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Brief Summary: The program focused on a discussion with Roger Launius, a retired NASA historian, about his book covering NASA's history from its origins as NACA to the present day. The conversation explored NASA's relationship with commercial space industry, historical organizational changes, and the challenges of accessing NASA's historical records and archives. The discussion also covered various technical and political aspects of space exploration, including decision-making processes, military roles in space, and the evolution of NASA's approach to partnerships and innovation. Roger shared his thoughts on the future of space exploration, expressing uncertainty about the timeline for lunar missions and human presence on Mars. Space Show team participants included myself, John Jossy, Bill Gowan, Marshall Martin, John Hunt, Dr. Ajay Kothari, and Phil Swan.Detailed Summary: As host I welcomed Dr. Roger Launius back to the Space Show to discuss his new book, “From NACA to NASA to Now.” Launius explained that the book, published in 2025, provides a concise history of NASA from its origins as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1915 to its transformation into NASA in 1958. He highlighted the ongoing role of NASA's legacy research centers in aeronautical research today. Launius also discussed the evolution of the aerospace industry, emphasizing that the distinction between “old space” and “new space” is complex and not clearly defined. He noted that private sector activities in space have a long history, dating back to the 1950s, and that NASA's approach to commercial partnerships has evolved over time, particularly with the creation of separate entities to handle launch services in the 1990s.Bill Gowan and Roger discussed the evolution of NASA's relationship with commercial space, noting that while NASA has always relied on commercial industry for spacecraft design and construction, there has been a shift towards non-cost-plus contracts. Roger highlighted that while NASA innovations have contributed to commercial space advancements, the designs are not entirely independent of NASA's influence. They also explored the partisan nature of NASA's early years, with Roger explaining that the Apollo program faced political challenges from both the left and right, and was subject to budget cuts after its initial success.The discussion focused on the impact of the government shutdown on NASA's historical resources and archives. Roger explained that while NASA facilities are currently closed, their websites and online historical resources remain accessible, though not updated. He detailed the complex federal records system, noting that most NASA records are stored at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and other federal record centers across the country, with access often delayed by years, especially for recent or classified materials. Marshall inquired about accessing Elon Musk's communications with NASA and the President, to which Roger clarified that such recent records would not be available in the National Archives yet and suggested using interviews and publicly released documents for journalistic research on recent events.Roger explained that separating historical facts from salesmanship in space exploration is a challenging task due to the varied motivations behind statements. He emphasized the importance of understanding these motivations and balancing contradictory perspectives. David inquired about the feasibility of modernizing old Apollo lunar lander plans, to which Roger confirmed that NASA possesses extensive technical drawings and records of past hardware in federal records centers and has historically allowed access for analysis. Roger also described the difficult transition from NACA to NASA in 1958, highlighting resistance from the military, particularly over the transfer of the von Braun team and the Army Ballistic Missile Agency's resources, which was a prolonged and contentious process.Our discussion addressed historical NASA consolidations and organizational changes, with Roger explaining that efforts to close or merge NASA facilities have been ongoing since the 1960s, though political opposition from congressional delegations has typically prevented closures. The conversation also covered the history of the National Space Council, which was established in 1958 but became less active after the 1960s, particularly under Nixon, before being revived by the Trump administration. John Hunt raised questions about military roles in space, noting how the Army developed its own ballistic missile programs while the Air Force maintained separate capabilities, highlighting ongoing challenges in service roles and missions.Roger explained that Space Council issues are now handled through the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the White House. He discussed the difficulty in finding detailed information about NASA's decision-making process for certain projects, such as the Mars Sample Return mission. Roger mentioned that some individuals, like George Lowe and Bob Siemens, kept detailed records of meetings and decisions, which are now available at Rensselaer and MIT respectively. David asked if there would be a “post-NASA era,” to which Roger responded that there is no known impetus for such a transition. The conversation also touched on the public and intellectual resistance to using Nazi engineers, like Wernher von Braun, in the early American space program, and the debate within the federal government about this issue.Roger discussed the history of supersonic flight, clarifying that Chuck Yeager did not demand a million dollars to fly the X1 and that Slick Chalmers flew multiple supersonic flights. He also addressed a controversy about whether the F-86 pilot beat Yeager's speed record, noting that the evidence was unreliable. Roger emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making in engineering, using examples from the Challenger disaster and flight readiness reviews. Marshall inquired about decision-making processes, and Roger highlighted the need for comprehensive data and proper training in engineering education.The group discussed historical space program decisions, focusing on the Challenger launch and the X-30 National Aerospace Plane program. Roger explained that while data existed showing risks of cold-weather launches, the decision-making process was complex and the data wasn't presented clearly, leading to the catastrophic failure. The discussion also covered the X-30 program, which was announced by Reagan in the 1980s but ended in the early 90s due to technological challenges and cost concerns, though some research continued.Roger discussed the NACA's contributions to aeronautics, highlighting its approach to research and development. He explained how the NACA hired young engineers and provided them with advanced research tools, such as the variable density wind tunnel, which led to significant advancements in airframe and wing design. Roger also mentioned the NACA's involvement in rocket research during World War II, which eventually led to the establishment of NASA and the transition of key personnel to the new space agency.Roger discussed his friendship with Dr. John Anderson and shared details about a 2009 incident involving Mike Griffin and Laurie Garver at a launch party for John Logsdon's book. He explained that Mike Griffin expressed concerns about Laurie Garver's involvement in the Constellation program, emphasizing her need to step back from technical details. Roger also highlighted Laurie Garver's significant role in transitioning NASA to the commercial crew program, advocating for private sector involvement in space exploration. The conversation touched on the challenges NASA faced in the 1990s, including the cancellation of the X-33 program and the search for alternatives to the Space Shuttle.Concluding Summary: The meeting featured an interview with Roger, a retired NASA historian, who discussed his book on the history of NASA and its predecessor organizations. Roger shared his plans for future conferences and mentioned his current residence in Auburn, Alabama. The discussion also covered the availability of Roger's book for free download from NASA. The conversation ended with thanks to the show's sponsors and participants, and a reminder about an upcoming open lines session.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:Tuesday, 11-11-25; 7 PM PDT, 10 PM EDT:Bob Zimmerman returns with space news and updates plus a look at space 2025. Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe
In 1996, a controversial claim of fossilized life in a Martian meteorite ignited a golden age of Mars exploration. Nearly 30 years later, a potential biosignature detected by the Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater has sparked…nothing, not even a formal effort to revive the beleaguered robotic Mars Sample Return project. Why did the claims surrounding the Allan Hills meteorite (which were ultimately rejected) kick off 25 years of unprecedented robotic exploration of the Red Planet? And why did the discovery at Cheyava Falls fail to ignite the same level of interest? Lou Friedman, former Executive Director of The Planetary Society and longtime proponent of Mars Sample Return, joins the show to contrast these to tipping points of Mars exploration, and argues why space scientists should seize this discovery to push for a scientific future at the Red Planet. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-lou-friedman-on-msr-and-tipping-point-eventsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 1996, a controversial claim of fossilized life in a Martian meteorite ignited a golden age of Mars exploration. Nearly 30 years later, a potential biosignature detected by the Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater has sparked… no major policy changes. Why? Lou Friedman joins the show to present his view.
How can we build a new Moon program while slashing science funding? Bill Nye takes the host's chair alongside Chuck Nice to tackle one of the most urgent issues facing our future in space with Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, who's been tracking and analyzing NASA's funding for years. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/bill-nye-takeover/Thanks to our Patrons anthonee rolfson, David Moncsko, 7Linden7, Kyle Meserve, Nancy Kimmel, Marc Gardiner, Carl Cheshire, El Mero Chingón Daniel Shin, Daniel Fisher, Christopher Crider, pintos dabeans, Alfric, Ry Guy, Juan Roa, Ph1lycheez, John4Disney, Esther Klein, Mako, Matthew Schuller, Alison L Bentley, Spencer Dohm, Brandon, David Yamanoha, Yash Goyal, Emily Hendrix, Mick W, Darin Wagner, Grant Cameron, Cheryl Courtright from Spring TX, Yonatan Gher, Edward Martin, erin grant, Emilio Martinez-Cordero, Nathan Trent, Pat D, Daniel Nicgorski, Alvan Mbongo, Colin Zwicker, Grand One, Adam, ubanamie320., Eric Mill, Aikya, Sean Dalglish, brian rowley, Philip, Quentin Walker, david smith, John Dusenberry, Karina Szalaiova, Ycros, Karel Netusil, Joe M, Rossell E Cameron, Gary Weber, Major King, david powell, Six String Sam, milky, Alyssa Solis, Wrama, Deanna Szwarc, Anthony Wiseman, Veronica Tash, Carrie Wilson-Bridges, Sebastian Cruz, Rhyskel, Kendra Meinert Hodson, princess, Jessy Kaiser, Anand Raman, Lance Davis, Yvonne S McCool, cameron campbell, Gene Davis, Greg, Micheal Jarka, Jenn [Z3120], Mark Lineberger, Jimmy Walker, Noëllie Newcastle, Andrew Nolen, Andrwnick, David Harrold, Vicki, Kaelyn P, and Kevin Staley for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has made one of its most intriguing discoveries yet in Jezero Crater. A rock sample called Sapphire Canyon, drilled from the Bright Angel formation, contains unusual chemical and mineral patterns that may be potential biosignatures. We begin with remarks from Morgan Cable, research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co–deputy principal investigator of the PIXL instrument on Perseverance, in a video released alongside NASA’s September 10, 2025 announcement. Then, host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Joel Hurowitz, associate professor of geosciences at Stony Brook University and deputy principal investigator of the PIXL instrument on Perseverance, who is also the lead author of the new Nature paper detailing the findings. Hurowitz explains how textures nicknamed "poppy seeds" and "leopard spots" connect organic carbon with minerals like vivianite and greigite, and why these could represent some of the most compelling evidence yet for ancient microbial life on Mars. Finally, in this week’s What’s Up, Bruce Betts, The Planetary Society’s chief scientist, joins Sarah to explore earlier moments in the history of Mars exploration when tantalizing hints of life sparked scientific and public excitement. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-perseverence-biosignaturesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marťanské robotické vozidlo Perseverance našlo vzorky, ktorých analýza dospela k záveru, že najpravdepodobnejším vysvetlením je prítomnosť dávneho života. Ide o doposiaľ najsilnejšiu indíciu života vo vesmíre mimo našej planéty. Čo presne vedci našli, prečo je tento objav taký významný a čo to znamená pre ďalší výskum?V novom vydaní podcastu SHARE sa moderátor Maroš Žofčin rozpráva s redaktorom Živé.sk a astrofyzikom Marekom Jurčíkom o prelomovom objave na Marse, o porovnaní s predošlými náznakmi života a o tom, či a kedy sa nám podarí získať definitívny dôkaz.Pripravte sa na budúcnosť s knihou od redaktorov Živé.sk „Umelá inteligencia: Pripravte sa na budúcnosť“. TIP: https://zive.aktuality.sk/clanok/0RfdZVW/nahliadnite-do-buducnosti-vydavame-knihu-o-umelej-inteligencii/ V podcaste hovoríme aj o týchto témach:Čo presne objavil rover Perseverance v marťanskom kráteri Jezero.Prečo sú nájdené minerály zatiaľ najsilnejšou indíciou minulého života na Marse.Aký je rozdiel medzi týmto objavom a predošlými (sonda Viking, meteorit ALH84001).Prečo je dôležité dostať vzorky na Zem a aké sú problémy misie Mars Sample Return.Ako vyzeral Mars v minulosti, keď na ňom mohli existovať mikróby.Odkazy na témy, o ktorých sme v podcaste hovorili:Našli dôkazy života na Marse, dosiaľ najpresvedčivejšie. Nové zistenie otriaslo vedouAko môžu vyzerať mimozemšťania? Úplne inak, ako by ste čakaliAko by vyzerali mimozemšťania? Vedci majú prekvapivo divoké predstavy Podcast SHARE pripravuje magazín Živé.sk.
You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet! Headlines: • NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon • Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase • James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence" Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance • Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater • Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity • Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life • Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings • Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits • Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth • Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth • Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Michael Tice Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet! Headlines: NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence" Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Michael Tice Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet! Headlines: NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence" Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Michael Tice Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
Perseverance Rover's Potential Evidence of Life on Mars: NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered what could be the strongest evidence yet for microbial life on Mars. The discovery of "leopard spots" on a rock in the Bright Jingle Formation contains organic carbon-rich material, clay minerals, and iron sulfide minerals that suggest biological processes akin to those of Earth microbes. While skepticism remains, the analysis indicates that these findings are most likely biological in origin, pending further examination through the Mars Sample Return mission.Risks of Asteroid Deflection Missions: A new study reveals that asteroid deflection missions might inadvertently increase the risk of Earth impacts. Researchers found that improper deflection could steer asteroids into gravitational keyholes, leading them onto collision courses with Earth. Sophisticated planning and probability maps are essential for safely redirecting asteroids, highlighting the complexity of such missions.James Webb Telescope's Massive Stellar Jet Discovery: The James Webb Space Telescope has captured astonishing images of an eight-light-year-long stellar jet originating from a massive protostar in the Sharpless 2284 Nebula. This discovery provides insights into the formation of massive stars and the dynamics of stellar jets, which scale with stellar mass.Pentagon's New Missile Defense Satellites: The Pentagon has launched 21 satellites for a new missile defense constellation, part of a plan to deploy 154 satellites in low Earth orbit. This innovative approach reduces costs significantly and enhances capabilities to detect modern threats like hypersonic weapons, marking a shift in military satellite economics.Nasa's Creative Helicopter Training: NASA has introduced a helicopter flight training course in the Colorado mountains to simulate lunar landing conditions for the Artemis missions. This hands-on training focuses on crew coordination and communication, preparing astronauts for the challenges of landing on the Moon amidst difficult terrain and lunar dust.Gaia Mission's Stellar Discoveries: The European Space Agency's Gaia mission has revealed complex star formation processes, identifying massive stellar streams in our galaxy. This groundbreaking data challenges previous notions of star formation, showing that it occurs in interconnected cascades triggered by supernovae, providing a deeper understanding of our galactic history.Artemis Gateway Updates: NASA has shared new details about the Gateway Lunar Space Station, which will serve as a hub for lunar missions and potentially a refueling stop for Mars expeditions. This initiative emphasizes international cooperation and in situ resource utilization, paving the way for humanity's expansion into the solar system.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesPerseverance Rover Findings[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Asteroid Deflection Research[Nature](https://www.nature.com/)James Webb Telescope Discoveries[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Pentagon Missile Defense Satellites[Department of Defense](https://www.defense.gov/)NASA Helicopter Training[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Gaia Mission Updates[ESA](https://www.esa.int/)Artemis Gateway Information[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here
If we're ever to make Mars a second home, we have some serious housekeeping to do... as in a total renovation. The Red Planet has little atmosphere, no radiation shielding, and some seriously toxic soil. How can we make it more Earthlike... and should we? Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis joins us to discuss how terraforming might work, how it could be done in decades instead of millennia, and the questions surrounding the ethics of changing another planet to suit humanity's needs. We say it's a trailer park of a planet, but the best bet for human expansion. Dr. Rick Jenet is this week's co-host. Join us for the conversation! Headlines: NASA aims to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, competing with China's similar plans for the Moon. NASA's planned commercial space stations are facing delays. As ISS retirement nears, the U.S. risks losing its foothold in low-Earth orbit within the coming years. SpaceX hits 100 launches in 2025, dominating global orbital launch activity and enabling rapid rocket reuse. Main Topic: High-Speed Terraforming of Mars Guest Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis shares new, biotech-driven concepts for terraforming Mars much faster than traditional proposals. Dr. DeBenedictis shares a modern understanding of Mars' past and present environment, including radiation, toxic perchlorate-laced soil, and thin atmosphere. Discussion on the importance and challenges of Mars Sample Return for accurate soil and resource analysis. Modern synthetic biology as a tool for creating microbes tailored for Martian soil and future terraforming. A step-by-step outline by Dr. DeBenedictis on building a breathable Mars atmosphere via engineered photosynthetic microbes, engineered atmospheric warming, and greenhouse construction. Exploration of the ethical considerations and philosophical implications of turning Mars into a habitable "garden," weighing preservation versus transformation. Dr. DeBenedictis makes a case for Martian settlement, terraforming technology, and legal and resource challenges for commercial space expansion. And Dr. DeBenedictis' vision for Mars' future as a unique, partially Earth-like biosphere with new opportunities in planetary stewardship and human adaptation of the planet. Host: Rod Pyle Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet Guest: Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
If we're ever to make Mars a second home, we have some serious housekeeping to do... as in a total renovation. The Red Planet has little atmosphere, no radiation shielding, and some seriously toxic soil. How can we make it more Earthlike... and should we? Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis joins us to discuss how terraforming might work, how it could be done in decades instead of millennia, and the questions surrounding the ethics of changing another planet to suit humanity's needs. We say it's a trailer park of a planet, but the best bet for human expansion. Dr. Rick Jenet is this week's co-host. Join us for the conversation! Headlines: NASA aims to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, competing with China's similar plans for the Moon. NASA's planned commercial space stations are facing delays. As ISS retirement nears, the U.S. risks losing its foothold in low-Earth orbit within the coming years. SpaceX hits 100 launches in 2025, dominating global orbital launch activity and enabling rapid rocket reuse. Main Topic: High-Speed Terraforming of Mars Guest Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis shares new, biotech-driven concepts for terraforming Mars much faster than traditional proposals. Dr. DeBenedictis shares a modern understanding of Mars' past and present environment, including radiation, toxic perchlorate-laced soil, and thin atmosphere. Discussion on the importance and challenges of Mars Sample Return for accurate soil and resource analysis. Modern synthetic biology as a tool for creating microbes tailored for Martian soil and future terraforming. A step-by-step outline by Dr. DeBenedictis on building a breathable Mars atmosphere via engineered photosynthetic microbes, engineered atmospheric warming, and greenhouse construction. Exploration of the ethical considerations and philosophical implications of turning Mars into a habitable "garden," weighing preservation versus transformation. Dr. DeBenedictis makes a case for Martian settlement, terraforming technology, and legal and resource challenges for commercial space expansion. And Dr. DeBenedictis' vision for Mars' future as a unique, partially Earth-like biosphere with new opportunities in planetary stewardship and human adaptation of the planet. Host: Rod Pyle Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet Guest: Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
If we're ever to make Mars a second home, we have some serious housekeeping to do... as in a total renovation. The Red Planet has little atmosphere, no radiation shielding, and some seriously toxic soil. How can we make it more Earthlike... and should we? Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis joins us to discuss how terraforming might work, how it could be done in decades instead of millennia, and the questions surrounding the ethics of changing another planet to suit humanity's needs. We say it's a trailer park of a planet, but the best bet for human expansion. Dr. Rick Jenet is this week's co-host. Join us for the conversation! Headlines: NASA aims to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, competing with China's similar plans for the Moon. NASA's planned commercial space stations are facing delays. As ISS retirement nears, the U.S. risks losing its foothold in low-Earth orbit within the coming years. SpaceX hits 100 launches in 2025, dominating global orbital launch activity and enabling rapid rocket reuse. Main Topic: High-Speed Terraforming of Mars Guest Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis shares new, biotech-driven concepts for terraforming Mars much faster than traditional proposals. Dr. DeBenedictis shares a modern understanding of Mars' past and present environment, including radiation, toxic perchlorate-laced soil, and thin atmosphere. Discussion on the importance and challenges of Mars Sample Return for accurate soil and resource analysis. Modern synthetic biology as a tool for creating microbes tailored for Martian soil and future terraforming. A step-by-step outline by Dr. DeBenedictis on building a breathable Mars atmosphere via engineered photosynthetic microbes, engineered atmospheric warming, and greenhouse construction. Exploration of the ethical considerations and philosophical implications of turning Mars into a habitable "garden," weighing preservation versus transformation. Dr. DeBenedictis makes a case for Martian settlement, terraforming technology, and legal and resource challenges for commercial space expansion. And Dr. DeBenedictis' vision for Mars' future as a unique, partially Earth-like biosphere with new opportunities in planetary stewardship and human adaptation of the planet. Host: Rod Pyle Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet Guest: Dr. Erika Alden DeBenedictis Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
The Space Show Advisory Board discusses NASA budget and mission cuts plus policy via Zoom on Sunday, July 27, 2025.The Space Show Advisory Board meeting centered on NASA's proposed budget cuts and the ongoing appropriations process in Congress. Bill Gowan outlined the current situation: while the President's budget proposes a 24% overall cut to NASA—including a 47% reduction to the Science Mission Directorate—Congress appears inclined to preserve NASA's funding. The Senate has approved a $24.9 billion budget, including $7.3 billion for the Science Mission Directorate. However, the House has yet to finalize its version, and the fiscal year may begin under a continuing resolution.We began with a discussion of NASA's budget, with Bill noting that congressional recess prevents staff from working on reconciling the House and Senate versions until both are finalized. David emphasized the importance of keeping political commentary separate from the show. A broader fiscal concern was then raised: federal spending exceeds revenue by 37%, and national debt has reached 121% of GDP. This led to debate over whether NASA's budget should be cut, with Bob Zimmerman arguing for greater efficiency rather than larger budgets. Others suggested targeting cuts to specific programs, such as Artemis 4 and 5.Dr. AJ Kothari discussed his upcoming meeting with Republican leader Caroline Levitt to oppose the Trump administration's proposed Mars landing timeline for 2028, citing the risk of mission failure and reputational damage. He also mentioned attempts to schedule a meeting with a Space and Science Committee staffer to discuss budget allocation and the feasibility of a lunar research station by 2028. AJ invited others—particularly those near Washington, D.C.—to join either in person or via video conference. David reiterated the need to keep TSS nonpartisan in its discussions.Concerns were raised about NASA's transitional plans for SLS and human spaceflight, particularly the possibility of scientific programs being defunded while legacy systems remain supported. The potential impact of China's lunar missions on America's space leadership was also mentioned. Some noted a disconnect between the industry's optimistic tone at conferences and the more critical assessments voiced by Advisory Board participants. David highlighted this contrast by sharing insights from his recent attendance at the AIAA ASCEND conference in Las Vegas. I commented that our views seemed to represent minority positions in contrast to powerful aerospace and defense lobbying efforts. I encourage listeners to hear my full remarks for full context.The discussion turned to the evolving space landscape, especially how SpaceX's Starship and Starlink revenues might soon surpass NASA's budget, potentially reshaping space policy. Some expressed concern about overreliance on commercial providers and advocated for a balanced public-private model. Participants also reflected on past policy shifts, including regulatory changes under the Trump administration and the recent appointment of Sean Duffy as NASA Administrator, which many saw as a signal of support for increased private sector engagement. Several expressed concern that Jared Isaacman should be included in NASA planning and policy discussions.The group discussed potential budget cuts, identifying programs such as the Exploration Upper Stage, Artemis 2 and 3, Mars Sample Return, and Gateway as areas where cuts could yield approximately $6 billion in savings. The SLS program came under scrutiny for its high costs, with suggestions that commercial alternatives may be more viable. Lurio stressed the value of strong public-private partnerships and emphasized a sustainable approach to lunar exploration over competition with China. John Hunt noted that even eliminating NASA's entire budget would have minimal impact on the national deficit.Midway through the program, Dr. Doug Plata proposed an informal vote on the future of several major space programs, including SLS, Orion, and Mars Sample Return. Participants voted via a show of hands, and Doug posted the results on our Space Show blog for the July 27, 2025 program. Please visit www.thespaceshow.com or our Substack page at doctorspace.substack.com to view the poll and share your feedback, which is important in shaping future Advisory Board programs.As the program neared its conclusion, participants voiced strong support for AI integration in the space sector, particularly for its value in advocacy and policy influence. The conversation returned briefly to the ASCEND conference, with Dr. Sherry Bell commending the sincerity of those advocating for missions—even ones not aligned with current news or advisory board opinions.In the final minutes, we returned to the issue of NASA's budget and its alignment with the President's proposed 24% cut. I brought up the National Space Council (NSC), prompting brief discussion. Most participants were skeptical of the NSC's current effectiveness and questioned the Vice President's engagement with space issues. Several advocated for grassroots lobbying to make our views heard by the administration. We closed by exploring how to advocate for strategic budget cuts while preserving essential NASA programs. Before ending, I reminded everyone of upcoming programs and that The Space Show is listener- and guest-supported. Donation links and PayPal information can be found on the right-hand side of our home page at www.thespaceshow.com.If you're reading this on The Space Show website and listening to the audio, the video version is available at doctorspace.substack.comSpecial 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 4407: Mark Whittington returns | Tuesday 29 Jul 2025 700PM PTGuests: Mark WhittingtonMark reports on news & updates impacting our space communityBroadcast 4408: Hotel Mars with Megan Masterson from MIT | Wednesday 30 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Megan MastersonMegan discusses her paper on star-shredding black holes hiding in dusty galaxiesBroadcast 44 09: Andrew Chanin | Friday 01 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: Andrew ChaninAndrew returns with Procure, UFO EFT & space investment newsBroadcast 4410: Michael Gorton, scientist & author | Sunday 03 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Michael GortonMichael talks physics, science, Sci-Fi & his new book series, Tachyon Tunnel series. Be sure to see his full bio on our website Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe
Challenges for Mars Sample Return Mission: We dive into the hurdles facing NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission (MSR) as costs soar to an estimated $11 billion. Discover Lockheed Martin's innovative proposal to streamline the mission for under $3 billion, potentially saving this crucial scientific endeavour.- Revolutionary AI Satellite Technology: Learn about a groundbreaking satellite being developed by researchers at UC Davis, featuring a digital brain that monitors its own condition in real-time. This cutting-edge technology aims to transform satellite operations and reduce the burden on ground teams.- Unintentional Signals to Alien Civilisations: Explore new research suggesting that our military and civilian radar signals could be broadcasting our presence to intelligent life up to 200 light years away. This study raises intriguing questions about the potential for contact with extraterrestrial beings.- Hubble's Insights into Dark Matter: Marvel at Hubble's latest image of the Abell 209 galaxy cluster, revealing over 100 galaxies and the elusive dark matter that shapes our universe. Learn how gravitational lensing helps astronomers map the distribution of this mysterious substance.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesMars Sample Return Mission[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)AI Satellite Development[UC Davis](https://www.ucdavis.edu/)Extraterrestrial Signals Research[University of Manchester](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/)Hubble Space Telescope[NASA Hubble](https://hubblesite.org/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
Water and the possibility of life on Mars Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers explain what we know about the potential for water and life on Mars and what we might learn from analysis of returned samples. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04] Mark Thiemens explains the importance of bringing samples from Mars back to Earth. •[02:37] Arya Udry explains the current gaps and limitations in the geological record provided by Martian meteorites. •[03:55] Bruce Jakosky explains what we currently know about the presence and history of water on Mars. •[05:26] Monica Grady explains how analyzing volatile species in Martian samples could provide insight into the planet's past climate. •[06:58] Rachel Slank describes the potential presence of liquid brines on Mars. •[08:27] Vashan Wright used recordings from a seismometer onboard NASA's InSight lander to estimate the volumes of liquid water that might be contained in the Martian mid-crust. •[10:14] Mark Sephton explains what biomarkers are and what kinds we might expect to find in Martian samples. •[11:34] Caroline Freissinet describes the discovery of long-chain organic molecules on Mars and the difficulties of conclusively identifying organic molecules as biomarkers. •[13:32] Thiemens explains the potentially far-reaching value of continuing to support the Mars Sample Return mission. •[14:37] Final thoughts and conclusion. About Our Guest: Mark Thiemens Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California at San Diego Arya Udry Associate Professor – Graduate coordinator University of Nevada, Las Vegas Bruce Jakosky Professor Emeritus University of Colorado Boulder Monica Grady Professor Emirita Open University Rachel Slank Postdoctoral Fellow Lunar and Planetary Institute Vashan Wright Assistant Professor University of California, San Diego Mark Sephton Professor Imperial College London Caroline Freissinet Researcher Laboratory for Atmospheres, Observations, and Space French National Centre for Scientific Research View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421996121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2415280121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404254121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2321080121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404260121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2321067121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2409983121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404256121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2420580122 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter
The White House has released its Fiscal Year 2026 congressional budget justification for NASA, and the implications are staggering. If enacted, this proposal would slash NASA’s science program funding by nearly half, cancel dozens of active and upcoming missions, and reduce the agency’s workforce by one-third. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Jack Kiraly, The Planetary Society’s director of government relations, to examine what’s in the nearly 500-page document, what it means for the future of space science and exploration, and how advocates can still act to save NASA science. Then, in What’s Up, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts shares insights on China’s newly launched asteroid sample return mission, Tianwen-2. The spacecraft will rendezvous with near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, offering new scientific opportunities amidst a moment of global uncertainty in space exploration. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-FY-2026-budget-proposalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seems we can't go through an hour without hearing news about artificial intelligence these days. There are a lot of exciting developments, and some of the most exciting when thinking about space are coming from the USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS), which is on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. In this episode, we're speaking with the institute's director, Dr. David Bell, who will walk us through the differences between current AI, agentic AI, and--are you ready?--quantum-powered AI, and their current and future potential to revolutionize space exploration and development. Join us!Headlines Trump budget cuts: The Trump administration's fiscal 2026 "skinny" budget proposes slashing NASA's funding by $6 billion—24 % of its current $24.8 billion—threatening SLS, Orion, Gateway, and Mars Sample Return programs. Planet 9 revival: Scientists re-examining 1980s IRAS and 2006–2011 Akari infrared data have uncovered new gravitational signatures suggesting a hidden Planet 9 at ~700 AU, bringing the search closer to confirmation. Speed-round catch-up: NASA's Psyche asteroid mission is battling low fuel pressure; the decades-old Soviet Cosmos 42 Venus probe is slated to re-enter around May 10; and a recent poll finds over half of Gen Z and millennials believe in alien cover-ups. Main Topic – AI in Space with Dr. David Bell USRA & QuAIL overview: Dr. Bell outlines USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS) and its Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab—a collaboration with Google and NASA Ames driving AI and quantum computing integration in space missions Career path & pivotal shifts: With 20+ years at USRA and a prior decade at Xerox PARC, Bell traces AI's journey from 1959's first neural nets to the 2017 transformer breakthrough that sparked today's LLM revolution. Early AI successes: AutoClass's unsupervised learning on the 1980s IRAS mission discovered a new class of infrared stars, and ExoMiner's deep-learning engine has since validated over 300 exoplanets from Kepler data. Agent-based autonomy: USRA deployed mobile agents on the ISS to automate file transfers and Deep Space One's Remote Agent performed onboard planning, execution, and anomaly recovery in deep space during the 1990s. Evolution of planning & scheduling: The Europa planning engine—used daily for Mars rovers—has evolved into SPIFe (Spiffy) and real-time collaborative "playbook" apps, optimizing workflows on both robotic and crewed missions. Natural language interfaces: Clarissa, a precursor to Siri deployed on the ISS five years before commercial voice assistants, let astronauts query and navigate complex procedures by voice. Robotic assistants: Projects like Astrobee free-flying robots on the ISS and analog-terrain rover simulations demonstrate how AI-driven machines can support astronauts in exploration and maintenance tasks. Foundation models for Earth & space: USRA's Generative AI Lab is building multipurpose foundation models on global satellite data that now outperform traditional numerical simulations—forecasting weather faster and more accurately. Workforce development: Through the Feynman Quantum Academy and NASA-integrated data science curricula, USRA immerses students These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/159 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. David Bell
Seems we can't go through an hour without hearing news about artificial intelligence these days. There are a lot of exciting developments, and some of the most exciting when thinking about space are coming from the USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS), which is on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. In this episode, we're speaking with the institute's director, Dr. David Bell, who will walk us through the differences between current AI, agentic AI, and--are you ready?--quantum-powered AI, and their current and future potential to revolutionize space exploration and development. Join us!Headlines Trump budget cuts: The Trump administration's fiscal 2026 "skinny" budget proposes slashing NASA's funding by $6 billion—24 % of its current $24.8 billion—threatening SLS, Orion, Gateway, and Mars Sample Return programs. Planet 9 revival: Scientists re-examining 1980s IRAS and 2006–2011 Akari infrared data have uncovered new gravitational signatures suggesting a hidden Planet 9 at ~700 AU, bringing the search closer to confirmation. Speed-round catch-up: NASA's Psyche asteroid mission is battling low fuel pressure; the decades-old Soviet Cosmos 42 Venus probe is slated to re-enter around May 10; and a recent poll finds over half of Gen Z and millennials believe in alien cover-ups. Main Topic – AI in Space with Dr. David Bell USRA & QuAIL overview: Dr. Bell outlines USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS) and its Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab—a collaboration with Google and NASA Ames driving AI and quantum computing integration in space missions Career path & pivotal shifts: With 20+ years at USRA and a prior decade at Xerox PARC, Bell traces AI's journey from 1959's first neural nets to the 2017 transformer breakthrough that sparked today's LLM revolution. Early AI successes: AutoClass's unsupervised learning on the 1980s IRAS mission discovered a new class of infrared stars, and ExoMiner's deep-learning engine has since validated over 300 exoplanets from Kepler data. Agent-based autonomy: USRA deployed mobile agents on the ISS to automate file transfers and Deep Space One's Remote Agent performed onboard planning, execution, and anomaly recovery in deep space during the 1990s. Evolution of planning & scheduling: The Europa planning engine—used daily for Mars rovers—has evolved into SPIFe (Spiffy) and real-time collaborative "playbook" apps, optimizing workflows on both robotic and crewed missions. Natural language interfaces: Clarissa, a precursor to Siri deployed on the ISS five years before commercial voice assistants, let astronauts query and navigate complex procedures by voice. Robotic assistants: Projects like Astrobee free-flying robots on the ISS and analog-terrain rover simulations demonstrate how AI-driven machines can support astronauts in exploration and maintenance tasks. Foundation models for Earth & space: USRA's Generative AI Lab is building multipurpose foundation models on global satellite data that now outperform traditional numerical simulations—forecasting weather faster and more accurately. Workforce development: Through the Feynman Quantum Academy and NASA-integrated data science curricula, USRA immerses students These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/159 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. David Bell
Seems we can't go through an hour without hearing news about artificial intelligence these days. There are a lot of exciting developments, and some of the most exciting when thinking about space are coming from the USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS), which is on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. In this episode, we're speaking with the institute's director, Dr. David Bell, who will walk us through the differences between current AI, agentic AI, and--are you ready?--quantum-powered AI, and their current and future potential to revolutionize space exploration and development. Join us!Headlines Trump budget cuts: The Trump administration's fiscal 2026 "skinny" budget proposes slashing NASA's funding by $6 billion—24 % of its current $24.8 billion—threatening SLS, Orion, Gateway, and Mars Sample Return programs. Planet 9 revival: Scientists re-examining 1980s IRAS and 2006–2011 Akari infrared data have uncovered new gravitational signatures suggesting a hidden Planet 9 at ~700 AU, bringing the search closer to confirmation. Speed-round catch-up: NASA's Psyche asteroid mission is battling low fuel pressure; the decades-old Soviet Cosmos 42 Venus probe is slated to re-enter around May 10; and a recent poll finds over half of Gen Z and millennials believe in alien cover-ups. Main Topic – AI in Space with Dr. David Bell USRA & QuAIL overview: Dr. Bell outlines USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS) and its Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab—a collaboration with Google and NASA Ames driving AI and quantum computing integration in space missions Career path & pivotal shifts: With 20+ years at USRA and a prior decade at Xerox PARC, Bell traces AI's journey from 1959's first neural nets to the 2017 transformer breakthrough that sparked today's LLM revolution. Early AI successes: AutoClass's unsupervised learning on the 1980s IRAS mission discovered a new class of infrared stars, and ExoMiner's deep-learning engine has since validated over 300 exoplanets from Kepler data. Agent-based autonomy: USRA deployed mobile agents on the ISS to automate file transfers and Deep Space One's Remote Agent performed onboard planning, execution, and anomaly recovery in deep space during the 1990s. Evolution of planning & scheduling: The Europa planning engine—used daily for Mars rovers—has evolved into SPIFe (Spiffy) and real-time collaborative "playbook" apps, optimizing workflows on both robotic and crewed missions. Natural language interfaces: Clarissa, a precursor to Siri deployed on the ISS five years before commercial voice assistants, let astronauts query and navigate complex procedures by voice. Robotic assistants: Projects like Astrobee free-flying robots on the ISS and analog-terrain rover simulations demonstrate how AI-driven machines can support astronauts in exploration and maintenance tasks. Foundation models for Earth & space: USRA's Generative AI Lab is building multipurpose foundation models on global satellite data that now outperform traditional numerical simulations—forecasting weather faster and more accurately. Workforce development: Through the Feynman Quantum Academy and NASA-integrated data science curricula, USRA immerses students These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/159 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. David Bell
Ben Tackett Show Notes TITLE: Lunar Landings & Late-Night Shifts: Ben Tackett from Firefly Aerospace on Blue Ghost Mission 1” This week on Casual Space, it's one small step for your playlist — one giant landing for a Blue Ghost…this episode delivers big on space, story, and spirit! Beth is joined by Ben Tackett, Lead Systems Operator at Firefly Aerospace, to relive the extraordinary journey that took him from Purdue classrooms to helping land a spacecraft on the Moon. Ben shares how his early love of aerospace evolved into a hands-on career that's shaping the future of space exploration. From collaborating with Buzz Aldrin on a Mars colonization project, to working the operations console for Blue Ghost Mission 1, Ben gives us a raw and real look at what it takes to bring a mission like this to life. In this episode, you'll hear about: The long nights, tight timelines, and 500+ hours of simulations that made history possible Real-time moments of awe: lunar images streaming in after touchdown The behind-the-scenes grit of small teams doing big things Why parking lot champagne tastes better after a lunar landing And what's next with Blue Ghost Mission 2, featuring payloads from the European Space Agency and a radio telescope bound for the far side of the Moon Ben's story is one of curiosity, commitment, and cosmic-scale inspiration — a reminder that behind every successful mission is a team of passionate people pushing past limits. This episode captures not just the technical triumph, but the human heartbeat of spaceflight. Don't miss this inside look at a truly historic mission — and a glimpse of what's just over the horizon. #CasualSpacePodcast #BlueGhostMission1 #FireflyAerospace #MoonLanding Credit/copyright for photo/video footage: Firefly Aerospace About Ben Tackett: Ben is the lead systems operator for the Blue Ghost lunar program at Firefly Aerospace, current commercial New Space systems engineer , and a prior NASA hypersonic flight mechanics engineer. For Blue Ghost, Ben maintains the technical "big picture" of the program and ensures that the sub-systems required to make a successful spacecraft work together towards a successful mission program. In addition to Blue Ghost, Ben has been a part of the Mars Sample Return initiative as Lead Flight Mechanics Engineer for development of the Earth Entry Vehicle, supported Aerocapture and Aerogravity-Assist initiatives, and completed multiple Verification & Validation efforts for the Artemis program with the NESC. Ben completed his education at Purdue University, focusing on hypersonic mission design, re-entry trajectory guidance and optimization, and aerospace systems engineering publishing a thesis on real-time trajectory optimization for onboard optimal control. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I'd love to hear it! YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87 Follow Casual Space Podcast and share your favorite episode: LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast Facebook - @casualspacepodcast Instagram - @casualspacepodcast YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83 Got a great guest suggestion or idea for the show? E-mail me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com. Send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space MISSION 03 AND MISSION 04 are NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
The 365 Days of Astronomy, the daily podcast of the International Year of Astronomy 2009
Published on April 9, 2025. Let's take a fast-paced journey through all that's new in space and astronomy, including new results from Perseverance Rover, Venusian Volcanism, Mars Sample Return (or not), Intuitive Machines' failure to land upright, Firefly Aerospace's amazing success with Blue Ghost, and tales from the launch pad. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too! Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.
Let's take a fast-paced journey through all that's new in space and astronomy, including new results from Perseverance Rover, Venusian Volcanism, Mars Sample Return (or not), Intuitive Machines' failure to land upright, Firefly Aerospace's amazing success with Blue Ghost, and tales from the launch pad.
In this compelling episode of Red Planet Live, we sat down with Dr. Luther Beegle, Principal Investigator of the SHERLOC instrument aboard NASA's Perseverance rover. While we originally set out to explore SHERLOC's role in detecting organic compounds and signs of past habitability on Mars, our conversation took us even further.We discussed the Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001) Martian meteorite discovered in Antarctica as an inspiration to Luther's career, discussed key missions across the solar system, and explored why a Mars Sample Return mission is critical before sending humans to the Red Planet. Dr. Beegle also offered behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of planetary exploration and the innovative technology propelling Mars science into the future.
Jake and Anthony are joined by Richard French, Vice President, Business Development and Strategy, Space Systems at Rocket Lab, to talk about their Mars Sample Return architecture, the way they've been putting the word out on it, and to hear what's been up with their space systems side of the business lately.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 191 - It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere…at a Rocket Lab Facility (with Richard French) - YouTubeRocket Lab | The Space Company | Rocket LabMars Sample Return | Rocket LabNASA Installs Heat Shield on First Private Spacecraft Bound for Venus - NASANASA selects seven companies for MSR studies - SpaceNewsNASA awards Rocket Lab study contract for Mars Sample Return - SpaceNewsVarda Space capsule lands in Australia with critical data for hypersonic vehicles - SpaceNewsRocket Lab to expand into laser communications with Mynaric acquisition - SpaceNewsRocket Lab on X: “Stage 2's qualification campaign tests…”Follow RichardDick French (@DFRocketScience) / XFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
Blue Ghost wraps up two busy weeks on the Moon with a sunset, good news, the death star isn't pointing at us, and a new option for the Mars Sample Return mission. And our longer edition on Patreon, how supernovae could have caused two of Earth's mass extinction events.
Blue Ghost wraps up two busy weeks on the Moon with a sunset, good news, the death star isn't pointing at us, and a new option for the Mars Sample Return mission. And our longer edition on Patreon, how supernovae could have caused two of Earth's mass extinction events.
Spaceflight News— China's Mars Sample Return open to International Cooperation (cgtn.com) (spacenews.com)Short & Sweet— Several Russian sats on the move (sattrackcam.blogspot.com) (defence-blog.com)— X-37B lands after record-breaking mission (arstechnica.com)Questions, Comments, Corrections— From the intro: leaked starship photos: (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com) (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com)This Week in Spaceflight History— 18 Mar, 1980. Plesetsk launch pad disaster (plesetzk.ru) (russianspaceweb.com) (bbc.co.uk) (en.wikipedia.org) — Tangent on GRAU indices (en.wikipedia.org)— Next week (3/25 - 3/31) in 1972: Much closer, much easier, but 53 years late
Jake and Anthony catch up on some news, stories they haven't covered yet like Rocket Lab's Mars Sample Return architecture, and discuss the glory of Super Bowl LIX. It's Anthony's birthday, so he will not be stopped by Jake. Go Birds.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 184 - Trickle Down Space News - YouTubeChiefs vs Eagles | Super Bowl LIX Highlights - YouTubeMars Sample Return | Rocket LabSpace Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but… | The Planetary SocietyCiting too much “bureaucracy,” Blue Origin to cut 10 percent of its workforce - Ars TechnicaBoeing has informed its employees of uncertainty in future SLS contracts - Ars TechnicaDOGE to examine NASA payments - SpaceNewsFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company’s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in planetary science, and his “soft spot” for interplanetary exploration. Then, Richard French — former JPL engineer and now VP of Business & Strategy at Rocket Lab — provides deeper insight into their proposed Mars Sample Return architecture, explaining how a single, vertically integrated team could cut costs and secure mission success. And yes, we get an update on the status of their Venus mission, too. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who will get sample from Mars first? Who controls the James Webb Space Telescope? Does space radiation rule out panspermia? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
Who will get sample from Mars first? Who controls the James Webb Space Telescope? Does space radiation rule out panspermia? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
Venus is closer than Mars. It's more Earth-like. We can bring back samples from it. But it's chronically underexlored. This is why we need a Venus Exploration Program!
Venus is closer than Mars. It's more Earth-like. We can bring back samples from it. But it's chronically underexlored. This is why we need a Venus Exploration Program!
The new Trump administration has ended DEI programs for all federal organizations–how will this affect NASA? Plus, a look at the efforts to bring Mars rocks back to Earth.
1/2: #HOTEL MARS; Mars Sample Return by 2040. David Southwood, Imperial College. David Livingston 1920
2/2: #HOTEL MARS; Mars Sample Return by 2040. David Southwood, Imperial College. David Livingston 1925
GOOD EVENING: SPECIAL REPORT: THE FIRES OF LA. From the Mexican Border to the Hughes Fire north of Santa Clarita. #PacificWatch: #VegasReport: @JCBliss. 1930 Australia CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9-915 #UKRAINE: Can Europe field a military deployment to Ukraine? Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute 915-930 #UKRAINE: Can Europe field a military deployment to Ukraine? Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute 930-945 BIG TECH: Back to the office. #SCALAREPORT: Chris Riegel CEO, Scala.com @Stratacache 945-1000 #NAVY: Overruns and delays for the Constellation Class & & What is to be done? SECOND HOUR 10-1015 #Anti-semitism: The global poll alarm. Marian Rosenberg, ADL, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1015-1030 #ISRAEL: Ceasefire pause. Or Issachar, IDSF.org, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1030-1045 #HOSTAGES: Held in an UNWRA Shelter. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1045-1100 Allies: Azerbaijan to join Abraham Accords. Zeev Khanin, Bar-Ilan University. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 #VENEZUELA: Trading sanctions for oil and migrants. Mary Anastasia O'Grady, WSJ 1115-1130 #ELECTRICITY: Data Center demands on the brittle grid. Bud Weinstein, RealClearEnergy 1130-1145 #GAZA: Hamas celebrates & What is to be done? Cliff May FDD 1145-1200 #UKRAINE: Deal-making with the needful Kremlin. Russell Berman, Hoover Institution FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 #CANADA: The imminent election. Conrad Black, National Post 1215-1230 #QUANTUM COMPUTING RACE. BRANDON WEICHERT, NATIONAL INTEREST 1230-1245 1/2: #HOTEL MARS; Mars Sample Return by 2040. David Southwood, Imperial College. David Livingston 1245-100 am 2/2: #HOTEL MARS; Mars Sample Return by 2040. David Southwood, Imperial College. David Livingston
Jake and Anthony are joined by Swapna Krishna to talk about the Mars Sample Return non-update…since they only gave it about 5 minutes of last week's show. And hey, there are some big rockets on launch pads right now.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 181 - Down-Suggest (with Swapna Krishna) - YouTubeNew Glenn Mission NG-1 | Blue OriginNew Glenn reaches orbit on first launch - SpaceNewsMars Sample Return: Will NASA's ambitious mission ever happen? - YouTubeWill Mars Sample Return ever happen?NASA isn't fixing the heat shield on Artemis II - YouTubeWhat will billionaire Jared Isaacman do as NASA Administrator? - YouTubeNASA to Explore Two Landing Options for Returning Samples from Mars - NASANASA to study two alternative architectures for Mars Sample Return - SpaceNewsMars Sample Return | Rocket LabFollow SwapnaAd Astra - YouTubeAd AstraSwapna Krishna (@skrishna) • Instagram photos and videosFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
Scientists investigated how the shape of the human body makes hula hooping possible—and what hips and a waist have to do with it. And, the decision for how to proceed with NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission will fall to the incoming administration.What Makes A Hula Hoop Stay Up?Hula hooping might appear to be a simple physical activity. But there's some complex math and physics at play as the hoop goes around your body, and scientists haven't had a clear understanding of those hidden forces—until now. A team of mathematicians at New York University recently published research into the science of hula hooping in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Flora Lichtman is joined by Olivia Pomerenk, a PhD candidate in mathematics at New York University, and a coauthor of that paper. She talks with Flora about why the motion of hula hooping prevents the hoop from falling down and which body types make for the best hooper.NASA Considers Cheaper, Faster Ways To Retrieve Mars SamplesNASA's Mars Sample Return mission is an ambitious project that aims to use the Perseverance rover to collect Martian rocks, sand, and even gulps of Martian air. Then, through a complicated handoff between different spacecraft, it would ferry those samples to Earth.A 2023 assessment found that the original plan to retrieve the samples would be much more expensive, and take much longer, than initially expected.This week, NASA announced two options for how to cut costs and bring the samples to Earth by the late 2030s. But the agency did not solidify a plan, leaving it to the next administration to sort out around 18 months from now. Is the project on the rocks?To get up to speed on the mission, Flora Lichtman talks with Dr. Jim Bell, professor of earth and space exploration at Arizona State University, and distinguished visiting scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
GOOD EVENING: The show begins in Los Angeles under attack by fire, wind and inadequate leadership... 1885 Ventura CA CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9-915 #PacificWatch: Seven active Los Angeles fires; water pressure unreliable. @JCBliss. 915-930 #PacificWatch: Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass on the defensive in the Bluest of states. @JCBliss. 930-945 #SCOTUS: The court steps aside from the Manhattan court dispute. Richard Epstein, Civitas Institute 945-1000 #POTUS: DOJ seeks to release the January 6 allegations. Richard Epstein, Civitas Institute SECOND HOUR 10-1015 #KeystoneReport: Fetterman & McCormick. Salena Zito, Middle of Somewhere, @DCExaminer, SalenaZito.com 1015-1030 LANCASTER REPORT: Booming economy faces caution. Jim McTague, former Washington Editor, Barrons. @MCTagueJ Author of the "Martin and Twyla Boundary Series." #FriendsofHistoryDebatingSociety 1030-1045 #SPACEX & BLUE ORIGIN: The competition delayed by weather and events. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com 1045-1100 #MARS: NASA fails to find a solution to lavish Mars Sample Return. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 1/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age - Eric Berger [Book description with properly formatted bullet points follows] 1115-1130 2/8: Reentry - Continued discussion 1130-1145 3/8: Reentry - Continued discussion 1145-1200 4/8: Reentry - Continued discussion FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 #ROMANIA: New elections after Russian sabotage. Antonia Colibasanu. @GPFutures in Bucharest. 1215-1230 #ITALY: Cecilia Sala freed from Tehran detention and torment. Lorenzo Fiori. 1230-1245 #NRC: Seeking HALEU nuclear energy batteries. Henry Sokolski, NPEC 1245-100 AM #LEU: Inevitable militarization of Low Earth Orbit and the Earth Moon System. Henry Sokolski, NPEC.
#MARS: NASA fails to find a solution to lavish Mars Sample Return. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com John Carter on Mars
We've got two new options for NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission, an explanation for why Mars can get planet-wide dust storms, stealing secrets from Conan the Bacterium, and we could see a really bright comet next week.
We've got two new options for NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission, an explanation for why Mars can get planet-wide dust storms, stealing secrets from Conan the Bacterium, and we could see a really bright comet next week.
Coming into 2025, we have six flights of SpaceX's Starship behind us, with a possibility for as many as 25 tests supported by the FAA license for this year. This is also the year we need to see an orbital test, payloads carried, orbital refueling, and hopefully catches of both the Booster and Ship, and progress toward an uncrewed test landing on the moon. So much to discuss, so join Tariq, Rod, and ace space reporter Leonard David as we deep dive into King Starship! Headlines: • Wildfires near NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, have displaced many employees and caused the facility to shut down temporarily, but the lab itself remains untouched. • NASA is considering two options for the Mars Sample Return mission, both under $8 billion, with a launch planned by 2035-2039. • Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society and former host of "Bill Nye the Science Guy," was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his dedication to science education and space exploration advocacy. Main Topic - SpaceX Starship in 2025: • SpaceX plans to ramp up Starship test flights in 2025, with up to 25 launches scheduled throughout the year. • Starship test flight 7, scheduled for January 13th, will feature a new Starship design with enhanced flaps, a new flight computer, and other upgrades. • The goal of Starship is to serve as a reusable, heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 100 people and 100 metric tons of cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. • SpaceX is rapidly iterating on the Starship design, with stated plans to build new Starships in a single day and test new features on each flight. • While Starship's development has been impressive, questions remain about its life support systems, radiation protection, and interior design for crewed missions. • A discussion of the potential impact of Starship on NASA's Artemis program and the future of space exploration, including the possibility of using Starship as a space station or for Mars missions. • The conversation also touches on the challenges facing NASA, including aging infrastructure and the need for greater collaboration with the private sector, as highlighted in a recent report by the National Academies. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Leonard David Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
Jake and Anthony take a look back at their 2024 predictions, make a few for 2025, and check in on Mars Sample Return announcements.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 180 - Murgers Back on the Menu - YouTubeLaunches, moon landings and more: Here's the top spaceflight missions to watch in 2025 | SpaceNASA to Explore Two Landing Options for Returning Samples from Mars - NASANASA to study two alternative architectures for Mars Sample Return - SpaceNewsFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you by Incogni...where your privacy online is their top priority. Save big by checking out the special Space Nuts deal. Visit www.incogni.com/spacenutsSpace Nuts Episode 485: Imaging the Unimaginable - Sagittarius A*, Dark Matter Theories, and Astronomy's Bright FutureJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson in this engaging episode of Space Nuts as they delve into the latest astronomical breakthroughs and thought-provoking listener questions. From capturing the elusive image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, to exploring intriguing theories about dark matter and energy, this episode promises to expand your cosmic horizons.Episode Highlights:- First Image of Sagittarius A*: Discover the groundbreaking achievement of imaging the supermassive black hole at the heart of our Milky Way. Learn about the challenges faced by astronomers and the significance of this monumental discovery.- Dark Matter and Energy Theories: Dive into a listener's speculative question about the nature of dark matter and energy. Explore the possibilities of anti-gravity and the mysteries that continue to baffle scientists.- The Future of Astronomy: Hear from a listener in India contemplating a career in astronomy versus physics. Fred Watson Watson shares insights into the promising future of astronomy and the diverse opportunities available within the field.- Space News with Anna: Get the latest updates on the private space sector, including Toyota's investment in Interstellar Technologies and NASA's revamped Mars Sample Return mission. Learn how these developments could shape the future of space exploration.For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favourite platform.For more Space and Astronomy News Podcasts, visit our HQ at www.bitesz.com.Become a supporter of this podcast in 2025 for extended commercial-free episodes and more. Visit our Support page for options: spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.00:00 - Space Nuts is taking a bit of a break at the moment00:21 - Professor Fred Watson joins us to talk astronomy and space science on Space Nuts02:26 - Scientists have finally released an image of a black hole in our Milky Way galaxy09:36 - Professor Fred Watson answers Space Nuts' question and answer segment10:14 - Mike: Gravity in the lack of mass may explain Voyager slowing down16:05 - Should I go for pure physics or astronomy after graduation? Kabir asks21:24 - Andrew: Kabir, find something you love and turn it into a career23:34 - Japanese startup Interstellar Technologies has secured major investment from Toyota25:34 - NASA has unveiled a major overhaul of their Mars sample return mission27:32 - Anna shares latest developments in space science with the SpaceNuts podcast✍️ Episode ReferencesInterstellar Technologies[Interstellar Technologies](https://www.istellartech.com/)Event Horizon Telescope[Event Horizon Telescope](https://eventhorizontelescope.org/)James Webb Space Telescope[James Webb Space Telescope](https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/)NASA Mars Sample Return Mission[NASA Mars Sample Return Mission](https://mars.nasa.gov/msr/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](https://astronomydaily.io/)Woven By Toyota[Woven By Toyota](https://woven.toyota/en/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
On episode 142 we're talking about 2025 in space! It's going to be an exciting year, kicking off with the first launch attempt for Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy booster and another test flight of Starship. Then we'll see a new asteroid sampling mission from China, the first test flight of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander to the moon, and the launch of the first-ever private robotic mission to Venus by Rocket Lab. There's a lot more in store, to be sure to join us for this jam-packed episode! Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
Could life hitchhike across planets? What color is the sky on Mars? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, the current CEO of The Planetary Society, team up to discuss the science and advocacy that goes into space exploration, unraveling the threads of discovery that define humanity's quest to understand the cosmos.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:https://startalkmedia.com/show/journey-to-the-stars-with-bill-nye/Thanks to our friends at The Planetary Society for partnering with us on this episode! To support their mission and the future of space advocacy, head over to https://Planetary.org/StarTalkThanks to our Patrons Edwin Strode, Mathew M, Micheal McDonough, Evan Fenwick, Trvis Knop, David Hardison, Sarah Kominek, Saulius Alminas, Rob Lentini, Eric Williams, Billy, John Buzzotta, Jeremy Hopcroft, Christian Harvey, Bob Cobourn, Jeremy ALford, Brandon Cortazar, James Finlay, Anastine2020, Rebecca Valenti, jordan battleson, Timothy Jarvis, and Gleb Mpakopuc for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.
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