Talking Space

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin round one with an overpressurization of a Soyuz capsule, delaying the next manned launch to the International Space Station and discuss the Soyuz "era of reliability". We then move on to a record number of candidates applying for NASA's next class of ASCANs, or astronaut candidaates. Round two begins with the continued adventures of Phobos-Grunt. We then...

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin our first trip around the table with our insights into Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's (R) plan to have a permanent lunar base by the end of his 2nd term. We continue on with the first female cosmonaut to fly since the Soviet Union collapsed. We then move on to a look at the Liberty rocket. Continuing onto our second round, we look at safety risks...

On this episode, sticking with the new format, we discuss the recent WGS-4 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. We then proceed to how Opportunity, which is beginning its 8th year on Mars, will be spending the winter. We continue on with more on Phobos-Grunt and its demise. On our second go-around, we discuss how we're taking a look in real time at snowfall amounts. We then proceed to the...

On this episode, we return to our regular news show...except with a new round-table format, where the panelists find stories that are interesting to them and rotate sharing them with the team to discuss. On this episode, we cover the special announcement of SpaceX delaying their February 7th launch to the ISS. We then move on to the big story of the week: the Phobos-Grunt reentry and discuss where...

After a long hiatus, Talking Space returns with a special look at the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), also known as Curiosity. Through Gene and Mark, both of whom were at the launch, we learn a little bit about Curiosty and its mission. We also hear from many members of the MSL team who give some facts and looks into Mars, the rover, and a day in the life both on Mars and for the team on Earth. Cli...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launch of the Mars Science Laboratory or Curiosity, which our very own Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman were in Florida to witness. You will even get to here the actual sound of launch, and an interesting sound it is if you listen closely. We then move on to the next name to leave NASA: Mike Leinbach. We then continue on to some interestin...

On this episode of Talking Space, we change our format slightly. For our main topics, we discuss the return of the Expedition 29 crew to Earth after 167 days in space. We then move on to the upcoming launch of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity. We also discuss the issue of its main fuel source: Plutonium. We then discuss the new, finalized NASA budget. Although it saves somethin...

On our 100th episode of Talking Space, we invite on a very special guest, and the only guest to date to appear on the show 3 times, the one and only Miles O'Brien. We begin with the recent Mars 500 mission, in which astronauts spent over 500 days simulating a trip to Mars. We ask him if this is a valuable tool and discuss actually getting to Mars in the future. After the successful launch of the S...

On this, our 99th and Halloween episode of Talking Space, we discuss an announcement made by Boeing to build their CST-100 in Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at the Kennedy Space Center. We then discuss the successful launch of a Soyuz carrying Progress 45, a resupply ship to the International Space Station, and discuss its impact after the recent Progress 44 failure. We then move onto the s...

On this news-packed episode of Talking Space, we discuss the space shuttle Endeavour officially being handed over to the California Science Center, and also discuss the controversey of trying to bring a shuttle to Houston as well as Ohio. This segment includes a classic clip from a STS-134 briefing with a question asked by our own Gene Mikulka. We then discuss former Space Shuttle Launch Integrati...

On this episode of Talking Space, we continue our discussion of the 100 Year Star Ship Symposium with an interview conducted by Mark with Space.com Senior Writer Clara Moskowitz. Afterwards, we get a special report from friend of the show and composer of all of our music Todd Cecilio. Todd reports on STS-135 commander Chris Ferguson's trip to the Franklin Institute Science Museum where he returned...

On this episode of Talking Space, Mark discusses his amazing visit to the 100 Year Starship Study Public Symposium (100 YSS) held in Orlando, Florida. He discusses the multiple tracks you could take as well as some of the lectures he heard ranging from algae farming to a panel of science fiction writers to creating aliens. We then move on to the successful launch of China's Tiangong-1, a space lab...

On this episode, we invite back Aviation Week Senior Editor Frank Morring. With his 35 years in journalism, over 20 of those focusing in aerospace, we ask him about the current events around NASA. We begin with the discussion of UARS which recently crashed back to Earth and about space debris in general. Then we get his opinion of the Space Launch System, or SLS, NASA's future spacecraft to take A...

On this episode, we discuss the safe return of the Expedition 28 crew after their 6 month stay aboard the International Space Station. In doing so, we discuss the Soyuz and Progress 44 failure and the impact it will have on the ISS in the near future. We then get into a large discussion about the official announcement and presentation of NASA's new vehicle to carry humans beyond Low Earth Orbit, a...

Low Earth orbit is a mess, with flotsam floating around at speeds between 17,000 to 20,000 MPH. These pieces of space debris, some that are relics from the beginning of the space age are numerous. They are various sizes ranging from the very large, (spent boosters and the like) to the to the very small like bolts, washers and various pieces of small hardware. Their presence threatens communication...

On this episode of Talking Space, we return from our three week summer break to catch you up on the latest in space news, starting with the successful launch of the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, (GRAIL) mission which successfully launched to study the moon and our own Mark Ratterman was there to cover the launch. Mark also gets a special interview with Kim Guodace, a former shuttle veh...

On this episode, we begin with a new control center which will be going online in a unique location in the world for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02). We then move on to a previously-deleted discussion about the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity. We then discuss the next moon mission coming up called GRAIL, which will be two tandem spacecrafts operating together. Following t...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launch of Juno on its way to Jupiter and Mark's experiences at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch on the spacecraft's five year journey to Jupiter. We then move on to Boeing's two announcements regarding its CST-100 spacecraft including its choice of rocket and who it will be choosing as its crew. We then discuss a discovery on Mars...

On this episode of Talking Space, we talk with Dr. David McComas, the principal investigator for JADE, the Jovian Auroral Distribution Experiment, aboard the spacecraft Juno launching to Jupiter on August 5, 2011. We discuss the spacecraft itself and many of the instruments onboard. We discuss the magnetosphere of the planet as well as the aurora which it produces. We talk about past Jovian spacec...

Atlantis safely touched down on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center ending 30 years of the space shuttle program. We talk about the mission, some of the final events, and our own opinion of the Space Transportation System. We then move on to an article in a Russian newspaper taking their own view of the space shuttle program and the role of the Soyuz, the Russian spacecraft which Americans will...

On this speical episode of Talking Space, the entire team gathered at the Kennedy Space Center to broadcast live coverage of the final space shuttle launch. We were overwhelmed to find out that over 200,000 of you listened to us live on launch day. In case you missed the covereage, however, which was broadcast on http://astronomy.fm, we have the entire broadcast for you here. The broadcast lasted...

On this speical episode of Talking Space, the entire team gathered at the Kennedy Space Center to broadcast live coverage of the final space shuttle launch. We were overwhelmed to find out that over 200,000 of you listened to us live on launch day. In case you missed the covereage, however, which was broadcast on http://astronomy.fm, we have the entire broadcast for you here. The broadcast lasted...

On this speical episode of Talking Space, the entire team gathered at the Kennedy Space Center to broadcast live coverage of the final space shuttle launch. We were overwhelmed to find out that over 200,000 of you listened to us live on launch day. In case you missed the covereage, however, which was broadcast on http://astronomy.fm, we have the entire broadcast for you here. The broadcast lasted...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the STS-135 mission, and give an update on its status from spacewalks to unloading and reloading cargo. We also talked about special bits of memorabilia special to this mission including flags, flowers, and even M&Ms. We then go into a lengthy discussion regarding the spacecraft Dawn which successfully entered orbit around the asteroid Vesta. To learn m...

On this episode of Talking Space, the team picks themselves up after a long week of covering the STS-135 mission and discuss the final flight of the space shuttle program. We talk about Atlantis's now 13 day mission to the ISS, its purpose, and some moments of anticipation as the clock ticked down to launch. We mention the significance of the end and hear some stories from the people of the future...