're not bringing that Starship back, you're getting the whole first stage back anyway.And so that's really the promise here, is you're building a sustainable system in space where it doesn't cost you $6 billion to go to the moon, it costs you half a billion dollars or to go to the moon, and you can then go on and do other things, you can fill your Starship up with methane repellent and go further. It's really the first vehicle we ever developed to go to Mars. SpaceX is doing some of the same things that NASA did, but it's doing them better, faster, and a lot cheaper.That $25-a-pound number you gave for Space Shuttle, where are we with SpaceX? Where is SpaceX, or where are they and what's their goal in that context?They're getting down in a couple of thousand dollars a pound with a Falcon 9, and the idea is, potentially, with Starship, you get down to hundreds of dollars a pound or less. They have a big challenge too, right? They're using tiles on Starship as well. They showed some of them off during the webcast this weekend, and I think we have yet to have any kind of information on how reusable, or how rapidly reusable Starship will be, and we'll have to see.The Mars-shot (18:37)To the extent the public understands this company — this is my understanding — the point here is to build Starship, to further this satellite business, and then that satellite business will fund the eventual Mars mission and the Mars colonization. I think that's the public perception of what is happening with this business. How accurate is that? Is that how you look at it? I mean, that's how I look at it from my uninformed or less-informed view, but is that really what we're talking about here?Yeah, fundamentally, I think that is accurate. There is no business case right now to go to Mars. AT&T is not going to pay $5 billion to put an AT&T logo on a Starship and send a crew to Mars. There are no resources right now that we really can conceive of on Mars that would be profitable for humans to go get and bring back to Earth. So then the question is: How do you pay for it?Financially, the business case for Mars is not entirely clear, so you've got to figure out some way to pay for it. That was one reason why Elon Musk ultimately went with Starlink. That would pay for the Mars vision.Even when settlers went to the New World in the 1500s, 1600s, in United States, they were exporting tobacco and other products back to Europe, and there's no tobacco that we know of on Mars, right? Financially, the business case for Mars is not entirely clear, so you've got to figure out some way to pay for it. That was one reason why Elon Musk ultimately went with Starlink. That would pay for the Mars vision.I think that's still fundamentally the case. It's effectively going to be paying for the entire development of Starship, and then if it becomes highly profitable, SpaceX is not a public company, so they can take those revenues and do whatever they want with them, and Elon has said again and again that his vision is to settle Mars, and he's building the rockets to do it, and he's trying to find the funding through Starlink to accomplish it. That is the vision. We don't know how it's all going to play out, but I think you're fundamentally correct with that.I think when he mentions Mars, there are some people that just give it a roll of the eye. It just sounds too science fictional, despite the progress being made toward accomplishing that. It sounds like you do not roll your eyes at that.Well, it's interesting. He first really talked publicly about this in 2016, eight years ago, back when there was no Starship, back when they just were coming off their second Falcon 9 failure in about a year, and you kind of did roll your eyes at it then . . . And then they got the Falcon 9 flying and they started re-flying it and re-flying it. They did Falcon Heavy, and then they started building Starship hardware, and then they started launching Starship, and now they're starting to land Starship, and this is real hardware.And yes, to be clear, they have a long, long way to go and a lot of technical challenges to overcome, and you need more than just a rocket in a spaceship to get to Mars, you need a lot of other stuff, too: biological, regulatory, there's a lot of work to go, but they are putting down the railroad tracks that will eventually open that up to settlement.So I would not roll my eyes. This is certainly the only credible chance, I think, for humans to go to Mars in our lifetimes, and if those early missions are successful, you could envision settlements being built there.Elon in the political arena (22:10)Given SpaceX's accomplishments and their lead, is that company politics-proof? Obviously there's always going to be controversy about Elon, and Twitter, and who he gives money to, and things he says, but does any of that really matter for SpaceX?I think it does. We've already seen a couple examples of it, especially with Elon's very public entree into presidential politics over the last several months. I think that does matter. In his fight with Brazil over what he termed as free speech, they were confiscating Starlink, and so they were trying to shut Starlink down in their country, and that directly affects SpaceX. In California, over the last week we have seen a commission vote to try to limit the number of launches Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and they clearly did that because they were uncomfortable with Elon's behavior publicly. So yeah, this is going to bleed over.Now, in the near term, there will be limited impacts because the US Department of Defense clearly needs SpaceX rockets. They need SpaceX's Starlink, they use a branded version of it called Starshield for military communications. The launch and Starlink capabilities are essential for the military. NASA is even more reliant on SpaceX for the International Space Station and beyond; the entire moon program runs through Starship, so it's not going to change in the near term, but longer term you could see this having impacts, and it's not clear to me exactly what those would be — I don't think you could really nationalize SpaceX, and I think if you did try to nationalize SpaceX, you would sort of destroy its magic, but I do think there will ultimately be consequences for the Elon's political activity.Understanding SpaceX (24:06)About Reentry, is there a particular story in there that you think just really encapsulates, if you want to understand SpaceX, and what it's doing, and where it's come from, this story kind of gets at it?The point of the book was to tell the story behind the story. A lot of people knew, generally, what SpaceX has accomplished over the last decade, or the last 15 years, but this really takes you behind the scenes and tells the stories of the people who actually did it.It's a company that's moving so fast forward that, like I said, there are all these challenges they're facing and they're just tackling them one-by-one as they go along.I think one of the best stories of the book is just how they were making this up as they went along. The very first time they were going to try to land on the barge was in January of 2015, the drone ship landing, and the night before that barge was going to set out to sea, the guy who had developed the barge realized that, wait a minute, if we come back with a rocket this week, we have nowhere to put it in the port of Jacksonville, because they were staging out of Jacksonville at the time. And there had been this whole discussion at SpaceX about where to put these pedestals, but no one had actually done it. That night, he and another engineer stayed up all night drinking red wine and CADing out designs for the pedestals, and they met the concrete pores the next morning and just built these pedestals within 24 hours. It's a company that's moving so fast forward that, like I said, there are all these challenges they're facing and they're just tackling them one-by-one as they go along.Elon has spoken about there's sort of this window of opportunity open for space. In the United States, at least, it was open and then it kind of closed. We stopped leaving Earth orbit for a while, we couldn't even get our people into Earth orbit; we had to use another country's rockets.Is this window — whether for space commerce, space exploration — is it sort of permanently open? Are we beyond the point where things can close — because satellites are so important, and because of geopolitics, that window is open and it's staying open for us to go through.I think he's talking about the window for settlement of Mars and making humans a multi-planetary species. And when he talks about the window closing, I think he means a lot of different things: One, the era of cheaper money could end — and that clearly did happen, right? We've seen interest rates go way up and it's been much more difficult to raise money, although SpaceX has been able to still do that because of their success. I think he's thinking about his own mortality. I believe he's thinking about a major global war that would focus all of our technological efforts here on planet Earth trying to destroy one another. I think he's thinking about nuclear weapons — just all the things that could bring human progress to a screeching halt, and he's saying, “Look, the window may be 100 years or it may be 20 years.” So he's like, “We should seize the opportunity right now when we have it.”Faster, Please! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Micro Reads▶ Economics* Larry Summers on the Economics of AI - Conversable Economist* Landing Softly Is Just the Beginning - San Francisco Fed* More Babies Aren't the Only Solution to Falling Birthrates - NYT Opinion* Generative AI at work: Survey evidence from three Central Banks - SSRN▶ Business* Nvidia Chief Makes Case for AI-First Companies - WSJ* Apple Intelligence Isn't Very Smart Yet—and Apple's OK With That - WSJ* Andreessen Horowitz Backs Infinitus to Bring AI to Medical Calls - Bberg* Breaking Up Google Is a Fool's Game - WSJ Opinion▶ Policy/Politics* The US is the world's science superpower — but for how long? - Nature* Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen's Suicide? - NYT* Former OpenAI Researcher Says Company Broke Copyright Law - NYT* The tragedy of a 50-50 America - FT Opinion* Both Harris and Trump pose problems for U.S. energy producers. - AEI* Why Harris and Trump Are Pandering to Crypto Plutocrats - NYT Opinion* Trump's Tariffs and Economic Risk - WSJ Opinion* China asks: what is an e-bike? - FT Opinion* This Startup Shows Why the U.S. CHIPS Act Is Needed - Spectrum▶ AI/Digital* Big frontier AI systems will emerge from global, distributed efforts, not just big tech: Meta's Yann LeCun - Techcircle* Does ChatGPT Have a Poetic Style? - arXiv▶ Biotech/Health* Danes to Use New Nvidia AI Supercomputer for Drug Discovery - Bberg▶ Clean Energy/Climate* Averting Climate Catastrophe Requires Economic Growth - PS* The Energy Transition We Really Should Be Focusing On - RealClearScience* To Fight Climate Change, Clean Up Carbon Markets - Bberg Opinion* A Mexican Electric Car? Only If Private Firms Lead the Way - Bberg Opinion▶ Robotics/AVs* Crop-spraying robot is designed to reduce emissions and use less herbicide - Atlas▶ Space/Transportation* Beetlejuice, Betelgeuse, Betelbuddy? Astronomers Find Something Unexpected Orbiting Infamous “Doomed Star” - Debrief▶ Up Wing/Down Wing* Meet Hollywood's AI Doomsayer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt - WSJ* Here's What the Regenerative Cities of Tomorrow Could Look Like - Wired* Archimedes Rediscovered: Technology and Ancient History - JSTOR Daily* Energy expert Vaclav Smil on how to feed the world without trashing it - NS▶ Substacks/Newsletters* Yes, You're Still Imagining a Migrant Crime Spree - Alex Nowrasteh's Immigration Insights and Other Deep Dives* How long can we sustain economic growth? - Noahpinion* What is Anthropic's AI Computer Use? - AI Supremacy* An AI intern in your pocket - Exponential View* Industrial Policy's Inescapable Uncertainty Problem - The Dispatch* NEPA Nightmares IV: Tule Wind - Breakthrough Journal* When you give a Claude a mouse - One Useful Thing* Larry Summers on the Economics of AI - Conversable EconomistFaster, Please! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fasterplease.substack.com/subscribe

在 2024 年 10 月 13 日，SpaceX 公司的「星舰」火箭第五次试飞发射。此次试飞可谓相当成功，在发射约 7 分钟后，其超重型助推器成功穿越大气层、返回发射塔，被机械「筷子」牢牢夹住。星舰飞船则成功入轨并在印度洋再入溅落。那不少网友都评论，星舰的此次试飞 「开启了人类太空探索的新起点」。 为什么我们一定要开发可复用火箭？SpaceX 为何能有今天的成就？今天的节目我们就请到了国内商业航天的头部企业「蓝箭航天」的可回收火箭工程师董锴来与大家详细的拆解星舰的回收过程中的技术难点，星舰试飞成功对未来航天发展的意义，以及中国商业航天发展的挑战与未来。 主要话题 [01:19] 完全可重复使用：星舰让大规模空间投放成为可能 [05:59] 「我知道你行，没想到你这么行！」SpaceX 把星舰从 PPT 快速迭代成火箭的基础是它的制造能力 [15:08] 不只是「筷子」夹火箭，星舰回收路上原来有这么多坎：发动机并联，冷分离 vs 热分离，发动机减速 vs 气动减速 [22:00] 开发可复用火箭真的有必要吗？肉眼可见范围内，可回收火箭是提升投放运力最容易的路径 [27:14] 中国航天发展史：我们既不妄自菲薄，也不妄自尊大 [36:02] 发动机燃料之液氧煤油 vs 液氧甲烷： 技术路线的选择都是为了匹配当时的战略需求 [41:25] 火箭可回收的关键：发动机推力和调节、发动机多次启动、高空风修正和火箭材料 [55:45] 我们的目标是星辰大海：星座卫星提供通讯，超重火箭负责运输 本期人物 丁教 Diane，「声动活泼」联合创始人、「科技早知道」主播 董锴，蓝箭航天朱雀三号可复用火箭型号副总师 SpaceX SpaceX 是一家由埃隆·马斯克于 2002 年创立的美国私营航天公司，致力于降低航天成本、发展太空运输和探索技术，最终目标是使人类能够在多个星球上居住。SpaceX 在商业航天领域有着里程碑式的成就，如首次由私营公司将货物送上国际空间站（ISS），并成功回收和重复使用火箭。 星舰 星舰 （Starship） 是 SpaceX 目前正在研发的完全可重复使用的火箭系统，目标是实现星际飞行和大规模的太空运输，有效载荷100余吨，采用液氧甲烷发动机。星舰由两部分组成：一级火箭叫「超重型」（Super Heavy），用于提供发射初期的推力；二级为星舰本身，既可作为载人舱，也可以作为货物舱。星舰被设计为能够执行地球轨道任务、月球和火星任务，甚至可能用作地球内的超高速运输工具。 猎鹰 9 号火箭 猎鹰 9 号 （Falcon 9） 火箭是 SpaceX 的旗舰火箭，自 2010 年首飞以来，已成为公司商业发射的主力，有效载荷 22 吨。猎鹰 9 号最大的创新之一是其一级火箭的可回收设计。通过让一级火箭在完成任务后垂直降落并重复使用，SpaceX 显著降低了发射成本。猎鹰 9 号通常用于发射卫星、补给国际空间站，以及载人航天任务。其高度的可靠性使它成为全球最受欢迎的商业发射载具之一。 猎鹰重型火箭 猎鹰重型 （Falcon Heavy） 火箭是猎鹰 9 号的增强版，于 2018 年首次发射。它由三枚猎鹰 9 号的一级火箭并排组成，使其成为现役运载能力最强的火箭之一，有效载荷 63 吨。猎鹰重型能将更大质量的有效载荷送入更高轨道，因此被用来执行复杂的军事和科学任务。 朱雀三号 朱雀三号是中国蓝箭航天开发的可重复使用液氧甲烷运载火箭，中国首款不锈钢液体运载火箭。动力系统采用蓝箭航天自主研制的天鹊系列液氧甲烷发动机。2024 年 9 月 11 日，朱雀三号 VTVL-1 可重复使用垂直起降回收试验箭完成十公里级垂直起降返回飞行试验。 蓝色起源 蓝色起源（Blue Origin）是由亚马逊创始人杰夫·贝索斯（Jeff Bezos）于 2000 年创立的美国私人航天公司。其愿景是推动人类进入太空并实现空间定居，通过开发可重复使用的火箭和航天技术，大幅降低进入太空的成本。 新谢泼德（New Shepard） 和 新格伦（New Glenn） 是其主要开发的火箭类型。 幕后制作 监制：Yaxian 后期：Jack 运营：George 设计：饭团 商务合作 声动活泼商务合作咨询 (https://sourl.cn/6vdmQT) 加入我们 声动活泼正在招聘全职「节目监制」、「人才发展伙伴」、「商业发展经理」，查看详细讯息请 点击链接 (https://sourl.cn/j8tk2g)。如果你已准备好简历，欢迎发送至 hr@shengfm.cn， 标题请用：姓名+岗位名称。 关于声动活泼 「用声音碰撞世界」，声动活泼致力于为人们提供源源不断的思考养料。 我们还有这些播客：声动早咖啡 (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/60de7c003dd577b40d5a40f3)、声东击西 (https://etw.fm/episodes)、吃喝玩乐了不起 (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/644b94c494d78eb3f7ae8640)、反潮流俱乐部 (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/5e284c37418a84a0462634a4)、泡腾 VC (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/5f445cdb9504bbdb77f092e9)、商业WHY酱 (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/61315abc73105e8f15080b8a)、跳进兔子洞 (https://therabbithole.fireside.fm/) 、不止金钱 (https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/65a625966d045a7f5e0b5640) 欢迎在即刻 (https://okjk.co/Qd43ia)、微博等社交媒体上与我们互动，搜索 声动活泼 即可找到我们。 期待你给我们写邮件，邮箱地址是：ting@sheng.fm 声小音 https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/4/4931937e-0184-4c61-a658-6b03c254754d/gK0pledC.png 欢迎扫码添加声小音，在节目之外和我们保持联系。 Special Guest: 董锴.

This week's episode brought to you by Indy Wrestling US, Slice on Broadway, Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.Patreon.com/AwesomeCast In this episode of AwesomeCast, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar dive into a variety of exciting topics, from the latest tech gadgets to hilarious cat-themed events and space innovations. Tune in for insights on camera apps for photographers, innovative video editing tools, and futuristic tech from SpaceX. Plus, we explore the quirky side of the internet, including cat-themed karaoke! Stay updated with the latest tech and entertainment trends while enjoying a lighthearted conversation among the hosts. Bulleted Summaries of News Stories and Gadgets: • Fig Camera App: • New beta camera app for iOS 18 users called Fig Camera. • Strips away Apple's built-in photo processing to provide a raw, customizable photo-taking experience. • Ideal for photographers who want full control over exposure, saturation, and contrast. • Offers customizable presets for different lighting conditions (e.g., landscape, cloudy). • Free beta available via TestFlight, with a premium version in development. • Links to follow: Check more at https://www.threads.net/@christianjames/post/CxP9esjRZzA . • Frame.io for Creative Cloud: • Sorg shares his experience using Frame.io, a collaborative tool for video projects, integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud. • Helps streamline feedback by allowing clients to add comments directly onto video timecodes. • Integrates with apps like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. • Recently received a major update (Version 4) that includes new workflows, tagging, and integrations with Lightroom and major camera brands like Canon and Nikon. • Links to follow: Frame.io Productivity Update at https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/14/24269780/frame-io-v4-productivity-update . • Croissant App for Social Media: • A new cross-posting tool for platforms like Blue Sky, Threads, and Mastodon. • A simple alternative to tools like Hootsuite and Buffer. • Allows users to manage multiple accounts and cross-post content seamlessly. • The app is available for a subscription fee of $3 per month. • Links to follow: TechCrunch on Croissant App at https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/01/croissant-decentralized-social-posting-app . • Cat-Themed Karaoke (Cataroke): • A hilarious event from the Cat Fanciers Association in Ohio, where participants meow to popular songs. • Katie shares her excitement about missing out on the event and the possibility of bringing “Cataroke” to Pittsburgh. • The quirky event featured contestants dressed in cat-themed attire meowing to tunes like “9 to 5.” • Links to follow: https://pethelpful.com/pet-news/pet-lovers-cat-aoke . • Mastodon Toys: • Mastodon, the decentralized social media platform, launched a plush stuffed toy to support funding. • The toy, called Plushtodon, is shaped like an elephant and priced at $45. • Currently only available in the EU, with plans to expand shipping to other regions. • Links to follow: Mastodon Plushtodon Announcement at https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-plushtodon . • SpaceX's “Chopsticks” Landing Mechanism: • SpaceX introduces a new way to land the first stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket by catching it with large “chopstick” arms. • The innovative landing method minimizes damage and allows for quick reuse of the rockets, aiming to enhance space travel efficiency. • Links to follow: SpaceX Chopsticks Landing at https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/spacex-starship-catch-chopsticks-arms . • Nintendo Museum Controversy: • A kiosk at the official Nintendo Museum in Japan was discovered running Super Mario World on a Windows-based emulator. • This was ironic given Nintendo's strict anti-emulator stance. • Fans were amused by the use of Windows software in a museum dedicated to Nintendo's gaming legacy. • Links to follow: Nintendo Emulator Incident at https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/the-official-nintendo-museum-emulating-super-mario . • Blue Sky's Appearance on Threads: • Blue Sky, the decentralized social platform, created an account on Meta's Threads to promote its platform and contrast with Meta's moderation policies. • This playful move stirred conversations about decentralization and privacy in social media. • Links to follow: Engadget on Blue Sky's Threads Move at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/bluesky-moment-on-threads . Be sure to tune in for more tech tips, quirky event stories, and gadget talk, and don't miss out on all the fun at www.sorgatronmedia.com.Subscribe to the Podcast: awesomecast.com Sorgatron Media Podcast Network Feed: sorgatronmedia.fireside.fm Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we're sharing and to join the discussion! You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast! Special Thanks to kidmental for the new AwesomeCast Sounds! Visit him at www.kidmental.com Join our live show Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST on AwesomeCast Facebook, Youtube and Sorgatron Media Twitch!

This week's episode brought to you by Indy Wrestling US, Slice on Broadway, Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.Patreon.com/AwesomeCast In this episode of AwesomeCast, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar dive into a variety of exciting topics, from the latest tech gadgets to hilarious cat-themed events and space innovations. Tune in for insights on camera apps for photographers, innovative video editing tools, and futuristic tech from SpaceX. Plus, we explore the quirky side of the internet, including cat-themed karaoke! Stay updated with the latest tech and entertainment trends while enjoying a lighthearted conversation among the hosts. Bulleted Summaries of News Stories and Gadgets: • Fig Camera App: • New beta camera app for iOS 18 users called Fig Camera. • Strips away Apple's built-in photo processing to provide a raw, customizable photo-taking experience. • Ideal for photographers who want full control over exposure, saturation, and contrast. • Offers customizable presets for different lighting conditions (e.g., landscape, cloudy). • Free beta available via TestFlight, with a premium version in development. • Links to follow: Check more at https://www.threads.net/@christianjames/post/CxP9esjRZzA . • Frame.io for Creative Cloud: • Sorg shares his experience using Frame.io, a collaborative tool for video projects, integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud. • Helps streamline feedback by allowing clients to add comments directly onto video timecodes. • Integrates with apps like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. • Recently received a major update (Version 4) that includes new workflows, tagging, and integrations with Lightroom and major camera brands like Canon and Nikon. • Links to follow: Frame.io Productivity Update at https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/14/24269780/frame-io-v4-productivity-update . • Croissant App for Social Media: • A new cross-posting tool for platforms like Blue Sky, Threads, and Mastodon. • A simple alternative to tools like Hootsuite and Buffer. • Allows users to manage multiple accounts and cross-post content seamlessly. • The app is available for a subscription fee of $3 per month. • Links to follow: TechCrunch on Croissant App at https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/01/croissant-decentralized-social-posting-app . • Cat-Themed Karaoke (Cataroke): • A hilarious event from the Cat Fanciers Association in Ohio, where participants meow to popular songs. • Katie shares her excitement about missing out on the event and the possibility of bringing “Cataroke” to Pittsburgh. • The quirky event featured contestants dressed in cat-themed attire meowing to tunes like “9 to 5.” • Links to follow: https://pethelpful.com/pet-news/pet-lovers-cat-aoke . • Mastodon Toys: • Mastodon, the decentralized social media platform, launched a plush stuffed toy to support funding. • The toy, called Plushtodon, is shaped like an elephant and priced at $45. • Currently only available in the EU, with plans to expand shipping to other regions. • Links to follow: Mastodon Plushtodon Announcement at https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-plushtodon . • SpaceX's “Chopsticks” Landing Mechanism: • SpaceX introduces a new way to land the first stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket by catching it with large “chopstick” arms. • The innovative landing method minimizes damage and allows for quick reuse of the rockets, aiming to enhance space travel efficiency. • Links to follow: SpaceX Chopsticks Landing at https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/spacex-starship-catch-chopsticks-arms . • Nintendo Museum Controversy: • A kiosk at the official Nintendo Museum in Japan was discovered running Super Mario World on a Windows-based emulator. • This was ironic given Nintendo's strict anti-emulator stance. • Fans were amused by the use of Windows software in a museum dedicated to Nintendo's gaming legacy. • Links to follow: Nintendo Emulator Incident at https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/the-official-nintendo-museum-emulating-super-mario . • Blue Sky's Appearance on Threads: • Blue Sky, the decentralized social platform, created an account on Meta's Threads to promote its platform and contrast with Meta's moderation policies. • This playful move stirred conversations about decentralization and privacy in social media. • Links to follow: Engadget on Blue Sky's Threads Move at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/bluesky-moment-on-threads . Be sure to tune in for more tech tips, quirky event stories, and gadget talk, and don't miss out on all the fun at www.sorgatronmedia.com.Subscribe to the Podcast: awesomecast.com Sorgatron Media Podcast Network Feed: sorgatronmedia.fireside.fm Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we're sharing and to join the discussion! You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast! Special Thanks to kidmental for the new AwesomeCast Sounds! Visit him at www.kidmental.com Join our live show Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST on AwesomeCast Facebook, Youtube and Sorgatron Media Twitch!

SpaceX successfully held its fifth Starship flight test on Sunday morning from Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launched NASA's Europa Clipper from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized SpaceX's Falcon 9 to return to regular flight operations. NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 return from the International Space Station has been postponed until no earlier than 3:05 a.m., Friday, Oct. 18, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Wanjiku Kanjumba, CEO and chairwoman of Vicillion. You can connect with Wanjiku on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Omega Spaceport on their website. Selected Reading SpaceX  Solar Arrays on NASA's Europa Clipper Fully Deployed in Space US FAA approves SpaceX Falcon 9 return to flight after mishap probe- Reuters NASA, SpaceX Continue Evaluating Weather for Crew-8 Return Space Development Agency Award Continues Iridium's Commercial Innovation Delivery Strategy for Government D-Orbit Secures €119.6M Contract with ESA to enter the In-Orbit Servicing market in GEO ESA's Moonlight programme: Pioneering the path for lunar exploration  Vast Announces Haven-2, Its Proposed Space Station Designed To Succeed The International Space Station (ISS) French telecom startup Constellation Technologies & Operations raises €9.3 million to offer internet access from space France Joins Space Multinational Force – OPERATION OLYMPIC DEFENDER  Sidus Space Receives FCC Approval for Remote Sensing Satellite Micro Constellation License, Expanding Footprint in Low Earth Orbit- Business Wire Inversion Receives Re-entry License From the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)- Business Wire Atmospheric phenomenon Steve spotted over south-east SA following Aurora Australis - ABC News T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spaceflight News-- BepiColombo insertion delayed (europeanspaceflight.com) (spacenews.com) (youtube.com) (esa.int)Short & Sweet-- EscaPADE DelAYED (spacenews.com)-- Starliner Returned (arstechnica.com) (spacenews.com) (nasaspaceflight.com)-- Vega's final launch (satellitetoday.com)Questions, Comments, Corrections-- From the intro: Blue Origin's new drone ship (HT DennisO: https://x.com/_mgde_) (space.com)-- Haragopal: Europa Clipper's flying on Falcon Heavy, not New Glenn (discord.com)This Week in Spaceflight History-- 10 Sept, 2009: The launch of HTV-1 (en.wikipedia.org) (humans-in-space.jaxa.jp) (PDF: nasa.gov)-- Next week (9/17 - 9/23) in 2006: Flying to where the Sun never rises

On this weeks episode of The Theme Park Podcast, Dickerman recaps his journey to Walt Disney World in the dead of summer and Jimmy ventures out the Kennedy Space Center, yes we tried to him he needs a Falcon Heavy rocket. Then in the news D23 is coming, so are Halloween decorations and more.

In this episode, Ben sits down (again) with Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of the upcoming book 'Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age' They discuss the Polaris Dawn mission, the state of the space industry, NASA's Crew-9 launch delay, and the latest breaking stories in the space industry. Eric shares his thoughts on Elon Musk's current focus and vision at SpaceX, as well as the critical role billionaires are playing in space exploration.  OUTLINE: Here's approximate timestamps for the episode. 00:00 Intro to Episode 103 00:40 Eric back for more! 01:20 Interviewing NASA administrator 02:08 Starliner date pushed back 03:51 Polaris Dawn 05:22 Why is it significant? 07:20 Billionaires in Space 08:50 NEW BOOK: “Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age” 12:10 The Technical Challenges of SpaceX 2008-2020 15:10 Importance of Gwynne Shotwell 17:00 Significance of Falcon Heavy 19:00 The emotion of launches 21:10 Artemis 24:02 China 24:50 New Glenn 26:06 First mover advantage for reusable rocket companies? 28:15 Stoke Space 28:30 SpaceX 29:32 Vision of SpaceX 31:40 Elon and politics 33:55 Elon's Musks Plans too ambitious? 36:20 Wrap Up and socials Pre-order Eric's new book Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273 Penguin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/759707/reentry-by-eric-berger/ X: https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace Stay connected with us! Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us! Youtube: www.youtube.com/@astrobenpodcast Website: www.astroben.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/ X: https://x.com/Gambleonit Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astrobenpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrobenpodcast/

Episode 128I spoke with Sergiy Nesterenko about:* Developing an automated system for designing PCBs* Difficulties in human and automated PCB design* Building a startup at the intersection of different areas of expertiseBy the way — I hit 40 ratings on Apple Podcasts (and am at 66 on Spotify). It'd mean a lot (really, a lot) if you'd consider leaving a rating or a review. I read everything, and it's very heartening and helpful to hear what you think. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!Sergiy is founder and CEO of Quilter. Sergiy spent 5 years at SpaceX developing radiation-hardened avionics for SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy's second stage rockets, before discovering a big problem: designing printed circuit boards for all the electronics in these rockets was tedious, manual and error prone. So in 2019, he founded Quilter to build the next generation of AI-powered tooling for electrical engineers.I spend a lot of time on this podcast—if you like my work, you can support me on Patreon :)Reach me at editor@thegradient.pub for feedback, ideas, guest suggestions. Subscribe to The Gradient Podcast:  Apple Podcasts  | Spotify | Pocket Casts | RSSFollow The Gradient on TwitterOutline:* (00:00) Intro* (00:45) Quilter origins and difficulties in designing PCBs* (04:12) PCBs and schematic implementations* (06:40) Iteration cycles and simulations* (08:35) Octilinear traces and first-principles design for PCBs* (12:38) The design space of PCBs* (15:27) Benchmarks for PCB design* (20:05) RL and PCB design* (22:48) PCB details, track widths* (25:09) Board functionality and aesthetics* (27:53) PCB designers and automation* (30:24) Quilter as a compiler* (33:56) Gluing social worlds and bringing together expertise* (36:00) Process knowledge vs. first-principles thinking* (42:05) Example boards* (44:45) Auto-routers for PCBs* (48:43) Difficulties for scaling to larger boards* (50:42) Customers and skepticism* (53:42) On experiencing negative feedback* (56:42) Maintaining stamina while building Quilter* (1:00:00) Endgame for Quilter and future directions* (1:03:24) OutroLinks:* Quilter homepage* Other pages/features mentioned:* Thin-to-thick traces* Octilinear trace routing* Comment from Tom Fleet Get full access to The Gradient at thegradientpub.substack.com/subscribe

We have a special On Orbit episode from SATELLITE 2024 this week, a fireside chat with Impulse Space CEO Tom Mueller. Mueller is considered one of the world's leading spacecraft propulsion experts. As one of SpaceX‘s founding members, he led the development of propulsion systems for the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy, as well as the Dragon line of spacecraft. His work was crucial in the development of reusable rocket technology.   Mueller spoke with Via Satellite editor-in-chief Mark Holmes during SATELLITE about his new company Impulse Space, an in-space transportation company working to deliver payloads to LEO, GEO, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Mueller describes his vision for Impulse Space to provide the transportation for the space economy of the future with Mira and the recently announced Helios kick stage.  Our next episode will also be from SATELLITE. We'll share the kickoff for the 2024 Future Space Economy series, Building Deep Space Satellite Connectivity Networks. This discussion features experts from QinetiQ, Space Tango, and Kepler Communications. Expect that in your feeds on April 16.

In this episode, we uncover the impact of Sam Altman's investment in Reddit, discuss Blue Origin's space missions with their New Shepard and New Glenn rockets, and examine Google's pause on human-like images in Gemini AI.Follow-up questions worth asking:What is the significance of Sam Altman's stake in Reddit?What is the difference between new glenn and Falcon Heavy?What are the criticisms of Gemini's image generation?Perplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin

PREVIEW: Excerpt from thrilling news from colleague Bob Zimmerman that Blue Origien's New Glenn reusable  rocket booster is ready for testing.  After years of delay, at last, competition for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.  And as Bob Zimmerman reminds over the years, competition gurarentees productivity and progress.  More of this later tonight. 1956

In the second episode of 2024, we went hard and produced a list of the 24 things to look out for in Space this year. Is my voice sore from this recording? Yes. Am I still excited for what's to come? OF COURSE! There are 8 groups of what to expect in 2024: Lunar, Space Station, Orbital Human Spaceflight, Deep Space, Payloads/Sats, Space Flyers, Astronomy, and Rocket Technology. We even added updates to this list as we were editing, since NASA released their new Artemis plan and the Vulcan took flight with CERT-1 and the Peregrine Lander saga is underway. We'd love to know what YOU are looking forward to in Space for 2024! Let us know in the comments or by emailing us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com. REVISION (01/13/24) We have corrected our original recording where we incorrectly mentioned that NASA's VIPER Rover would be on the same Astrobotics Peregrine Lander that won't make it to the moon. VIPER will take a Falcon Heavy and Astrobotic's Griffin Lander to the moon. While delays are still possible, they are two seperate landers from the same lunar lander technology company. Lunar Missions: Starship Development VIPER Rover for NASA Lunar Trailblazer for NASA PRIME-1 for NASA Peregrine Lander from Astrobotics Vulcan Rocket from ULA Intuitive Machines LM-1 Lunar Lander Orbital Human Spaceflight: 8. Artemis 2 (now delayed) 9. Polaris Dawn Space Flyer Missions: 10. Virgin Galactic/Blue Origin New Shepard Karman Line Flights 11. NXTGEN Astronaut selection?! Deep Space: 12. Europa Clipper 13. ESA's HERA mission to analyze DART impact Mars: 14. JAXA's Martian Moon eXploration Mission (MMX) - now delayed Space Station: 15. Sierra Space's Dreamchaser to take flight 16. Boeing Starliner to complete Commercial Crew Program Development 17. Axiom-3: 1st All-European Commercial Flight to ISS Payloads/Sats: 18. Amazon's Project Kuiper Satellite Internet constellation ramps deployment 19. More National Security/Secret Launches to be expected Rocket Technologies: 20. Blue Origin New Glenn Heavy Rocket 21. India's steady increase in Spaceflight in 2024 22. Terran-R | Reusable 3D printed rocket developmeny by Relativity Space 23. Rocket Lab to continue it's US/New Zealand launch cadence and develop Satellites Astronomy: 24. The Great American Eclipse 2024: Total Solar Eclipse  Sources: https://spacenews.com/ulas-next-rocket-to-be-named-vulcan/ https://www.space.com/spacex-2024-starship-starlink-launches https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/ https://europa.nasa.gov/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viper https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viper/in-depth https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/lunar-trailblazer https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-peregrine-lunar-lander-may-not-make-it-to-the-moon/ar-AA1mEXCN https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/intuitive-machines-im-1-lunar-mission-launch-update https://www.nasa.gov/mission/polar-resources-ice-mining-experiment-1-prime-1/ https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/en/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-peregrine-lunar-lander-may-not-make-it-to-the-moon/ar-AA1mEXCN https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/08/ula-vulcan-rocket-launch/72147150007/ https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/ https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/three-launches-in-q1-isro-s-24-plan-101703183805729.html https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/?page=2&search= https://www.relativityspace.com/terran-r https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/what-is-amazon-project-kuiper https://latteluxurynews.com/2023/12/08/virgin-galactic-nxtgen-astronaut-program/ https://duckduckgo.com/?q=axiom+3&t=brave&ia=web https://www.cbsnews.com/news/total-solar-eclipse-2024-last-chance-see-us-20-years-nasa/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/lunar-trailblazer --------------------------  Spread Love, Spread Science Alex G. Orphanos   We'd like to thank our sponsors: • AG3D Printing Follow us: @todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter @todayinspace on TikTok /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook Support the podcast:  • Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com  • Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com • Donate at todayinspace.net #space #rocket #podcast #spacex #moon #science #nasa #spacetravel #spaceexploration #solarsystem #spacecraft #technology #carlsagan #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #interstellar #caffeine #confidence #ego #newyears #vulcan #satellite #earth #astronaut #telescope #lunar #rockettechnology #rocketlab #mars

As the year draws to a close, the company has impressively surpassed its previous annual record of 60 launches, having completed 90 Falcon 9 and 4 Falcon Heavy missions. With plans for three more launches before year-end, including a Falcon Heavy and two Falcon 9s, SpaceX is poised to end the year with 97 Falcon missions. Including its Starship endeavors, which faced challenges post-launch, the total count reaches 99.

-BS Rocks: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/12/16/climate/solution-hot-rocks-renewable-energy-battery/index.html -Last Week Tonight talks Elon Musk: https://youtu.be/Eo3zORUGCbM?si=PGlN8MB2505yMS43 Tony's Top 5: 1. LitterRobot4, 2. ROG Ally/Steamdeck OLED, 3. Falcon Heavy, 4. Audeze Maxwell 5. Dyson Outsize plus Creative Aurvana Ace 2 Review -Threads is launching in the EU: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/12/14/1911233/threads-launches-in-the-european-union?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Apple can't sell its Watches anymore: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/23/12/18/2042225/apple-to-pause-selling-new-versions-of-its-watch-after-losing-patent-dispute?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Beeper Mini Update. It ends where we thought it would: https://www.engadget.com/beeper-minis-latest-imessage-for-android-setup-requires-a-mac-200322777.html -Toshiba… what happened to you man?...: https://slashdot.org/story/23/12/19/1558235/toshiba-to-be-delisted-after-74-years

#SpaceX: Unknown delay for Falcon Heavy launch of X-37B Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/the-scrub-of-this-weeks-falcon-heavy-launch-of-x-37b/ 1942

Spaceflight News— Rocket Lab Failure Analysis (spacenews.com) (space.com) (rocketlabusa.com) (PDF: q4cdn.com VIA en.wikipedia.org)Short & Sweet— Astra's financial future (spacenews.com) (spacenews.com)— X-37B readies for first launch on Falcon Heavy (spaceflightnow.com)Questions, Comments, Corrections— From the intro: Dinkinesh adds a moon (planetary.org)Interview -- Jake Teufert CTO and Chris Carella CCO, Benchmark Space Systems— We last talked to Chris Carella in episode 373 (theorbitalmechanics.com)— benchmarkspacesystems.com— linkedin.com/company/benchmark-space-systems — linkedin.com/in/jake-teufert-86b375133/ — linkedin.com/in/christopher-carella-innovate/This Week in Spaceflight History— Nov 15, 1988: The first and only launch of Buran (en.wikipedia.org) (buran.ru) (buran.ru) (buran-energia.com)— Next week (11/21 - 11/27) in 1962: Clouds before Aurora

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) releases its paper on “Risk Associated with Reentry Disposal of Satellites from Proposed Large Constellations in LEO”. A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 22 Starlink internet satellites into space lifted off from Florida's Space Coast just eight hours and 42 minutes after a Falcon Heavy launched the Psyche mission. India's Space Research Organization chairman S Somanath says the US has appealed to India to share space technology with them after seeing the development of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our Guest today is ASCEND Speaker and CEO of SCOUT Space, Eric Ingram. You can connect with Eric on LinkedIn, learn more about SCOUT on their website and join him at ASCEND next week. Selected Reading P.L. 116-260 Risks Associated with Reentry Disposal of Satellites from Large Constellations SpaceX-Response-to-FAA-regarding-Starlink-Demise-10.09.2023-fin.pdf Readout of Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Workshop- The White House SpaceX knocked out 2nd Space Coast launch on same day as Falcon Heavy success – Orlando Sentinel Impressed by Chandrayaan-3, American space experts wanted India to sell its tech to US: ISRO chief- WION Big money is back as space tech start-up raises $120m- Australia Financial Review China launches Earth-observing satellite - CGTN China to launch Shenzhou-17 spacecraft to its space station in October - CGTN It's a new dawn for Dhruva Space, revealing grand plans for its 280,000 square-foot Design, Engineering, Assembly, Integration & Testing Facility for large-scale Spacecraft Manufacturing- PR Spectrum Venture Ligado Nears Bankruptcy After Government Talks Collapse - WSJ America officially has its first Space Ranger - Task & Purpose T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © 2023 N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight: The show begins in New York City reporting on the threat of violence and on the still surging migrant numbers. Then to small business in Indiana, Texas and Illinois.  Attention to three nuclear-weapon-armed peer nations without an arms treaty. And that AI is now an existential threat until controlled.  Later the conclusion of The Red Hotel, Moscow 1940-1945. And the successful launch by a Falcon Heavy of the Pysche mision for rendezvous in 2029. 1783 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9-915 #NYC: NYPD massively deployed to keep the peace. Harry Siegel, TheCity.nyc. NY Daily News https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/10/11/23913640/new-yorkers-israel-hamas-gaza-war-reactions 915-930 ##PacificWatch: Campus turmoil. @JCBliss https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/13/tension-over-israel-hamas-war-grows-college-campuses 930-945 #SmallBusinessAmerica: Anxious Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers because of PRC dumping. @GeneMarks  @Guardian @PhillyInquirer https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/us-small-business-sentiment-kept-sliding-in-september-cb0a1856 945-1000 #SmallBusinessAmerica: On the one hand, on the other hand. @GeneMarks  @Guardian @PhillyInquirer https://www.asbn.com/articles/confidence-reaches-post-pandemic-high-among-small-business-owners-in-q3/ SECOND HOUR 10-1015 #PRC: #Russia: Three peer nuclear weapons powers at odds & What is to be done? https://on.ft.com/3PX5rPl 1015-1030 #MrMarket: Boomers holding up the consumer economy in wartime.   Jim McTague, former Washington Editor, Barrons. @MCTagueJ.  Author of the "Martin and Twyla Boundary Series."  https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/prices-rose-37-percent-in-september-as-fed-keeps-up-inflation-fight/ar-AA1i5G4s 1030-1045 #Israel: Proportionality in International Law. Richard Epstein,Hoover Institution. https://www.hoover.org/research/moral-clarity-hamas-israel-and-terrorism 1045-1100 #Israel: Fail Harvard. Richard Epstein,Hoover Institution. https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4247809-us-academic-leaders-must-stop-coddling-genocidal-hatred-of-israel-on-campus/ THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 5/4: The Red Hotel: Moscow 1941, the Metropol Hotel, and the Untold Story of Stalin's Propaganda War by  Alan Philps  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Red-Hotel-Metropol-Stalins-Propaganda/dp/1639364277/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In 1941, when German armies were marching towards Moscow, Lenin's body was moved from his tomb on Red Square and taken to Siberia. By 1945, a victorious Stalin had turned a poor country into a victorious superpower. Over the course of those four years, Stalin, at Churchill's insistence, accepted an Anglo-American press corps in Moscow to cover the Eastern Front. To turn these reporters into Kremlin mouthpieces, Stalin imposed the most draconian controls – unbending censorship, no visits to the battle front, and a ban on contact with ordinary citizens. The Red Hotel explores this gilded cage of the Metropol Hotel. They enjoyed lavish supplies of caviar and had their choice of young women to employ as translators and share their beds. On the surface, this regime served Stalin well: his plans to control Eastern Europe as a Sovietised ‘outer empire' were never reported and the most outrageous Soviet lies went unchallenged. But beneath the surface the Metropol was roiling with intrigue. While some of the translators turned journalists into robotic conveyors of Kremlin propaganda, others were secret dissidents who whispered to reporters the reality of Soviet life and were punished with sentences in the Gulag. Using British archives and Soviet sources, the unique role of the women of the Metropol, both as consummate propagandists and secret dissenters, is told for the first time. At the end of the war when Lenin returned to Red Square, the reporters went home, but the memory of Stalin's ruthless control of the wartime narrative lived on in the Kremlin. From the weaponization of disinformation to the falsification of history, from the moving of borders to the neutralisation of independent states, the story of the Metropol mirrors the struggles of our own modern era. 1115-1130 6/4: The Red Hotel: Moscow 1941, the Metropol Hotel, and the Untold Story of Stalin's Propaganda War by  Alan Philps  (Author) 1130-1145 7/4: The Red Hotel: Moscow 1941, the Metropol Hotel, and the Untold Story of Stalin's Propaganda War by  Alan Philps  (Author) 1145-1200 8/4: The Red Hotel: Moscow 1941, the Metropol Hotel, and the Untold Story of Stalin's Propaganda War by  Alan Philps  (Author) FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 #Ukraine: #Israel: #Taiwan: Arsenal of Democracy into action with dissent. Josh Rogin, Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/10/biden-republicans-israel-gaza-ukraine/ 1215-1230 ##KeystoneReport: Unacceptable conduct/Acceptable conduct. Salena Zito, Middle of Somewhere, @DCExaminer Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, New York Post, SalenaZito.com 1230-1245 #SpaceX: Falcon Heavy launches Psyche for 2029. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/falcon-heavy-successfully-launches-psyche-asteroid-mission/ 1245-100 AM #PRC: Poorly Copying Hubble. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com https://twitter.com/CNSAWatcher/status/1711647269370392780

➤ VW comments on EV orders, targets ➤ Kia EV day ➤ 4680 battery storage video ➤ Cybertruck measurement ➤ Tesla Semi event details ➤ New referral program prize ➤ Update on Tesla fire story ➤ CATL Shanghai factory ➤ New Tesla merchandise ➤ Falcon Heavy launch ➤ Calendar Shareloft: https://www.shareloft.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/teslapodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tesladailypodcast Tesla Referral: https://ts.la/robert47283 Executive producer Jeremy Cooke Executive producer Troy Cherasaro Executive producer Andre/Maria Kent Executive producer Jessie Chimni Executive producer Michael Pastrone Executive producer Richard Del Maestro Executive producer John Beans Disclosure: Rob Maurer is long TSLA stock & derivatives

➤ Tesla appears to resume production at Fremont after short downtime ➤ PCE comes in below expectations ➤ Safety response at Giga Texas ➤ Cybertruck line video ➤ NHTSA outlines fuel economy standards proposal ➤ Tesla reportedly continues talks with India ➤ V4 Supercharger installations continue ➤ Tesla updates website, adds demo drives to referral program ➤ Ford talks hybrids ➤ SpaceX to attempt Falcon Heavy launch: https://www.youtube.com/live/5ixbPMe6684 Shareloft: https://www.shareloft.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/teslapodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tesladailypodcast Tesla Referral: https://ts.la/robert47283 Executive producer Jeremy Cooke Executive producer Troy Cherasaro Executive producer Andre/Maria Kent Executive producer Jessie Chimni Executive producer Michael Pastrone Executive producer Richard Del Maestro Executive producer John Beans Disclosure: Rob Maurer is long TSLA stock & derivatives

➤ Alex Potter of Piper Sandler cuts TSLA price target ➤ Ford CEO Jim Farley shares some advice with Tesla ➤ New Cybertruck photos ➤ Ram truck design contest shows interesting trend ➤ Shanghai Model 3 may be heading to Canada ➤ Tesla not taking S/X orders in more right-hand drive countries ➤ Tesla offering discounted financing on Model Y in Germany ➤ Reports of Shanghai factory production break ➤ Fremont factory applications ➤ The Boring Company looks to implement Tesla safety features ➤ Musk comments on FSD Beta ➤ Musk reaches settlement in defamation case ➤ SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy after short delay Shareloft: https://www.shareloft.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/teslapodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tesladailypodcast Tesla Referral: https://ts.la/robert47283 Executive producer Jeremy Cooke Executive producer Troy Cherasaro Executive producer Andre/Maria Kent Executive producer Jessie Chimni Executive producer Michael Pastrone Executive producer Richard Del Maestro Executive producer John Beans Music by Evan Schaeffer Disclosure: Rob Maurer is long TSLA stock & derivatives

Could there be life under the icy surface of Europa? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice explore interplanetary missions, asteroid mining, and other exciting launches with the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Laurie Leshin.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-the-future-of-the-nasa-jet-propulsion-lab-with-laurie-leshin/Thanks to our Patrons Statton Broxham, Ethan Codyre, Ron Lanier,Nathaniel England, and Roger Lee for supporting us this week.Photo Credit: NASA / Jet Propulsion Lab-Caltech / SETI Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons