This Week in Space (Audio)

This week, we're talking to the authors of a new book about spaceflight called "Star Bound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program, from Goddard's Rockets to Goldilocks Planets and Everything in Between," Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III. Emily started the popular Facebook group Space Hipsters, now 66,000 members strong, and Bruce is a retired lawyer and space enthusiast who also happens to be the son of Bruce McCandless II, the NASA astronaut who flew on the shuttle and pioneered the use of the Manned Maneuvering Unit. We're going to cover a lot of territory in this one, so take your hand off the eject lever and strap in!

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Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guests: Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III

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2025 is the year that introduces the Great Lunar Armada! A small fleet of private and publicly-funded orbiters, landers, and rovers are heading off to explore Luna Incognita this year, and it will only speed up after that. We also look at the recent Starship test flight number seven—which ended in the total loss of the Starship upper stage—and the inaugural flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn mega-rocket, which flew successfully but did not manage to land on the recovery ship. Plus, our usual space dad joke and an update on the LA fires' impact on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and how you can help.

Headlines:
• SpaceX's Starship test flight experiences partial success with booster catch but an explosive ending for the upper stage
• Blue Origin successfully launches its New Glenn rocket, marking a major milestone for the company
• India demonstrates automated docking capability in space with the SPADEX mission, crucial for future lunar exploration plans
• Wildfires in Los Angeles cause extensive damage, impacting the community around NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Main Topic: The Great Lunar Armada
• Overview of recent lunar missions launched by private companies and national space agencies
• Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, carrying various scientific payloads, aims to study the lunar surface and test new technologies
• ispace's Hakuto-R mission, featuring a lunar lander and rover, will explore the moon and test in-situ resource utilization techniques
• Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander, equipped with a drill and other scientific instruments, targets the lunar south pole
• Retrospective on previous private lunar missions, including SpaceIL's Beresheet lander and the defunct Google Lunar XPrize
• China's steady progress in lunar exploration, with plans for the International Lunar Research Station in collaboration with Russia
• Russia's setbacks and reduced budget for lunar missions and the failed mission of Luna 25
• India's advancements in space technology and plans for a robotic lunar sample return mission
• The crew express excitement about the rapid pace of lunar exploration and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in the near future

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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Coming into 2025, we have six flights of SpaceX's Starship behind us, with a possibility for as many as 25 tests supported by the FAA license for this year. This is also the year we need to see an orbital test, payloads carried, orbital refueling, and hopefully catches of both the Booster and Ship, and progress toward an uncrewed test landing on the moon. So much to discuss, so join Tariq, Rod, and ace space reporter Leonard David as we deep dive into King Starship!

Headlines:
• Wildfires near NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, have displaced many employees and caused the facility to shut down temporarily, but the lab itself remains untouched.
• NASA is considering two options for the Mars Sample Return mission, both under $8 billion, with a launch planned by 2035-2039.
• Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society and former host of "Bill Nye the Science Guy," was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his dedication to science education and space exploration advocacy.

Main Topic - SpaceX Starship in 2025:
• SpaceX plans to ramp up Starship test flights in 2025, with up to 25 launches scheduled throughout the year.
• Starship test flight 7, scheduled for January 13th, will feature a new Starship design with enhanced flaps, a new flight computer, and other upgrades.
• The goal of Starship is to serve as a reusable, heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 100 people and 100 metric tons of cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• SpaceX is rapidly iterating on the Starship design, with stated plans to build new Starships in a single day and test new features on each flight.
• While Starship's development has been impressive, questions remain about its life support systems, radiation protection, and interior design for crewed missions.
• A discussion of the potential impact of Starship on NASA's Artemis program and the future of space exploration, including the possibility of using Starship as a space station or for Mars missions.
• The conversation also touches on the challenges facing NASA, including aging infrastructure and the need for greater collaboration with the private sector, as highlighted in a recent report by the National Academies.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Leonard David

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On episode 142 we're talking about 2025 in space! It's going to be an exciting year, kicking off with the first launch attempt for Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy booster and another test flight of Starship. Then we'll see a new asteroid sampling mission from China, the first test flight of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander to the moon, and the launch of the first-ever private robotic mission to Venus by Rocket Lab. There's a lot more in store, so be sure to join us for this jam-packed episode!

Headlines:
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes its closest, fastest, and hottest flyby of the Sun yet, flying through the corona and withstanding 1800°F temperatures
- Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket is finally on the pad with plans to launch in early January after many years of development
- China announces their crewed lunar lander and crew capsule are ready, raising concerns about a new space race to the Moon

2025 in Space:
- SpaceX aims for up to 25 Starship launches—and landings—in 2025 if they can secure FAA approval, with flight 7 featuring Starlink satellite deployment tests coming within weeks
- Jared Isaacman, billionaire and private space mission funder, expected to be nominated as the new NASA administrator under the incoming Trump administration
- Several commercial and international robotic missions to the Moon are planned, some of which will help fill the void left by NASA's canceled VIPER rover
- The future of NASA's expensive and long-delayed Mars sample return mission is in question as China aims to complete its own by 2027
- Colorado and Alabama are vying to be the home of U.S. Space Command as it potentially reorganizes under the new administration
- Vast Space aims to be the first to launch a private space station module in 2025 without NASA funding, providing a potential ISS replacement
- The European Space Agency's Space Rider, a reusable robotic space transportation system, set to launch in 2025 for various orbital experiments and satellite deployment/retrieval
- China's ambitious Tianwen-2 mission to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and visit a main-belt comet in the 2030s launches this year
- Japan's Destiny+ mission will visit asteroid Phaethon, the source of the Geminid meteor showers, propelled by novel ion engines
- Rocket Lab plans to launch a small, privately financed probe to Venus to look for signs of life and organic molecules in the atmosphere

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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It's the holidays! This week, we are joined by producer Anthony and our old pal Ant Pruitt to celebrate and discuss a wide variety of topics, from first space memories to our favorite space toys to what spaceflight means to each of us. It's a warm "family reunion" you won't want to miss! Join us for some holiday cheer, and Tariq's "Tiny Tim" moment...

Headlines:
• NASA's Parker Solar Probe to make its closest approach to the sun on Christmas Eve 2024, flying within 3.8 million miles and withstanding temperatures up to 2,500°F to study the sun's behavior and dynamics
• Christmas and Hanukkah to be celebrated on the same day in 2024, with astronauts on the ISS enjoying the holidays and connecting with their families on Earth, continuing a 50-plus year tradition
• A potential partial shutdown is looming for the U.S. government, which could impact NASA and limit public outreach during the Parker Solar Probe's close approach to the sun

Main Topic - Space Memories and Space Toys:
First Space Memories:
• Tariq recalls building paper rockets with his mother and launching them on a friend's farm
• Ant shares his first space memories from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and the Challenger disaster
• Anthony mentions playing with Lego space sets sent by his aunt from Denmark
• Rod remembers listening to a Gemini mission on the radio at the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra lounge where his father worked and being captivated by Apollo 8's mission to orbit the moon and reading of Genesis on December 24, 1968

Favorite Space Toys:
• Rod shares memories of his ca. 1965 Big Loo Moon Robot and Major Matt Mason action figures, discussing the evolution of space toys in the 1960s
• Tariq reminisces about his Transformers Omega Supreme toy and a paper tab and slot space shuttle and carrier aircraft model
• Ant recalls his Transformers Skywarp toy and the appeal of its counterpart, Thundercracker
• Anthony talks about playing the video game Escape Velocity on his family's iMac computer
• The group discusses the joys and challenges of building model rockets, with Rod and Tariq sharing stories of their experiences
• Tariq shows off his new pre-built Estes space shuttle model rocket, comparing it to the more challenging build-it-yourself kits

The Importance of Space Exploration:
• Ant questions the allocation of resources for space exploration while critical issues on Earth remain unaddressed
• Rod counters by highlighting the technological, educational, and inspirational benefits of space programs, as well as the economic returns on investment, and the cultural importance of exploration
• The group discusses the potential impact of SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation on global connectivity and the debate surrounding its sustainability and alternatives
• Rod emphasizes the distinction between Elon Musk's ambitious Mars colonization plans and NASA's more measured approach to exploration
• The TWiS crew wishes everyone a happy holiday and Merry Christmas

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guests: Ant Pruitt and Anthony Nielsen

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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Many of us flew model rockets as young people, but USC Rocket Propulsion Lab takes amateur rocketry to a whole new level--in this case, 470,000 feet! Meet Dr. Dan Erwin and student Ryan Kraemer, who, along with a very talented team of other undergrads, built and flew Aftershock II, a 14-foot, 330-pound "amateur" rocket that flew out of the Nevada desert and into the record books. It's a fun episode that will leave you wishing that your university had a club that was half this cool!

Headlines:
• Mars Ingenuity helicopter lives on after a hard landing, and may last another 20 years as a weather station and fixed camera
• Geminid meteor shower peaks this weekend, but the full moon may wash out fainter meteors
• NASA releases Moon to Mars architecture review with 12 new white papers covering various needs and capabilities for lunar and Mars missions
• Mysterious drones continue to be spotted over New Jersey and other parts of the U.S., with no clear explanation

Main Topic - USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory:
• Dr. Daniel Erwin discusses the lab's founding in 2004 by student Ian Whittinghill, with the goal of being the first student group to reach space
• The lab's rockets have evolved over 20 years, with their current vehicle, Aftershock II, reaching an altitude of 470,000 feet (90 miles) and breaking the 20-year-old amateur rocketry record
• Ryan Kraemer explains how their rockets differ from amateur rockets, with a focus on continuity and optimization of design over the years
• The lab formulates its own solid propellant, which is mixed and cast under professional supervision due to safety concerns
• Discussing the bureaucratic requirements for high-altitude launches, including FAA permits and Bureau of Land Management approvals
• The lab's plans for the future include further optimizing rocket performance, developing smaller rockets capable of reaching space, and offering payload slots for scientific research
• Dr. Erwin emphasizes the valuable hands-on experience students gain through the lab, making them highly sought after by the aerospace industry
• Ryan Kraemer shares his personal journey and passion for rocketry, leading to his upcoming job at SpaceX
• The hosts and guests discuss the thrilling atmosphere surrounding the record-breaking launch and the dedication of the student team
• The show concludes with information on how to support the USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory and get involved as a student or donor.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guests: Dr. Dan Erwin and Ryan Kraemer

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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This week, we're covering a broad swath, from President-Elect Trump's shocking choice for NASA Administrator to new delays for the Artemis lunar program to UFOs/UAPs! And for such an adventure, we turn to Leonard David, the most seasoned space reporter and journalist out there. Trump's pick for NASA, billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, came as a surprise to space watchers, and his name was not just missing from the shortlist but from *any* list making the rounds. However, he is widely supported and should bring renewed energy to the space agency. Then, after discussing yesterday's NASA press conference about Artemis--in which more delays were announced (no surprise to any of us)--we talk to Leonard about recent disclosures about UFO/UAP government records and the overall consideration of why people think they walk among us (and if they do, Musk is probably one of them).

Headlines:

• Jared Isaacman Nominated as NASA Administrator
• Artemis II Mission Delayed, Artismis III mission pushed to mid-2027.
• And Tariq defends his creative choice of words to compare different sizes of asteroids.

Main Topic: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)

• Shift from UFO to UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena)
• Discussion about potential alien visitation
• Concerns about public perception and societal impacts
• Need for more rigorous scientific approach to UAP research
• Calls for NASA and National Science Foundation funding
• Skepticism about current congressional hearings and government disclosure
• Potential for document declassification under the incoming Trump administration.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Leonard David

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On this week's episode, Tariq and I speak with Scott Tibbitts, a dynamic and engaging space entrepreneur who spun $7 of hardware store parts into a 150-person, multimillion-dollar space company making tech for NASA that allowed deep space probes, starting with the Cassini mission to Saturn, to operate in the harsh environment of the outer solar system. Scott's tiny actuator replaced expensive, failure-prone explosive squibs with a device that could be tested (you can't really test something that goes *bang*), cycled, and tried again if it didn't work the first time. And it all started with his work at a water heater company and a few dozen cold calls that ended with one to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. There's much more to this story--including some intriguing advice for entrepreneurs--but you'll have to tune in to learn more! See you there.

Get "From the Garage to Mars" (Amazon Affiliate): https://amzn.to/3CPUgVw

Headlines:
• SpaceX successfully launches Starship test flight number six, despite not catching the Super Heavy booster
• The FAA releases a new draft environmental assessment, potentially allowing SpaceX to increase Starship launches to 25 per year
• Blue Origin completes its ninth crewed spaceflight with the NS-28 mission, carrying the 100th woman to fly to space

Main Topic - From the Garage to Mars with Scott Tibbitts:
• Tibbitts discusses his background and the role of fun and human connection in his life and work
• The origin story of Tibbitts' space company, Starsys, which began with a $7 invention using a copper tube and wax
• Tibbitts' cold call to NASA/JPL that led to the company's first contract and the development of a novel, non-explosive actuator for spacecraft
• The importance of testing and demonstrating the reliability of space hardware, as exemplified by Starsys' record of 3,500 devices in space with zero failures
• Tibbitts' experience fostering a unique company culture at Starsys, balancing the need for reliability with a focus on fun, family, and celebrating both successes and failures
• The role of intuition and "gut feelings" in entrepreneurship and how Tibbitts has learned to trust and follow these intuitive nudges
• The challenges faced by modern space startups, including the pressure from venture capital investors and the difficulty of hiring experienced space talent
• Tibbitts' advice for entrepreneurs: focus on customer discovery and product discovery, and "stop doing what you suck at" by focusing on your strengths and finding partners to complement your weaknesses

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Scott Tibbitts

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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Kepler's Legacy With Dr. Jason Steffen

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Jason Steffen

For full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/137

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us!

Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s

Headlines:
- The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech.
- SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company.
- NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations.

Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant:
- The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles.
- SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind.
- The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available.
- SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate.
- Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars.
- The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Eric Berger

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