Houston We Have a Podcast

Richard Danne, designer and creator of NASA’s “worm”, details the origins of the iconic logo, the inspiration, the design process with the agency and his firm, Danne and Blackburn, and its reception once being introduced. Retired in 1992, NASA reinstated the “worm” in May 2020 during the SpaceX Demo-2 mission. HWHAP Episode 154.

Luther Beegle, Deputy Division Manager for Science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, takes us through the history of previous landers we have sent to Mars and highlights Perseverance, the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to the Red Planet. HWHAP Episode 153.

The entire Houston We Have a Podcast team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (virtually) gets together for their third anniversary to reflect on another year, highlighting their favorite episodes and moments working together on the podcast. HWHAP Episode 152.

Patrick Chai, aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, covers the challenges and needs for getting humans to Mars and the options for propulsion, duration, time, staging, and more that will be considered on this third episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 151.

Wesley Gordon, program manager at Alpha Space, highlights the facility aboard the International Space Station that provides the capability to test materials and technologies in the harsh environment of space. HWHAP Episode 150.

James Blair, Robert Markowitz, and Josh Valcarcel are among the NASA photographers who find themselves in the second seat of a T-38 jet, or taking studio portraits, and everywhere in between, documenting history and the many facets of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 149.

Felix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphael, co-founders and creative directors of Felix & Paul Studios and the International Space Station Experience Virtual Reality film, go into the details of how they are working alongside NASA to create a 360-degree, virtual experience with immersive views of space station life and research. HWHAP Episode 148.

Jason Derleth, Program Executive for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, breaks down concepts near science fiction and explains how some find their way into how we plan for missions to deep space on this second episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 147.

Kristie Melass and Jim Fuderer, Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory divers, describe life as part of the underwater diving teams that help astronauts train for spacewalks. HWHAP Episode 146.

NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken test their knowledge about each other, plus flight director Zebulon Scoville gives us a glimpse of the mission profile for this test flight before Doug and Bob’s launch aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on May 27. HWHAP Episode 145.

Elisca Hicks and Mike Berrill, crew systems operations instructors, answer top questions about space hygiene that NASA receives and help us understand how astronauts are trained to shower, shave, and go to the bathroom in space. HWHAP Episode 144.

Dr. Dorit Donoviel and Dr. Kristin Fabre, Director of TRISH and Senior Innovation Scientist, are helping NASA solve challenges and prepare for deep space travel through the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) by connecting with the most innovative technology, companies and researchers all over the world. HWHAP Episode 143.

Michelle Rucker, Mars Integration Lead at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, discusses how we are building on our current knowledge and capabilities and breaks down the considerations for getting to, living on, and getting back from Mars on this first episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 142.

Dr. William Stefanov, manager of the Exploration Science Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, shares his expertise in observing the third rock from the sun on this Earth Day 50th anniversary episode. HWHAP Episode 141.

Hear a behind-the-scenes narrative into the operational intricacies of a 2018 Soyuz landing and the choreography of personnel, vehicles, and more when recovering the astronauts and cosmonauts returning to Earth from the International Space Station. HWHAP Episode 140.

James A. Lovell and Fred W. Haise, two of the crew members of Apollo 13, chronicle their days at NASA, their careers, and their fateful mission that began 50 years ago on April 11, 1970. HWHAP Episode 139.

Chris Cassidy, NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL, shares his background, his love for physical fitness and math, and the valuable lessons he has learned leading up to his 3rd trip to space in April 2020. HWHAP Episode 138.

Charis Krysher and Andrea Mosie, lunar curation processor and senior scientist specialist, respectively, discuss opening and processing Apollo 17 lunar samples that have been preserved for 47 years. HWHAP Episode 137.

NASA astronaut Kayla Barron and Anne Roemer, astronaut selection manager, deep dive into the astronaut selection process and astronaut candidate training while taking questions from social media during a live broadcast on March 6, 2020. HWHAP Episode 136.

Kris Romig, Commercialization Services Lead, shares how NASA technology goes beyond the agency and lives on in commercial industries and academia, and making its way into our daily lives. HWHAP Episode 135.

International Space Station Program Chief Scientist Kirt Costello talks about some of the interesting new research underway in Earth’s orbiting laboratory right now, and shares results of earlier experiments that are already making a difference for life in space and on Earth. HWHAP Episode 134.

Dr. Gary Kitmacher, communications and education mission manager for the International Space Station program, returns to the podcast to discuss the design, assembly, and evolution of the International Space Station, and how this orbiting laboratory informs future spacecraft designs. HWHAP Episode 133

Dr. Gary Kitmacher, communications and education mission manager for the International Space Station program, talks through the early concepts of space station design and introduces us to the astronomers, authors, and engineers that contributed to modern-day space travel and the International Space Station. HWHAP Episode 132

Kathy Bolt, chief training officer and CAPCOM, gives us a peek inside the world of training as an astronaut, how it has evolved, and how we are training our astronauts for future missions. HWHAP Episode 131.

Sean Collins, lead graphic designer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, discusses the history, design and symbolism that goes into creating the iconic NASA mission patches. HWHAP Episode 130.