Space and Things

With so many great stories out there at the moment we want to make sure that we didn't miss anything which has been on our mind, so no main feature this week, just lots of different things to talk about.  Including: Don Lind Obituary: https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-don-lind-obituary   Frank Drake Obituary: https://www.space.com/seti-pioneer-frank-drake-obituary   Fred Haise Ne...

This week we welcome back ESA senior Science and Exploration advisor Mark McCaughrean to give us an update on all things JWST.  Mark McCaughrean: https://markmccaughrean.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/markmccaughrean Webb Space Telescope:  https://webb.nasa.gov/ https://twitter.com/NASAWebb Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/podcast/stp105-an-update-on-jwst-with-mark-m...

Do you feel like you’d like to do something useful with your passion for space flight? Well today we talk to a Solar System Ambassador, John Wolfram, to find out how you might be able to help. More info on joining the Solar System Ambassadors Program;  https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ambassadors   John Wolfram: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnwolframspace Youtube: https://www.youtube...

To honour the upcoming launch of Artemis-1, the first uncrewed flight of the Artemis program we present to you an interview with Artemis Crew Training Officer Tamara York to find out what the astronauts hoping to fly on future missions might be up to right now. The Artemis Program: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/   Emily’s Article: The Nineties Sucked. Here’s How For All Mankind’s...

Deke Slayton is a legend in the space flight world, but how much do we know about him? Well this week we're joined by his son Kent, and Alyssa Young, the executive director of the Deke Slayton Memorial Museum, to find out more. We thought this would be a discussion about the legacy of Deke, but it ended up being so much more. Deke Slayton Museum: https://dekeslaytonmuseum.org/ Facebook: https://ww...

On July 30th, actress Nichelle Nichols passed away at the age of 89. While best known for portraying Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek, she also played a huge role in shaping NASA in the late 1970s, so we thought it was a great time to discuss that, and the link between space flight and Star Trek. We asked Emily's boss at Celestis, Charles Chafer, if he'd like to come and talk about this, as it's some...

For our 100th episode, we decided that we’d like to talk some more about Skylab, and why not talk to one of the astronauts who lived onboard back in 1973, Dr. Joseph Kerwin. Dr Kerwin doesn’t have any social media pages, but learn more about Skylab in the book he co-wrote with Owen Garriott and David Hitt: Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story. Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/pod...

This week we welcome back author Gerald Brennan, who we previously spoke to on episode 54. He has just released a brand new book called “Alone On The Moon - A Soviet Lunar Odyssey” - so we decided it’s the perfect time to have a catch up. Gerald Brennan: http://www.tortoisebooks.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jerry_brennan Altered Space Series: Zero Phase Public Loneliness Islands of Clouds Inf...

This week we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Landsat program. One of the most underrated programs in space flight. And to do this we’re joined by two Landsat scientists: Dr Jim Irons, former director of the Earth Science Division at NASA Goddard and Dr Jeff Masek, Landsat 9 project scientist since 2015. Official Landsat website: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Earth As Art: https://eros.usgs....

This week we catch up with author Jay Gallentine talk all about his previous works and what he has coming up. Jay Gallentine: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-gallentine-612a761a7/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaygallentine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readablehistory/ Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com Show notes include links to all articles mentioned and full deta...

On 24th May 1962 Scott Carpenter climbed into Aurora 7, his Mercury spacecraft and launched on top of an Atlas rocket. The 6th person to go to space, but was he the right man for the job? Questions about this mission followed Carpenter his whole life so 60 years after the launch, we take a look at what really happened. Special thanks to Francis French for his help: https://www.francisfrench.com/ F...

This week we’re joined by former Deputy Administrator of NASA Lori Garver as she releases her new book: “Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age” Lori Garver: https://www.lorigarver.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lori_Garver Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-garver-64695362/ Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/podcast/stp95-transforming-na...

This week we set sail on a mission to find out more about solar sailing. And we’re joined by Amber Dubill and Dr. Grover Swartzlander to find out more as their work has just been awarded a phase 3 grant as part of the Nasa Innovative Advanced Concepts project. Amber Dubill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-dubill/ Dr. Grover Swartzlander: https://twitter.com/GroverSwartzlan   NASA-Supported...

This week Dave is on holiday, so there’s no spaceflight news, but instead we have a look at what we think is the unsung hero of crewed spaceflight, Project Gemini. https://www.nasa.gov/specials/gemini_gallery/   Image Credits: NASA Space and Things: Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/spaceandthings1 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/spaceandthingspodcast Facebook:  https://w...

This week we’re joined by one of the stars of AppleTV’s ‘For All Mankind’ - the one and only Krys Marshall who plays Danielle Poole. Season 3 premieres on June 10th, so this is a perfect time for a look back at seasons 1 and 2, plus a little preview into season 3, but don’t worry, there are no season 3 spoilers. Krys Marshall: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrysMarshall   Instagram: https:...

This week we’re joined by Laura Forzcyk to discuss her new book: Becoming Off-Worldly: Learning From Astronauts To Prepare For Your Spaceflight Journey. Becoming Off-Worldly: https://www.astralytical.com/becoming-offworldly   Laura Forzcyk: Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraForczyk   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraforczyk/ Becoming Off-Worldly Together:  https://becoming...

This week we talk to the team behind the brand new audio drama podcast called “Solar” which stars Stephanie Beatriz, Alan Cumming, Helen Hunt and Jonathan Bangs.  Solar:  https://www.solarthepodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SolarthePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SolarthePodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarthepodcast   Full show notes: https://spac...

Breaking news this week - Plants grown in Lunar soil. Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lisa-paul-a9509ba5/ University of Florida Space Plants Lab: https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/spaceplantslab/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/UF_Space_Plants Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/podcast/stp89-breaking-news-plants-grown-in-lunar-soil-for-the-first-time-with-dr-anna-lisa-paul...

This week we’re talking to the CEO and VP of Technical Development for ThinkOrbital, a start up company which is trying to revolutionise the commercial station market.  Think Orbital: https://thinkorbital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thinkorbital/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkOrbital Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpcrdC9t__3CaWbgHC9yYqw Instagram: htt...

This week we’re joined by retired NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain to discuss a new book she’s currently writing called “After The Trailerblazers” for women in traditionally male-dominated fields. It mainly covers how even though the first woman has broken the glass ceiling, the shards of glass still remain to hinder the women who follow. Susan Kilrain: https://www.susankilrain.com/ Twitter: https://t...

This week we talk to Andy Saunders, who has changed the way we look at the Apollo missions. His remastering of the original images from the Apollo missions have brought so much new information to our attention and he’s done it again this week for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 16. Apollo Remastered: http://apolloremastered.com/ Newly remastered images of NASA’s Apollo 16 Moon mission recall USAF’s...

On Friday 8th April, the Axiom-1 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center with a crew of 4 inside the SpaceX dragon capsule Endeavour. Today we're going to tell you all you need to know about it. Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/podcast/stp85-everything-you-need-to-know-about-axiom-1 Show notes include links to all articles mentioned and full details of our guest, plus videos o...

This week we’re talking all about Yuri’s Night which is April 12th, and finding out about some of the major events which are taking place to celebrate it. Yuri’s Night: https://www.yurisnight.net/ Tim Bailey: https://novabailey.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tim846 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim846/   Dave’s Yuri’s Night Party: Monday 11th April: St Christophers Inn, 8.30pm...

This week we’re joined by Christina Korp to discuss some of the incredible plans she has to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 16. Aim Higher Gala: https://www.spaceforabetterworld.com/events Christina Korp: https://purposeentertainment.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtina_korp/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtina_Korp Space For A Better World: https://www.allforabetterworld.com/sp...

In honour of the passing of our friend George Fatolitis, we’re spending this week talking about Moon trees with the president of the Moon Tree Foundation Rosemary Roosa. Moon Tree Foundation: https://www.moontreefoundation.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moontreefoundation Full show notes: https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/podcast/stp82-moon-trees-with-rosemary-roosa-in-memory-of-ge...