Talking Space

After the long delay, which we apologize for, we are back! On this show, we begin by discussing the recent success of the Deep Impact spacecraft on its EPOXI mission where it had its closest encounter ever with Comet Hartley 2. From there we move on to our discussion about Discovery's final flight: STS-133. Although we haven't been able to bring you our live launch coverage, we still have some great clips for you as well as discussions about the mission itself, the crew, the payload, and more. Special thanks to Mark Ratterman, Gina Herlihy, and CraftLass for being down at the Kennedy Space Center and getting the interviews and clips for us. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest CraftLass Show Recorded - 11/8/2010

On this very special episode, we invite on special guest Mike Mullane: Air Force Colonel, veteran of 3 space shuttle flights, and author of Do Your Ears Pop in Space and 500 Other Surprising Questions about Space Travel as well as his astronaut memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. We discuss the details his memoir as well as his personal experiences in space flight. We also discuss the fact in which Col. Mullane few aboard STS-41 D, the maiden voyage of the space shuttle Discovery as we approach STS-133-her final fight. This is an episode not to be missed! To purchase Mike Mullane's books on Amazon, Do Your Ears Pop in Space and 500 Other Surprising Questions about Space Travel and Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, click on the title of the book and it will redirect you in a new window. [Note, links are attached here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com] For more information on Mike Mullane, visit his website: http:/

On this episode, the whole team of four is back in action. First, we discuss Mark's visit to the Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (ARF) for the final mating of the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters for STS-134 scheduled for launch in February 2011. Many former members as well as astronauts were there for the occasion and we have audio clips from them, as well as the team's reaction. We also discuss the passing of NASA's budget. However, it's not appropriated yet, so it is still unofficial. We discuss our reactions to what is actually in the budget. We then move on to the finding of a "Goldilocks Zone" planet possibly able to harbor life. As well, we wish NASA a happy 52nd birthday and congratulate our good friend Miles O'Brien on his new job as the science correspondent for the PBS News Hour. Please note: The outro music is copyright Thin Lizzy and Vertigo Records. Talking Space is in no way associated with Vertigo Records and the audio clip is used under Fair Use. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstei

Mark Ratterman attended the final roll out of Orbiter Vehicle 103, known as the Space Shuttle Discovery and describes his experiences while at the Kennedy Space Center. He also had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Stilson, NASA Flow Director overseeing Discovery's processing operations, a duty she has had since December 2000. Mark also attended the arrival of Space Shuttle External Tank Number 122 and helps to tell it's interesting story. Other items discussed include the change of command on board the International Space Sation, The return home of Expedition 24, JAXA having issues selling space on the it's KIBO module on board the ISS, ESA and SpaceX announcing delays, The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter taking a nap, and the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity turning into a Meteorite Hunter! Two pictures were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Host this week: Gene Mikulka Panel Member: Mark Ratterman.

On this special episode, Gene sits down with Mark to discuss his recent expedition to the Kennedy Space Center for the arrival of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 2 (AMS02). Mark discusses its purpose aboard the ISS as well as talks with some of the members of the AMS02 team and the crew of STS-134 who will be bringing AMS02 to the ISS aboard space shuttle Endeavour on the final space shuttle flight. For more information on AMS02, visit their website at http://www.ams02.org Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com Panel Members this week: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/18/2010

On this episode, we go all around the world in 47 minutes. We start off discussing Discovery as she Endeavours towards the lost city of Atlantis...or as it seemed after the water main break at KSC. We then discuss it's payload, Robonaut 2, as well as the recent Progress docking to the ISS. Mark then talks about NASA sending up its pieces to the ISS via the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). We then move on to policy and some comments made by congressman and former NASA administrators alike. Lastly, how can $17.38 cents push a launch all the way until 2011? Find out by listening. For the article written on The Hill, please click here. [Link available at talkingspaceonline.com] The articles discussing the comments of Congressman Gordon and former NASA administrator Griffin can be found by clicking each of their names respectively. [Link available at talkingspaceonline.com] Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 9/12/2010

Are you 1...STOP! This episode, our 43rd episode ever, the 30th of this season, marks the one year anniversary of the Talking Space Podcast. On our birthday episode, we discuss how NASA's sending drones to spy on hurricanes, as well as the processing of Discovery. We then go on to discuss a possible crew announcement for 135, and then how the Russians are unhappy aboard the ISS with their lack of a shower. We then discuss the DM2 motor test, and Mark compares it to the Challenger accident with some surprising facts you might not have known! Lastly, we discuss NASA's new solar probe, how Denmark is planning to launch a rocket, and we then discuss our thoughts on Talking Space's 1st birthday. To add to the nostalgia, Gene regains the hosting seat as he had for the first episode we ever did released on 09/09/09. Host this week: Gene Mikulka. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Mark Ratterman, and Sawyer Rosenstein Show Recorded - 9/6/2010

On this humorous episode, the gang discusses the progress of STS-133, some maintenance on the crawler transporters, and the pending demolition of Launch Pad 39B, first used for the space shuttle on January 28, 1986. We then move on to discuss how NASA is helping out Chilean government in discussing the survival of the 40 trapped miners. We also discuss Kepler's findings of two exoplanets transiting one star. To wrap it up, Sawyer discusses his meeting with TJ Creamer at the Intrepid. As well, Gene recaps his time representing the Talking Space Podcast at SpaceUp DC held at George Washington University...oh yeah, and the tribble fights. Astronaut and friend of the show Tom Jones discussing NASA's role in the miners rescue on Fox News can be seen on their website To find out if an astronaut will be visiting a location near you, check out CollectSPACE's site For more information on Project Calliope, visit http://projectcalliope.com. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulk

After returning from an unannounced two week vacation, it's Guy's Night Out as Gina was unable to join us. We start off recapping the ISS repair of the broken ISS ammonia pump. We then move on to some shuttle news as we discuss the processing of Discovery for her final flight: STS-133, as well as some washers in the External Tanks (liquid fuel tanks) constituting some x-rays. Ending the shuttle conversation, we discuss the STS-133 tweetup. We then discuss a fun little story about picking out wake-up music for the final two shuttle flights, so either vote or write your own! We then discuss a little policy including Deputy Administrator Lori Garver voicing her opinion on Constellation, the FAA getting involved in private space travel, SpaceX completing its Dragon capsule drop test, and a new program called Open Luna. To vote for a wake-up song or to submit your own, visit http://songcontest.nasa.gov For more information on Open Luna, visit http://openluna.org/ Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Member

Pull up your chairs for some travelers tales from both Gina Herlihy and Mark Ratterman. Gina visited the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia and describes her exploration through the museum. Mark was one of the lucky attendees at the International Space Station (ISS) NASA Tweetup hosted by NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The guest speaker was ISS Expedition 23 Astronaut T.J. Creamer. Mark offers insights into the event and discusses some of his other discoveries and meeting some old friends of the podcast. Mark also offers some of his  thoughts on the "27 Seconds " exhibit at the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum in New York. The team also discusses the failed ammonia cooling pump on the ISS and an analysis of the first spacewalk in support of removing and replacing the broken pump.  Other topics include the announcement by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation to create their own heavy lift rocket and the Mars Exploration Rover " Spirit" will it come back to life after this winte

On this episode, we invite on special guest, Apollo 9 astronaut and founder of the B612 foundation as well as a member of the Association of Space Explorers, Rusty Schweickart. Having logged thousands of hours in high performance jets as well as having performed an EVA (a spacewalk), Rusty comes on to discuss his role in the future of asteroids and their potential of impacting the earth, as well as working to avoid an impact if necessary. Also discussed was the future of manned space flight, where humans should go next, as well as other countries participation in the hunt for asteroids. Rusty's foundation, the B612 Foundation, is located online at http://www.b612foundation.org/ He has also authored the preface to the Association of Space Explorer's book The Home Planet, which is available on Amazon. Host this week: Gina Herlihy. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, Sawyer Rosenstein, and special guest Russell "Rusty" Schewickart Show Recorded - 7/26/2010

On this episode, we discuss the 41st anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which occurred on the release date of this show, July 20th in the year of 1969. We focus on one question throughout the whole program. What impact did the Apollo program have on your life? Not only does our panel answer, but we have some special interviews with those that worked on the program: Joe Blondin who worked on the Saturn V guidance ring, and Sara Howard who worked on the Saturn V's S-IC stage. As well, we open up our twalk.in lines to some of our listeners who gave their imput. Thanks Russ Dale, Todd Cecilio, and Kathy O'Brien for participating! Also, thank you Aaron Cunningham for writing us the letter. What impact did the Apollo program have on your life? We want to hear! Send them to us at mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com or on Twitter or Facebook. A picture was placed here. To view it, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com to view it. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka and Mark Ratte

Sara Howard, our guest on this Talking Space Exclusive interview played an integral part in that "One Giant Leap for Mankind". Working as a systems test engineer, she helped breathe life into the 138 foot tall S-1C, the first stage of the Apollo Saturn V rocket. Her duties at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, included examining the telemetry transmitted from sensors on board the S-1C during it's test firings. Sara helped to discover, correct, and repair causes of leaks, fires, and at times explosions. Her work verified that the the first stage of the Saturn V was ready carry humans on their lunar journey. Sara's contributions helped to insure the success of the historic Apollo 11 flight and subsequent Apollo lunar missions. Sara was one of the few women engineers that worked on the Saturn V, and is a trail blazer for women in the aerospace field. She is the author of Two books, "Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Moon” and "The Biggest Explosions in the Universe" She also writes her musings on man

On this episode released especially on the 4th of July in the United States, we honor an American hero: Apollo 7 astronaut Walter "Walt" Cunningham. We discuss with him the state of America's space program, as well as looking back in the past to help predict the future. We also discuss aviation, piloting, and the recently-released National Space Policy of the United States of America and his opinion on it. Walter Cunningham is also the author of The All-American Boys, available from Amazon by clicking here. You can also find out more about him at his website: http://waltercunningham.com. Host this week: Gina Herlihy. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and Sawyer Rosenstein Show Recorded - 6/30/2010

On this special episode, we all discuss a recent release by the United States Government entitled the National Space Policy of the United States of America. It discusses six key goals the government hopes to implement in terms of international cooperation in space as well as unmanned space exploration, manned space exploration, and military use of space. To view the full document, you may click here. The document is a PDF and needs Adobe Reader. If you do not have it, it is available for free at http://adobe.com We want to hear your comments. To send them to us, you can email us text or an .mp3 to mailbag@talkingspaceonline.com. You can send it to us at our Twitter account @talkingspace or our Facebook page at http://bit.ly/talkingspacefb. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/28/2010

On this show, we discuss a policy to be released by President Obama about future space policies and international cooperation. At this time, the report is already released, but we discussed what we predicted, and listen up for a short episode to be released shortly discussing the outcome of it. We then continue to talk about Sen. John Glenn's letter regarding human spaceflight. To read Gene's blog post on it, visit our Team Blog page. We then also discuss a possible plan to land on an asteroid by 2025 and the delays of STS-133 and STS-134. Finally, we discuss Mark's time at the NASA Family Education Night as part of its Summer of Innovation program. Below are two images which were taken from the event at the Astronaut Hall of Fame as part of NASA's Summer of Innovation program: Two images were inserted here. To view them, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com to view them. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - 6/27/2010

On this episode, We discuss the return of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA)  Hayabusa probe after a 7 year voyage to obtain a piece of Asteroid Itokawa. We discuss the Mars 500 experiment and answer two questions from our mailbag, and a thanks to @QuantumG and @racshot653 for the questions. Keep them coming! After that we look at NASA's  Expedition 24 to the International Space Station,  and review an  interesting editorial from MSNBC's James Oberg on reliance on the Russian Soyuz vehicle. We comment on relatively breaking news of President Obama's plan to take $100 million out of NASA's budget to put toward job training for NASA contractors who will be losing their jobs as a result of the Project Constellation shutdown on the space coast and elsewhere.  We end with a discussion of a mystery on board Atlantis, NASA giving you a chance to send your face into space, and a brand new exhibit opened at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum honoring the crew of Apollo 1 called "27 Seconds". A spe

Gina Herlihy returns this week, as we discuss the upcoming STS-133 mission schedule for September. We also congratulate the 2010 Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees as Gina gives an overview of the induction ceremony. We discuss the major event of the week; the successful launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.  The booster was  commercially launched with minimal support from NASA. A big thanks to listeners Alex Shimp (@shimpster), @sciencenate/@MrTubbs220 and @Kiki_Gaviln for their comments on SpaceX and Falcon 9 . Remember to send  your comments in to us! For more information, check out our Contact Us page. We also talk about the Boeing X-51 "Waverider" going hypersonic, the WISE demise, and SOFIA's first light. Lastly, Gene and Guest panelist  CraftLass discuss the New York City World Science Festival Tweetup. To watch the 2010 Astronaut Hall of Fame inducition ceremony, you can watch the full event on YouTube here: http://tinyurl.com/astrohalloffame. Also, for more information on the Astronaut Scholarship Fou

On this episode, we are not only joined by guest panelist Tavi Greiner from Astronomy.FM, but we invite on special guest Scott Maxwell, one of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) "drivers". He discusses his experiences at the Jet Propulsions Laboratory and his work playing around with robots on another world. Frankenstein, anybody? For more info on Scott, check out his blog "Mars and Me" at http://marsandme.blogspot.com/ Learn more about the MERs at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov Be sure to also follow him on Twitter: @marsroverdriver Also, thanks to Tavi Greiner, who is part of Astronomy.FM, which broadcasts Talking Space every Tuesday night at 10pm EDT and is replayed every three hours. There's even an interactive chat. Check it out at http://astronomy.fm Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and special guest panelist Tavi Greiner. Special Guest: Mars Rover "Driver" Scott Maxwell. Show Recorded - Sunday 5/30/2010

On this episode, we discuss a very busy week in space news. We talk about the Ariane 5 returning to flight, as well as Japan's (JAXA) H-II A launch of a probe to Venus. We then visit Opportunity setting a longevity record, SpaceX adding more delays, and honor PROP officer Lonnie Schmitt on his 100th shuttle mission behind the doors of mission control. For more info on Lonnie's accomplishment, check out the collectSPACE article by clicking here. We then discuss with Gene and Gina the STS-132 Launch Tweetup which they were selected to attend.  Credit for the audio of David Letterman is from CBS, and CBS maintains all rights to the clip. Below is a picture from the tweetup event. An image has been inserted here. To view the image, please visit http://talkingspaceonline.com. Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein. Panel Members: Gina Herlihy, Gene Mikulka, and Mark Ratterman Show Recorded - Sunday 5/23/2010