86 episodes

When most people think about space they think of astronauts, names like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Chris Hadfield are familiar to an awful lot of people. But for every astronaut that makes it to space there are legions of smart, dedicated, and interesting people who plan, design, build and operate the mission, spacecraft and instruments that make up the space program. Terranauts is about those people. The ones that go to space all the time, without ever leaving the planet. These are their stories. Visit our Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/TerranautsPodcast
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Terranauts SpaceQ

    • History
    • 5.0 • 11 Ratings

When most people think about space they think of astronauts, names like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Chris Hadfield are familiar to an awful lot of people. But for every astronaut that makes it to space there are legions of smart, dedicated, and interesting people who plan, design, build and operate the mission, spacecraft and instruments that make up the space program. Terranauts is about those people. The ones that go to space all the time, without ever leaving the planet. These are their stories. Visit our Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/TerranautsPodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    That's a Wrap

    That's a Wrap

    Just a short announcement today to wrap up season four of Terranauts - and yes, there will be a season five. I hope you have been enjoying the journey so far and that you'll join us in the fall as we make the transition from Gemini to Apollo.
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    • 6 min
    Terranauts Episode 75

    Terranauts Episode 75

    Today's episode is dedicated to all of those Terranauts who work in the back hallways and committee meeting rooms to make sure that there is support (and funding) for the various programs that get humans and their inventions a chance to get off the planet. I have worked with too many of these dedicated and talented individuals to mention them here by name. 
    It can be a thankless job and one that is not always shown the respect it deserves. Doing it well requires as much talent, vision and creative problem solving as any scientific discovery or engineering breakthrough. Those that do it well benefit everyone around them, although it may not always be obvious. 
    As Mac Evans points out in this episode - in a very real way there is a Canadian astronaut headed to the Moon in 2024 because of work that he and other talented and dedicated Terranauts did in 1994.
    To all who have done and continue to do that job - Thanks.

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    • 31 min
    Hanging By A Thread

    Hanging By A Thread

    When last we left Mac Evans (in an episode called The Flag Is A One) - he was in the mission control centre of the Canadian Telecommunications Satellite (CTS), having just rescued it from an untimely demise. This was important because CTS was the first modern telecommunications satellite and set the pattern for 20 years of satellite development. It was an important Canadian contribution to the humanity's journey off the planet.  
    Today we are going to talk about a different kind of last minute rescue. Today the rescue involves not just a satellite, but, in effect, a whole national space program.

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    • 30 min
    The First Loss

    The First Loss

    n today's episode we pick up the Gemini story with preparation for Gemini IX. That means that we have to talk about the tragic events surrounding the deaths of Elliot See and Charles Basset who were the first NASA astronauts to die in the line of duty. We'll also talk about how NASA and the Gemini program moved on past this tragedy and how the backup crew of Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan stepped up to See and Basset who had been the prime crew for Gemini IX.
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    • 28 min
    After Eight

    After Eight

    Today we take a little bit more time to examine the events of Gemini VIII and what NASA learned from that experience. For one thing it learned the value of having test pilots as astronauts. But it also learned that having a team on the ground that could adapt to rapidly changing events on orbit was pretty important as well.
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    • 27 min
    The Spin Cycle

    The Spin Cycle

    When we left first time Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott aboard Gemini VIII, they were just getting to orbit after what had been a pretty nominal launch of both their spacecraft and the Agena target vehicle that would rendezvous with. As we'll see, as the crew settled down to begin their rendezvous task the flight continued to go very well. Until it didn't...
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    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
11 Ratings

11 Ratings

E7C7 ,

This is the history of space flight podcast you’ve been looking for

I’m not one to go out of my way to write a review (this will be my first podcast review) but after enjoying dozens of episodes, I’ll make an exception for Iain Christie’s Terranauts. It is engaging and chalk full of fascinating insights into the history of space flight that keeps me coming back for more. If you’ve listened to Washington Post’s “Moonrise”, or BBC’s “13 minutes to the Moon”, or similar-themed shows out there, this will be right up your alley and will not disappoint. My only complaint is that there isn’t any merch I can buy to proudly flaunt my support for the show. Keep up the great work, Mr. Christie! Let me know when I can buy a Terranuts-branded “c’mon let’s keep the chatter down” t-shirt!

Wizz424 ,

Food for thought

Fascinating and thought provoking. A joy to listen to and well worth taking the time

Jay___D ,

Great brain food!

Captivating! Fascinating! Absolutely love it.

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