Podcast appearances and mentions of roger launius

Matthew Syed continues his four-part mini series exploring the ethics of space exploration, by returning to the origins of the space race, which saw America and the USSR battling for supremacy. He takes a hard look into the reasons why we go to space and whether it has really benefited all humankind. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in July 1969, humanity as a whole felt like we'd reached a new frontier. The two astronauts left a plaque behind them, at the bottom of their lunar module. It said “we came in peace for all mankind”. But while Armstrong and Aldrin were ambassadors of the entire species, it was an American flag which was planted on the surface of the moon. This was a time of fear of Cold War competition amidst fear of nuclear annihilation. Despite the altruistic ideals encapsulated in NASA's motto "for the benefit of all", the geopolitical stakes of the space race were paramount. Matthew explores how this combined with America's perception of its exceptionalism and how the post-war period was filled with nationalistic ambitions and controversies. With historians Roger Launius and Neil Maher, Science and Religion Professor Catherine Newell, Space Lawyer Michelle Hanlon and retired astronaut John Herrington. Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound Design and Mix: Rob Speight Theme music by: Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4Featuring archive from: Apollo moon landing archive: NASA, Apollo 11 Moonwalk - Original NASA EVA Mission Video - Walking on the Moon, 1969. Archive Rev Ralph Abernathy at Cape Kennedy. From Library of American Congress and WGBH. Extract from the 3 parts documentary series “Chasing the Moon” directed by Robert Stone for PBS, 2019. Wernher Von Braun - extract from “Disneyland, Man on the Moon” documentary produced by Walt Disney and directed by Ward Kimball, ABC tv 1955. Archive JF Kennedy at the United Nation. From the United Nations Archives. General Assembly (20 September 1963) First International crew arrives at Space Station - CNN reports, 2 November 2000. Archive Space Treaty - British Pathé, Space Treaty February 1967 NASA Artemis launch - @NASA, produced by Sonnet Apple, 2022.

Holy texts and salvation ideology. Saints and martyrs. True believers and apostates. This isn't a religion — this is human spaceflight. So says Roger Launius, NASA's former Chief Historian, in his 2013 paper Escaping Earth: Human Spaceflight as Religion. For the start of our ninth year of the Space Policy Edition, Dr. Launius joins the show to discuss the ways in which human spaceflight exhibits characteristics commonly seen in modern religions, how his thesis has evolved in the past decade with the rise of Elon Musk and his view of Mars as humanity's salvation, and how exploring secular activities through a religious lens can be instructive in understanding their adherents and support. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-human-spaceflight-as-religionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holy texts and salvation ideology. Saints and martyrs. True believers and apostates. This isn't a religion — this is human spaceflight, argues Roger Launius, the former Chief Historian of NASA.

America's heading back to the Moon, but what does the public really think? This week, we talk with former NASA Chief Historian and Smithsonian Curator Dr. Roger Launius, who has studied, among many other things, public perceptions of NASA and spaceflight. Some spoilers: no, there was no "Golden Age" in the 1960s when the public was hugely behind the Apollo Moon landings; being a space historian is a lot of fun; and it probably doesn't really matter if China lands people on the Moon before the US does so *again*. Join us. Headlines: • Successful first flight of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket with engines from Blue Origin • Payload - Astrobotic's Peregrine commercial lunar lander suffers propulsion leak en route to the Moon • NASA engineers finally open stuck cover on OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule Main Topic: Public Perceptions of Space Exploration • Common perception of widespread public support and national unity around Apollo program is a myth  • Polls at the time showed concerns about cost and other spending priorities • Support depended heavily on Cold War context; would not have happened otherwise • Public support and approval polling for space exploration has remained fairly consistent over decades • But support drops when funds are weighed against other priorities like social programs • JFK tried multiple times to make Apollo a joint U.S.-Soviet program to save money • His assassination allowed NASA to leverage his legacy to maintain support and funding • Presidential bold visions for space require an urgent political problem to address • Competition with China lacks the existential threat of the Cold War space race Additional Topics:  • NASA is now doing business with more private-public and commercial partnerships • But political factors and election cycles still hamper long-term continuity • Preserving history and archives from the digital era will be extremely difficult • Predictions: Boots on the Moon again within 10-15 years, Mars by 2040s Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Roger Launius Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: rocketmoney.com/twis

America's heading back to the Moon, but what does the public really think? This week, we talk with former NASA Chief Historian and Smithsonian Curator Dr. Roger Launius, who has studied, among many other things, public perceptions of NASA and spaceflight. Some spoilers: no, there was no "Golden Age" in the 1960s when the public was hugely behind the Apollo Moon landings; being a space historian is a lot of fun; and it probably doesn't really matter if China lands people on the Moon before the US does so *again*. Join us. Headlines: • Successful first flight of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket with engines from Blue Origin • Payload - Astrobotic's Peregrine commercial lunar lander suffers propulsion leak en route to the Moon • NASA engineers finally open stuck cover on OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule Main Topic: Public Perceptions of Space Exploration • Common perception of widespread public support and national unity around Apollo program is a myth  • Polls at the time showed concerns about cost and other spending priorities • Support depended heavily on Cold War context; would not have happened otherwise • Public support and approval polling for space exploration has remained fairly consistent over decades • But support drops when funds are weighed against other priorities like social programs • JFK tried multiple times to make Apollo a joint U.S.-Soviet program to save money • His assassination allowed NASA to leverage his legacy to maintain support and funding • Presidential bold visions for space require an urgent political problem to address • Competition with China lacks the existential threat of the Cold War space race Additional Topics:  • NASA is now doing business with more private-public and commercial partnerships • But political factors and election cycles still hamper long-term continuity • Preserving history and archives from the digital era will be extremely difficult • Predictions: Boots on the Moon again within 10-15 years, Mars by 2040s Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Roger Launius Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: rocketmoney.com/twis

America's heading back to the Moon, but what does the public really think? This week, we talk with former NASA Chief Historian and Smithsonian Curator Dr. Roger Launius, who has studied, among many other things, public perceptions of NASA and spaceflight. Some spoilers: no, there was no "Golden Age" in the 1960s when the public was hugely behind the Apollo Moon landings; being a space historian is a lot of fun; and it probably doesn't really matter if China lands people on the Moon before the US does so *again*. Join us. Headlines: • Successful first flight of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket with engines from Blue Origin • Payload - Astrobotic's Peregrine commercial lunar lander suffers propulsion leak en route to the Moon • NASA engineers finally open stuck cover on OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule Main Topic: Public Perceptions of Space Exploration • Common perception of widespread public support and national unity around Apollo program is a myth  • Polls at the time showed concerns about cost and other spending priorities • Support depended heavily on Cold War context; would not have happened otherwise • Public support and approval polling for space exploration has remained fairly consistent over decades • But support drops when funds are weighed against other priorities like social programs • JFK tried multiple times to make Apollo a joint U.S.-Soviet program to save money • His assassination allowed NASA to leverage his legacy to maintain support and funding • Presidential bold visions for space require an urgent political problem to address • Competition with China lacks the existential threat of the Cold War space race Additional Topics:  • NASA is now doing business with more private-public and commercial partnerships • But political factors and election cycles still hamper long-term continuity • Preserving history and archives from the digital era will be extremely difficult • Predictions: Boots on the Moon again within 10-15 years, Mars by 2040s Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Roger Launius Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: rocketmoney.com/twis

America's heading back to the Moon, but what does the public really think? This week, we talk with former NASA Chief Historian and Smithsonian Curator Dr. Roger Launius, who has studied, among many other things, public perceptions of NASA and spaceflight. Some spoilers: no, there was no "Golden Age" in the 1960s when the public was hugely behind the Apollo Moon landings; being a space historian is a lot of fun; and it probably doesn't really matter if China lands people on the Moon before the US does so *again*. Join us. Headlines: • Successful first flight of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket with engines from Blue Origin • Payload - Astrobotic's Peregrine commercial lunar lander suffers propulsion leak en route to the Moon • NASA engineers finally open stuck cover on OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule Main Topic: Public Perceptions of Space Exploration • Common perception of widespread public support and national unity around Apollo program is a myth  • Polls at the time showed concerns about cost and other spending priorities • Support depended heavily on Cold War context; would not have happened otherwise • Public support and approval polling for space exploration has remained fairly consistent over decades • But support drops when funds are weighed against other priorities like social programs • JFK tried multiple times to make Apollo a joint U.S.-Soviet program to save money • His assassination allowed NASA to leverage his legacy to maintain support and funding • Presidential bold visions for space require an urgent political problem to address • Competition with China lacks the existential threat of the Cold War space race Additional Topics:  • NASA is now doing business with more private-public and commercial partnerships • But political factors and election cycles still hamper long-term continuity • Preserving history and archives from the digital era will be extremely difficult • Predictions: Boots on the Moon again within 10-15 years, Mars by 2040s Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Roger Launius Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: rocketmoney.com/twis

Some historians claim that whenever Mormons moved into town, the crime rate went up. Is it true? Did Mormonism make some prolific thieves and robbers? Join Lindsay and Bryan as they dive into the seedy story. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) John Hallwas and Roger Launius, Cultures in Conflict Bill Shepard, “Stealing at Mormon Nauvoo” Mormon Nauvoo and the Problem of Theft of Non-Mormon Property by Roger Launius John D. Lee Battalion notes by Juanita Brooks Let This Be a Warning to All N*****s by Connell O'Donovan

Este año la feria del libro de Madrid se celebra bajo el lema 'La ciencia ilumina la feria', y son numerosas las actividades, encuentros y seminarios sobre el vínculo que une las letras con la ciencia. Y hasta el stand de RTVE en el Parque del Retiro nos hemos ido para hablar de libros de ciencia con Pura Fernández, responsable de la editorial del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y vicepresidenta del CSIC. Enrique Sacristán nos ha informado de un estudio que indica que un tercio de los planetas más comunes de nuestra galaxia pueden estar en la zona habitable de sus estrellas, concretamente alrededor de enanas rojas. Con Lluís Montoliu vamos a analizar el nacimiento de cinco ratones a partir de dos padres biológicamente masculinos. Investigadores japoneses fabricaron óvulos con células de la piel de un macho que fueron fecundados con espermatozoides de otro macho. En nuestro paseo por la Tabla Periódica, Bernardo Herradón nos ha introducido en el Grupo I, el delos metales alcalinos, donde se encuentran elementos tan interesantes y necesarios como el litio. Nuestra compañera Esther García nos ha llevado a Estocolmo para visitar el museo del Vasa, un galeón que naufragó en su viaje inaugural en 1628, y que fue rescatado del lecho marino. Y hemos reseñado los libros "The Nasa Archives. From Project Mercury to the Mars Rovers. 60 Years in space”, con textos de Piers Bizony, Roger Launius y Andrew Chaikin (Taschen); y “Citas con Cajal. El pensamiento de un sabio”, de José Ramón Alonso, en el libro (Menoscuarto ediciones).  Escuchar audio

Este año la feria del libro de Madrid se celebra bajo el lema 'La ciencia ilumina la feria', y son numerosas las actividades, encuentros y seminarios sobre el vínculo que une las letras con la ciencia. Y hasta el stand de RTVE en el Parque del Retiro nos hemos ido para hablar de libros de ciencia con Pura Fernández, responsable de la editorial del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y vicepresidenta del CSIC. Enrique Sacristán nos ha informado de un estudio que indica que un tercio de los planetas más comunes de nuestra galaxia pueden estar en la zona habitable de sus estrellas, concretamente alrededor de enanas rojas. Con Lluís Montoliu vamos a analizar el nacimiento de cinco ratones a partir de dos padres biológicamente masculinos. Investigadores japoneses fabricaron óvulos con células de la piel de un macho que fueron fecundados con espermatozoides de otro macho. En nuestro paseo por la Tabla Periódica, Bernardo Herradón nos ha introducido en el Grupo I, el delos metales alcalinos, donde se encuentran elementos tan interesantes y necesarios como el litio. Nuestra compañera Esther García nos ha llevado a Estocolmo para visitar el museo del Vasa, un galeón que naufragó en su viaje inaugural en 1628, y que fue rescatado del lecho marino. Y hemos reseñado los libros "The Nasa Archives. From Project Mercury to the Mars Rovers. 60 Years in space”, con textos de Piers Bizony, Roger Launius y Andrew Chaikin (Taschen); y “Citas con Cajal. El pensamiento de un sabio”, de José Ramón Alonso, en el libro (Menoscuarto ediciones).  Escuchar audio

Today is regarded as the anniversary of the crash at Roswell. Was it an alien craft? A weather balloon? Or something else? On a very special episode of Mormon Book Reviews and the Steven Pynakker Channel, I am excited to have back on Roger Launius former Chief Historian of NASA and Senior Curator of the Air & Space Museum at the Smithsonian. Roger discusses how every year, before he retired, he would give a lecture at the Air & Space Museum about how it is a myth that an alien craft crashed in Roswell in the summer of 1947. He presents a slide show where he gives evidence that the main reason there was a "cover up" at Roswell had more to do with the Cold War than anything otherworldly. After the presentation Steven Pynakker was able to ask Roger a series of questions about the events at Roswell that he had himself as well as ones provided to him by members of a UFO sub-Reddit. It was really cool to have Roger on and at the end he was able to tie in Mormonism to the Space Program!

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews Steven Pynakker welcomes on Roger Launius who wrote the very important and definitive biography "Joseph Smith III: Pragmatic Prophet". Dr Launius, member of the Community of Christ, wrote his dissertation on Joseph Smith III and it was later published by University of Illinois Press. The book won the prestigious Evans Award for biography. This was a fascinating conversation and we cover topics like the early days of the formation of the RLDS , Emma Smith's denial of polygamy practiced by Joseph Smith, David Hyrum's mental breakdown, Race and the Priesthood, and the legacy Joseph left. We then change it up a bit and discuss his time as the chief historian of NASA where he took on Roswell and Fake Moon landing conspiracy theories. The conversation then turns to baseball and the biography he wrote "Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman". Did you know Finley was instrumental in the American League adopting the designated hitter rule? And that he tried to create the position of the designated runner and introduce orange baseballs to the game? I want to thank Roger for coming on and I look forward to having future conversations with him.Joseph Smith III: Pragmatic ProphetCharlie Finley bio

Igennem det meste af menneskehedens tid her på Jorden, har vi set solsystemets planeter som små lys på himlen. Det er faktisk ret nyt, at vi mennesker har set rillerne i Saturns ringe og hørt vinden blæse henover Mars' røde landskab. Det er menneskehedens rumsonder, som har sendt billeder, data og lyd tilbage til Jorden fra deres opdagelsesrejser i solsystemet. I udsendelsen gennemgår vi solsystemets opdagelsesrejsende. Medvirkende: Tina Ibsen, astrofysiker, forfatter og medvært på podcasten Rumsnak, Roger Launius, historiker og tidligere chef for NASAs historiske afdeling See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Siliconpolitik: India and Taiwan Want to Complement Each Other’s Strengths — Arjun GargeyasThere were reports earlier this month that Indian and Taiwanese officials had met to discuss the possibility of a $7.5 billion investment in India by the Taiwanese government and its premier semiconductor foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). This was to set up a long-pending state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility in the country. While India has been strong at semiconductor IC design, it has also made efforts to create a presence in fabrication. Taiwan, on the other world, dominates the semiconductor manufacturing market, with two of its major companies, TSMC and UMC, jointly accounting for over 60% of the global revenue in manufacturing and fabrication. With Taiwan’s presence in the semiconductor IC design also growing gradually with companies like MediaTek looking to challenge the fabless American firms, the Indian semiconductor fraternity’s experience in the design cycle is attractive for Taiwanese design firms looking to upscale their operations.Semiconductor manufacturing has been at the heart of a possible technology alliance between the two states. However, with both India and Taiwan having their own comparative advantages in the semiconductor industry, there is significant potential for collaboration in other areas of the semiconductor supply chain. Research and Development: The government of India has, for a long time, envisioned setting up a semiconductor fabrication facility in the country that can indulge in cutting-edge research. Its attempt started way back in the 1980s with the establishment of the Semiconductor Company Limited (SCL). But a major fire and sluggish innovation have now restricted SCL to research in specific fields like space technology. Taiwan’s semiconductor success story lies in its consistent investments, funded by the Taiwanese government itself in research and development to improve semiconductor manufacturing processes. India and Taiwan should look to invest in an R&D center that can bring together both semiconductor firms and universities from both states.Design: Though Taiwan’s stranglehold over the semiconductor industry originates from its ‘Pure Play Foundry’ business model focusing on manufacturing semiconductors for its clients, the IC design ecosystem in the country has gradually grown, dominated by firms like MediaTek. However, these semiconductor design firms indulge in the low-cost design of trailing edge nodes as an alternative to the Western companies’ products. The major market for Taiwanese design firms remains the Chinese mainland. With relations deteriorating between the two countries, Taiwanese firms will look at alternative markets. India, with its ever-increasing demand for high technology products, can step into the role. A thriving semiconductor design services market in the country can also help Taiwanese firms reach the level of American firms with the Indian workforce’s expertise in the field.Assembly and Testing: While India’s ambitions to invest in a semiconductor fabrication facility are commendable, the costs associated with semiconductor manufacturing remain very high. Exorbitant equipment costs and the need to pump in investments regularly can hamper India’s plan to become a major player in the foundry business. Instead, India, which has already gained expertise in downstream assembly and testing processes can look at Outsourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) opportunities. With low-skilled labor only needed, unlike semiconductor manufacturing, India can serve as a source of low cost and low skilled labor for Taiwanese firms like ASE Technology and Powertech Technology, which look to outsource such operations offshore. The Indian government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has also released schemes like SPECS to attract foreign firms for OSAT operations. The Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) will provide a financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure for the identified list of electronic goods that comprise downstream value chain of electronic products, i.e., electronic components, semiconductor/ display fabrication units, ATMP units, specialized sub-assemblies and capital goods for manufacture of aforesaid goods, all of which involve high value-added manufacturing. India and Taiwan’s technology trade has gradually increased in the last two decades. With increasing technological cooperation between the two countries, the semiconductor industry, and both their complementary strengths in it offer a great opportunity for better collaboration in the domain. This can cover a wide area in the supply chain, going beyond just the talk on semiconductor manufacturing and fabrication facilities. If you enjoy the contents of this newsletter consider reading and subscribing to China Tech Dispatch for weekly updates on China’s military and civilian tech sectors. Yogakshema: Is it Worth Debating Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace and Outer Space?— Aditya PareekThe Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi recently remarked that "An invasion may begin without anyone realizing it, and a war may be fought without the use of military forces." The challenges Kishi alludes to are aggravated when taking hightech domains like cyberspace and outer space into account. There is a lot of shadowy, hard-to-attribute activity associated with rendezvous and proximity operations(RPO)s in outer space as well as in cyber attacks. With near misses in outer space and major attacks against infrastructure and finances via the use of cyberspace, a lot of finger pointing between states ensues.There is a multilateral push for figuring out rules of the road or more formally, to establish some mechanism to set norms for responsible behaviour in cyberspace and outer space. Two draft resolutions have been submitted to the UN General Assembly’s First Committee that try to address these topics. The first is earmarked as agenda item 95 titled “Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies”. The second is earmarked as agenda item 98 (d) “Prevention of an arms race in outer space: reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours”.India and China are both absent from the list of sponsors of both resolutions for the moment, but this may change as the time nears for the UNGA to take a general votes on the resolutions.At first glance the subject and titles of the two draft resolutions might seem to be signalling some sort of consensus emerging in the UNGA simultaneously over norms of responsible behaviour in cyberspace and outer space. However, on closer study, the two draft resolutions are reflective of the same tense international relationships which are the cause for friction in these domains in the first place. On the draft dealing with cybersapce, as Elena Chernenko of Kommersant (a Russian business media outlet) points out in her reporting, The development of a joint draft document by Russia and the United States can be considered an important event, if only because in recent years the two countries have often acted in the UN as rivals or even adversaries. And the subject of cybersecurity, until recently, was no exception in this regard.    As expected of a document prepared as a compromise between geopolitical adversaries, it features very amenable language while clearly highlighting that its contents are aimed at “voluntary, non-binding norms” which “do not seek to limit or prohibit action that is otherwise consistent with international law” in cyberspace.The draft dealing with responsible behaviour in outer space features sponsors countries that enjoy good relations with the US. Some of these sponsors are lesser adversaries in their own right to Russia, like the United Kingdom and Poland. The draft notably has several references to “a combination of legally binding obligations and political commitments” as being essential on issues ranging from “instruments on the prevention of an arms race in outer space” to a more broadly focused issue of “space security”. These references to legally binding obligations will likely dissuade a lot of state including some major powers that prefer to achieve their political goals via the use of asymmetric means. If a consensus is not likely and some major powers will continue to keep their options open, then the whole point of the resolutions becomes moot. Whatever toothless guidelines the resolutions incorporate will be ignored and worse may even be flouted, degrading the momentum and credibility of the international efforts that went in the drafting of these resolutions.Cyberpolitik: Going Meta— Sapni G KMired in controversy and bad press, the Facebook Company has been having some of the worst days of its existence. The last couple of months saw it facing suits that pushed for breaking up the company to whistle-blower revelations which contradicted multiple positions it took while addressing allegations raised against it. Amidst these serious allegations, it has also been trying to reinvent itself to attract and retain more users on its various platforms. After weeks of conversations led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the metaverse, the company has found a home in that idea to find a better future for itself.The term "metaverse" has its origins in Snow Crash, the 1992 dystopian science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson ( who clarified that he has got nothing do with the company). The book envisions metaverse as a full-fledged alternate reality built in a virtual space. Life is brutal on the metaverse, but it is worse in Snow Crash's real world. This virtual escape fuelled further science fiction writing on the idea, now culminating in the world's largest social media company changing its name to " Meta" to reflect its interest in building the metaverse future. Meta now holds the range of apps such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and technologies such as Oculus.In the keynote introducing Meta, Zuckerberg outlined his vision for the metaverse as a space different from the siloed worlds created by the social media age. He sees it as a collection of protocols that are interoperable and not owned by one company. Here users can jump into the virtual to connect with others and have experiences in different worlds. Meta is not pioneering the idea. Epic Games and Roblox have already created similar worlds, where some failed decades ago. However, it is trying to shift the status quo from today's walled gardens to open protocols. This is a huge leap in Meta's ethos (RIP the Facebook Company) which rallied ahead by creating siloed spaces. It is also reflective of how our platformised lives are moving further towards gamification.Critics and industry observers have called this a gimmick to divert attention from the pressing issues raised against the company. Even if that were the case, changing the name of the company will do little to save it from public ire and demands for addressing these concerns better. However, it is worth noting this change in priorities as we continue to look to fix the problems in the social media platforms. While Zuckerberg proclaimed that 'since the Metaverse isn't here yet, this offers a chance for policymakers to stop playing catch up with technology but direct its development and regulation', Meta would not be the desirable choice for many to drive this change. Its shady track record in norm-setting on platform governance only exacerbates worries.For India, this change might currently have no visible difference. Access to today's Metaverse is limited, mostly through expensive VR headsets. The penetration of such technologies in India is limited, though growing. However, learning from the smartphone boom, India could see this as an opportunity to amp up the capabilities in manufacturing of the devices and development of software that are necessary for interacting in the metaverse. The manufacturing and design economies can gain from this. A thriving design and manufacturing economy could also have knock-on effects creating more professionals who understand the functioning of the "metaverse" better. Finally, it can give India a seat on the table in virtual reality/metaverse regulation and policymaking, which in current nascent stages in restricted to China, the EU and, the USA.Yogakshema: Hyperbole Over Hypersonics — Aditya RamanathanIn a television interview on 27 October, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark A. Milley acknowledged reports of recent Chinese tests of hypersonic weapons. Presumably seeking to strike a balance between underplaying and overplaying the significance of the tests, Milley described them as “a very significant event,” adding that  “I don’t know if it's quite a Sputnik moment but I think it’s very close to that.”The cliche of a “Sputnik moment” refers to the dawn of the space age. The Soviet launch of the world’s first artificial satellite, on 4 October 1957, sparked fears in the US that it was being left behind, and spurred its own space programme. In the years since, politicians have used the phrase to evoke the sense of a much-needed wake-up call for the US . President Barack Obama called the recession of 2008-09 a “Sputnik moment” and Senator John Kerry used the term in the context of clean energy technology.  Roger Launius, senior curator of the NASA museum’s space history division summarised the parable of the “Sputnik moment” the best:"A Sputnik moment is a trigger mechanism, an event that makes people collectively say that they need to do something, and this sets a course in another direction".Are China’s new capabilities significant enough for the US to rejig its defence priorities? Not quite. The Hypersonic Rationale: Let’s begin by trying to understand what exactly it was that China tested in July and August of this year. On 21 October, The Financial Times reported that China used a Long March rocket to launch a “fractional orbital bombardment” system that, in turn, carried a hypersonic glide vehicle. The Soviets experimented with fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS) in the 1960s. The broad idea of FOBS was to evade US early warning systems that were largely focused towards the North Pole. It would achieve this by launching a craft that would only complete a partial orbit before de-orbiting and plunging towards its target on Earth. Theoretically, a FOBS system would allow the Soviets to attack the US via the South Pole, and achieve complete surprise. The Soviets deployed small numbers of such systems for about two decades during the Cold War.That leaves us with hypersonic boost glide vehicles. While regular long-range ballistic missiles such as ICBMS use space as a rapid-transit zone to reach distant spots on Earth, boost glides fly at much flatter trajectories, below the 100-kilometre that marks the boundary between the upper atmosphere and space. The key advantages of boost-glides are that their flatter trajectories allow them to hide behind the Earth’s curvature for longer periods (thus delaying detection) and that navigation technologies allow them to manoeuvre unpredictably on their approach to a target, possibly making interception even harder. So why is China developing such systems? The short answer is the US ballistic missile defence (BMD) programme. And China is not alone in this effort. In 2018, Russia unveiled a series of experimental systems designed specifically to evade US ballistic missile defences. These included a long-range ballistic missile that could approach the continental United States via the South Pole as well as a cruise missile with a nuclear-powered engine that would give it unprecedented range. If the Russians and Chinese are resorting to such exotic weapons, we must ask two questions. One, are they the only solution for tackling US BMD? And two, do hypersonic boost glides have problems of their own?The Uncertain Glory of BMD: The current US BMD programme has its origins in 2002, when the country withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. The political pretext for this move was the 9/11 attacks. The technological rationale was the revolution in sensory and computing technology that allowed for far more accurate tracking and targeting of incoming missiles. Some also argue that US BMDs also continue to provide it with negotiating leverage in any future arms control talks.However, while US BMDs are far more effective today than they were even a decade ago, they still face two fundamental obstacles: they have at best a 50% chance of successfully intercepting a ballistic missile, and they’re far more expensive. In short, BMDs are expensive and only partially effective. US BMDs are not meant to defend against a full-fledged attack by another state; they’re only meant to stop stray missiles, either from a rogue launch or from the remnants of an adversary’s nuclear arsenal after most of it has been destroyed. The reality is that an arsenal of regular ICBMs, each  with bristling with  multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) and decoys is more than a match for BMDs. Exotic weapons like boost-glides are at best an augmentation to existing capabilities. The Limited Advantages of FOBS and Boost Glides: While FOBS and boost-glides may have their place, there’s a reason why the USSR did not rely heavily on such systems during the Cold War. FOBS weapons need a small rocket to de-orbit, meaning a reduced payload. And today’s boost-glides can carry only a single warhead. Therefore, a combined FOBS-boost glide system will only carry a single, relatively small warhead. Also, since boost-glides actually travel at lower speeds than ICBM warheads on re-entry, they may actually become easier to intercept in the future. The Prospects: Nothing is settled in the matter of long-range missiles. New developments could make boost glides and FOBS more accurate and capable of delivering greater payloads. BMD systems could also become more effective in the future. As of now, however, we must acknowledge that whatever China tested earlier this year, was probably not revolutionary, and hardly amounts to a Sputnik moment.Our Reading Menu[Opinon] Facebook and YouTube’s vaccine misinformation problem is simpler than it seems by Will Oremus on Wahsington Post [Opinons] Why Facebook has become Meta on Financial Times by Hannah Murphy and Madhumita Murgia[Book] Tiger Technology: The Creation of a Semiconductor Industry in East Asia [Article] Russia, China, The US: Who will win the Hypersonic Arms Race? [Paper] Outer Space and Cyberspace: A Tale of Two Security Realms This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hightechir.substack.com

In this episode we sit down with Roger Launius and we discuss his time at NASA, the relationship between private and public space, European exploration, and the difficulties of humans living in space. Tune in! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jim-murphy4/support

On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. Fifty years later, five nations have sent spacecraft to the Moon and private enterprises are increasingly engaging with its exploration. The advancement of space science, the allure of profiting on lunar resources, and ideas for a permanent human presence on the Moon are raising attention. They also generate controversy and pose challenging questions. Why go to the Moon? Should we go back? Who benefits and who pays for going to the Moon? Join us for a conversation with space historian Roger Launius and historian of colonialism Margaret Huettl and share your questions and thoughts as to the past and future of lunar exploration.

Today we talk to Dr. Roger Launius, former NASA historian, about the history, legacy, and memory of the Apollo program and the moon landing, at the 50th anniversary of Armstrong's famous steps for all mankind. Looking back after all this time, what does the Apollo program really mean for us today?

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, Bob talks with Dr. Roger Launius about Kerbal Space Program. Topics include the history of the Apollo Program, the Space Race, the Cold War, and Apollo 11. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A. Mozart, Big Bonobo Combo

This week we’re featuring a Future in Space Operations teleconference with former NASA historian Roger Launius who spoke about his new book "Apollo's Legacy: Perspectives on the Moon Landings.” A we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission it’s important to look back at the time of the Apollo program in the 60’s and early 70’s to better understand the motivations of the Apollo program and what was happening in the world at that time. Launius provides that unique view. Listen in.

When President Kennedy announced Project Apollo, the United States was locked in a global ideological conflict with the Soviet Union. But how did the idea of a Moon shot come to be the answer to a political problem? And why did it happen when it did? Dr. Roger Launius, former Chief Historian of NASA and currently the Principal at Launius Historical Services, explains why Apollo happened and where it came from. His latest book, Apollo's Legacy: Perspectives on the Moon Landings is available now. Hear additional episodes and learn more here: http://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/space-missions/apollo-50-years.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 50th anniversary of the first landings on the moon mark a notable landmark in the technological achievements of humanity. But, what is the legacy of the Apollo missions? On this episode, Dr. Roger Launius discussed the legacy of the moon landings.

Space historian Dr. Roger Launius joins the show to explain why Apollo happened the way it did, how a moonshot briefly became a solution to a national security problem, and why it is unlikely to happen again.

Half a century has passed since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin imprinted humanity's first footsteps upon another world. Apollo 11 was the culmination of a decade's worth of fervent activity in which the United States marshaled resources and manpower at a pace not seen outside of warfare. Space historian Dr. Roger Launius joins the show to explain why Apollo happened the way it did, how a moonshot briefly became a solution to a national security problem, and why it is unlikely to happen again. Casey Dreier also provides a space policy update.  More resources about this month’s topics are at http://www.planetary.org/multimedia/planetary-radio/show/2019/space-policy-edition-39.htmlLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Space historian Dr. Roger Launius joins the show to explain why Apollo happened the way it did, how a moonshot briefly became a solution to a national security problem, and why it is unlikely to happen again.

Leah Tether of the University of Bristol explains the origins of the legend of king Arthur. Wildlife ecologist Josh Griffiths of CESAR tells us of an extraordinary mammal, the platypus. Roger Launius of Launius Historical Services helps us by explaining the many conspiracy's surrounding the moon landing. Melissa Ilardo of The University of Utah and UC Berkeley explains her studies of diving nomads. And Eric Schulze entertains us with a word story.

Can the heroic age of Antarctic exploration help to show us the way back to the Moon?One hundred years ago, Scott reached the South Pole. However, more than four decades passed before people went back there. On the Moon, Neil Armstrong took his leap for mankind in 1969 and it has been forty years since the last astronaut left the lunar surface. Presenter Kevin Fong talks to space scientists and historians to find out if Robert Scott's Antarctic exploits provide a road map for future human exploration of the Moon and the planet Mars.Imperial and geopolitical motivations lay behind both South Polar exploration and the effort which took humans briefly to the lunar surface. But what would get us back to the Moon - would it be geopolitical rivalry or science?In times of economic austerity (in the West at least), what scientific questions are important enough to justify exploration of the Moon? The six short Apollo visits to the lunar surface were enough to crack the mystery of how the Moon itself formed - namely that a Mars sized planet crashed into the early Earth. The molten rock that was blasted into orbit by that collision coalesced as our lunar neighbour.Sending astronauts back to explore the rocks of the Moon could solve the most important mysteries about the early Earth - when did life first evolve and under what sort of conditions? Their findings could also settle the questions about the origins of our oceans here on Earth . Among Kevin's other interviewee are NASA's Chief Administrator Charles Bolden, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt (the only geologist to walk on the Moon), NASA scientists Chris McKay and Jennifer Heldmann, Dr Ian Crawford of Birbeck College, University of London and space historian Roger Launius of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute.

There's music floating in Outer Space. And we're not just being fancy or poetic. There are actually two disks filled with songs that are floating out beyond the planets that are most distant to Earth. The disks are strapped to the sides of the Voyager probes which were launched to explore the outer edges of our galaxy and whatever lies beyond them. In this podcast, we hear from two of the three people who decided what music would go on the disks, to learn why they thought it was important to let whatever extraterrestrial life may exist in the universe know that human being make music. The podcast is hosted by Roger Launius, a curator in the Space History Division of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

There's music floating in Outer Space. And we're not just being fancy or poetic. There are actually two disks filled with songs that are floating out beyond the planets that are most distant to Earth. The disks are strapped to the sides of the Voyager probes which were launched to explore the outer edges of our galaxy and whatever lies beyond them. In this podcast, we hear from two of the three people who decided what music would go on the disks, to learn why they thought it was important to let whatever extraterrestrial life may exist in the universe know that human being make music. The podcast is hosted by Roger Launius, a curator in the Space History Division of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

The space age began on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik-the first artificial satellite. Around the world, millions of people tuned their radios to hear it beeping or waited outside to watch it pass overhead. Narrated by Roger Launius of the Space History Division of the National Air and Space Museum, this piece examines the world's reaction to Sputnik. From popular music to visual design; from politics to technology, the space race seemed to define much of the culture of the late 1950s and the 1960s.

The space age began on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik-the first artificial satellite. Around the world, millions of people tuned their radios to hear it beeping or waited outside to watch it pass overhead. Narrated by Roger Launius of the Space History Division of the National Air and Space Museum, this piece examines the world's reaction to Sputnik. From popular music to visual design; from politics to technology, the space race seemed to define much of the culture of the late 1950s and the 1960s.

What does space sound like—and who decided that? Composers have toyed with themes of space, stars and discovery in music—describing through music the ideas of open space, travel, mystery and majesty, as well as imagining what "outer space" might sound like if you could hear it. Narrated by Roger Launius of the Space History Division of the National Air and Space Museum, this piece features Miles Hoffman, commentator for NPR's Morning Edition, John Dennis, who created the music for Disneyland's Space Mountain, and Jonn Serrie, the nation's leading composer of music for planetarium shows.

What does space sound like—and who decided that? Composers have toyed with themes of space, stars and discovery in music—describing through music the ideas of open space, travel, mystery and majesty, as well as imagining what "outer space" might sound like if you could hear it. Narrated by Roger Launius of the Space History Division of the National Air and Space Museum, this piece features Miles Hoffman, commentator for NPR's Morning Edition, John Dennis, who created the music for Disneyland's Space Mountain, and Jonn Serrie, the nation's leading composer of music for planetarium shows.