The Launch Pad Space Podcast: Recent Episodes
Paul Ring
Come along as the former aerospace journalist Paul Ring discusses space exploration in history and science fiction with some of the best and brightest in the business.
Episode 024 – Son of Apollo – Christopher Roosa
Episode Summary
Christopher Roosa is a retired colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and a combat veteran. He is also the son of Apollo 14 Command Module pilot Stuart Roosa. In his book “Son of Apollo: The Adventures of a Boy Whose Father Went to the Moon,” He tells the story of his father’s humble beginnings growing up in Oklahoma. From there the elder Roosa became a smoke jumper, fighter pilot and test pilot before being chosen to become an astronaut in 1966. In this episode of The Launch Pad Space Podcast, host Paul Ring talks to Christopher Roosa about his father, and growing up as a Son of Apollo.
Show Notes
Christopher A. Roosa
Stuart Roosa
“Son of Apollo”
Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Edwards Air Force Base
Apollo Program
Saturn V
Apollo 1
Apollo 11
Apollo 13
Apollo 14
The White House
Richard Nixon
Tricia Nixon Cox
Camp David
Ed White
Elvis Presley
Apollo 16
Apollo 17
Alan Shepard
Ed Mitchell
John Young
Space Shuttle
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Links
You can listen to this, or any episode of the podcast by using these links, or searching wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@launchpadspacepodcast5558
Episode 023 – First Mom – Anna Fisher
Episode Summary
Anna Fisher is one of the first women chosen by NASA to become astronauts. She flew on STS-51A, one of the most technically demanding missions in the Space Shuttle program. She also helped develop the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft that will return astronauts to the Moon. In this episode of The Launch Pad Space Podcast, host Paul Ring talks to Anna Fisher about her career and her contributions over 40 years to NASA’s human space exploration program.
Show Notes
Anna Fisher
1978 Astronaut Class
Harbor UCLA Medical Center
Space Shuttle
Christopher C. Kraft Jr.
Challenger Disaster
STS-51A
Rick Hauck
Lloyd’s of London
International Space Station (ISS)
Columbia Disaster
Orion
The New Guys
Meredith Bagby
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Links
You can listen to this, or any episode of the podcast by using these links, or searching wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@launchpadspacepodcast5558
Episode 022 – The New Guys – Meredith Bagby
Episode Summary
Meredith Bagby is the author of an incredible new book, “The New Guys: The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel.” This new release has been the talk of space aficionados, as Bagby tells the story of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts. She focuses on the first 10 minority astronauts, while telling the story of all 35 “new guys.” In this episode of The Launch Pad Space Podcast, host Paul Ring talks to the author about her investigation into this lightly studied era of spaceflight, and the group of men and women who helped usher the Shuttle program into reality.
Show Notes
Meredith Bagby
The New Guys
1978 Astronaut Class
Challenger Disaster
Teacher in Space Program
Christa McAuliffe
Sally Ride
George Abbey
Anna Fisher
STS-51A
International Space Station (ISS)
The Astronaut’s Wife
Columbia Disaster
Ron McNair
Rhea Seddon
Commercial Crew Program
Artemis Program
Guy Bluford
Challenger Salvage
Ellison Onizuka
Judy Resnick
Shannon Lucid
Kathy Sullivan
Rick Hauck
Steve Hawley
Robert “Hoot” Gibson
Judy Resnick – Tom Brokaw Interview
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Links
You can listen to this, or any episode of the podcast by using these links, or searching wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@launchpadspacepodcast5558
Episode 021 – The Astronaut’s Wife – Stacey Morgan
Episode Summary
Stacey Morgan may never go into space, but she’s an important as any engineer when it comes to ensuring her husband, NASA Astronaut Drew Morgan, is successful as astronaut. For the first time, Stacey Morgan, the wife of an active astronaut, has written about her experiences, both good and bad. Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with her about her book “The Astronaut’s Wife: How Launching My Husband into Outer Space Changed the Way I Live on Earth.”
Show Notes
Stacey Morgan’s Website
Drew Morgan at NASA.gov
Drew Morgan at Wikipedia
The Astronaut’s Wife at Amazon.com
The Astronaut Wives Club at Amazon.com
The Astronaut Wives Club TV Show at Amazon Prime
Among the Stars at Disney+
West Point Website
Kwajalein Atoll
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And thank you to the generous patrons who have been supporting the podcast!
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Links
You can listen to this, or any episode of the podcast by using these links, or searching wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
Episode SP01 – Space Adventure Boston
Episode Summary
Recently, I got a sneak preview of the new Space Adventure Boston exhibit in Chelsea. It will be in town through February 2023 and will move on to either Chicago or Atlanta once it's done. I spoke with one of the producers, David Rosenfield, as we walked through the exhibit. In this video we talk about some of the amazing artifacts on display. The immersive video portions of the event you’ll have to experience for yourself. I highly recommend visiting if you're in the Boston area. For more tickets and scheduling information, go to www.spaceadventure.us.
Show Notes
Space Adventure Website
The Kansas Cosmosphere Website
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Links
You can listen to this, or any episode of the podcast by using these links, or searching wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
Episode 20 – Space Craze – Margaret A. Weitekamp
Episode Summary
Margaret A. Weitekamp is the Smithsonian’s Space History Department chair and curator of the museum’s Cultural History of Spaceflight Collection. In this episode of the Launch Pad Space Podcast, I talk with her about the intersection of fictional space flight and the real-life adventures of explorers during the space race. Her new book “Space Craze: America’s Enduring Fascination with Real and Imagined Spaceflight,” offers a deep dive into a history that aspires to the better angels of our society, while still reflecting the problematic issues including sexism and racism.
Show Notes
Margaret A. Weitekamp Bio at Smithsonian Institution Website
“Space Craze” at Amazon.com
“Right Stuff, Wrong Sex” at Amazon.com
Buck Rogers at Wikipedia
Flash Gordon at Wikipedia
Space Shuttle at Wikipedia
Apollo Program at Wikipedia
Lost in Space (TV Show) at Wikipedia
I Dream of Jeannie (TV Show) at Wikipedia
Han Solo at Wikipedia
Firefly (TV Series) at Wikipedia
Joss Whedon at Wikipedia
Space Patrol (TV Series) at Wikipedia
Star Trek: The Original Series (TV Series) at Wikipedia
Spock at Wikipedia
Hikaru Sulu at Wikipedia
Nichelle Nichols at Wikipedia
Nyota Uhura at Wikipedia
Civil Rights Movement at Wikipedia
Womens Movement at Wikipedia
Gene Roddenberry at Wikipedia
Reruns at Wikipedia
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) at Wikipedia
Babylon 5 (TV Series) at Wikipedia
VHS Recording at Wikipedia
Star Trek: Voyager at Wikipedia
DVR Recording at Wikipedia
- Michael Straczynski at Wikipedia
G’Kar at Wikipedia
Londo Mollari at Wikipedia
John Sheridan at Wikipedia
Jadzia Dax at Wikipedia
Delenn at Wikipedia
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) at Wikipedia
The Outcast (TNG Episode) at Wikipedia
Rayguns at Wikipedia
Toys at Wikipedia
Cabbage Patch Kids at Wikipedia
Young Astronauts Program Website
501st Legion Website
Rhode Island Comic Con Website
Doctor Who (TV Series) at Wikipedia
The Fourth Doctor at Wikipedia
Tom Baker at Wikipedia
Emergency! (TV Series) at Wikipedia
Space Shuttle Operator’s Manual (Book) at Amazon.com
Space Shuttle Discovery at Wikipedia
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster at Wikipedia
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster at Wikipedia
Apollo 1 Fire at Wikipedia
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Links
You can listen to this episode of the podcast here, and anywhere you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-launch-pad-space-podcast/id1521502726
Android: https://podcasts.google.com/search/launch%20pad%20space%20podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XddmhYfLuXFwMGkpxK33v
Episode 019 – Toilet Training and More – Mary Roach
Episode Summary
This episode features my conversation with one of my favorite authors, science writer Mary Roach, author of six New York Times bestsellers, including her 2010 book “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the void.” She always finds the fascinating and offbeat details of her subjects and passes them on with a wonderful sense of fun. Her latest project is a new version of her popular space book, called “Packing for Mars for Kids.” We talk about what brought her to write about space exploration, and the complexities of translating her book for a new audience, children.
Show Notes
Mary Roach’s website
”Packing for Mars” at Amazon.com
”Packing for Mars” for Kids at Amazon.com
”Stiff” at Amazon.com
Space Shuttle Toilet Cam video
Astronaut William Thornton at Wikipedia
Apollo 11 Mission Overview at NASA.gov
Challenger – STS-51L at Wikipedia
Columbia – STS-107 at Wikipedia
Monkeys and Apes in Space at Wikipedia
Fecal Collection Bag story on Jalopnik
Gemini VII on Wikipedia
Ham the Chimpanzee at Wikipedia
Enos the Chimpanzee at Wikipedia
Mary Roach on Audible
The Vomit Commit at Space.com
Jeff Bezos at Wikipedia
For All Mankind at AppleTV+
Dr. Jonathan Clark at NASA.gov
Astronaut Laurel Clark at Wikipedia
“Loss of Signal” at The Aerospace Medical Association website
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Episode 018 – Space for Change – Lori Garver
Episode Summary
In this episode, Launch Pad host Paul Ring talks to controversial former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver about her new book “Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age.” She gives a look at the inner workings of NASA, talking about the battles she won – like continuing funding to the Commercial Crew Program – and those she lost – spending multi-billions of dollars on the Space Launch System.
Further Reading:
LoriGarver.com
Lori Garver Wikipedia page
Escaping Gravity
Escaping Gravity at Amazon.com
CNASA Commercial Cargo Program (COTS) Wikipedia page
NASA Commercial Crew Program Wikipedia page
NASA Commercial Crew Program page
Elon Musk
Bill Nelson NASA page
Bill Nelson Wikipedia page
Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket
For All Mankind Apple TV+ Show
Sally Ride Wikipedia page
Jodi Balfour Wikipedia page
SpaceX
Blue Origin
Jim Bridenstine Wikipedia page
Sean O’Keefe Wikipedia page
Charlie Bolden Wikipedia page
Jeff Bezos Wikipedia page
Pam Melroy NASA page
Pam Melroy Wikipedia page
Bryan O’Connor Wikipedia page
Mike Coates Wikipedia page
Barack Obama
James Webb Space Telescope
Nichelle Nichols Wikipedia page
Gene Roddenberry Wikipedia page
Star Trek Wikipedia page
Martin Luther King Jr
International Space Station (ISS) NASA page
Fiscal 2023 NASA Budget Estimates
Hydrosat
Sierra Space
Dream Chaser
Brooke Owens Fellowship
Patti Grace Smith Fellowship
Matt Isakiowitz Fellowship Program
Homer Hickam
Bill Clinton
Donald Trump Wikipedia page
Bill Anders Wikipedia page
Apollo 8 Earthrise photo
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Episode 017 – Frank and Susan – Liisa Jorgensen
Show Notes
In this episode, author Liisa Jorgensen stops by to talk about her book “Far Side of the Moon: Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman and the Woman Who Gave Him Wings.” She and host Paul Ring discuss the strength of astronaut wives during the 1960s, and the toll it took on their lives and their marriages through the lens of Frank Borman and his wife Susan. Their marriage lasted 71 years, but their love story is timeless.
Further Reading:
Far Side of the Moon website
Far Side of the Moon Spotify playlist
Buy Far Side of the Moon at Amazon
Frank Borman Wikipedia page
Susan Borman obituary
Countdown by Frank Borman
The Astronaut Wives Club Wikipedia page
From the Earth to the Moon Wikipedia page
Gemini VII Wikipedia page
Apollo 8 Wikipedia page
Apollo 1 Wikipedia page
Ed White Wikipedia page
Pat White obituary
Jim Lovell Wikipedia page
Russia to drop out of International Space Station after 2024 (AP Story)
Chasing the Moon
Eastern Air Lines Wikipedia page
Crash of Eastern Flight 401 Wikipedia page
Alcohol Addiction Resources (NIAAA)
Myth Merchant Films
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Episode 016 – The Sky’s No Limit – Eileen Collins and Jonathan Ward
Episode Summary
In this episode, Launch Pad host Paul Ring talks to retired astronaut Eileen Collins and writer Jonathan Ward, authors of “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission.” They discuss Collins’ career a U.S. Air Force pilot and Space Shuttle commander that is documented in her autobiography.
Show Notes
In this episode, Launch Pad host Paul Ring talks to retired astronaut Eileen Collins and writer Jonathan Ward, authors of “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission.” They discuss Collins’ career a U.S. Air Force pilot and Space Shuttle commander that is documented in her autobiography.
Further Reading:
“Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars”
Eileen Collins
Eileen Collins’ Official Website
Jonathan Ward’s Amazon Author Page
Jonathan Ward’s Official Website
T-38 Talon
A-7 Corsair II
TR-1 (U-2 Variant)
Avro Vulcan
B-70 Valkyrie
B-58 Hustler
1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing
United States Invasion of Granada
Hubble Space Telescope
NASA Astronaut Group 13
Longitudinal Stability
Neil Armstrong
Buzz Aldrin
Michael Collins
Apollo 15
Dick Covey
Carrying the Fire
STS-63
STS-84
STS-93
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
James Webb Space Telescope
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
STS-114
Sally Ride
Sally Ride Science
Rick Hauck
Elon Musk
Core Rope Memory
Apollo Guidance Computer
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Episode 015 – In Good Hands – Jennifer Levasseur
Episode Summary
In this episode, Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Jennifer Levasseur a Smithsonian curator with the enviable job of caring for and interpreting the Space Shuttle Discovery. She and Paul talk about the different aspects of her job, how she got there, and their common affection for the grande dame of the orbiter fleet.
Show Notes
In this episode, Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Jennifer Levasseur a Smithsonian curator with the enviable job of caring for and interpreting the Space Shuttle Discovery. She and Paul talk about the different aspects of her job, how she got there, and their common affection for the grande dame of the orbiter fleet.
Further Reading:
Jennifer Levasseur’s Staff Page on the Smithsonian website
Being Discovery’s Curator, by Jennifer Levasseur
Smithsonian Space Shuttle Discovery Page
Discovery Orbiter Wikipedia Page
Through Astronaut Eyes: Photographing Early Human Spaceflight
STS-131 Wikipedia Page
STS-131 Launch Video (Taken by Paul Ring)
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Episode 014 – Never Panic Early – Bill Moore
Episode Summary
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Bill Moore, co-author of “Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronaut’s Journey,” the autobiography of Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. They discuss how that mantra, “Never panic early, “ played a key role in Haise’s life from his time growing up in Biloxi, Mississippi, to the critical design work he did on the Space Shuttle and the Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests..
Show Notes
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Bill Moore, co-author of “Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronaut’s Journey,” the autobiography of Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. They discuss how that mantra, “Never panic early, “ played a key role in Haise’s life from his time growing up in Biloxi, Mississippi, to the critical design work he did on the Space Shuttle and the Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests..
Further Reading:
Fred Haise’s Wikipedia page
“Never Panic Early” on Amazon
“Never Panic Early” at Smithsonian Books
University of Oklahoma Website
Infinity Science Center Website
Northrup Grumman Website
Kansas Cosmosphere (home of the Apollo 13 CM)
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (home of the Space Shuttle Enterprise)
Apollo 13 Film’s Wikipedia Page
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Episode 013 – Impact – Greg Brennecka Episode Summary Launch Pad host Paul Ring goes a little further afield as he discusses comets and meteorites and the universe with Greg Brenneck, a meteoriticist who is a staff scientist and cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He is the author of “Impact: How Rocks from Space Let to Life, Culture and Donkey Kong.” Show Notes
Launch Pad host Paul Ring goes a little further afield as he discusses comets and meteorites and the universe with Greg Brenneck, a meteoriticist who is a staff scientist and cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He is the author of “Impact: How Rocks from Space Let to Life, Culture and Donkey Kong.”
Further Reading:
Greg Brennecka
Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture, and Donkey Kong
Meteoritics
Cosmochemistry
Theia Impact
Dinosaur Extinction Impact
Don’t Look Up
Search for Dangerous Asteroids
Palladium
Donkey Kong
1996 Mars “Fossil”
Venus
Star of Bethlehem
St. Paul
Aristotle
Galileo Galilei
Ernst Chladni
Jean-Baptiste Biot
James Webb Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
Pillars of Creation
Amino Acids
Exoplanets
Tunguska
Chelyabinsk
Allende
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Episode 012 – One Giant Leap – Charles Fishman
Episode Summary
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Charles Fishman, author of “One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission that Flew Us to the Moon.” In this special, Christmas-sized episode, they will talk the unsung heroes and little-known facts about the Space Race.
Show Notes
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Charles Fishman, author of “One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission that Flew Us to the Moon.” In this special, Christmas-sized episode, they will talk the unsung heroes and little-known facts about the Space Race.
Further Reading:
“One Giant Leap” on Amazon.com
“When MetroWest went to the Moon” by Paul Ring
Margaret Hamilton
Bill Tindall
President Kennedy Proposes Moon Goal
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Yuri Gagarin
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Episode 11 – Crewmates – Nicole Stott
Episode Summary
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Aquanaut, Astronaut, Artist and Author Nicole Stott to talk about her new book, “Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission to Protect It.” They talk about how her space missions led to her to discovering a new mission here on Earth.
Show Notes
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with Aquanaut, Astronaut, Artist and Author Nicole Stott to talk about her new book, “Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission to Protect It.” They talk about how her space missions led to her to discovering a new mission here on Earth.
Further Reading:
Nicole Stott’s Homepage
Nicole Stott’s NASA Biography
@Astro_Nicole on Twitter
@astro_nicole on Instagram
“Back to Earth” on Amazon.com
“Back to Earth” Website
Space for Art Foundation Website
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Episode 10 – Moon Wheels – Earl Swift
Episode Summary
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with New York Times Bestselling author Earl Swift, whose latest book, "Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings,” is a fascinating deep dive into the design, creation and deployment of the first manned vehicle on another world.
Show Notes
Launch Pad host Paul Ring sits down with New York Times Bestselling author Earl Swift, whose latest book, "Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings,” is a fascinating deep dive into the design, creation and deployment of the first manned vehicle on another world.
Further Reading:
Earl Swift’s Website
“Across the Airless Wilds” at Amazon.com
Lunar Roving Vehicle page on Wikipedia
Lunar Roving Vehicle Documentation page at The Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
Space Center Houston 50th anniversary page for The Lunar Roving Vehicle
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum page on The Lunar Roving Vehicle
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Episode 9 – Untethered – Bruce McCandless III
Episode Summary
The son of Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II sits down with Paul Ring to discuss his new book “Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space.”
Show Notes
The son of Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II sits down with Paul Ring to discuss his new book “Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space.”
Further Reading:
Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the first Untethered Flight in Space
Bruce McCandless III Amazon author page
STS-41-B
Manned Maneuvering Unit
STS-31
Hubble Space Telescope
NASA Tribute to Bruce McCandless II
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Episode 8 – Space by the Book – Andrew Chaikin
Episode Summary
Award-winning space journalist Andrew Chaikin sits down with host Paul Ring to discuss his love of space exploration, his book “A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts,” and his work on the Viking Mars missions.
Show Notes
Award-winning space journalist Andrew Chaikin sits down with host Paul Ring to discuss his love of space exploration, his book “A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts,” and his work on the Viking Mars missions.
Further Reading:
- A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts
- Bronson Pinchot
- Apollo 12
- K. Mattingly
- Buzz Aldrin
- Ed Mitchell
- Apollo 15
- From the Earth to the Moon
- To a Rocky Moon
- The Geology of Mars
- Faruk El-Baz
- Lee Silver
- Air and Space: The National Air and Space Museum Story of Flight
- Apollo : An Eyewitness Account By Astronaut/Explorer Artist/Moonwalker Alan Bean
- A Passion for Mars: Intrepid Explorers of the Red Planet
- Voices from the Moon: Apollo Astronauts Describe Their Lunar Experiences
- Mission Control, This Is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon
- The Folio Society
- The Viking Program
- Planetary Photojournal
- Stellarium
- Solar Walk – iOS, Android
- Star Walk – iOS, Android
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Episode 7 – Son of a Spaceman – Pete Conrad III
Episode Summary
Pete Conrad III, son of Apollo 12 commander Pete Conrad, is our guest for this episode. He talks with host Paul Ring about the close-up view he had of his father’s aerospace career from Pawtuxet River, Maryland, to the Ocean of Storms and beyond.
Show Notes
Pete Conrad III, son of Apollo 12 commander Pete Conrad, is our guest for this episode. He talks with host Paul Ring about the close-up view he had of his father’s aerospace career from Pawtuxet River, Maryland, to the Ocean of Storms and beyond.
Further Reading:
- Pete Conrad, Jr. Wikipedia entry
- Rocketman: Astronaut Pete Conrad's Incredible Ride to the Moon and Beyond
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Episode 6 – Suited for Space - Bill Ayrey
Episode Summary
Bill Ayrey, former ILC Dover space suit test engineer and company historian, talks to host Paul Ring about the creation of the space suits that allowed Apollo astronauts to walk and work on the Moon and his new book, “Lunar Outfitters Making the Apollo Space Suit.
Show Notes
Bill Ayrey, former ILC Dover space suit test engineer and company historian, talks to host Paul Ring about the creation of the space suits that allowed Apollo astronauts to walk and work on the Moon and his new book, “Lunar Outfitters Making the Apollo Space Suit.
Further Reading:
- Bill Ayrey page at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
- ILC Dover’s Spacesuit Page
- Lunar Outfitters: The Making of the Apollo Space Suit
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Episode 5 – Collecting Space – Larry McGlynn Episode Summary
Paul Ring talks with collector, lecturer, appraiser and space historian Larry McGlynn about collecting space-related items and art. He offers his thoughts about the current market and offers tips for new collectors. And he also tells a slightly NSFW story about a very special artifact.
Show Notes
Paul Ring talks with collector, lecturer, appraiser and space historian Larry McGlynn about collecting space-related items and art. He offers his thoughts about the current market and offers tips for new collectors. And he also tells a slightly NSFW story about a very special artifact.
Further Reading:
Larry McGlynn says NASA’s Catalogue of Manmade Material on the Moon made him chuckle because of how much the astronauts took back with them as souvenirs.
Here’s a peek at a couple of Buzz Aldrin Star Charts at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (courtesy of Larry McGlynn).
The Last Man on the Moon documentary tells the story of Apollo 17 Commander Eugene A. “Gene” Cernan, the last man to set foot on the moon’s surface.
Keith Haviland has produced a number of documentaries, including a number about aviation and space exploration. They Include:
· The Last Man on the Moon
· Mission Control
· Spitfire
· Armstrong
Larry McGlynn’s websites are the Space Artifacts Archive and Space Art.
Larry said he loved the story of Curt Newport finding Gus Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7.
Snoopy and Charlie Brown Test Cards from Apollo 10 and a video showing them being used during the mission.
Mentions:
Auction houses that sell aviation and space-related items:
· RR Auctions
· Heritage Auctions
· Bonhams Auctions
Boston’s Museum of Science
The Hayden Planetarium at the Boston Museum of Science.
Space Artists: Chesley Bonestell
Bob McCall
Alan Bean
Paul Calle and Chris Calle
Alexi Leonov
Bill Hartmann
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Note: Some product links in the show notes are Amazon Associate links. The proceeds from purchases using these links help fund the podcast.
Episode 4 – Father, Son and Holy Shuttle – Patrick Mullane Episode Summary Paul Ring talks to Air Force veteran, executive director of Harvard Business School Online Patrick Mullane. He is the son of Shuttle astronaut Mike Mullane and the author of “The Father, Son and Holy Shuttle: Growing Up an Astronaut’s Kid in the Glorious 80s,” which is out now. Strap in for another Launch Pad Space Podcast.
Show Notes Paul Ring talks to Air Force veteran, executive director of Harvard Business School Online Patrick Mullane. He is the son of Shuttle astronaut Mike Mullane and the author of “The Father, Son and Holy Shuttle: Growing Up an Astronaut’s Kid in the Glorious 80s,” which is out now. Strap in for another Launch Pad Space Podcast.
Further Reading: Patrick’s father Mike Mullane flew on STS-41D, STS-27 and STS-36.
Space Shuttle Atlantis suffered extensive damage when the nose cone of one of the SRBs broke off and hit the vehicle. Here’s a link to the damage report.
Patrick met Judy Resnik and Sally Ride during get-togethers held at his home.
STS-1 was the first flight of the Space Shuttle Program.
SRB frangible nuts look something like this.
The only father-son astronaut pair were Owen Garriott and his son, Richard Garriott. Although Owen was a NASA astronaut, Richard is technically a “space flight participant,” and not an astronaut. Richard is a video game designer who paid for his flight into space.
The only other astronaut offspring biography is Rosemary Rossa’s To the Moon: An Autobiography of an Apollo Astronaut’s Daughter.
Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut by Mike Mullane
The Father, Son and Holy Shuttle: Growing Up an Astronaut’s Kid in the Glorious 80s by Patrick Mullane
Sample chapters of Patrick Mullane’s book are available at his website: www.pjmullane.com.
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Episode 3 – Moonwalker Daughter Episode Summary Amy Bean, daughter of Apollo 12 moonwalker, Skylab Commander and renowned space artist Alan Bean talks to host Paul Ring about what it was like growing up among the community that landed the first men on the moon.
Show Notes Amy Bean, daughter of Apollo 12 moonwalker, Skylab Commander and renowned space artist Alan Bean talks to host Paul Ring about what it was like growing up among the community that landed the first men on the moon.
Further Reading: * Alan Bean’s website * Alan Bean’s Wikipedia Page * Apollo 12 Wikipedia Page * Skylab 3 Wikipedia Page * The Greenwich Workshop website
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Episode 2 – The Space Hipster – Emily Carney Episode Summary Paul Ring talks to writer, blogger and Space Hipsters creator Emily Carney about space fandom, Skylab, SpaceX and a whole lot more. Someone might even bring up a certain Soviet space shuttle that shall not be named. So, strap in for another Launch Pad Space Podcast.
Show Notes Paul Ring talks to writer, blogger and Space Hipsters creator Emily Carney about space fandom, Skylab, SpaceX and a whole lot more. Someone might even bring up a certain Soviet space shuttle that shall not be named. So, strap in for another Launch Pad Space Podcast.
Emily and Paul discuss the origin of Space Hipsters, the origin of her interest in space exploration and what interests her as a writer and blogger. She also discusses the myth of a mutiny aboard Skylab.
Mentions: Despite Emily Carney’s work to debunk the myth of the Skylab mutiny, stories are still circulating, like this one in Smithsonian Magazine. There’s even a Wikipedia entry. The three Skylab 4 astronauts are: Bill Pogue, Gerry Carr and Ed Gibson.
Among the obscure figures Emily has written about are:
- Brian O’Leary, author of the book The Making of an Ex-astronaut.
- Gerald K. O’Neill, author of the book The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space.
- Phil K. Chapman
Space Hipsters’ Zoom Meeting with Fred Haise
Bored Panda's Buran Story
Space Hipsters’ Buran T-Shirt
Another Science Fiction by Megan Prelinger
Gerald Brennan, author of the Altered Space alternate space histories.
Reece Emmitt, author of alternate Skylab histories
For All Mankind is streaming now on AppleTV+
Space Force currently streaming on Netflix
Further Reading: Space Hipsters
National Space Society
This Space Available Blog
SpaceFest
Space Shuttle Program
Skylab Program
Boeing Starliner
SpaceX Dragon – DM2 Mission
Blue Origin
Orion/SLS
Arthur C. Clarke
Isaac Asimov
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Episode 1 – The Alan Bean Interview Episode Summary Host Paul Ring recalls his interview with Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot, and Skylab II Commander Alan Bean. Whip up a spaghetti dinner and enjoy this premiere episode of The Launch Pad Space Podcast.
Show Notes Host Paul Ring recalls his interview with Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot, and Skylab II Commander Alan Bean. Whip up a spaghetti dinner and enjoy this premiere episode of The Launch Pad Space Podcast.
The show opens with a quick introduction to the host and the podcast, including what it is and what we hope it will become. Then, Ring then talks about his first interaction with Bean on a Sunday night in July 2009.
In the first clip, Bean talks about his experiences as Apollo 12 launched into a thunderstorm. It’s an oft-told tale, but this time without discussion of a certain Signal Conditioning Equipment switch. This discussion segues into talk about the computers aboard the launch vehicle and the spacecraft.
The subject then switched to food. Bean says the food was “pretty good,” but he said he had a favorite meal from Earth that he wanted to be the first to eat on the Moon. As far as anyone can tell, he was.
Lastly, he spoke about coming up to the Boston area to work with the people from the Draper Lab at the Massachusetts Institution of Technology. He also talked about sense of pride he has with everyone who worked on the Apollo Program.
Then Ring goes on to detail Bean’s Skylab achievements and tells a story about the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 12 launch, when he met Bean in person.
Further Reading: * Alan Bean’s website * Alan Bean’s Wikipedia Page * Apollo 12 Wikipedia Page * Skylab 3 Wikipedia Page * The Greenwich Workshop website
Links Mentioned: When MetroWest Went to the Moon: Area companies helped Apollo 11 (Published in the MetroWest Daily News on July 18, 2009)
Menu for the moon: Natick Labs helped in development of NASA food (Published in the MetroWest Daily News on July 19, 2009)
Alan Bean’s package of Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Alan Bean’s astronaut recruitment video with Nichelle Nichols
A photo of the host, Paul Ring with Alan Bean
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