Casual Space

Chad and Chris are back and reminisce about their journey into the universe (Chicago) for the official Star Trek convention!   Together, Chris and Chad share the highlights from this fan experience that includes everything from the big celebrity stars to the panel discussions, memorabilia, and the tattoos? Beth jumps in at the end for the lightning round questions (is Q a bad guy, or a good guy?)...

Beth sits down with three members of Vaya Space , a hybrid rocket engine and small satellite launcher company!  Mickael Buswell, Brian Ha, and Grant Begley explain how they're working to offer frequent, reliable, economical, and environmentally-friendly small satellite launch opportunities in precise orbital placement…by using hybrid rockets that are redefining the cost, performance, and safety of...

Happy Earth Day!  Satellites improve our life on Earth by providing valuable data about our incredible planet.  How exactly do satellites work? What kind of data do we need to improve, save, and protect our Earth?   Here's your 1-0-1 on satellites! From how they work, how they acquire power, how they navigate in orbit, and how they help us all benefit from the data they provide back to us on Earth...

How will Humanity Return to the Moon by the Mid-2020s and Go to Mars by the Mid-2030s? How Can Innovations that Enable Human Missions to the Moon and Mars Benefit Humanity? If we find life on Mars, what happens next?   These are just a few of the fascinating topics that will be explored at the 2022  Humans to Mars Summit  (H2M) that is taking place on May 17-19, 2022, at the National Academy of Sc...

Try to keep up with Laura Forczyk! At the time of this conversation, Laura has a new NEW baby, a new business and just a few new multiple things that she's working on. All at the same time. You may want to sit down and buckle in- because Laura and Beth have a LOT to discuss together in this episode, including space camp, working for NASA, writing books, getting women to the Moon, hiring talented p...

Last March, family and friends learned of Dr. Sian Proctor's selection for the SpaceX Inspiration 4 mission and were able to join her along many parts of her incredible journey to space. On this episode, Chris and Brian join Beth to reminisce-and share wonderful moments from this recent adventure- from hearing the exciting news to watching the launch and landing.  Here are the personal stories and...

The folks at Kepler are on a mission to build the Internet in space. Diane Burchett always loved math and science and was curious about how things worked. From taking apart the family vacuum to materials engineering, and watching sci-fi shows featuring bioengineering, they've all be a part of her journey towards working in the space industry- along with a Summer Session Program at International Sp...

UPDATE! Since this posting, the New York Times has reported that Pete Davidson may NOT be going to space, after all:  Pete Davidson, the "Saturday Night Live" comedian and actor, will no longer travel to the edge of space on the next Blue Origin spaceflight, the company said late Thursday. The company had announced this week that its New Shepard rocket would launch on Wednesday, March 23,  with Mr...

As more and more people head into the great frontier of space, it's going to take a community of passionate people finding new approaches to look at problems and discovering solutions to fuel the growing space economy. Working in space will need EVERYONE. That's where Spacely comes in- and today, CEO Tom Cooke joins Beth to explain how Spacely helps match talent and companies with projects within...

Normal people can and should be able to fly to space. Deborah Sass and Thomas Reemer have set out to prove this in a very unique and entertaining way. Today on the Casual Space Podcast, Beth talks with Deborah and Thomas from Space Hero; the world's first-ever global competition series where contestants compete for a $55-million, 10-day trip to Space; the biggest prize ever awarded on TV. The comp...

The Planetary Society has been on a mission: To empower the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. It's the place for people who want to be involved in space exploration by sharing their passion with other like-minded people. Chief Development Officer of the Planetary Society, Richard Chute, joins Beth today on the podcast and explains how a hobby became a full-time job(s), and...

Emily Carney is an award-winning writer, editor, and public speaker specializing in spaceflight history.  She's also the co-host of the Space & Things podcast, and she's the founder of the Space Hipsters Facebook group. Today on the show, Beth asks Emily how her love for space and talents as a writer began, how and when she's most effective at writing, and what advice she may have for future space...

"There is no Earth vs Space. They live together." Daniel Fox is the author and photographer of FEEL THE WILD, founder of THE FUTURE OF SPACE, and SPACE 100.10. Daniel believes that it is nature's goal to venture into space.  This episode of Casual Space is one filled with wisdom, as Daniel reflects on how nature lives within us, around us, and beyond us- in space.  "We are ambassadors for life and...

On Christmas morning, NASA presented (launched) an incredible gift people of the WOLRD will be able to enjoy …The James Webb Space Telescope.   NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched at 7:20 a.m. EST Saturday, December 25 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. On this episode of Casual Space, Beth and (resident space expert) Dean geek out on all things J...

Erin Sembroski didn't know her husband Chris had entered a contest to fly to space. Then he won the Generosity seat on the Inspiration4 on a SpaceX, rocket and had to tell her the news. On this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Erin shares her experience -from learning that Chris' would be going to space as part of the first all-civilian crew- to how she worked to navigate the intensity of the...

This episode is an amazing story about the Commercialization of Cislunar Space by a company named ThinkOrbital. It's also the story of how two talented people were bold enough to share their innovative idea to design something…different, better, and for all space explorers.   Co-Founders Sebastian Asprella and Dr. Vojtech Holub met on Discord during COVID, and soon found that by applying their int...

When you need to send payloads to space, you call upon the expertise of Stephanie Murphy , because Ms. Murphy and her newly merged company is (and has been) perfectly practiced at providing on-orbit testing for government and commercial customers. Today on the show, you'll enjoy getting to know the impressive Stephanie Murphy- how she's overcoming obstacles as a female principal owner in the compe...

Mike Mullane is a NASA astronaut who has written several award-winning and popular books detailing his space exploration experience. Years later, his son, Patrick Mullane, would also write a popular book about his own unique experience watching his father become an astronaut. Both accomplished veterans, Mike and Patrick sit down with Beth on Veteran's Day to share some of their (hilarious) stories...

Built in 1966 to support the Apollo space missions, the NASA tracking station in Guam (GWM) was equipped with a 30-foot USB antenna and VHF Air-Ground Voice and Telemetry capabilities. Guam was the first dedicated Apollo station built, and it's where Brian Riehle and his team helped to track and communicate with 5 Apollo missions, including Apollo 11! Beth had the privilege of meeting Brian at the...

What kind of space suit will we need to go back to the moon? How long does it take to make a space suit? Why are space suits white? What's the first thing that could kill you in space? (It's not what you think). Dan Klopp's division at ILC Dover has been making space suits for NASA for over 50 years, so he's perfectly positioned to provide us with a space suit tutorial in this episode of Casual Sp...

A mixed-use business park. In space. That's the description of the newly introduced Orbital Reef Commercial Space Station. More good news, this is not the ONLY commercial space station proposed, there are BIG plans on the LEO horizon… listen as Beth and Chad examine a future of orbiting laboratories providing solutions on, off and for planet Earth.   About Orbital Reef:  https://www.orbitalreef.co...

Christina Korp has traveled the world as a singer, producer, tour manager and as an Astronaut Wrangler. She's produced groundbreaking, mass participation experiential artworks and event that focus on inspiring people and giving back to the planet. Today on the podcast, Christina shares with Beth her latest #AimHigher project success that recently completed on Monday, October 11, where Christina or...

Does filming in space change the way in which we view space? How will filming in space change our perspective? When actors, directors, and artists go to space, can they help us see ourselves, and our planet Earth in a different way?    Last week , a Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian film crew docked at the International Space Station to begin a movie shoot in orbit. The Soyuz ferried a Russian a...

"How can you change the world if no one knows you exist?" – Izzy House    When it comes to marketing, Izzy knows a thing or two. And when it comes to marketing for space, Izzy House wrote the book on it- literally! Her new book, Space Marketing aims to empower companies within the space industry promote space, generate excitement, and implement marketing strategies and tactics to help companies th...

You could say Tim Bailey is a space celebration connoisseur. As the Executive Director for Yuri's Night - THE biggest space party in the world…Tim is qualified to rate and review the Inspiration4 "splashdown" party held just a week ago when the crew returned safely to Earth. (Acrobats? Star Wars bands? Flying astronauts? COLLECTIVE SOUL?!)  Today on the show, Beth and Tim say they're "still buzzin...