Podcasts about NIAC

NASA is advancing technologies to explore Earth-like planets far beyond our solar system.

The Space Show Presents Dr. Joel Sercel of TransAstra, Sunday, 3-29-26Quick Summary:The Space Show featured an interview with Dr. Joel Sercel, CEO of TransAstra, who discussed his company's mission to harvest asteroid resources for space industrialization. Dr. Sercel explained TransAstra's four key technical challenges: detect, capture, move, and process asteroid materials, and described their progress including winning NASA contracts, developing capture bag technology, and operating a global telescope network. The discussion covered business models, revenue generation through government contracts, and plans for the “New Moon” project to establish facilities at the Earth-Moon Lagrange point (RIM). The conversation also touched on orbital debris removal using capture bag technology and the potential for space-based data centers built from harvested asteroid materials.SummaryDr. Joel Sercel joined the Sunday Space Show to discuss TransAstra, where he serves as CEO. Due to internet connectivity issues, David asked Joel to introduce TransAstra's business model and revenue strategy to the audience.Joel founded TransAstra over 10 years ago to develop space resource harvesting technologies after becoming disillusioned with NASA's approach to space exploration. He identified four key technical challenges: detection, capture, movement, and processing of asteroid materials, and successfully secured funding through NASA's NIAC program, becoming their first 7-time fellow with nearly $4 million in grants. The company has since grown through Y Combinator's incubator program, raising approximately $16 million in total funding and winning about $15-16 million in government contracts over the past 5 years, while developing a network of telescopes for detecting faint moving objects in deep space.Joel provided an update on TransAstra's progress, explaining they have generated $16 million in revenue over recent years through NASA and other government contracts, with operations spanning multiple telescope sites globally. He detailed their dual-use technology applications, including the Sutter telescope systems for space tracking and a 10-meter capture bag being developed for NASA that could handle asteroid capture or satellite disposal. When asked about competing with lunar and Martian resources, Joel argued that asteroid mining offers advantages due to lower rocket propellant requirements for reaching near-Earth asteroids compared to lunar or Martian missions, particularly for space-based data center construction.Joel discussed the potential for asteroids in highly Earth-like orbits to represent a significant resource in space, comparing the effort required to reach these asteroids to other locations in space. He explained the advantages of using capture bags for both capturing and processing orbital debris and asteroids, highlighting the unique properties of space that enable different materials processing methods compared to terrestrial processes. Joel also addressed how capture bag technology can handle tumbling objects, detailing the process of matching rotation axes and using thrusters for detumbling, which he demonstrated successfully in a previous ISS flight.Joel explained the composition of near-Earth orbital objects, noting that about 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 asteroids are carbonaceous chondritic-type asteroids containing water and carbon, while about 1 in 20 are metal-rich Type M or Type X asteroids. He discussed the potential value of these materials for space industry, including metals, water, and rare earth elements, though noted that nitrogen is in short supply. When asked about construction of facilities, Joel described TransAstra's New Moon project concept, which involves bringing asteroid material into the Earth-Moon system at the RIN region and building reusable craft to aggregate up to a million tons of material in the 2030s.Joel discussed the concept of the SolarForge, which involves three material processing technologies: optical mining, vapor phase fractional distillation, and quantum spin separation. He explained that the delta V required to reach the rim of Earth's Hill sphere is less than that needed to reach geostationary orbit, making the rim a favorable location for resource aggregation and data center placement. Joel clarified that while reaching the rim would take about two months in theory, in practice the journey time can be adjusted based on delta V and potential lunar flybys.Joel explained that NASA's cancellation of the asteroid redirect mission during the Obama administration was primarily due to political, programmatic, and leadership reasons rather than technical issues. He described how the mission's scope and purpose became unclear after NASA transformed it from a demonstration of high-powered electric propulsion into a multi-center mission with a focus on sending astronauts to asteroids. Joel also discussed the limitations of nuclear power in space compared to solar panels, stating that nuclear reactors are significantly heavier and more expensive, and that new initiatives like NASA's NEP-powered Mars mission seem impractical given these cost and efficiency concerns. Finally, our guest defined the “rim” as a dynamical region in space beyond cislunar space, extending from near the Moon to about 2 million kilometers, which TransAstra considers strategically important but details about which remain classified.Joel discussed asteroid capture and processing, addressing questions about potential threats and debris management. He explained that while asteroids near Earth could pose collision threats, processing them could provide valuable materials like radiation shielding. Joel confirmed they are developing capture bags for smaller orbital debris, noting this would not be a complete solution but could significantly reduce debris by targeting the 50 most problematic objects. When asked about costs, Joel provided context on satellite manufacturing costs, explaining that while traditional satellites can cost over $1 million per kilogram, newer commercial models like Starlink are produced at costs comparable to cars, around $1,000 per kilogram. Regarding launch costs to the RIM, Joel estimated a Falcon 9 expendable launch at approximately $100 million, emphasizing that any space factory would need to weigh no more than 2% of its annual output to be cost-effective.Joel talked about TransAstra's plans for asteroid mining, including using Falcon 9 rockets to transport materials and potentially extracting resources from entire asteroids rather than leaving them in orbit. He outlined a vision for humanity's expansion into space, explaining how asteroid materials could be used for radiation shielding and eventually help build habitable worlds with thousands of times the land area of Earth. The discussion concluded with Marshall sharing calculations showing how space populations could exceed Earth's within 400-500 years, though Dr. expressed skepticism about long-term planning due to potential technical disruptions over such extended timeframes.Special thanks to our sponsors: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:No upcoming program for Easter Sunday. We return on Tuesday evening with Dr. Robert (Bob) Zubrin Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/optic F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code at http://theperfectjean.nyc/OPTIC15 #theperfectjeanpod OpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/ Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTic Check out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047 https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQG 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Scump's Next Movie Purchase (HECZ's Account) 03:11 - Major 2 Thoughts 14:23 - HECZ's Message for the Greenwall 15:55 - Huntsmen Warmup Situation 18:06 - Shotzzy's 200 IQ Play 20:07 - NEW Maps and Weapons (Season 03) 21:26 - The CDL NEEDS More Maps 29:06 - Better Help 30:32 - The Perfect Jean 32:57 - Scump Made Fariko Rage Quit 34:20 - This Gives You Aimbot?! 36:11 - Peanut Plays Halo 3 Customs 39:30 - Formal Was Duck Hunting in Scrims 40:13 - MaNiaC Was Dominating 42:29 - NiaC's Glow-Up 43:05 - Disney to Buy Epic Games? 45:51 - New Gears of War 46:55 - This Mural is INSANE 47:40 - They Turned Down $26 Million 48:54 - Shotzzy Movement in the MLB 51:02 - Tiger Woods 53:37 - UCONN March Madness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most founders raise capital the wrong way. This episode explains why — and what to do instead. James A. Wolff is a partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP, a NASA and NIAC award recipient, and one of the sharper minds working at the intersection of securities law and emerging technology. He spent years on the founder side before becoming an attorney, and that experience shapes everything about how he approaches deals. In this episode, James breaks down what goes wrong when founders raise capital without the right legal infrastructure in place — from unfiled Form Ds to missing AML/KYC checks to IP assignment gaps that kill future due diligence. He explains why downloading templates from the internet creates liability founders never see coming, why AI tools can't replace experienced legal counsel when the stakes are this high, and how "legal debt" compounds just like technical debt if you ignore it early. We also get into the future of capital formation, the shift away from traditional VC structures toward family offices and private market indexes, and what a cohesive capital strategy actually looks like for companies building in AI, robotics, Web3, and frontier technology. What we cover: - Why safe agreements without attorney support create serious downstream risk - The "governance trifecta" every early-stage founder needs - How to think about Reg CF, Reg D 506(c), and Reg A+ as tools — not just checkboxes - What tokenized offerings and Web3 raises require beyond standard compliance - How marketing and legal need to work together on solicitation exemptions - Where the VC landscape is heading and what it means for founders raising now Check out the full episode! Social and Website: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesanthonywolff/ Website: http://www.gmlaw.com

The Space Show Presents Trisha Epp. Sunday, 2-22-26Quick Summary:The Space Show hosted Trisha Epp, Director of Innovation at Freelancer.com, to discuss NASA's open innovation challenges and Freelancer's role in facilitating these competitions. Trisha explained how Freelancer works with NASA's Tournament Lab to run innovation challenges that attract solutions from around the world, with prize money awarded for successful ideas. The discussion covered the differences between Freelancer's approach and traditional government RFP processes, highlighting cost savings and broader participation as key advantages. Trisha shared that Freelancer has helped NASA achieve significant cost savings through their innovation challenges, with approximately 30-50 winners per year. The conversation also touched on the use of AI in submissions, ethical concerns around AI art, and potential expansion of these innovation methods beyond NASA to other industries.Detailed SummaryTrisha Epp, an innovation strategist based in Vancouver, discussed her work leading open innovation challenges for NASA, NIH, and other institutions through Freelancer.com's NASA Tournament Lab. She explained that Freelancer helps find engineers and carry out innovative projects, particularly those that fit within NASA's challenge section. The discussion also touched on potential future projects in space, such as 3D printing organs in space while David shared his personal interest in advancements in knee replacement technology derived from space tech.Trisha explained her role as Director of Innovation at Freelancer, where they work with NASA through the NASA Tournament Lab and Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation to explore open innovation solutions. She detailed how Freelancer facilitates innovation challenges where participants compete to solve specific NASA problems, with successful ideas being licensed to NASA and potentially leading to further development. Trisha mentioned that Freelancer is one of 25 vendors on NASA's Open Innovation Services 3 contract, specializing in finding global solutions, and shared a success story about a Norwegian engineer whose work on software testing for the Orion spacecraft will be used in the Artemis II mission.Trisha explained how NASA's Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation facilitates faster innovation through open competitions compared to traditional procurement processes. She detailed how Freelancer's platform helps connect solvers with NASA challenges, with typical prize pools of $100,000 and above, and described the evaluation process conducted by NASA engineers. Trisha also highlighted the diversity of participants, ranging from university students to professionals from various fields, and the motivation factors driving their involvement.Trisha discussed the challenges of treating rare diseases and the importance of developing effective delivery methods for treatments. She mentioned NASA's upcoming program to analyze data from astronauts on the Artemis II mission and a competition for innovative methodologies. David inquired about solutions for unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), but Trisha had not seen any official documentation on the topic. Trisha also shared her excitement about a global competition for designing a zero-gravity indicator for the Artemis II mission, which is still awaiting results. She expressed disappointment over NASA's decision not to publish winning designs from an art challenge due to the use of AI art, which she hoped would be addressed in the future.Trisha and David discussed the ethical concerns around AI, particularly regarding the use of artists' work without consent for training AI models. David shared that their website, thespacehow.com, was targeted by AI crawlers, leading to data loss and the implementation of Cloudflare for protection. Trisha mentioned her work on a program with ex-Microsoft AI professionals and the Department of Energy to develop a healthy human-AI interaction index. The discussion concluded with Trisha expressing interest in expanding their work beyond NASA to other industries, leveraging a methodology developed with NASA to tackle complex problems.Trisha explained that their innovation challenge methodology offers significant cost savings compared to traditional RFP processes, with only 1-10% of prize money paid out when solutions are not found, and highlighted their success in attracting new audiences and finding unexpected solutions. When discussing how to evaluate and compare different methodologies like NIAC's, Trisha suggested looking at metrics such as outreach and the number of people reached, while Philip noted that NIAC aims to find transformative ideas that could disrupt existing ways of doing things, though he questioned whether their published results truly meet this goal.Toward the end of the program we discussed NASA's grant program structure and competition model, where successful proposals receive direct awards rather than requiring deliverables. Trisha explained that NASA typically awards 30-50 winners per year across various programs, with winners receiving funds to scale up their work without strings attached. The participants explored the concept of independent oversight for proposal selection processes and discussed upcoming challenges, with Trisha sharing resources including NASA's COECI opportunities website.Special thanks to our sponsors: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 4514 Zoom Jim Muncy | Tuesday 10 Mar 2026 600PM PTGuests: James A. M. MuncyZoom: Jim Muncy on Artemis, policy and much moreBroadcast 4515: Hotel Mars with Dr.Pieter.van Dokkum, Yale Univ. | Wednesday 11 Mar 2026 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Pieter van DokkumHotel Mars on the subject of runaway black holesFriday, March 13: No program today | Friday 13 Mar 2026 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program todayBroadcast 4516 Zoom: Phil Swan | Sunday 15 Mar 2026 1200PM PTGuests: Phil SwanZoom: Phil Swan discusses launching orbital data centers from the MoonSpace Show weekly schedule pending. See Upcoming Show Menu on the right side of our home page, www.thespaceshow.com. The weekly newsletter will be posted on Substack when completed. Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Venus is so hot it can melt a spacecraft in hours. But that's not stopping researchers from looking into an ambitious idea to bring a piece of Venus back to Earth.

Sending humans to and from Mars is impossible without a reliable source of oxygen.

The updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV) includes a number of important updates to its treatment of Common Article 3 (CA3). These relate primarily to three areas: the treatment of coalitions in non-international armed conflict (NIAC); the provision of support by one party to another; and questions of gender and the treatment of other marginalized groups. In this post – part of a joint blog symposium on the updated GC IV Commentary with EJIL: Talk! and Just Security – Associate Professor Katharine Fortin examines these developments, highlighting their significance and strengths while also pointing to areas that may warrant further reflection or study.

Come see us at Major 1 from January 29th to February 1st! TICKETS: https://OpTic.link/tickets OpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTicCheck out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQG00:00 - Intro01:21 - MaNiaC is Getting Complaints11:03 - Hitch Confronts MaNiaC14:15 - The Comments Don't Understand Us16:54 - The Flycast Creative Process17:40 - 9th Anniversary of the Flycast20:36 - MaNiaC Has Trouble Reading28:35 - YouTube in 202632:26 - VLOGniaC is BACK37:40 - Have We Had the Same Convos for YEARS?!43:24 - Hitch's Vision Rewatch45:27 - FormaL Almost Played Gears47:30 - Gears of War GOAT49:09 - Calling Billy Mental51:20 - NiaC's Camera Problems53:56 - Around the Bar54:32 - Pamaj59:15 - Hitch's Next Stream (MaNiaC Steals It LiveEveryone Hates MaNiaC Now... Here's Why... | The Flycast Ep. 175

Get your tickets to Major I here: https://t.co/47QCyhclrqOpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTicCheck out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQG00:00 - Intro01:30 - Our Last Episode Got RUINED04:51 - Where Are All the Egirls16:16 - Drawing the Line21:18 - Niac is Starting a Subscription??22:14 - Killdozer23:37 - Hitch is VLOGGing Again28:58 - 2026 is MaNiaC's Last Chance37:50 - Hitch's New YouTube Channel39:33 - The End of TST51:44 - Hitch Has Been Cooking53:59 - NiaC VLOG Coming Back?

Send Us an Email to Chat!This week begins I can't believe you haven't watched it month, where each of us watch a movie that the others can't believe they haven't seen! We start this week with Octavia Spencer's 2019 masterpiece Ma! Wait guys didn't you do this already? Yes we did but Carlene has never seen it! So enjoy us talking about Ma again, it's not like Gary doesn't talk about it every week! Follow us on Instagram:@Gaspatchojones@Homewreckingwhore@The_Miseducation_of_DandG_Pod@QualityHoegramming@MullhollanddazeCheck Out Our WebsiteSupport the show

In this episode, we speak with Jamal Abdi, the president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) on the Trump administration's plans to “rigorously reexamine” the status of every green card holder from nineteen nations, including Iran, and to allow for “negative, country-specific factors to be considered when vetting” nationals of those same nations applying for adjustment of immigration status. — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Reactions to DC's National Guard Shooting with Jamal Abdi from NIAC appeared first on KPFA.

Despite promises by elected leaders to address the disproportionate number of Native Americans and Alaska Natives who are murdered or go missing, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) advocates say there is little progress and even steps backward for victims and their families. Advocates say the Trump administration's removal of the Not One More report from the Department of Justice's website is a setback for public awareness and the work to fight the ongoing problem. Advocates also complained that Alaska officials are not adequately acknowledging the number of unsolved cases. Since that complaint, state officials added 50 names to the unsolved cases list. Numerous data sources point to the disproportionate rate that Native people are victims of violence and their cases go unresolved. GUESTS Charlene Aqpik Apok (Iñupiaq), executive director of Data for Indigenous Justice Karrisa Newkirk (Caddo), president and founder of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women-Chahta LaRenda Morgan (Cheyenne and Arapaho), cousin of Ida Beard and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) advocate Cheryl Horn (Nakota and Aaniiih), Fort Belknap MMIP advocate

  Removal of MMIP report on DOJ website questioned by advocates   NCAI Day 4: Native Hawaiian health care and Indigenous jazz & soul   Two eagles blessed during Native wildlife celebration in Arizona  

Krystal Ball joins Katie to discuss the Democrats pathetic caving in the face of the government shutdown. Then Jon Hoffman, PhD, of the Cato Institute joins to the political rift in America's right-wing over Israel and the potential for things to escalate with Iran. And then we speak to Etan Mabourakh, the Action Organizing Manager at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). For the full interview with Krystal Ball, join us on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-krystal-143382865 Krystal Ball is an American political commentator and host of Breaking Points and Krystal Kyle & Friends. She was previously a political candidate, as well as co-host on the MSNBC show The Cycle, a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, and a co-host of The Hill's Rising. Jon Hoffman is a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute. His research interests include U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, Middle East geopolitics, and political Islam. Hoffman's work has been featured in a number of academic and policy-oriented platforms, including Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, The National Interest, Middle East Policy, and more. Hoffman was included in the inaugural cohort of the “40 under 40” award provided by the Middle East Policy Council for furthering U.S. understanding of the Middle East. Hoffman holds a Ph.D. in political science, an M.A. in Middle East and Islamic Studies, and a B.A. in Global Affairs, all from George Mason University Etan Mabourakh is the Action Organizing Manager at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), where oversees NIAC's grassroots efforts to empower Iranian American In every state around the country for pro-peace, pro civil rights and human rights advocacy. He also co-captains the NIAC New York Chapter mobilizing volunteer leaders, engaging policymakers, and advancing campaigns for peace and justice in the Middle East and U.S. **Please support The Katie Halper Show ** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - / thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: https://x.com/kthalps Follow Katie on Instagram: / kthalps Follow Katie on TikTok: / kthalps

OpTic Gaming Merch: https://shop.opticgaming.com/Check out the OpTic SCUF collection and use code “OpTic” for a discount: https://scuf.co/OpTicCheck out the OpTic Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optic-podcast/id1542810047https://open.spotify.com/show/25iPKftrl0akOZKqS0wHQGWe've Had Enough of IRL Streamers | The Flycast Ep. 16700:00 - Intro00:26 - 6 701:18 - We Have TOPICS!03:36 - Podcast Clippers07:54 - MaNiaC Has a New * Friend *13:10 - Niac's Special Song15:05 - We're Tired of Joey Update15:45 - Origins of the Flycast22:45 - We Miss the Old HQZ23:45 - IRL Streamers29:42 - TwitchCon Drama33:04 - LuLu Lovely Almost Hacked at TwitchCon35:05 - Twitch CEO Fake News38:05 - Hitch's Minimal Phone40:05 - Pray for James43:55 - Pardon My Take ECU Shoutout47:17 - Things MaNiaC Hates49:29 - HQZ Invitational Tournament55:37 - Daltoosh56:29 - MaNiac Around the Bar01:01:24 - Quick Announcement!

Todd walks through the stakes and the questions around Trump authorizing strikes against cartel targets, framing it within America's fentanyl and overdose crisis and the fight over border security. He lays out the rationale the White House gives, the legal gray zones of declaring a non-international armed conflict with “narco-terrorists,” and the prudential questions conservatives should ask any president who uses force abroad. Todd also shares context on border interdictions, why cartels target the U.S. market, and why reasonable people can see both risks and benefits in this approach. Plus: a quick Pacers double-OT recap and notes on show sponsors that help keep the program free for listeners.

Todd walks through the stakes and the questions around Trump authorizing strikes against cartel targets, framing it within America's fentanyl and overdose crisis and the fight over border security. He lays out the rationale the White House gives, the legal gray zones of declaring a non-international armed conflict with “narco-terrorists,” and the prudential questions conservatives should ask any president who uses force abroad. Todd also shares context on border interdictions, why cartels target the U.S. market, and why reasonable people can see both risks and benefits in this approach. Plus: a quick Pacers double-OT recap and notes on show sponsors that help keep the program free for listeners.

In this second installment of Planetary Radio’s coverage from the 2025 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, host Sarah Al-Ahmed highlights more of the technologies presented by the NIAC fellows. Mary Knapp of MIT Haystack Observatory shares her team’s Great Observatory for Long Wavelengths project, a space-based radio array designed to detect magnetic fields around distant exoplanets. Michael Hecht, also from MIT Haystack Observatory and principal investigator for the MOXIE experiment on NASA’s Perseverance rover, discusses Exploring Venus with Electrolysis, a concept that could turn Venus’s dense atmosphere into fuel for long-duration flight and exploration. Benjamin Hockman from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory introduces two projects: Gravity Poppers, tiny hopping probes that could map the interiors of asteroids and comets, and his team’s concept for a Venus balloon observatory. Finally, Justin Yim from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presents LEAP, a legged robot designed to hop through the icy plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus in search of clues to its hidden ocean. Then stay tuned for What’s Up with Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-niac-symposium-part-2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC) funds visionary ideas that could shape the future of space exploration. In this first of two episodes from the 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed introduces some of the concepts presented at this year’s event. You’ll hear from Martin Bermudez and Josh Simpson from Skyeports LLC. Bermudez is the company’s CEO and principal investigator for the LUNGS Project, and Simpson is a glass artist and co-investigator. Together, their team is exploring how to build glass-blown lunar habitats from melted Moon dust. You’ll also meet Christine Gregg, research engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center, who’s developing architected metamaterials to stabilize giant space structures. And finally, John Mather, Nobel laureate and senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, shares his team’s work on an inflatable starshade that could help us see Earth-like worlds around distant stars. Then stick around for What’s Up with Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-niac-symposium-part-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textStruggling to sell while managing tech? You're not alone. In this episode of Joey Pinz Conversations, we talk with startup founder and product visionary Jean Templin live from ConnectWise IT Nation Secure 2025. Jean dives into the very real sales challenges faced by MSPs and how AI-driven real-time coaching is transforming the conversation—literally.

The efficient movement of large amounts of oxygen over long distances could help sustain a permanent human presence on the Moon.

On April 2, 2025, NIAC hosted a Congressional Briefing in the U.S. Senate on the prospect for diplomacy with Iran under the Trump Administration featuring The American Conservative's Curt Mills, Center for International Policy's Negar Mortazavi, and NIAC President Jamal Abdi, moderated by NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym_RrdofI0Y

Join Haaretz Editor-in-Chief Aluf Benn in conversation with Patt Morrison for a critical discussion on Israel's ongoing crisis. As part of the America at a Crossroads Israel in Crisis Briefing series, Benn provides expert analysis on the latest developments in Israel, including military strategy, political shifts, and regional tensions.From the impact of the war in Gaza to the evolving relationship between Israel and the United States, this briefing delivers key insights into the challenges facing Israel today.Aluf Benn has been the Editor in Chief of Haaretz, the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel, since 2011. Haaretz is now published in both Hebrew and English. Aluf Benn holds an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a degree from Tel Aviv University. At Haaretz, Benn has served as an investigative reporter and head of the news division. His articles have been published in a variety of international newspapers, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs and Newsweek. 

Moving across the surface of Enceladus can be more tricky than you think. Rough icy terrain can be hard for wheels. No atmosphere makes helicopters impossible. Thus, hopping and jumping might be the answer!

Moving across the surface of Enceladus can be more tricky than you think. Rough icy terrain can be hard for wheels. No atmosphere makes helicopters impossible. Thus, hopping and jumping might be the answer!

Which NIAC project would be the best to bring to life? Are there really more stars than grains of sand on Earth? Is the solar eclipse going away from us? What's on my shelf behind me? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A.

Which NIAC project would be the best to bring to life? Are there really more stars than grains of sand on Earth? Is the solar eclipse going away from us? What's on my shelf behind me? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A.

NASA just funded a NIAC project to study the possibility of building large structures on the Moon, on Mars and in space out of glass. Blowing glass bubbles similarly to how it's done on Earth.

NASA just funded a NIAC project to study the possibility of building large structures on the Moon, on Mars and in space out of glass. Blowing glass bubbles similarly to how it's done on Earth.

Venus has a thick layer of clouds that obscures our view of the surface. To tackle that, this NIAC project suggests launching a balloon with a tether that will go below the cloud layer and help us image Venus surface.

Venus has a thick layer of clouds that obscures our view of the surface. To tackle that, this NIAC project suggests launching a balloon with a tether that will go below the cloud layer and help us image Venus surface.

We all want to see potentially habitable exoplanets around Sun-like stars. But to do that you need a starshade. Something to cover the star and reveal the faint planets around it. What can we build these structures from to make them rigid and strong enough? Finding out in this interview.

We all want to see potentially habitable exoplanets around Sun-like stars. But to do that you need a starshade. Something to cover the star and reveal the faint planets around it. What can we build these structures from to make them rigid and strong enough? Finding out in this interview.

Space Docks are everywhere in science fiction. It's the most logical way to build big constructions in space. So, NASA funded a futuristic project that studies the possibility of assembling structures in space.

Space Docks are everywhere in science fiction. It's the most logical way to build big constructions in space. So, NASA funded a futuristic project that studies the possibility of assembling structures in space.

The MOXIE experiment on the Perseverance rover showed that creating oxygen on other planets is possible. Now, we can apply the same logic to Venus. This could allow the creation of constantly floating balloons, leading to cloud cities in the future.

The MOXIE experiment on the Perseverance rover showed that creating oxygen on other planets is possible. Now, we can apply the same logic to Venus. This could allow the creation of constantly floating balloons, leading to cloud cities in the future.

What happened to Starship during test flight 7? Astronomers see a black hole's jets forming in real-time. Curiosity finds ripples of an ancient shore, and an insanely high-resolution image of Andromeda captured by Hubble.

What happened to Starship during test flight 7? Astronomers see a black hole's jets forming in real-time. Curiosity finds ripples of an ancient shore, and an insanely high-resolution image of Andromeda captured by Hubble.

The Gaia mission is over, New Glenn gets to orbit, SpaceX catches SuperHeavy but loses Starship, and we finally get an explanation for little red dots.

The Gaia mission is over, New Glenn gets to orbit, SpaceX catches SuperHeavy but loses Starship, and we finally get an explanation for little red dots.

This week, we're diving deep into some really clever and cutting-edge tech for Martian habitats... made from fungus! Dr. Lynn Rothschild of the NASA Ames Research Center has been working for years on how mushroom mycelia might be utilized as a habitat-building resource. It's quite fascinating--the organic material can be used to make bricks, to create shaped structures, and even to create an "astropharmacy" to supply certain compounds needed by the crew of a Mars excursion! And it is sufficiently enticing that NASA's NIAC innovation program has given her no less than five grants (which are not easy to get!) to study the possibilities. Join us for this really engaging and blue-sky conversation! Headlines: • ISS has been experiencing a slow air leak, increasing from 0.2 pounds per day to 3.7 pounds per day, causing concern for NASA's Office of the Inspector General • Jupiter's Great Red Spot has been shrinking and "pulsing" over time, as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope, with scientists predicting it will eventually stabilize as a smaller, circular storm • A rare G4-class solar storm triggered widespread auroras visible at much lower latitudes than usual, with NOAA issuing warnings to protect power grids and communication systems Main Topic - Living in Martian Mushrooms: • Dr. Rothschild explains synthetic biology as creating something new with biology, either by altering existing organisms or creating new ones from scratch • The concept of using fungal mycelium for off-world habitats originated from a student project to create a biodegradable drone body • Mycotecture involves growing habitats and structures using mycelium, which can bind various materials like sand, regolith simulant, and wood chips • The properties of mycelium-based materials can be tuned by adjusting the substrate and post-processing, ranging from styrofoam-like to hardwood-like consistencies • Dr. Rothschild's vision for a stable off-world habitat includes using cyanobacteria to process atmospheric gases and minerals, which would then feed the fungi used in construction • Cross-contamination concerns on Mars are addressed, with the lack of liquid water on the surface making it unlikely for introduced organisms to thrive • Additional applications of mycelium-based technology include biomining, water filtration, and even food production • Dr. Rothschild also discusses the Astro Pharmacy project, which aims to develop an on-demand drug production system for astronauts • While these technologies have significant potential for Earth-based applications, developing them for space allows for more freedom to explore revolutionary ideas without existing infrastructure constraints Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Lynn Rothschild 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 Sponsors: uscloud.com veeam.com

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We return to the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium for part two of our coverage. Astronaut and NIAC external council member Mae Jemison honors Lou Friedman, the co-founder of The Planetary Society, for his contributions to the space community and the NIAC program. Then Kenneth Carpenter from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and his colleagues pitch their plan for an Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager. Steven Benner from the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution and his team tell us about their plan for an add-on to large-scale water mining operations on Mars to screen for introduced and alien life. We close out with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, in What's Up, as we celebrate LightSail 2 being announced as one of the winners of this year's Gizmodo Science Fair.  Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-niac-part-2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us on a journey to the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium. We'll hear from the teams behind two NIAC projects that could help us study distant planets and potentially reach them ourselves. Marshall Eubanks from Space Initiatives, Inc. and his colleagues will introduce us to their concept for a swarm of laser sailing pico spacecraft that could travel interstellar distances. Then Ryan Sprenger from Fauna Bio Inc. joins us to discuss how hibernation could help humans reach other worlds. Then, our chief scientist, Bruce Betts, joins us for What's Up and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-niac-part-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 711: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live March 4, 2024. NASA works on many missions using tried and true technology, but they also invest in creative ideas that could drive the future of space exploration. It's called NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts or NIAC.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Jordan Young BogieNet Stephen Veit Jeanette Wink Siggi Kemmler Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Ed David Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela