The Space Above Us

This week we've got classified satellites, alarming heat shield damage, and another Mike is out of his seat!

The Space Shuttle is flying again with STS-26! Let's see if we can figure out how to fold some chairs.

We take a quick break from the main narrative to take a look around at a few things that happened during the shuttle's lengthy hiatus.

In this lengthy supplemental, we listen to Allan McDonald's testimony in front of the Rogers Commission on February 25th, 1986. This is a long episode, so just a friendly reminder that supplementals are considered optional!

We conclude our coverage of the Challenger accident by digging into why it was able to happen.

We look at what physically happened on STS-51L and try to answer some questions.

Before we deal with the tragic loss of Space Shuttle Challenger, we take a moment to learn about the remarkable mission that should have been.

Columbia is back after a long stint in the shop, but there seems to be some trouble getting off the launchpad.

Atlantis is back already with a bunch of satellites and an investigation into on-orbit construction of large structures.

In this supplemental we'll listen to the actual mission audio as Apollo 13's oxygen tank explodes. We'll hear mission control discuss stirring the tanks, Gene Kranz quickly mention the LM lifeboat concept, and several famous utterances from spaceflight history.

Spacelab is back with a flight sponsored by West Germany! I apologize in advance to any German-speaking listeners who have to endure my pronunciation.

With the addition of OV-104 Atlantis, the Space Shuttle fleet is complete. To celebrate, let's do another classified mission that we know almost nothing about. Also, The Space Above Us reveals some exciting news!

The crew of STS-51I had an unusual satellite repair mission on the flight plan. They better make sure they're well rested.

Challenger makes history on a one of a kind mission. Who knew turning a rotary dial could be so dramatic?

We've got a lot going on for the fifth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. Commsats, lasers, something about a star war, and did that guy say he was a prince?

It's been a long wait, well, for some of us, but STS-51B is here! Spacelab is operational and has a whole bunch of science to do. But how are we going to get the monkeys into the payload bay?

We've got a full orbiter for this flight! Seven crew members, two commsats, a bunch of toys, and plenty of duct tape and cardboard.

We're back to our usual schedule! And what better way to return from an unexpected break than a mission about which we know almost nothing? This week, STS-51C: the shuttle's first classified mission.

No new episode this week because I got appendicitis and need to recover from my appendectomy. Sorry! New episode in two weeks. 

STS-41B left some unfinished business in low earth orbit in the form of a couple of stranded communications satellites. On STS-51A, we're gonna go get 'em.

Challenger's back on the launch pad with the biggest crew we've seen yet, but something seems to be wrong with the Ku-band antenna. I hope you're ready for some orbiter attitude gymnastics!

Space Shuttle Discovery joins the cast, and makes a dramatic entrance.

The Solar Maximum Mission is in trouble, and only the crew of STS-41C can save it. Join us for the shuttle's first on-orbit repair of an uncrewed satellite!

STS-41B (wait, what happened to STS-10?) runs into a few bumps in the road, but clears the road for the next mission and comes home with some pretty spiffy photos.

John Young flies for one last time, carrying a payload bay full of science. Wait, does someone hear a sizzling sound coming from the engine compartment?