Celestial Citizen: Recent Episodes
Britt Duffy Adkins
A citizen's podcast for planning humanity's future in space - exploring the social, political, technical, and scientific aspects of living off-Earth from the perspective of a space urban planner. Celestial Citizen is a platform for promoting a more equitable and just vision of planetary settlement beyond Earth. This podcast seeks to provide a medium for conversation and discourse around how to be a better interplanetary citizen and responsible steward of Earth. Key initiatives include making space exploration and settlement planning a diverse and inclusive enterprise while promoting sustainability across the solar system. Celestial Citizen aims to solve many challenges facing Earth today with technologies and solutions derived from the space industry.
On today's episode, we’ll be speaking with Sarafina El-Badry Nance, astrophysicist and author of the new book Starstruck, to discuss the release of her memoir as well as personal journey into becoming an astrophysicist.
In her stunning memoir about a life dedicated to science, we see Sarafina grow into the woman she is today through the many challenges she has faced. Vulnerable, empowering, and inspiring, Starstruck sits at the intersection of the study of our Cosmos—itself constantly changing—and the messy and transformative experience of pursuing one’s passion through life’s inevitable challenges.
Sarafina El-Badry Nance is an Egyptian-American astrophysicist, analog astronaut, author, science communicator, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, and fervent women's health advocate. Passionate about increasing science literacy, she uses a variety of mediums to share the magic of the universe with the world. After being diagnosed with the cancer-causing BRCA mutation and having a preventative double mastectomy at age twenty-six, she publicly advocates for genetic testing, self-checks, and equity in healthcare. She has been awarded fellowships by the National Science Foundation, been named one of Forbes' 30 Inspirational Women and was on Forbes' list of "30 Under 30" and the Arab America Foundation's "40 Under 40."
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor Explore Mars, Inc., an organization seeking to advance the goal of establishing a human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s. Explore Mars hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), which features senior leadership and experts from NASA, industry, academia, other STEM fields, international space agencies, the entertainment industry, and the innovation sector.
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
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On today's episode, we’ll be speaking with Phil Plait, creator of the Bad Astronomy newsletter, to discuss his new book, Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Under Alien Skies places you on the surface of alien worlds, from our own familiar moon to the far reaches of our solar system and beyond. So whether you are an aspiring extraterrestrial citizen, casual space tourist, or curious armchair traveler, Phil's latest book is an illuminating, always-entertaining guide to the most otherworldly views in our universe.
Phil knew he wanted to be an astronomer since the age of 5, when he first saw Saturn through a flimsy department store telescope. From that point on through many twists and turns, spending ten years working with Hubble Space Telescope as an observer, a programmer, and a calibration scientist led to him becoming a professional astronomer. Astronomical outreach is Phil’s passion now and he created and writes the Bad Astronomy newsletter which is one of the most popular astronomical science blogs. He also holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Virginia.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor Explore Mars, Inc., an organization seeking to advance the goal of establishing a human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s. Explore Mars hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), which features senior leadership and experts from NASA, industry, academia, other STEM fields, international space agencies, the entertainment industry, and the innovation sector.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be speaking with Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, Co-Founder and CEO of SpaceBase, about democratizing access to space, what it takes to catalyze a space ecosystem, and the latest news out of the space community in New Zealand.
Emeline is a Co-Founder and CEO of SpaceBase, a social enterprise focused on democratizing space for everyone by co-creating space ecosystems in developing and emerging countries, starting with New Zealand. Emeline is also a Co-Founder of International Space Consultants, USA and is on the management team of Ceres Robotics Inc. She joined the inaugural cohort of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship program in New Zealand in 2017. She also was the former Chief Impact Officer and Executive VP of Operations at Singularity University (SU). Emeline sits on the Board of Trustees for the 10th to the 9th Plus Foundation and is a member of the Associate Editorial Board for the New Space Journal. She is on the International Advisory Committee of the Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space and is an Institute for Space Commerce Fellow.
Emeline has a BS in Physics from the University of the Philippines and a MS in Earth and Space Science from York University, Canada. She also attended the International Space University (ISU) Space Studies Program in Strasbourg, France and subsequently worked for ISU - helping develop its Masters of Space Studies program and even running its summer space studies program. In commercial space development, she has worked and consulted for several startups including Space Adventures Ltd, Odyssey Moon, and Moon Express.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor Explore Mars, Inc., an organization seeking to advance the goal of establishing a human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s. Explore Mars hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), which features senior leadership and experts from NASA, industry, academia, other STEM fields, international space agencies, the entertainment industry, and the innovation sector.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be discussing the upcoming film, FORTITUDE that was created by award-winning documentary filmmaker, Torsten Hoffmann. We’ve got the privilege of having Torsten on the show today – sharing not only inspiration behind the film, a preview into what viewers can expect, but also how you can support its creation as well.
Today, we are joined by Torsten Hoffmann, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who is covering emerging technologies. His previous feature documentary CRYPTOPIA is on Netflix Europe, Amazon Prime (120 countries) and major broadcast TV channels worldwide. Torsten and his team have filmed 80 interviews on 4 continents to cover the most interesting projects, people and promises behind the new space economy. FORTITUDE can be supported on Kickstarter starting April 24th.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor Explore Mars, Inc., an organization seeking to advance the goal of establishing a human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s. Explore Mars hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), which features senior leadership and experts from NASA, industry, academia, other STEM fields, international space agencies, the entertainment industry, and the innovation sector.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today’s episode, we’ll be talking all things Mars with some folks from the Explore Mars organization - our newest sponsors of Celestial Citizen! We’ll also be discussing the upcoming Humans to Mars Summit, which is taking place in-person on May 16-18th in Washington D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences Building, with the goal of furthering conversations about how we get humans to Mars by the 2030s.
Today, we are joined by Chris Carberry, CEO and cofounder of Explore Mars, and Amy Imhoff, Director of Outreach & Strategic Partnerships for Explore Mars.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor Explore Mars, Inc., an organization seeking to advance the goal of establishing a human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s. Explore Mars hosts the annual Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), which features senior leadership and experts from NASA, industry, academia, other STEM fields, international space agencies, the entertainment industry, and the innovation sector.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be discussing the psychology of space travel, how the Overview Effect can help promote mental health, and the role that virtual reality and multisensory experiences will play in expanding worldviews.
Today, we are joined by Dr. Annahita Nezami, a chartered psychologist, author, and founder of Overview Effect Therapy and EarthscapeVR. She is a systems thinker advocating for positive social change and has dedicated her professional career to researching the science and therapeutic value of salutogenic experiences like the Overview Effect.
Her areas of interest include space health, eco psychology, neuroscience, stress, trauma, performance, and altered states of consciousness. Annahita serves as an advisor to multiple organisations and was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). She has been a guest lecturer at various establishments such as Kepler Space Institute, Deakin University, Central St Martin’s, and University College London (UCL), invited to talk about mental health and the Overview Effect on BBC Radio 4 and TEDx. She is an active researcher and published papers and articles with Springer and other media outlets.
Several years ago Annahita interviewed NASA astronauts to investigate the therapeutic benefits of the Overview Effect, as part of her doctoral research. She soon realised that the experience offers comparable results to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and nature-based experiences in promoting eco-transcendence and eudaemonic well-being. After completing her doctoral studies, Annahita co-founded EarthscapeVR (formally VROE), where she helps create evidence-led Extended Reality (XR) multisensory experiences based on the Overview Effect. The XR programs can be utilised as an adjunct to psychotherapy, workshops, or as a standalone well-being tool for individuals, groups, and organizations.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be discussing the publication of the Lunar Policy Handbook with Space Law Advisor Christopher Johnson. The Lunar Policy Handbook is a tool and resource for governance and policymaking on the moon, that was brought forward by the Moon Dialogs group as well as other thought-leaders in the space industry. We’ll cover the objectives of this document, as well as the legal challenges that accompany future sustainable lunar progress.
Christopher is the Space Law Advisor at the Secure World Foundation, and a Professor of Law (Adjunct) at the Georgetown University Law Center where he co-teaches the Space Law Seminar. He is also a faculty member at the International Space University and a member of the International Institute of Space Law. Christopher has written widely on space law and policy issues, and represents the Secure World Foundation at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
He holds a Bachelor's of Art degree from Michigan State University, a Juris Doctor from New York Law School, and an Advanced Masters in Law in Air and Space Law from Leiden University’s International Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL). He also has professional certificates from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, the European Centre for Space Law, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL).
Christopher is also a Core Expert and Rule Drafter in the MILAMOS project, an observer at the Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group, a Field Editor at the Journal of Space Safety Engineering, on the Board of Editors of the journal Air and Space Law, on the Academic Review Board of the Cambridge International Law Journal, and serves on the US Board of Directors of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
In this episode of Celestial Citizen podcast, we conclude our four-part companion podcast series to our short film, “Take Up Space,” which focuses on gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the space industry. Both the podcast series and short film presents first-hand accounts of anonymous women and non-binary individuals from across the industry.
In this final episode of the series, titled “Space for All,” speakers discuss their dreams for women and gender minorities in space, the positive impact they can have, and what it means to be a celestial woman.
The speakers share their aspirations for the future, including seeing the first woman set foot on Mars and wanting to see women exist freely in the industry without the constant worry of harassment or underestimation. They discuss the need for support and initiatives to provide resources for women in the field and how empowering women can lead to an increase in innovative ideas. The speakers also emphasize the importance of bringing a new perspective to exploration and how women can positively impact the cosmos with their passion and heart.
Thank you for listening to this special podcast series. We hope that you will spread the message of this project with your networks and communities so that we can positively impact the space industry and drive meaningful change.
Our short film, "Take Up Space," can be found on the Celestial Citizen YouTube channel.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
In this episode of the Celestial Citizen podcast, host Britt Duffy Adkins introduces a special project that the Celestial Citizen team has been working on to draw attention to gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the space industry. The project, titled "Take Up Space," includes a short film and a four-part companion podcast series that features the firsthand accounts of anonymous women and non-binary individuals working in the space industry.
In this first episode, titled "Not Technical Enough" we share stories that focus on the many ways in which women are discouraged from working in STEM and technical fields in both subtle and overt ways.
The current climate for women in STEM and women in space is described as "very cloudy" by one of the participants. And although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to make the space industry more inclusive. Women are often made to feel uncomfortable if they have opinions or ideas, and the industry is still by and large dominated by men. Globally, women make up only 11% of astronauts, 20-22% of space industry workers, and 30% of researchers, scientists, and engineers.
Despite the challenges, there are efforts to address these issues and bring about change. But perhaps change is not coming fast enough, and there is a risk of losing talented individuals who want to work in the industry if things don't improve. One speaker points out that recent triumphs, such as Wally Funk's trip to space, are few and far between. Many women have had to abandon their dreams due to lack of opportunities, discrimination, mistreatment, and other societal pressures.
The speakers share their personal experiences with doubt, questioning their place in the industry, and feeling invisible or not taken seriously. One woman, in particular, recounts her experience with harassment in her first job in the field, which was extremely demoralizing and made her question whether it was worth staying in the industry.
Despite the challenges, the speakers remain determined to pursue their passions and make a difference. The podcast provides a powerful look at the experiences of gender minorities in the space industry and highlights the need for greater inclusivity and diversity in the field.
Our short film, "Take Up Space," can be found on the Celestial Citizen YouTube channel.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
In this episode of Celestial Citizen podcast, we continue our four-part companion podcast series to our short film, “Take Up Space,” which focuses on gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the space industry.
In this second episode, titled “Dark Space,” we share experiences of women and non-binary individuals with gender discrimination, harassment, assault, and hostility in the workplace and academic settings. This podcast episode includes sensitive topics related to sexual harassment, abuse, and sexual assault that may be triggering or traumatic for some listeners.
The speakers share heart-breaking accounts of their experiences with harassment, abuse, and assault in the workplace, and how they found ways to continue to work toward their dreams despite these obstacles and adversities.
This episode also explores the speakers’ experiences with human resources and organizational failures to address bad actors in the workplace. Some individuals faced retaliation and were forced to leave their jobs, while others had to continue to deal with a hostile work environment.
The podcast sheds light on the current climate for gender minorities in a male-dominated industry and emphasizes the need for creating an inclusive environment to make humanity's future in space more diverse and equitable.
Our short film, "Take Up Space," can be found on the Celestial Citizen YouTube channel.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
In this episode of Celestial Citizen podcast, we continue our four-part companion podcast series to our short film, “Take Up Space,” which focuses on gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the space industry. Both the podcast series and short film presents first-hand accounts of anonymous women and non-binary individuals from across the industry.
In this third episode, titled "Hope for Change," listeners hear from individuals who have unique perspectives on the space industry and are passionate about working towards a more inclusive and equitable space future. Speakers share their experiences with gender and racial discrimination, the importance of representation and diverse narratives, and the desire to break down the barriers that prevent women from climbing the ladder and reaching senior leadership positions.
This episode encourages listeners to think beyond the traditional image of space scientists and astronauts and to recognize the importance of diverse skill sets and perspectives in the industry.
Our short film, "Take Up Space," can be found on the Celestial Citizen YouTube channel.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
In this special episode of Celestial Citizen, we delve into the story behind the award-winning short documentary film "Take Up Space." The film highlights the stories of eight anonymous women and non-binary individuals who work in the space industry and have faced gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
We are joined by guest host and Celestial Citizen social media producer and community lead, Helen Floersh, to speak with the film's director and Celestial Citizen founder, Britt Duffy Adkins, about what inspired her to make this documentary and what she hopes it will achieve.
In this week’s episode, we will discuss the unique aspects of the “Take Up Space” narrative and how it differs from other documentaries on gender discrimination and harassment. Throughout our conversation, we will explore the recurring themes that emerged from these stories, share insights into the production process, and examine lessons learned along the way.
We also discuss the personal significance of this film for Britt and how it relates to her own experiences in the male-dominated space industry.
Later in the conversation, we shift our focus to the current state of the space industry with regards to gender equality. Britt shares her hopes for the film's impact and what she believes needs to happen next in order to achieve greater gender equity and a more inclusive industry.
If you are interested in viewing "Take Up Space," the short film will premiere March 31st on the Celestial Citizen YouTube channel. Be sure to follow Celestial Citizen on social media for updates. Also, please consider tuning into the podcast tomorrow for the special release of the “Take Up Space” four-part companion podcast series.
Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring conversation about the
power of film to spark change and create a more inclusive future for all in the
space industry.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll begin a special series that follows a month-long algae diet experiment with Founder of Spira, Elliot Roth, to explore the viability of algae as a food source in space. We’ll be following his journey from beginning to end, while helping to document reactions, findings, and even the emotions that come with committing to a space-age diet.
Elliot is the Founder of Spira, a company that engineers algae for sustainable, healthier, and cost-effective industry applications. After being trained as a University Innovation Fellow at the Stanford d.School, Elliot started multiple entrepreneurial projects including the DIYbio lab, Indie Lab, TEDxVCU and 6 other startups. Elliot graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering where he actually lived off algae and learned about the many benefits of this incredible plant!
After University, he spent five years consulting in product design and business strategy before starting Spira. Elliot is a Kairos Fellow, a Seasteading Ambassador, a member of the TFF NextGen Council and sits on the Virginia Governor’s Council for Youth Entrepreneurship. Elliot is passionate about solving social and environmental problems in manufacturing and has spoken at Synbiobeta, SXSW, and Thought for Food on social impact, synthetic biology and food.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be discussing futures thinking, foresight planning as it relates to the space industry, and the importance of proactive and anticipatory policymaking in order to create more positive future outcomes for humanity both on and off Earth.
On today’s show we are joined by Kara Cunzeman, the Lead Futurist for Strategic Foresight for the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation. In her role, Kara is focused on cultivating formalized methodologies in futures thinking, helping the enterprise adequately prepare and proactively shape the future through innovative approaches across strategy, acquisition, S&T portfolio management, policy, and operations. Prior to working at Aerospace, Kara held roles in space systems engineering, vehicle operations, and space sensor development at Raytheon and General Atomics. She was also a key contributor to winning Phase II funding from a NASA small business in innovation (SBIR) award for extracting oxygen from lunar soil while at Packer Engineering. She received her B.S. in Multidisciplinary Engineering and M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. She is also a certified foresight practitioner and guest instructor at the Institute for the Future, the Center for Intelligence Studies, International Space University, and George Washington University.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we’ll be discussing the uncanny parallels between the present billionaire-backed space race and the religiously-fueled age of colonialism and conquest. We’ll be speaking with Dr. Mary-Jane Rubenstein, author ofAstrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race, and we’ll take a look at how humans might shift their thinking from “how the universe might belong to us,” to instead consider “how we might belong to the universe.” Get ready for a fascinating look at how deeply intertwined religious rhetoric is within the language of space exploration.
Mary-Jane Rubenstein is a Professor of Religion and Science in Society at Wesleyan University, and is affiliated with the Philosophy Department and the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. She holds a B.A. from Williams College, an M.Phil. from Cambridge University, and a Ph.D. in from Columbia University. Her research unearths the philosophies and histories of religion and science, especially in relation to cosmology, ecology, and space travel.
She is the author of Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race(2022), Pantheologies: Gods, Worlds, Monsters(2018), also Worlds without End: The Many Lives of the Multiverse (2014), and Strange Wonder: The Closure of Metaphysics and the Opening of Awe (2009). She is also co-editor with Catherine Keller of Entangled Worlds: Religion, Science, and New Materialisms (2017) and co-author with Thomas A. Carlson and Mark C. Taylor of Image: Three Inquiries in Technology and Imagination (2021).
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we will be discussing the Artemis Accords, a non-binding multilateral arrangement between the U.S. government and other world governments participating in the Artemis Program, which is an American-led effort to return humans to the Moon by 2025. We’ll also discuss the legal framework behind the Artemis Accords, the nations that have become signatories to it, and why it has gained traction where other legal agreements in space have been slower to gain broad adoption.
On today’s show we are joined by Cris van Eijk, an international lawyer researching what it means to make space 'common', and how international law attempts to do that. He holds a BA and LLM in International Law from Leiden University, and a BA in Law from the University of Cambridge. Cris has also previously joined Celestial Citizen Podcast in Season 1 of this show. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out our previous discussion titled “The Legal Landscape of Mars” where Cris debunks SpaceX’s attempts to claim “Mars as a free planet," why the field of space law can no longer be overlooked by the broader legal community, and how science fiction plays into the way we think about future legal and governance frameworks.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
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On today's episode, we’ll be discussing the fascinating, multi-layered, and complex topic of space settlement and the myriad of things we’ll need to figure out if we want to build an ethical and sustainable future society in outer space. We’ll be speaking with Dr. Erika Nesvold, author ofOff-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space, which is set to release on March 7th, and explores the “potential ethical pitfalls of becoming a multi-planet species.”
Erika earned her Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and has conducted astrophysics research at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, the Carnegie Institute’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, and the NASA Frontier Development Laboratory. She currently works as an Astrophysicist & Developer on the Universe Sandbox astronomy simulator game, and has written articles on astronomy, history, and other topics for Astronomy Magazine, The Planetary Society, and DamnInteresting.com. More information on her research and writing can be found on her website.
Erika produced and hosted the 13-episode Making New Worlds podcast, which explored the ethical issues involved in settling space. In 2018, Erika co-founded The JustSpace Alliance in partnership with Lucianne Walkowicz.
Erika has two upcoming books: Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space(MIT Press), coming out March 7, 2023, and is an update and expansion of Making New Worlds podcast, exploring the ethical challenges we’ll face during space settlement. She also co-edited an anthology called Reclaiming Space: Progressive and Multicultural Visions of Space Exploration (Oxford University Press), which is also coming out in 2023.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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On today's episode, we will be joined by Melodie Yashar to discuss the future of space architecture, the role that 3D printing will play in how we construct off-world habitats, and the latest on what ICON has in store for lunar and Martian construction.
Melodie is the VP of Building Design & Performance at ICON, a construction technologies company focused on large scale additive manufacturing for Earth and in space. Melodie oversees the architectural direction of ICON’s built work as well as the performance of ICON’s building systems to deliver optimally-performing structures that shift the paradigm of homebuilding on Earth and beyond. Collaborating across technology and construction teams, her department supports design and construction of dignified and resilient terrestrial housing solutions in addition to supporting the development of ICON’s off-world construction systems.
Melodie teaches undergraduate and graduate design studios at Art Center College of Design. In previous roles, Melodie was a Senior Research Associate with the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames via the San Jose State University Research Foundation (SJSURF), as well as a co-founder of Space Exploration Architecture (SEArch+), a research group developing human supporting designs for space exploration.
Melodie obtained a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and a Master of Human-Computer Interaction with an emphasis in Robotics from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. She is of Iranian heritage and geeks out on new material & fabrication technologies. She likes tiny robots and would like to visit the Moon (though not yet Mars) in her lifetime.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we have a very special conversation with Frances “Poppy” Northcutt – the first woman engineer to work in NASA’s mission control and early trailblazer for representation in the space industry – having worked on several NASA missions including both Apollo 8 and Apollo 13. We’ll discuss her time at NASA, how gender equity in space careers has changed over time, and her inspiring women’s rights advocacy work.
Frances "Poppy" Northcutt is a Texas attorney who began her career as a "computer" and then an engineer for the technical staff on NASA's Apollo Program during the space race. During the Apollo 8 mission, she became the first female engineer to work in NASA's Mission Control. Later in her career, Northcutt became an attorney specializing in women's rights. In the early 1970s, she served on the national board of directors of the National Organization for Women. Today, she works and volunteers for several organizations in Houston advocating for abortion rights.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
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On this latest episode, we will be discussing lunar policy and governance, getting better acquainted with the Open Lunar Foundation, and comparing the early days of ESG investing with the emerging space investment landscape.
Today, we are joined by Jacob Malthouse. Jacob works on the design and application of international multi-stakeholder governance models that empower open innovation. At the UNEP Finance Initiative, Jacob project-managed the first global collaboration of financial institutions to undertake research on the materiality of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues to equity pricing (report here). This work, along with the Freshfields report on the fiduciary duty of ESG issues, laid the foundations for the Principles for Responsible Investment (or PRI). Along with James Gifford, Jacob ran the PRI process until the first investor meeting. Jacob then left the UNEP Finance Initiative to join ICANN, the nonprofit responsible for critical aspects of technical Internet governance. While at ICANN, he developed and launched the ICANN fellowships program and was a founding member of the ICANN Global Partnerships team. Jacob left ICANN to co-found the .eco Internet domain with Trevor Bowden and Anastasia O'Rourke. Jacob was Director and CEO of Big Room Inc, the company behind the .eco domain registry, for ten years. After exiting from .eco he worked with Foresight - Canada's leading cleantech accelerator - on their ecosystem strategy, including open innovation challenges and cluster development.
Jacob is now advising Open Lunar Foundation on novel approaches to applied policy development that will enable more resilient lunar futures. His work in finance, cleantech, digital technology, and consumer advocacy has been covered in major news media around the world including the Financial Times, the Guardian, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the BBC, the CBC and many, many others.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
On today's episode, we're thrilled to be joined by New York Times Bestselling Author Daniel Suarez to discuss his latest space-tech thriller and new book Critical Mass. Fans of Delta-v, one of his previous novels, will be delighted to pick back up where the previous crew left off! We’ll be discussing Daniel’s inspiration behind these novels, what to expect from Critical Mass which is set to publicly release on January 31st (you can pre-order now!), and what he believes lies ahead for the future of the space industry.
Daniel Suarez is a New York Times bestselling author, TEDGlobal speaker, and former systems analyst whose unique brand of high-tech fiction explores the causes and impacts of rapid technological change. The author of seven novels, he has a track record of anticipating what's next, and his latest book, Critical Mass (due out from Dutton Publishing on January 31, 2023) brings readers on a daring journey to the new frontier of private space exploration. The second book in the Delta-v series, Critical Mass realistically portrays humanity's urgent transition from an Earthbound to a spacefaring civilization -- and brings home the message of why that's critical to our future.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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Twitter: @celestialcitzn
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On today's episode, we will be discussing the intersection of space science, climate change and policy. How can space technology and geospatial data improve our ability to tackle the daunting environmental challenges we see before us? And what does a positive and integrated Earth-Space future look like? We'll cover all of this and more.
On today’s show we are joined by Dr. Raha Hakimdavar.
Dr. Hakimdavar is the Director of Space Sciences at Ball Aerospace, where she develops civil space business strategy and leads engagements with the government and broader space sciences community. Previously, Dr. Hakimdavar served as a hydrologist and acting national program lead in remote sensing and geospatial analysis research at the USDA Forest Service, where she developed innovative approaches to manage forest and aquatic resources in the United States and internationally. She led research on the integration of space data into the UN Sustainable Development Goals and developed a whole of government framework for a global hydrology model to assess water risk during her Presidential Management Fellowship appointment at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Hakimdavar has consulted for UN Environment and the World Bank in the Caribbean and Latin America, notably helping to establish the first remote hydro-meteorological network for disaster risk reduction, agroforestry, and hydropower development in the South Department of Haiti. She is also an adjunct professor in water and climate science at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Dr. Hakimdavar earned a B.S. in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in civil engineering with an emphasis on hydrology from Columbia University. She was a Fulbright Scholar in the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and was awarded the KLM Airlines Sustainability and Innovation award for her work and research on hydro-ecology.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out the Cislunar Market Opportunities report produced by NewSpace Global, a Multiverse Media property, for a snapshot and user guide to the players and opportunities ahead for the cislunar economy. To get your own copy please go to cislunar.report and use coupon code citizen10 for 10% off a single user license.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
Support the showSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Instagram: @thecelestialcitizen
Twitter: @celestialcitzn
LinkedIn: Celestial Citizen
YouTube: @thecelestialcitizen
Welcome to another episode and another season of Celestial Citizen Podcast!
Today, we will be discussing all things asteroids – especially fitting given the recent successful NASA DART (or Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission toward the end of 2022. We’ll be speaking with astronomer Dr. Martin Elvis and diving into his book – Asteroids: How Love, Fear, and Greed Will Determine Our Future in Space– it’s a fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in learning more about how asteroids could influence the future of space exploration.
On today’s show we are joined by Dr. Martin Elvis.
Dr. Elvis is an astronomer at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory which is a collaborative research effort alongside Harvard University and it is now known as the Center for Astrophysics. Dr. Elvis has obsessed for years over how supermassive black holes come to be seen as quasars, sources so bright that we see them out to the greatest distances and earliest times in the universe. For his PhD, Dr. Elvis discovered that quasars emit X-rays. And at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, using a fleet of space and ground based telescopes he mapped out the spectrum of quasars from X-rays to ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, and was able to suggest their inner structures. Concerned about the growing expense of space telescopes, Dr. Elvis has turned to researching how astronomy is needed to enable asteroid mining. He has since published widely on issues related to asteroid mining and the space economy, law and ethics, and even has Asteroid 9283 Martinelvis named after him.
We also want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors this year for supporting our show!
Learn more about our Gold Sponsor Multiverse Media, an integrated media company focusing on space exploration, science, and technology, and check out their new title, Space Education: Preparing Students for Humanity’s Multi-Planet Future, aimed at teachers, academics, parents, entrepreneurs, and leaders by educator Mark Wagner.
Learn more about our Silver Sponsor the Colorado School of Mines Space Resources Program, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program that offers Certificate, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees for professionals around the world interested in the emerging field of extraterrestrial resources here.
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Welcome to a special state of space episode from Celestial Citizen Podcast!
Today, we will be doing a deep dive into the current state of the market and space economy – a particularly timely conversation especially given the recent macroeconomic climate and potential slow down for the sector that has been the topic of many conversations in this community. How concerned should we be for the future of space investing? And since there is always a silver lining – where are the current opportunities and positive outcomes?
On today’s show we are joined by Justus Kilian.
Justus is a Partner at Space Capital, a $100M seed-stage venture firm investing in the space economy. He serves on the Board of ClearRoad and Lunar Outpost. Justus also leads Space Talent, the largest career platform at the intersection of space and tech. He previously worked at Acumen, a $250M early-stage venture firm investing in emerging markets. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch where he specialized in private market investments and managed $6B in assets. Justus holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
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Can’t wait for Season 4 of Celestial Citizen Podcast? Well, here is a special bonus episode while you wait… Earlier this year, the Celestial Citizen team had the opportunity to cover the Explore Mars Humans to Mars Summit 2022 in Washington, D.C.
How will humanity return to the Moon by the mid-2020s and go to Mars by the mid-2030s? How can innovations that enable human missions to the Moon and Mars benefit humanity? If we find life on Mars, what next?These were just a few of the fascinating topics that were explored at the 2022 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) that took place on May 17-19, 2022, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The Human to Mars Summit is the annual conference of Explore Mars, Inc., and is the largest annual conference in the world dedicated to the goal of a sustainable human presence on Mars starting no later than the 2030s.
And the Celestial Citizen team was thrilled to document the event through video, and now, audio!
In this episode, you can follow along as I talk to different speakers, panelists, and attendees of the Humans to Mars Summit. Some of these guests you may even recognize from past episodes of the podcast! And it’s not too late to start making plans for attending next year’s summit...
In fact, you can already register for the 2023 Humans to Mars Summit, taking place May 16-18th at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C: https://www.exploremars.org/summit/
Now, onto the Humans to Mars Summit!
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On this week's episode, we'll celebrate the wrap of Season 3 and take a look at some of the highlights from the past sixteen weeks of Celestial Citizen Podcast! We hope you enjoy a recap of some of the conversations that are helping guide what a future space community will look like. Let’s live up to our celestial potential together!
As we close out this season, I want to extend a massive thank you to our guests that have boldly shared their knowledge, insights, and perspectives on what it will take to make the future of space exploration more inclusive and representative of all humanity. And an equally big thank you to our community of listeners who inspire the work that we do at Celestial Citizen. Your attention, engagement, and passion for the space industry is something that we are privileged to be the recipient of and we strive to be worthy of it. We are honored to have you in our celestial community.
Thank you also to this show’s editor Victor Figueroa who brings these conversations to life, Graham Clark who created the amazing intro and outro music for this podcast, Evan Yee & Helen Floersh for additional support, and Morgan Denman for graphic design. And of course, our wonderful sponsors this season: Zeno Power, Multiverse Media Group, and Mission: AstroAccess!
Until next season…don’t be afraid to take up space!
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On this week's episode, we're joined by the CEO and founder of IgnitedThinkers, Gitika Gorthi. We’ll discuss how space education can extend the reach and impact of the industry, as well as, the best ways to ignite a passion for the cosmos in Gen Z.
Gitika is the founder and CEO of IgnitedThinkers, a non-profit organization that she founded in the 8th-grade to spread space education and her love for aerospace to students across the world. She is an incoming freshman at Columbia University in their College of Engineering and Applied Science as a Davis Scholar. Gitika is an aspiring aerospace physician, medical researcher, and astronaut.
Through IgnitedThinkers, Gitika is working towards breaking the glass ceiling for minorities in the aerospace industry, incorporating more hands-on research space science-based activities into elementary education curriculums, and igniting the passions of all students by providing them the opportunity to explore and create. IgnitedThinkers' mission and vision statement are simple: to ignite, inform, and inspire students across the world.
Conducting medical research at the Baylor College of Medicine Space Medicine Center, researching wind turbines at the University of Central Florida at Raghavan Research Group, working with professor Dr. Prasanta Pal from Brown University to develop telemedicine technology, student researcher at Columbia Medical School Center for Radiological Research, and interning last summer at NASA Ames Research Center at GeneLab, Gitika is climbing towards her goals going into aerospace medicine research. Gitika is extremely excited about the new understanding studying humans in space will bring to treat diseases here on Earth and the medical technological advancements that will occur on Earth with the greater utilization of telemedicine for deep-space exploration missions. Most recently, Gitika was named one of the Top 100 Women in Aerospace and Aviation Professionals to Follow on LinkedIn in 2022. The future of aerospace is exciting, and Gitika is working to make it a more diverse and equitable environment for everyone.
Furthermore, Gitika is a 2021-2022 Teen Board of Director of the Girl Scout Nation’s Capital and 2020-2022 Girls Advisory Board Member for Girl Scouts USA. She provides strategic advice to help make the scouting program more diverse, equitable, and inclusive for all girls.
Also, a special shout-out and thank you to our sponsor for this episode, Mission: AstroAccess! Mission: AstroAccess is a project dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in space exploration. AstroAccess is launching disabled scientists, veterans, students, athletes, and artists on parabolic flights with the Zero Gravity Corporation as the first step in a progression toward flying a diverse range of folks to outer space.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Lucianne Walkowicz. We’ll discuss the ethics of space exploration, the JustSpace Alliance, policing in space, and how to bring more of the public into conversations about humanity’s collective future both on- and off-Earth.
Lucianne is an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the co-founder of the JustSpace Alliance. Walkowicz studies the ethics of space exploration, stellar magnetic activity, how stars influence a planet’s suitability as a host for alien life, and how to use advanced computing to discover unusual events in large astronomical data sets. From 2017-2018, they were the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/LOC Chair in Astrobiology at the Library of Congress. Walkowicz is the founding director of the LSSTC Data Science Fellowship Program, an initiative to provide astronomy graduate students with training in advanced computing. Walkowicz speaks and writes regularly on topics at the intersection of science and society, which have appeared on TED.com, Slate, The Washington Post, Vox, and more. Walkowicz holds a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from Johns Hopkins University, an MS and PhD in Astronomy from the University of Washington, and held postdoctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley and Princeton prior to joining the Adler Planetarium. They are also a TED Senior Fellow and a practicing artist, working in a variety of media, from performance to sound.
Also, a special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver. We’ll be diving into Lori’s riveting new book – Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age. We’ll also be talking about the pivotal role that Lori played in the transition to the new space economy and what lies ahead for the industry.
Lori Garver led the NASA transition team for President-elect Barack Obama and served as Deputy Administrator of NASA from 2009 - 2013. Garver is the recipient of the 2021 Public Service Award for AIAA, the 2021 Heinlein Award for the National Space Society, and the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Aerospace and has been awarded three NASA Distinguished Service Medals.
Also, a special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Hunter Williams to talk about a new concept for a lunar electrical grid and explore the various infrastructure, technical, and policy considerations that will be needed to enable lunar surface activities.
Hunter is the technology development manager at Honeybee Robotics. His focus is on lunar space resource utilization technology, including oxygen production, water harvesting, and lunar polar electrical power. He is a former NASA research fellow in solar regolith melting technology and a site expert in additive manufacturing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Hunter is pursuing a PhD in Space Resources from the Colorado School of Mines.
Also, a special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Michal Ziso to talk about space architecture, gender equality in the built environment, and how space innovations can inform better design here on Earth as well.
Michal is a futurist, equality activist and space architect, creating the future of the built environment on earth through space innovation. Michal is the founder and CEO of ZISO Architecture + Innovation Lab and The Sleep Space, an early stage SpaceTech startup. With over a decade of experience designing skyscrapers and innovative large scale projects, Michal is also an Advisory Board Member of Moon2Mars Ventures and Earth & Beyond Incubator. Michal promotes democratization of access to space and is a global scale trailblazer for human centered design of space environments via collaborations with NASA, ISA (Israel Space Agency), UNOOSA (United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs) group Space4Women, and more.
A special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Kim Macharia to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the space industry, as well as space communication and educational opportunities for young people. We'll also cover the latest from Space Prize and Space Frontier Foundation.
Kim serves as Executive Director of the Space Prize Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting STEM education and increasing the representation of women in aerospace careers. She began her career managing community relations for startups in working on a range of projects including space situational awareness and private spaceflight. She has had the privilege of representing these companies at international events including the UN World Space Forum. Throughout her career she has made a concerted effort to advocate for marginalized communities and create pathways for nontraditional actors to engage in the growing space economy.
She is also passionate about diversifying and democratizing the space industry. She advocates for the development of the space economy through her role as the Chair of the Space Frontier Foundation. Since taking on the position she launched ambitious initiatives centered around Climate Change, Diversity & Inclusion, and STEM.
A special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Zac Wager to discuss the scarcity of lunar resources and what we can do to work toward a better system of oversight and management to avoid depletion and other environmental issues in space. Our conversation is a deep-dive into Zac's recent paper, Scarcity of Lunar Resources - Scorecard & Case Study, for the Open Lunar Foundation
Zac is a relatively recent newcomer to the space world but has made a considerable impact in a short amount of time. He has published multiple research pieces, won national competitions for his policy writing on the outer space treaty, and has participated in multiple international working groups reporting to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Zac currently occupies a policy advisor role with Global Affairs Canada where he analyzes, disseminates and coordinates various outer space policy and regulation initiatives at both the international and domestic level on behalf of the Canadian Government. He is part of the Canadian delegation to the UNCOPUOS and its subcommittees, where he has acquired valuable experience in the multilateral processes of developing international space law and policy. In addition to his current position, Zac also holds a research fellowship with the Open Lunar Foundation. In this capacity, he did advanced collaborative research and writing on the notions of mining and stewardship of lunar resources, contributed to Open Lunar's "Breaking Ground" lunar resources trust, and conducted significant investigations into the scarcity of lunar resources, with an emphasis on sustainable resource management.
Zac has an eclectic academic background having received a master's degree in international public policy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs and an undergraduate degree in peace and disarmament studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Zac is deeply passionate about issues of sustainability, social justice and the preservation of nature both on this planet and beyond it. He hopes to positively support the emerging field of space environmentalism where he can work on issues like space debris, space resource utilization, and the weaponization of outer space.
A special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier, check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Allen Herbert to discuss space agriculture, how StarLab Oasis is solving food scarcity both here on Earth and in space, as well as, the emerging space economy in Abu Dhabi.
Allen is the General Manager of StarLab Oasis, a Space AgTech company based in Abu Dhabi. In this role, he directs and manages the organization’s overall business activities, and develops and implements effective business strategies for growth.
Allen has an entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for directing business functions and assisting the organization in maintaining key relationships with varied clients. He also has over 30 years of experience in technology industries and government relations.
Allen’s vision of future space exploration includes developing and working on initiatives that will provide a means for everyday citizens to venture into space, as a place to do business, live and work.
He is always looking for business opportunities and space projects in emerging space nations. And one of his passions is that he believes that research in space agriculture can impact food security here on Earth. He envisions a future where food scarcity on Earth and in space no longer exists.
Allen received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California.
A special shout-out and thank you to our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group! For more information about Multiverse Media Group and their recent documentary, The High Frontier,check out https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Laura Forczyk - author and owner of space consulting firm, Astralytical - to discuss the future of human spaceflight and how we can all "become off-worldly."
Laura is the owner of space consulting firm, Astralytical, specializing in space science, policy, space career coaching services, and publishing industry reports.
She is the author of Rise of the Space Age Millennials (2020) and Becoming Off-Worldly (2022). She runs the private online community Becoming Off-Worldly Together.
Laura also serves as an advisor for the Cislunar Space Development Company and For All Moonkind. She is the VP of Research and Analytics for the Beyond Earth Institute. She also serves as a mentor for the Brooke Owens Fellowship program. She is a NASA Subject Matter Expert for astrophysics and planetary science missions.
Prior to forming her own company, she ran the Florida office of an international startup working to establish parabolic and suborbital flight at Kennedy Space Center and globally. She has also worked as a scientific analyst for a nonprofit facilitating over 50 experiments on the International Space Station for the benefit of life on Earth.
She has researched astrophysics and planetary science at three NASA centers, flown two parabolic “Zero G” campaigns, conducted geological research in a meteor crater, and earned National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR) suborbital astronaut wings in ground training. And Laura also has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in astrophysics.
A special shout-out and thank you to our sponsors for this episode!
For more information about our lead sponsor this season, Multiverse Media Group, and their recent documentary The High Frontier: https://thehighfrontiermovie.com/.
To learn more about Zeno Power and view available job postings, check out: https://www.zenopower.com/.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Dan Hawk to discuss lunar dust mitigation, planetary defense, and hemp rocket fuel. We’ll also chat about the important work that Dan is doing to make Indigenous peoples the “new face of space.”
Dan was raised and lived on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. While in the Army National Guard and the U.S. Navy, he developed extensive experience in electronics (both in repair and testing) as well as propulsion. While working with Space Grants, Dan worked with high powered rockets, high-altitude balloons, tethered aerostats, and CubeSat satellites. He operated both First Nations Launch and Tethered Aerostat Programs. Dan has extensive carbon-based research experience and is an Amazon Black Earth expert. He is currently working with the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to ensure Native Americans have a seat at the space table. Dan is also working with NASA to create an Office of Tribal Affairs. He also started the United First Nations Planetary Defense, a Jay 1794 Treaty Company, to slow and or deflect asteroids of less than 300 meters in diameter.
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On this week's episode, we’ll discuss lunar surface waste management, the important role this will play as humanity scales to a presence in space, and attempt to answer the very important question, “who takes out the trash on the moon?”
My guest on the show, Nadia Khan, is a first year graduate student at MIT pursuing an M.S. in Technology and Policy at the Institute for Data Systems and Society. Nadia has a dual research assistantship position at the Engineering Systems Lab in the AeroAstro department as well as being a project leader at the MIT Media Lab's Space Exploration Initiative, where she is leading the development of MIT's Lunar Open Architecture platform. Nadia has an eclectic background, in international relations, disaster risk reduction, space weather and space exploration. She's also the operations lead for MIT's Global Start Up Workshop, a member of the MIT Grad Arts Forum's Executive Committee, professional development lead and executive committee member at the Graduate Women of Aerospace at MIT's AeroAstro lab. Prior to starting her second M.S. at MIT, Nadia was an Aziz Foundation Scholar at University College London where she completed a MSc in Space, Risk and Disaster Reduction. She also completed a BA in International Relations from Queen Mary, University of London. In 2019, Nadia was recognised by HM Queen Elizabeth II for her services to mental health in the UK, in setting up her award winning Not for Profit - The Delicate Mind C.I.C. Nadia is a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and a Local Leader as part of the Franco British Programme.
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On this week's episode, we’ll be talking about the world’s biggest space party – Yuri’s Night, of course – the New Right Stufffor space, the launch of another Spacekind cohort, and the personal journey of Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides.
This episode's guest, Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, studied astrobiology at Stanford and Caltech. She has also worked in the Astronaut Office in Houston Texas, done research on plant life in the Canadian Arctic with NASA, dove to the bottom of the ocean with Titanic Director James Cameron to film the IMAX “Aliens of the Deep,” floated weightless hundreds of times as a Flight Director for Zero Gravity Corporation, studied terraforming Mars with Dr. Chris McKay of NASA Ames, worked for the X Prize Foundation during the $10M winning Ansari X Prize flights in 2004, helped launch the Space Generation Advisory Council in 1999, and Co-Created Yuri’s Night, The World Space Party in 2001. Loretta has also been a Founder Astronaut with Virgin Galactic since 2005. Loretta is the author of the New Right Stuff, and leads SpaceKind training for space advocates and leaders – which will be starting a new cohort on May 4th, 2022. Loretta is also an investor and advisor for Celestial Citizen!
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This week, we have a special bonus episode to share! A few weeks ago, Celestial Citizen was the lead media partner for Yuri’s Night LA. Experience the world's biggest space party by tuning in for our audio coverage of the night, and getting to hear from many of the 2022 Yuri's Night Ambassadors, Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, Dr. Sian Proctor, and much more!
Yuri’s Night is a non profit organization that celebrates Yuri Gagarin, the first human to venture into space on April 12th 1961, and the inaugural launch of the first Space Shuttle on April 12th 1981. Yuri’s Night LA at the California Science Center is one of the organization’s flagship events and we were super excited to document the night through video, and now, audio!
Now, on to Yuri’s Night!
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On this week's episode, we’ll be talking all things Mars with two leaders from the Explore Mars organization. We’ll also be discussing the upcoming Humans to Mars Summit, which is taking place in-person May 17-19th in Washington D.C. this year, and hoping to further conversations about how we get humans to Mars by the 2030s – the primary goal of this event.
On today’s show we have two guests joining from Explore Mars, Janet Ivey and Chris Carberry.
Janetis thePresident of Explore Mars, and Creator and CEO of the award winning Janet’s Planet, which is committed to enriching the lives of children via education and live performances, TV, and online programming. With over 27 years in the children’s edutainment and space science outreach sector, Janet has captivated Nashville and beyond with her work. Her first TEDx Talk was in 2014 entitled, "AWE,(Art, Wonder and Experiential) Inspired Science," her second TEDx Talk will happen May 3rd, at the Weiss School, entitled, “How To Inhabit Your Very Own Planet, #PlanetYou.” She has received 12 Regional Emmys, five Gracie Allen Awards, for her children’s series Janet’s Planet that airs on 140+ public television stations nationwide. Most recently Janet joined the Board of Directors for Explore Mars, she is also an active NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, on the Board of Governors for the National Space Society, the Educational Director of the Midsouth Chapter of NATAS, (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) recipient of the New World’s Institute’s inaugural Permission to Dream Award in 2016 and has won a STEM-FLORIDA Award for “Exploring Microgravity,” an educational video that she wrote and produced for Space Florida. Her mission is simple, amplify the love of space, science and exploration and to encourage this generation that MARS is theirs.
Also joining today, is Chris Carberry.
Chris is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars and a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community as well as with non-traditional organizations. Chris has presented oral (and written) testimony to both the United States Senate as well as the United States House of Representatives and has been active in all levels of policy engagement with both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. In recent years, he has overseen Explore Mars’ annual Humans to Mars Summit, and has also spearheaded dozens of programs including the Mars Innovation Forum, the annual Community Workshops for the Achievability and Sustainability of Human Exploration of Mars series, the AR/VR and Space workshop series, the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and in Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. He has also conducted programs overseas, in such countries as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Chris is also the creator, and one of the senior editors, of the annual publication known as the Humans to Mars Report that was highlighted in the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017. In 2013, Chris was awarded a NASA Group Achievement award.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein to discuss her book The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred, what it means to be a Black feminist physicist in an academic realm that has always and continues today to be dominated by Western, white, cis-gendered male perspectives, and what we can do to move toward a future where all humans have a fundamental right as Dr. Prescod-Weinstein puts it to “know and love the night sky.”
Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is also a columnist for New Scientist and Physics World. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neutron stars, and dark matter, and she is active in Black feminist science, technology, and society studies. Essence magazine recognized her as one of “15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers.” She has been profiled in several venues, including TechCrunch, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, Gizmodo, Nylon, and the African American Intellectual History Society’s Black Perspectives. A cofounder of the Particles for Justice movement, she has received the 2017 LGBT+ Physicists Acknowledgement of Excellence Award for her contributions to improving conditions for marginalized people in physics, as well as the 2021 American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award for her contributions to particle cosmology.
Be sure to pre-order a paperback copy of The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred - releasing May 10th, 2022!
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Billy Almon to discuss what it means to be an astrobiofuturist, how nature can inform design both on and off this planet, and maybe even a little bit about the infamous lunar tardigrade incident.
Billy is an astrobiofuturist, exploring biology-inspired solutions to improve the human condition for those of us on Earth and those who will travel to the stars. He speaks to multiple generations of inventors, designers, scientists, and engineers on designing the future they wish to see. Previously, Billy was a creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, leading efforts to develop immersive experiences and environments around the world.
Billy is an inventor and holds a master's degree in Biomimicry from Arizona State University and a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Howard University. Billy sits on the Board of Directors for the Biomimicry Institute, the world’s leading authority on nature’s solutions to design challenges. He also teaches biomimetic design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Welcome to Season 3 of Celestial Citizen Podcast! We’re excited to kick things off with Dylan Taylor, Chairman & CEO of Voyager Space and commercial astronaut aboard Blue Origin’s NS-19 mission this past December.
We’ll discuss Dylan’s experience with the Overview Effect after becoming the 606th person to go to space, as well as, the latest updates on Voyager Space and Space for Humanity as we head into an exciting new era of human spaceflight.
My guest on today’s show, Dylan Taylor, is a global business leader and philanthropist. He holds many roles within the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, commercial astronaut, thought leader and futurist. Currently, Dylan serves as Chairman & CEO of Voyager Space, a multi-national space exploration firm that acquires and integrates leading space exploration enterprises globally.
As an early-stage investor in more than 50 emerging ventures, including Accion, Kepler, York, Astrobotic, LeoLabs, Relativity, and Planet, as well as, Celestial Citizen. Dylan is widely considered the most active private space investor in the world.
On December 11th, 2021, Dylan flew to space as part of the crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard Mission 19. And also earned his commercial astronaut wings with the FAA.
Dylan has also had an extensive philanthropic impact on the space industry. In 2017, Dylan founded the nonprofit and social movement, Space for Humanity, which seeks to democratize space exploration and develop solutions to global issues through the scope of human awareness to help solve the world’s most intractable problems. Additionally, Dylan is the Co-Founding Patron of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, which seeks to promote the growth of commercial space activity. Dylan also serves as a strategic advisor for both the Archmission and the Human Spaceflight Program.
Dylan is the founder and Chairman of Multiverse Media, parent company of the popular space philosophy website 2211.world as well as the Ad Astra Dinners, and Multiverse Publishing, which publishes books by leading authors including Frank White, Isaac Asimov and Gerard K. O’Neill. It is also the executive producer of the documentary film, The High Frontier.
Celestial Citizen Podcast is back for another season and ready to cover all the social and cultural issues of space that are too often ignored. Season 3 will continue with all the content you love but also add in a much wider variety of topics, so that we can truly start planning humanity’s collective future in space.
I’m your host, Britt Duffy Adkins, founder of Celestial Citizen, a space media and technology company that emerged from a desire to see more urban planning strategy and action applied to the future of space exploration - in the hopes that we could approach the hard topics of society-building off-Earth in a more equitable and inclusive way. Join us as we dive into all that it will take to help humanity scale to a spacefaring species while still remaining grounded in our commitment to saving this planet.
On this season of Celestial Citizen Podcast, we'll talk about human spaceflight, lunar surface waste, space resource management, sustainable rocket fuels, supporting Indigenous communities hoping to enter the space community, astrobiofuturism, how race and astronomy intersect, and so much more that we can’t wait to share with you this season!
In the words of Mae Jemison…
"Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination."
Let’s imagine a better space future together. We, who are bursting with stardust, can become Celestial Citizens.
www.celestialcitizen.com
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On this week’s bonus episode, we’re joined by Van Espahbodi for our special 2022 Space Industry Outlook episode. We’ll discuss Van’s experience as an investor in aerospace and space technology, recap some of the trends we saw play out in 2021, as well as his predictions for what is sure to be a busy year ahead for the commercial space industry.
As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Starburst, Van is championing today’s aerospace renaissance, uniting early-stage technology innovators with private investment to modernize infrastructure in mobility, communications and intelligence. Van launched Starburst in the U.S. in 2015, which operates globally today with offices in Los Angeles, Paris, London, Munich, Madrid, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Montreal. His team works alongside hundreds of technology startups developing new aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, drones, sensors, autonomy, robotics and much more.
An entrepreneurial futurist, Van has over 18 years of experience in aerospace, identifying future trends, shaping product strategy and investment trade policies. Having worked in Government and Corporate strategy positions in both defense and commercial aviation markets, Van started his career as a congressional aide before joining Raytheon and later UK NATS, the British airspace operator. Following graduate studies at George Mason University, Van participated in executive programs at Thunderbird School of Management in AZ and Cranfield School of Management in the UK. He currently serves as an advisor to the U.S. Space Force, NASA, both the Mayors of Los Angeles and the City of El Segundo, and sits on the Advisory Boards of the Alliance for Southern California Innovation and the MIT Enterprise Forum.
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On this week’s episode, we’ll celebrate the wrap of Season 2 and reflect back on some of the highlights of past interviews and favorite moments on Celestial Citizen Podcast!
Thank you to all our wonderful guests that joined this season of Celestial Citizen and shared their insights and unique perspectives on the future of space exploration. Season 2 more than exceeded even the highest expectations and provided some incredibly memorable conversations.
A big shoutout and thank you to the wonderful and growing community of Celestial Citizens that tune in every week to this podcast and have been an amazing and engaging group of listeners. Your loyalty, curiosity, and passion for space is the motivating force behind all the work at Celestial Citizen Podcast.
Until next season...don't be afraid to take up space!
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On this week's bonus episode, we're joined by Glenton Richards, a writer on the hit tv show and Celestial Citizen community favorite, The Expanse.
In this special, bonus episode of Celestial Citizen Podcast we’ll discuss the release of the final season of The Expanse, some teasers for what to expect, as well as, another big announcement for fans of the show!
Glenton Richards, is a television and film writer living in Los Angeles. During his time in LA, he has had the opportunity to work as a writers assistant on the Emmy award-winning show Fargo under the supervision of Showrunner Noah Hawley and later on the Emmy-nominated show American Crime, under the supervision of Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley.
Glenton attended Texas Christian University where he received a B.S. in Radio, Television, & Film and a minor in English. During this time, Glenton got an unusual start in the entertainment industry when he worked on the Dallas-based production Barney & Friends as a Dinosaur Wrangler (seriously).
After graduating, Glenton began pursuing his dream in Los Angeles where he worked his way up in the industry as a mailroom assistant at CAA before branching out into television production. Glenton most recently served as the Staff Writer on the Amazon Prime series, The Expanse.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Moriba Jah to discuss space environmentalism and provide the latest update on our shared orbital domain.
Moriba joined us here on Celestial Citizen Podcast in Season 1 and he is back again to discuss the recent Russian anti-satellite test as an update to our space sustainability conversation from this past spring, as well as, share more about his new role as the Chief Scientific Advisor at the new space startup, Privateer.
My guest on today’s show, Dr. Moriba Jah, joined the Oden Institute core faculty in 2018 at the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. As previously stated, Moriba is also the Chief Scientific Advisor at Privateer, a much-anticipated space startup that aims to tackle humanity’s ever-increasing space debris problem. He is also the Program Lead of Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability at the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, as well as, a research affiliate with the Space Enabled Group at MIT Media Lab.
You can check out the first episode of Shifted Space(mentioned in this episode) which is part of a documentary series featuring Dr. Moriba Jah and focusing on the interconnectedness between land, sea, and sky.
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Welcome to our special bonus episode, Celestial Causes, in which we will highlight some of our favorite non-profits and organizations that are creating positive impact in STEM and space fields by living up to a message we hold dear here at Celestial Citizen, that space is for EVERYONE!
However you plan to celebrate this holiday season, we wanted to send off our community of listeners with a fun, festive, and fundraising episode by encouraging everyone tuning in to donate to some or all of these great causes! Even if you aren’t able to make a financial donation, this episode will also share other ways in which you can contribute your time and energy – and most importantly spread the word about these amazing non-profits to others in your community.
So let’s kick of the holiday season with a call to action – and support those that embody the values we’d like to see more of on this planet and off!
We also hope you will enjoy some festive space holiday music sprinkled throughout this episode and provided by our favorite celestial musician, Graham Clark.
So grab a mug of hot cocoa, cozy up, and enjoy our 2021 edition and inaugural episode of Celestial Causes!
Organizations & Speakers Featured
AstroAccess:
- Special Guests: Eric Ingram and Sina Bahram
- Please use the following links to directly donate to AstroAccess through either their fiscal sponsor, Yuri's Night, and also collaborative partner, People Love Art.
- Yuri's Night (the fiscal sponsor of AstroAccess): https://astroaccess.org/donate/
- People Love Art: https://peopleloveart.com/astroaccess/
Space for Humanity:
- Special Guest: Rachel Lyons
- Please use the following link to directly donate to Space for Humanity this holiday season: https://spaceforhumanity.org/donate
Black in Astro:
- Special Guest: Dakotah Tyler
- Please use the following link to directly donate to Black in Astro this holiday season: https://www.blackinastro.com/donate
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On this week's episode, we're joined byMaynard Okereke to discuss his work as a science communicator, the importance of engaging minorities and youth in science and S.T.E.M. fields, and how to create content that brings together education and entertainment in ways that resonate with a wider audience.
Maynard, better known as the Hip Hop M.D and creator of the Hip Hop Science platform, graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in civil engineering. He is an award-winning science communicator, having received both the Asteroid Award for "Best Streaming Content" and the People of Change Award for his community outreach efforts. His passion for science and entertainment, along with his curiosity for new innovation has taken him through an incredible life journey.
Noticing a lack of minority involvement in the S.T.E.M. fields, Maynard created Hip Hop Science with the goal of encouraging minorities and youth to pursue more advanced career paths. His background in engineering, acting, business, and credible work within the music industry as an artist, make him uniquely qualified to engage on a wide variety of topics from an entertaining perspective. This is highly reflected in his weekly vlogs and daily social media posts which provide both humorous and informative #SciComm content.
Maynard's distinct personality, energy, and enthusiasm for science have made him a key contributor to the educational understanding of a wide range of communities.
His creative storytelling and ability to host, moderate, and engage with audiences has sparked collaborations with the Natural History Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, as well as, tech companies like Not Impossible Labs, ICVR, and Scan Truck.
He looks to continue his work with universities, students, and communities doing more S.T.E.M. outreach and diversity initiatives to help propel the next generation into the scientific frontier.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dawn Marsden to discuss her book Starship Citizens: Indigenous Principles for 100 Year Interstellar Voyages, which explores how Indigenous principles can allow for more sustainable futures and equitable sharing of resources, as well as, support the philosophical, ethical and social backdrop for more meaningful space exploration.
Dawn’s work has a continuing theme, of applying Indigenous knowledge to environmental sustainability, public health & wellbeing, education, research and space sciences. Dawn has degrees and certificates in environmental health, anthropology, environmental science, education, and nutritional therapy. She is currently focused on applied astronautics and counseling psychology. Dawn’s perspectives and worldview have been influenced by her Anishinaabe and French ancestry, her off-reserve locations, as well as her connections to the First Nation (Mississaugas of Scugog Island). Dawn’s book, Starship Citizens: Indigenous Principles for 100 Year Interstellar Voyages, reflects on Indigenous principles for living good lives within communities and draws upon a lifetime of stories shared with her by Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers across Canada.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by John Hines to discuss his experiences working at NASA Ames Research Center as the Chief Technologist, work with the Hines Family Foundation, and how we can engage more of the younger generation in space-related study and better prepare them for the changing workforce dynamic.
John is Managing Director/Chief Technical Officer at JH Technology Associates LLC (JHTA), a California technology consulting company. John is also Executive Director/Chief Officer of the Hines Family Foundation for Education, Innovation, and Service, which is a non-profit, Atlanta, Georgia-based STEM, Innovation and Technology Workforce enabling organization. John’s specific technology emphasis areas include small satellite projects focusing on research and technology activities involving nano- and micro-satellites; biological technologies including synthetic biology; green and sustainable technologies; low-cost commercial off-the-shelf technologies, and emerging aerospace technologies. John retired as NASA-Ames Research Center Chief Technologist (CCT) in December, 2012, after nearly 37 years of service. John has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University, an M.S. in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and has nearly 50 years of combined NASA, research, Air Force R&D, STEM workforce development, and technology advocacy experience.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Fred Scharmen to discuss his recently released bookSpace Forces: A Critical History of Life in Outer Space, what it means to apply a more critical and anti-colonial lens to both the history and future of space exploration, and how humanity’s relationship with outer space has always spoken volumes about how we think about life on Earth.
Fred teaches architecture and urban design at Morgan State University’s School of Architecture and Planning. He is the co-founder of the Working Group on Adaptive Systems, an art and design consultancy based in Baltimore, Maryland. His work as a designer and researcher is about how we imagine new spaces for future worlds, and about who is invited into them. He received his master's degree in Architecture from Yale University and his writing has been published in the Journal of Architectural Education, Log, CLOG, Volume, and Domus. Fred's architectural criticism has also appeared in the The Architect’s Newspaper, and in the local alt-weekly Baltimore City Paper.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Sarah Cruddas to discuss her most recent book Look Up: Our Story with the Stars, her work as a space journalist and TV host, and how we improve Earth through future space science and exploration.
Sarah is a space journalist, international TV host and award-winning author. She has an academic background in astrophysics and is a global thought leader in the growing commercial space sector.
On television, Sarah is one of the hosts of ‘Contact’ on Discovery Channel and Science Channel. The show is broadcast in the US and internationally. She is also a leading voice of space on various other television shows in the UK and US, regularly appearing on Sky, BBC, CNN, People Television, ITV News, Channel 4 News and Channel 5 News. As well as, on various documentaries on Discovery Channel and Science Channel and UK shows including Coast, BBC Sunday Morning Live and Derren Brown.
As a writer, Sarah has authored four books about space exploration; Findout! Solar System, Do You Know about Space?, The Space Race: The Journey to the Moon and Beyond and most recently, Look Up: Our Story with the Stars. Sarah also regularly writes about space exploration for several media outlets including The Telegraph, Politico, The Sunday Times, CNN, BBC and The Royal Aeronautical Society.
Sarah also sits on the board of directors of Space for Humanity, a global non-profit dedicated to democratizing access to space and is an honorary advocate of the Space Frontier Foundation.
Sarah’s mission is to inspire a diverse audience about why space exploration matters, how it has shaped all of our lives, and why we all need to look up a little more.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Claire Nelson to discuss how humanity can pivot from pandemic and crisis into a bright and flourishing future both on Earth and in space by shifting to a mindset rooted in sustainability.
Dr. Nelson has been actively engaged in the business of international development for more than twenty-five years. She works in the area of project development and management, with a particular focus on private sector development. A renaissance woman, she is a development engineer, social entrepreneur, and futurist.
Dr. Nelson is the first Jamaican woman to earn a doctorate degree in an engineering discipline and was the only Black student in her graduating class. Dr. Nelson holds industrial engineering degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Purdue University, as well as a doctorate in engineering management from George Washington University.
She is the founder and president of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, Chief Ideation Leader at the Futures Forum, and Lead Futurist at the Center for Sustainable Futures at Morgan State University.
Dr. Nelson is recognized as a White House Champion of Change, and sought after as a speaker on issues pertaining to economic development, globalization, and issues concerning the Caribbean and its people.
Dr. Nelson recently authored the book, SMART Futures for a Flourishing World: A Paradigm Shift for Achieving Global Sustainability, which is discussed at length in this episode and available now for purchase.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Diana Trujillo to discuss the latest updates from the Mars Perseverance mission, how the space industry can work toward becoming more inclusive of the Latinx community, as well as Diana’s personal journey into the space industry.
Diana Trujillo is an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she has served as a Flight Director and as the Robotic Arm System domain lead for the Mars Perseverance mission.
Born and raised in Colombia, Diana immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 to pursue her dream of working for NASA. She enrolled in English as a Second Language courses, working full-time to support her studies in community college and later at the University of Florida and University of Maryland. After graduating, she worked on the Cygnus International Space Station resupply vehicle before joining JPL.
Prior to her work with the Perseverance mission, Diana worked in several roles on the Mars Curiosity and Constellation programs since joining JPL in 2008. Most recently, she served as the Mission Lead, Deputy Project System Engineer, and Deputy Team Chief of the Engineering division for Curiosity (also known as the Mars Science Laboratory).
In addition to her technical roles at JPL, Diana also created and hosted #JuntosPerseveramos, NASA’s first ever Spanish-language live broadcast of a major mission milestone, attracting a global audience of millions. She continues to provide English- and Spanish-language updates on the Perseverance mission via NASA’s Martes de Marte weekly video series and via her Twitter account.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Neel V. Patel to discuss the recent polarization within and around the space industry, why many recent space missions and launch events have not reached the broader public as expected, and what it’s like to be a space journalist.
Neel V. Patel is a senior editor for science and innovation coverage at The Daily Beast. Prior to that, he was the space reporter for the MIT Technology Review, and an associate editor at Inverse. He’s been on and off (mostly on) the space beat since 2015 and his favorite planet is Neptune (it rains diamonds!).
Join us as we discuss the current landscape of space news and where the future of space exploration is headed.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Frank White to discuss the Overview Effect, what the future of space exploration looks like as spaceflight becomes more commonplace, and how a "universal insight" might benefit our home planet.
Frank White is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Rhodes Scholar. He earned a Master of Philosophy in Politics from Oxford, where he was a member of New College. The fourth edition of Frank’s best-known book, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, was published by Multiverse Publishing, a division of Multiverse Media LLC, earlier this year. Additionally, a film called “Overview,” based largely on Frank’s work, has had more than 8 million plays on Vimeo.
Frank is President of The Human Space Program, Inc., a nonprofit organization based on an idea for a global space project initially proposed in his book, The Overview Effect. Frank also teaches at Harvard Extension School, Harvard Summer School, Boston University’s Metropolitan College, and the Kepler Space Institute.
For additional information about Frank and his work you can check out: frankwhiteauthor.com
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Alice Gorman to discuss what it means to be a space archaeologist, her thoughts on the cultural heritage and future of space exploration, orbital debris, and also her work on a very intriguing document called the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon.
Dr. Gorman is an internationally-recognized scholar in the field of space archaeology and author of the award-winning book Dr Space Junk vs the Universe: Archaeology and the Future (MIT Press, 2019). Her research focuses on the archaeology and heritage of space exploration, including space junk, planetary landing sites, off-earth mining, and space habitats. She is an Associate Professor at Flinders University in Adelaide and a Vice-Chair of the Global Expert Panel on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA).
Link to the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon.
Link to purchase Dr Space Junk vs the Universe: Archaeology and the Future.
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Richelle Gribble, space artist and analog astronaut, to discuss the interconnectivity of society, her recent large-scale space art installation 'Living Light,' and the importance of combining art + science as we look to explore humanity’s possible futures.
Richelle is an expeditionary artist exploring planetary connectivity, both on and off Earth. Her work explores connectivity in a world where human impact, technology, and the environment collide. She has had solo shows in Los Angeles, New York, Japan, and international orbit around Earth etched on satellites and aboard rockets. She even has recent artworks scheduled to launch to the Moon in 2022. Her work has been presented in the TEDx talk ‘What is our role within a Networked Society?’ and also in the ongoing art residency project ‘The Nomadic Artist,’ where she travels the world to reflect social and environmental changes across the globe. She is an analog astronaut and Head of Creative Research for analog space missions on the Moon and Mars via Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (better known as HI-SEAS), Sensoria Program, and Lunares Research Station. Gribble is the Co-Founder and Director of Space Programs for Beyond Earth, an all-female artist collective exploring intersections between art, biology, and space. Her works have been exhibited worldwide at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Museum of Design Atlanta, the United Nations, and the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
Check out a highlight video of some of Richelle's work on the Celestial Citizen YouTube Channel!
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On this week's episode, we're joined by Nicolas Nelson, MD candidate and Operations Director at Out Astronaut. We’ll discuss the emerging field of space medicine and its importance for the future of space activities, the current climate for the LGBTQ+ community in the space industry, and what Out Astronaut is doing to make space more diverse and inclusive.
Nicolas is a medical student with plans to become a radiation oncologist and flight surgeon, taking care of cancer patients on Earth while conducting astronaut health surveillance and radiation research. Two of his goals have been to encourage aspiring LGBTQ+ professionals in science and to advocate for planetary stewardship. He cofounded the AMSRO Diversity Committee, which is taking strides to support diversity and inclusion in astronautics and aerospace medicine.
He earned a bachelor’s at University of California, Los Angeles in biochemistry and English, after which he taught junior high science and worked as a hospital pharmacy technician, then a research assistant and teaching assistant at his post-baccalaureate program. At his medical school, Thomas Jefferson University, he externed in radiation oncology while keeping active in the aerospace medicine community.
While working toward his MD, he continues to be involved in the Out Astronaut Project, cancer research, and other space medicine activities. Nic remains a bicoastal lover of nature and exploration who hopes to wear many hats in his career: clinician, researcher, advocate, global health volunteer, medical educator, and one day, maybe even astronaut.
Links mentioned during this episode:
Out Astronaut Project: https://outastronaut.org/ (includes link to make tax-deductible donations)
Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA): https://www.asma.org/home
AsMA Scholarships: https://asma-scholarships.secure-platform.com/a/
Aerospace Medicine Student & Resident Organization (AMSRO): https://www.amsro.org/
NASA/UTMB Aerospace Medicine Clerkship: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/aerospace-medicine-clerkship
AMSRO Diversity Committee: amsro.diversity@gmail.com
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This week, we have a special episode with Chelsea “Foxanne” Gohd ahead of the September 10th release of her upcoming single, “I Could Go On,” which will be brought along to space on the upcoming Inspiration4 mission on September 15th! And we are super excited to provide listeners of the podcast with a special sneak preview of the single today ahead of its release!
On this episode, we’ll discuss Foxanne’s path to becoming a space musician, how her work speaks to some of the big, unanswered questions of human existence, and the role music will play in building a future space culture.
Chelsea is a senior writer at Space.com, where she writes articles and creates, scripts, and hosts videos about science topics ranging from climate change to exoplanet exploration and human spaceflight. She is also an analog astronaut, having completed an analog Mars mission, Sensoria M2, at HI-SEAS in 2020.
Chelsea is also a musician and writes, performs and records indie-pop music under the pseudonym Foxanne. As Foxanne, she released her debut full-length record in 2020, titled "It's real (I knew it)," named after an iconic scene from the hit sci-fi film Galaxy Quest. The album features a number of space-y Easter eggs, including audio from the OA-9 rocket launch, a 2018 cargo mission that launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, and a song written from the perspective of NASA's Opportunity rover.
Following this album, in 2021, she released "Hello, Mars," a song featuring the first audio recorded on the surface of Mars, recently captured by NASA's Perseverance rover.
And tomorrow, she will release her upcoming single "I Could Go On," an expressive, cosmic, indie pop-and-soul tune that uses an upbeat vibe to convey a message about struggling to try and find meaning in existence.
The song, which includes subtle nods to space and science, will be released alongside a music video filmed at the Liberty Science Center's planetarium. The song will even go to SPACE! The single will ride along to space on the personal playlist of Foxanne's friend Dr. Sian Proctor, an astronaut who will bring the song on her upcoming mission to Earth's orbit, known as Inspiration4.
Follow Foxanne on Spotify!
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On this week's episode, we’re joined by Justin Cyrus and Dr. Forrest Meyen of Lunar Outpost - an emerging leader in the new Cislunar economy pushing the bounds of robotics in extreme environments, and enabling a sustainable presence on the Moon and Mars. We'll discuss some exciting, recent announcements from Lunar Outpost, what a sustainable lunar presence looks like, and the challenges and rewards of being a space entrepreneur.
One of the guests on the show, Justin Cyrus, is the CEO of Lunar Outpost. Justin attended UC Boulder where he received his undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering, and has a master's degree in space resources and electrical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
I’m also joined by, Dr. Forrest Meyen, Chief Strategy Officer of Lunar Outpost. Previously, Forrest was the founder of Destiny Space Systems which was acquired by Lunar Outpost earlier this year. Forrest is also a member of NASA’s science team for the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, better known as MOXIE. Forrest received his undergraduate degree in mechanical and biological engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Aeronautics and Astronautics.
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In this week's episode, we’re chatting with Dr. Jessie Christiansen about the fascinating field of exoplanets and the search for habitable worlds. We'll also discuss her thoughts on the upcoming Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, and what it really means to be a planet hunter.
My guest on the show, Dr. Jessie Christiansen, is an astrophysicist and Deputy Science Lead at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute. She searches for, studies, and catalogs extrasolar planets – which are those planets orbiting other stars. She has worked on many NASA planet-hunting projects, including the EPOXI, Kepler, and TESS missions. For her work on uncovering how common planets are throughout the Galaxy with the Kepler mission, Jessie was awarded the 2018 NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal.
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In this week's episode, we’ll cover what advocacy looks like in the fields of human rights, disability rights and space law - as well as, how these important topics intersect. We'll also discuss how we can work to make life both on and off this planet more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
My guest on the show, AJ Link, received his JD from The George Washington University Law School. His studies focused extensively on disability law, international human rights, and space law. AJ has been actively involved with disability advocacy in the Washington, D.C. area and nationally within the United States.
While at GW, he chaired the Diversity and Inclusion Assembly for the Student Association and the Student Life Committee. He also founded the Atypical Student Society, a student organization for neurodiverse and disabled law students, and served as its inaugural president. AJ was the president of the GW Space Law Society and co-chaired the Student Affinity Group Enterprise.
AJ was awarded the Michael Dillon Cooley Memorial Award by his graduating class for his compassion and humanity in serving his fellow students. He serves on several advisory boards that focus on disability advocacy and social justice. AJ is openly autistic. He was a 2020 Disability:IN NextGen Leader and was inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.
AJ is currently pursuing an LL.M in Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, while also chairing The Center for Air and Space Law Task Force on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Aerospace and a Senior Editor of the Journal of Space Law. He works as a research director for the Jus Ad Astra project and serves as co-president of the National Disabled Law Students Association, which he co-founded.
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Celestial Citizen Podcast is back for another season and ready to cover all the social and cultural issues of space that are too often ignored. Season 2 will continue with all the content you love but also add in a much wider variety of topics, so that we can truly start planning humanity’s collective future in space.
I’m your host, Britt Duffy Adkins, founder of Celestial Citizen, a space media company that emerged from a desire to see more urban planning strategy and action applied to the future of space exploration - in the hopes that we could approach the hard topics of society-building off-Earth in a more equitable and inclusive way. Join us as we dive into all that it will take to help humanity scale to a spacefaring species while still remaining grounded in our commitment to saving this planet.
On this season of Celestial Citizen Podcast, we will talk about the search for other habitable worlds, disability rights in space, space law, the importance of space art for capturing people’s imaginations as we test humanity’s technological capabilities to venture out into the unknown, how to support and become a better ally for the LGBTQ+ community in the space industry, space archaeology, as well as sustainable futures on the Moon. There will also be discussion of space entrepreneurship, updates on the Perseverance Rover, and so much more that we can’t wait to surprise you with in the coming weeks!
This season will also see the release of our first-ever narrative project – where we will share the stories of women who know all too well the challenges of trying to pursue a career in STEM and space fields. Keep an ear out for other special episodes throughout the season!
In the words of Mae Jemison…
"Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination."
Let’s imagine a better space future together. We, who are bursting with stardust, can become Celestial Citizens.
www.celestialcitizen.com
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On this week's episode, we'll celebrate the wrap of season 1 of Celestial Citizen Podcast and revisit some highlights and fun moments with guests of the show!
Thank you to all of the amazing individuals that joined this season of Celestial Citizen Podcast and shared their stories, insights, and unique perspectives. You all have made this a truly memorable first season.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful and growing community of celestial citizens that tune in every week to this podcast and have been an all-around awesome and engaging group of listeners. Your loyalty, trust, and attention is a motivating force behind all the work at Celestial Citizen Podcast.
Last but not least, thank you to Victor Figueroa, this show’s editor, for always working tirelessly to make sure that Celestial Citizen Podcast is on the top of its game week after week. Also thank you to Graham Clark who created the amazing music for this podcast.
See you next season!
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On this week's episode, we’ll discuss the increasing risk of potential collisions in our near Earth space environment as the problem of orbital debris continues to worsen, and what we can all do to become space environmentalists and better stewards of the shared commons of our sky.
My guest on the show, Dr. Moriba Jah, joined the Oden Institute core faculty in 2018 at the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently serving as an associate professor of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. His research interests are in non-gravitational astrodynamics and advanced/non-linear multi-sensor/object tracking, prediction, and information fusion. His expertise is in space object detection, tracking, identification, and characterization, as well as spacecraft navigation.
He earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder specializing in astrodynamics and statistical orbit determination.
Prior to joining UT Austin, Dr. Jah was the Director of the University of Arizona’s Space Object Behavioral Sciences with applications to Space Domain Awareness, Space Protection, Space Traffic Monitoring, and Space Debris research to name a few. Preceding that, Dr. Jah was the lead for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Advanced Sciences and Technology Research Institute for Astronautics and also previously served as a spacecraft navigator for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA.
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On this week's episode, we'll discuss the important role that data science and technological infrastructure play both here on Earth and also in space, specifically for African countries.
My guest on today’s show, Sylvia Makario, is an expert in Geospatial engineering and Space technology. She is a Co-founder of Hepta Analytics, a data analytics company that is headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda. Sylvia is also an Industry Innovation Lab Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Engineering and Space Technology from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Science in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University.
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On this week's episode, I sit down with an international lawyer to discuss his recent efforts to debunk SpaceX’s attempts to claim “Mars as a free planet," why the field of space law can no longer be overlooked by the broader legal community, and how science fiction plays into the way we think about future legal and governance frameworks.
My guest on today’s episode, is Cristian van Eijk, author of the viral article, "Sorry, Elon: Mars is not a legal vacuum - and it's not yours, either." Cris is currently finishing an accelerated law degree at the University of Cambridge. He holds a bachelor of arts cum laude in International Justice and an LLM in Public International Law from Leiden University, and has previously worked at the T.M.C. Asser Institute and the International Commission on Missing Persons.
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On this week's episode, I sit down with two space lawyers to discuss the legacy of colonization in outer space, the role that international treaties have played historically on this topic, and how we can commit to an anti-colonial mindset going forward.
One of the guests on this episode is, Julia Malette, a life-long space enthusiast and a practicing attorney in the United States. Julia graduated from the George Washington University Law School with high honors in 2019. During law school, Julia was a finalist at the 2018 North American rounds of the Manfred Lachs Moot Court and interned at the FCC Satellite Division. Julia has also worked with the Satellite Industry Association, as a consultant researcher with LMI Advisors, and is a member of the Maryland Bar. Julia is also currently the Internship Coordinator for the Space Court Foundation.
I was also joined by, Mclee Kerolle, a graduate of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University where he wrote his Master's thesis on the regulation of commercial spaceports worldwide. He also served as the Executive Secretary for the Space Generation Advisory Council and is currently an active member of the Diversity Action Team for (EAGLE) Effective and Adaptive Governance for a Lunar Ecosystem. Mclee is the Program Director for the Caribbean Space Society, a working group of the Institute of Caribbean Studies that aims to establish a unified Caribbean Space Agenda. In addition, Mclee serves as the Director of International Outreach and Diversity for the Space Court Foundation.
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On this week's episode, I sit down with Bailey Burns to discuss her important work as a space advocate and communicator, what she is up to at Paragon, her experiences as an analog astronaut with Hi-SEAS, and also her perspective on how the space industry could be more supportive of women.
Bailey Burns is a System Engineer at Paragon Space Development Corporation working on life support for the future of humans in space, including the next HLS lunar lander proposal with Dynetics. She is also a graduate student studying Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines. Her focus is on lunar regolith and dust mitigation on the lunar surface. Bailey has also participated in HI-SEAS as an analog astronaut studying lava tubes in a two-week simulated moon base mission. Bailey hopes to use her platform to show that everyone can bring their own skill set to the new space age, and have fun while doing it, which she does as an official Rubik’s Cube ambassador.
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On this week's episode, we’ll discuss humanity's future on Earth and in space from an energy and climate policy perspective. We’ll also cover how space mining factors into visions of off-Earth living and what strategies might be employed for better shared resource management in space.
My guest on the show, Alex Gilbert, is a complex systems researcher focusing on space mining, climate policy, energy markets, and nuclear innovation. Much of his work centers around evaluating how institutions develop and adopt clean energy and other advanced natural resource technologies at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. Alex also collaborates with the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines on research related to energy, environment, and outer space governance and is pursuing a PhD in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, where he researches space resource governance, environmental protection, and space nuclear power. He is also Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University where he co-teaches a course on nuclear power technology and regulation.
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As we look toward the not-so-distant reality of life on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, an important question emerges - how do we build structures and cities in space that reflect the diverse population and cultures of our planet? On this week's episode, we’ll discuss an approach to architectural design that specifically celebrates and pays homage to uniquely Black experiences and cultures. Demar Matthews and his firm, OffTop Design, are engaging Black communities in the planning process such that they are better represented in their built environment, and in so doing, might better inform how we design and build future structures and cities in space someday.
My guest on the show, Demar Matthews, is a Los Angeles-based architectural designer, theorist, and writer. Demar is the founder and Principal of OffTop Design. He also works with A+D Architecture + Design Museum in Los Angeles as a curator and exhibitions associate. Demar received his Bachelor’s from HBCU Lincoln University of PA, and his Master’s of Architecture at Woodbury University where he was awarded the Graduate Thesis Prize for his project Black Architecture: Unearthing the Black Aesthetic. Demar believes architecture and good design should not only be for the privileged and feels that, "every community deserves to be proud of the built environment around them, and that this environment should be based on the cultures of the people who live there; regardless of income, race, and gender."
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On this week's episode, we’ll discuss the multidisciplinary field of space resources and how the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines is leading the charge on this exciting new academic discipline. Listen in to learn more about how utilization of space resources will shape the future of humanity and how you can get involved from anywhere in the world.
My guest on the show, Dr. Christopher Dreyer, has a range of interests in the development of space resources and advancement of space exploration of asteroids, the Moon, and Mars. Dr. Dreyer has two decades of experience in early-phase technology development. He has extensive experience with experimental methods, vacuum systems, regolith-handling technology, instrument design, and optical/laser spectroscopy methods. He has developed experimental facilities for resource technology development including, prospecting instruments, resource extraction, surface properties, and resource processing. He has been actively working in space resource utilization for over 10 years and is a co-founder of the Space Resources Graduate Program at the Colorado School of Mines, the first program in the world dedicated to space resources.
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What lies ahead as we enter the Space 5.0 Era? How can space law support equitable outcomes amongst stakeholders in space? On this week's episode, we'll discuss the future of governance and how it must to evolve to meet the needs of humans living and working in space.
My guest on the show, Dr. Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty, is currently an Assistant Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society with a courtesy appointment at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She is an expert on all things space law. Her research explores participation mechanisms for global space governance and environmental governance. Her goal is to find ways to account for different perspectives and the participation of diverse actors in decision making. Before coming to the School for the Future Innovation of Society, Dr. Aganaba-Jeanty worked for the Canadian Space Agency while she was a PhD candidate at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University. She also served as Executive Director for World Space Week, Associate Chair of the Space Policy, Law and Economics Department at the International Space University in Cork, Ireland and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. In 2017 she was the recipient of a Space Leaders award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and her doctoral research received the George and Ann Robinson Award for advanced research capabilities.
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What will we eat in space? How will we grow it? What psychological and cultural benefits can be derived from future greenhouses in space? On this week's episode, we’ll discuss space architecture and specifically the design of greenhouses for the Moon and Mars.
My guest on the show, Mahsa Esfandabadi, designs habitats and greenhouses for Mars, the Moon, and zero-gravity environments. She has over ten years experience working as a professional architect, project manager, and assistant professor. She has studied the past, present, and future of architecture at the graduate level receiving a masters in Middle Eastern-Iranian Architecture Studies, a masters in Architectural Engineering, as well as, a masters in Aerospace Architecture. She is the first Middle Eastern graduate of the AeroSpace Architecture program at the University of Houston, and the first person from the Middle East to serve on the Space Architecture Technical Committee.
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How do humans live off the land in space? On this episode of Celestial Citizen Podcast, we discuss the innovative field of space resources and how a sustainable future off-Earth might be sooner than you think.
My guest on the show, Dr. Angel Abbud-Madrid, is the Director of the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, where he leads a research program focused on the human and robotic exploration of space and the utilization of its resources. He is also the Director of the Space Resources Graduate Program, aimed at educating scientists, engineers, economists, entrepreneurs, and policy makers in the field of extraterrestrial resources. Angel has more than 30 years of experience conducting experiments in NASA’s low-gravity facilities, such as drop towers, parabolic-flight aircraft, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station and received the NASA Astronauts’ Personal Achievement Award for his contributions to the success of human space flight. He is currently the President of the Space Resources Roundtable, an international organization focused on lunar, asteroidal, and planetary resources studies and Observer and Technical Panel member of The Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group. Angel also serves as a member of the Committee on Planetary Protection of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
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Are you interested in the social impact of greater food security, access to nutritious ingredients, as well as, sustainable production methods both on Earth and in space?
In this week's episode, I speak with Elliot Roth about his startup, Spira Inc., and how his team plans to disrupt the global supply chain by replacing harmful compounds with carbon-negative algae to create safer, locally-sourced products. We’ll also discuss how algae-based products can support humanity’s future in space, as well as, Elliot’s recent analog Moon mission with HI-SEAS on Mauna Loa in Hawaii.
My guest on the show, Elliot Roth, is the founder of Spira, a company that is developing algae-based products that will make communities on Earth more resilient and eventual communities in space more viable. After being trained as a University Innovation Fellow at the Stanford d.School, Elliot started multiple entrepreneurial projects including the DIYbio lab known as Indie Lab, TEDxVCU, and 6 failed startups. He graduated from the Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and spent five years consulting in product design and business strategy before starting Spira. Elliot has spoken at Synbiobeta, SXSW, and Thought for Food discussing the interconnectedness of social impact, synthetic biology and food.
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With all the excitement of this month in full swing - Hope Probe, Tianwen-1, and next up, Perseverance - it seemed only fitting to dedicate an episode to all things Mars! Enjoy this special, early-release episode with "professional martian" and Director of Science Strategy at Planet, Dr. Tanya Harrison.
We discuss the significance of the upcoming Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing on February 18th, how to bring positive change to toxic work cultures in the space industry, and Dr. Harrison's new book, For All Humankind: The Untold Stories of How the Moon Landing Inspired the World.
My guest on the show, Dr. Tanya Harrison, calls herself a “professional martian.” Over the past 13 years she has worked as a scientist and in mission operations on multiple NASA Mars missions, including the Perseverance, Curiosity, and Opportunity rovers. Her specialty lies in geomorphology: the study of a planet’s evolution based on its surface features. She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Western Ontario, a Masters in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Wesleyan University, and a B.Sc. in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Washington. Currently she is the Director of Science Strategy for the federal arm of the Earth observing satellite company Planet Labs. Tanya is also an advocate for advancing the status of women in science and for accessibility in the geosciences. You can find her prolifically tweeting about the Red Planet—and her experiences with both #WomenInSTEM and #DisabledInSTEM—as @tanyaofmars.
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Many space industry insiders talk excitedly about a human return to the Moon, but how does the general public feel about this endeavor? Do they think it will really happen and how does it stack up against a long list of priorities for our home planet?
In this week's episode, I speak with Nathan Price about his project, Countdown to the Moon, in which he interviews one person every day until humans are set to return to the Moon in 2024. Nathan and I will discuss how his passion project has evolved into an important time capsule of public sentiment regarding the planned Artemis missions and valuable lessons learned from his conversations so far.
My guest on the show, Nathan Price, is a grassroots space advocate who is spreading the vision of humanity expanding out into the solar system for this generation and the next. He founded the North Houston Space Society in 2017, an organization that seeks to educate the local community about space exploration and future mission development. Nathan is also a National Space Society Space Ambassador. You will find Nathan at the International Space Development Conference (ISDC), New Worlds Conference, and International Astronautical Congress (IAC), among other places.
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On this episode of Celestial Citizen Podcast, I am joined by Ruvimbo Samanga, space law and policy analyst. We’ll discuss lunar governance, the African Space Sector, and Ruvimbo’s involvement with the Space Generation Advisory Council’s 4th African Space Generation Workshop.
My guest on the show, Ruvimbo Samanga, is a space law & policy analyst, with particular specialization in the traditional and New Space sectors in Africa. She serves as a Research Fellow at the Open Lunar Foundation, focusing her research on lunar settlement and development policy. Ruvimbo holds a master's degree in International Trade & Investment Law from the University of Pretoria and currently represents Zimbabwe in the Space Generation Advisory Council and the Women in Aerospace Africa Chapter. She is also the founder of AgriSpace, an early stage agri-tech startup developed in collaboration with the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, as a current scholar in residence. Ruvimbo has also been recognized by Space in Africa as one of the top 10 Under 30 in the African space industry.
If you are interested in donating to the upcoming 4th African Space Generation Workshop in Accra, Ghana on Feb 25-26, 2021, you can do so here: https://ca.gofundme.com/f/support-4th-african-space-generation-workshop
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Have you ever wondered about how humans might live and work someday on the Moon, or what the field of space architecture is all about?
In this episode, I have the opportunity to talk with Madhu Thangavelu, about the space architecture and infrastructure that will support Artemis mission objectives, and a sustained presence on the Moon. We’ll also discuss how those plans might feed into future cities on the Moon and eventually Mars.
My guest on the show, Madhu is a lecturer of both astronautical engineering and architecture at the University of Southern California. Madhu leads the Graduate Space Concepts Synthesis Studio at USC. He holds degrees in both engineering and architecture and has contributed extensively to the areas of architectural design synthesis, space architecture, space systems engineering, and lunar base design. He is the author or co-author of over 70 technical papers in space architecture, as well as numerous articles in space-related trade journals and magazines dealing with space stations, lunar base design and human factors. He is a co-author of the book The Moon: Resources, Future Development and Settlement. He is on the advisory board of the Moon Society and the editorial board of the Journal of Space Philosophy. Madhu is a strong advocate for articulating the philosophy of space.
Listen in to learn more about how space architects will build humanity's future off-Earth.
www.celestialcitizen.com
If you would like to learn more about Space Architecture, here are some helpful links provided by Madhu courtesy of AIAA and USC:
AIAA LA LV December 19 Part 1: Space Architecture Gathering: Simulators and Simulations - YouTube
AIAA LA LV December 19 Part 2: Space Architecture Gathering: Space Architecture - YouTube
USC Astro Engineering ASTE527 : ASTE 527 (google.com)
Madhu Thangavelu USC : Madhu Thangavelu - Press Room USC USC
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A citizen's podcast for planning humanity's future in space - exploring the social, political, technical, and scientific aspects of living off-Earth from the perspective of a space urban planner.
www.celestialcitizen.com
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