Today In Space

This week we have the honor of having Haley Harrison on the podcast for a segment of People of Science. I met Haley at the CRS-19 NASA Social where we witnessed a Falcon 9 launch supplies to the International Space Station and toured the NASA Facilities like the VAB And Veggie Lab. Haley shares her path in STEM in pursuing her PhD in Nanoscience (which we can officially congratulate her for achieving recently! Way to go Haley!). She shares her experience finding a great team to support her through Grad school and shares advice on how to make the most of it while you are there.  We also brainstorm about how nanoscience can change the future, and specifically some applications in the space industry on how things like nanotubes (carbon or boron nitride) can help us achieve amazing things! Want some quick context on Nanoscience if you're new to the topic? Check out these links: https://www.nano.gov/timeline https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsnanoscience Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragr

We're back! After some much needed time for a mental health break and an introspective view at where I'm at in my life at 31, we have returned fired up and ready to talk about the balance.  This is a great episode for anyone who is new to the podcast for some context on who I am, and a deep look at a part of my STEM origin story. No one has an easy time in a STEM career - it's a gauntlet. And I found myself doubting my own self after mentioning my goal of training to become an Astronaut. The same doubt that plagued me as a young 20-something, still full of angst and self-sabotage from a lack of confidence. I get more philosophical than scientific as the episode continues...but still a fun one that I hope helps someone going through a tough time as we transition to the next phase post-pandemic. But thanks to a commencement speech by the President and COO of SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell - things started to align and make sense again! HIGHLY recommended listen for anyone in a STEM career or studying to become a scie

On this episode of the podcast I try to answer the question "Did I apply for the Inspiration4 or dearMoon project?" as honestly as possible. Going to space is not easy, and having physical limitations makes that harder. But not impossible. The possibility of going to space and podcast about my experience has me literally dreaming about the stars. Just like with any problem, solutions can be found even when it seems impossible. It just takes looking at things from a different perspective and then new solutions reveal themselves. I've changed my mind about wanting to be an astronaut over the course of this podcast. Recently, with all the exciting opportunities for everyday people to go to space upon us - I find myself being both brutally honest about my chances now and extremely hopeful and excited about the future possibility.  This was a really stressful episode to record and put out there. I've been thinking about this for a while, and especially now that I'm trying to be healthier and more fit. I've got a l

On this episode, we discuss the shear momentum behind SpaceX as they continue to gain trust in the space industry. We get some progress with NASA's HLS Contract for Artemis, and I discuss the failures/learning with our new SLA 3D printer as I 'fail forward' towards our first 3D print. Taking requests for topics you'd like to hear on the podcast!  Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragram & twitter - @todayinspace on TikTok - /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook How to Support the podcast:   Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop ag3dprinting.etsy.com Donate at todayinspace.net  Share the podcast with friends & family! - SpaceX gets National Defense funding increase https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2605292/ - Innovative new Space Technology enabled by affordable reusable rockets https://spacenews.com/tyvak-satellite-on-spacex-rideshare-mission-carries-tiny-space-telescope/ - Yusaku Maezawa to the ISS to train for #dearMoon https://twitter.com/yousuckmz/status/1392789

On this weeks episode of #todayinspace we were honored to talk with Luca Rossettini, the CEO and Founder of D-Orbit for a segment of People of Science. We discuss Luca’s STEM Origin story and talk about challenge of orbital debris as the future of space develops.   D-Orbit is strategically positioned to help humanity create debris management solutions for satellites - enable us to create logistics needed to ensure safety and prevent collisions that could inevitably ruin everyone’s access to space. Orbital Debris is everyone’s problem, especially the people who launch satellites into space, and D-Orbit is there to innovate and provide solutions to the explosive LEO and GEO markets around Earth...and if needed - the Moon and more!   Enjoy our discussion of all things space, the the growing challenge of orbital debris logistics, and the incredible things yet to come for our near future in space! Learn more about D-Orbit by going to https://www.dorbit.space   Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on i

On this weeks episode we dive into the success of NASA and SpaceX with Crew 1 and Crew 2, now that both Crew Dragons are making history. Drama is developing with NASAs Human Lander System contract going solely to SpaceX for Starship, and we celebrate Astronaut Michael Collins after his passing as I share my favorite thing about the legendary human being.  I also share how the show will change over the next few months and the newest 3D printer added to our 3D printing Lab AG3D   Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragram & twitter - @todayinspace on TikTok - /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook How to Support the podcast: Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop ag3dprinting.etsy.com Donate at todayinspace.net Follow us on social media  @todayinspacepod (Instagram & Twitter) @todayinspace (TikTok) /TodayInSpacePodcast (Facebook) Share the podcast with friends & family! Astronaut Michael Collins:  https://youtu.be/E4mnpHvK8yM Nighttime Splashdown for Crew 1: https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1

The balance has been achieved between NASA & SpaceX! Starship was chosen as the single investment and winner of the HLS contract to bring the first woman and next man to step foot on the Moon. We started this segment of the balance with a question about whether or not NASA & SpaceX could combine forces and bring their best aspects together for a single effort to advance humanity in space....and this selection is a MASSIVE win for everyone involved.  As is custom with 'The Balance' I also discuss balance in my own life and explain why this episode is audio only and what I'm doing to take care of myself physically and mentally in the middle of ALOT of change in life.  I also share my thoughts on the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter test flight and some ideas on how to prevent martian dust from killing any future rovers.

In this episode we’re playing catch-up to review all the human Spaceflight underway in the next few weeks and months. Crew 1 makes a port relocation in preparation for Crew 2, and we review the Inspiration 4 mission and crew, as well as the impact of the first all civilian space mission. What does this mean for the future? I also discuss the impact of what First Contact IRL would have on humanity in honor of this years April 5th anniversary of the scifi timeline in Star Trek when humans met Vulcans for the first time. And a quick overview of what happened to Starship SN11 and why SpaceX is jumping to SN15. (UPDATE: Still unknown whether SpaceX used FTS or SN11 had an RUD - removed section speculating FTS was used. Still no data to support that. Thank you @sontavas on Twitter for pointing that out!) Elon Musks explanation for Starship SN11 RUD https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1379022709737275393?s=21 Meet the First All-Civilian Space Crew: https://youtu.be/4bkx2ENyAAs Who’s on board Inspiration 4?? https:/

On this week's episode there's alot to catch up on in Space! NASA successfully test fired their RS-25 engines for the Space Launch System, the heavy lift vehicle created from the Space Shuttle, and is planned to be used for the Artemis Missions. Starship SN11 test fired successfully in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX scrubbed the 10km test flight until Monday. March 25th was the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence and I share my thoughts as a second generation Greek American and reflect on just how recent that it.  & March 26th was Leonard Nimoy Day here in Boston, MA and I share how one of his tweets basically saved my life - to Live long and prosper! Have a great week! Stay sharp, and keep questioning & learning! Spread love & Spread Science! Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragram & twitter - @todayinspace on TikTok - /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook Support the podcast: Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop ag3dprinting.etsy.com Donate at todayinspace.net Follow us on soci

In this episode I explore my thoughts on redefining the 'Scientific Ladder of Ideas' - specifically for a Hypothesis. Our talk with Avi Loeb last week opened my mind to two distinct groups for the 1st stage of scientific ideas. Testable and Untestable Hypothesis. Oumuamua vs. String Theory. If you haven't already listen to our last podcast about Avi's groundbreaking hypothesis about the origins of our first observed interstellar object, Oumuamua.  Which idea has the potential for the most benefit to humanity? Is one idea more likely to be solved in 100 years, or even sooner? Do we have our priorities all wrong because certain scientific theories have become an 'industry' that would rather perpetuate the machine of science than to fund a hypothesis that may change the 'industry'? All this and more in this episode! Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragram & twitter - @todayinspace on TikTok - /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook Support the podcast: Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop ag3dprinti

On this episode of People of Science we are pleased to have Avi Loeb on to discuss the scientific mystery of Oumuamua. Avi is an Astrophysicist who's hypothesis on the first detected interstellar object to pass through our solar system looks at all the facts and leads us to challenge humanities greatest question - "Are we alone in the universe?" A true Sherlock Holmes style mystery challenging our logic when the evidence in front of us points to Oumuamua not having a natural origin. First thought to be a comet, but without any evidence of a tail or gas emitting from it as it passed the sun the change in orbit can't be accounted for. Add up the other details; a large change in reflectivity pointing to a pancake shape (not cigar shaped) and knowledge that we've discovered our own space trash exhibiting the same behavior from the sun's reflectivity - it points to Oumuamua exhibiting a very long and wide shape measuring 1mm or thinner in thickness that was 'pushed' by the Sun as it went by. Where did this object

In our final episode of February we wanted to share what to expect in space to start March 2021 (on earth and mars). I share my thoughts on Mars Perseverance Landing and the data we've gathered. The inevitable fake science reporting or poor attention grabbing content sharing fake Mars has returned. Can we get better at this as science communicators? Latest data from Mars rover (images, videos, & more) can be found here:  https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/images/ Then we close talking about NASA's history, which is infinitely tied with Black History month. This year we learned about Nichelle Nichols' influence on NASA from the 1970's-2015. A major influencer on the diversity of talent from all spectrums of humanity.  The new movie about Nichelle Nichols, 'Woman in Motion', on this exact topic can be found here: https://amzn.to/3e2MpWa More about Ed Dwight: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Dwight More about Charles Bolden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bolden  

We went LIVE on Facebook to have a Mars Mission hangout to celebrate the final of three missions to the Red Planet. Catch the replay of the exciting finale of Mars Exploration for this season with the Perseverance Rover Entry, Descent, and Landing for NASA & JPL.  A MASSIVE congratulations to the Mars2020 team, quite literally persevering through a pandemic and still accomplishing what so many have failed at before - landing successfully on Mars. Never mind using a rocket powered skycrane to drop an SUV sized robot on another planet.  Looking forward to learning and sharing what our newest robotic emissary will teach us about one of our planetary neighbors in our solar system. Possibly the next one we adventure too as humanity... NASA's Eyes Animated Simulation - https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/mars2020/#/home?id=surface_operations&time=2021-02-18T15:44:04.816-05:00&rate=0 About the landing location - Jezero Crater https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/science/landing-site/ Broadcast LIVE by NASA ht

In this episode Alex shares his favorite facts about the two missions of the Mars Triplet this month - Hope & Tianwen-1. We also discuss the ideas of an interplanetary mission to Mars as an amplifier for a country's value and recognition on the world stage. Can a small, young team of engineers and scientists succeed where the most powerful countries in modern history have failed? Can space progress and the ideal of adding to humanities collective knowledge of a planet like Mars be the grounds for continuing international partnership & teamwork in the future? Let us know what you think! https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-020-01862-z/index.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20200709&utm_source=nature_etoc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200709&sap-outbound-id=D2B97D206CFC64E6C035AC49CAC4D67FAFEBE1C0 https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/tianwen-1 https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUlvzXs5Tc/?igshid=12cugcu5zkb1x https://www.space.com/tianwen-1.html https://www.spac

On this week's episode we sat down and watched both SpaceX Starship high altitude test flights (SN9 & SN8) to compare the two. Both ended in a 'boom', but the 'landing' position was pretty good. How much good data did they get from this launch? Is it enough to continue progress on the Starship program? We'll learn soon enough once SpaceX goes through the debris and analyzes. Best of luck  Alex shares his first thoughts and reaction to watching both SN8 & SN9 launches side by side. There are a surprising amount of differences that we observed and a whole lot of questions yet to be answered. Would love to know what you think! Be well! Spread love & spread science! SN9 Test Flight (SpaceX) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zZ7fIkpBgs SN8 Test Flight (SpaceX) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap-BkkrRg-o  

In this week's episode we discuss the success of the record breaking launch of Transporter-1 by SpaceX that successfully deployed 143 satellites into orbit in the same launch. We also share some stats on this mission to give it some more context Then we discuss the Balance of the space industry and ask whether or not Space is ready for all these emerging launches of cubesats & satellites, considering last year was a record year for satellite launches. Don't we already have too much orbital debris around Earth? Isn't there too much risk already? I share some research on that topic, a brief history of space progress since the 1970's, and my thoughts on why we need to focus on the problem at hand and not get overwhelmed by our emotions. Which of course, is a good chance for me to compare this orbital problem to my first dentist appointment since I quit smoking cigarettes.  Be well! Good luck SpaceX Starship team on getting SN9 hopping down in Boca Chica, Texas! https://web.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-

  https://tcrn.ch/3sKRjwe - Virgin orbit goes to space! https://www.space.com/nasa-sls-megarocket-artemis-1-engine-test-fire https://www.facebook.com/groups/spaceXverse/permalink/2495749894063354/ https://physicsworld.com/a/dark-coated-starlink-satellites-are-better-but-not-perfect-say-astronomers/  

We’ve got a space-packed episode for you this week! We’re talking about some great things to LOOK UP for in the night sky this month, review the latest news since the start of the year, and break down the idea that we’re in the era of Space Race 2.0. The private sector is keeping the space industry strong and while interest is still high, there’s a ton of progress still to come! With a ton of success to build momentum on, SpaceX is doing great things. We bring attention to the person who we think is integral to the maintained success - and we’re not talking about Elon Musk, but their President and COO Gwynne Shotwell!  LOOK UP! - astronomical events in January https://youtu.be/q7jYvd6v25Y Flight proven hardware is easier to sell. WHY Gwynne shotwell is awesome https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/gwynne-shotwell-talks-about-selling-flight-proven-rockets-starship/ Review of satellites launch in last year and more - TLDR; its a lot https://planet4589.org/space/papers/space20.pdf?fbclid=IwAR08UxlTgrrE-7gRxYm

It's the end of 2020, and we can't be more excited for this year to end! We've learned a whole bunch along the way, and I wanted to take this last episode of this shitty year to breakdown some lessons and takeaways. Would love to know what you've taken away from this year as well. We've learned alot by seeing SpaceX & NASA work together to achieve great things. I've learned alot about being honest with myself about who I am and what I'm not good at. I also take some time to dive into some of the best feedback I've gotten this year.  Looking forward to 2021 with lots of hope and excitement! To a fantastic future! ISS Crew 1 team sharing holiday greetings from space! https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1342141735787491330

Welcome to our Holiday Special! We're gearing up for the end of 2020 (thank goodness) and this week we wanted to break down what makes this Great Conjunction so 'great'. We go over what's happening with these two planets, when it's happened before, and what the Earth was like the last time this astronomical event was happening in 1623 and 1226! Were things as messed up as they are now? You'd be surprised... As is tradition on the podcast, we spend some time on the holiday special discussion the mind f&ck that is space & time on the scale of the universe compared to our humanly existence.  Next week we will have lots of content for the end of the year! We're reviewing what 2020 had to offer with Space - and what we expect for 2021! Follow us online! Facebook.com/todayinspacepodcast Twitter.com/todayinspacepod instagram.com/todayinspacepod instagram.com/ag3dprinting https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/great-jupiter-saturn-conjunction-dec-21-2020 https://www.nasa.gov/feature/the-great-conjunction