Talking Space

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 interesting articles posted regarding NASAs budget. We finish off our main topics with the attempts to salvage the Russian mission Phobos-Grunt. In our Talking Space Mad Minute, we talk about the Twitter account @KillerCuriosity, a new location for a space shuttle simulator, the official hand-over of space shuttle Enterprise's title, ice in Florida, and some interesting facts about Plutonium. A photo was inserted here. To view it, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 11/28/2011

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 something important, many other important items are cut. We finish off our main topics with YouTube's Space Lab, where students ages 14-18 can devise an experiment which could be performed onboard the ISS. The two winning submissions will actually be flown into space and flown aboard the space station. On our newest segment, where we round up stories we couldn't cover in depth, we mention the congressional medal  handed out to some space heroes, a NASA facility which is not only a great place to work, but safe, an extended Mercury mission, a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Neutral Buoy

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 Soyuz on November 6th, 2011 at 11:14pm EST carrying 3 astronauts to the International Space Station, we talk about the era of Soyuz and what this means for the United States and talk about where we'll go in the future. We move on to the failed Phobos-Grunt mission launched by Russia and discuss that as well as its future as space debris and if Earthlings need to break out their crash helmets. We then talk about Miles' trip to earthquake-ravaged Japan and takes a look at how it is now for PBS. For more on Miles, feel free to check out his website: http://milesobrien.com You can also check out some of his clips on his Y

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 successful launch of China's Shenzhou-8 to dock with the already orbiting Tiangong 1. We discuss what this means for China's future as well as an attempted hacking of a US satellite and China's denial. We then move on to a discussion about an article written by Robert Zubrin about a review of NASA's planetary missions and our opinion on the possible cancellations of such missions as Voyager 1 and 2, the Mars rovers, and more. We finish off with NASA's underwater mission, NEEMO 15, as well as Elon Musk possibly dropping out of his attempts to dock to the ISS due to a format change. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. P

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 Integration Manager Mike Moses, who will be leaving NASA to join Virgin Galactic. We also discuss the second drop test of Space Ship 2, which did not go as smooth as expected. We then get into a deep discussion of the next proposed NASA budget and some intersting areas which are being affected by the budget and others that aren't. We then talk about a possible 2013 abort test of the Orion capsule as well as a 2012 drop test of Sierra Nevada's Dreamchaser. We then continue with another satellite coming in for a reentry similar to UARS, except this time it's ROSAT. We finish off our discussions with the Soyuz getting NASA's ok

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 a piece of their planetarium which had flown in space. We then discuss Boeing's desire to use the US military X-37 B for commercial purposes. We move on, afterwards, to a discussion about the possibility of Europe becoming involved with the design for the service module of the Orion/Space Launch System. Lastly, we discuss Mark Kelly's retirement from the Navy and the special guest who was their to participate in the event. For more information on Clara Moskowitz, follow her on Twitter as @claramoskowitz and be sure to read hear articles on Space.com. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy,

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, as well as a minor mishap that occured on a video which China released. We then move on to an announcement by SpaceX's Elon Musk about the reusability of the Falcon rocket as demonstrated in the video released by the company, available on our website http://talkingspaceonline.com. Lastly, we discuss an announcement regarding the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum moving the planned location for the space shuttle Enterprise and discuss a bill proposed to remove the shuttle from New York and deliver one to Texas. To learn more about the 100 Year Star Ship Symposium, please visit: http://100yss.org Host this week:

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 American astroanuts to an unspecified destination. We then discuss the role of commercial companies and the possibilities that it may hold and if it can be viable. We then finish off with Wallops Space Flight Center possibly having manned launches and the implications at the Kennedy Space Center, as well as preview Mark's far-out upcoming trip and Mr. Morring's thoughts on it. Be sure to check out Frank Morring and all of the other amazing staff members at Aviation Week by visiting their website: http://aviationweek.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman

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, and that is the Space Launch System (SLS) scheduled for completion in 2017. We discuss the composition of the vehicle as well as the actual announcement itself. We then discuss our opinions on the vehicle and if we think it's going to fly. We them move on to ATK's new commercial rocket as well as an update on the UARS satellite scheduled to make a fiery return to Earth sometime this week. We then mention a discovery by the spacecraft Keppler of a Tatooine-type planet from Star Wars. Lastly, we mention that last week our show celebrated its 2 year anniversary and we reflect on where we've come, who's helped us, and whe

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 communications and weather satellites, and yes piloted spacecraft and orbiting manned platforms like the International Space Station. A report issued last week by the National Research Council indicated that the orbital debris problem may have reached a tipping point where collisions of decommissioned satellites, empty boosters and smaller pieces will continually collied with each other. The result:more debris in low earth orbit causing the problem to get worse. This may prevent future utilization of low earth orbit, and cause a threat to orbiting satellites and yes the International Space Station. To talk about this prob

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 vehicle engineer for United Space Alliance. We then move on to the failure of a Progress 44 resupply ship launched aboard a Soyuz and how it may leave the International Space Station unmanned. We move onto the topic of space debris including the UARS satellite scheduled to crash back to Earth at an unknown location. We then discuss some stunning shots of the lunar landing sites taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, LRO. We finish off with pieces of metal on Spirit and Opportunity which were once a part of the World Trade Center towers which were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Two images we

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 that we discuss a DARPA aircraft which prematurely performed a nosedive into the Pacific Ocean and the impact of this crash. We continue on to a shuttle shuffle where Discovery and Endeavour swapped places and ended up meeting nose-to-nose. We finish off with a surprise discussion regarding the Space Launch System (SLS) and it's new completion date of 2032. Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 8/14/2011

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 which could possibly be flowing water on the surface of the red planet. We then move on to the return of the PBS series "Cosmos" and its new host and its new major network, Fox. We end with a reminder to check out the Perseid meteor shower and then read one of the most amazing poems written by a former space shuttle worker titled "Empty Sky". Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Todd Cecilio Show Recorded - 8/7/2011

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 spacecrafts, radiation belts, and the amazing size of the solar panels being used on board. This is one where you will come away amazed and well-educated on our solar system's largest planet. For more information on Juno as heard in the show, visit: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(spacecraft) The Southwest Research Institute's (SwRI) Juno website: http://missionjuno.swri.edu/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest Dr. David McComas Show Recorded - 7/29/2011

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 now be riding on. We end with a special interview we conducted during our STS-134 live broadcast in May of 2011 with Bill Moore and Andrea Farmer of the Kennedy Space Center and how they will be showcasing Atlantis when she is ready for display. Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 7/24/2011

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 from 10:30am EDT to 1pm EDT on July 8, 2011. This episode is being posted on the date of the final shuttle landing. The launch which you will here was the final space shuttle launch, ending a 30 year legacy, and is broken up into three parts. Part 3: In this segment, our final and longest segment, we discuss with the people who were there what launch felt like. We ask the questions of the people who witnessed it whether it be for the first time or the fifth. We also have two very special conversations with the team developing future space suits as well as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Chris Hadfield, who wil

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 from 10:30am EDT to 1pm EDT on July 8, 2011. This episode is being posted on the date of the final shuttle landing. The launch which you will here was the final space shuttle launch, ending a 30 year legacy, and is broken up into three parts. Part 2: In this segment, we welcomed in our affiliate radio stations tuning in to us throughout the world. It begins right after the poll conducted by the launch team at the Kennedy Space Center giving Atlantis the "go" for launch. We then proceed through the countdown, all the way to a glitch at T-31 seconds. After a quick resolution, you hear the launch in all of its glory. T

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 from 10:30am EDT to 1pm EDT on July 8, 2011. This episode is being posted on the date of the final shuttle landing. The launch which you will here was the final space shuttle launch, ending a 30 year legacy, and is broken up into three parts. Part 1: In this segment, we introduce the team and the mission at hand. We discuss the crew as well as the goal of the originally-scheduled 12 day mission. We discuss payload to the future of NASA, to the weather predictions which were not in our favor. Host: Sawyer Rosenstein. Live Stream Host: Michael Foerester Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman. S

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 more about Dawn, you can follow them on Twitter as @NASA_Dawn. Afterwards, we move onto the possible cancellation of the James Webb Space Telescope. Finally, we move on to an interview with Elmo conducted by Gina and Sawyer on launch day. Below is the video of the interview. If you are unable to view it, you can go direct to the original hosting of the video on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/26359611 Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 7/17/2011

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 of manned spaceflight as well as some funny stories of the training for this mission. Also, check out some pictures still being posted on our blog at http://talkingspaceonline.com/135. And don't forget, a full show on our amazing adventures for this launch will be coming up in the very near future! NOTE: We couldn't complete this episode without thanking everybody who helped to make our live broadcast of the launch a complete success, especially those at the website http://astronomy.fm who hosted us and lent us their servers for this historic event. A copy of the broadcast will be available shortly on our website.