Small Steps, Giant Leaps

4,8 (64)
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TOUTES LES 2 SEMAINES

NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.

13 NOV.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 142: Europa Clipper: Voyage to a Water World

Europa Clipper is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying an icy ocean world. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on October 14, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center, the spacecraft is set to arrive at Jupiter in April of 2030 to conduct sweeping flybys of Europa. Europa is one of Jupiter’s four large Galilean moons. It’s roughly the size of our own moon, but what’s most is intriguing is that it may harbor the conditions for life in the massive ocean beneath its frozen surface. What we learn could open up the science floodgates to other ocean worlds across the solar system.

23 min
30 OCT.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 141: Planetary Defense at NASA

Ever wondered how NASA monitors asteroids? In our latest episode, we go behind the scenes with Dr. Kelly Fast, NASA’s acting planetary defense officer, to discuss efforts to detect, track, and mitigate threats from near-Earth objects, or NEOs. From asteroid early warning systems to a new spacecraft that will find and track NEOs, learn how NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is at the forefront of keeping Earth safe from cosmic hazards.

23 min
16 OCT.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 140: Artificial Intelligence at NASA

NASA has a long history with AI, using it in various applications like autonomous Mars rover navigation and detecting planets in other solar systems. Today, NASA is embracing AI for more members of the workforce, enabling innovation.

19 min
2 OCT.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 139: NASA's Cosmic Origins Program

NASA’s Cosmic Origins Program seeks to understand the origins of the universe, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. In this episode, Dr. Swara Ravindranath, deputy chief scientist, and Dr. Ron Gamble, a theoretical astrophysicist, discuss their research and the program's goals. They also highlight the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences.

25 min
18 SEPT.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 138: The Sun, Star of our Cosmic Show

The Sun is the ultimate source of life in our solar system, a radiant powerhouse that bathes Earth in the energy necessary for everything from photosynthesis to weather patterns. Its warmth and light sustain us. However, the Sun’s influence isn't always benign. Its solar wind—a stream of charged particles—can disrupt our technology, causing communications blackouts and GPS glitches. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Westlake, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, joins us to shed light on why the Sun is such a critical focus for space research.

22 min
4 SEPT.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 137: The Roman Space Telescope - Uncovering the Dark Universe

We don’t yet know what dark matter is, yet it makes up 85% of all the matter in the universe. The Roman Space Telescope will aim to unravel the mystery. With a field of view 100 times wider than the Hubble Space Telescope’s, Roman will study in near-infrared light the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars, making other exoplanet discoveries along the way. The mission is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief of astronomy and advocate for the development of the Hubble Space Telescope.

26 min
21 AOÛT

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 136: Soft Robotics

Robots inspired by nature? A novel realm of engineering called soft robotics is being studied at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Engineers are working to understand how soft robotics could one day support space exploration, including missions to the Moon’s surface.

22 min
7 AOÛT

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 135: Biofilm - Dealing with the Scum off the Earth

Cleaning scum from bathtubs and pipes can be a costly chore. It’s even more challenging aboard spacecraft. NASA researchers are looking at ways to keep astronauts from having to deal with fungal or bacterial buildup, known as biofilm.

15 min

Tout afficher (143)

4,8

sur 5

64 notes

Great podcast!

14 févr.

jenhick

The episodes are timely and thorough but bite-sized and perfect for a quick lunchtime listen. Great series!
Podcast

24/05/2020

2swamped4u

The brilliant minds of NASA are the best!
Not so bad.

16/11/2022

Globalstandard Space

Not so bad. Just a O-KAY.
Production Quality

13/03/2021

Mozartoperaman

Marginal.

NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.