Houston We Have a Podcast

John Lewis, Orion ECLS (Environmental Control and Life Support) system manager, discusses how the Orion spacecraft will keep the crew inside comfortable – and more importantly, alive – during a mission into deep space. HWHAP Episode 79.

Expert guests from the Apollo program reveal more behind the challenges faced to successfully land humans on the Moon in less than three years after the tragic Apollo 1 fire. HWHAP Episode 78.

Vanessa Wyche, Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center, leads a panel discussion with key players of the Apollo program to learn critical lessons that can be applied to NASA’s future human spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars. HWHAP Episode 77.

On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 launch, resident historian Dr. Jennifer Ross-Nazzal recounts one of the most significant missions in human spaceflight history, featuring interviews with Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman and Bill Anders. HWHAP Episode 76.

Matt Lemke, Orion avionics, power and software deputy manager, discusses how Orion is radiation-hardened so the systems inside can withstand the harsh environment of space. HWHAP Episode 75.

NASA Astronaut Anne McClain discusses her journey to space, from her education, her time in the Army as an aviator, and her training to become an astronaut. HWHAP Episode 74.

Jerry Ross, former NASA astronaut, talks about the first mission to assemble the International Space Station and his experience conducting the mission's three spacewalks. The milestone shuttle mission STS-88 brought the Unity module to join Zarya, the first element of the space station. HWHAP Episode 73.

Doug Drewry, former FGB Program Manager, discusses leading the joint U.S and Russian teams during the development and launch of Zarya, the first element of the International Space Station, for its 20th anniversary in space. HWHAP Episode 72.

John Gruener and Dr. Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, planetary scientist and historian, respectively, team up to discuss both the science and history of the Apollo program, the Moon, and the Johnson Space Center. HWHAP Episode 71.

Dr. Lucie Low, Scientific Program Manager at the National Institutes of Health, talks about tiny devices the size of the thumb drive that replicate the structure and function of human organs. Low discusses the importance of testing these devices in space. HWHAP Episode 70.

Dr. Greg Holt, Navigation Lead for the Orion spacecraft, discusses how the vehicle finds its way through deep space and communicates with Earth along the way. HWHAP Episode 69.

Bob Jacobs, Bert Ulrich, and Bill Barry share stories of NASA working closely with filmmakers on features and documentaries. The cast and crew of "First Man" and family members of the real astronauts portrayed in the film also share their perspective on human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 68.

For NASA’s 60th Anniversary, Houston We Have a Podcast took to the stage with science fiction writers Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Howard Tayler, and publishing agent DongWon Song, as well as NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren to discuss how real science and science fiction have influenced each other. HWHAP Episode 67.

Ronny Baccus, Orion structures and thermal protection system functional area manager, discusses how Orion deals with temperatures around 5,000°F when screaming back into Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour. HWHAP Episode 66.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and his wife, Lt. Col. Catie Hague, talk about Nick’s journey to becoming an astronaut, his education, and his time in the U.S Air Force. The couple discusses how their family is prepared for the journey ahead. HWHAP Episode 65.

Dr. Steve Johnson, Senior Scientist of the Space Radiation Analysis Group, discusses what's being done right now to document radiation exposure, not only to ensure our astronauts stay healthy, but to understand weather in space. HWHAP Episode 64.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer describe the mission and direction of America's space agency after a visit from Vice President Mike Pence. The two agency leaders discuss commercialization, human missions to the Moon, and the difference between NASA and Space Force. HWHAP Episode 63.

Jon Olansen and Jenny Devolites, leads for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) crew module and AA-2 launch abort vehicle test mission, discuss the critical test of the abort system if a failure were to happen while the Space Launch System rocket was ascending. HWHAP Episode 62.

Dr. Brian Crucian, a biological studies and immunology expert, discusses the hazard of hostile and closed environments in space. Crucian serves as the principal investigator for a NASA functional immune study. This is part five of the five-part series on the hazards of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 61.

Dr. Peter Norsk, Senior Research Director and Element Scientist at Baylor College of Medicine based here at NASA, describes the hazard of altered gravity fields and its effects on the human body. This is part four of a five-part series on the hazards of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 60.

Dr. Erik Antonsen, element scientist and emergency physician, discusses the hazard of traveling farther away from Earth an ever before, especially how to provide appropriate medical care with limited resources and challenging communications. This is part three of a five-part series on the hazards of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 59.

Dr. Tom Williams leads a research team that looks into isolation and confinement, focusing on habitability and behavioral health and performance risks to spaceflight. This is part two of a five-part series on the hazards of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 58.

Dr. Zarana Patel, a portfolio lead scientist at NASA's Johnson Space Center, is responsible for management and scientific oversight of degenerative tissue risk of space radiation. This is part one of a five-part series on the hazards of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 57.

Dr. Mike Barratt, NASA astronaut, physician and a flight surgeon, shares his story of living in space. Barratt addresses five hazards of human spaceflight and why these challenges need to be addressed to make deep-space missions successful. HWHAP Episode 56.

John Gruener and Steve Hoffman discuss in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), the ability to find and use natural resources beyond Earth. HWHAP Episode 55.