This Week in Space (Audio)

TWiS 201: Born to Explore - With Jay Gallentine

When most people think about deep space exploration, management acumen is generally not the first thing they settle on—but without it, no robotic mission would ever succeed. This week we are joined by Jay Gallentine, author of multiple books on the robotic exploration of space. Each of these tomes is a somewhat of a masterpiece; a deep dive into a topic that few explore in such detail. His newest book, "Born to Explore," started off as a book about robots exploring Mars, but his interviews with former JPL manager John Casani was so compelling that he transformed it into a biography. John Casani is a legend at JPL and NASA, and his story reads like a combination of a spaceflight adventure, personal memoir, and a pirate's tale. You'll love the book, and you'll love hearing about it from Jay. Join us! Headlines: Artemis II Sets April 1st Launch Date Amid Technical Fixes NASA Discusses Risks and Media Reactions Around Artemis II Mission Breifing OIG Report Reveals Delays and Issues with Artemis Moon Landers NASA's Human Landing System Development Faces Setbacks Blue Origin and SpaceX Landers Compared for Progress and Outlook Starship's Next Launch and Orbital Refueling Plans Delayed Again Main Topic: Jay Gallantine on His Book, Born to Explore, and John Casani's NASA Legacy Jay Gallantine Shares Origins of His Space Research and Writing Career Unpacking John Casani's Crucial Role at JPL and Mission Leadership Casani's Unique Team-Building Tactics and the Legendary Goat Story Galileo Mission's Hurdles, Constant Redesigns, and Casani's Problem-Solving Budget Cuts and Hard Choices on Casini Mission Management How Casani's Leadership and Philosophy Shaped NASA Spacecraft Teams Sneak Peek: Gallantine's Upcoming Book on the Evolution of Mars Rovers Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Jay Gallentine Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com/twit Melissa.com/twit

TWiS 200: Our 200th Episode Listener Special! - We're Talking to You!

It's our 200th episode, our annual listener special! We took your comments, suggestions, advice, and insults and wove them into a rollicking, fun-filled hour of mishaps, mayhem, and mirth! Plus space headlines and a whole passel of your space jokes! This is a fun one, so don't be shy—join us! Headlines: NASA's Artemis Program Unveils New Details and Updates Moon Safe from Asteroid 2024 YR4 in 2032 NASA Launches "NASA Force" Hiring Initiative Led by Jared Isaacman MAVEN Orbiter at Mars Faces Potential Loss—Latest Status Update Total Lunar Eclipse Marks Last Sight Until 2029 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: helixsleep.com/space

TWiS 199: The Obsolete Astronaut? - And a New Report on Crewed Mars Missions

In this age of rapidly advancing AI and robotic technology, do we still need to send humans into space? The argument has long been that people can do things better and faster off-Earth, but the changing face of robotic tech has some feeling otherwise. This week's guest is a returning friend of the show, Dr. Pascal Lee, who has thoughts on how and when robots may perform better--and more safely--than humans in space, and then, of course, Tariq and I worry about how our mechanical masters might take our place in the cosmos. Pascal also reports on his recent experience with the National Academies' report on the human exploration of Mars. Join us! Headlines: NASA Unveils Major Overhaul to Artemis Lunar Program, With Arrtemis II & III Facing Delays and a Shift in the Lunar Landing Timeline. Mike Fincke Revealed as Astronaut Medically Evacuated from ISS Main Topic: First Steps for the Human Exploration of Mars National Academies Report Identifies Top Mars Science Priorities for Astronauts, With the Search for Life on Mars Ranked as the Highest Scientific Priority Strategies Debated: Shorter Missions vs. Building Lasting Mars Infrastructure Call for Focused Mars Surface Lab to Maximize Science Returns Discussion of Sample Return, Planetary Protection, and Evolving AI/Robotics/Human Partnerships Debate Over Long-Term Human Settlement on Mars Versus Robotic and Cyborg Exploration Implications of Rapid Progress in Humanoid Robotics and AI for the Future of Space Exploration Also, Rod and Tariq are celebrating their 200th episode of This Week in Space and are hosting an Ask Us Anything (AUA) episode! Get your questions ready and send them to twis@twit.tv for Rod and Tariq to answer them! Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Pascal Lee Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 198: A Dragonfly on Titan - Inside the Dragonfly Mission

One of the most exciting missions to ever journey to the outer solar system has the be the Dragonfly multi-rotor helicopter that will head to Saturn's moon Titan in 2028. The car-sized probe will arrive at that strange, frozen world in 2034, descending into the soupy, smoggy atmosphere and then taking flight before it even touches the ground! We spoke with the mission's Principal Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, about the mission's origins, current progress, and what to expect in the coming years. She also took us through a narrated tour of the surface of Titan, with its hydrocarbon sand dunes and methane seas. The Dragonfly mission will be an adventure of a lifetime! Headlines: NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Aces New Fueling Test Boeing Starliner is Rated a "Type A" Mishap and Faces More Launch Delays Perseverance Rover Gets Instant Mars GPS-like Functionality Main Topic: NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan Dr. Elizabeth Turtle explains Dragonfly's origins and mission concept Why Titan is unique and somewhat akin to the primordial Earth, perfect for exploring prebiotic chemistry Dragonfly's advanced science suite and autonomous flying capability Insights from the Cassini/Huygens missions and how they are shaping Dragonfly Navigation, flight strategy, and safety planning for Titan's harsh environment Power, heating, and longevity on Titan's freezing surface Titan's dune landscape, flying conditions, and analogs to Earth Big scientific questions: methane cycle, atmospheric mysteries, and potential surprises Mission timeline, lander design, and the innovative "fly-as-you-land" arrival approach Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Turtle Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 197: Inside UNOOSA - The UN and Space

Most people don't think of spaceflight when talking about the United Nations, but the UN, through its Office of Outer Space Affairs, or UNOOSA, has been pivotal in securing agreements on space poilicy and behavioral norms. This week, we speak with Aarti Holla-Maini, the director of UNOOSA, and Dr. Rick Jenet, the executive director of Expanding Frontiers and the National Space Society's representative to the UN, about the importance of this office. It's a wide-ranging discussion of the intersection of international space efforts and the intersection with commercial space as we expand activities into Earth orbit, the moon, and beyond. Headlines: SpaceX Crew-12 Launch Sends New Astronauts to the ISS Vast Joins Commercial Flights to the ISS, Prepares for Private Space Stations Axiom, Voyager, and Vast Face Off in Commercial LEO Station Race International Collaboration Ramps Up for Future of Space Policy Main Topic: Inside UNOOSA—The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Dr. Rick Janet Explains the Role of COPUOS and UNOOSA in Global Space Governance Aarti Holla-Maini Shares Her Path to Leading UNOOSA and Her Vision for Its Future Distinguishing UNOOSA (the office) from COPUOS (the committee) UNOOSA's Expanding Mission: Capacity Building, Disaster Response, Space Law, and Sustainability The Importance of Neutral Convening, Capacity Building, and Industry Input Growing Need for Space Sustainability, Debris Mitigation, and New Regulatory Focus Anticipating Lunar Activity: Resource Use, Transparency, and Non-Appropriation Principle Engaging Commercial Space Actors While Maintaining Member State Authority Megaconstellations: Building New Norms for Responsible Behavior in Orbit Future UNOOSA Goals: Coordinating Space Traffic, Centralizing Satellite Data Access, and Fostering Global Partnerships Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guests: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet and Aarti Holla-Maini Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit