Talking Space

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the next Mars rover, set to launch in 2020. We then discuss the failure of a Russian booster...again. We then discuss light bulbs in space. On the second trip around the table, we discuss the Russian launch site in Kazakhstan, Baikonour, and how it may go back to Kazakh control. We then discuss the launch of the US Military's ecret X-37B space plane. We then discuss a special beacon. On our final trip around the table, we take a trip of a world of "fantasy". We discuss a petition to te US government to build a death star. We then discuss the "Golden Spike" project, which hopes to get humans to the moon by 2020. We finally discuss Mark Kelly's fabulous children's book, "Mousetronaut". To view the website for the beacon at Mount Diablo, visit http://savemoutdiablo.org To view the petition to increase NASA's budget, visit http://wh.gov/NITC Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 12/10/2012

On this epside of Talking Space, we talk about the "earth-shattering" discovery made by Curiosity that rumors had been circulating around before the announcement. We then talk about Voyager 1 reaching a new part of the solar system. We then discuss an update on Orion, including some cracks and how "made in America" it is. On our second trip around the table, we discuss an interesting discussion on NPR involving Chuck Yeager. We then discuss some big news about Reaction Engines. Then, we discuss a free e-book NASA has made available. On our final trip around the table, we discuss Atlantis being angled in preparation for its display and the crew that will be staying aboard the ISS for 1 full year. Lastly, we then discuss the discovery of water on Mercury and if it really is a big deal or not. To hear the NPR segment mentioned in the episode, visit http://sciencefriday.com/segment/11/30/2012/scifri-book-club-has-the-right-stuff.html To download "Earth as Art" the free NASA e-book, visit http://www.nasa.gov/con

On this episode of Talking Space, the smaller-than-usual crew takes on the red planet, looking at news that some say will be groundbreaking while others say it's no big deal. We then discuss Curiosity checking in on FourSquare and some unique wind patterns it picked up. On our second trip around the table, we discuss some SpaceX failures you might not have heard about. We then talk about a NASA spinoff that won't make you hurl and a video game character detected by Cassini. On our third trip around the table, we discuss the new home for NASA 905. We also discuss a retiring former astronaut who we interviewed on Episode 309 and the tale of how our website stayed up during Hurricane Sandy. We add in a last minute story on some unlikely space-related candidates for Time's Person of the Year People's Choice vote. To vote for MSL, the Higgs-Boson, or Felix Baumgartner, visithttp://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2128881_2128882,00.html. Voting ends December 12th at 11:59pm EST. Host this week

On this special episode, we talk to NASA's Social Media Manager John Yembrick and NASA's Deputy Social Media Manager Jason Townsend. We discuss the origins of the former NASA Tweetup now called NASASocial and the impact it has had on those who both planned it and those who participated. We also discuss NASA's trend-setting power and how they have become the top governmental social media agency. We then also discuss the topic we've been discussing on this show over the past month, and their view on traditional vs. social media after the SpaceX CRS-1 Social where participants were given the same access as members of the media. Learn all about @NASA's (and the other 500 Twitter accounts) inner workings and everything you wanted to know about NASA Socials. For information on NASASocial events, visit http://www.nasa.gov/social You can personally follow John: @yembrick and Jason: @jtowns Special thanks to our guest panelist Shannon Moore. Find her on Twitter as @ageekmom and visit her Wiki dedicated to NASA Twee

On this episode of Talking Space, we return after recovering from Hurricane Sandy. However, a piece of space history was impacted by the storm as the dome which houses the space shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum collapsed. Listen to find out why it came down. Next, we discuss SpaceX's successful test flight of Dragon's "grasshopper" and get into a discussion about why they are having an entirely reusable booster for future Falcon rockets. Lastly and most importantly, we discuss the official end of the space shuttle program and experience the excitement and emotion of the ceremonies through the recordings and stories of our own Mark Ratterman. Hear from former astronauts who flew Atlantis, including NASA administrator Charlie Bolden. To help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to automatically donate $10 or you can go to http://redcross.org to donate any amount. [An image was inserted here. To view it, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com] Host this

We interview Reaction Engines LTD Mark Hempsell about the SABRE (Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine). This is a breakthrough rocket engine in aerospace technology that can operate in both air-breathing and rocket modes. Join us as we talk about the SABRE rocket engine, the Skylon Spaceplane (runway to orbit) and LAPCAT (Mach 5 cruise Brussels to Sydney in 4.6 hours). Plan on spending some time looking over the Reaction Engines web site for an extensive download list of images, video's and technical documents. http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/index.html https://twitter.com/ReactionEngines Host this week: Gene Mikulka, Panel Member: Mark Ratterman Show Recorded 10/17/2012

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the journey of Endeavour from Los Angeles International Airport through the narrow streets to its new home at the California Science Center. The shuttle got in later than expected, and we explain why. We then discuss the Red Bull Stratos jump, where Felix Baumgartner jumped from 24 miles to a safe landing on Earth, breaking some pretty impressive world records and almost not surviving. Lastly, we discuss the Dragon docking to the ISS, the failure of the Orbcomm payload which hitched a ride on the Falcon 9, and then we get into interviews. Mark sits down with many members of the CRS-1 NASA Social and get their opinion on the debate brought up last week of social media versus traditional media. Special thanks to the following for their interviews. You can click on a Twitter username to follow them. *Note, these are in order of how they appeared on the show: Adam Kostecki @AIAspeaks Manya Susoev @ManyaS Kara Haas @greenposgirl Emily Carney @emilyc1978 Stacey Se

On this episode of Talking Space, we cover the successful launch of the Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon capsule on the 1st commercial operational resupply mission to the ISS. All appeared to go well with the exception of an engine anomaly about 79 seconds into flight. Listen to find out what it is. We then get into a lengthy discussion of "traditional media" versus social media, which came about after NASA allowed NASA Social participants equal access to events and interviews as the press for launch. One panelist is not too happy about this. As an update, after the recording date, Dragon was successfully berthed to the station on Wednesday, October 10th. We want to hear your opinion on the idea of NASA Social participants getting the same access as media! Send us your thoughts as a text or .mp3 file to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can tweet it to us as@talkingspace or post it on our Facebook page as well at facebook.com/talkingspace Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the arrival of Endeavour in Los Angeles as well as her arrival and some of her celebrity onlookers. We then discuss the upcoming SpaceX launch to the ISS, their first operational flight, and talk about our thoughts on if it'll fly on it's first attempt. We then also talk about Orbital's Cygnus capsule and their rocket rolling out to the pad at Wallops Island. To finish off trip one of two around the table, we discuss a high-altitude jump being taken from the edges of space, what's involved, and some of the details behind the Red Bull Stratos world record jump attempt. On our second trip around the table, Mark has a very special interview with space.com's Clara Moskowitz about the 100 Year Starship Symposium and some of the challenges associated with a long duration flight into the depths of space. For more on the 100 Year Starship Symposium, visit http://symposium.100yss.org/about-100yss For some of Clara's stories on the convention as well as other topics, searc

On this episode of Talking Space we talk with Carl Carruthers about how to get your science project on the International Space Station. Starting in 1998 Carl has navigated the complex process to have his research fly in space. Now he wants to share how much easier it is with resources currently available through NASA, CASIS, Implementation Partners and others. Download this show to keep as a resource for the day when someone says "I wish I could get my experiment in orbit". We hear about several previous of Carl's previous projects that flew on shuttle and his upcoming project that will fly to the ISS via SpaceX Dragon capsule early in 2013. We also talk about crew health in space & early detection of osteoporosis (EDOS) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/EDOS.html Carl mentions searching for more information about bisphosphonates in microgravity - so go ahead and search that term and learn more. Check out the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education at http://nc

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss the recent return of both the Soyuz TMA-04M carrying a crew of 3 and the "return" of JAXA's HTV-3. We then discuss a race against the ISS, and it's not as impossible as it seems. We then discuss a delay with the next Soyuz, the TMA-06M and the reliability of the vehicle. On our second trip around the table, we discuss the delay of the departure of Endeavour and a brief look at each of the exhibits. We then discuss a very patriotic set of waypoints in the Washington DC area. We then discuss some budgetary woes to end the second trip around the table and to begin the third. We then move on to the winners experiments in the YouTube Space Lab contest being flown and performed onboard the ISS. Finally, we look at the memorial ceremony for Neil Armstrong held at the National Cathedral. For more on Racin' the Station, visit http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?fEID=13750 To view the map with the aviation waypoints, visit the White House blog at http://www.w

On this episode of Talking Space, we discuss preparations being made for the departure of Endeavour for the California Science Center, the final shuttle to fly aboard the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. We also talk about some concerns the residents of Los Angeles are expressing regarding preparations. We then discuss the recently announced reasons for the allocation of funds for NASA's CCiCap program and the concerns the agency has with some of the proposed designs. On our second trip around the table, we discuss a MacGyver-esque repair aboard the ISS that involves using a toothbrush on a spacewalk. We then move on to some impressive research being done by NASA employees. We then discuss India's recent launch and the impact this is having on the launch market as well as the morale of the US. Finally, we use our last trip around the table to answer some listener letters ranging from Neil Armstrong to what defines a legend. As well, Talking Space celebrates its 3 year anniversary with the release of our first episo

On this special episode of Talking Space, we remember the life of Neil Armstrong, who passed away August 25th at the age of 82. We remember his accomplishments, his close-encounters, his views on our space program past and present, and we hear about how he helped Sawyer get a job. We then discuss Curiosity and how the rover has taken its first drive on the surface of Mars and how that went. Lastly, we discuss more about the case of the Saturn V blueprints with 2 listener letters. Thanks again to Rich and Evan for sending us your follow-up letters. You can send in any questions or comments on any story as text or as a short .mp3 by email tomailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can also tweet it to us on Twitter as @talkingspace or write it on our Facebook wall at facebook.com/talkingspace. Click here to view the program "The Bottom Line" and their complete interview with Neil Armstrong. To see a list of all of the charities in which the Armstrong family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers, visit http:/

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 recent test flight and how soon we can see 1 hour flights from New York to London. We then continue discussing the end of an era as Endeavour and Atlantis meet nose-to-nose for the last time as they each prepare to go their separate ways later this year. We then discuss the recent spacewalk performed on the ISS and another upcoming EVA this month. Lastly, we hopefully put an end to the much-talked-about Saturn V blueprint topic as we receive an email from listener Donald. Thank you Donald for sending in your email! To read the tweets of the rock Coronation on Mars, follow @N165Mars To view the article discussed in the

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 then go from the success of Mars to a couple of recent failures. We discuss the recent Proton upper stage failure, which has now been the cause of 3 satellites entering incorrect orbits in 1 year. We also discuss the major explosion of the Morpheus test vehicle. We then discuss the newest head of the astronaut office and what that title actually is. We then discuss a new website offering an interesting look at NASA spinoffs. Lastly, we read a listener letter discussing the much-talked-about subject on our show of the location of Saturn V blueprints. Special thanks to Evan Burton for sending us a listener letter. Yo

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 this conversation we discuss the question of whether art should be added to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. We then talk about the recent successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity, and the future implications of the mission on Mars exploration and more. We then discuss meteorites, from hunting locations to speaking events. Finally we talk about the "rock star" aspect and his reaction to meeting fans. For more on the TV show and to buy either of Geoff's books, visit http://meteoritemen.com To contact Geoff or to purchase meteorites, visit http://aerolite.or

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 arriving on the next supply ship, and how station science is helping us back on the planet. Thanks again to Rich for sending in your comment. You can send us your questions or comments that you'd like to hear discussed on air as a text email or a .mp3 by sending it tomailbag@talkingspaceonline.com For more on ISS research, visit http://www.nasa.gov/iss-science For more on CASIS (Center for the Advancent of Science in Space), visit http://www.iss-casis.org/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman with special guest Dr. Tara Ruttley Show Recorded - 7/9/2012

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 thoughts on them. We also talk about our best memories from the days leading up to and including launch, compare previous launches, and talk about what one year means to us. Interviews in this show include STS-130 Pilot Terry Virts; STS-73, 93, and Expedition 26/27 Veteran Cady Coleman; STS-74, 100 veteran and future Expedition 34/35 commander Chris Hadfield; Space Suit Technicians Heather Paul and Mallory Jennings; and tweeters/listeners: Tina Canali, Jack Dearlove, Karen James, and Geoff Bergen To see images and read blogs from launch day, visit http://talkingspaceonline.com/135 To listen to the nearly 3 hour la

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. This time, we hear from some of the astronauts from Discovery's final flight, STS-133. Lastly, we get a listener question from Mark Zaugg on the gap between the Apollo and Shuttle program, as well as the significance of Mark's interviews. Thanks to Mark Z. for sending in his audio question. You can send your question in text form or as a .mp3 to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com and we may answer it on the air! Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/25/2012 with additional recordings on 6/27/2012

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 Discovery" from Marks trip to the Kennedy Space Center to cover the departure of Discovery to the Smithsonian. In part 1 of Mark's 2 part extravaganza loaded with clips, we hear from members who worked on the shuttle and/or its retirement: Bart Panullo, Dorothy Rasco, Kevin Templin, and Stephanie Stilson. We also hear from STS-133 astronaut Dr. Michael Barratt. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/18/2012