Talking Space

Gene Mikulka ,Mark Ratterman, Dr. Kat Robison, Larry Herrin, Heather Smith, and Sawyer Rosenstein (emeritus),
  • 4.1 (28)
  • News Commentary

A Free and Open Exchange of Ideas and Opinions on All Things Space. If it's above the Kármán Line, it's on our radar. Now at https://talkingspaceonline.com!

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 1805: Space Flight is Not Simple

    Hosts Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman, and Heather Smith review ISS crew transitions, wildfire threats to NASA's Deep Space Network, growing criticisms of the Artemis program architecture, and a 1960s navigation satellite still transmitting signals today on episode 1805 of Talking Space. ISS Crew Rotations & Soyuz History * Soyuz MS-28 Departure: The crew prepared to wrap up a 241-day stay aboard the International Space Station, with undocking scheduled for 3:03 AM and a landing in Kazakhstan at 6:25 AM.
 * Soyuz MS-29 Arrival: A fresh crew arrived following an 8-hour fast-track rendezvous, bringing NASA astronaut Dr. Anil Menon alongside Cosmonaut Anna Kikina and Commander Pyotr Dubrov.
 * Historic Visit: The launch marked the first visit by a NASA Administrator to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in eight years.
 * Soyuz Legacy: Continuously refined since its ill-fated 1967 debut, the Soyuz vehicle remains the longest-operating human-rated spacecraft design in spaceflight history.
 Madrid Deep Space Network Wildfire * Evacuation: Severe wildfires in Spain forced the emergency evacuation of the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (37 miles / 65 km west of Madrid) on July 24.
 * Damage Assessment: Onsite inspections on July 25 confirmed that fire damage was restricted to surrounding vegetation and pavement, leaving the primary antenna dishes and buildings structurally intact.
 * Redundant Operations: Spacecraft communications were seamlessly rerouted to sister stations in Goldstone, California, and Canberra, Australia, ensuring no loss of deep-space science data. See link to Deep Space Network Now for real time status. Artemis Program Concerns & Starship Testing * Bridenstine Criticisms: Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine publicly warned that Artemis's complex architecture—potentially requiring up to 15 orbital refueling launches per mission—lacks Apollo's single-launch simplicity and risks long-term delays.
 * Lander & Suit Delays: The hosts highlighted that Artemis III lacks a flight-ready, flyable lunar lander and fully integrated spacesuits, creating bottlenecks for upcoming landing schedules.
 * Starship Test Flight: SpaceX’s Ship 40 achieved a successful soft splashdown and satellite payload deployment, though its Super Heavy booster experienced engine anomalies during the backburn phase.
 * Dismantled Oversight: Key advisory bodies like the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) and various science analysis groups have been defunded or disbanded, limiting independent technical feedback.
 Transit 5B5 "Zombie" Satellite * Mission Background: Launched on December 28, 1964, via a Thor-Able rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Transit 5B5 provided pre-GPS Doppler navigation for U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines.
 * Nuclear Power: Powered by a SNAP-3 Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) fueled by Plutonium-238, the microwave-sized satellite continues transmitting its navigation signal at 136.658 MHz after more than 60 years in polar orbit. * 5B5 Links: See Space Daily for their article about 5B5 and SIGIDWIKI for audio samples of several 5B5 signals Host: Gene Mikulka Panelists/Editors: Mark Ratterman, Heather Smith

  2. Jun 19

    Episode 1804: On A Quesst

    When the Russian crew on board the ISS decided to perform an unusual procedure on the station’s Zvezda module, it caused quite an agreeable break in the routine of the day on board the orbiting laboratory. The crew on the US segment entered an emergency evacuation posture aboard their Crew Dragon, but all returned to normal after a few hours. The team discusses what happened and why.  The astronauts for the Artemis III mission were introduced to the world at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, with much fanfare and some controversy: No female astronauts were named to the crew. Was this just a normal crew rotation, or was politics at play? The panel looks at the points of contention and weighs in on the Artemis III mission itself.  NASA’s X59 Quesst aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, is an incredible experiment aimed at reducing a sonic boom to a barely audible thump. If successful, the project has far-reaching implications for the future of civil aviation. Our Mark Ratterman reports on this unique aircraft's first flight tests and its implications.  SpaceX launched something its CEO, Elon Musk, said he would never do: turn SpaceX into a public company and, in the process, turn Musk into the world’s first trillionaire. Heather Smith has been watching this story for us for a while now and delivers some insight into what happens next. On the heels of the SpaceX IPO, environmental groups in and around Cameron County, Texas, are fighting a plan by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reallocate land inside the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX to support Starship Operations.  Want to send your name to the stars on board NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Telescope launching no earlier than August 30th? Use this NASA link to find out how! Team Members for this Episode: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman and Heather Smith

  3. Jun 4

    Episode:1803 Things That Go Boom in the Night

    The Talking Space Team gathers around the microphone once again to survey the horizon of spaceflight news—and what an eventful week it has been. On May 26th, NASA announced a new wave of contracts for its moon base program, along with updates on the progress of Artemis III. We break down exactly what was said during the press event and what it means for humanity's return to the lunar surface. SpaceX launched its highly anticipated Starship 12 mission on May 22nd, showcasing the brand-new Starship V3 vehicle. While some space news outlets were quick to stamp it as an unqualified success, the actual results were decidedly mixed. As far as debuts go, there is plenty of room for both applause and concern—and we dive deep into the launch. The biggest, most shocking news of the week took place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. On Thursday, May 28th, a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion on Launch Complex 36, yielding the most powerful rocket explosion since the Soviet N1 moon rocket disintegrated in the late 1960s. This static-test accident sent shockwaves through both Blue Origin and NASA’s Artemis timeline. We attempt to begin picking up the pieces. Decades ago, NASA's twin Pioneer spacecraft became some of the first human-made objects to chart a course out of the solar system. But as they crossed into deep space, a mystery emerged: both probes were mysteriously slowing down. The effect was later referred to as the Pioneer Anomaly. With assistance from the Planetary Society archives, our resident cosmic detective, Mark Ratterman, goes on the case to solve this historic deep-space puzzle. Show Presenters for this week,  Gene Mikulka, Heather Smith, and Mark Ratterman.

  4. May 1

    Episode 1802: Fly US To The Moon

    The full Talking Space team gathers around the microphone once more to share their thoughts and reactions to the Artemis II lunar flyby and how the 10-day mission was perceived back on Earth, especially those who seldom think about NASA. The panel examines next steps for the Artemis program, reviews highlights from NASA’s recent Ignition event, weighs whether a new space race with China is underway, and considers what the future may hold given the implications of the 2027 NASA Budget. Australia has the capabilities to be a major space sector player, but lacks a cohesive national space policy. Isobel Haddow of The Space Industry Association and our resident space-policy expert, Dr. Kat Robison, crafted a brief for the United States Studies Center outlining the situation and what practical steps Australia can take. Dr. Robison discusses the highlights of her work and the panel debates the ramifications.   VIDEO: Via NASA: Artemis II Highlights VIDEO: Via NASA: Crew Welcome Home Event  Via X: Post by Reid Wiseman Mark Ratterman referenced  Additional Post by Dr. Kat Robison for the Australian Institute of International Affairs published 29 April, 2026 " The US is Intentional About its Space Program. We Should Be Too."    Host This Week: Mark Ratterman  On the panel this week: Dr. Kat Robison, Heather Smith, Gene Mikulka

  5. Apr 4

    Episode 1801: Artemis II: Moonbound

    Recorded on Sunday 29 March, 2026: Just days before the first human mission to the Moon in 53 years, Talking Space returns to discuss preflight activities and the changes within NASA’s Artemis lunar program. Mark Ratterman discusses his thoughts on the growth of activity in and around the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) since the days of the Space Shuttle program, and reflects on the L- 3 launch press conference, the Artemis II Crew arrival at KSC for the launch and their question-and-answer session with the press from their quarantine quarters at KSC. Since Jared Isaacman has taken the reins at NASA, the Artemis Lunar Program architecture has undergone significant alterations. NASA has restructured the first few Artemis missions and has decided to put the Lunar Gateway on hold (not cancelling the program outright as some outlets have reported) in order to pursue the establishment of a permanent lunar base in three phases starting in 2027. We discuss the plan outlined in the NASA Ignition presentations last week, their features, cost, and the likelihood that NASA will land a human expedition on the Moon before the agency’s self-imposed deadline of 2028. Talking Space will be watching closely the events of Artemis II and next time will bring you reports and reflections surrounding the progress of the first human mission to the Moon since the Apollo 17 flight in December of 1972. For More on the Artemis II mission visit:  NASA's Artemis Webpage CSA's Artemis II Webpage  ESA's Artemis II Webpage  Launch Minus Two Days Press Conference  Launch Minus One Day Press Conference  Featured Team Members This Week: Mark Ratterman Gene Mikulka

  6. 07/25/2025

    Episode 1703: Stopping the Space Shuttle Rustlers

    In 2012, following the end of the Space Transportation System program, NASA faced the monumental task of finding permanent homes for the three remaining Space Shuttle Orbiters—so that their incredible stories could be preserved and shared with the public. After a lengthy and sometimes contentious selection process, the three operational orbiters—Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—along with the prototype Enterprise, were officially retired and transported to their new homes amid much celebration. These irreplaceable artifacts of American space history now serve as centerpieces in four major museums across the country, inspiring millions of visitors each year. One notable omission from the final list was Houston, Texas—home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. While the city did not receive one of the orbiters, it was awarded a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and a full-scale model orbiter, which allows visitors to explore a replica of the Shuttle's interior. That should have been the end of the story—but it wasn’t. In a surprising twist, Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz inserted a provision into the recently passed Reconciliation Act, also known as “The Big Beautiful Bill Act" that calls for relocating Space Shuttle Discovery from its current home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, to Houston. Is this bold attempt at “Shuttle Rustling” even viable? To find out, we spoke with Joe Stief, the founder of Keep the Shuttle, a grassroots campaign working to prevent Discovery’s relocation. We discuss his efforts, what’s at stake, and the broader implications this move could have for the future of artifacts held by national museums. Host: Gene Mikulka  Guest: Joe Stief, KeepTheShuttle.org

  7. 07/02/2025

    Episode 1702: OSIRIS-APEX and the 2026 NASA Budget: A Discussion with Dr. Dani DellaGiustina

    The OSIRIS-APEX mission, an extension of the wildly successful OSIRIS-REx mission, is set to rendezvous with Asteroid 99942 Apophis in April 2029. This mission takes full advantage of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which still has plenty of fuel and is totally healthy after delivering samples from Asteroid Bennu to Earth on 24 September, 2023. OSIRIS-APEX will closely observe Apophis as the asteroid makes a remarkably close flyby of Earth, coming within 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles)  – closer than some Earth-orbiting satellites. The mission's primary objectives are to study how Earth's gravitational pull affects the orbit of Apophis, its spin, and surface features. However, the mission is in peril. The proposed Presidential Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026 budget calls for the cancellation of OSIRIS-APEX, despite its low cost and the scientific value it offers as an extended mission using an already existing and proven spacecraft. On this episode of Talking Space, we're joined by Dr. Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, Principal Investigator for the OSIRIS-APEX mission and Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. We'll delve into the mission's goals, the reasons given behind its potential cancellation in the 2026 NASA Budget, and the options available should the 2026 budget be approved by Congress, a budget that cancels this ambitious mission. Guest: Dr. Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.  Host: Gene Mikulka Additional information on the 2026 NASA Budget via NASA  Advocacy Resources from the Planetary Society

  8. 03/24/2025

    Episode 1701: A Fleet for Lunar Science

    Episode 1701: Talking Space returns after a hiatus to discuss the landing attempts by the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. First a successful soft landing of the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost 1 mission on the plans of Mare Crisium.  Then a much more perilous landing attempt for the Intuitive Machines "Athena" lander, trying to land its suite of science and technology demonstrations closer to the Lunar South Pole than any other mission to date, with some mixed results. We also mention that Japan's ispace is set to try a lunar landing on 6 June.   We then focused on the Expedition 72 / 73 handover at the International Space Station and took one more look at the Crew-9 Mission's saga in the mainstream press with a reminder: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were never "stuck" or "stranded" on the ISS, and never needed to be "rescued." Our Mark Ratterman also reminds all that the NASA Spinoff catalog for 2025 is available for download. If at first, you don't succeed... try, try again out at Boca Chica Texas for the SpaceX Starship with Integrated Flight Test 8. Alas, the same result as Mission 7 with debris scattering over the skies of Caribbean Islands and air traffic having to be diverted out of the area, quickly. We discuss the incident and the possible future of the program.  We end the program with a plea, especially for our friends in the United States.  Due to current goings-on within the US government, both NASA's personnel and budget are poised to be cut drastically. A 50 % cut in the NASA science budget is not outside the realm of possibility. The impact would be catastrophic, causing long-established science investigations to shut down, and crippling the start of new missions. Very rarely do we go into activist mode, but this is one of those times where it is required. If you care for your space program, tell your elected representatives. Don't know how to contact them? Here's a guide via Congress.gov   Participants this Week:   Dr. Kat Robison, Mark Ratterman, Gene Mikulka

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A Free and Open Exchange of Ideas and Opinions on All Things Space. If it's above the Kármán Line, it's on our radar. Now at https://talkingspaceonline.com!

Information

  • Creator
    Gene Mikulka ,Mark Ratterman, Dr. Kat Robison, Larry Herrin, Heather Smith, and Sawyer Rosenstein (emeritus),
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    332
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2009-2026, Talking Space®. All rights reserved. Any images or logos may not be used without permission from Talking Space®
  • Show Website
    Talking Space

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