Ad Astra

It's a new year, and the Ad Astra guys are back with a new episode all about what to look forward to this year. Amid a partial government shutdown, there are some exciting events coming up in the next 12 months. Included is that is the newly announced Ad Astra Challenge. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more information regarding the rules of the Challenge. Past, Present, and Future in Washington The Air AND Space Force? But public opinion! House wants to fund NASA (and others) ...at the Senate funding levels Jack’s NASA Budget Tracker OSTP has a Director The Year in Tech March: SC tries on CST-100 spacesuit Remembering George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush’s Space Exploration Initiative NASA’s 90-day Study

With a little help from friend of the show, Zoe Aldrich, Jack and Newton attempt to make a good news episode about climate change. But after digging through climate reports, polling data, and upcoming space missions, the outlook isn't as grim as one might think. But it won't stay on that trajectory unless you go vote on November 6th! Hubble is back online   Latest From Washington Space Force is officially recommended from NSpC The VP’s remarks   Climate Change: the Good, the Better, and the Not-So-Bad The climate report you may have heard about 90% of voters want Ds and Rs to work together to address climate change 6 in 10 worldwide support action on climate change Washington State Initiative on Carbon Tax Venus “mission”   Voting Information Vote Climate PAC Ranking Get all the info about things on your ballot here

We back, baby! Jack and Newton return from a long Summer to discuss recent news in space policy and technology. Topics range from Congressional appropriations to words that rhyme with schmimate schmange. From Bremen to China, the space world is abuzz with exciting news. Stay tuned to hear about some special projects the guys have been cooking up this Summer.   Latest From Washington Happy orbitday, NASA! Here’s a continuing resolution NASA Budget Spreadsheet   Space News Highlight of the Week Trump administration sees a 7-degree rise in global temperatures by 2100 Volume I of the Fourth National Climate Assessment Past, Present, Future of 100+ degree days   International News US and China space agencies want to work together Latest in Tech National Academies Report on Exoplanet Strategy BONUS: Moon Express secures $10 million, $2.5 million loan Coming Soon to Space Lecture: Life on Mars with Author and Scientist David Grinspoon Lecture: Exploring Titan by Rotorcraft Election Notice: Find out elec

Summer 2018 has been a busy time for the Ad Astra team. Starting in September, the show will be back to its regular biweekly episodes. There are some great guests and content in the works. Until then... Ad Astra!

Candidate for Congress, Chris Hearsey, is an aerospace executive, scientist, and all around space enthusiast who has decided to vie for a chance at public service in Maryland's (fightin') 6th Congressional District. Listen in on a riveting conversation about economic opportunity, expanding access to the internet, how the robots might be taking all, and how it all relates back to space. Chris Hearsey for Congress, Campaign Website DONATE HERE   Background on Supreme Court case about redistricting Geographic/social info about the 6th District Electoral info about the 6th District Days until the Maryland Democratic Primary

With two special guests from the Humans to Mars Summit in early May, Jack and Newton explore the future of exploration of the Red Planet. Astronauts will need something to keep them busy, something to help them learn, and a roadmap to the stars, if we're ever going to set foot on another planet. Humans to Mars Summit Website Humans to Mars Report (2018) Raw Science Keri Kukral's blog Keri's Twitter Planetary Science Caucus

Space Corps comes back and so does Blue Origin's rocket. Galilean moons and FAA regulations. This week is chock full of shenanigans, from our Pale Blue Dot to the furthest reaches of the Solar System. Be sure to check out the Humans to Mars Summit happening in DC next week! Full recap coming in the next episode. Latest From Washington FAA AST gets boost, kinda Space Corps reared its ugly head Pace says SPD-2 is on President’s Desk   Space News Highlight of the Week NASA Finally has an Administrator   Latest in Tech Blue Origin launches New Shepherd for 8th time Lunar Shenanigans Galileo Spacecraft is the Gift that Keeps on Giving   Coming Soon to Space H2M Next Week! InSight launches this Saturday

Back from their bye week, the guys are talking about TESS, NASA authorizations, and a new space policy directive from the National Space Council. Untracked space junk is all the rage, apparently. Latest From Washington New NASA Authorization comes out The NASA Authorization Act of 2018 (TEXT) Pence picks Commerce to handle debris   International News We almost got hit   Latest in Tech TESS gets delayed   Coming Soon to Space Newton on Story Collider!

Who knew running a space podcast could cause such a commotion? An awesome budget for NASA, while a major project gets a delay. A new shipment of supplies for the International Space Station goes up, while some international space junk falls into the South Pacific. What a (couple) week(s). NOTE: The show will now come out every other week starting this week. The next episode will be during the week of April 16th. Latest From Washington Omnibus passed and signed! NASA gets $20.7B NASA Budgets Spreadsheet   Space News Highlight of the Week James Webb launch slips to 2020   International News Tiangong-1 crashes back to Earth   Latest in Tech SpaceX launches cargo to ISS   Coming Soon to Space USA Science and Engineering Festival is this weekend

Bitcoin, Bitcoin, Bitcoin. We promise we aren't becoming that kind of podcast. But the general theme is that nothing matters until it matters; From letters from the House, to the Space Force debate; Block-chain networking of deep space missions, to interpretations of the Outer Space Treaty. Get your Ad Astra shirt here! Latest From Washington 61 Members of the House sign bipartisan pro-Bridenstine letter General Hyten not too hyped about the Space Force ...Even though Trump is serious   Space News Highlight of the Week NASA Adapts Cryptocurrency Technology to Build Deep Space Networks International News Japanese government launches $940 million fund for space start-ups Text of the Outer Space Treaty   Latest in Tech Google AI for hunting planets is now open to the public   Coming Soon to Space New JWST schedule coming up House Science Committee marking up bills about space Stephen Hawking's ashes to be buried near graves of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey EVENT IN DC: Gravitation

A super space policy focus doesn't keep us from talking SCIENCE in this week's episode. Of course, the Trump Administration is making some missteps, just now in space. But some air powered thrusters and stressed genes make the real headlines. Get your Ad Astra shirt here! Latest From Washington Space Subcommittee Hearing Broadcast New NASA CFO confirmed by Senate Jurczyk moves on up Lightfoot to retire Ongoing Omnibus The Donald doesn't really get space Trump's Force for Space   International News A rocket fueled by air   Latest in Tech I went to space and all I got was this different pair of genes!

LightSail2, Congressional testimony, James Webb delayed, and planetary annihilation 4 light years away. Busy week back in action for your hosts. A lot is going on, even as space falls to the backburner in the policy scene in DC. Happy one year anniversary to the most opinionated space podcast on the internet; Ad Astra! Get your Ad Astra shirt here! Latest From Washington This week in space policy The ROI of Space Lightfoot to testify Exploration roadmap (kinda) released GAO says JWST is falling behind Ask your member of Congress to join the Planetary Science Caucus   Latest in Tech We've struck water! CIMON in Space Goodbye Proxima Centauri b   Coming Soon to Space Dark Side of the Sun at APL LightSail 2 Launch Date released!

With the launch of the second biggest rocket ever, a special panel discussion about the Falcon Heavy is on the docket for today. Listen to three incredible space advocates and communicators talk about what FH means to them, what they expect next, and where we're going from here. Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!! Esther Trevino Instagram The Gluten Free Nerd Website Twitter GeekFold Justin Foley Instagram Twitter YouTube Tom Cross Instagram Twitter Stellar Things Website Teslarati Website  

The Trump Administration has released their skinny budget for FY 2019. Did they just copy and paste last years budget request? What happens to Earth Science now? And where can I go to find out more information about previous NASA budgets? All this and more in this week's episode. Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!! Mentioned Articles The full Trump skinny budget Space Policy Online's write-up about the updated NASA numbers Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Jack's NASA Budget Spreadsheet Coming Soon to Space Second National Space Council Meeting planned for February nth

Falcon Heavy launched, and it was glorious. Need we say more? Yes we do. Listen in to hear our immediate reactions to the launch of the second most powerful rocket ever flown.   Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Check out these articles this week: The full, unedited, unadulterated launch of Falcon Heavy Comparing rockets of unusual size Tesla Roadster is 4th in electric vehicles in space UPDATE: Main booster failed to stick its landing on the drone ship Oh, and... "Shut it down."  

The State of the Union wasn't quite what everyone expected. Here is a brief episode to give you the State of Space Policy.   Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Referenced Works Trump advisors defend then-candidate's space policy proposals Same advisors call for "new direction" Space Foundation valuation of worldwide space economy New NASA record for longest time without an administrator (featuring Casey Dreier) State of the Union Addresses of the past   Coming Soon to Space Falcon Heavy gets go ahead for February 6th launch date   Follow Ad Astra on Twitter at @AdAstra_Podcast, on Facebook, and subscribe to the mailing list for future updates and events!

Government shutdown, budgets, aerospace commissions, lunar x-prizes, and of course, SpaceX. A short episode, but full of all the space policy and technology news you need for the week ahead.     Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Links:   Latest From Washington Shutdown ends...but did we learn our lesson? List of programs affected by a government shutdown Related… NASA 2019 Budget Request to include details on Lunar and Martian exploration California gets an Aerospace Commission Back where we ended last year for Bridenstine and Myers   International News Google Lunar X-Prize ends without winner   Latest in Tech Falcon Heavy is getting ready to go Rocket Lab rocket launches   Follow Ad Astra on Twitter at @AdAstra_Podcast, on Facebook, and subscribe to the mailing list for future updates and events!

The Celeste Project: Celeste is a collaboration between MIT, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Julia Computing, Intel, and NERSC (the DoE's supercomputing center). They recently managed to calculate the first comprehensive statistical catalog of astronomical objects in the visible universe. That's over 188 million stars and galaxies! Using some nifty new methods they developed, the collaboration managed to complete the entire calculation in only 15 minutes. We believe this system will massively accelerate astronomy research, especially once scientists start receiving higher-resolution images from new telescopes like the LSST and the James Webb Space Telescope.   Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Further Reading: Info about Julia   Here are some Celeste pointers Honored for HPC Innovation Excellence Celeste Enhancements Create New Opportunities In Sky Surveys A New Model For Cataloging the Universe   and some other projects at NERSC Big Science Problems, Big Data Solutions A Look At Deep Learning for Science

NASA looking over commercial Earth Science data, NASA Administrator hopeful Jim Bridenstine begins to feel some pressure, and 'what spacecraft?' says US Government. 2018 might not be a return to normalcy, but your favorite podcast returns to our usual format. Be sure to check out next week's episode with special guests: The Celeste Project. And be sure to grab your official Ad Astra t-shirt.    Subscribe at Apple Podcasts I Google Play I Overcast I Stitcher I Pocketcasts I Podbean   Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Links: Latest From Washington Government Shutdown (NOT) (Update) NASA is preparing to buy some earth science data Administration renominated Bridenstine, Myers New National Academies report calls for more concerted focus on earth science Space News Highlight of the Week Honoring John Young Statement by Robert Lightfoot   Latest in Tech SpaceX’s “failed” launch Coming Soon to Space NASA Hosts Media to Discuss Testing on James Webb Space Telescope   Follow Ad Astra on

2018 is going to be an exciting year for space. From budget discussions to major policy proposals, new rocketships to old favorites visiting exciting (and icy) locations in the Solar System. New year, same space podcast.   Purchase the brand new Ad Astra merch here!!!   Links: Washington in 2018 Budget battle looms over Washington ahead of Jan. 19th deadline Space Policy will take off-center stage for Trump Administration Let’s get serious about military space   Spaceflight in 2018 Spaceflight in 2018   Other Links: Elemental Annual with Newton and Zoe     Follow Ad Astra on Twitter at @AdAstra_Podcast, on Facebook, and subscribe to the mailing list for future updates and events!