Talking Space

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the beginning of science for the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We discuss the use of the ChemCam's laser to examine its first sample, and talk about how the rock felt about it through its Twitter account. We then discuss the next discovery-class mission NASA has in store for 2016, and it involves the red planet. We then discuss the X-51A's rece...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the hottest space topic of the last two weeks: the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity. We then discuss the Commercial Crew integrated Capability initiative and who's getting money, who isn't, and who we feel should or should not have received any funding for furthering work on commercial efforts to send humans into space. We...

On this episode of Talking Space, we welcome back rock star, author, and co-host of the Science Channel show "Meteorite Men" Geoff Notkin back onto the program. We discuss with Geoff his new memoir, "Rock Star: Adventures of a Meteorite Man." We talk specifically about his life decision of punk music or meteorites. We also discuss his writings from music to books, fiction to non-fiction. During th...

On this episode, we begin by taking a listener letter from Rich Way discussing the blueprints for the Saturn V rocket and it's components and whether the tale he tells us is fact or fiction. We then hand it over to Mark with an update from Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station, Dr. Tara Ruttley. We hear about the SpaceX docking, student science experiments, what's arrivin...

On this very special episode of Talking Space, we commemorate one year since the end of the Space Shuttle program, when Atlantis lifted off on July 8th, 2011 at 11:29am EDT on STS-135. The entire team of Talking Space covered the event live on Astronomy. FM that day, and we bring you some of our favorite moments from the broadcast. We also present some never-before-heard interviews, as well as our...

On this episode, we talk about China's second docking attempt, except this time manual, and discuss the future of the Chinese space program and how the United States might react. We then discuss updates on the Space Launch System (SLS) and talk about our opinions on NASA's next program. Of course, the important part of this episode is the second part of Mark Discovers Discovery: Extended Edition....

On thiis episode, we take one trip around the table. First, we discuss the recent successful launch of the Shenzhou-9, China's manned mission containing the first female "taikonaut" and the implications this has around the world. We then talk about the return of the US Air Force's X-37B and talk about some of the secrecy surrounding the ship. Lastly, we have another installment of "Mark Discovers...

On this episode of Talking Space, we spend our entire first round discussing the successful SpaceX COTS 2+ mission. We talk about the on-orbit operations that occured, the landing, and what role this will play in the future of commerical spaceflight. We also discuss a test performed by Sierra Nevada. On our second round, we talk about Houston's "Shuttlebration" as they received the mockup orbtier...

On this episode, we welcome back Scott Maxwell who works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory driving Mars rovers. We first discuss the Mars Exploration Rovers, or MERs, Spirit and Opportunity. We talk about the end of Spirit, what was done, and what it was like saying goodbye. We then talk about the milestones and records that Opportunity is reaching having been on Mars for just under 100 months...

On this special episode of Talking Space, Mark and Sawyer travel down to the Kennedy Space Center to cover the launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. Discussed in this episode is the events leading up to the first launch attempt, the scrub itself at T-0.5 seconds on the first attempt, and the reactions to the scrub. You'll also hear stories of some of the launch attendees as well a...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the busy week of launches including the first launch of the week, a manned Soyuz launch to the ISS, as well as the last of the week being SpaceX. We then move on to a large dose of space shuttle retirement news including the final power down of Endeavour, the de-mating of Enterprise from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, and the ways that the museums owning...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the reasons for another delay of the SpaceX launch to the International Space Station, now scheduled for May 19th. We then discuss the upcoming Soyuz launch carrying 3 new crew members to the ISS. After discussing a recent Atlas V launch, we talk about Planetary Resources, a company with some big-name backers who are planning to mine Near Earth Asteroid...

On this special episode of Talking Space, we take a look at the events surrounding the retirement of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the relocation of Enterprise. We begin with Mark's recounting of his week at the Kennedy Space Center and the events surrounding the preparation and departure of Discovery. We then get a brief look into Discovery's arrival at the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Internati...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the results of North Korea's attempt at launching a rocket into space and the repercussions of the results. We then talk about the opportunity for any member of the scientific community to submit a proposal for a Mars mission. On our second go-around, we talk about SpaceX's upcoming launch and a readiness review recently conducted, as well as touching u...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the mystery and concern surrounding the upcoming North Korean rocket launch. We then discuss the current situation of Plutonium-238 and if it's as bad as was reported or not. We then discuss some former NASA members becoming entrepreneurs. On our second go-around, we discuss a record that we almost tied for, but lost because of Pluto. We then talk about...

On this episode of Talking Space, we take a look at another CBS "60 Minutes" piece, except this time on the current condition of Florida's "Space Coast" after the end of the shuttle program. We then discuss some congressional hearings involving some commercial spaceflight. Following that we talk about sustaining a space to ground network. On our second go-around, we discuss the Express AM-4 satell...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the successful launches of ATV-3 to the International Space Station and the Intelsat 22 communications satellite. We then discuss the possibility and probability of whether China, with cooperation from ESA, become an ISS partner. We then move onto a news briefing for the International Space Station talking the next Expedition to the station, SpaceX upda...

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss a piece aired on the CBS program "60 Minutes" about SpaceX and discuss our thoguhts on that as well as getting test subjects into a seven-person crewed mockup of the Dragon capsule. We then discuss China's plan for a female astronaut, or taikonaut, and when they might fly. We then talk about the FAA's involvement with Virgin Galactic's activities in the...

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin with the announcement of NASA's prolonged dependcy on Russia's Soyuz rocket as well as some other NASA budgetary news. We then discuss the new Angry Birds: Space which is working in cooperation with NASA. We then discuss a satellite aimed at helping with the ozone layer as well as Earth's weather. On our second go-around, we discuss SpaceX's possible use...

On this episode of Talking Space, we begin with tests of SpaceX's Falcon 9 as well as NASA's Orion capsule. We then discuss some commerical spaceflight regulations regarding the FAA. On our second trip around the table, we discuss hackers getting into NASA's systems, what they accessed, and how it happened. We then discuss some NASA budgetary news with hearings currently going on surrounding the s...

On the second part of this episode of Talking Space, we continue our first interview of 2012 with LCROSS's flight software lead, a software engineer for Northrop Grumman, musician, and public speaker Emory Stagmer. We continue where the show left off with a story about SpaceUp and tribbles. We then discuss a little bit about Emory's music career and delve into the world of tech of years goneby, in...

On the first part of this episode of Talking Space, we conduct our first interview of 2012 with LCROSS's flight software lead, a software engineer for Northrop Grumman, musician, and public speaker Emory Stagmer. We discuss what his job entails as well as what he has done on past spacecrafts. We get into a unique story on how the LCROSS mission was almost lost. We also discuss the 50th anniversary...

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...