Casual Space: Recent Episodes
Beth Mund
Let’s talk SPACE, and let’s keep it casual. Nothing too technical. Stories that inspire. As a former NASA Public Affairs Officer, let be serve as your guide. I’ll provide conversations that are both interesting and fun. Each weekly episode brings a new, fresh discussion on a variety of space topics & stories. The universe is pretty big, so there’s always something new to discover! Join me and find YOUR inner space geek on Casual Space!
John A. Read is no stranger to reaching for the stars—both figuratively and literally. Fresh off earning his Master’s in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins (without an undergrad in engineering—yes, really), John joins Beth to explore his fascinating journey from finance to astrophysics, and from a $15 pharmacy telescope to founding Stargaze Nova Scotia, a public dark-sky observatory.
Along the way, John shares how a spark of curiosity from a Chris Hadfield novel launched him into grad school, how he's helping democratize astronomy through smart telescopes and best-selling books, and why his family’s space-inspired creative projects continue to inspire new generations of stargazers.
Beth and John also explore the rapid evolution of space tech, investing in emerging space companies, and what celestial sights to look forward to this summer—including a can’t-miss list of stellar showstoppers for both casual observers and seasoned skywatchers.
About John A. Read: John is an award-winning astronomy author, YouTuber, and outreach educator whose books—including 50 Things to See with a Telescope—have helped thousands learn to stargaze. His company, Learn to Stargaze, creates accessible astronomy resources and experiences for all ages. John also leads Stargaze Nova Scotia and helps manage the historic Abbey Ridge Observatory, bringing the wonders of the cosmos to the public through tours, events, and online content.
John’s family is equally starry-eyed—his wife and daughter create space-themed art and poetry, including the first augmented-reality space poetry book inspired by a trip to orbit!
Mentioned in this episode: 🌌 Stargaze Nova Scotia—a new dark-sky observatory and public stargazing destination 🌌 The Abbey Ridge Observatory Association, bringing real-time views of the cosmos to visitors 📚 50 Things to See with a Telescope series, plus astronomy certification challenges from the Astronomical League and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 📚 Chris Hadfield’s The Apollo Murders, the spark that launched John’s latest academic adventure 🚀 Upcoming commercial launches from Maritime Launch at Canso Spaceport 🔭 Affordable smart telescopes like the Celestron C-Star making astrophotography more accessible ⭐ Upcoming celestial highlights: Perseid meteor shower, Lagoon & Swan Nebulae, globular clusters, and more summer stargazing favorites
You can explore more of John’s work, books, and stargazing tips at: https://www.learntostargaze.com/ Learn to Stargaze on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/learntostargaze 50 Things to See with a Telescope on Amazon
And if you’re near Nova Scotia, keep an eye out for Nova East Star Party and public nights at Stargaze Nova Scotia—because the stars are always better shared.
Mark O’Connell returns to Casual Space to discuss one of the most extraordinary scientific collaborations in human history: the 1957 International Geophysical Year. With his signature wit and storytelling style, Mark takes us on the journey behind his NEW book, The Year Science Changed Everything, revealing how 6,000 scientists from 66 nations put aside political differences to study Earth’s greatest mysteries—from the depths of the ocean to the edge of space.
Beth and Mark explore the ripple effects of this global effort, including the formation of the Antarctic Treaty, the surprising roots of the Artemis Accords, and what IGY can teach us about tackling today’s climate crisis. You'll hear how a Steely Dan song sparked Mark’s decades-long curiosity, how scientific rivalries shaped history, and yes—even how a penguin nap could put you in violation of an international agreement. It’s part history lesson, part love letter to science, and all kinds of fun.
You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Mark’s next creative project: a comedy script about astronomers Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe—think Amadeus meets Knives Out, with a golden nose and planetary motion thrown in.
About Mark O’Connell Mark O’Connell is the author of The Year Science Changed Everything: 1957’s International Geophysical Year and the Future of Our Planet, published by Prometheus Books. He also wrote The Close Encounters Man, a biography of astronomer and UFO researcher J. Allen Hynek.
In addition to writing books, Mark is a seasoned screenwriter with credits on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and he teaches screenwriting at DePaul University in Chicago.
🎧 Explore more of Mark’s work on his podcast Far-Fetched 🌌 Learn more at markoconnell.info
Want to learn more about how Beth connects with guests like Mark, and how her career in space began? Send Beth a note directly at beth@casualspacepodcast.com and follow the show on all the socials.
Want more engaging stories about our future in space? Learn how you can send your own, original story to space right now- at storiesofspace.com
Have you ever looked up at the stars and wished someone could walk you through the wonders above your head — without needing a PhD for confusing telescope parts? Well, you're in luck. In this episode, I’m thrilled (and honestly, a little misty-eyed) to reconnect with my lifelong friend and kindred curiosity-seeker, Kevin Rehberg! Kevin is the founder of his newly- launched company, ClearSky Events, providing a truly magical mobile stargazing experience for people looking to ENJOY the simple wonders of stargazing.
Kevin’s love of the night sky began at age 10 with a clunky plastic telescope and a whole lot of imagination. I was lucky to watch Kevin fall in love with the night sky - Kevin was one of my very first friends growing up, when playing with friends meant playing outside. From climbing trees to looking at stars, Kevin has always had a spirit of exploration. I’ll never forget how excited he was to assemble & peer through his first telescope and share it with all of us kids in the neighborhood...
Fast forward to today, and he’s transformed that passion into something extraordinary: bringing the awe of Saturn’s rings, the surface of the moon, and deep-sky galaxies to your backyard — no astronaut suit required.
We talk about:
- The hilariously humble beginnings of his telescope adventures from our backyards
- How ClearSky Events is making stargazing accessible, unforgettable, and portable
- Why curiosity is one of the best forces in the universe (and in life)
- What it’s like building a business rooted in joy, family, and sharing wonder with others
It’s rare to have a friend who shares your dreams as a kid and grows up to build something that lets others dream bigger. I couldn’t be more grateful for Kevin, for his heart, and for this full-circle conversation under the stars.
If you’re planning an event, looking for the perfect way to wow your guests, or just need a little wonder in your week — discover ClearSky Events in this week’s episode. Contact Kevin and host your very-own, memory-making event TODAY! https://www.clearsky.events/
About Kevin:
Founder Kevin Rehberg's fascination with the night sky began when he was 10 years old. Armed with a comically bad department store telescope and a budding lifelong curiosity, he would venture into shin deep snow to discover the dynamic visual wonders of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, the moon, and beyond.
He quickly realized that the most rewarding part of exploring the night sky was sharing it with friends. A couple equally horrible telescope purchases later, he gifted himself the college graduation present of a state of the art observatory-grade computerized telescope.
From day one with his new telescope, Kevin envisioned a time when future versions of it would be smart enough to make the night sky accessible to even the most casual stargazer. That day arrived with the very recent mainstreaming of smart telescopes.
ClearSky Events is the progression of that eleven year old's passion for sharing the night sky with a jiggly plastic telescope to today's ability to connect the deepest sky wonders with new friends the world over.
Kevin is married to Regina and together they have two wonderful daughters who share that same curiosity for everything big and small in our universe. A long time coming to arrive at ClearSky Events, but worth every minute of the wait. Share that same passion with the guests of your next event.
https://www.clearsky.events/
Want to learn more about how Beth connects with guests like Kevin, and how her career in space began? Send Beth a note directly at beth@casualspacepodcast.com and follow the show on all the socials.
Want more engaging stories about our future in space? Learn how you can send your own, original story to space right now- at storiesofspace.com
Hazel Ying Lee was a fearless pilot and a true aviation pioneer — the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. But for decades, her remarkable story was left untold, until now.
In this episode, author Susan Tate Ankeny tells us how she uncovers Hazel’s legacy in her book, American Fly Girl. Through rich research, Susan brings Hazel’s courage, wit, and determination back into the spotlight — where it belongs.
This conversation is a tribute to hidden heroes and the storytellers who make sure we don’t forget them.
This conversion captures Hazel’s fearless entry into aviation during a time of extreme racial and gender barriers Susan’s journey researching and writing American Fly Girl The emotional impact of giving a voice to overlooked heroes, including her father’s own WWII legacy Why stories like Hazel’s still matter — and what we can learn from them today
About Susan Tate Ankeny Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of American Fly Girl and The Girl and the Bombardier, powerful narratives that uncover the lives of unsung World War II heroes. The daughter of a bombardier who was shot down over France in 1944, Susan grew up immersed in stories of aviation, survival, and resilience. Her father’s passion for flight became her own, leading her to join several World War II aviation historical societies and dedicate herself to preserving these vital histories.
Through meticulous research, heartfelt storytelling, and a deep reverence for those who came before, Susan brings history to life—one remarkable story at a time.
You can learn more about Susan and her work at https://susantateankeny.com. Her books are available wherever stories take flight.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
Exploring space one story at a time just isn’t enough? Same here. That’s why I created Extra Space, a newsletter on LinkedIn with even more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and human stories from the edge of exploration. Check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7326279375165837312/
Send your story to space, or to the sea with MISSION 05 at https://www.storiesofspace.com/
Join us in-between our episodes of Casual Space on the socials,
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And finally, if you know of a great guest, topic or event you would like to hear featured on an episode of Casual Space, send me an email at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
Michelle Lucas knows what it means to chart your own course—especially when the stars aren't clearly mapped. In this heartfelt conversation, Michelle recounts her unexpected trajectory from a third-grader dreaming about rockets in a refrigerator box “space station” to becoming a NASA flight controller and the founder of Higher Orbits, a nonprofit bringing students’ experiments to actual space. Beth and Michelle explore how childhood curiosity, persistent grit, and a few key mentors launched Michelle into the heart of space exploration—and how she's now using that same passion to light the path for others.
Beth and Michelle unpack the realities of navigating NASA's culture, what safety really looks like behind the scenes, and how working in space changed Michelle’s approach to life on Earth. Oh, and don’t miss a fun connection Beth and Michelle laugh about: a wax-molded space shuttle from Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
More About Michelle Lucas: Michelle is the founder of Higher Orbits, a nonprofit organization that uses spaceflight to excite and engage students in STEM, leadership, teamwork, and communication. Before launching Higher Orbits, Michelle served in multiple roles at NASA, including flight controller, instructor, and safety team member. She’s a lifelong space enthusiast who believes deeply in mentoring the next generation of explorers—and still proudly owns a cassette tape of her first astronaut shoutout from space.
If you’re in the Chicagoland area, you can meet Michelle at the Galactic Golf Outing on May 13—a fundraiser where you can literally tee off with astronauts to support Higher Orbits’ mission. (Bonus: It’s hosted at the Glenn Club, once home to Neil Armstrong’s naval station.)
Connect with Michelle and support student STEM dreams at higherorbits.org.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
We’re sending stories to space AND sea! Launching MISSION 05 this week, and you’ll want to make sure you have a place on board- www.storiesofspace.com
Join me and our guests for all of our conversations and stories at:
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or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
Shawn Linam, Aerospace Entrepreneur & Host of In Her Orbit Podcast
Shawn Linam’s journey didn’t start with a telescope or dreams of rockets—it began with candy striping, biomedical engineering, and a resilient heart that would eventually take her to NASA. Listen for a candid conversation about the challenges and joys of being a woman in the space exploration industry, raising kids while growing a company, and navigating a professional trajectory that’s anything but linear. Shawn shares the behind-the-scenes truths of her extraordinary career: from training astronauts at Johnson Space Center to co-founding her own company after a surprise layoff (while on maternity leave!). Together, Beth and Shawn reflect on NASA culture, building confidence in male-dominated fields, and why mentoring the next generation—especially girls in STEM—is the legacy that matters most.
About Shawn Linam: Shawn Linam is the co-founder and CEO of Qwaltec, a space systems operations and training company. Before launching her own business, she served as a NASA trainer supporting the International Space Station and Shuttle programs. Today, she leads In Her Orbit, a podcast amplifying women’s voices in STEM and beyond. A mom, leader, and advocate for women in space-related careers, Shawn continues to mentor, speak, and support others as they launch their own bold missions.
🚀 Explore her podcast In Her Orbit wherever you listen to podcasts 🌍 Learn more about Shawn’s work at qwaltec.com
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Thanks for listening to Casual Space!
With zero prior flight experience but a deep love for space (and Star Trek), Matt Gohd took the helm of Zero G during a pivotal moment and helped guide the company into a new era—one marked by resilience, accessibility, and unforgettable experiences that allow everyday people to float like astronauts.
In this episode, Beth and Matt explore the incredible evolution of Zero G—from its bold beginnings inspired by Peter Diamandis to flying 22,000+ people, including Stephen Hawking and Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke. Matt shares what it took to revive the company after near shutdown, launch flights during a global pandemic, and expand access to space-like experiences for everyone—especially through impactful initiatives like AstroAccess, which brings disabled individuals aboard to test space accessibility solutions. Listeners will love the behind-the-scenes stories of lunar pushups, parabolic protocols, and even the “best nap of your life” after your flight.
About Matt Gohd: Matt is the Chairman of Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G), the only commercial provider of weightless flight experiences in the U.S. With a background in finance and a passion for turning bold visions into reality, Matt stepped in during a critical time to relaunch the company and bring spaceflight simulation to the masses. Since then, he’s been instrumental in growing Zero G’s impact, forging partnerships, expanding operations across the country, and championing inclusion in space.
Zero G now operates in cities like Houston, San Jose, New York, and even from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, offering public flights, corporate experiences, and research missions for institutions prepping for lunar missions. Check out GoZeroG.com to learn more, book a seat, or get updates on where the plane will fly next. (Use code “MAT10” to save 10% on your own weightless adventure.)
Matt also highlights collaborators like Tim Bailey (the heart of Zero G), marketing pro Erin, and CEO Kevin Sproge, who brings military and Blue Origin astronaut training expertise to the team. And don’t miss the mention of Jose Hernandez, NASA astronaut and subject of A Million Miles Away, who often joins flights to inspire the next generation.
To learn more about AstroAccess and their mission to make spaceflight accessible for all, visit astroaccess.org.
☁️💫 Whether you're curious about the science of weightlessness or dreaming of floating like an astronaut, this is an episode that will lift your spirit—and maybe your feet—off the ground.
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Thanks for listening to Casual Space!
Ben Tackett Show Notes
TITLE: Lunar Landings & Late-Night Shifts: Ben Tackett from Firefly Aerospace on Blue Ghost Mission 1”
This week on Casual Space, it’s one small step for your playlist — one giant landing for a Blue Ghost…this episode delivers big on space, story, and spirit!
Beth is joined by Ben Tackett, Lead Systems Operator at Firefly Aerospace, to relive the extraordinary journey that took him from Purdue classrooms to helping land a spacecraft on the Moon.
Ben shares how his early love of aerospace evolved into a hands-on career that’s shaping the future of space exploration. From collaborating with Buzz Aldrin on a Mars colonization project, to working the operations console for Blue Ghost Mission 1, Ben gives us a raw and real look at what it takes to bring a mission like this to life.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- The long nights, tight timelines, and 500+ hours of simulations that made history possible
- Real-time moments of awe: lunar images streaming in after touchdown
- The behind-the-scenes grit of small teams doing big things
- Why parking lot champagne tastes better after a lunar landing
- And what’s next with Blue Ghost Mission 2, featuring payloads from the European Space Agency and a radio telescope bound for the far side of the Moon
Ben’s story is one of curiosity, commitment, and cosmic-scale inspiration — a reminder that behind every successful mission is a team of passionate people pushing past limits. This episode captures not just the technical triumph, but the human heartbeat of spaceflight.
Don’t miss this inside look at a truly historic mission — and a glimpse of what’s just over the horizon.
#CasualSpacePodcast #BlueGhostMission1 #FireflyAerospace #MoonLanding Credit/copyright for photo/video footage: Firefly Aerospace
About Ben Tackett:
Ben is the lead systems operator for the Blue Ghost lunar program at Firefly Aerospace, current commercial New Space systems engineer , and a prior NASA hypersonic flight mechanics engineer. For Blue Ghost, Ben maintains the technical "big picture" of the program and ensures that the sub-systems required to make a successful spacecraft work together towards a successful mission program.
In addition to Blue Ghost, Ben has been a part of the Mars Sample Return initiative as Lead Flight Mechanics Engineer for development of the Earth Entry Vehicle, supported Aerocapture and Aerogravity-Assist initiatives, and completed multiple Verification & Validation efforts for the Artemis program with the NESC. Ben completed his education at Purdue University, focusing on hypersonic mission design, re-entry trajectory guidance and optimization, and aerospace systems engineering publishing a thesis on real-time trajectory optimization for onboard optimal control.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
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Got a great guest suggestion or idea for the show? E-mail me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com. Send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space MISSION 03 AND MISSION 04 are NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Andrew Parris, Broadcast Television Engineer and Space Communicator, joins Beth from the Cape for a long-overdue chat about life behind the lens at NASA and beyond.
With over four decades in broadcast television and thirteen action-packed years at NASA, Andrew shares his extraordinary journey—from diving with astronauts and filming space shuttle landings, to flying on NASA's "Weightless Wonder." Andrew’s passion for space never fizzled, and today, he's helping others chase their own cosmic dreams through The Inspired 24, a group he co-founded to expand access to the space experience and the Overview Effect.
In this episode, Beth and Andrew launch into memories of SCUBA dives at the WETF, share laughs about zero-G adventures gone sideways (literally), and open up about the emotional impact of witnessing spaceflight tragedies firsthand. Andrew also walks us through his recent work with AstroAccess, supporting inclusive microgravity flights, and Copernic Space, sending stories and digital mementos to the Moon. You’ll hear about the human moments behind the missions, the stories you don’t see on screen, and the joyful chaos of bridging the technical with the emotional in NASA’s most public-facing roles.
Andrew’s reflections—equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and humbling—remind us that space exploration isn’t just about rockets and research. It’s about people, passion, and persistence.
More about Andrew Parris:
Andrew Parris is a 3-time Technical Emmy award-winning Broadcast Television Engineer, space communicator, and Commercial Astronaut-in-training. He spent 13 years at NASA's Dryden and Johnson Space Centers supporting shuttle and ISS missions, astronaut training, and global documentation efforts—including trips to Russia and the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
After his NASA years, he helped launch the first all-HDTV network with Mark Cuban and directed live coverage of STS-114’s launch and landing. Today, he leads The Inspired 24 community, volunteers at Space Center Houston, and partners with space-forward orgs like Copernic Space, MoonDAO, and AstroAccess. He’s flown multiple commercial zero-G flights and is preparing for a stratospheric balloon mission with World View in 2026.
Want to connect with Andrew or join The Inspired 24? Head to theinspired24.com. Call sign Titan is always ready to welcome fellow space dreamers aboard.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it! beth@casualspacepodcast.com
Want to hear more about the incredible AstroAccess Zero G Mission? Listen to episode 138 with Zero-G’s Tim Bailey: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2021/0930/138-tim-bailey
You can follow our Casual conversations on Casual Space and share in the socials,
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YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! Each dollar helps send a story. https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space MISSION 03 and MISSION 04 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Returning guest Steve Matier, CEO of Maritime Launch Services, joins the podcast to share the latest developments in the rapidly growing satellite industry and how Maritime Launch is shaping the future of commercial spaceflight. As the first commercial spaceport in Nova Scotia, Maritime Launch is poised to provide critical access to orbit for satellite companies worldwide.
Steve discusses the increasing demand for launch capabilities, the challenges of global launch site logistics, and how Maritime Launch stands apart. With a prime location on the 45th parallel, a deep-sea port, and a strong regional infrastructure, the site offers unparalleled access to key orbital inclinations. He also explains the significance of the newly signed Canada-U.S. Technology Safeguards Agreement, which enables American launch vehicles and payloads to operate from Canadian soil, opening vast market opportunities.
Beyond launching rockets, Maritime Launch is diversifying its operations with suborbital testing, data downlink ground stations, and satellite processing facilities. Steve provides a behind-the-scenes look at their innovative leasing model for multiple launch providers, ensuring a flexible and efficient solution for companies seeking reliable and frequent launch opportunities.
About Steve Matier & Maritime Launch Services Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services, is the visionary and driving force behind the development of Spaceport Nova Scotia, a world-class commercial space complex that will launch Canada into the global space industry.
A mechanical engineer (Bachelor of Science, University of New Mexico, 1989) and an award-winning former NASA contractor engineering manager (NASA White Sands Test Facility), Matier is leading coordination and approval among provincial, federal, and international governing bodies, securing private financing, leading satellite sales, coordinating launch vehicle integration, and selecting best-in-class commercial firms to support launch operations at Maritime Launch.
As part of Steve’s work with Maritime Launch, he is driving the collaboration and partnerships that will support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space launch market in Canada. With satellite and launch vehicle clients within Canada and around the globe interested in launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia, Maritime Launch is joining a global industry that will exceed one trillion dollars annually within the next 20 years.
While Steve’s day-to-day focus is squarely on developing Canada’s first commercial spaceport, his interest in space extends beyond the technology and the launch itself. Steve has a passion for teaching, which means he is never far from the classroom—whether guest lecturing at a local high school physics class in Canso or presenting to kids at summer programs in Antigonish. He has driven partnerships with St. Francis Xavier University and Cape Breton University and is a supporter of Dalhousie’s cubesat program. His passion for working with schools began in his early career in the Space Shuttle program, recognizing that kids can look up into space and see opportunity for themselves on the ground.
Steve is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor in recognition of outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success. His leadership in Canada’s space sector continues to create new opportunities for commercial space access and international collaboration.
Connect with Maritime Launch Services * Visit MaritimeLaunch.com for updates and developments. * Follow Maritime Launch on LinkedIn and X for real-time insights. * Stay tuned for upcoming launches and new partnerships as Maritime Launch prepares for its first orbital mission in 2026.
This episode is a must-listen for space industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the evolving landscape of commercial spaceflight.
Award-winning author and astrophysicist Alan Smale joins the podcast to share his unique journey of weaving hard science and historical fiction into gripping alternate-history narratives. From his NASA career studying X-ray astronomy to crafting meticulously researched novels that reimagine space exploration and ancient civilizations, Alan’s storytelling is as rich as the history that inspires it.
Alan discusses how his extensive travels and deep scientific knowledge influence his writing, leading to immersive stories like the Clash of Eagles trilogy and the Apollo Rising series. He explores the inspiration behind his latest work, highlighting the Apollo program’s alternate path had space exploration continued at full speed beyond the 1970s. With detailed world-building and intense character development, Alan’s books challenge readers to consider how history might have unfolded differently.
Through engaging storytelling, Alan shares insights into the creative process, the importance of critical thinking in science and fiction, and the evolving landscape of space exploration. He also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the editorial process, his approach to writing large-scale narratives, and the personal stories that shape his characters.
About Alan Smale Alan Smale is a physicist and author known for blending history, science, and fiction into compelling alternate-history novels. With a background in astrophysics at NASA, he brings a unique perspective to his storytelling. His books, including Clash of Eagles and the Apollo Rising series, have been widely acclaimed for their meticulous research and captivating narratives.
Connect with Alan Smale * Visit AlanSmale.com for updates, books, and upcoming projects. * Follow Alan on Facebook and X for insights into his writing and space science. * Apollo Rising: Burning Night, the final book in the trilogy, releases later this year—stay tuned for updates!
This episode is a must-listen for fans of historical fiction, space enthusiasts, and those fascinated by the intersections of science and storytelling.
Barry Matsumori is no stranger to space, but his latest mission takes flight in a whole new way. As CEO of Skydweller Aero, he leads the charge in developing an autonomous, solar-powered aircraft capable of perpetual flight. In this episode, Barry shares how his transition from satellites and rockets to high-altitude aircraft opened new possibilities for Earth observation, communication, and global connectivity. He explains how Skydweller Aero’s innovative aircraft operates in 'near space,' bridging the gap between satellites and traditional aviation while unlocking groundbreaking applications for government, commercial, and humanitarian use.
Skydweller isn’t just an aircraft—it’s a revolution in aerial technology. With a staggering 236-foot wingspan, this lightweight, solar-powered plane stays airborne for weeks at a time, providing a cost-effective alternative to satellites. Barry discusses how its autonomous capabilities, ultra-quiet operation, and low-cost deployment make it a game-changer for monitoring environmental changes, supporting disaster response, and even detecting early signs of wildfires. The potential applications are endless, from enhancing maritime security to delivering broadband in remote areas.
Barry also explores the challenges of bringing perpetual flight to reality, from navigating aviation regulations to optimizing autonomous flight systems. He shares fascinating insights into the engineering marvel that allows Skydweller to loiter over critical areas, providing real-time data with unparalleled precision. And for those wondering about the plane’s name? It’s as poetic as it is functional—Skydweller quite literally dwells in the sky, redefining how we think about flight.
About Barry Matsumori: Barry Matsumori has had an extensive career in aerospace, having worked with leading companies such as SpaceX and Virgin Orbit. His expertise spans satellite technology, launch systems, and now, the pioneering world of high-altitude, solar-powered aircraft. With over two decades of experience in developing cutting-edge space and aviation technologies, Barry is at the forefront of shaping the future of flight.
Want to see Skydweller in action? Keep an eye out for upcoming test flights and potential showcases at major aviation events. You can also check out footage of its incredible capabilities online—just search for 'Mississippi Skydweller' to see the reactions of stunned onlookers witnessing its silent, solar-powered flight.
Connect with Skydweller Aero: Skydweller Aero WebsiteBarry Matsumori on LinkedIn
The future of flight is here, and it's powered by the sun. Buckle up and join us as we explore the limitless possibilities of perpetual aviation!
STORIES TO SPACE just announced MISSION 04! What’s MISSION 04? We’re teaming up with our local community college students to send YOUR submitted stories into the STRATOSPHERE on a weather balloon! So get your stories now, we will be launching end of April/ early May, weather depending! www.storiesofspace.com
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And, here is your invitation for the ONE-SPACE celebration!
Carrying on the spirit and legacy of YURI’S NIGHT Space Coast, ONE-SPACE is happening for one night only on April 12, 2025, at the iconic Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This inaugural event is a celebration of pioneers and dreamers—from the first steps on the Moon to the new frontiers of private spaceflight, we’ll gather to honor the past and inspire the future.
Get ready for an unforgettable night:
🎶 Live Music & Dancing – Top DJs and live performances under the stars. 🛰 Immersive Space Experiences – Interactive exhibits, VR simulations & space activations. 🚀 Surprise Guests – Astronauts, engineers, visionaries shaping the cosmos. 🍸 Themed Cocktails & Cosmic Cuisine – Space-inspired drinks & bites. 🎨 Art & Storytelling Installations – Space reimagined through immersive showcases.
Join us as we celebrate our collective journey into space.
When: April 12
Where: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Tickets: https://sempre.one/ Save 10% with Promo Code: CASUALSPACE
Author and space historian Jay Gallentine embarks on a thrilling mission to capture the untold story of one of NASA’s most influential figures—John Casani. In his latest book, Born to Explore, Jay takes readers on an exhilarating journey through Casani’s remarkable career, from his unexpected entry into aerospace to his pivotal role in some of NASA’s most legendary planetary missions. Casani wasn’t just another project manager—he was a force of nature who refused to accept dead ends, a master of navigating complex challenges, and a mentor who inspired teams to push beyond limits.
Jay shares how his original vision for the book transformed when a scheduled 20-minute conversation with Casani turned into a four-hour deep dive into his personal life, philosophies, and career-defining moments. From the Voyager program to Galileo and Cassini, John’s leadership helped shape NASA’s approach to planetary exploration, proving that the best missions aren’t just about technology—they’re about the people who make them happen.
Through engaging storytelling, Jay reveals the personal side of Casani—the man who kept a smile even in the face of budget cuts, mission failures, and relentless obstacles. He also offers insight into Casani’s philosophy of ‘living in a world with no corners,’ a mindset that turned potential mission cancellations into historic successes.
About Jay Gallentine Jay Gallentine is an award-winning space historian and author known for bringing humanity to the stories behind robotic space exploration. With a knack for uncovering the lesser-known narratives of NASA’s pioneers, Jay’s books offer a fresh and compelling perspective on space history. Born to Explore is set to release in late 2025.
Connect with Jay Gallentine * Follow Jay on Facebook for updates on his books and space history insights. * Stay tuned for Born to Explore, coming soon to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your favorite bookstores.
This episode is a must-listen for space enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who loves a good behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to explore the cosmos.
Alex Reynolds, Founder and CEO of ATTX, joins Casual Space to share his inspiring journey from a childhood fascination with flight to leading a company dedicated to democratizing access to space. Growing up in Missouri, Alex's creativity and curiosity were nurtured in a DIY workshop his mom set up in the family attic—an experience that ultimately inspired the name of his company. From building airplanes as a kid to shaping the future of space exploration, Alex's story is one of passion, persistence, and problem-solving.
In this episode, Alex reflects on his work at CU Boulder’s Dream Chaser program, groundbreaking satellite missions, and the launch of ATTX. His company’s mission is to “open space for all through software innovation,” providing accessible, ready-to-use tools that enable startups and smaller organizations to compete in the challenging space industry. Alex also shares how ATTX fosters a culture of innovation by balancing mission-focused work with a supportive, people-first approach to leadership.
About Alex Reynolds Alex Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of ATTX, a company revolutionizing the space industry with innovative simulation and software solutions. With a background in aerospace engineering and years of experience on high-profile projects, Alex brings both technical expertise and visionary leadership to the table. At ATTX, Alex and his team focus on creating tools that simplify the complexities of space missions, empowering organizations to turn their ideas into reality.
To learn more about ATTX, visit attx.tech or email Alex directly at alex@attx.tech. Whether you're a budding aerospace engineer, a startup founder, or simply passionate about space, Alex is eager to connect and share his knowledge.
Every episode, Beth selects and shares a job listing within the space industry! You can be one of the first to know about unique opportunities by going to our LinkedIn page and social platforms! LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
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YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
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And if you enjoyed this episode, let Beth know directly at beth@casualspacepodcast.com. Are you interested in having Beth in as your featured speaker for your conference, special event? Audiences everywhere agree; her voice is truly unique, and her programs are stellar. Inquiries for Beth’s availability in 2025 can be sent to beth@casualspacepodcast.com
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com Also, to help support sending stories about space to space. Visit our 2025 GoFundMe Campaign at this link: https://gofund.me/0638ee0e
Herb Baker, NASA veteran and author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories From My 50 Years With NASA, takes us back to a time where growing up near NASA meant working near the “Manned Spacecraft Center,” and running films to the TV station for Apollo missions. Herb took what started as a “fun job” into an unforgettable 42-year career working on the Shuttle, Space Station, and Orion programs. Herb grew up surrounded by astronauts’ families, watched history happen right in his backyard, and even got to see his mom play a key role in saving Skylab—a story that will absolutely make you smile.
Herb’s adventures working for NASA are pretty incredible—like riding in a helicopter flown by a Vietnam vet to deliver news footage, running around Mission Control like he owned the place, and learning that astronauts’ biggest fear isn’t danger... it’s letting their teammates down. You’ll hear just how much NASA’s mission and people have meant to him.
Herb’s stories bring NASA’s history to life in a way that feels personal, real, and so inspiring. If you’ve ever looked up at the stars and dreamed big, this one’s for you.
Guest Bio: Herb Baker retired from NASA in 2017 after 42 years of service. He spent most of his career at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), supporting the Space Shuttle, Space Station, and Orion Programs. Herb also worked at the Kennedy Space Center and NASA Headquarters. His final position was Manager of the Operations Support Office at JSC, where he oversaw support for Mission Control, astronaut operations, and NASA’s aircraft operations. Today, Herb serves as an Officer on the Board of Directors for the NASA Alumni League-JSC and dedicates his time to promoting STEM education through organizations like the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Space Center Houston. He is a frequent speaker on human spaceflight and the author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories From My 50 Years With NASA.
Connect with Herb: Want a signed copy of From Apollo to Artemis? Head to herbbaker.space. You can also find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Check his website for updates on upcoming book signings and events.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
- Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
- Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
- YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com Also, to help support sending stories about space to space. Visit our 2025 GoFundMe Campaign at this link: https://gofund.me/0638ee0e
Hank Alewine is the accountant boldly going where no CPA has gone before! A professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Hank isn’t just teaching spreadsheets and balance sheets—he’s pioneering space accounting (yes, that’s a thing). In this episode, Hank chats about his career journey, from studying biology to becoming a CPA, and eventually inventing a course that tackles the financial frontier of the space economy.
Hank explores fascinating topics like how future Martian colonies might handle taxes (spoiler: someone will definitely try to tax space transactions) and why lag times between Earth and Mars could make audits a real headache. He also explains how accountants are the ultimate storytellers, translating numbers into tales that help businesses—and even space agencies—thrive.
If you’ve ever wondered how space exploration gets funded—or just want to geek out about Star Trek and space taxes—this episode is for you. Hank’s unique perspective will leave you laughing, thinking, and maybe even reconsidering accounting as the coolest job in the universe.
About Hank Alewine
Hank Alewine is a professor with a passion for numbers and NASA. Based in Huntsville, Alabama (aka Rocket City), Hank teaches managerial accounting and is breaking new ground with his space accounting course. He also organizes the Business of Space Conference, where academia and the space industry collide in the best way possible. When he’s not teaching or exploring the cosmos through his research, Hank is busy chasing chickens and hanging out with his opinionated donkey Josephine on his family’s hobby farm.
Hank and Beth mentioned Hank’s appearance on The Space Show with host Dr. David M. Livingston. Here is the link to that episode: https://www.thespaceshow.com/show/01-dec-2023/broadcast-4121-dr.-hank-alewine
Want to learn more about Hank’s work or the upcoming Business of Space Conference (February 23 - 25, 2025)? Check out the conference website at: https://www.uah.edu/opce/program-topics/business-of-space
Or check out the University of Alabama in Huntsville at uah.edu/business
Ronak Dave is a Flight Director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center who always knew he wanted to work in Human Spaceflight Operations. His journey from a curious engineer to one of NASA’s elite is inspiring. With a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, his path to NASA was fueled by curiosity, determination, and a little networking ingenuity.
From tinkering with appliances in his childhood home to orchestrating critical missions at NASA, Ronak talks about how each experience brought him to work in the space industry. He shares lessons learned in leadership and teamwork while managing a $150 billion spacecraft and working alongside astronauts. Ronak also offers insight into how NASA’s redundancy, preparation, and collaboration principles shape the space program and everyday decision-making.
Beyond the control room, Ronak emphasizes the importance of balance and finding moments to disconnect. Whether stepping away to cook, enjoying Purdue basketball games, or practicing the art of turning off work’s ever-present “buzz,” he reminds us that mindfulness is essential—even in a high-stakes role.
About Ronak Dave Ronak Dave joined NASA in 2011 as a Pathways Intern, becoming a cornerstone of the Flight Operations Directorate. His extensive career includes roles in mission control for the International Space Station, propulsion systems support for Boeing’s Starliner, and leadership in Artemis I and II missions. Selected as a Flight Director in 2022, Ronak now spearheads critical projects like the SpaceX-30 Dragon cargo mission. His team, Momentum, reflects the physics principles he champions and the urgency required to keep missions and people safe.
To connect with Ronak or learn more about his work, follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Momentum_Flight. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
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- Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
- YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com Also, to help support sending stories about space to space. Visit our 2025 GoFundMe Campaign at this link: https://gofund.me/0638ee0e
Dr. Eiman Jahangir, a physician, analog astronaut, and lifelong space enthusiast, shares his remarkable journey to becoming an astronaut with Blue Origin’s New Shepard. With two previous NASA astronaut candidacies and years of dedication, Dr. Jahangir’s story is resilient. He is driven by a love for science and space and his unwavering commitment to the dream of exploring beyond Earth.
Catch Dr. Jahangir as he shares stories from his recent Blue Origin flight and launches into his experiences with the analog astronaut community, where he honed skills vital for long space missions. He’s got heartwarming tales, like attending family space camp with his son and how volunteering at a science museum as a teen sparked his lifelong passion for inspiring others to reach for the stars. Dr. Jahangir’s journey shows that even the biggest dreams are possible when you break them down into small, achievable steps!
About Dr. Eiman Jahangir Dr. Eiman Jahangir’s dreams are indeed out of this world. He has been fascinated with medicine and space since childhood and is now a cardiologist and an astronaut.
Eiman was the first Iranian American man to go to space, the first physician on a commercial launch, and only the third cardiologist ever to go to space. He was selected from more than 2,200 applicants to be MoonDAO’s second citizen astronaut and, on Thursday, August 29, 2024, made history as a member of the Blue Origin New Shephard rocket launch.
Eiman is an associate professor and practicing cardio-oncology physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A proud Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High School graduate in Nashville, he is also the first Metro Nashville Public School alumnus to go to space.
Resources Mentioned
- Moondao – A DAO that funded Dr. Jahangir’s seat on the Blue Origin flight through community-driven NFT and Ethereum support.
- Blue Origin – Learn more about Dr. Jahangir’s flight aboard the New Shepard.
Connect with Dr. Eiman Jahangir
- eimanjahangir.com
- hello@eimanjahangir.com
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign, and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
- Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
- Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
- YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com Also, to help support sending stories about space to space. Visit our 2025 GoFundMe Campaign at this link: https://gofund.me/0638ee0e
Anna (Hanna Sav) Harutyunyan, is an Armenian engineer and robotics student who recently made history as Armenia’s first analog astronaut!
In this episode, she joins host Beth Mund on the Casual Space Podcast to share her experiences in analog space missions, her academic journey, and her upcoming projects. Anna’s on a mission to inspire people in Armenia, and around the world, to explore space.
As you listen in, you’ll hear how Anna first connected with the analog astronaut community through the Austrian Space Forum, where she supported ground operations before stepping into a mission role. Her journey is one of resilience, from overcoming visa challenges to working in a fully immersive habitat under challenging conditions without sunlight. Anna’s analog mission required her to step into tasks involving high-tech rovers, maintaining equipment, and simulating life on another planet.
Beyond her analog experiences, Anna is pursuing a degree in Robotics and Engineering, which fuels her passion for combining robotics, AI, and quantum computing to push the boundaries of space exploration. She recently announced plans to launch Rocket Space Academy, a training ground for future analog astronauts, focusing on creating accessible training opportunities for aspiring space enthusiasts from Armenia and other underrepresented regions.
About Anna (Hanna Sav) Harutyunyan: Anna’s journey began in Armenia, where she excelled in engineering and dreamed of participating in space missions. Her dedication led her to become the first Armenian analog astronaut, a trailblazer in combining STEM fields with hands-on analog mission experience. She is currently a robotics student advocating for STEM education and international cooperation in space exploration.
Resources Mentioned:
- Austrian Space Forum – Learn more about analog missions and ground operations.
- Rocket Space Academy (Coming Soon) – An academy dedicated to training future analog astronauts in Armenia.
- Check out Hanna’s photo from Vogue photographer https://www.vogue.com/photovogue/photographers/19692/gallery#4827241
Connect with Hannah:
- LinkedIn: @hannasavme
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
YOU CAN HELP US SEND STORIES TO SPACE! Please visit our GoFundMe campaign, and help send more stories to space! https://gofund.me/62f1ff87
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
- Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
- Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
- YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com Also, to help support sending stories about space to space. Visit our 2025 GoFundMe Campaign at this link: https://gofund.me/0638ee0e
Samantha Christensen, a long-time team member at Lowell Observatory, shares the exciting news about the grand opening of the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. As Northern Arizona’s first science center, the 40,000-square-foot facility offers a major upgrade with cutting-edge exhibits, interactive experiences, and an immersive space for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages. Samantha discusses the community’s excitement, especially among educators, and highlights how this new center will serve not only Flagstaff but also underserved communities, including the nearby Navajo and Hopi reservations.
About Samantha Christensen: Samantha Christensen leads Lowell Observatory’s outreach team and oversees its programs. She is a principal member of the group designing the experiences guests will enjoy in Lowell Observatory’s Astronomy Discovery Center, slated to open in 2024.
Christensen, who began participating in Lowell’s outreach programs at the age of four, officially joined the staff in 2009. Before stepping into her current role, she served as Educator, Supervisor, Education Coordinator, and Outreach Manager. She also spent several years working as a research assistant under the direction of Dr. David Schleicher. As Education Coordinator, Christensen designed and launched the Lowell Observatory Camps for Kids (LOCKs) – Preschool program and developed many of the lessons associated with the LOCKs – Elementary School camps.
Christensen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in applied mathematics.
Resources Mentioned:
- Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory
- Lowell Observatory’s website: Lowell.edu
Connect with Lowell Observatory:
- Website: Lowell.edu
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
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or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Corbett Hoenninger, General Manager of Argotec Inc., has quite the space career. From training astronauts at NASA to helping lead the Dream Chaser’s drop tests (including a memorable crash landing), Corbett shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of space exploration.
Corbett talks about the recent NASA DART mission, (giving an asteroid a nudge), and how small satellites are changing the game in space. Corbett started working in the field of psychology, then shifted to aerospace engineering… and combining both to present this great philosophy of being “fearless, but not reckless,” Corbett proves that you don’t have to be a scientist or an engineer to make your mark in the space industry. Sometimes, you just need a spark of curiosity and the courage to explore.
About Corbett Hoenninger: Corbett Hoenninger is the General Manager of Argotec Inc., where he leads exciting projects in small satellite technology and space exploration. His extensive career includes years at NASA Mission Control, where he trained astronauts and worked on mission preparation. Corbett played a pivotal role in the Dream Chaser atmospheric drop tests and was part of the NASA DART mission, where they successfully redirected an asteroid. His journey to aerospace engineering started after serving in the Navy and earning degrees in aerospace and physics. Passionate about mentoring and sharing his experiences, Corbett continues to inspire future space enthusiasts.
Where to Find Corbett:
- LinkedIn: Corbett Hoenninger
- Website: Argotec Group
- Email: corbett.hoenninger@us.argotecgroup.com
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
You can follow and share in the socials,
- LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
- Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
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- YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Chris Quigg, the celebrated theoretical physicist and co-author of Grace in All Simplicity, whisks us away on a journey through the wonders of particle physics—served with a dash of poetry and a sprinkle of grace! With a talent for turning complex ideas into accessible stories, Chris shares insights from his new book and reveals the inspiration behind its intriguing title. Listen for unforgettable moments in the history of science and get a sneak peek into life at iconic research centers like CERN and Fermilab.
Thank you, Chris, for showing us how curiosity and a love for learning can transform our understanding of science and our approach to life.
About Chris Quigg: Chris Quigg has spent his career making particle physics approachable and fascinating for everyone. Having worked at world-renowned institutions like CERN and Fermilab, he’s explored fundamental questions about the universe. In Grace in All Simplicity, co-authored with Bob Kahn, Chris combines science with storytelling, inviting readers to discover the personal journeys of scientists behind remarkable breakthroughs. His warm and engaging style draws in curious minds of all ages to experience the wonder of physics.
Resources Mentioned:
- Grace in All Simplicity by Chris Quigg and Bob Kahn
- CERN Science Gateway – A new visitor center bringing science to life for the public
- Fermilab’s Lederman Science Center – An educational space for kids and families to explore the wonders of science
Connect with Chris: Twitter/X: @chrisquiggbsky.social: @chrisquigg
Check out the reviews of the book: Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03424-5 Science https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl2396.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
Beth welcomes movie star and educator, Scott Holcomb! Scott shares his remarkable story from his surprise audition to his role in the industry CLASSIC film, Space Camp, and how it led him to a meaningful career in education. Through humorous anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, Scott discusses the impact Space Camp (the movie AND the experience) has had on his life and how he’s inspiring the next generation to dream big. Tune in for behind-the-scenes tales from Space Camp, the joy of rekindling childhood wonder, and insights into fostering curiosity in today's students.
Scott shares his hilarious story about how he got a role in Space Camp and talks about his fantastic six years at the Space and Rocket Center, how his love for Space Camp inspired him to become an educator and encourage the new generation to stay curious and dream big. His passion shines through for expanding the Space Camp alumni network, especially among teachers, to keep that spark alive for future campers. About Scott Holcomb:
Scott Holcomb is a lifelong educator, former Space Camp cast member, and self-proclaimed “nerd extraordinaire.” His journey began with a surprise role in the Space Camp movie, a serendipitous experience that ignited his passion for inspiring young minds. After working for several years at the Space and Rocket Center, Scott found his true calling in education. Today, he’s an elementary school teacher who brings his love for space, science, and tech to the classroom, encouraging his students to embrace curiosity and explore their potential. Scott is also dedicated to fostering a sense of community among Space Camp alumni and actively works to connect educators with the program.
Connect with Scott:
- Twitter/X: @HideoTakamini
- Instagram: @hideotakamini
- Space Camp Alumni Chapter: Learn more about Scott’s work with the Space Camp alumni network at SpaceCamp.com.
- If you want to join a budding new Memphis, TN area Space Camp Alumni Chapter, email Scott at: memphisspacecampalumni@gmail.com
Speaking of Movies… watch Scott in Space Camp the movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH-WKqWsibs and see Beth in the trailer, and the movie, Alcohol in Space https://vimeo.com/792808522
Award-winning science fiction author and friend of the show Stuart Hardwick returns to share the story behind his latest work, Tales of the United States Space Force and his passion for space defense and storytelling.
Happy WORLD SPACE WEEK! https://www.worldspaceweek.org/
We’re celebrating World Space Week with our partners, Cosmic Girls and their INCREDIBLE Space Competition announcement you DO NOT want to miss: https://www.cosmicgirls.org/
In this episode, Stuart & Beth discuss the critical importance of space defense and how science fiction plays a role in educating the public about the future of space exploration. Can fictional stories dispel misconceptions about America’s newest military service branch, the United States Space Force? Listen to hear the answer to this question, the challenges of space militarization, the role of satellites in our economy, and why protecting our presence in space is more critical now than ever.
About Stuart Hardwick: Stuart Hardwick is an award-winning science fiction author and editor passionate about blending fiction and fact to bring important topics to light. Having grown up in an Air Force family during the Apollo era, Stuart has always been fascinated by space and its role in shaping our world. His latest project, Tales of the United States Space Force, is a groundbreaking anthology that combines science fiction stories with factual articles to illustrate the need for space defense while dispelling myths about the Space Force. His work reminds listeners and readers alike that space is vital to our economy and everyday life—and must be defended.
Learn more and get a free ebook sampler at:
www.cStuartHardwick.com
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
You can follow and share in the socials,
LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Welcome our first ever US Space Force guest Col. Heather Bogstie!
Col. Heather Bogstie shares her journey from attending Space Camp as a young girl to becoming a key leader in the newly established United States Space Force. Together, Beth and Heather walk through Heather’s inspiring career path, her experiences as a missile operator, and her transition into the Space Force. Heather shares personal stories from her time at Space Camp, the critical role of the Space Force in national security, the evolving landscape of space operations, and the importance of encouraging the next generation of women in STEM.
Col. Bogstie’s Message to Listeners:
"There are lots of careers in space; the defense industrial base for space is strong and evolving, offering many opportunities to be a part of this space renaissance. Consider joining the Space Force! Service began for a reason, and I’m so glad I could complement my passion for space with serving my country and protecting our freedom."
About Col. Heather Bogstie:
Col. Heather Bogstie serves as a leader in the United States Space Force, where she works on protecting the nation's interests in space. With a background in electrical engineering and a career that spans from missile operations to space acquisitions, Heather’s expertise and dedication have made her a pivotal figure in the Space Force. Her passion for space began at Space Camp, and she has since dedicated her life to advancing space operations and inspiring others. Follow Heather’s journey and learn more about her impactful work at Space Force.
Learn more and connect with Col. Heather Bogstie:
-
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-bogstie-12818b96/
-
SSC: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceSystemsCommand?mibextid=LQQJ4d
-
USSF: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceForceDoD?mibextid=LQQJ4d
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!
You can follow and share in the socials,
LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Marc Hartzman, friend of the show and author of We Are Not Alone: The Extraordinary History of UFOs, Aliens, and Our Hopes, Fears, and Fantasies, returns to the Casual Space Podcast to dive into the intriguing world of UFOs!
Marc’s new book goes way beyond the familiar stories of iconic UFO sightings, (Roswell and the Phoenix Lights). Marc discusses how these events have shaped both public perception and government disclosure over the decades. Children’s encounters with UFO’s? The government acknowledgement of UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena)? We Are Not Alone is not afraid to tackle these topics. Marc’s research and thoughtful storytelling make this episode an intriguing journey through history, pop culture, and the enduring question—are we truly alone?
“The nature of UFOs is that it remains a mystery. But that’s what makes the search for answers so fascinating.” – Marc Hartzman
About Marc Hartzman:
Marc Hartzman is an author and historian deeply interested in the unusual and unexplained. His latest book, We Are Not Alone, examines UFOs and aliens' history and cultural impact. He is also the author of The Big Book of Mars, which explores our fascination with the red planet.
Learn more and connect with Marc:
- Website: MarcHartzmanBooks.com
- Instagram: @weirdhistorian
- Twitter: @weirdhistorian1
- Facebook: @weirdhistorian
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, we’d love to hear it!
You can follow and share on our socials:
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Or email Beth directly at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
Don’t forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com.
Nathalie Cabrol is an astrobiologist and author of, “The Secret Life of the Universe.” She’s also the Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and holds the women’s WORLD record for free and scuba diving (at altitude)! Nathalie has spent decades studying the cosmos and searching for life in unexpected places—whether hidden in rocks here on Earth or waiting to be discovered on distant planets.
Nathalie shares her career path as a trailblazer in planetary science, the sacrifices she’s made along the way, and why she believes we’re on the verge of groundbreaking discoveries. In this conversation, Beth and Natalie explore key questions like: Is life an inevitable result of the universe’s laws? And what can Earth teach us about finding life beyond our planet?
“The nature of life on Earth and the search for life elsewhere are two sides of the same question – the search for who we are.” - Carl Sagan
About Nathalie Cabrol:
Nathalie Cabrol is an astrobiologist and Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. She has led groundbreaking research on planetary habitability and the search for life in extreme environments. Learn more about her work at SETI Institute. https://youtu.be/oIIw9q5jVqU?si=BYjkTrvG6eDhqa0s
Learn more and connect with Nathalie:
FB Planetary Landscapes: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryLandscapes
X (former Twitter): https://x.com/shasta721
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-cabrol-1791a114/
SETI Institute: https://www.seti.org/senior-staff and https://www.seti.org/our-scientists/nathalie-cabrol
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*Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Are you passionate about making a positive impact and contributing to a cause that empowers and uplifts? Cosmic Girls Foundation is seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual to join us as the Cosmic Forum Community Manager. If you are excited about fostering a vibrant and safe online community for girls and contributing to a cause that makes a global impact, we would love to hear from you! Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to SofiaGiussani@cosmicgirls.org/
Ever wonder how a passion for space exploration can ignite a global movement? In this episode of Through These Doors, Chris Key, Josh Whitfield, and Beth Mund sit down with Abigail Harrison, better known as Astronaut Abby, the inspiring force behind The Mars Generation.
Abby’s journey is one of vision and connection. From her first awe-inspiring visit to Space Camp at age 12 to founding a nonprofit that empowers young people to pursue their space dreams, Abby’s story is a testament to the power of dedication, community, and the digital age. Throughout the conversation, Abby emphasizes the importance of leveraging social media and digital tools to create opportunities and connect with others in the space industry. She also shares her advice on embracing failure as a necessary step toward success.
During the discussion, Abby reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her path, including the influential role of her mother and the impact of early mentors. She also discusses her current work at Harvard Medical School and her future ambitions, including obtaining a Ph.D. and continuing her journey toward becoming an astronaut.
Whether you’re a budding space enthusiast, a seasoned professional, or simply fascinated by stories of perseverance and innovation, this episode will inspire you to reach for the stars and make the most of the tools and opportunities available today.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Abigail Harrison (Astronaut Abby)
Abigail Harrison, known globally as Astronaut Abby, began her journey in space exploration at 12 when she attended Space Camp. Growing up in Minnesota, Abby’s fascination with space was fueled by a community that supported her dreams, including a pivotal encounter with astronaut Luca Parmitano. Abby’s early experiences at Space Camp and her growing presence on social media led her to found The Mars Generation, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and empowering young people to pursue their space dreams.
Abby has reached millions through The Mars Generation, advocating for STEM education and space exploration. Her work has been recognized globally, and she is a leading voice in the space community. Currently working at Harvard Medical School in immunology, Abby is also pursuing her pilot’s license and preparing to apply for a Ph.D. program, all while continuing her mission to become an astronaut.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us on social media using: #CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors. Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
Ever wondered what it takes to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts?
In this podcast episode of Through These Doors, Beth Mund and Chris Key sit down with Kelley Wolfe, an elementary science specialist at Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama. Kelley has a deep passion for space and education, making her an ideal guest to share her unique experiences.
Kelley, who never attended Space Camp as a child but worked there as a counselor, discusses how she found her dream job as a hands-on science specialist. She shares stories from her time at Space Camp, where she brought space education to life for kids. Kelley's enthusiasm for teaching is infectious from tethering her students to the ceiling to simulate spacewalks to making craters in flour with kindergartners.
Kelley’s journey into education started early. Inspired by "Little House on the Prairie," she knew from second grade that she wanted to be a teacher. Her experiences at Space Camp solidified her passion for space and education, leading her to become a beloved figure at Randolph School.
Throughout the episode, Kelley talks about the magic of Space Camp—how it brings together children from all over the world and allows them to explore space in a hands-on, immersive environment. She also shares her desire to return to Space Camp as a teacher and part of the alumni community and the importance of keeping the camp experience alive for future generations.
Kelley’s dedication to her students and love for space shines through in every story she shares. Whether helping a nervous camper adjust to life away from home or ensuring her children get the full Space Camp experience, Kelley’s commitment to fostering a love of science in the next generation is truly inspiring.
Tune in to hear Kelley’s stories, her advice for future Space Campers, and why she believes Space Camp is an essential experience for young people. This episode is filled with heartwarming moments, laughs, and insights into the world of space education.
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Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Kelley Wolfe
Kelley Wolfe is an elementary science specialist at Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama, with over 23 years of teaching experience. Passionate about hands-on science and space education, Kelley has spent years inspiring young minds to explore the universe's wonders. Her journey in education has been deeply influenced by her time as a Space Camp counselor, where she developed a lifelong love for space and teaching. Kelley continues to bring the excitement of space exploration into her classroom, ensuring every student leaves with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us on social media using: #CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors. Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
Ever wonder what it takes to inspire over 500 students to reach for the stars?
In this episode of Through These Doors, Chris Key, Josh Whitfield, and Beth Mund sit down with Danny Jaques, a Space Camp Hall of Fame inductee and passionate educator dedicated to inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts.
Danny’s journey is one of relentless determination. From bringing hundreds of students from Ignacio, Colorado, to Space Camp, to launching his own space-themed salsa company, Danny’s story is filled with creativity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his mission: getting humanity to Mars.
During the conversation, Danny shares the challenges of raising funds to send students from a small rural community to Space Camp and the joy of watching them light up as they experience the wonders of space exploration. He also dives into his personal passion for Mars, discussing the importance of dreaming big and how Space Camp plays a crucial role in nurturing those dreams.
Whether you’re a space enthusiast, an educator, or someone who loves a good story of perseverance and innovation, this episode inspires you to think outside the box and reach for your own stars.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Danny Jaques
Danny Jaques grew up on a ranch near Ignacio, Colorado, where his fascination with space began as he watched the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. Though raised in a farming family, Danny's passion for space led him to a career in science education.
After an inspiring visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Danny made it his mission to share the wonders of space with his students. Over the years, he has chaperoned more than 500 students to Space Camp and was honore
What drives someone to pursue a lifelong career exploring the cosmos?
In this episode of Through These Doors, Chris Key, Josh Whitfield, and Beth Mund sit down with Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, a NASA planetary scientist whose passion for space began at Space Camp and led to a groundbreaking career at NASA.
Jennifer’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Jennifer's story is a testament to the power of following one's dreams, from her first plane ride to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, to earning a PhD in planetary science. In this episode, she recounts her experiences at Space Camp, where she first realized that a career in space wasn’t just a dream but a tangible goal. Jennifer takes us through her exciting work at NASA, including her contributions to Mars exploration and the search for life beyond Earth.
Throughout the conversation, Jennifer reflects on the impact Space Camp had on her life and career, offering valuable advice to young and mid-career professionals on pursuing their passions in the space industry. She also shares her thoughts on the potential discovery of life on Mars and how it could fundamentally change our understanding of the universe.
Whether you're an aspiring astronaut, a space enthusiast, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode will motivate you to reach for the stars.
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Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Dr. Jennifer Heldmann
Dr. Jennifer Heldmann is a Planetary Scientist in the Division of Space Sciences & Astrobiology, Planetary Systems Branch at NASA Ames Research Center. Heldmann studies the Moon with a focus on improving our understanding of lunar volatile deposits as well as focusing on lunar geology. She works on spacecraft missions to study ice on the Moon (e.g., NASA’s LCROSS & VIPER missions) and leads teams analyzing data, creating numerical models, conducting field campaigns, and developing cutting-edge hardware and software tools for future planetary mission applications. Heldmann also supports NASA’s Artemis program by providing scientific input and astronaut training to optimize scientific exploration of the Moon on crewed missions.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us on social media using: #CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors. Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
Ever wonder what sparks a lifelong passion for space in someone?
In this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth Mund teams up with Chris Key and Josh Whitfield for an uplifting chat with Diallo Wallace—a naval aviator turned high school teacher who’s all about inspiring the next generation of space lovers.
Diallo’s story starts with a bang—literally—as he recounts how watching the Space Shuttle launch in 1981 changed his life forever. From dreaming about being a truck driver or paleontologist to becoming a naval aviator with a deep love for space, Diallo’s journey is full of twists, turns, and a whole lot of passion.
Now, as a high school teacher, Diallo is on a mission to show his students that there’s more to space than just being an astronaut. He’s all about highlighting the cool jobs like flight directors and engineers that make space exploration possible. And he’s not stopping there—Diallo is a big believer in giving back. He’s using his experiences and connections to mentor young people, helping them chase their dreams in the space industry.
Tune in to hear Diallo’s inspiring story, his thoughts on the power of mentorship, and why he believes that the future of space exploration lies in the hands of the next generation. Whether you’re a space geek or just love a good story, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.
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Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Diallo Wallace
Diallo Wallace is a dedicated educator, former naval aviator, and lifelong space enthusiast. His passion for space began in 1981 when he watched the Space Shuttle launch, igniting a dream that led him to a career in aviation. Now, as a high school teacher, Diallo inspires the next generation, encouraging students to explore careers in space beyond just becoming astronauts. Through his mentorship and outreach, Diallo is committed to giving back, ensuring that young people have the opportunities to pursue their dreams in the space industry. His story is one of perseverance, passion, and a deep commitment to empowering others.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us on social media using: #CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors. Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern.
Calling all Cosmic Social Media buffs looking to get practical experience or become an intern in a dynamic non-profit organization that will send a girl to space! The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern to help us get our content out to all via our various social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). Join the team and become Cosmic! Cosmic Girls Foundation
Ever wonder what it’s like to push past your limits in an environment designed to challenge and inspire you?
In this episode of Casual Space, Beth Mund, along with co-hosts Chris and Joshua, shares another powerful story from the "Through These Doors" series. This time, we hear from Melanie, a former camper who attended Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SIVIS).
Melanie shares what it was like to connect with other visually impaired students for the first time, the thrill of overcoming fears, and how Space Camp has left a lasting mark on her life. She talks about the unforgettable mentors Jim Allen and Dan Oates, who were instrumental in her journey, and the importance of stepping into leadership roles—even when it's daunting.
Whether you’re curious about how Space Camp can transform lives or just love a good story of personal growth, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Melanie Sinohui
Melanie is a passionate space enthusiast and a former participant of Space Camp, where she embraced challenges that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Although she initially considered herself a "B plus" participant, Melanie's experiences at camp taught her the value of purposeful leadership and teamwork. She reflects on her time at Space Camp with humility and insight, recognizing the importance of following and leading in new, unfamiliar situations.
Melanie firmly believes in never underestimating the people around you, especially the power and potential of youth. Her journey through Space Camp has instilled in her a deep appreciation for teamwork dynamics and its critical role in achieving successful outcomes—whether in space exploration, military aviation, or everyday life. Melanie's story is a testament to the growth that comes from stepping into new experiences and learning when to take initiative and when to support others.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us on social media using: #CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors. Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern.
Calling all Cosmic Social Media buffs looking to get practical experience or become an intern in a dynamic non-profit organization that will send a girl to space! The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern to help us get our content out to all via our various social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). Join the team and become Cosmic! Cosmic Girls Foundation
What if you could help a student experience the wonder of space, despite the odds? In this heartwarming episode of Casual Space, we sit down with Dan Oates, a true legend within the Space Camp community, who has dedicated his life to doing just that. From his impactful work with students with disabilities to his induction into the Space Camp Hall of Fame, Dan shares stories that will inspire and touch your heart.
Join Beth, Josh, and Chris as they explore the incredible journey of Dan Oates, his dedication to helping students experience the wonders of space, and the unforgettable moments that have defined his career. From blind students landing simulated aircraft carriers to the unique challenges faced by students with albinism, Dan's stories reveal the deep connections and lifelong impact that Space Camp has on its participants.
Dan also reflects on his own journey, including his induction into the Space Camp Hall of Fame and the pivotal role of the Alumni Association in keeping the Space Camp spirit alive. Whether you're a Space Camp alum or simply a fan of inspiring stories, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Dan Oates
Dan Oates is a member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame and a retired teacher from the West Virginia School for the Blind. For thirty years, Dan has been helping thousands of visually impaired and blind students and teachers experience Space Camp through a program called SCIVIS – Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students. In the past, he has served as Education Program Manager for Space Camp, and is currently the group coordinator for SCIVIS.
The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern.
Calling all Cosmic Social Media buffs who are looking to get practical experience or become an intern in a dynamic non-profit organization that will send a girl to space! The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern to help us get our content out to all via our various social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). Join the team and become Cosmic! Cosmic Girls Foundation
Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
What happens when a childhood dream turns into a lifelong passion? In this heartwarming episode, Beth Mund sits down with Space Camp alumni Charity, Ruth Marie, Josh and Chris to reflect on the incredible journey from camp memories to real-world achievements.
Discover how Space Camp planted the seeds for big dreams, teamwork, and a “never give up” attitude that continues to inspire and shape lives. From revitalizing dormant camps to taking on the challenge of an Iron Man, our guests share how the lessons they learned have carried them through their careers and personal challenges.
You'll hear about the creation of a powerful alumni network, and the “Hall of Fame” campers and camp supporters, and the impact Space Camp has had on thousands of lives. The conversation gets personal as Josh describes the life-changing support he received from the Space Camp community during a critical time in his life.
Whether you're a future camper, a parent, or simply curious about the magic of Space Camp, this episode is filled with inspiring stories, heartfelt gratitude, and a reminder that finding your tribe can change your life. Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About: Ruth Marie Oliver:
Space Camp Alumni Advocate & Lifelong Learner
Ruth Marie is a proud Space Camp alumna who has dedicated her life to the values and lessons learned during her time at camp. With a passion for inspiring the next generation, Ruth has been instrumental in connecting and growing the Space Camp alumni network. Her efforts have not only helped alumni reconnect and share their stories but have also played a crucial role in recognizing the achievements of fellow Space Campers through initiatives like the Hall of Fame.
A natural leader and advocate for curiosity, teamwork, and perseverance, Ruth embodies the spirit of Space Camp. Her experiences at camp taught her to dream big, embrace challenges, and always rely on her tribe—a mindset that has guided her throughout her career and personal life. Ruth’s impact on the Space Camp community is profound, as she continues to inspire both past and future campers with her unwavering dedication and love for the camp that changed her life.
Charity Nehls Stewart: Advertising & Social Media Director, Space Camp Advocate
Charity has been a vital part of the Space Camp community since 2004 when she first joined as a counselor. Over the years, her deep passion for space exploration and education led her to serve as the Advertising and Social Media Director at the Space Center, where she played a key role in amplifying the camp's reach and impact.
With her roots firmly planted in the Space Camp experience, Charity has been a guiding force in connecting alumni, fostering a sense of community, and sharing the incredible stories of campers from all walks of life. Her efforts have ensured that the camp’s legacy continues to inspire both current and future generations of space enthusiasts.
A firm believer in the power of dreams and the importance of teamwork, Charity’s journey reflects the very values that Space Camp instills in its participants. Her dedication to nurturing curiosity and encouraging exploration has left an indelible mark on the camp and its alumni network, making her a beloved figure in the Space Camp family.
The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern.
Calling all Cosmic Social Media buffs who are looking to get practical experience or become an intern in a dynamic non-profit organization that will send a girl to space! The Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for a new Social Media Coordinator Intern to help us get our content out to all via our various social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). Join the team and become Cosmic! Cosmic Girls Foundation
Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
Have you ever wondered what it takes to guide astronauts through the challenges of space exploration, ensuring their safety and mission success? In this exciting episode, host Beth Mund, along with co-hosts Chris Key and Josh Whitfield, kicks off a brand-new series titled "Through These Doors," where they explore the incredible journeys of Space Camp alumni who have gone on to achieve extraordinary things in the field of space exploration.
Our special guest today is none other than Ed Van Cise, NASA's 78th Flight Director, known by his call sign "Carbon Flight." Ed's passion for space began at an early age, fueled by his visit to Space Camp® and inspired by Apollo 16 Moonwalker Charlie Duke. He shares his remarkable journey from a curious young camper to a respected leader at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where he has worked as the Lead Flight Director for several aspects of the International Space Station (ISS).
In this episode, Ed discusses the challenges and triumphs of working in mission control, the importance of teamwork and leadership in space operations, and the future of human space exploration. He also offers valuable advice for aspiring space professionals and reflects on the impact of Space Camp on his career path.
Join us as we delve into Ed's fascinating experiences, from his first memories of Space Camp to his current role in shaping the future of space exploration. This episode is filled with inspiring stories, insightful discussions, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a modern-day flight director at NASA.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
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About: Ed Van Cise is a highly respected NASA Flight Director known for his call sign "Carbon Flight." A recipient of the prestigious "Right Stuff" award, Ed was inspired to pursue a career in aerospace engineering after attending Space Camp® and hearing a presentation by Apollo 16 Moonwalker Charlie Duke. He has since dedicated his career to NASA, working as Lead Flight Director for various aspects of the International Space Station and contributing significantly to the future of human space exploration. Watch Ed Van Cise on YouTube
Interested in Space Camp? Visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp
Have you ever wondered how a college freshman ends up in the Space Camp Hall of Fame? In this limited-release series, join your hosts Beth Mund, Chris Key, and Joshua Whitfield as they welcome special guest Andrea Hanson.
Andrea shares her incredible journey from being introduced to Space Camp in college to becoming a Space Camp Hall of Famer. She spills the secrets of her time as a crew trainer and how it launched her career in the aerospace industry.
Andrea’s passion for space and her dedication to inspiring the next generation shine through as she talks about the importance of teamwork, the intense training, and the life-changing impact Space Camp had on her. Plus, she gives us a peek into her current work at the Johnson Space Center with the human landing system and her mission to keep astronauts healthy and safe.
Join us for an out-of-this-world conversation, and get ready to be inspired by Andrea’s stellar journey!
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About: Andrea M. Hanson, PhD Lake Park, Minnesota BS, University of North Dakota MS, University of Colorado PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder
To say that former ADVANCED SPACE ACADEMY® crew trainer, Andrea Hanson, has been persistent in pursuing her interest in Science and Engineering may be the greatest of understatements. Although Dr. Hanson’s enthusiasm for Space Life Science began during her freshman year at college, she credits her time spent as an instructor at SPACE CAMP as the launch pad for her research career in that field. Following an internship with Boeing Satellite Systems, Dr. Hanson worked as a graduate student with BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado. It was here that she realized the dream of so many trainees, when five years of research culminated in a space shuttle experiment that flew aboard STS-118 in August of 2007. Today, Dr. Hanson continues her relentless pursuit as a post-doctoral research scientist and engineer in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her primary efforts are focused on developing technology to monitor musculoskeletal health in astronauts during long-duration space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Dr. Hanson is a walking testament to what is produced at the fantastic intersection of drive, determination and passion and is a role model for anyone with a dream.
Have you ever thought about what confidence really means and how it can shape your professional journey? In this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth and Hannah Stanley dive into the essence of confidence and how it can propel your career, like a goose crossing the street in traffic.
Confidence isn't just a trait; it's a skill that can be honed and applied to make a real impact. In between the laughter throughout this episode, Beth and Hannah share practical tips on how to gain confidence in your work, no matter what field you're in—whether you're an athlete, a creative, or an aspiring astronaut. Both hosts share their own challenges to be more confident in the things they aspire to achieve and then invite each of us to go from “comfortable” to confident.
Tune in for a lively conversation filled with humor, practical tips, and a lot of heart. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this episode will inspire you to embrace your confidence!
Prepare for a magical journey! Our official Disney Insider, Hannah Stanley, is back and ready to whisk us away on an adventure through the world of innovation and imagination. In this episode, Hannah shares fascinating examples and delightful references that tie together space exploration and the ever-inspiring Disney spirit of innovation.
From animatronic presidents to the dream of living on the Moon EPCOT-style, discover how Walt Disney's visionary ideas continue to influence the future of space exploration. Whether you're a Disney fan, a space enthusiast, or just someone who loves a good story, this episode is sure to ignite your imagination and leave you inspired.
Don’t miss out on this enchanting episode! Tune in and let the magic of Disney and the wonder of space exploration collide!
There are several books and shows that delve into Walt Disney's inventions and his impact on innovation. Here are some recommendations:
Books
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"Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler
- This comprehensive biography provides deep insights into Walt Disney's life, his creative process, and the innovations he introduced.
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"Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park" by Jeff Kurtti
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This book highlights the pioneers of Disney Imagineering, the creative force behind Disney's theme park attractions, and discusses various innovations.
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"Disneyland: The Nickel Tour" by Bruce Gordon and David Mumford
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A detailed history of Disneyland that covers the evolution of the park and the innovations introduced by Disney and his team.
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"Walt Disney and the Quest for Community" by Steve Mannheim
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This book explores Walt Disney's vision for EPCOT and his innovative ideas for community planning and urban development.
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"Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show" by John Hench
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Written by one of the original Imagineers, this book provides an insider’s look at the design and innovation behind Disney’s attractions.
Shows and Documentaries
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"The Imagineering Story" (Disney+)
- This documentary series offers an in-depth look at the history and evolution of Walt Disney Imagineering, featuring interviews and archival footage.
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"Walt: The Man Behind the Myth"
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A documentary that covers Walt Disney’s life, his work, and his numerous contributions to animation and theme park design.
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"American Experience: Walt Disney" (PBS)
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A two-part documentary that explores Walt Disney's career, focusing on his innovative spirit and the creation of Disneyland.
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"Behind the Attraction" (Disney+)
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This series goes behind the scenes of some of Disney’s most iconic attractions and explains the technological innovations and creative processes involved.
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"One Day at Disney" (Disney+)
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A documentary series that showcases the daily lives of Disney employees, including Imagineers, and highlights the innovative work that goes into creating Disney magic.
These books and shows provide a comprehensive look at Walt Disney's inventive spirit and the lasting impact of his innovations on entertainment, technology, and beyond.
*Don’t forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Ahh, the precious memories made from summer camp! The adventures, the friendships, the HEAT... they're all fun parts of the camp experience and stories that say with us through the years.
In this episode, we dive into the stories of Space Camp Alumni whose impressive careers within the space industry and as lifelong learners all began when they walked "through these doors" at the historic US. Space and Rocket Center. Whether you're an aspiring astronaut or just a space enthusiast, you'll be inspired by the incredible tales of dreams turned into reality.
Are you a Space Camp alumni? Reconnect with millions of campers who like you, share that space camp experience: https://rocketcenterfoundation.org/about-alumni/
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
Send your story ABOUT space INTO to space for free at www.storiesofspace.com.
Tune in and let your imagination soar!
This week, in our ongoing summer series, “Summer-ease,” we meet at the intersection of innovation, Disney, and space exploration. Our returning and always insightful guest (and Disney insider), Hannah Stanley, joins us to discuss Disney's innovative culture and its profound influence on space-related endeavors.
Why Disney? Disney shares the same pioneering spirit as our nation’s space industry. Like NASA, Disney’s culture from the very beginning has encouraged the application of innovative ideas, leaving unforgettable imprints on various industries, from animation to theme parks and environmental initiatives. We delve into the visionary ideas of Walt Disney, such as the futuristic EPCOT, and the groundbreaking technological innovations that have propelled Disney's unparalleled success. Did you know that Wernher von Braun served as a spokesman for three Walt Disney television programs on space travel, Man in Space?
WATCH: How Disney Built America on the History Channel
https://www.history.com/shows/how-disney-built-america
“How Disney Built America” is a nostalgia-filled ride that paints a vivid picture of the world of Walt Disney and the history-making empire he and his brother Roy Disney built. Each hour-long episode focuses on a different example of game-changing brilliance in Disney’s history, including creating the world’s most recognizable characters, establishing the animated features industry, revolutionizing the concept of merchandising, and using groundbreaking design and engineering to construct Disneyland, Walt Disney World® Resort, and beyond. Viewers will hear from legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr, a direct hire from Walt who developed over 100 designs for Disney theme park attractions, to gain surprising insights into the unique innovations and struggles involved in realizing the dreams of a visionary.
WATCH: Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot describes the HoloTile (we mention in this episode): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyc33U6f8rk
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share an innovation you are inspired by, I’d love to hear it! Please share it in the socials,
LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Don't forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Have you ever been captivated by a moment from a space movie? Did that movement make you laugh, learn, or even lean in a little further into the science or story?
In this third summary (summer-ease) episode of Casual Space, Chad and I plunge into the whimsical world of space movies, from makeshift force fields to mutant monsters born from nuclear waste. But amidst the laughter and incredulity, we uncover a deeper truth about the power of storytelling to inspire wonder and curiosity about the cosmos.
So grab your popcorn and join us as we journey through the cosmos of cinema, celebrating the creativity and ingenuity of filmmakers who dare to dream beyond the stars.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share a space movie moment, I’d love to hear it! Please share it in the socials,
LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast
Facebook - @casualspacepodcast
Instagram - @casualspacepodcast
YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83
or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.
*Don't forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
What does grace look like in a high-performance workplace like the space exploration industry?
Why is grace in the workspace important?
Can someone have professional grace if they don’t necessarily have a lot of experience?
On this 2nd summaries (summer-ease) episode, Beth welcomes her colleague, media host and longtime Disney cast member Hannah Stanley discuss what professional grace looks like, and how each of us can aim to extend grace within our workspace.
Discussions, ideas & examples of grace from guests on previous episodes:
Going to space with grace- Chris and Erin Sembroski share how they work together (and give one another grace along the way : https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20211224/147-erin-sembroski
The Overview Effect- referencing “grace” and awe when seeing our planet Earth from space with Frank Whie: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2021/0805/134-frank-white
Making space for young & curious space explorers with Janet Ivey from Janet’s Planet: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2020/10/01/91-janet-ivey
*Don’t forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Welcome to the first episode in our new series, “Summaries” (Summer-ease) where host Beth Mund provides a shortened, easy- going, “summary” for your listening enjoyment. Every week, you’ll find themes within space exploration of course, and related topics. Guests will occasionally stop by, and we’ll keep the conversation light and non-technical (we always do). Like a cool and refreshing iced tea, these mini masterclass conversations are deliciously served to include the perfect mix of entertainment and education with a splash of cosmic fun!
So, listen in & relax! Let us do all the heavy lifting and bring the universe to you- one casual space summary at a time.
This week’s Summer-ease theme: Staying Curious
When it comes to space exploration, what does it mean to stay curious? Beth reflects on some of her previous guests ‘episodes and what it means to not only be curious, but how to stay curious by inviting others to join in.
Astronomer John Read invites us to look up and be curious about our night sky: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20240129/211-john
Researchers/ writers/ comics Kelly and Zach Weinersmith are curious about how we might live on Mars https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20240229/217-kelly-zach-weinersmith
Curious about solar power? Physicist John Mankins explains it here: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20240223/215-john-mankins
*Don’t forget!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com
Last spring, Beth Mund delivered the commencement speech at her alma matter, Loras College. Here is the recording of her speech, never before released. It's one of life long exploration and curiosity- Beth draws examples from her own experiences and from her colleagues in the space industry to help inspire the next generation of explorers.
Sean Wilson is a strategic communications and crisis communications expert who has worked extensively within the space industry. Sean currently works as the Director of Communications for the Aerospace Corporation and has also worked as the Director of Media and Public Relations for Northrop Grumman and the Director of Strategic Communications for Orbital ATK. Whew! AND, that’s not even all of it- she’s served in the United States Air Force, wrote a children’s book about space adventures, and is a talented artist and “music junkie!”
On this episode, Sean and Beth discover their professional paths have crossed numerous times and that they unknowingly have both been witness to several events and adventures while working with NASA…. This conversation is full of surprises, some “insider” tales, career wisdom from lessons learned, and, of course- laughter looking back on it all (and a promise of more stories to come).
Find Sean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanewilson/
And check out her space art on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seanewilson/
Or get your copy of Princess Ava’s excellent space adventure here: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Avas-Great-Space-Adventure/dp/1494417987
And don’t forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com
Returning guest Danny Jaques has taken students to Space Camps for the past 32 years!
He’s been a certified space geek since he watched the last flight of Project Mercury with Gordon Cooper in Faith 7 on May 15, 1963, with his Dad.
Danny started his career in education teaching science and was invited to tour the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He was so impressed with the programs, facilities, and people that he decided it would become his mission to share the opportunity with his students. Danny started organizing students in grades 4-12 to attend Space Camp, and since then, has chaperoned over 500 students, with plans to continue for many more years. Because of his work and dedication to so many students, Danny was inducted as a member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2010.
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS!
Learn more about Danny and his work on an earlier episode here: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20230505/194-space-salsa
Order Danny’s coffee, Rocket Ranch Space Salsa, and more here:
Website: https://www.dannysrocketranch.com. Email: dannysrocketranch@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/DannysRocketRanch
https://www.instagram.com/dannysrocketranchspacesalsa
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannysrocketranch/
https://twitter.com/DRR_SpaceSalsa
And don’t forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com
Dr. Kirby Runyon is completely qualified to be your outer space lifestyle guide and science consultant. What makes him qualified, you ask? He’s a Planetary Geologist at The Planetary Science Institute, a Creative Space Science Consultant, his research has flown on a recent Zero-G flight(s), he hosts tours of the Kennedy Space Center, offers astrogeology tours for educators, and, well, you can read all of his formal qualifications at https://planex.space.
In the meantime, we’re talking all about his space-themed zero-gravity flights (flinging colored chalk in microgravity), astrogeology adventure hikes (witnessing the most amazing colors within a sunset), seeing lava on the moon (!), and why kids make better Zero-G passengers than adults. It’s all this and more fun with our friend and guide, Kirby Runyon!
Follow Dr. Kirby Runyon on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirby-runyon-1752467/
Catch up on all the things Kirby is doing at planex.space
And don’t forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com
40 years ago, the six surviving Mercury 7 Astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton), Betty Grissom, William Douglas, M.D., and Henri Landwirth established the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). Since its inception, the ASF had the mission of retaining the United States' world leadership in technology and innovation to support the best and brightest STEM scholars while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts. From the original 7 scholarships in 1984, $8.3 million Astronaut Scholarships have been awarded to 790+ Astronaut Scholars from 48 universities nationwide to date.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that annually provides more than 60 scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Learn more at: https://astronautscholarship.org/
Today on the show, Karly and Lisa join Beth and share how the ASF has helped impact their lives, and invite your support.
Karly Liebendorfer is a senior at Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in biomedical engineering with minors in nanotechnology and chemistry. She is a 2023 Astronaut Scholar. She is also the captain of Florida Tech's NCAA DII women's lacrosse team and is involved in multiple student organizations. She will pursue her Ph.D. and aspires to work in drug development for space applications.
Stephen Matier is the President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services. He is also the visionary behind Spaceport Nova Scotia, a world-class commercial space complex that will launch Canada into the global space industry. Steve and his team at Maritime Launch will carry the next set of stories about space INTO space later this summer (Mission 03, currently open for story submissions) through the STORIES of Space non-profit organization.
Today on the podcast, Steve explains how space exploration was always in his background AND backyard! Steve started as a mechanical engineer (Bachelor of Science, University of New Mexico) and worked at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility. At Maritime Launch, Matier leads coordination and approval among provincial, federal, and international governing bodies, securing private financing, leading satellite sales, coordinating launch vehicle integration and selecting best-in-class commercial firms to support launch operations.
Want to know more about Maritime Launch? https://www.maritimelaunch.com/
Want to send your own story ABOUT space INTO space this summer? Submit your story TODAY at www.storiesofspace.com
Want to know more about Steve Matier? https://www.maritimelaunch.com/team
As part of Steve’s work with Maritime Launch, he is driving the collaboration and partnerships to support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space launch market in Canada. With satellite and launch vehicle clients within Canada and around the globe interested in launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia, Maritime Launch is joining a global industry that will exceed one trillion dollars annually within the next 20 years.
While Steve’s day-to-day focus is squarely focused on developing Canada’s first commercial spaceport, Matier’s interest in space extends beyond the technology and the launch itself. Steve has a passion for teaching, which means he is never far from the classroom, whether guest lecturing at a local high school physics class in Canso or presenting to kids at summer programs in Antigonish. He has driven partnerships with St. Francis Xavier University and Cape Breton University and supports Dalhousie’s CubeSat program. His passion for working with schools began in his early career in the Space Shuttle program, with the recognition that kids can look up into space and see opportunities for themselves on the ground.
Steve is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success.
Are you ready for the April 8 solar eclipse? Don’t worry, Tyler Nordgren is THE perfect guide, and he’s here to walk us through what to expect on the upcoming solar eclipse, along with other celestial events- Tyler is an artist, astronomer, and night sky ambassador. So tune in, and get ready for this incredible event with our friend and returning guest expert and guide, Tyler Nordgren!
More about Dr. Tyler Nordgren, from his website: https://www.tylernordgren.com/
“When I’m not creating and commissioning vintage space art, I’m a professional astronomer and lecturer with a Ph.D. in Astronomy.
For over a decade, I’ve worked with the National Park Service (NPS) to turn our nation’s beautiful national parks into the single largest source for public science and astronomy education in the world. I’ve photographed our national parks at night with exquisite night sky photography, gave countless astronomical tours to the public, and advocated for us all to learn more about the astronomical wonders in the sky.
It’s my personal goal to inform and educate the public through artwork.
Through my vintage space art, I educate and inspire the public about the wonders of the universe. My most popular space art campaign has been "See the Milky Way" for the NPS with the popular slogan, Half the Park is After Dark(TM), and it has become the unofficial motto of the NPS night sky program.
My vintage art style is inspired by the educational 1930s posters created by the WPA and CCC. I use this medium to educate people about space, conservation & light pollution—and to strike an emotional chord precisely the same way it was used way back in the day.”
See Tyler’s amazing artwork at: https://www.tylernordgren.com/ and get a poster or two for your walls to remember the eclipse! Be safe!
Don’t forget your protective glasses and enjoy!
Maureen Gibbons, MD, (known on social media as Dr. Moe), is a practicing physician, sports nutritionist and life coach who also held athletic trainer and triathlon coach credentials for many years. Her board certification is in emergency medicine, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Moe founded and runs a remote lifestyle medicine practice called Active Medical Solutions.
As an author and speaker Maureen seeks to spread the word that we are all “Happy First” which is the title of her first book and relates that to finding gratitude in daily life. Her private consulting business integrates that knowledge with assisting healthcare providers in making successful career transitions. Maureen also enjoys triathlons, is a voracious reader and loves to spend time with her husband, son and pets.
You can find more about Dr. Moe on TikTok as AMSDoctorMoe or at:
WatchAMS.com
AMSTelehealth.com
And catch her book at HappyFirstBook.com
Why is space agriculture important, possible, and necessary? Daniel Tompkins believes the present and future of agriculture can be reimagined.
Daniel Tompkins is an expert in plant medicine and agriculture, with a unique doctorate from the University of Florida that combines practical problem-solving with a focus on agriculture- a perfect mixture to explore sustainable agricultural practices for future space habitats.
Learn more about GrowMars: https://sites.google.com/view/growmars/home?authuser=0
Contract information for GrowMars:
Email- GrowMars2@gmail.com
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgrows/
Twitter- https://twitter.com/growmars2
Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?
Kelly and Zach Weinersmith make their triumphant return to Casual Space sharing their new book, “A City on Mars.”
Beth asks Kelly and Zach to spill the beans about everything they’ve learned and extensively researched regarding space settlements. In doing their research Kelly attended numerous space conferences, while Zach spent numerous hours reading memoirs. Then they presented balanced serious content with humorous interjections, in perfect Weinersmith co-author style!
This FUN conversation talks about the cultural differences in space history, with anecdotes about Soviet cosmonauts and the commercialization of space. Kelly and Zach discuss the psychological challenges of astronauts, the lack of trauma medicine in space, and the impact of microgravity on the human body. So, is space settlement a good idea? Did the authors discover excitement for the future of space exploration? One thing’s for certain- Kelly and Zach have REALLY thought this through!
Get your copy of City on Mars here: https://www.amazon.com/City-Mars-settle-thought-through/dp/1984881728
Follow Kelly and Zach: smbc-comics.com
Weinersmith.com
https://twitter.com/FuSchmu
https://www.youtube.com/user/klsmithbio
Dr. Karen Nyberg is an engineer, astronaut, and artist who, through nearly thirty years of experience in human spaceflight, has gained an appreciation for the value of working within and across diverse political ideologies, cultural values, and world views to advance critical missions.
In this episode of Casual Space, Beth and Karen delve into Karen's journey from learning how to sew by her mother, to creating art inspired by her space missions. Karen discusses her love for quilting, which she began during graduate school, and how the breathtaking views from the space station influenced her artwork. She recounts her interactions with fellow astronaut-artist Alan Bean and the challenges of finding creative time in space and making a special dinosaur quilt for her son. Additionally, Karen shares her experiences with space food, her fabric design work, and her passion for trail running. The episode provides a glimpse into how Karen balanced her professional duties with her artistic pursuits and personal life, both on Earth and in orbit.
Check out Karen’s artwork and more: https://karennyberg.com/
About Karen:
Karen was selected as a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps in 2000. She made her first trip to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2008, during the height of International Space Station (ISS) construction, delivering and installing the Japanese Laboratory. On her second spaceflight in 2013, Karen launched on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and lived and worked at ISS for 166 days.
Prior to astronaut selection, Karen worked as an Environmental Control Systems Engineer at the Johnson Space Center where she led several design and analysis initiatives in the areas of space vehicle and space suit thermal and environmental control. Recently retired from NASA, Karen is currently pursuing interests in the areas of conservation and sustainability, fully appreciating the responsibility for innovation and technology to strive to meet those needs.
Karen received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota and graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and has been honored with the highest alumni award from each alma mater.
Karen lives in Park City, Utah with her husband, Astronaut Doug Hurley, their son, Jack, and two sweet dogs, Leo and Luke.
Our future in space is going to be radically different with the implementation of space solar power. According to John Mankins, space solar power is an energy application that’s going to happen in the coming decade(s); the only question is, who will build it?
John Mankins has made his case. It’s a case for space solar power. John’s more than qualified to make this case, too. He’s a leading international expert in the field of space solar power, the author of the book, "The Case for Space Solar Power,” and John worked at NASA for 25 years. While at NASA, he led NASA’s studies of space solar power, and conducted advanced concepts studies, and managed R&D projects for exploration and development. On this episode of Casual Space, John explains how space solar power is not only doable, it’s affordable, and it can be a part of our not-so-distant future.
The Case for Space Solar Power book available here: https://www.amazon.com/John-Mankins-Space-Solar-Power/dp/B00N4IXV06/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
More about John Mankins
John C. Mankins, President of Artemis Innovation Management Solutions LLC is an internationally recognized leader in space systems and technology innovation, and as a highly effective manager of large-scale technology R&D programs.
Mr. Mankins’ 25-year career at NASA and CalTech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) ranged from flight projects and space mission operations, to systems level innovation and advanced technology research & development management. He is also well known as an innovator in R&D management. For example, building on the original NASA ‘technology readiness level’ (TRL) scale for technology assessment (defined first with 6 or 7 levels in the 1970s), he extended the scale to flight systems and operations in the late 1980s (TRLs 8 and 9), published the first detailed definitions of the TRLs in 1995, and promoted the use of the scale by the US Department of Defense in the late 1990s.
Before leaving NASA, Mr. Mankins was the manager of Exploration Systems Research and Technology within the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate with responsibility for an $800M annual budget, involving more than 100 individual projects and over 3,000 personnel. For 10 years, he was the manager of Advanced Concepts Studies at NASA, and the lead for critical studies of space solar power, highly reusable space transportation, affordable human exploration approaches, and other topics. He was the creator or co-creator of numerous novel concepts, including the ‘MagLifter’ electromagnetic launch assist system, the Internet-based NASA ‘Virtual Research Center’ the ‘Solar Clipper’ interplanetary transport vehicle, the ‘SunTower’ space solar power system, the ‘Hybrid Propellant Module’ for in-space refueling, the ‘HabBot’ mobile planetary outpost architecture, the Advanced Technology Life cycle Analysis System (ATLAS), and others. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (of which he was the first recipient).
He holds undergraduate (Harvey Mudd College) and graduate (UCLA) degrees in Physics and an MBA in Public Policy Analysis (The Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University). Mr. Mankins is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and Chair of the Academy Commission III (Space Systems and Technology Development); and a member of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the Sigma Xi Research Society.
Mr. Mankins is an accomplished communicator, including political, programmatic, technical and lay audiences. He has authored or co-authored more than 80 published papers, reports and other technical documents, and has testified before Congress on several occasions, and has been consulted on R&D management and space issues with organizations in the U.S. and internationally.
We’re talking tacos on the shuttle. Pizza on the ISS. And we’re washing it down with a big glass (that’s not made of glass, but rather, a well-engineered pouch) of Tang on this episode of Casual Space with NASA food scientist Vickie Kloeris!
What I enjoyed most about talking with Vickie was her career journey that she’s shared in her book, “Space Bites.” What started as an “impulsive decision” her senior year of college (guest lectures on seafood microbiology!) turned into an incredible career adventure as the leader of NASA’s food systems, where Vickie worked to feed the hungry astronaut corps. Discovering new food packaging and transportation systems was just a portion (pun intended) of Vickie’s work, she and her team had to deliver food to space that was both nutritional AND tasted good! Along the way, there would be VIP visits, all kinds of challenges & changes and wildly successful inventive applications to help keep space explorers satiated!
THIS IS A BOOK FOR ALL AGES. If you love food, and if you love space, I recommend getting your copy of Space Bites here: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/space-bites/
And check out these fun facts about space food from NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/167750main_fs_spacefood508c.pdf
Jan Spacek is an explorer both on Earth and beyond. He has worked in the fields of astrobiology, electrochemistry, nanoscience, genomics, and proteomics searching for life within our solar system. Jan is an astrobiologist working with renowned scientist Steven Benner on expanding the genetic alphabet. In this episode of Casual Space, Jan discusses his transition to astrobiology, his work on projects related to the search for life on Mars and Venus, and the potential for private space missions. Jan explains the importance of planetary protection, the challenges of distinguishing between Earthly contamination and Martian life, and the implications of discovering life for future human missions.
When he’s not looking for life on Mars, or why Venus is yellow, Jan is busy freediving or bicycling across Australia. (!)
Follow Jan’s critical thinking about life in the universe at The Primordial Scoop https://primordialscoop.org/, a blog devoted to discussing questions related to synthetic biology and astrobiology and asking the big questions about where life began and how.
Jan has worked in the field of electrochemistry of modified and natural DNA at the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Central European Institute of Technology. He has also visited the Ege University (Izmir), the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (Aarhus), the Department of NanoEngineering at UCSD, and the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (Alachua). He presently develops life detection devices, from coronavirus to Venusians and Martians, at the Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC. Outside of science, Jan bicycled around the Baltic Sea and across the Australian continent, 7500 kilometers in all. Jan earned a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a Ph.D. in Genomics and Proteomics (both at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic).
Astronomer and friend of the show John Read is back for our first episode of 2024!
John may be working on a capstone course for his Master’s Degree, but John joins us for what John does best- helping space explorers of ALL AGES learn and be easily inspired! Have you seen his latest YouTube Channel video, “How to use ANY telescope?” Discover John’s new books, new videos and more at https://learntostargaze.com/
Today, John walks us through what to see in the night sky during these winter months, what happens when you get a UFO sighting call while working at the observatory, green lasers and more. OH, AND, John invites all of us to stargaze at a new special location in Nova Scotia….
It’s just some of the fun we have together in this episode of Casual Space with John Read.
Preorder link for "A Kid's Guide to the Night Sky": https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guide-Night-Sky-Universe/dp/172829228X
110 Things to See with a Telescope. Available until July 1st: https://www.amazon.com/110-Things-See-Telescope-Stargazing/dp/1777451752
Whenever we talk about UFO’s, there’s a lot we can unpack. An entire UFO culture, really. And we’ve got just the expert journalist and author to help us better understand why we see saucers.
Returning guest and friend of the show Sarah Scoles is back to discuss her new book, “They Are Already Here.” Join us and let’s unpack Sarah’s trip out to Area 51, attending UFO conferences, alien pet parades and what surprises Sarah most when researching UFOs.
Order your copy of They Are Already Here: https://www.amazon.com/They-Are-Already-Here-Culture/dp/1643133055
Find Sarah and her other books here: https://www.sarahscoles.com/
More about They Are Already Here:
An anthropological look at the UFO community, told through first-person experiences with researchers in their element as they pursue what they see as a solvable mystery—both terrestrial and cosmic.
In They Are Already Here we meet the bigwigs, the scrappy upstarts, the field investigators, the rational people, and the unhinged kooks of this sprawling community. How do they interact with each other? How do they interact with “anomalous phenomena”? And how do they (as any group must) reflect the politics and culture of the larger world around them?
We will travel along the Extraterrestrial Highway (next to Area 51) and visit the UFO Watchtower, where seeking lights in the sky is more of a spiritual quest than a “gotcha” one. We meet someone who, for a while, believes they may have communicated with aliens. Where do these alleged encounters stem from? What are the emotional effects on the experiencers?
Funny and colorful, and told in a way that doesn’t require one to believe, Scoles brings humanity to an often derided and misunderstood community. After all, the truth is out there.
Ron Rosano recently flew into space with Virgin Galactic on the #Galactic04 mission! But commercial space flight with Virgin Galactic is just the beginning for Ron. He’s got plans to fly with Blue Origin, Space Perspective, and World View in the near future, and believes OUR time in space is just around the corner…
Listen as Ron describes his recent space flight experience and his family’s reaction to getting the big news… In this episode, Ron takes Beth on a journey back to his childhood, sharing his profound fascination with space that started with simple stargazing. From those early moments of wonder to soaring among the stars – Ron Rosano recounts his lifelong love affair with space. He also shares how he prepared for his Virgin Galactic flight, and the profound impact of viewing Earth from space.
What would YOUR reaction be if you got the call to embark on a space journey? Share with us using #CasualSpace.
Ron is the organizer of Galactic Unite Spacechats (live Q&A video calls), connecting Virgin Galactic staff and astronauts with (as of Nov. 2022) over 15,000 students from over 200 schools and 14 different countries. Ron is also the creator and editor of the Suborbital Flight Journal, where he tracks all human suborbital flights, dating back to America's very first space flight in 1961, adding personal experiences and anecdotes from commercial astronauts.
Learn more about Ron at his website: http://www.ronrosano.com/
Want to hear more about Ron’s spaceflight? Check out our these conversations featuring Ron with our Casual Space friends and colleagues:
Space Philosophy with our friend and former Casual Space guest Frank White featuring Ron Rosano https://www.google.com/search?q=ron+rosano+on+frank+white+podcast&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1076US1076&oq=ron+rosano+on+frank+white+podcast&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCDk1OTFqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f44aea75,vid:8JvNeezhcLQ,st:0
Check out more details about Ron’s flight with our friend, Gitika Gorthi, featuring Ron Rosano on her show, Ignited Thinkers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqjg3lIsSyo
Isaac Arthur is the creator of the wildly successful “Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur,” an award-winning weekly science education and entertainment show with over 700,000 subscribers and over 400 episodes on YouTube. His show covers a wide range of futuristic concepts including space technology, development, and exploration, and focuses on how humanity or other hypothetical advanced civilizations may behave logistically, technologically, and socially, both in the near and distant future, under the understood laws of science. Isaac is also the current President of NSS (National Space Society), an independent nonprofit nonpartisan educational membership organization. https://nss.org/about-national-space-society
On this episode, Isaac and Beth discuss: Exploring space using AI, the ideal propulsion systems, helping to make our world a better place and the best sci-fi and space exploration movies.
Find Isaac at Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur (SFIA), a science education YouTube channel focused on all aspects of futurism and space. https://isaacarthur.net/
Since its first episode in 2014, SFIA has considered topics ranging from the seemingly mundane to the extremely exotic, featuring episodes on megastructure engineering, interstellar travel, the Fermi paradox, and many other topics. But regardless of how strange a subject may seem today, we always try to ensure that the discussion is grounded in what we know of science today, limiting our speculation to what we believe to be in the realm of realistic possibility.
About Isaac: Isaac Albert Arthur showed an early interest in physics, left public schooling in the 9th grade at age 12, and received his GED at age 16, then attended Kent State University, majoring in physics and graduating top of his class at age 20. Isaac Arthur was a research intern at the US Air Force Institute of Technology before beginning grad school, which he left to join the Army at age 23.
He served in the United States Army for 7 years, deploying to Iraq, as well as being stationed to Germany for 13 years. In 2020, Isaac Arthur received the National Space Society’s Pioneer Award, and in 2023 was elected its President. In 2014 he founded his channel, Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur, which now has over 700,000 subscribers on Youtube and many other followers on other platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon, and Spotify.
In 2020, Isaac Arthur married his long-time friend Sarah Fowler. They and their three recently adopted children live on their farm in Plymouth, Ohio.
NASA Astronaut Dr. Jan Davis flew on the Space Shuttle for the first time in 1992- on the first joint Shuttle mission with the Japanese during an eight-day mission on Space Shuttle Endeavour. She would fly again in 1994 on the first joint Shuttle mission with the Russians on Space Shuttle Discovery. Today on the show, we discuss her space career as well as her new book, Air Born, Two Generations in Flight.
Dr. Davis would fly once again in 1997 on a 12-day mission on Space Shuttle Discovery.
Read more about Dr. Davis and her expansive career at https://astronautjandavis.com/
To order her book, Air Born here: https://ballastbooks.com/purchase/air-born/
About Dr. Jan Davis: Jan Davis was born at Patrick Air Force Base and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Jan Davis has been surrounded by aviation and space her entire life. She followed up her biomedical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology with a mechanical engineering degree from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. During her career, she worked for Texaco and NASA before being selected as an astronaut in 1987. Davis flew on three Space Shuttle missions and continued her NASA career in the Senior Executive Service. After she retired from NASA, she went on to become an industry executive. Now a consultant and speaker, she also enjoys traveling, quilting, exploring the outdoors, and working with her non-profit organization, AstraFemina, to encourage girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
Laura is the CEO and Co-Founder of Epsilon3. Among the initial members of the operations team for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, she helped put the US back in the human space flight business.
Laura wants to continue to revolutionize the space industry, beginning with operational tools. She believes that no matter what your specialty, no matter where you attended school, and whatever your talents may be, there is a place for you in the space industry. Find Laura and her company, Epsilon3 at www.epsilon3.io Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at: Linkedin.com/lauracrabtree linkedin.com/epsilon3inc and on twitter: @epsilon3inc twitter: @llcrabbie
More about Laura:
Laura was one of the Crew Operations & Resource Engineers (CORE) who helped put the United States back in the human Space Flight business. Among the initial members of the operations team for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, she was also on console for the first Dragon mission in 2010, the first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2012, and part of the commercial crew contract over the next decade—including the mission that delivered astronauts to the ISS in 2020. During that mission, Laura was the lead trainer for the crew and one of the CORE operators who communicated to and advocated for the crew during free flight.
Laura’s proudest moment was receiving a call on her personal cell phone from Astronaut Doug Hurley when he was orbiting above the earth and operating both the first commercial cargo and crew vehicles in free flight.
During her time at SpaceX, Laura was also a part of the early F9 Recovery, Dragon Recovery, and Dragon operations teams. She was responsible for crew and ground operator flight training, flight software test, CONOPs development and simulator design. Over the years, Laura authored, tested and executed hundreds of procedures for both the ground operations teams and the crew onboard Dragon.
Laura began her career at Northrop Grumman working various programs for DARPA and other DoD customers. She has a Bachelor’s in Astronautical Engineering and a Master’s in Systems Architecture, both from the University of Southern California.
The Artemis Accords- A Discussion with Dale Skran
What are the Artemis Accords? Are countries starting to “pick sides” as they decide to sign the Artemis Accords? What do the Artemis Accords mean for our future of space exploration, space settlement and space economy? Will the future of space exploration invite us into a collaborative market in space, or a competitive market? Dale Skran is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Space Society- the preeminent citizen’s voice on space exploration, development, and settlement- and shares his perspective on the Artemis Accords with us on this episode of Casual Space.
About Dale: Dale Skran worked 17 years with Bell Labs (AT&T, Lucent Technologies) and continued his career at several companies including Ascend Communications (VP of Enterprise Engineering), Sonus Networks (Director of Engineering), and CMWare (Founder, CEO, COO, and VP of Engineering). He was also a negotiator/ manager at the UN (International Telecommunication Union) where he led the development of international Internet standards for video conferencing and voice services (VoIP).
Read more about Dale and find numerous articles and blog posts he’s authored at https://space.nss.org/dale-skran-biography/
Learn more about & become a member the NSS (National Space Society): https://space.nss.org/
Henk Rogers is on a mission. Several missions, actually, and each one is as bold and audacious as the next.
When we explore space, Henk wants to take nature with us. It’s just one of the many goals that Henk has set out to accomplish, and there’s plenty of reason to believe he’s going to, based on his previous work within the space industry, his companies and non-profit organizations. Listen for big ideas and clear missions presented in this insightful conversation with Henk Rogers.
About Henk:
Henk Rogers is the President of the Tetris Company and a pioneer in the video game industry.
In the 1980s, Rogers brought role-playing games to Japan and turned a little-known game called Tetris into an international phenomenon after intense negotiations with the Soviet Union and Nintendo. His efforts helped establish the Game Boy as a market leader and made Tetris one of the most popular games of all time. Rogers’ story became folklore in the gaming industry and is the subject of the 2023 Apple TV+ film “Tetris.”
Today, Rogers is the founder of 10 companies and non-profit organizations focused on renewable energy, space exploration, and ending the use of fossil fuels on Earth. A near-fatal heart attack in 2005 made Rogers identify his true missions in life and led to him founding the Blue Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been instrumental in implementing renewable energy policies in Hawaii. Realizing this model needed to be exported to the rest of the world, Rogers founded the Blue Planet Alliance, an organization helping island communities disproportionately affected by climate change transition from being reliant on importing fossil fuels to using 100 percent renewable energy.
Rogers is also the founder of Blue Planet Energy, a global leader in renewable energy storage systems, and the International Moonbase Alliance, an organization with the goal to build sustainable settlements on the Moon and Mars and establish Hawaii as a leader in the space industry.
Today, Rogers continues to be an influential figure in both the gaming industry and the sustainable energy sector. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to both fields, including being inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame in 2008 and named CEO of the Year by Hawaii Business Magazine in 2015.
He currently lives between his off-grid ranch in Hawaii and New York City and continues to be an active entrepreneur pursuing his passion for making a positive impact on the world.
Follow Henk Rogers https://henkrogers.com/
Get tickets now for the Casual Space Podcast LIVE November 12 event “Returning to the Moon” www.bethmund.com/events
The private space sector is growing tremendously. The industry’s consensus leader, SpaceX, headed by outspoken billionaire Elon Musk, is today worth an estimated $74 billion. And SpaceX and its chief competitors, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, are taking on more roles—flying cargo, supplies, and astronauts to outer space. Space Race 2.0 tells their story with expertly written text by science journalist Brad Bergan and stunning photography of the spacecraft, key players, and facilities in California, Texas, and Florida. Brad Bergan is a writer and executive editor in New York. His words have appeared in or on VICE, the National Book Critics Circle, The World Economic Forum, nft now, NBC News, Business Insider, and elsewhere. Brad is the author of the book "Space Race 2.0, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, NASA and the Privatization of the Final Frontier.” Space Race 2.0 is the only authoritative photographic history of the efforts of private companies—often alongside NASA—to accelerate humankind’s exploration and understanding of the final frontier. Get YOUR copy of Space 2.0 here: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Race-2-0-Galactic-Privatization/dp/0760375542
And be sure to follow Brad and his work at: https://www.bcbergan.com/
JOIN US on Sunday, November 12 at the 1st Ever Casual Space Podcast LIVE event! Get tickets here: www.bethmund.com/events
Adriana Blachowicz may just have one of the MOST IMPORTANT JOBS on our planet… and perhaps one of the coolest! Adriana is a planetary protection scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she works to prevent microbial transfer between the Earth and other planets. So how can we protect as we explore? Why should we care about planetary protection? What are extremophiles? Can microbes live in an inhospitable environment? Does finding water really equate to finding life? In this episode, Adriana helps answer these questions, and shares some amazing insights on how she serves as a guard for our galaxy!
All About Adriana:
Dr. Adriana Blachowicz has a M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Marie Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Southern California, and an MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology. She has pioneered research into fungal adaptive responses to the space environment, utilizing a multiomic approach. She led a fungal test campaign, sending experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). As a Planetary Protection Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, her responsibility lies in preventing microbial contamination from Earth to other celestial bodies and vice versa, especially those with conditions to potentially sustain life. At JPL, she is also involved in mission formulation. Recently, she joined the space startup, Star Harbor, as their Chief Scientist, developing and executing their R&D architecture to make running experiments in orbit or on parabolic flights more affordable for customers. She took part as a Chief Scientist in the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI–SEAS) program, replicating Mars-like operations and activities. During the mission, she tested an automated platform designed for in situ DNA extraction aboard the ISS, assessing its flight readiness level. This experience led Dr. Blachowicz to become the Science Team lead for the World’s Biggest Analog (WBA) - a global collaboration of researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs aiming to address the challenges of space living and working. She also mentored at the Launching Space Biology workshop, fostering a generation of scientists, students, and early-career researchers in the interdisciplinary field of space biology. Dr. Blachowicz is dedicated to promoting scientific awareness and education, often participating in conferences and public speaking events. In her leisure time, she is learning Spanish and Italian.
More about JPL and Planetary Protection:
https://planetaryprotection.jpl.nasa.gov/microbe-01
Learn more about Star Harbor here: https://starharboracademy.com/
Find more information about the World’s Biggest Analog: https://www.worldsbiggestanalog.com/
Do you want your next event to be stellar? Book host Beth Mund as your keynote speaker in 2024 www.bethmund.com
Tara Sweeney is a United States Air Force Academy graduate, a Space Camp Hall of Fame inductee, a corporate leader in advanced technology test and evaluation events, a former crew member on parabolic research flights, a private pilot, and a graduate of SpaceKind training. She has been instrumental in establishing and executing the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship as a mentor to Niko Blanks. In addition to being a proven leader, entrepreneur, and STEM mentor to many organizations, individuals, and students, Tara is a field geologist who recently returned from a 102-day Antarctic science expedition to McMurdo Station, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Thwaites Glacier, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys. She is currently working on PhD research related to rocket seismology, impact cratering, and field techniques and technology in preparation for extravehicular activity on the lunar surface. As a matter of fact, Tara Sweeny and her team laid out the largest number of seismometers in the history of Antarctic exploration and scientific achievement (deploying 457 seismometers)! Why is this important to Tara? In her current research as a Ph. D candidate, she’s investigating using a similar seismic array on the Moon, on Mars, to understand the human influences of our presence on other planetary bodies and here at home. We discuss how seismometers work, Antarctica adventures, Moonquakes, Earthquakes, and Marsquakes, milkshakes and being wicked awesome!
Where to find Tara
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sweeneytl
On LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralsweeney/
More Wicked Awesomeness about Tara
Tara Sweeney has been inspiring children and adults to see the wonder of space exploration and the importance of the STEM fields that make it possible for nearly four decades. She has served as CEO, President, Interim Executive Director, COO, CSO, and Vice President, of technology test and evaluation organizations focused on operations in austere and hazardous environments for national defense, homeland security, and intelligence community projects. Tara is a retired United States Air Force Special Operations Command Officer. She has engaged in both military and civilian aviation activities, including as a single-engine aircraft pilot, a glider student pilot, a helicopter maintenance officer, a parabolic flight coach, and a parabolic flight attendant. Tara has accumulated approximately five hours in microgravity while conducting space-based research experiments and training participants how to experience reduced gravity. She previously served as the leader of the world-renowned STEM education program, Space Camp, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and was inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2018. Tara holds degrees from the United States Air Force Academy, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Regis University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Texas at El Paso. Tara is from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and has twice been inducted into the Fitchburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame as an Individual Inductee and as a Team Inductee. She presently lives in El Paso, Texas, with her wife, Dr. Jennifer Bishop, and their dog, Sylvia.
Who was Robert H. Goddard?
His theories on space exploration were so ahead of his time that they were mocked and ridiculed by colleagues and by the New York Times… but Robert Goddard persisted, and with very little resources, he overcame adversity and launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket, ushering in the space age.
In 1903, the Wright brothers took their historic “First Flight” and got humanity off the ground. Just 23 years later, Dr. Robert Goddard’s “First Launch” was the first step in taking humankind off the planet. 43 years later, in 1969, humans walked on the Moon!
Although admired by the scientific and aerospace communities, most people have no clue who Goddard is or the extent of his groundbreaking accomplishments and vision.
Charles Slatkin wants to change that.
Charles Slatkin is the founder of the Robert Goddard Project and the Wonder Mission. Part of this project includes the “First Launch'' centennial celebration – a unique opportunity to leverage the incredible legacy of Dr. Goddard, the Father of Modern Rocketry- and recognize the achievements of today’s scientists, engineers, educators, researchers and “visioneers.”
Charles is a multimedia and internationally recognized “wow factor” pioneer, space evangelist, and visioner. Charles has an extensive background in “wowing” people through his expertise in science, film, video, audio and photography-and today, he’s taken his talents from his professional career and applied them into the Goddard Project, reimagining Goddard’s legacy with advanced storytelling technologies to help inspire and motivate a new generation of dreamers and “visioneers.”
Get involved, support or volunteer, or get in touch with Charles at: charles@thewondermission.org
More about the Wonder Mission https://thewondermission.org/
Did you know that the white material on the outside of space shuttles was not metal or glass but actually fabric? Specialized quilts, two inches thick, covered the space shuttles and protected the astronauts from deadly heat and radiation. Jean Wright was one of the eighteen “Sew Sisters” who crafted these thermal blankets, mostly by hand, with incredible precision and skill.
From sending letters to Johnson Space Center as a child with crayon-drawn patch ideas, Jean had always aimed to work for NASA, patiently applying and eagerly awaiting for the job she was meant to have, one that would help secure – in a literal sense- the materials that would protect the vehicles carrying the astronauts to space, and secure her place in NASA history… this is the conversation that you must not miss.
On this very special 200th EPISODE of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth enjoys speaking with Jean Wright, sharing her inspiring stories from her time at NASA as a “Sew Sister.”
Together, Beth and Jean discuss stories from Jean’s newly-released book, Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA's Seamstresses. The book, just like this conversation, unveils both the grandeur of space flight and the intimacy of a needle and thread, and the story of Jean’s childhood passion for space and sewing, and her fascinating work for NASA’s shuttle program.
Listen as Beth learns the definition of what schnibbles* are. Note: It's a variant of schnibbles, a far more common term for “scraps,” or “small pieces,” which is heard in parts of the United States that were settled largely by German immigrants. The term comes from German Schnippel, meaning “scraps.”
Imagine having the task of cutting the fabric from the 1903 Wright Flyer that went to the Moon with Neil Armstrong, and several shuttle flight- so it could be displayed at the University of Cincinnati . And guess what kind of fabric the Wright Brother’s used for the first flight? A kind of high-end, expensive fabric women would use for their undergarments!
“I’m all about fabric!” – Jean Wright, Casual Space Podcast
Jean Wright is a former NASA Aerospace Composite Technician- a NASA seamstress. Jean worked with the United Space Alliance at the Thermal Protection System Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. One of 18 seamstresses in this critical role, Jean and her co-workers dubbed their group, “The Sew Sisters”, using machines and hand stitching to build, create and repair thermal protection flight hardware and parachutes. Wright worked on the Endeavor, Atlantis and Discovery space shuttle missions. She also worked on test parachutes and aft-skirt blankets for the Orion spacecraft. Learn more about Jean and support her work at Sew Sisters on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042203122164
Beth’s Note: I especially loved “Big Mo,” “Sweet Sue”, and “Lurch” - the names of the sewing machines used by Jean and her team at NASA (some from 1914)!
More about Jean:
Jean says she’s retired, but she’s ever the most incredible NASA advocate, photographer, speaker and representative. Jean remains involved with NASA as a Docent for the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center. She is a member of NASA’s Speakers Bureau, representing the organization at civic, professional, educational and public events. She has been a keynote speaker at the MQX Quilt Festival in 2018, Women’s History Month at KSCVC in 2018, Family Day at the Udvar-Hazy National Air & Space Museum in 2016, the International Quilt Festival with Astronaut Karen Nyberg and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. One of her life’s biggest thrills was being asked by Mark Armstrong to cut and prepare for auction, pieces of historic muslin fabric from the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer that his father, Neil Armstrong, carried to the moon aboard the Apollo 11 Lunar Module.
Where to find and book Jean at your speaking event:: http://prcelebrity.com/jean-wright
Pre-order Jean’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sew-Sister-Untold-Wright-Seamstresses/dp/0884489825/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35842DQC0D3T2&keywords=sew+sister+the+untold+story+of+jean+wright&qid=1693428497&sprefix=sew+sister%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1
Apply for a NASA Moon tree here: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-forest-service-to-share-moon-tree-seedlings-promote-stem
And don’t forget to send your story to space at www.storiesofspace.com
UFO’s. New books. A movie script with a character who has a gold nose, and a beaver dinosaur. Star Trek, Yerkes Observatory, and of course, aliens. Marc O’Connell brings the best stories and big news to the show this week- everything you would expect from a Star Trek writer, screenplay writer, UFO book author, podcast host…. All around awesome friend of the show! You’re going to love this episode.
Mark O’Connell got his start in television writing for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, most notably DS9 fan favorite Who Mourns for Morn? Since then, he has had feature screenplays optioned and placed in development at Al Ruddy Productions, DreamWorks Animation, and Disney. His comedy screenplay Doug and Dave was in development at Disney with the late Bill Paxton attached to direct. Mark’s first book is The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOS, a biography of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, famed UFO researcher and inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s epic film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The Close Encounters Man was published by Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Mark was recently featured in a UFO documentary produced by NHK, Japan's Public TV network, and he can currently be seen in the National Geographic TV Documentary UFOs: Investigating the Unknown, streaming on HULU. Mark lives in Georgia with his wife Monica.
Get a copy of Mark’s book, Close Encounters Man, and follow him as an author here: https://www.amazon.com/Close-Encounters-Man-World-Believe-ebook/dp/B01KFBO77U?ref_=ast_author_mpb
Other Oddities Mentioned on the Show:
Yerkes Observatory: https://yerkesobservatory.org/
The Movie 65 with Adam Driver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/65_(film)
Watch Now: National Geographic’s TV Show, UFO’s: Investigating the Unknown (where Mark is featured along with his work and research) Episode 2 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/ufos-investigating-the-unknown/episode-guide/season-01/episode-02-giant-ufo-in-texas/vdka32402838
And Episode 3: Close Encounters at Nuclear Bases: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/ufos-investigating-the-unknown/episode-guide/season-01/episode-03-close-encounters-at-the-nuclear-bases/vdka32402854
Listen To Far Fetched, Episode 35, My Unsold Star Trek Pitches: https://ococonnell.podbean.com/
AND, check out the Micro-G NEXT project opportunity at NASA’s Johnson Space Center NBL here, as mentioned in the commercial! https://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/about-micro-g-next
Mars. Mars has fully invaded pop culture, inspiring its own day of the week (Tuesday), an iconic Looney Tunes character, and many novels and movies, from Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles to The Martian. It’s this cultural familiarity with the fourth planet that continues to inspire advancements in Mars exploration, from NASA’s launch of the Mars rover Perseverance to Elon Musk’s quest to launch a manned mission to Mars through SpaceX by 2024. Perhaps, one day, we’ll be able to answer the questions our ancestors asked when they looked up at the night sky millennia ago. Or, we’ll just listen to this conversation with Marc Hartzman! Author of The Big Book of Mars, Marc describes how Mars has been a source of fascination and speculation ever since the ancient Egyptians observed its blood-red hue and named it for their god of war and plague. But it wasn't until the 19th century when “canals” were observed on the surface of the Red Planet, suggesting the presence of water, that scientists, novelists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs became obsessed with the question of whether there’s life on Mars. If there IS life on Mars, I bet they’ll enjoy reading about themselves in Marc’s book!
More about Marc:
ABCnews.com has called Marc Hartzman "one of America's leading connoisseurs of the bizarre" and George Noory from Coast to Coast AM said he's "as bizarre as Robert Ripley." Hartzman considers both high compliments since his passion for the unusual started with Ripley's Believe It Or Not and the annual Guinness World Records books during his youth.
In addition to his books about UFOs, ghosts, Mars, Oliver Cromwell's embalmed head, weird things on eBay, sideshow performers, and unorthodox messages from God, Hartzman has written for Mental Floss, HuffPost, AOL Weird News, AllThatsInteresting.com, The Morbid Anatomy Online Journal, and Bizarre magazine. He's discussed oddities on CNN, MSNBC, Ripley’s Radio, History Channel’s The UnXplained, the Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum, and dozens of podcasts.
More of his love for the unusual can be found on his site, WeirdHistorian.com. Outside of these projects, Hartzman earns a living as an award-winning advertising creative director. Marc is also a STORIES of Space Project Ambassador and story contributor!
Want more cool stories about fun and weird stuff? Listen to Marc’s Podcast, the Weird Historian!
https://www.weirdhistorian.com/the-podcast/
Enjoy The Big Book of Mars: From Ancient Egypt to The Martian, A Deep-Space Dive into Our Obsession with the Red Planet: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Mars-Deep-Space-Obsession/dp/1683692098
Pre-order Marc’s New Book!
We Are Not Alone: The Extraordinary History of UFOs and Aliens Invading Our Hopes, Fears, and Fantasies
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683693353/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_0CXVB2JQNW37YBS5NP8N?linkCode=ml1&tag=godmademedoit-20
Augmented Reality. Virtual Reality. Artificial Intelligence. Physics, Immersive Technology, Cognitive Science and Human Factors. What happens when you have a highly immersive technology tool (XR) that can integrate with our space exploration efforts? Perhaps a truly incredible experience. As we learn about a world we have yet to (personally) explore, we have some incredible tools that will allow us to have an experience in space- without even going! Don Balanzat can be our guide. Because according to Don, XR and immersive technology is much more than just entertainment - it's a computing platform that is revolutionizing the way we interact with data as we speak!
More about Don Balanzat, from Don:
“I worked in physics laboratories for 10 years at Rutgers University and Arizona State University where I built and performed demonstrations to enhance STEM education at the college level and engage the public/K-12 with science. I earned a Master's degree in XR for STEM visualization/learning during which I helped develop physics simulations and immersive ways of interacting with spatial data with various labs at ASU and NASA. Now, I work in the space industry developing VR/AR applications and solutions for the full gamut of spaceflight operations!”
Where to find Don:
https://www.donbalanzat.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donbalanzat/
Instagram: @chaoticcuriosity
Casual Space is BACK with all new episodes, casual conversations with amazing guests!
The summer break is just about coming to an end, but don’t worry- the next 200 episodes of the Casual Space Podcast is just about to START! This week, Beth welcomes you back with a preview of some upcoming guest conversations that include AI, Antarctica, and of course, aliens!!!! You’ll recognize returning guests like author Mark O’Connell, and new friends of the show sharing their incredible stories of adventure, NASA history, and more. AND, Beth will read one of the BEST STORIES of Space submissions you’ve ever heard, as she counts down to the August 1 launch of the STORIES of Space Project payload- launching from NASA’s Wallops Flight Center!
Want to learn more about the rocky and icy worlds in the solar system? Dr. Kirby Runyon can serve as your guide- from earth or from space!
Kirby can remember being fascinated with space since he was three years old! His parents brought him to a space museum, and soon after gave him a telescope for Christmas, securing a passion for space exploration that continues today. Dr. Kirby is a space explorer, planetary geologist, zero gravity coach, and space tourism tour guide!
You’re going to want to check our Dr. Kirby’s planetary experience consulting company, Planex here: https://planex.space/
His research is in geomorphology and stratigraphy using remote sensing and laboratory experiments, and uses reduced gravity parabolic flights for studying the geology and dynamics of impact crater ejecta emplacement. You can learn more here: https://psi.edu/about/staffpage/krunyon Dr. Kirby is fascinated with astronaut-enabled science on and near the Moon. In addition to these awesome fields of study, Dr. Kirby takes astronauts-in-training (private astronauts and anyone who wants to know how New Mexico’s geological landscape relates to space) and explains how New Mexico’s most enchanting geologic landscapes give astronauts even more appreciation of their spaceflight experience.
In the past year, Kirby has led Virgin Galactic ticket holders on two educational expeditions as a professional planetary geologist, and now he’s opening the same opportunity to all Casual Space Podcast listeners as well! Want to learn more? Check out these photos from his recent expedition to Aden volcanic crater, Kilbourne steam-explosion crater, and White Sands National Park with future astronauts here: https://planex.space/astronaut-geology
Did you love this episode? Please let me know! Review the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or any other platform you’re listening to the show! And you can always share your thoughts about this episode on social media too!
https://www.facebook.com/CasualSpacePodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/casualspacepodcast/?hl=en
Oh, and catch MORE of Dr. Kirby talking about his work and love of space in these other podcasts:
https://www.thespaceshow.com/guest/dr.-kirby-runyon
and
https://daretoexplore.fireside.fm/26
Danny was born and raised on a ranch near Ignacio, Colorado — the Rocket Ranch — to a farmer and his wife. Instead of farming, Danny dreamed of being an astronaut as he watched the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space flights and knew his future would include his love for space exploration.
Danny started his career in education teaching science, and was invited to tour the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He was so impressed with the programs, facilities, and people, he decided it would become his mission to share the opportunity with his students. Danny started organizing students in grades 4-12 to attend Space Camp, and since then, have chaperoned over 500 students, with plans to continue for many more years. Because of his work and dedication to so many students, Danny was inducted as a member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2010.
With encouragement from family and friends, Danny’s Rocket Ranch was established in 2018. This small business specializes in selling scrumptious dehydrated products.
“I have always loved to cook and eat, and after years of making a delicious fresh salsa, I perfected a dehydrated salsa to be consumed on Earth, in space, and beyond. To help students continue to attend Space Camp, Danny’s Rocket Ranch will donate a portion of the profits to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation for Space Camp Scholarships.”
Order YOUR Space Camp Salsa TODAY from Danny’s Rocket Ranch here: https://www.dannysrocketranch.com/ and help students attend Space Camp!
Watch Danny be inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIy-vU6XMy0
Many dates in history stand out in human space flight and exploration. From the first airplane flight to the first man in space, much has been accomplished. Many of our significant milestones were not without danger. On this podcast Beth & our Resident Space Expert (RSE) Dean Mikolaiczyk revisit our historic 3rd trip to the moon. *Actual conversation between Dean and Captain James Lovell on his triumphant flight of Apollo 13. RSE Dean Mikolajczyk
Do you want to see humans on the surface of Mars by the mid-2030s?
Explore Mars, Inc.’s annual conference, the 2023 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) takes place on May 16-18, 2023 at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C. This event is already shaping up to be the largest H2M yet, featuring leaders from NASA, innovators, policy experts and elected officials, STEM professionals, artists and musicians, members of the entertainment community, and more presentations from throughout the industry. ONLY on the Casual Space Podcast, Beth Mund and returning guest Chris Carberry, Explore Mars CEO, provide a insider preview as to what’s to be expected at this year’s event!
CASUAL SPACE LISTENERS can receive 10% OFF your ticket to the H2M Summit with the code: CASUALMARS https://www.exploremars.org/summit/
“It is time for the space community to inject a sense of urgency into our common goal of sending humans to Mars,” notes Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry.
“H2M 2023 will not only highlight the steps that need to be taken to assure that NASA, industry, Congress and the Administration, and international partners will do what is necessary in order to achieve this goal by the mid-2030s, but also how we can inspire and harness non-traditional business and other players to become our partners in this effort.”
The Artemis Accords. Returning to the Moon and on to Mars.
Innovations that benefit the Earth now.
Ensuring a diverse and inclusive future in space.
Architecture and policy on the Moon and Mars.
These are just a few of the themes being presented at H2M (Humans to Mars Summit).
So join us! You’ll be sure to learn and enjoy the resources presented at this influential conference.
More about Explore Mars and the Humans to Mars Summit:: https://www.exploremars.org/summit/
About Chris Carberry
Chris Carberry is CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit which was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. The organization also encourages the use of STEM curriculum in the classroom to instill a desire to pursue space exploration for future generations.
Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community and has been responsible for growing many partnerships, grants and sponsorships for leading industry organizations. His innovative ideas and vast knowledge regarding space have given him a political presence when it comes to policymaking concerning the space related matters. Currently, as Explore Mars Executive Director, he acts as the main liaison for efforts and project ventures. He has been an international spokesperson on behalf of various space related entities on numerous occasions.
Prior to joining Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director to The Mars Society. In his early career, he acted as a member of the Steering Committee where he organized congressional outreach efforts around the country. He also played a part in congressional lobbying events such as the 2007-2010 Space Budget Blitz, the 2007 Moon-Mars Blitz, the 2006 Space Blitz, and the Great 2006 Mars Blitz as chairman and co-coordinator.
In more recent years, he has led successful international conferences including the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. In 2012, he represented Explore Mars as a delegate to the Mars500 Symposium in Moscow, Russia, and is spearheading the Humans to Mars Summit in Washington, DC in May 2013.He currently serves as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Space Exploration Alliance, which is an umbrella group representing 13 space advocacy organizations with total membership of over 700,000 people.
Shelli Brunswick is the COO of Space Foundation, overseeing Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance. This week on the Casual Space Podcast, we learn more about Shelli’s distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force, her perspective of the global space ecosystem, and how Shelli works with government, commercial and educational sectors on initiatives for space commerce and why she’s actively advocating for space technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Whew!
More about Shelli Brunswick: https://shelli-brunswick.com/
About Space Foundation: https://www.spacefoundation.org/
About the Space4Women Mentorship Program mentioned: https://space4women.unoosa.org/mentorship-program
More about Sheli Brunswick: Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance. Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity, and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government, and educational sectors. Her work to champion the inclusion of underserved groups stems from staying true to the values instilled while she was in the military: a passion to share her journey, give back to the space community, and contribute to the development of the next-generation workforce. She has published articles in consumer, technology, and space-related journals, including SpaceNews and Forbes Technology Council. She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. She has delivered more than 100 speeches and presentations in 2022 alone on navigating career success and workforce development to audiences in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America. As a thought leader, she is invited to speak at various think tanks, such as the Hudson Institute and the Wilson Center, to discuss innovation, technology, and workforce development. And she has participated in research projects for both NASA and ESA to better understand the future of the global space system and its implications over the coming decades. Brunswick was named the 2022 Chief in Tech Award by WomenTech Network, the World Women Organization's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Top 100 Leaders Award, The Most Influential Women in Leadership 2022 by March8 Magazine, and a Top Aviation and Aerospace Professional to Follow on LinkedIn in 2022. Shelli plays an active leadership role with various international organizations such as: Space4Women Mentoring Program, an affiliate of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs; the WomenTech Network; the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); the World Business Angels Investment Forum; the G100 Global Chair for Space Technology and Aviation; the Global Policy Insights – Global Policy, Diplomacy and Sustainability (GPODS) Fellowship program, and more.
Dr. Janet L. Kavandi is an American scientist and NASA astronaut, a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions who has logged more than 33 days in space and traveled more than 13.1 million miles in 535 Earth orbits! During her time in the Astronaut Office, Janet supported ISS payload integration, capsule communications, and robotics.
While at NASA, Dr. Kavandi was the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, Deputy Director of Health and Human Performance, and served as the Center Director at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from 2015 until her retirement in 2019. Janet Kavandi now serves as President and Chief Science Officer of Sierra Space and leads the Human Spaceflight Center and Astronaut Training Academy. Today on the show, Dr. Kavandi talks about her experiences as an astronaut, some of her favorite sci-fi movies, her exciting work at Sierra Space and more- don’t miss this inspirational conversation!
Read more about Dr. Janet Kavandi here: https://www.sierraspace.com/leadership/janet-kavandi/
And her incredible NASA experience via her bio here: https://www.nasa.gov/content/biography-janet-l-kavandi-dr
Learn More about Sierra Space, Dream Chaser, Orbital Reef and the Astronaut Training Academy here: https://www.sierraspace.com/
More about Dr. Kavandi: Janet serves as the President of Sierra Space in Louisville, Colorado. There, she is responsible for the company’s space programs, including the Dream Chaser® spaceplane, which is under contract to deliver supplies to the International Space Station beginning in 2023. Dream Chaser is a winged vehicle and the only resupply vehicle capable of landing on a commercial runway.
Dr. Kavandi also leads the Sierra Space Human Spaceflight Center and Astronaut Training Academy, responsible for astronaut selection, training, and human health for three categories of space travelers: professional astronauts, industry customers, and experiential customers.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Kavandi served as Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. In this position, she was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities required for cutting-edge research on aerospace and aeronautical propulsion, power, and communication technologies.
Preceding the Director position, Dr. Kavandi served as Glenn’s Deputy Director. Before her time at Glenn, Dr. Kavandi worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where she served as the Director of Flight Crew Operations. In this role, she was responsible for the Astronaut Corps and Aircraft Operations at Ellington Field.
Dr. Kavandi also served as the Deputy Director of the Health and Human Performance Directorate, where she was responsible for the NASA flight surgeons and human research investigations on the International Space Station (ISS).
Dr. Kavandi was selected as a NASA astronaut in December 1994 as a member of the fifteenth class of U.S. astronauts. During her time in the Astronaut Office, she supported International Space Station payload integration, capsule communications, robotics and served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. She is a veteran of three space flights, serving as a mission specialist on STS-91 in 1998, STS-99 in 2000 and STS-104 in 2001. Dr. Kavandi has logged more than 33 days in space, traveling more than 13.1 million miles in 535 Earth orbits.
Born in Springfield, Missouri, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, and her Doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Dr. Kavandi has been recognized with two Presidential Rank Awards, two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, two Exceptional Service Medals, three NASA Space Flight Medals, and NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal. She was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2019. Dr. Kavandi and her husband, John, have two adult children.
Artemis Generation Exploration. International Space Station Crewed Missions. SLS Test Crew Announcement. MARS Sample Return, Satellite Missions to obtain more of Earth’s Climate Data, Asteroid Detection and Protection, “Green” Aircraft, and a 7.1% increase in the NASA budget to accomplish it all. Last week, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson presented the State of NASA address for 2023. Listen as Beth and Dean walk through the goals for 2023, NASA’s plans to explore the Moon and Mars, monitor and protect the planet, sustain U.S. leadership in aviation and aerospace innovation, drive economic growth and promote equity and diversity within the agency and across the nation, while inspiring the next generation of explorers for the benefit of humanity. There’s lots to learn in this episode, and it’s all fun with our retuning guest and resident space expert Dean Mikolajczyk.
Watch NASA’s State of the Agency Address with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTVxELrVfB0
DO NOT MISS the opportunity to check out Lockheed Martin’s and NASA’s x-59 Supersonic “quiet” jet https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/quesst.html
About Casual Space’s Resident Space Expert; Dean Mikolajczyk (and listen to one of Beth’s favorite episodes with Dean on episode #167 “James Webb Space Telescope with RSE Dean Mikolajczyk… Part 2”)
- BS Technical Photography
- MS Astrophysics
- NASA MER Mars program
- NASA Public Relations
- Astronomy instructor & lecturer
Where to find Dean:
www.TritionCollege.edu/Cernan
www.HarperCollege.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mikolajczyk-63125389/
Casual Space Podcast is BACK in a BIG way, so let’s celebrate! Beth is joining Tim Bailey to extend YOUR personal invitation to celebrate space exploration with Yuri’s Night!
Yuri's Night is a World Space Party. Every year on or around April 12th, Yuri’s Night activities and parties celebrate all that humanity brings with us as we explore the cosmos: music, art, science, culture, and each other! Yuri’s Night uses space to bring the world together, to empower the greatest parts of who we are, and give vision to where we are going. Today on the podcast, Executive Director of Yuri’s Night Tim Bailey joins Beth to invite the WORLD (and you- yes, YOU) to this exciting space celebration!
You’re going to want to sign up to join us and find everything Yuri’s Night here: https://yurisnight.net/
Once you’re signed up to celebrate, check out the silent auction to help support the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship here: https://yurisnight.net/silent-auction/
-Where to find Tim Bailey and pretty much everything he’s doing: www.NovaBailey.com
Tim Bailey is space enthusiast, an Eagle Scout, a former counselor for Space Camp Florida, and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Tim never thought he'd be a Flight Attendant on his way to becoming an Astronaut, yet he’s celebrated 18 years on the job and is still loving it! In addition to his part-time work with Zero Gravity Corporation, Tim is the Executive Director for Yuri's Night, a nonprofit best known for the self-named annual world space parties in April. I've done an assortment of other project management jobs for organizations including NSS, Space Generation Advisory Council to the UN, Kennedy Space Center, the Department of Energy, the US Marine Corps, and DARPA. Want to learn more about Tim and his work? Check out his website at www.NovaBailey.com
Beth Carr is a formally trained performer and brand communications designer, who became passionately obsessed with figuring out how she could elevate storytelling for a brand creating authentic, long-lasting relationships with their ideal audiences and how that could be expressed through all their design, branding, messaging, and marketing.
And when it comes to telling the story about space, Beth Carr has professionally and personally helped me build a StoryBrand framework that has allowed me to serve you, Casual Space Podcast listeners!
Please enjoy this last episode of 2022! Don’t forget- you can send a story to space over the holiday break at www.storiesofspace.com, so don’t miss this last opportunity before the submission deadline closes- and for Casual Space Podcast listeners only, the deadline is extended to January 5th!!!!
Happy New Year to you and your families, colleagues and space explorers- from Beth Mund and the Casual Space Podcast!
See you in 2023!
Find Beth Carr, and her work as a Certified StoryBrand Guide at Fortified Branding
Fortified Brandingwww.fortifiedbranding.com bethcarr@fortifiedbranding.com @fortifiedbranding on IG
Joyce Hirai and Beth Mund experience turbulence in two very different ways.
Joyce is an Air Force Hurricane Hunter and Flight Meteorologist! She, along with her team of experts from the Air Force Reserves fly WC-130Js into tropical storms and hurricanes to take atmospheric measurements that are then fed into weather models. These models then help forecasters make predictions about locations and severity of the storms that local governments can reference to implement emergency plans or issue evacuation notices. During the winter, her team will fly into atmospheric rivers to help better predict precipitation events that occur on the west coast of the U.S. When she’s not flying into storms, Joyce works at NASA’s Johnson Space Center managing the astronaut’s schedules while they’re onboard the International Space Station. Joyce is also a SPACE CAMP alumni and counselor, and loves to crochet! Please welcome this week’s guest (and future astronaut, IMHO) Joyce Hirai!
Learn More about the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at “AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters”
You can follow Joyce’s flights during hurricane season at : www.tropicaltidbits.com then click on “aircraft recon”
Check out The National Hurricane Center website at www.nhc.noaa.gov
And read more about Joyce and her team here, https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2980914/reservist-part-time-hurricane-hunter-full-time-mission-planner-for-internationa/
Amanda Gutierrez knows the exact moment she fell in love with space. She was in 2nd grade. That moment, along with others since, have made such a strong impression on Amanda that she’s already defined her career goal- to become an aerospace engineer and ultimately go to space. Since she’s a junior in high school, she’ll have to go to college first, but she won’t have to wait for college to get to space- her stories are already going. Amanda is THE NASA award winner for the Artemis Moon Pod Essay Contest! Her story is currently on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission circling the moon! AND, Amanda is an official STORIES of Space Project Ambassador, where her story will ALSO be traveling to the International Space Station (along with all other STORIES of Space submissions) on a scheduled launch in June of 2023. Good news, you don’t have to go to space to hear Amanda’s story- you can hear it right here on this week’s episode of Casual Space!
About Amanda:
Amanda Gutierrez is a junior at Pius X High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was selected as the winner (high school division) of the NASA and Future Engineers Artemis Moon Pod Essay Contest from over 14,000 entries. Amanda is actively involved in Million Girls Moonshot, a national organization that works to engage one million girls in STEM learning opportunities across the United States. She is a member of the Nebraska Million Girls Moonshot board through the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, and is part of the national MGM Flight Crew. She has spoken as panelist at the SXSW EDU 2022 Conference, and co-hosted the national 2022 Afterschool Alliance "Lights on Afterschool" town hall event. She is also a youth speaker for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, and has been featured on Space.com, NPR’s Blue Dot, and other local and national media. Amanda plans to study aerospace engineering in college and someday become an astronaut. Amanda also dances competitively.
Here's the direct link to Amanda's award-winning essay: https://www.futureengineers.org/artemismoonpodessay/gallery/42918
Videos
Your heart will melt with these NASA Essay Finalists shared in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8sR4Mt3f9k
NASA Astronaut Interview and Semifinalist Announcement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w4v5tyMYcE
A continuous source of nutritious food is essential for long-duration exploration missions, and the typical pre-packaged astronaut diet will need to be supplemented by fresh foods produced in space. Researchers at NASA have been testing a plant growth unit on the International Space Station known as Veggie and have successfully grown a variety of leafy greens. Veg-05, the next step in that work, focuses on growing red dwarf tomatoes! Today on the show, Beth is joined by NASA Life Sciences project scientist and VEG-05 principal investigator Dr. Gioia Massa. She and her team are testing tomatoes, looking at the impacts of light spectrum on how well the crop grows, how delicious and nutritious the tomatoes are, and the microbial activity on the fruit and plants! The Veg-05 experiment will help provide valuable data for future space exploration, and examines the overall effect of growing, tending, and eating crops on crew behavioral health. There’s lots to learn in this episode of Casual Space Podcast with Dr. Gioia Massa!
Oh, and check out this competition for kids to create the next Veggie Mission patch! https://fairchildgarden.org/science-and-education/learn/the-fairchild-challenge/national-challenge-main-page-nasa-patch/
A great article from NASA highlighting the details regarding the various experiments launching to the International Space Station on the SpaceX CRS-26 mission: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spacex-26-science-highlights/
About Gioia Massa – Project Scientist, Kennedy Space Center… in her own words:
“When I was 12, I decided I wanted to grow plants in space. It only took, well, a while to get there, but it was an interesting journey. I have always liked plants – both my mother and grandmother taught me to love gardening. As a kid, however, I was horse-crazy, and when I had the opportunity to take an agriculture class in 7th grade and join the horse judging team in FFA, I was thrilled. Well, I was an awful judge of horses – I just picked the pretty ones with nice manners, and I had no sense of good form. Happily, I also tried horticulture judging and plant identification, and I loved it. I was lucky enough that my agriculture teacher was selected to participate in a workshop at KSC and EPCOT center called “energize the green machine”; it was all about NASA’s research toward growing food in space. He captured 40 hours of video on space plant growth and I sat mesmerized throughout. I was hooked.
And I persisted, doing hydroponic projects in high school (DeLand, FL) and college (Cornell), working in plant labs, participating in the Space Life Sciences Training Program at KSC (both as a student and as a counselor), going to graduate school (Penn State) to study plant responses to gravity, participating in a student shuttle flight experiment, doing a postdoc on bioregenerative food production (Purdue) in advanced life support systems, and spending way too much time in rooms with strange purple lights. A few stubborn decades of gradual progress later, after fantastic mentors helped me at every level, I began at KSC, first as a NASA postdoctoral fellow and then as a NASA Project Scientist in ISS Ground Processing and Research. My postdoctoral work at KSC focused on the Veggie plant growth system, and since joining NASA I have been leading the science team to test the Veggie hardware on ISS.
My research with Veggie and other systems focuses on addressing the questions of which plant production techniques and technologies will be effective at producing quality, tasty food to supplement packaged diets in the near term, and to play a larger role in bioregenerative life support in the long term. Plants can be a source of food for the crew, and also can be involved in recycling the atmosphere and water processing. Plants can also have psychological benefits for the crew. But there are a number of challenges in microgravity and planetary habitats that need to be worked out before we can safely and efficiently produce fresh vegetables for the crew; those are what I research. The behavior of fluids, gasses, and thermal gradients make growing plants in microgravity challenging. Reducing the energy needs for electric lighting and increasing crop productivity are very important factors for long-duration growth, and testing emerging technologies can provide novel solutions. Ensuring microbiologically safe food that also has high levels of specific nutrients and tastes good at the same time requires a lot of testing, time, and resources. Since plants are so dependent on their environment, the number of potential variations is infinite, so narrowing of scope can also provide a challenge.
My research is designed to give residents at a habitat on Mars in the future a better quality of life in that extreme environment. They will not only have fresh, nutritious food to eat, but they will also be able to enjoy the sight, smell, and taste of green plants. Those plants will produce food for the crew, recycle their atmosphere, and possibly even help with cleaning their water. My research will help to enable NASA’s grand challenge of space colonization as humanity transitions from a planet-bound to a spacefaring civilization. I am honored to be a part of the NASA team working toward this dream.”
How can we help others find their path to success in the space exploration industry?
Because of your help and support, the Casual Space Podcast is on its way toward our 200th episode! So on this week’s show, allow me to recognize some fine folks who have not only contributed to the success of the show (#2 in Space Podcasts that are Out of this World, according to We Edit Podcast), but to the career I’ve been able to pursue and enjoy. So let’s get into a few fun stories, and some ideas on how we can help others succeed in the space exploration industry. It’s Thanksgiving, and I’m sharing my feeling of gratitude on this episode of Casual Space.
Oh, and here is the site where you can find more amazing artwork and commemorative space patches from Tim Gagnon! https://www.kscartist.com/
A sincere thank you to all of the Casual Space listeners and supporters of the show!
Happy Thanksgiving!
From a young age, Time would gaze at the Moon from his window, and dreamed of to becoming an astronomer but lost courage due to his visual impairment- Tim is legally blind. One day, Tim’s wife bought him a telescope to “help get him out of the house.” While stargazing with a group from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), Tim discovered his superpower: the ability to see in part UV light as well as having better night vision than anyone else! With his new found superpower, he would build an observatory and begin his mission to share the night sky with anyone, and everyone! In 2014 I moved back home to Quinan, NS, and started an astrotourism business & Starlight Tourist Destination (in South West Nova), and started what would become the Starlight Development Society, group that pursues the ideals of the Starlight Foundation to protect the night sky from light pollution, teach astronomy in our schools, and promote and help develop astrotourism products in South West Nova Scotia.
Tim believes that through education and awareness of the universe, the world can become a better place.
“We are all made from stardust. We are all connected. If we lose our connection to the universe, by not being able to observe it, we become disconnected from each other. I believe that by sharing the night sky the world can become a better place. By giving people a new perspective on space and its vastness, and showing them how special we really are as a planet and a species. I hope that people might appreciate Earth a bit more...” -Tim Doucette
About Tim:
Tim believes that through education and awareness of the universe, the world can become a better place. Through his passion for Astronomy and his photography, Tim shows us the beauty of the heavens. In 2016 he opened the Deep Sky Eye Observatory in Quinan, Nova Scotia, which provides a unique stargazing experience to tourists from around the world. He is the chair of the Starlight Development Society and sits on the board of directors of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Halifax Centre). Born and raised in Quinan, a small rural village in southwestern Nova Scotia, he graduated from The College of Geographic Sciences. He then received a Bachelor of Computer Science from Dalhousie University. He continues his career as a software developer to this day.
Where you can find Tim and his work:
Web: http://deepskyeye.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/deepskyeye
Instagram: http://instagram.com/deepskyeye
And Check out Tim on CNN The Great Big Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82seHPdYAo8
This band is on a mission: To boldly go where no star band has gone before, mixing pop culture with rock-n-roll theater, comedy, and sci-fi awesomeness to unite and entertain multiple generations of fans throughout the nerd-o-sphere. Insert Star Trek voice-over voice: Casual Space Podcast formally invites you to experience the artful and entertaining parodies of the classic movies, tv scores, pop rock classics that are recreated by the incredible band members who make up The Roddenberries! This band of like-minded friends have been playing together for over a decade- each influenced by the possibilities of space exploration from watching Star Trek as kids.
“Through music and performance, we can express the ideas of Star Trek and of Gene Roddenberry's vision of a brighter, more united and inclusive tomorrow. With a generous helping of comedy thrown in.” – The Roddenberries Band
On this episode of Casual Space, Beth and Chad join band members Bill Tayoun and Beth Kellner to learn their origin story, how they write and shape their clever lyrics into the best songs, and how they found time during COVID to create some of the best videos and performances we’ve ever seen.
The Roddenberries are THE galaxy’s premier sci-fi party band, and you’re going to want to enjoy them ASAP!
Listen & Enjoy the Roddenberries!
Website: www.theroddenberries.com
Email: theroddenberies@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroddenberries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRoddenberries
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3MVXBUl
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRoddenberries
This is the story of Andromeda Wright. Planet PA-99-N2. The war between the planet of fire and the planet of snow, and the only heroine who would be able to stop the war and change the way people think of stars.,, it’s all part of the VERY FIRST story that’s been selected from the submitted STORIES of Space Project!
I’m reading it on the podcast this week, as I will each and every week from now until the end of the year… in addition, I’ll be sharing with you some of the very interesting items that will be sent to the moon as part of NASA’s official flight kit- including patches, pins, stickers and (wait for it…) STORIES!!!! It’s a lovely run through this week you’ll be inspired to look into more, so here are the links for you to follow along, and then learn how to send your story to me to read on the podcast, and then send it to space:
The STORIES of Space Project: www.storiesofspace.com
NASA Artemis Official Flight Kit https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis-i-becomes-cultural-educational-time-capsule-for-trip-around-moon
More About the STORIES of Space Project, and how to get YOUR story read on the podcast: https://www.storiesofspace.com/about
Stories of Space™ (The STORIES Project) is an open-source project available to a global community of storytellers who wish to connect people to space. Driven by a team of scientists, researchers, communicators, and writers, The Stories of Space Project™ believes that a story-YOUR story-can change the way we explore space.
Helping to create a JEDI space – a Just, Equity, Diverse, and Inclusive space – Stories of Space™ is a worldwide project. Everyone – from space enthusiasts to space professionals – can launch a piece of their on-Earth experience into a true outer-space adventure.
Selected Stories of Space™ submissions will be cataloged on SD cards (secure digital cards or a tiny flash memory card designed for high-capacity memory and various portable devices) scheduled to fly in 2023. The SD cards are part of a payload test project flown by NASA on a MISSE satellite carrier, provided by Aegis Aerospace, a major small satellite carrier and approved NASA contractor. MISSE is a highly flexible, commercial facility owned and operated by Aegis Aerospace that is permanently installed on the external ISS truss near the solar arrays.
After the return flight, stories will be shared on the Casual Space Podcast, hosted by Space Communicator, Beth Mund.
The worlds of music, art and science can symbiotically exist and share center stage together to offer a sense of awe, wonder and inspiration about moons of the solar system, and ultimately about our home planet. Award winning composer and pianist Amanda Lee Falkenberg has created THE MOONS SYMPHONY- a project 5-years in the making, consulting with planetary scientists from NASA’s JPL to ensure the science was anchored in scientific accuracy. Listen to hear not only the most beautiful and incredible music, but to hear directly from Amanda how science influenced each of the moons within the symphony.
THE MOONS SYMPHONY Album is available here: https://lnk.to/TheMoonsSymphony
Enjoy learning more about Amanda’s journey in creating this masterpiece here: https://www.moons-symphony.com/blog
About Amanda Lee Falkenberg: International award-winning composer and pianist Australian born Amanda Lee Falkenberg began her journey into composition through years spent in ballet studios as an accompanist, including the Australian Ballet company in 2000. She wrote over 120 pieces to accompany ballet dancers as they trained, which led to her Moving With Music album series.
In 2003 her first full-length orchestral ballet was commissioned, Edge of the World, and performed by the International Barossa Music Festival Orchestra with the prestigious Leigh Warren and Dancers, which received glowing reviews from the national press.
Inspired by visual imagery, Falkenberg's natural progression led her to write for film and TV, stage plays, documentaries, animation series and feature films, including her cinematic soundtrack to the screen adaption of Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands.
In 2017, she conducted the world premiere of her orchestral suite Sea Trilogy with the London Film Music Orchestra at their Gala Concert. Later that year, she completed her Arabian inspired concerto for piano and orchestra, Crossing of the Crescent Moon, after which she began her next large scale project, THE MOONS SYMPHONY.
Described by The Beauty of Space Art Authors Jon Ramer and Ron Miller as
"…one of the most extraordinary achievements in space-inspired music, and perhaps the first to be accomplished in direct collaboration with astronomers and scientists",
Falkenberg has presented the work and its scientific inspiration to global audiences including the NASA/JPL, Caltech, the Planetary Society of Los Angeles live radio show in Imperial College London 2022, the London Science Museum, COP26 in Glasgow, 2021, the Dubai Expo in 2021, the Euro Planet Science Congress EPSC in Geneva, 2019, and the TEDx Youth Conference, 2018.
Falkenberg has received many nominations and won multiple international contests, including the Great American Song Contest, Marvin Hamlisch emerging film composer contest in New York, the International Composition Competition in Italy, Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA), and the Los Angeles Music Awards.
Falkenberg is an artist member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) who organized an elaborate multimedia/visual art project in in coordination with THE MOONS SYMPHONY"
More about the MOONS SYMPHONY’s PERFORMANCES:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 - 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗬 (𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮)
The Planetary Radio Live in London was held to celebrate the historic recording of THE MOONS SYMPHONY co-hosted by the Imperial College of London and The Planetary Society. This event occurred a day after the recording was made for The Moons Symphony by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop.
Host and producer Mat Kaplan of the planetary Society celebrated the intersection of Art and Science through THE MOONS SYMPHONY with a panel of VIP scientists. Together Dr Linda Spilker, Dr Ashley Davies from NASA | JPL, Professor Mark Sephton of Imperial College, and Amanda Lee Falkenberg discussed the symphony's science and the inspirational data they are collecting from moons of our outer Solar System.
𝐒𝐎𝐇𝐎 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 (𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐)
An exclusive Launch party is held for Amanda Lee Falkenberg's "The Moons Symphony" in advance of the Album's release on October 7. An evening to experience the symphony in Dolby Atmos surround sound followed by a Q and A with Amanda and British Astronaut Helen Sharman OBE.
𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐀𝐑 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜.𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐)
ＬＵＮＡＲ (Learning Under New Artistic Regimes) a new education series that forms part of Falkenberg’s “Companion Guide to the moons symphony” which takes inspiration from MOONS of our outer solar system.
A new education platform designed to enthral, engage and inspire. This co-pilot event is a collaboration between THE MOONS SYMPHONY and IMPERIAL COLLEGE for students to experience a new way of learning through a symphonic lens the scientific stories of moons of our outer solar system. They are communicated through a dynamic musical canvas to evoke awe and wonder and ignite curiosity to capture the imaginations of the next generation of space explorers.
Amanda recommends we check out David W. Brown - author of THE MISSION: A true story.
https://www.amazon.com/Mission-True-Story-David-Brown/dp/006265442X
A brilliant book that shares the evolution of THE EUROPA CLIPPER —NASA’s flagship mission which is sending a Spacecraft to investigate the icy moon of Jupiter “Europa” that contains an ocean two and a half times the size of all of Earths oceans combined and could hold the right conditions to support microbial life.
www.moons-symphony.com
Erin grew up in Florida watching shuttles launch and shake the windows of her house on reentry. She has always had a passion for making things, leading to her degree in mechanical engineering. Erin works at NASA's Johnson Space Center as a science communication specialist for the International Space Station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She shares the amazing stories of research on the space station with the world through writing and social media. Today on the Casual Space Podcast, Erin shares with Beth specific examples of space station spinoffs that have benefited humanity (20+ years of science has been conducted aboard the space station) and the impact it’s made for all of us back on Earth- all captured in the new book, The ISS Benefits for Humanity 2022. AND, Beth congratulates Erin on a very prestigious, and much- deserved award for her work as a space communicator.
“Its a joy to be able to now work in the space industry as a senior science communications specialist telling the stories of International Space Station Research.”- Erin W. Anthony
From the book (You’re going to want to read this book) The ISS Benefits for Humanity 2022 book; It’s DIGITAL, and it’s FREE to download!!!!!
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/benefits-2022-book
The International Space Station is a modern marvel. Only 400 kilometers (250 miles) above our heads, it streaks spectacularly across the sky at 28,200 kilometers (17,500 miles) per hour, orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes. The station carries an impressive array of research facilities supporting hundreds of experiments at any given time across every major science discipline. It can host up to eight visiting vehicles and accommodate 11 crew—all while providing an amazing view featuring 16 sunrises and sunsets per day. But what is so special about an orbiting lab? What makes scientists willing to tackle the significant challenges of planning and scheduling research, designing and building hardware, and committing extraordinary time and effort to complete experiments? It’s all about location. An orbiting laboratory provides researchers with the unique features of low-Earth orbit (LEO): long-duration microgravity, exposure to space, and a unique perspective on our planet. These attributes enable scientists to conduct innovative experiments that cannot be done anywhere else…
Check out the latest NASA Explorers video series Erin worked on, along with friend of the show and writer Rachel Barry here; https://youtu.be/-pJcbKr7iA4
And find Erin on Twitter at: @ISS_Research
More about Erin: Erin works at NASA's Johnson Space Center as a science communication specialist for the International Space Station. She shares the amazing stories of research on the space station with the world through writing and social media.
She has spearheaded strategies for sharing station science on Twitter and Instagram, including the creation of an Instagram AR filter viewed more than 10 million times, creation of some the agency's first (and most successful) Instagram Reels, and growing the @ISS_Research Twitter audience by more than 250K, to over 1 million. Erin serves as managing editor for all station science feature stories, and as well as a series producer for digital series, NASA Explorers: Microgravity (more than 11 million views) and contributor to episodes of the NASA's Curious Universe podcast.
She previously worked as the space reporter for the MIT Technology Review where she launched and managed its space newsletter, The Airlock. She also covered automation as the Associate Editor of the Future of Work for the publication and helmed the its largest daily tech newsletter, The Download and Instagram strategy.
Erin founded and served as CEO of Sci Chic, a company that designs and produces 3D printed jewelry inspired by science and engineering, and creates outreach programs based on the jewelry, for more than 5 years.
Erin aims to show the creativity in science and engineering, and encourage everyone to appreciate and explore the STEM fields. She has written for an array of publications such as Sci Show, The Economist, Engineering.com, Lateral Magazine, Beanz, IEEE Potentials, and The New York Times, and is a course author for LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com). She has a personal combined social media following of more than 60,000 to which she shares science in engaging new ways. You may have seen her on The Weather Channel, CBS Mission Unstoppable, or Marvel's The Unstoppable Wasp.
Erin graduated with her BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Florida in Dec. 2016. After graduating she worked as a freelance science writer and interned in London with the science and technology section of The Economist. She had four engineering internships at Bracken Engineering, Solar Turbines, John Deere, and at Keysight Technologies working on mechanical design and technical writing projects.
In her free time, Erin enjoys 3D printing, sewing, hiking, STEM outreach, creating science communication content for her personal social media channels, science fashion, puzzles, dominoes, and photography.
Space is hard and complicated. Space norms are even harder and even more complicated. SO, in order to develop successful space norms, we will need creativity, perseverance, and a large and inclusive range of participants in the process. On today’s episode, Robin Dickey discusses an approach towards space exploration that examines what’s responsible to do, what is feasible to do, and what can be done to make space more safe and more sustainable for all in the future.
About Robin: Robin Dickey is a member of the technical staff at The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. She focuses on space policy and strategy issues related to national security, geopolitics, and international relations. Her experience prior to Aerospace includes risk analysis, legislative affairs, and international development. She earned her bachelor’s degree in international studies at Johns Hopkins University and her master’s degree in international studies, concentrating in strategic studies, at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
You’re going to want to read Robin's latest paper: https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/commercial-normentum-space-security-challenges-commercial-actors-and-norms-behavior
From the paper: Concerns about the potential for conflict in space are not limited to traditional security actors such as states and militaries. Commercial actors also have a stake in security-related space norms, and this stakeholder relationship may translate to new forms of commercial participation in the norm development process.
Other papers from Robin: July 2021 paper "Building Normentum: A Framework for Space Norm Development," August 2022 paper "Commercial Normentum: Space Security Challenges, Commercial Actors, and Norms of Behavior," George Washington University's Space Policy Institute and the Aerospace Corporation's Center for Space Policy and Strategy August 2022 event on "After the KE-ASAT Moratorium: What's Next?"
And find Robin on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/Robin_M_Dickey
Impulse Space is partnering with Relativity Space to perform the first ever commercial landing on the red planet!
Places in space, like Mars, are being viewed as potential destinations that can support the expansion of human presence in the inner solar system. Impulse Space and Relativity Space’s mission to Mars is a step forward for the entire community interested in the benefits that space can bring to humans on Earth. Today, Impulse Space’s COO and industry leader Barry Matsumori explains how Impulse is working to make this history-making mission possible, and deliver the first commercial payload to the surface of another planet by 2024!
About Barry Matsumori:
Barry Matsumori is an industry veteran that has been an executive leader at SpaceX, Virgin Orbit, and most recently as CEO at BridgeComm. Currently, Mr. Matsumori serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Impulse Space. In his own words, Mr. Matsumori shares, “I started my career in space at General Dynamics Space Systems in 1985 and worked on early satellites in the late 1980s. In 1993, I started at Qualcomm and worked on the ground side of Globalstar for a few years before moving into cellular communications.
I have developed and implemented business and technology strategies as well as overseen operations at these companies. At BridgeComm, I led the refocus of the company strategy as well as being named in a number of optical communication technology patents.”
At Impulse Space, Mr. Matsumori serves as the Chief Operating Officer, and is responsible for all the operating functions including business development, people, finance and mission management.
More about Impulse Space and the designed mission to partner with Relativity Space: https://www.impulsespace.com/
The integrated Cruise Vehicle, Entry Capsule, and Mars Lander developed by Impulse Space will launch in 2024 on the Relativity Terran R launch vehicle. After traveling through interplanetary space for over half a year, the Cruise Vehicle will inject the Entry Capsule into the correct landing trajectory and detach. The Entry Capsule will use the proven combination of heatshield and parachute to slow down enough to safely deploy the Mars Lander into freefall. The lander will then perform a propulsive landing using purpose-built engines developed in-house at Impulse Space, completing the first commercial payload delivery to the surface of another planet.
Robert Feierbach returns as our special guest this week on the podcast and announces his new endeavors as President of Maritime Launch USA, Inc., the US affiliate of the Canadian commercial spaceport based in Nova Scotia, and, Robert unveils his new business, 0-G Launch, a Washington-DC based company deploying a fleet of specially-modified commercial aircraft to provide high-precision microgravity flights and horizontal air-launch services to the fast-growing aerospace industry, and shares his plans as the Founder and CEO.
Robert Feierbach, is a FOTH (friend of the show) and known as a well-recognized space industry expert! He has an impressive track record in groundbreaking satellite technologies and services around the world. During the past 25 years, he held CEO/CCO/VP leadership positions at Echostar in the Netherlands, SES Global in Luxembourg, various Eutelsat / ViaSat partnerships in France, Italy and the USA, Hughes Network Systems’ International Division, Space Systems Loral (Maxar), and SpaceX, the private rocket company, for which he was instrumental in acquiring $600M in early launch contracts. Woah.
Mr. Feierbach holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Applications from the University of Utah, and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Robert speaks seven languages fluently and has lived and traveled across the Planet. Yep. 7 languages, and a very interesting love for a very specific kind of music… find out more in this episode of Casual Space!
Where to find Robert:
www.maritimelaunch.com
www.0-GLaunch.com
www.G-Space.com
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13106063/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm
“We are in a space renaissance right now, but with that comes new challenges. This is especially true for spacesuits.”
Will Green is a Ph.D. student at the University of North Dakota. He is collaborating on research with NASA that is centered on applying breakthrough technologies to push the boundaries of what is possible with spacesuits. Will has taken part in analog missions at UND’s Inflatable Lunar/Martian Analog Habitat as a mission commander and an EVA ground control officer.
Will’s previous research experience includes Lunar and Martian dust mitigation strategies, robotic testing of spacesuit joints, high-performance textile research for spacesuits and military applications, and inventing an exoskeleton for the Army Research Laboratory. You know, Casual space suit stuff to chat about on Casual Space. 😉
Follow Will and his work on Instagram at: spacesuit_will
And enjoy this clip: Beth and Will talk about how claustrophobic wearing spacesuits can be… and we loved watching this BBC reporter “have a moment” with his spacesuit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3AXhN3Wo0g
Martynas Fedotovas and Nika Chinchaladze are space entrepreneurs and CEOs of Altair Enterprises LLC - a space education & research organization that enables people to pursue careers in the space industry - and the organizers of the International Space Convention 2022 - the biggest space industry business event in the Caucasus region. They also Co-authored the book - Space Business 101: 7 Steps to Position Yourself in the Next Trillion Dollar Industry. On this episode, Beth and Nicholas and Martynas discuss what it’s like to be a space startup, what it takes to succeed, and why ethics should always be at the heart of the work as you go and grow.
Where to find Nicholas and Martynas:
www.altairenterprises.comand www.altairenterprises.store
BONUS: Nicholas and Martynas would like to give Casual Space Podcast listeners free online tickets to ISC 2022!
When registering use this 100% discount coupon code: CASUALSPACE
Apply your special code at this link: https://www.altairenterprises.store/product-page/attendee-experience
About International Space Convention 2022:
ISC 2022 is a hybrid event where you can attend in-person or online and get an exclusive 3-day access to over 95 lectures from over 100 world-renowned space industry speakers and experts, ranging from government space agencies to private space companies discussing everything from new rising trends to advances and concepts in space industry, including: Earth and Deep Space Observation, SatCom and Data Analysis, Human Space Missions, Space Law and Regulations, Commercial Space Travel, Financial Outlook of the Space Industry, Funding Opportunities for the Emerging Space Start-Ups and many more great topics.
CEOs and Founders of Altair Enterprises - Space Education Company. Organizers of the International Space Convention 2022 - one of the biggest annual business conferences.Authors of Space Business 101: 7 Steps to Position Yourself in the Next Trillion Dollar IndustryPodcast Hosts of Altair Insights Podcast - Where Space Meets Business
Do you have a story? A story about space that you’ve been thinking about for some time?
Your story has the potential to change the way we explore space, but opportunities to share your story have been limited, challenging, and undiscovered. Until today.
Today, a simple story will fly to space, changing how we explore it.
Your story. Right here, right now. www.storiesofspace.com Listen to this episode as Beth personally invites you to fly your story to space.
Humans have imagined what space exploration might look like for years and put their imagination into stories – from science fiction books to movies. These stories sparked the actual development of space transportation systems, stations, and exploration missions. Even the constellations we enjoy at night have their own unique tales.
The Stories of Space Project™ collects your story and carries it on a satellite launched from historic Cape Canaveral, FL, in June 2023. The satellite will deliver this unique payload to the International Space Station, where it will be exposed to the harshness of space for six months and then returned to Earth. The STORIES Project™ (Story SD cards Testing and On-board Research on the International Space Station Experiment and Survey) will not only fly stories to space but will also help determine ideal data storage hardware for future commercial space applications.
The Stories of Space Project™ is a rare opportunity for you to share your personal space narrative. Each week, one of the submitted pieces flown in space will be selected and debuted worldwide on the Casual Space Podcast, where we will read your entire story. This experience makes space accessible to everyone and will change how we explore space—one story at a time. Learn more and submit your story at www.storiesofspace.com
FOLLOW updates and more at all the STORIES of Space socials!
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/stories-of-space-project/about/?viewAsMember=true
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/storiesofspaceproject/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Stories-of-Space-Project-105943768899733
Also, check out Aegis Aerospace from episode 164: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/category/EPISODE+146
This week, NASA has announced that they are moving towards the first launch attempt for the Artemis I mission with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft currently in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA is currently targeting launch for no earlier than Monday, Aug. 29, at 8:33 a.m. EDT during a 2 hour window!!!!! So, Dean and Beth dig right in to the who, what, where, when, why and how of NASA’s Space Launch System on this week’s episode of the Casual Space Podcast!
NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) is the world’s most powerful rocket and the backbone of NASA’s human lunar exploration program (check out this reference guide ASAP: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/sls_reference_guide_2022_v2_508_0.pdf). No other rocket can send astronauts and the Orion spacecraft directly to the Moon for the Artemis missions. SLS provides an unmatched capability to deliver greater mass and volume than any current launch vehicle for both human and robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and the outer planets. SLS was established by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010. The program was created at Marshall in 2011 and received funding in FY2012. SLS is the world’s first exploration-class launch vehicle since the Apollo Program’s Saturn V. Along with SLS, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate is developing the EGS and the Orion spacecraft for crew. Orion, managed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is a spacecraft designed to carry astronauts on exploration missions into deep space. EGS has converted facilities at Kennedy into a next-generation spaceport capable of supporting launches by multiple types of vehicles.
More about NASA’s SLS: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html
Big dreams start at Space Camp.
The kids and family recipients from the Cosmic Odyssey scholarship program are joined by Inspiration4 astronaut Chris Sembroski in this creative conversation. Together, we discuss how our experiences can be put into the next Space Camp movie! From who’s in mission control and on the rocket to where we’re going to explore- we giggle through creating our own space exploration adventure based on our training at Space Camp! We feel our team would be qualified- we’ve got the Top Gun award-winning recipient aviator, 5 former Space Camp attendees (including two trainers, two Hall of Fame recipients, a former VP of Space Camp and one astronaut) and several of the most brave, strong and impressive cancer-surviving kids and their families. Your heart will soar listening to the Kent and Herbert family share their special memories of experiencing Space Camp together in this episode of Casual Space.
Here's more info about the Auston Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/
And here’s more about the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp
About Space Camp: www.spacecamp.com Space Camp opened on June 13, 1982, launching what is now an internationally recognized STEM camp with more than one million alumni from all 50 states and 150 international locations. While in Huntsville, Beth and hundreds of alumni and Space Camp supporters will gather to celebrate AND witness the induction of the next class of Space Camp Hall of Fame members. These alumni have made significant contributions in their fields and we look forward to honoring them, featuring outstanding alumni and a fireside chat with members of the Inspiration4 team, the first all-civilian space flight, led by Jared Isaacman, a 1995 Aviation Challenge graduate. Jeffrey Kluger, Editor at Large for TIME magazine, moderating the discussion. Learn more at: https://rocketcenterfoundation.org/about/
About Space Camp Hall of Fame Inductees: https://www.spacecamp.com/about/halloffame
About the Inspiration4 Team: https://inspiration4.com/crew
Jared Isaacman (Aviation Challenge Mach I, 1995)
Chris Sembroski (Space Camp counselor 2001)
Hayley Arceneaux (Friend of Space Camp)
Dr. Sian Proctor (Friend of Space Camp)
About the Zero-G Flight experience: www.gozerog.com
Author and astronomer John Read is back with a BEAUTIFUL new book, Learn to Stargaze for Kids https://www.learntostargaze.com/books, and we’re talking about what’s within the James Webb images, and comparing some of them against Hubble. As always, there’s a lot to learn (so much fun)! During the second half of our conversation, John helps walk us through all of the super-easy ways we can find some specific constellations in our summer night sky. Enjoy John’s stargazing tips here on the Casual Space Podcast, along with his amazingly resourceful site, https://www.learntostargaze.com/.
About John Read: Shortly after receiving his pilot’s license as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet, John dropped out of Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University to pursue a degree (and career) in Corporate Finance. A few years later, his wife bought him a twelve-inch Dobsonian Telescope for Christmas (to be fair, she got leather boots). He joined the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society, volunteering as many as four nights per week under California’s cloudless skies.
John is the host of the Learn To Stargaze YouTube channel and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. In 2020, he graduated with a degree in astrophysics from Saint Mary’s University and was presented with an RASC award for Excellence in Science Communication. He is currently a student at Johns Hopkins University, working on his Master’s in Space Systems Engineering.
Brad West will have to eat the same food, do the same exercise, contain and restrict his social circles, conduct similar experiments, tasks, and basically copy everything his twin brother Brent will do…while in space…for more than 500 days… simulating the same amount of time it will take for humans to get to Mars- and helping to prepare humans to explore Mars.
Why would Brad and Brent do this? It’s all part of the proposed “Twin Orbit Study” that you’re about to discover right here, on the Casual Space Podcast.
The commercialization of space (SpaceX, Axiom Space, Blue Origin) brings new opportunities to study astronauts, including identical twins, on industry‐led space stations with unprecedented detail. Extremely long‐duration microgravity will be the new normal when we travel into deep space, starting with Mars, and our success will be a test of health endurance in several respects. First, given the great distances, there will be very limited support from Earth once the mission begins. Second, the space weather (and radiation) is an order of magnitude more challenging. Third, the behavioral and cognitive challenges for such long missions will place an unprecedented strain on the crew. Although NASA, ESA, JAXA, ROSCOSMOS, and others are building a large knowledge base to address these challenges through missions on the International Space Station, very few crew have been studied in weightlessness for durations over six months, and more data from longer missions is critically needed.
Which makes for a perfect opportunity for The Twin Orbit study team, who are proposing a brand new, long‐duration Twins Study (building from the NASA Twins Study), and will work to accomplish four main goals:
- Conduct Scientific Research for Biomedical Discovery and Testing New Hypotheses
- Develop and Deploy New Technologies for Crew Health and Mission Maintenance
- Develop Crew Health Operating Procedures Applicable for Long‐duration and Deep Space Missions
- Inspire the Next Generation of Explorers
Learn More About Twin Orbit here: https://www.twinorbit.com/
About Brent West, in his own words: “It was the Cosmos TV series that initially captured my interest...I saw the first episode in high school in the late 1980's, and since that time I have always been fascinated with all-things space. I knew I wanted to be an astronaut after I saw the movie Apollo 13 in the summer of 1995. I focused on my purpose and what I wanted to do and be involved with. At the time, I was a young LTjg (Lieutenant Junior Grade) onboard my first submarine, USS PINTADO (SSN-672).
Brent West, Commander, U.S. Navy, earned his master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Michigan in 2001 and worked in the Space Physics Research Laboratory as a student research assistant to help design a small student-led satellite project. Brent also worked as a flight controller at Johnson Space Center from 2001 – 2003 in ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and earned his PhD in Physics from George Mason University in 2012, studying X-ray pulsars.
About Brad West: Brad West graduated from Winnebago High School in Winnebago, Illinois in 1990. He attended Illinois State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 1994 and a Master of Science degree in education administration in 1996. Soon after receiving his master’s degree, Brad moved to Richmond, Virginia to work as a Career Systems Manager/Advisor at Virginia Commonwealth University. He moved to Orlando, Florida in the spring of 1998, at the behest of a best friend who was working at Disney, and took employment in information technology at the Universal Orlando Resort. He loved the atmosphere and the energy of Universal and Orlando and worked there until the spring of 2004.Brad was accepted into the Doctor of Philosophy program in Higher Education Administration at the University of Florida in 2004. Upon starting the program, he worked as a graduate assistant in the Graduate School under the supervision of Associate Dean of the Graduate School. There, he became enamored with the many fields of graduate and doctoral education. After finishing program coursework, he worked several years in information technology at the University of Florida. Doctoral candidacy followed, and ultimately obtained a PhD in Higher Education Administration in 2013 with a focus on factors that influence doctoral time-to-degree in graduate education. Today, Brad is living in Southern Florida and working in information technology for a large national health care system. He enjoys traveling, visiting friends in the Florida keys, music, sports, anything NASA, and meeting new people.
About Chris Mason Dr. Christopher E. Mason is a geneticist and computational biologist who has been a Principal Investigator and Co-investigator of many NASA missions and projects. He is a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, with affiliate appointments at the Meyer Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Information Society Project (ISP) at Yale Law School, and the Consortium for Space Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Here’s what to do next:
Check out Chris’s new book; The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds
https://www.amazon.com/Next-500-Years-Engineering-Worlds/dp/0262543842/ref=asc_df_0262543842/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=533430521017&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10374932519418788990&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1028099&hvtargid=pla-1424157036884&psc=1
Reach out here with questions; info@twinorbit.com
In just DAYS (July 12, 2022), NASA will release the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope for the WORLD to enjoy …and Dean and Beth are on the edge of their seats (making bets on what we’re about to see) and what it will mean for space exploration when we look further into the universe than ever before.
The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will now begin six months of commissioning in space! At the end of commissioning, Webb will deliver its first images. Webb carries four state-of-the-art science instruments with highly sensitive infrared detectors of unprecedented resolution. Webb will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity than ever before. The premier mission is the scientific successor to NASA’s iconic Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, built to complement and further the scientific discoveries of these and other missions.
AT THE TIME OF THIS RECORDING, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS NOT YET RELEASED FROM NASA, but check out what NASA has planned to look at in the universe!
HERE IS THE LIST!
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), will soon reveal unprecedented and detailed views of the universe, with the upcoming release of its first full-color images and spectroscopic data. Below is the list of cosmic objects that Webb targeted for these first observations, which will be released in NASA’s live broadcast beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, July 12. Each image will simultaneously be made available on social media as well as on the agency’s website.
These listed targets below represent the first wave of full-color scientific images and spectra the observatory has gathered, and the official beginning of Webb’s general science operations. They were selected by an international committee of representatives from NASA, ESA, CSA, and the Space Telescope Science Institute.
- Carina Nebula. The Carina Nebula is one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, located approximately 7,600 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. Nebulae are stellar nurseries where stars form. The Carina Nebula is home to many massive stars, several times larger than the Sun.
- WASP-96 b (spectrum). WASP-96 b is a giant planet outside our solar system, composed mainly of gas. The planet, located nearly 1,150 light-years from Earth, orbits its star every 3.4 days. It has about half the mass of Jupiter, and its discovery was announced in 2014.
- Southern Ring Nebula. The Southern Ring, or “Eight-Burst” nebula, is a planetary nebula – an expanding cloud of gas, surrounding a dying star. It is nearly half a light-year in diameter and is located approximately 2,000 light years away from Earth.
- Stephan’s Quintet: About 290 million light-years away, Stephan’s Quintet is located in the constellation Pegasus. It is notable for being the first compact galaxy group ever discovered in 1877. Four of the five galaxies within the quintet are locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters.
- SMACS 0723: Massive foreground galaxy clusters magnify and distort the light of objects behind them, permitting a deep field view into both the extremely distant and intrinsically faint galaxy populations.
About James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope’s revolutionary technology will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe.
Webb’s infrared telescope will explore a wide range of science questions to help us understand the origins of the universe and our place in it. Webb will directly observe a part of space and time never seen before. Webb will gaze into the epoch when the very first stars and galaxies formed, over 13.5 billion years ago. Ultraviolet and visible light emitted by the very first luminous objects has been stretched or “redshifted” by the universe’s continual expansion and arrives today as infrared light. Webb is designed to “see” this infrared light with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity.
Webb will also be a powerful tool for studying the nearby universe. Scientists will use Webb to study planets and other bodies in our solar system to determine their origin and evolution and compare them with exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. Webb will also observe exoplanets located in their stars’ habitable zones, the regions where a planet could harbor liquid water on its surface, and can determine if and where signatures of habitability may be present.
Using a technique called transmission spectroscopy, the observatory will examine starlight filtered through planetary atmospheres to learn about their chemical compositions.
ALL THE JWST Resources: https://webb.nasa.gov/index.html
And at the end of the show, we talked about LIGO. Here’s a great explanation of what LIGO is: https://fb.watch/aOmq7h_PkW/
About Dean
BS Technical Photography
MS Astrophysics
NASA MER Mars program
NASA Public Relations
Astronomy instructor & lecturer
Where to find Dean:
www.TritionCollege.edu/Cernan
www.HarperCollege.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mikolajczyk-63125389/
Starting a non-profit, serving on a board of directors, conducting medical research, and speaking at space exploration conference has been some of the activities for Gitika Gorthi. Oh, and recently graduating from HIGH SCHOOL! Gitika is busy working toward a career in aerospace medicine, and she knows exactly where she wants to be, what she wants to study and what problems she wants to solve in the aerospace industry. Whew! So, get ready to meet the incredibly impressive Gitika Gorthi in this episode of Casual Space!
Gitika Gorthi is the Founder and CEO of Ignited Thinkers, a non-profit organization 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. 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 diligently working on her interest in 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 with the 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!
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.
Learn More about Ignited Thinkers here: www.ignitedthinkers.org 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.
Connect with and follow Gitika on her journey!
Twitter: @IgnitedThinkers and @GitikaGorthi
Instagram: @IgnitedThinkers and @Gitika Gorthi
LinkedIn: @IgnitedThinkers and @Gitika Gorthi
This weekend, Beth’s heading down to Huntsville, Alabama to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Space Camp! Space Camp has been inspiring trainees since 1982, and has been a gateway for the future's astronauts, scientists, and engineers. On this episode, Beth shares her personal story of her very first time attending Space Camp (there would be several more throughout the years) and shares a chapter from her new book highlighting the experience that would forever change her path towards her work and success in the space exploration industry...with just one small obstacle that almost kept her from going… So, like, totally chill and let’s go back to the late 80’s and enjoy this episode to the max!!
About Space Camp: Space Camp opened on June 13, 1982, launching what is now an internationally recognized STEM camp with more than one million alumni from all 50 states and 150 international locations. While in Huntsville, Beth and hundreds of alumni and Space Camp supporters will gather to celebrate AND witness the induction of the next class of Space Camp Hall of Fame members. These alumni have made significant contributions in their fields and we look forward to honoring them, featuring outstanding alumni and a fireside chat with members of the Inspiration4 team, the first all-civilian space flight, led by Jared Isaacman, a 1995 Aviation Challenge graduate. Jeffrey Kluger, Editor at Large for TIME magazine, moderating the discussion. Learn more at: https://rocketcenterfoundation.org/about/
About the 2022 Space Camp Hall of Fame Inductees: Camp programs continue to be a gateway for explorers on the frontiers of STEM, and as part of the anniversary celebration, a Space Camp Hall of Fame ceremony will feature these outstanding alumni, former camp staff and friends of Space Camp:
Brian Dudas - Boeing 767-400 First Officer, Delta Airlines (Aviation Challenge counselor, 1992)
Derek Hodgins - Strategy & Business Development, Lunar Exploration, Lockheed Martin Space (Space Academy Level I, 1994; Space Academy Level II, 1995; Space Academy Level II, 1996)
Peter Marquez - Head of Space Policy at Amazon Web Services (Space Camp 1990)
Mandy Vaughn - CEO & Founder at GXO, Inc. - (Space Academy Level I,1990; Space Academy Level II, 1991 and 1992)
Inspiration4 Team: https://inspiration4.com/crew
Jared Isaacman (Aviation Challenge Mach I, 1995)
Chris Sembroski (Space Camp counselor 2001)
Hayley Arceneaux (Friend of Space Camp)
Dr. Sian Proctor (Friend of Space Camp)
About the Auston Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/
About the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp
Stay tuned for another Space Camp story next week, as we continue to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Space Camp on the Casual Space Podcast!
On Tuesday, May 17, A House Intelligence subcommittee held the first congressional hearing in more than 50 years to focus on military reports of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs and UAPs)! This rare event included documents, discussions, videos and testimonies from Pentagon officials, pilots and others- along with the formation of a new organization called, AOIMSG….and YOU KNOW wherever there’s a long space acronym, an episode of Casual Space is sure to follow!!! Join Beth, Chad and special guest Author, podcast host and UFO researcher AND friend of the show Mark O’Connell!
From the official congressional transcripts, this is how the hearing opened: “In 2017, we learned for the first time that the Department of defense had quietly restarted a similar organization tracking what we now call Unidentified Aerial Phenomena or UAPs. Last year, Congress rewrote the charter for that organization now called the Airborne Object Identification and Management. Synchronization Group or AOIMSG for short. Today, we will bring that organization out of the shadows. This hearing and oversight work has a simple idea at its core. Unidentified aerial phenomena are a potential national security threat, and they need to be treated that way. For too long the stigma associated with UAPs has gotten in the way of good intelligence analysis, pilots avoided reporting or were laughed at when they did. It’s true, but they are real. They need to be investigated. And many threats they pose need to be mitigated.”
Here’s a great article by Axios to get you all caught-up: https://www.axios.com/2022/05/17/congress-pentagon-ufo-uap-hearing
and here are the actual transcripts of the congressional hearing if you really want to dig in: https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/congress-holds-historic-open-hearing-on-ufos-5-17-22-transcript
About Mark: Mark O’Connell bio: Mark O’Connell got his start in television writing for Trek: The Next Generation” (“Timescape”) and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (“Second Sight,” “Meridian,” “For the Cause” and fan favorite “Who Mourns for Morn?”). Since then, he has had feature screenplays optioned and placed in development at Ruddy-Morgan Productions, DreamWorks Animation, and Disney. His comedy screenplay Doug and Dave was in development at Disney with the late Bill Paxton attached to direct. Mark’s first book is The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOS, a biography of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, famed UFO researcher and inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s epic film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The Close Encounters Man was published by Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Mark is currently Co-Executive Producer and on-camera expert on UFO Witness, a reality show now streaming on the Discoveryplus streaming service. The second season of UFO Witness is currently in production. Mark is also on the screenwriting faculty of the College of Computing & Digital Media at DePaul University.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @markoconnell_1
And be sure to listen to him on his Far-Fetched podcast: https://ococonnell.podbean.com/
GET THE BOOK: Get your copy of The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOS, a biography of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, https://www.amazon.com/Close-Encounters-Man-World-Believe/dp/0062484176/ref=asc_df_0062484176/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312090128349&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15632495319288089556&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=
Nicole is an astronaut, aquanaut, artist, mom, and now author of her first book Back to Earth ~ What Life In Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet - And Our Mission To Protect It. She creatively combines the awe and wonder of her spaceflight experience with her artwork to inspire everyone's appreciation of our role as crewmates here on Spaceship Earth.
Today on the Casual Space Podcast is Beth’s conversation with Nicole recorded earlier this month, in preparation for the Analog Astronaut Conference in Tucson, Arizona, where Nicole shares a variety of thoughts about analogs, what it was like to live under the sea, and seeing our beautiful Earth from Space.
More about Nicole Stott: She is a veteran NASA Astronaut with two spaceflights and 104 days as a crewmember on both the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle. Personal highlights of her time in space include performing a spacewalk (10th woman to do so), flying the robotic arm to capture the first free-flying HTV, painting a watercolor (now on display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum), working with her international crew on science that is all about improving life on Earth, and of course the life changing view of our home planet. She is also a NASA Aquanaut. In preparation for spaceflight she was a crew member on an 18-day saturation dive mission at the Aquarius undersea laboratory.
Nicole believes that the international model of peaceful and successful cooperation we have experienced in the extreme environments of space and sea holds the key to the same kind of peaceful and successful cooperation for all of humanity here on Earth.
On her post-NASA mission, Nicole is a co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation --- uniting a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art.
Follow Nicole and her art here: https://www.npsdiscovery.com
Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet―And Our Mission to Protect It
In her book, Back to Earth, Stott imparts essential lessons in problem-solving, survival, and crisis response that each of us can practice to make change. She knows we can overcome differences to address global issues, because she saw this every day on the International Space Station. Stott shares stories from her spaceflight and insights from scientists, activists, and changemakers working to solve our greatest environmental challenges. She learns about the complexities of Earth’s biodiversity from NASA engineers working to enable life in space and from scientists protecting life on Earth for future generations. Ultimately, Stott reveals how we each have the power to respect our planetary home and one another by living our lives like crewmates, not passengers, on an inspiring shared mission
GET THE BOOK: Get your copy of Back to Earth here: Back to Earth: https://www.amazon.com/Back-Earth-Planet_And-Mission-Protect/dp/1541675045
And, you can learn more about Analog Astronauts and our missions at: https://www.analog-astronaut.com/
Chad and Chris are back and reminisce about their journey into the universe (Chicago) for the official Star Trek convention!
Together, Chris and Chad share the highlights from this fan experience that includes everything from the big celebrity stars to the panel discussions, memorabilia, and the tattoos? Beth jumps in at the end for the lightning round questions (is Q a bad guy, or a good guy?) and shares a few thoughts on what’s going to happen next year (we will all be going back). Don’t miss this fun conversation that is all Star Trek!
Discover a new frontier of immersive experiences and unique encounters with fellow fans unlike anything you’ve seen before. Explore the past, present and future of Star Trek while embracing the ideals of a diverse and inclusive future that remains at the center of Gene Roddenberry’s beloved universe. Join us as we go beyond expectation with a fan experience loaded with celebrity guests, exclusive merchandise and exciting announcements that can only be offered at Star Trek: Missions, the official fan convention brought to you by ViacomCBS and ReedPop
There are still a few convention dates left to get tickets!
From the Star Trek website: https://www.startrekmissions.com/
Beth sits down with three members of Vaya Space, a hybrid rocket engine and small satellite launcher company!
Mickael Buswell, Brian Ha, and Grant Begley explain how they’re working to offer frequent, reliable, economical, and environmentally-friendly small satellite launch opportunities in precise orbital placement…by using hybrid rockets that are redefining the cost, performance, and safety of space access! Using their proprietary technology, STAR-3D™ hybrid rocket engines are produced by 3D printing fuel grains using thermoplastic material. It’s pretty incredible, and it’s all in this episode of Casual Space!
Learn more about Grant Begley: Grant is the Chief Executive Officer at Vaya Space. In addition, Mr. Begley is CAPT. USN (RET, a Former Pentagon Senior Advisor for Unmanned Systems, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense. He served as the former Director of Stealth, Counter Stealth-Technology, Policy & Advance Programs for the U.S. Dept. of Defense, and a Team leader for the White House “Roadmap for U. S. Robotics 2013” project. Grant Begley also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Unmanned Vehicles International.
Learn more about Vaya Space, their unique rockets and innovative production methods and hybrid rocket propulsion technology here: https://www.vayaspace.com/
Check out Brian Ha: Brian got his start in aerospace engineering at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley. He discovered a passion for building aerospace startups are after joining a satellite-imaging company called Skybox Imaging in 2014. There he was introduced to the relatively niche, but endlessly interesting, engineering specialty known as “Guidance, Navigation, and Control”. After realizing he lacked the necessary technical depth to be a GNC engineer, he decided to leave sunny California in 2017 to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Michigan. Two brutal mid-western winters later, he earned his GNC degree and joined Northrop Grumman out in Phoenix, Arizona to build launch vehicles and missiles. After realizing that he does not like the “dry heat”, he joined small-sat launch provider Vaya Space out in Cocoa, Florida. These days, Brian deals with torrential rainfall and summer thunderstorms as he leads the GNC design of Vaya’s first orbital launch vehicle. Perhaps one day he'll find a climate that suits him.
Mickael Buswell: Is a structural designer who's interested in applying organic design and mass optimization principles to revolutionize space structures and mechanisms, ranging from launch vehicles, to satellites, and ultimately space stations/habitats.
Happy Earth Day!
Satellites improve our life on Earth by providing valuable data about our incredible planet.
How exactly do satellites work? What kind of data do we need to improve, save, and protect our Earth? Here’s your 1-0-1 on satellites! From how they work, how they acquire power, how they navigate in orbit, and how they help us all benefit from the data they provide back to us on Earth! Mark Lorden is our expert guide as the co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of Exo-Space, where he and his team are working to leverage their expertise in A.I., machine vision, and satellite design to offer software and hardware packages that can withstand the harsh environment of space. Together, Beth and Mark discuss roller coasters, satellite hardware, CubeSats, how satellites can help us fight fires, space startups and how the public can actively participate in space innovation!
"To us, space presents the opportunity for the betterment of human society -- both on the Earth's surface, by gaining holistic awareness of activities and conditions to better inform policy and action, and in the depths of the universe, by expanding the frontiers of humankind. The development of the commercial space industry that's happening right now represents massive steps toward a better tomorrow."
Learn More about Mark Lorden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lorden-799a9967/
Learn more about Exo-Space at: https://www.exo-space.com/
Support/ Invest in Exo-Space at Spaced Ventures here: https://www.spacedventures.com/
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 happens next?
These are just a few of the fascinating topics that will be explored at the 2022 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) that is taking place on May 17-19, 2022, at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C. https://www.exploremars.org/summit/ 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.
"We are entering the golden age of space exploration,” stated Explore Mars CEO, Chris Carberry. “H2M 2022 will not only examine how humans will return to the surface of the Moon by the mid-2020s and then travel to Mars by the mid-2030s but will also consider the extraordinary opportunities and innovations expected to materialize over the next decade.”
JOIN US!
REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2022-humans-to-mars-summit-registration-170778130987
Learn more about Explore Mars here: https://www.exploremars.org/
Try to keep up with Laura Forczyk! At the time of this conversation, Laura has a new NEW baby, a new business and just a few new multiple things that she’s working on. All at the same time. You may want to sit down and buckle in- because Laura and Beth have a LOT to discuss together in this episode, including space camp, working for NASA, writing books, getting women to the Moon, hiring talented people for jobs in the space industry, whew (let’s pause for a baby snuggle) work-life balance and more…
About Laura: Laura Forczyk is the owner of space consulting firm Astralytical specializing in space science, industry, and policy, offering space career coaching services, and publishing industry reports.
Learn more about Astralytical here: https://www.astralytical.com/about
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.
She serves as an advisor for Cislunar Space Development Company and For All Moonkind. She is the VP of Research and Analytics for the Beyond Earth Institute. She 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 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. She is a six-time U.S. Space Camp alumna, a NASA Academy alumna, a former NASA Student Ambassador, and a previous NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program fellow.
She earned a bachelor of science degree in astrophysics from Florida Institute of Technology. She earned a master of science degree in astrophysics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville researching high-energy emission from gamma-ray bursts. She conducted doctoral studies in planetary science at the University of Central Florida researching low-energy impacts and regolith (dust) dynamics on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
Find Laura’s Books here: Becoming Off-Worldly: Learning from Astronauts to Prepare for Your Spaceflight Journey
And
Rise of the Space Age Millennials: The Space Aspirations of a Rising Generation
https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Forczyk/e/B083XQS24C%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Last March, family and friends learned of Dr. Sian Proctor’s selection for the SpaceX Inspiration 4 mission and were able to join her along many parts of her incredible journey to space. On this episode, Chris and Brian join Beth to reminisce-and share wonderful moments from this recent adventure- from hearing the exciting news to watching the launch and landing. Here are the personal stories and sincere impressions from Sian’s support team!
About Chris: Chris Proctor and his wife Pattie and live outside of Phoenix, AZ. Chris has worked for Progressive Insurance for 28 years! Chris has two sons (Chase 21, & Maverick 18) and 2 stepdaughters (Alex 32, & Nicole 27). Chris loves spending time with his family, hiking, golfing, and traveling. Chris and his entire family enjoyed Sian's extraordinary adventure to space and the opportunity to reunite with old friends and to meet many new friends, too!
About Brian: Mr. Riehle has 35 years’ experience in computer systems, including 21 years in Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation systems with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of which 13 years were in a management position. Prior to entering the Federal Civil Service, he was a field engineer with Sperry Univac, and worked on the ARTS 3 Terminal Automation program. While employed with Sperry Univac, he worked in the ARTS 3 development labs in St. Paul, MN, and installed the ARTS 3 systems at Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and the FAA Technical Center (FAATC). Before going to Sperry Univac, he worked for the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation on the NASA Manned Space Flight Network, and supported 5 Apollo lunar missions as the computer supervisor and data systems supervisor at the Guam and Corpus Christi, TX, Apollo tracking stations. Before that, he was employed by North American Rockwell and worked on the development of the Navy Tactical Data Systems (NTDS). He has held numerous FAA technical management positions in Airway Facilities including the positions of Branch Manager, Assistant Division Manager, Division Manager, and Deputy Director of the Operational Support Program.
Don’t forget to listen to previous episodes featuring Sian and Brian!
Sian Episode #108 https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2021/2/11/108-mund-on-mars-6
Brian Episode #144 https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20211111/144-brian-riehle
The folks at Kepler are on a mission to build the Internet in space.
Diane Burchett always loved math and science and was curious about how things worked. From taking apart the family vacuum to materials engineering, and watching sci-fi shows featuring bioengineering, they’ve all be a part of her journey towards working in the space industry- along with a Summer Session Program at International Space University in 2003, and her qualification and application of additive manufacturing in space. Today, Diane is the Vice President of Engineering at Kepler Communications! On this episode, Diane chats with Beth about the people, inspiration and adventures she’s come to find along the way, and what the future brings for all of us on Earth and in space…
About Kepler: Kepler Communications are on a mission to build the internet in space. They are working to provide real-time communication to other satellites, space stations, launch vehicles, habitats and any other space-borne assets. They are actively building what will be known as the ÆTHER network and currently have 19 satellited in orbit. To learn more about Kepler, check them out here: https://kepler.space/about-us/
Jobs and Internships at Kepler! https://kepler.space/careers/
UPDATE! Since this posting, the New York Times has reported that Pete Davidson may NOT be going to space, after all:
Pete Davidson, the “Saturday Night Live” comedian and actor, will no longer travel to the edge of space on the next Blue Origin spaceflight, the company said late Thursday.
The company had announced this week that its New Shepard rocket would launch on Wednesday, March 23, with Mr. Davidson and five other passengers. But the launch, the company’s fourth with human passengers, has now been rescheduled for March 29, Blue Origin said on Twitter.
The company, founded by Jeff Bezos, said that Mr. Davidson, 28, was “no longer able to join” the mission and that a replacement sixth crew member would be announced soon. No further details were given.
Pete Davidson is heading to space. The Saturday Night Live star is among the six passengers on the next launch of Jeff Bezos' space travel venture Blue Origin, the company announced Monday. The launch is scheduled for March 23, and Davidson will be the third celebrity on a Blue Origin flight. Beth didn’t tell her friends Chris and Char about this podcast topic discussion until they (willingly?) sat down with Beth and Chad to chat about Pete, and some other fun questions together, including,
“Who gets to go to space?” “Should the first private space explorers be required to have a charitable component tied to their mission?” “What can Pete Davidson bring to a space mission,” and “Which celebrity would YOU like to see fly in space?” Answers to all of these questions and more casual conversation on episode #155 of the Casual Space Podcast!
About the mission: From the New York Times reporter, Johnny Diaz: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/science/pete-davidson-blue-origin.html
About Pete Davidson:
Peter Michael Davidson (born November 16, 1993) is an American comedian and actor. He has been a cast member on the NBC late-night sketch comedy Saturday Night Live since 2014. Davidson has also appeared on the MTV shows Guy Code, Wild 'n Out, and Failosophy.[1][2] He has performed stand-up comedy on Adam DeVine's House Party, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Comedy Underground with Dave Attell, and guest-starred in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.[3] In 2020, he co-wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical comedy-drama film The King of Staten Island.
You’re going to want to watch this:
Saturday Night Live Skit featuring “Chad” aka Pete Davidson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuaDWyCnJxs
As more and more people head into the great frontier of space, it’s going to take a community of passionate people finding new approaches to look at problems and discovering solutions to fuel the growing space economy. Working in space will need EVERYONE. That’s where Spacely comes in- and today, CEO Tom Cooke joins Beth to explain how Spacely helps match talent and companies with projects within the aerospace industry, all in the pursuit of “Getting Space Work. Done.”
About Tom Cooke
Tom was a member of the United States Air Force for 24 years- flying in everything from gliders to jets- working in space systems development and operations for 16 of those 24 years. “Having this incredible opportunity and experience has resulted in me looking at the sky differently. When you get to be part of the sky in your own unique way, you start to believe you belong up there in some way.” – Tom Cooke, CEO and Co-Founder of Spacely
About Spacely https://www.spacely.work/home
From the website~ Spacely is a social networking platform and opportunity marketplace for those passionate about space. Our mission is to connect those passionate about space regionally and globally while enabling them to be more productive and successful. To achieve our mission, we provide services to help communities find and connect with other like-minded communities and/or affiliated businesses, promote community interaction by allowing users to release news, exchange ideas, identify opportunities, maintain photo galleries, calendars, events and invitations using public or private settings.
The Spacely platform allows members to discover and connect with one another through a shared interest in space and our vertical communities enable further engagement around specific subjects or activities. We provide an interest-based platform that encourages meaningful new relationships, relevant conversations and promotes opportunities for our members and partners to be successful in these endeavors.
Other Items of Note:
- Spacely is a subcontractor to Tech7 on the NASA Open Innovation Contract (NOIS2) where NASA utilizes expertise from open talent marketplaces like ours at Spacely to support crowdsourcing, challenges and now microtasks and micropurchasing to gain access to talent, skills and solutions that exist outside of NASA's organizational boundaries
- The MIT article Tom referenced on breaking roles down into tasks reframes the talent problem from one of supply to one of demand: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/cant-fill-jobs-deconstruct-them/
Normal people can and should be able to fly to space. Deborah Sass and Thomas Reemer have set out to prove this in a very unique and entertaining way. Today on the Casual Space Podcast, Beth talks with Deborah and Thomas from Space Hero; the world‘s first-ever global competition series where contestants compete for a $55-million, 10-day trip to Space; the biggest prize ever awarded on TV. The competition for this once-in-a-lifetime journey will open to anyone over 18 who speaks English. This is the remarkable journey of heroes from all over the World to be elected by the global public as their representative of humankind in Space.
About Deborah Sass, Co-CEO Space Hero
Deborah is a seasoned entertainment industry executive with a unique global perspective on doing business in today’s ever-interconnected world. Throughout the years she has worked with some of media and technology’s biggest names, TV & Radio channels in Australia. After returning back to the UK she secured roles working in Digital & Entertainment with clients such as Amazon, iTunes, Shazam, and Spotify. Deborah has structured many international strategic partnerships with global brands. Deborah is also the founder of Five Hundred Female Founders.
About Thomas Reemer, Co-CEO Space Hero
Thomas is a leader in the information technology and media industries with over 25 years of experience. Initially, as a music manager and event organizer, he then moved on to work as an entrepreneur for artists such as Prince and George Clinton, as well as clients such as Sony and Universal. He was a co-founder and CEO at the first e-commerce platform for musicians, Artists First. With 88tc88 he created the first legal distribution platform for digital media publishers and labels in China.
Learn more about Space Hero and apply at www.spacehero.org or https://tdgaholdings.com/
The Planetary Society has been on a mission: To empower the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. It’s the place for people who want to be involved in space exploration by sharing their passion with other like-minded people. Chief Development Officer of the Planetary Society, Richard Chute, joins Beth today on the podcast and explains how a hobby became a full-time job(s), and how enabling citizens of planet Earth to explore space together is one of the most remarkable adventures ever imagined- first by Planetary Society founders Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, and continues today with Bill Nye and Richard Chute! Throughout this episode, you’ll be INVITED to become a member of the Planetary Society! So don’t wait, join now! https://www.planetary.org/about/our-story
More About Richard Chute:
“The decade ahead promises to be the greatest decade for space exploration since the Apollo era--but only if we all work to make it so through our actions and support.”
An interest in science and astronomy, bolstered by a love for science fiction, began at an early age for Richard Chute, the Chief Development Officer for the Planetary Society. From watching Star Trek in its original run on TV, seeing Saturn through a telescope for the first time in 5th grade, joining the rocketry club in 6th grade, getting a first-edition copy of Star Wars for Christmas, to watching Cosmos as a young college student, Richard has always been fascinated by space exploration.
Richard seeks to make a difference by creating effective fundraising programs for causes and organizations that support his passions.
“When I began, I thought I was going to be asking people for something. What I found through the course of my career is that instead, it’s about giving people opportunities to be connected to something that they already love and want to be involved with.” -Richard Chute, Casual Space Podcast
Contact Richard at richard.chute@planetary.org and find him on LinkedIn
More about the Planetary Society: www.planetary.org
From the Planetary Society website:
“Our story begins with an observation. Planetary Society founders Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman saw that people of all walks of life are fascinated by the cosmos—yet space exploration budgets waned. This disconnect sparked the idea for a movement that would unite and represent people from around the world in support of space science and exploration.
This is how The Planetary Society came to be.
For over 4 decades, our members have made strides in advancing planetary exploration, planetary defense, and the search for life beyond Earth. We have delivered tens of thousands of petitions to the United States Congress. We have funded groundbreaking technological advancements in solar sailing. We have united researchers from around the world to work together on asteroid defense. Today we are the world’s largest and most influential independent space-interest organization.”
Emily Carney is an award-winning writer, editor, and public speaker specializing in spaceflight history. She’s also the co-host of the Space & Things podcast, and she’s the founder of the Space Hipsters Facebook group. Today on the show, Beth asks Emily how her love for space and talents as a writer began, how and when she’s most effective at writing, and what advice she may have for future space writers. AND, Emily shares a couple of classic astronaut adventures, too.
About Emily: Emily Carney is a spaceflight enthusiast and author hailing from Saint Petersburg, Florida. Her first vivid space memory was seeing Columbia launch in late 1981 (STS-2). Even though she was very young (three years old) and the launch was 140 miles away from where she stood, she’ll never forget it. From then on, she was obsessed with the space shuttle, and spaceflight in general. In 1997, Carney enlisted in the United States Navy, and at one point worked as a nuclear propulsion mechanical operator aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73). When she was honorably discharged in 2003, she went back to college and earned a degree in education. She only taught for a brief time, but after she left the education field, her passion for spaceflight was reignited.
Carney worked as a freelance writer from 2008 to 2011, and during that time she started a spaceflight blog, This Space Available (accessible via https://space.nss.org/category/this-space-available/). Fun fact: the late Gene Cernan (Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, and Apollo 17 astronaut, also known as “The Last Man on the Moon”) once asked her, “What the hell is a space blog?”
Read and enjoy Emily’s work
- Emily has written for online and print publications including AmericaSpace, Ars Technica, Quest magazine, The Space Review, and the National Space Society’s Ad Astra magazine.
- Emily’s articles with National Space Society: https://space.nss.org/category/this-space-available/
- Space Hipsters Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/spacehipsters
- The Space and Things Podcast https://spaceandthingspodcast.com/
In 2011, Carney wanted to start a Facebook group for space enthusiasts, but was struggling to find a good name. Her husband, Steve, suggested “Space Hipsters” as sort of a sarcastic placeholder, but the name stuck. The group grew more quickly than she could imagine, and at present time it totals over 27,800 members. Space Hipsters boasts members from all around the world, and includes space enthusiasts, writers, artists, scientists, engineers, aspiring astronauts, and even a few actual astronauts.
“There is no Earth vs Space. They live together.” Daniel Fox is the author and photographer of FEEL THE WILD, founder of THE FUTURE OF SPACE, and SPACE 100.10. Daniel believes that it is nature’s goal to venture into space.
This episode of Casual Space is one filled with wisdom, as Daniel reflects on how nature lives within us, around us, and beyond us- in space.
"We are ambassadors for life and it is our responsibility to share Earth's knowledge and gift so that we can support the Universe’s goal to connect.” – Daniel Fox
FIND Daniel here: https://danielfox.co/about/ and at
www.danielfox.co
https://www.instagram.com/thewildimage/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/spaceape/
I’ve really enjoyed reading Daniel’s new series, The Future of Space, a weekly dose of space thinking, interviews and reflections- and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-future-of-space-6882171911019868160/
You may want to bookmark this website for updates on Daniel’s new project, Space 100.10 https://space10010.com/
Books:
Order Daniel’s Book, FEEL THE WILD here- https://danielfox.co/book/
And during the commercial, I mentioned Dr. Sian Proctor’s New Book, Space2inspire: The Art of Inspiration and you can get it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1733765417/
On Christmas morning, NASA presented (launched) an incredible gift people of the WOLRD will be able to enjoy …The James Webb Space Telescope.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launched at 7:20 a.m. EST Saturday, December 25 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. On this episode of Casual Space, Beth and (resident space expert) Dean geek out on all things JWST!
The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will now begin six months of commissioning in space! At the end of commissioning, Webb will deliver its first images. Webb carries four state-of-the-art science instruments with highly sensitive infrared detectors of unprecedented resolution. Webb will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity than ever before. The premier mission is the scientific successor to NASA’s iconic Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, built to complement and further the scientific discoveries of these and other missions.
About James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope’s revolutionary technology will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe.
Webb’s infrared telescope will explore a wide range of science questions to help us understand the origins of the universe and our place in it. Webb will directly observe a part of space and time never seen before. Webb will gaze into the epoch when the very first stars and galaxies formed, over 13.5 billion years ago. Ultraviolet and visible light emitted by the very first luminous objects has been stretched or “redshifted” by the universe’s continual expansion and arrives today as infrared light. Webb is designed to “see” this infrared light with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity.
Webb will also be a powerful tool for studying the nearby universe. Scientists will use Webb to study planets and other bodies in our solar system to determine their origin and evolution and compare them with exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. Webb will also observe exoplanets located in their stars’ habitable zones, the regions where a planet could harbor liquid water on its surface, and can determine if and where signatures of habitability may be present.
Using a technique called transmission spectroscopy, the observatory will examine starlight filtered through planetary atmospheres to learn about their chemical compositions.
ALL THE JWST Resources: https://webb.nasa.gov/index.html
And at the end of the show, we talked about LIGO. Here’s a great explanation of what LIGO is: https://fb.watch/aOmq7h_PkW/
About Dean
- BS Technical Photography
- MS Astrophysics
- NASA MER Mars program
- NASA Public Relations
- Astronomy instructor & lecturer
Where to find Dean:
- www.TritionCollege.edu/Cernan
- www.HarperCollege.edu
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mikolajczyk-63125389/
Erin Sembroski didn’t know her husband Chris had entered a contest to fly to space. Then he won the Generosity seat on the Inspiration4 on a SpaceX, rocket and had to tell her the news. On this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Erin shares her experience -from learning that Chris’ would be going to space as part of the first all-civilian crew- to how she worked to navigate the intensity of the obligations and emotions as an astronaut’s spouse.
This is Erin’s story, told along side her husband Chris, to Beth and Chad. Their adventure together will warm your heart, and it’s one that’s only just begun.
Inspiration4 was a human spaceflight mission in 2021, operated by SpaceX on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman.[3] The mission launched the Crew Dragon Resilience on 16 September 2021 from the Florida Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A atop a Falcon 9 launch vehicle, placed the Dragon capsule into low Earth orbit,[4] and ended successfully on September 18 when the Resilience splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.
About Erin Sembroski
Erin was born and raised in Montana. She grew up with a love for all things outdoors: hiking, camping, floating the river with her brother and sister…She attended Montana State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Erin's first teaching position was in Great Falls, MT, where she met Chris while he was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base. After three years, they decided to move to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for the water, outdoors, and Seattle life. Erin went on to attend University of Washington and graduated with a Masters in Teaching. She has taught north of Seattle for over 8 years now, and loves her smart, sarcastic, and big-hearted middle schoolers.
Her proudest accomplishment is being Mom to two brave, strong, and brilliant girls and best Beagle buddy, Franklin. Erin and Chris have been married for 12 years, and she couldn’t be any prouder than to see him live his dream of flying in space.
About Chris Sembroski, Inspiration4 astronaut
Chris Sembroski grew up with a natural curiosity about outer space. Stargazing late at night on the roof of his high school and launching high-powered model rockets in college cemented this passion. As a U.S. Space Camp counselor, he conducted simulated space shuttle missions and supported STEM-based education designed to inspire young minds to explore these areas and find their passions. As a college student, Sembroski volunteered with ProSpace, a grassroots lobbying effort that promoted legislation in Washington, D.C., to help open space travel and allow companies like SpaceX to exist. He then served in the U.S. Air Force, maintaining a fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying for service in Iraq before leaving active duty in 2007. Following his education from the Air Force, Sembroski earned a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In his career, Sembroski has sought innovative, industry-disrupting methods to monitor and maintain mechanical equipment, making everything from data centers to hospitals more efficient. He now resides in Seattle, WA, and works in the aerospace industry. Chris held the Generosity seat on the Inspiration4 launch on September 16, 2021.
About Inspiration4 https://inspiration4.com/
Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission is commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Inspiration4 launched from Earth from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A, the embarkation point for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and traveled across a low earth orbit on a 3-day journey in space. Named in recognition of the four-person crew, the mission raised more than 210 million in funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a milestone that represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration.
This episode is an amazing story about the Commercialization of Cislunar Space by a company named ThinkOrbital. It’s also the story of how two talented people were bold enough to share their innovative idea to design something…different, better, and for all space explorers.
Co-Founders Sebastian Asprella and Dr. Vojtech Holub met on Discord during COVID, and soon found that by applying their interests and talents together in a big way, a big idea for a single-launch space station could become a reality. And thus, ThinkOrbital was born! One of Beth’s favorite ThinkOrbital long-term objectives is that they look to explore customers beyond “traditional” space users, promoting the quality of business, research and recreational scope available in space! Today on this Casual Space Podcast episode, Sebastian and Vojtech walk us through their concept to create a novel space station that is scalable, modular and can be deployed with a single launch to be assembled on-orbit. Wow.
About Sebastian Asprella: Think Orbital Co-Founder, CEO Sebastian brings 25 years of leadership and intrapreneurship experience across business management and IT sectors. With a background in electromechanics and business administration, Sebastian has been working for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since 2001 starting from business administration to heading complex multinational digitalization programs. Sebastian has previously consulted on business development for EnergyX, while his early career experience ranges across telecom and oil and gas sectors.
About Vojtech Holub, Ph.D.: Think Orbital Co-Founder, CTO Vojtech brings 13 years of research and development and software engineering experience, along with research expertise in aerospace engineering. Vojtech holds over 20 patents and has published 17 conference and journal papers. His paper published in the AIAA’s Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets has served as a founding thesis for ThinkOrbital’s Commercial Space Station design.
About ThinkOrbital https://thinkorbital.com/
ThinkOrbital is designing and delivering the premier commercial low Earth orbit destination with a mission to accelerate exploration of cislunar space. They have developed a concept based on mature technologies available today, to create a novel space station that is scalable, modular and can be deployed with a single launch to be assembled on-orbit.
Other Happenings:
James Webb Space Telescope?!?! Here’s a great video about JWST launch and deployment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6ihVeEoUdo
Launch Schedules! https://www.space.com/32286-space-calendar.html
Dylan Taylor launches on Blue Origin! Here’s my conversation with Dylan from earlier this year; https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2020/12/17/101-dylan-taylor
And here’s another great conversation with Dylan and Frank White! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlU76UuDxjA
When you need to send payloads to space, you call upon the expertise of Stephanie Murphy, because Ms. Murphy and her newly merged company is (and has been) perfectly practiced at providing on-orbit testing for government and commercial customers.
Today on the show, you’ll enjoy getting to know the impressive Stephanie Murphy- how she’s overcoming obstacles as a female principal owner in the competitive commercial space industry, what it takes to fly payloads in space, her team’s ability to champion challenging flight schedules (from concept to flown in 3 years!) and what it feels like to receive a new contract from NASA to be the first woman-owned company that will land testing equipment on the moon!!
Alpha Space leads the commercial space industry through its Space Testing as a Service (STaaS) offerings. Alpha Space owns and operates the MISSE – an orbiting commercial science and testing facility permanently installed on the exterior of the International Space Station. MEI Technologies is a nationwide company providing innovative technical services and solutions including Space Access, Engineering Services & Solutions, Modeling and Simulation and IT/Cyber Services & Solutions, and Stephanie Murphy is the woman who formed the merger between Alpha Space and MEI Technologies!
About Stephanie Muñiz Murphy: Stephanie Muñiz Murphy a Hispanic-American woman who owns Aegis and serves as Chair of the Board. Through a new contract with NASA, Aegis will be the first woman-owned company that will land testing equipment on the Moon! Stephanie is working closely with Mark Gittleman, the CEO of Aegis, which was formed in August 2021 through the merger of Alpha Space and MEI Technologies. Gittleman’s background is rich with hardware development in the commercial space industry.
About AEGIS AEROSPACE https://www.aegisaero.com
(pronounced ējis) is a woman-owned space and technology company that provides turn-key solutions to government and commercial customers in the space and defense industries. Formed through the merger of Alpha Space and MEI Technologies, Aegis Aerospace offers 30 years of success and innovation in the areas of commercial space services, technology and engineering services, and related products.
About Alpha Space https://www.alphaspace.com/about-alpha-space.html
Unparalleled Commercial On-Orbit Testing and Data Collection Services
Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance, LLC (Alpha Space) is a minority-woman-owned commercial space company serving the space R&D and testing markets. It is an ISS National Laboratory Implementation Partner and Commercialization Partner. Alpha Space provides turnkey on-orbit technology testing services utilizing its unique, external flight facility, MISSE. Alpha Space makes it easy to get your science or technology to orbit and into the actual space environment, providing confidential testing and data collection for both passive and active tests and experiments for about 6 months at a time. When the test period is over, Alpha Space returns your hardware to you.
The Alpha Space team has the experience and skills needed to provide its customers with services that include:
- Hardware design
- Hardware/experiment fabrication
- Payload and experiment integration
- Flight certification
- Launch vehicle integration
- On-orbit operations
- Confidential data collection
- De-integration and return
About the MISSE Facility https://www.alphaspace.com/about-misse-ff.html
Affordable, Unparalleled Access for Space Environment Technology Demonstration Testing
Instrument Validation | Material Science | Solar Cell Testing
The MISSE test platform consists of a flight facility that is permanently installed on an ISS truss and modular technology/experiment carriers. The flight facility provides structural mounting and utility distribution to up to twelve technology/experiment carriers at a time. The modular carriers are rotated about every six months with a new set of customer technologies.
Mike Mullane is a NASA astronaut who has written several award-winning and popular books detailing his space exploration experience. Years later, his son, Patrick Mullane, would also write a popular book about his own unique experience watching his father become an astronaut. Both accomplished veterans, Mike and Patrick sit down with Beth on Veteran’s Day to share some of their (hilarious) stories and (sincere) reflections, and even make a few predictions about the future of space exploration (Dad jokes in space?) on this episode of Casual Space. Don’t miss this one- Mike and Patrick are some of the best storytellers you’ve ever heard!
About Mike Mullane: https://mikemullane.com/
Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides. He was a child of the space race and in the late 1950’s embarked on his own rocket experiments in the deserts near his home. Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam.
He holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mullane was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery (STS-41D) and Atlantis (STS-27 & 36) before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990.
Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.
Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children’s book, Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space? His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s recommended summer reading list.
About Patrick Mullane: https://www.pjmullane.com/
Patrick Mullane is the Executive Director of Harvard Business School Online. He brings over 20 years of management experience across several industries to the position. As Executive Director, he is responsible for managing HBS Online's growth, expansion in global markets, and long-term success. HBS Online leverages Harvard Business School's reputation for excellence and impact in business education and the broader business community, as well as the vast intellectual property, academic pedagogy, and faculty talent of the School to be the premier provider of high-quality digital business education.
Prior to joining HBS Online, Patrick was the CEO of Fabrico, Inc., an industrial manufacturing company that was purchased by Technetics, Inc. in 2014. Subsequent to the sale of Fabrico, he served as vice president and general manager in Technetics' industrial turbine portfolio. Before earning his MBA, Patrick served as a captain in a U.S. Air Force intelligence organization. He has also been an early employee of a technology startup, managed Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions' Washington DC market, and worked for a telecommunications equipment company.
Built in 1966 to support the Apollo space missions, the NASA tracking station in Guam (GWM) was equipped with a 30-foot USB antenna and VHF Air-Ground Voice and Telemetry capabilities. Guam was the first dedicated Apollo station built, and it’s where Brian Riehle and his team helped to track and communicate with 5 Apollo missions, including Apollo 11! Beth had the privilege of meeting Brian at the Inspiration4 Mission launch, thanks to family friend and astronaut, Dr. Sian Proctor!
About Brian: Mr. Riehle has 35 years’ experience in computer systems, including 21 years in Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation systems with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of which 13 years were in a management position. Prior to entering the Federal Civil Service, he was a field engineer with Sperry Univac, and worked on the ARTS 3 Terminal Automation program. While employed with Sperry Univac, he worked in the ARTS 3 development labs in St. Paul, MN, and installed the ARTS 3 systems at Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and the FAA Technical Center (FAATC). Before going to Sperry Univac, he worked for the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation on the NASA Manned Space Flight Network, and supported 5 Apollo lunar missions as the computer supervisor and data systems supervisor at the Guam and Corpus Christi, TX, Apollo tracking stations. Before that, he was employed by North American Rockwell and worked on the development of the Navy Tactical Data Systems (NTDS). He has held numerous FAA technical management positions in Airway Facilities including the positions of Branch Manager, Assistant Division Manager, Division Manager, and Deputy Director of the Operational Support Program.
Here's more info about the Guam NASA tracking stations:
Here are all the Apollo tracking stations; https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-DSNLocations.html
Here’s a great story about a little boy who helped saved Apollo from Guam: https://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/07/20/apollo11.irpt/index.html
What kind of space suit will we need to go back to the moon? How long does it take to make a space suit? Why are space suits white? What’s the first thing that could kill you in space? (It’s not what you think). Dan Klopp’s division at ILC Dover has been making space suits for NASA for over 50 years, so he’s perfectly positioned to provide us with a space suit tutorial in this episode of Casual Space!
About Dan Klopp : Dan Klopp is a business leader with an extensive background in technology and strategic marketing. Dan is currently the Director Of Marketing And Business Development Space Systems Division at ILC Dover
Dan holds a BS in Physics (with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics) from Millersville State University, along with an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Additionally, he has done post graduate work in marketing theory at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Dan has worked in marketing, product development and business leadership positions for
Hewlett Packard Co., W.L. Gore and Associates, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has also served as an adjunct professor of business and marketing for several universities. Dan Klopp resides with his wife in Milton, DE.Find Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danklopp/
About ILC Dover : ILC Dover: https://www.ilcdover.com/aerospace/ ; Instagram: @ilcdover.astrospace
THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION about Space Suite Technology and Spinoffs: https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2005/ch_1.html
Here’s just a part of the article:
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution
Space is a hostile environment where astronauts combat extreme temperatures, dangerous radiation, and a near-breathless vacuum. Life support in these unforgiving circumstances is crucial and complex, and failure is not an option for the devices meant to keep astronauts safe in an environment that presents constant opposition. A space suit must meet stringent requirements for life support. The suit has to be made of durable material to withstand the impact of space debris and protect against radiation. It must provide essential oxygen, pressure, heating, and cooling while retaining mobility and dexterity. It is not a simple article of clothing but rather a complex modern armor that the space explorers must don if they are to continue exploring the heavens.
Partnership
In 1947, before people successfully left the Earth’s atmosphere, ILC Dover, Inc., of Frederica, Delaware, the governmental supply branch of the International Latex Corporation, was manufacturing high-strength rubber rafts for U.S. Navy Seals. This product proved the basis for a succession of increasingly complex projects in the high-strength textile market. In the next decade, the company’s production of pressurized textiles brought it into the realm of creating pressurized flight suits and helmets for American U-2 spy plane pilots, who flew in extreme altitudes. ILC Dover’s success with pressurized flight suits led to its bidding and winning the space\ suit contract for the Apollo mission in 1965 with its AX5L suit—a modified, pressurized suit with woven restraints, air bladders, and wrist cuffs that still is used by astronauts today.
Since the early Apollo contract, ILC Dover, in conjunction with Hamilton Standard, of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, has designed and produced space suits for NASA. These suits have flown on every mission, and ILC Dover maintains a staff of 15 full-time employees at the Johnson Space Center dedicated to fitting, assembling, and repairing the space suits for the entire astronaut corps.
ILC Dover’s partnership with NASA to create the space suits resulted in mastery of life-critical applications, quality workmanship, and testing for high reliability and safety in extreme conditions, as well as the repeated analysis of processes and inspection. ILC used these skills and the NASA-honed expertise to create a handful of spinoffs, including work in the medical, pharmaceutical, personal protection, and aerospace markets.
NASA also called upon ILC Dover’s skills recently, providing the company’s engineers the opportunity to spin some of their technical talents back into the Space Program. They designed and manufactured the Mars landing space inflatables for the Pathfinder and Mars Explorer Rover (MER) Missions. These large airbags cushioned the drop onto the surface of the Red Planet. In addition, they manufactured the landing ramps and continue to provide suits to support the construction of the International Space Station.
A mixed-use business park. In space. That’s the description of the newly introduced Orbital Reef Commercial Space Station. More good news, this is not the ONLY commercial space station proposed, there are BIG plans on the LEO horizon… listen as Beth and Chad examine a future of orbiting laboratories providing solutions on, off and for planet Earth.
About Orbital Reef: https://www.orbitalreef.com/ Orbital Reef will be the premier mixed-use space station in low Earth orbit for commerce, research, and tourism by the end of this decade.
“Designed for use cases and ideas never before possible, Orbital Reef unlocks LEO by reducing cost and complexity for new kinds of customers. We provide end-to-end services, standard interfaces, and technical support needed by space flight novices: planning, payload development, training, transportation, data analysis, and security for your people or payloads (or both).”
Commercially developed, owned, and operated, Orbital Reef opens doors to new markets and catalyzes the growth of a vibrant space ecosystem. It provides an "address on orbit" for use, lease, or ownership that is international and open to all.
About Axiom Space: https://www.axiomspace.com/ The Apollo missions the first Moon landing inspired a generation. It spurred on innovation and ignited a spark in kids to aim high for their dreams. Those kids of yesterday turned into adults who are changing the world today. We want to light the spark in today’s generation to empower them to be the ones to change the world tomorrow. We’ll encourage them to aim higher for their dreams than ever before.
Through this giant inspirational and representative Artemis themed Earthwork created by artist Stan Herd, we will honor and recognize African American astronaut Stephanie Wilson who is not only a pioneer but also in the current NASA Artemis group.
She could be the first women to set foot on the Moon.
About Starlab: https://nanoracks.com/starlab/ The First Ever Free-flying Commercial Space Station
Nanoracks spent the last decade mastering the commercial operation of space stations, meeting customer demand, charting market growth, and self-investing in private hardware on the ISS. Based on this experience, we are excited to introduce Starlab, a continuously crewed commercial platform supporting a business designed to enable science, research, and manufacturing for customers around the world.
To learn more about the business and policy of space, check out Payload: https://payloadspace.com/
To BID on Dr. Sian Proctor’s space art, “Seeker” go here before November 5th: https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/auction-live-bid-seeker-space-flown-world-traveling-2285701?preview=1
More about the IAC (International Astronautical Congress)https://www.iafastro.org/events/iac/iac-2021/
Article about the 2020 space economy: https://www.statista.com/statistics/662231/space-economy-breakdown-globally-by-sector/
Christina Korp has traveled the world as a singer, producer, tour manager and as an Astronaut Wrangler. She’s produced groundbreaking, mass participation experiential artworks and event that focus on inspiring people and giving back to the planet. Today on the podcast, Christina shares with Beth her latest #AimHigher project success that recently completed on Monday, October 11, where Christina organized an incredible event in Woodruff Park in Atlanta, Georgia where a giant 6,300 square foot Earthwork portrait of NASA Astronaut Stephanie Wilson created by crop artist Stan Herd was unveiled. The frame and wording of #AimHigher was made from 1500 tiles of space art created by kids from 14 Atlanta Schools and 3 children's hospitals. Astronauts Nicole Stott, Susan Kilrain and Dr. Sian Proctor (who only just returned to Earth from the Inspiration4 Mission where she became the first black woman to pilot a spacecraft) participated in this historic event. Each astronaut spoke about the importance of representation to inspire the next generation to aim higher for their dreams. Stephanie Wilson was the second Black woman to go into space. She's flown in three missions — her first in 2006 — and she's also one of 18 astronauts on the NASA Artemis team, which is set to go to the moon in 2024.
About Christina Korp: https://christinakorp.com/
Christina Korp is an astronaut manager, space advisor and the president of Purpose Entertainment. For ten years she managed Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and launched his education foundations – ShareSpace and the Aldrin Family Foundation. She produced the last five galas at Kennedy Space Center celebrating Apollo 11 and the Webby winning and Emmy nominated, “Cycling Pathways to Mars” VR experience. She is passionate about promoting ways space benefits the planet and people every day and promoting women’s issues. She spearheaded projects in 2020 to celebrate the Women’s Vote Centennial in the USA. She leads SPACE For a Better World producing events and experiences that raise money for partner charities. She currently works with Apollo 16 moon walker Charlie Duke and NASA astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott.
About #AimHigher
The Apollo missions, the first Moon landing that inspired a generation. It spurred on innovation and ignited a spark in kids to aim high for their dreams. Those kids of yesterday turned into adults who are changing the world today. We want to light the spark in today’s generation to empower them to be the ones to change the world tomorrow. We’ll encourage them to aim higher for their dreams than ever before.
Through this giant inspirational and representative Artemis themed Earthwork created by artist Stan Herd, we will honor and recognize African American astronaut Stephanie Wilson who is not only a pioneer but also in the current NASA Artemis group.
She could be the first woman to set foot on the Moon.
Article from Mission: AstroAccess from Space.com: https://www.space.com/astroaccess-disability-ambassadors-zero-g-flight
Does filming in space change the way in which we view space? How will filming in space change our perspective? When actors, directors, and artists go to space, can they help us see ourselves, and our planet Earth in a different way?
Last week, a Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian film crew docked at the International Space Station to begin a movie shoot in orbit. The Soyuz ferried a Russian actress and a film director to the station alongside a veteran cosmonaut, who commanded the capsule. Their goal? To spend 12 days shooting scenes for a space film called "The Challenge" on the station.
This week, William Shatner, also known as Captain Kirk, will travel to space on the Blue Origin New Shepard capsule. Actors are traveling to space, and movies are being made in space, so Beth, Chad and new friend of the show, Chris Byars are ready to celebrate how exciting these events are and what it means for humanity’s future!
Join in on this episode as Beth, Chad and Chris attempt to answer questions about movies in space, including:
How many movies have been filmed in space?
How many actors have flown to space? (This answer has since changed from today’s historic Blue Origin flight, by the way)
What movie SHOULD have been made in space?
Tune in for a very casual conversation with lots of laughs and a couple of great ideas in this week’s Casual Space Podcast!
More miscellaneous stuff discussed:
The “female friendly” space toilet on the ISS: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/10/space-toilet-nasa-women/616686/
Tom Cruise will be making movies on the ISS: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52556699
Beth references this article from the Chicago Tribune of the top 50 movies about space- here is the list: https://www.chicagotribune.com/featured/sns-stacker-best-space-movies-all-time-20210331-ls6z5ha6ubekdgyov76fxs7tam-photogallery.html
A film made in space, Apogee of Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKOK0VzTix4
Wally Funk’s previous Blue Origin flight: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wally-funk-blue-origin-space-travel-oldest-astronaut/
Want to know more about job opportunities in the space industry? Don’t miss this free webinar, hosted by Space Nation on October 22, Beth mentioned during the show break. You can check it out and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-jobs-and-astropreneurship-opportunities-are-launching-now-tickets-191110435457?aff=bm.
“How can you change the world if no one knows you exist?” – Izzy House
When it comes to marketing, Izzy knows a thing or two. And when it comes to marketing for space, Izzy House wrote the book on it- literally! Her new book, Space Marketing aims to empower companies within the space industry promote space, generate excitement, and implement marketing strategies and tactics to help companies thrive. The space business model is changing, and the companies that are successful right now do ONE THING CONSISTENTLY. On this week’s episode, Izzy shares with Beth one of the simplest marketing strategies that works, yet so many companies just don’t do…
Here’s more about the book Space Marketing: https://izzy.house/space-marketing-book/
From Izzy’s website: Since the 2015 SPACE Act opened the doors for commercial companies, the space sector has exploded with activity. There are thousands of new players. As of 2018 data, over 72 countries have launched new governmental space agencies. As a result, unprecedented competition levels grow as countries ramp up their programs and the cost for entry into the industry reduces. Subsequently, Many of the space industry professionals have not had to maneuver in these waters before now.
NASA’s not the only game in town anymore. ESA, India, Israel, China, United Arab Emirates, and many other countries are going into space. Therefore, it is going to get even more competitive as these counties pour funds into their space programs and their country’s businesses as they reach for a piece of this powerful industry. Marketing will become a necessity if you want to run in the space race.
About Izzy: Izzy House utilizes creativity and her extensive marketing experience to help her business partners grow. The marketing strategies that she creates are attractive, produce results, and create income streams that have benefited 600+companies for over 20 years. From websites to print to video, her award-winning campaigns connect companies to their audience.
With an extensive marketing background, she turns the lens of marketing onto the space industry. Armed with experience in public affairs, outreach, and marketing, she aims to empower space companies and further their dreams of space exploration.
https://www.ilsehouse.com/
You could say Tim Bailey is a space celebration connoisseur. As the Executive Director for Yuri’s Night- THE biggest space party in the world…Tim is qualified to rate and review the Inspiration4 “splashdown” party held just a week ago when the crew returned safely to Earth. (Acrobats? Star Wars bands? Flying astronauts? COLLECTIVE SOUL?!)
Today on the show, Beth and Tim say they’re “still buzzing” from the EPIC SpaceX celebration, then discuss how space travel is basically available to everyone, right now.
About Tim Bailey: Tim Bailey is space enthusiast, an Eagle Scout, a former counselor for Space Camp Florida, and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Tim never thought he'd be a Flight Attendant on his way to becoming an Astronaut, yet he’s celebrated 18 years on the job and is still loving it! In addition to his part-time work with Zero Gravity Corporation, Tim is the Executive Director for Yuri's Night, a nonprofit best known for the self-named annual world space parties in April. I've done an assortment of other project management jobs for organizations including NSS, Space Generation Advisory Council to the UN, Kennedy Space Center, the Department of Energy, the US Marine Corps, and DARPA. Want to learn more about Tim and his work? Check out his website at www.NovaBailey.com
About Zero G Gravity Corporation: Zero Gravity Corporation is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of space accessible to the public. The experience offered by Zero-G is the only commercial opportunity on Earth for individuals to experience true “weightlessness” without going to space.
Zero-G’s attention to detail, excellent service and quality of experience combine with its exciting history has set the foundation for exhilarating adventure-based tourism. https://www.gozerog.com/about-us/
About Yuri’s Night: Launching parties around the world every year on or around April 12th, in commemoration of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human venture into space on April 12, 1961, and the inaugural launch of the first Space Shuttle on April 12, 1981. We use space to bring the world together, to empower the greatest parts of who we are, and give vision to where we are going. https://yurisnight.net/
On Sept 15, 2021, our friend and colleague Dr. Sian Proctor achieved her life-long dream of launching into space and becoming an astronaut on the Crew Dragon as part of the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission! My fellow analog astronauts Dr. Brandy Nunez and Makiah Eustice share our impressions and insights of this historic flight in an intimate conversation together- 24 hours after witnessing the launch live from the Kennedy Space Center at historic Launch complex 39-A.
Together, we discuss what this means for a new generation of space explorers, what this flight means for women, and what Dr. Sian Proctor brings to every interaction she has. Buckle in, because THIS episode allows us to showcase, from our own perspectives, the journey our friend has been on, and why we’re oh-so-proud and can’t contain our excitement for Sian’s successful mission, and her many future endeavors!!!
About Dr. Sian Proctor: Sian is an American geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. She was launched into Earth orbit, on September 15, 2021, as the pilot of the Crew Dragon space capsule. This mission is the Inspiration4 private orbital spaceflight. She served as the pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, the first Black woman to serve as the pilot of a spacecraft.
Share your Support for Dr. Proctor and her Artwork Here: https://myspace2inspire.com/
About Inspiration4
Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Inspiration4 will leave Earth from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A, the embarkation point for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90% of the earth’s population. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. https://inspiration4.com/
About Dr. Brandy Nunez: Dr. Brandy Nunez is a practicing small animal veterinarian, a modular synth musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is also Director of outreach for the Sensoria Program (www.Sensoria.space), dedicated to making space accessible to all. She applied to NASA in 2020 for the Astronaut candidate program and has completed two analog simulation missions at the HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa. She hopes to continue her research on future missions and eventually in low earth orbit. Her love and appreciation of the cosmos infiltrates her work in both the scientific and creative realms.
About Makiah Eustice: Makiah is an aerospace engineer, songwriter, and Officer in the US Air Force. She's been on 3 analog missions, the latest with Sian as part of the first all-women Sensoria crew at HI-SEAS. You can find her on twitter and instagram at @Astro_Eustice
About Beth Mund: Beth Mund is an Analog Astronaut, Podcast Host, and Space Communications Evangelist.
Beth has 20+ years of speech writing and executive coaching for Fortune 50 companies including Motorola, Allstate and United Airlines.
Beth began her NASA career as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center, and later served as a Communications Officer for the International Space Station program. She received her Master’s Degree in Journalism at Marquette University, and served an adjunct professor at Elgin Community College. She is the CEO of Stellar Communications, providing speech writing, narrative discovery & design, voice overs, communication workshops & training, and keynote speaking.
Beth served as the host and emcee of the 2020 Space Com Expo global space commerce event. She currently serves on the Space Camp Alumni Board, and is a founding member of the Loras College Women’s Leadership Board, and the Space Drinks Association Board. Beth’s analog adventures include a MARS simulation mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, and most recently a LUNAR simulation and space isolation study at the LunAres Space Research Facility in Pila, Poland. Her latest projects, analog missions and podcast episodes can be found at www.BethMund.com
How to continue the mission and donate to St. Jude: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/inspiration4.html
Jesse Forte was NOT originally scheduled to be on the M4 Lunares X team. A crew member that could not attend the mission left an opening for a new, “first-time” analog astronaut to come and participate in our lunar simulation this July. Enter Jesse Forte, who said YES to this opportunity, and joined the crew with all the positive energy one could ever ask for- as he often does. On today’s episode, Jesse invites you to do the same- to say YES to the interesting events that come across your path. He’ll tell us how (an incredible vision board) and what’s next for this inventor, author, musician, creator, entrepreneur, and now- analog astronaut, Jesse Forte.
Where to find Jesse and all his work-
https://www.youngrevminds.com/flawless-forte
Listen to the M4 Music Album Here: https://linktr.ee/JFORTE
My conversation with author and philosopher of the Overview Effect Frank White continues - including the announcement of the Overview Effect Film Festival- on this episode of Casual Space.
What is the Overview Effect?
From Frank’s book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I’ve ordered my NEW addition, and so should you):
The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, “hanging in the void,” shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. The experience often transforms astronaut’s perspective on the planet and humanity’s place in the universe. Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment.
About Frank White
Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.
Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.
White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"
In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."
To Learn More about Frank and his work:
frankwhiteauthor.com
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books
And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival
Frank White returns to Casual Space: Author, space philosopher and consultant joins Beth to share a lot of news! A new edition of the Overview Effect is out- and Frank announces a new project coming to you in November! We discuss non-professional space explorers (astronauts?), the need to migrate off Earth, and examine the many interpretations of the Overview Effect.
What is the Overview Effect?
From Frank’s book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I’ve ordered my NEW addition, and so should you):
The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, “hanging in the void,” shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. The experience often transforms astronaut’s perspective on the planet and humanity’s place in the universe. Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment.
About Frank White
Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.
Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.
White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"
In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."
To Learn More about Frank and his work:
frankwhiteauthor.com
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books
And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival
That famous photo- the one we’re all familiar with- an astronaut in a bright white suit flying untethered – floating, really, above the Earth with the dark contrast of space in the background… that photo has an incredible backstory… and it’s been captured perfectly in an awesome new book by author Bruce McCandless III.
Astronaut Bruce McCandless III is perhaps best remembered as the subject of a famous NASA photograph (below right), flying alongside the space shuttle in the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) -- the first astronaut to fly untethered from his spacecraft…
His time as an astronaut encompassed much more than that mission, including serving as the Mission Control communicator for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk on the Apollo 11 mission. There’s so much more to this iconic photo- and now we can enjoy the story behind the moment from Bruce’s son, Bruce McCandless III in his new book, Wonders All Around. On this episode, Bruce shares his perspective with Beth on what it was like growing up with an astronaut Dad and more right here on this week’s Casual Space Podcast. Both the book -and this conversation- is really good.
About Bruce McCandless III
Bruce McCandless III grew up in the shadow of Houston’s Johnson Space Center during the Apollo and Skylab eras, watching Batman and Buzz Aldrin with equal enthusiasm. He graduated from the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas and went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Reading in England and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. After teaching at Saint David’s School in New York City, he returned to Austin to practice law and retired in 2019 as general counsel of Superior HealthPlan, the Texas affiliate of Fortune 100 company Centene.
In addition to Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and The First Untethered Flight in Space, Bruce is also the author of the science fiction novel Sour Lake (2011), the modern fairy tale Beatrice and the Basilisk (2014), and, with his daughter Carson, a book of light verse for middle schoolers titled Carson Clare’s Trail Guide to Avoiding Death (And Other Unpleasant Consequences) (2017). He has published poems, stories, and essays in a variety of journals, including the Texas Observer, The Seattle Review, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Pleiades, and Consequence, and his book of poems, All of This is Ours, will be published in the summer of 2021 by Kelsay Books. Bruce is an avid runner and mountain biker who spends most of his free time on Central Texas trails. He is also a board member of the Worthy Garden Club—an Oregon-based environmental organization working to plant a million trees in the Pacific Northwest—and the Austin Library Foundation. Bruce and his wife, Pati McCandless, live in Austin
To Learn More about Bruce and his work:
First, check out the famous photo here: Bruce McCandless III from the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/astronaut-bruce-mccandless-on-first-ever-untethered-spacewalk
And
Bruce III, the author, the attorney, the teacher and more: https://brucemccandless.com.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS GREAT BOOK Wonders All Around HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626348650/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Awesome!
Join the growing community of scientists, researchers, innovators, writers, artists and explorers working to enhance space exploration efforts.
Now that Beth is back from her latest analog, Chad’s got some questions. On this episode, learn the who, what, where, when and why analogs are helping humans to better explore the universe!
NASA’s official definition of an analog, with additional notations from Beth:
Analog missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments. NASA engineers and scientists work with government agencies, academia, and industry to gather requirements for testing in harsh environments before they are used in space. Analogs often look to test and research: new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats, communications, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, design, and storage. Behavioral effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue, and others are also observed.
Past generations used analog missions to prepare for leaving Earth’s atmosphere, landing on the moon, and permanently orbiting our planet. In keeping with this concept, NASA is using analog missions to actively prepare for deep space destinations, such as an asteroid or Mars.
Analogs provide NASA with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human-robotic exploration operations. Analogs can help define ways to combine human and robotic efforts to enhance scientific exploration. Analog locations can be found all over the world, including the Antarctic, oceans, deserts, arctic and volcanic environments!
About Beth & Chad
Beth and Chad still implement the lessons and experiences they learned from their work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Chad has officially been named Beth’s favorite co-host, and joins Beth on the podcast to share his wisdom, unique perspective, and to add humor. Beth recently returned from her latest analog mission in Poland at the LunAres Research Station, where she spent the month of July in an isolation study with her LunAres X crew mates. What’s next for Beth (and Chad)? Tune in to find out!
To Learn More about Analog Astronauts:
From the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/what-are-analog-missions
And
http://www.analogastronaut.com/
And, check out all of the Mund on Mars and Mund on the Moon podcast series right here on Casual Space! Enjoy interviews from each crew member- learn about their goals & experiments on the analog… and why their work on each mission matters.
Did you know that the people and environment around you that you interact with can impact and even change the inside of your gut flora?
Dr. JJ Hastings has found that in many of the past analog astronaut studies, there’s been a convergence- an evolution- between crew members and their environment, one that’s been seen on the International Space Station as well. These studies have shown how the immune system of a particular astronaut is responding to a specific environment, and JJ is working to showcase how this strong connection between the microbiome and the microflora will impact us in while in space!
JJ’s work at LunAres (and in most analog missions) is to model the method of collecting and monitoring biological samples from the crew in order predict what we think will happen to us humans on long-duration space flights (like Mars).
Biology + Genomics + Machine learning = Interrogating what it means for a machine to be creative with your own (biological) data- it’s all in a day’s work for Dr. J.J. Hastings, our LunAresX Mission Commander! On this episode, we’re together INSIDE the LunAres habitat discussing what it means to gather biological data while in an isolation study- what the data has potential to be used for, and I discover what secret rations our mission commander has been keeping from us….
“When we participate in an analog, we are intrinsically in a more controlled environment. And as an analog astronaut, we represent a diverse and self-selecting crew that is looking for astronaut like or expeditionary like experiences, and while we may not necessarily represent the general public, we are contributing the science that will greatly IMPACT the general public.”
-JJ Hastings from the Casual Space Podcast
About JJ Hastings
Dr. Jaden Hastings is an extremophile in every regard. Her field research takes her to every corner of the globe from pole to pole, into caves, and across the ocean. As a Research Fellow at Cornell, JJ studies microbial flora from extreme environments- both in space and on Earth. She is also an expert in machine learning and biodesign, with roles in multiple startups that aim to make living on and off Earth more sustainable. JJ is a professional artist, with formal training in Fine Art, and has exhibited her work across the US, Europe, India, Asia and Australia. JJ served as Commander of SNESORIA M1 and as the Program Director for the SENSORIA Program.
Sorry, folks. You won’t find Paul Bakken on social media. You will find him running around the LunAres habitat repairing, improving and applying his years of analog astronaut experience to our mission in the LunAres Research Station! We’ve been beyond grateful that Paul’s been selected as one of our crew mates- in addition to his extensive background in law, community service, and analog missions, Paul happens to be an incredible chef! After enjoying this conversation with Paul, you will have a perfect understanding of what a mission generalist does, and then you’ll find yourself asking, “where can I find a mission generalist to help me in my everyday life?!?!”
“I like fixing things and feeding people. It’s what I enjoy doing at home, so it’s a natural fit for me to do it here at LunAres.”
-Paul Bakken from the Casual Space Podcast
About Paul
Paul Bakken is a native Minnesotan, husband of 28 years and a father of three children. He has served his community as an elected official for over 18 years. He serves on the Board of Directors for his local distribution cooperative. Other community experience and volunteering includes Boy Scouts, where he has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and service as an officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Bakken earned a B.A. in Political Science and Classics from St. Olaf College and a M.A. from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Paul has also earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, and has completed the FEMA/ EMI Integrated Emergency Management Course.
When he’s not baking up amazing food for analog astronauts, Bakken enjoys reading science fiction and tinkering. He has a long-standing interest in the exploration of space, and particularly in our exploration of the Moon and Mars. As an analog astronaut, he has served as Commander of two crew rotations at the Mars Desert Research Station, or MDRS, and as Executive Officer for NEPTUNE, a five-day underwater research mission. He’s also served as the Operations Officer for Selene I, a fourteen-day lunar analog research mission at HI-SEAS. He’s currently enjoying his new title of Mission Generalist on the LunAresX Sensoria mission in Pila Poland at the LunAres Research Station.
In the first MUND ON the MOON series, meet Paul Tomko. He is our crew’s Executive Officer- applying his expertise of Aeronautical & Astronautical engineering with his passion for space exploration and optimal health & performance.
“I’m always looking to improve myself. I don’t want to go through life just existing…become healthier, explore new things, if I have a passion or a dream that I want to pursue, then I move towards it. It may change over time, but as long as you have a goal that moves your heart and something you are excited about and you move towards it every day… to me, that’s a great life.”
-Paul Tomko from the Casual Space Podcast
About Paul
Paul has a multi faceted background ranging from engineering and project management to health&fitness and business. Paul graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelors in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering. He spent 4 years as a crew chief and project manager at the Kirsten Wind Tunnel where he led a student crew that conducted tests for a wide range of industry partners including NASA, Air Force Research Labs, and over 100 other customers. Paul was also a program manager at the National Reconnaissance Office where he led a large team of contractors to effectively design, build, and launch critical military space assets.
Paul is currently a business development manager working with clients across a wide variety of industries. He is currently focused on solving the engineering challenges needed to help take humanity to Mars and beyond. In Feb 2021 Paul was selected to join the HISEAS Valoria II space analog mission.
Paul has an extensive health and fitness background, in high school he focused primarily on swimming. In college Paul transitioned to rowing as a member of the NCAA UW Men’s Crew team, where he continued his intense training of 3-5 hours a day, 6 days a week. Paul then transitioned into competitive bodybuilding for 5 years, winning several overall titles and his IFPA/NGA natural bodybuilding pro cards along the way. Since retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Paul has turned his attention to health, fitness and longevity and has helped train dozens of elite athletes over the years.
Listen to Paul’s Anti-Aging Lifestyle podcast!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anti-aging-lifestyle-longevity-aesthetics-health-beauty/id1477656566
You can also find Paul on:
Instagram: paul_tomko Facebook: /ptomko71 LinkedIn: /paul-tomko
THIS WEEK, in the news from Space.com: Nuclear-powered spaceships for fast trips to Mars may now be one step closer to reality.
“NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have teamed up to fund three design concepts for reactors that could become part of a nuclear thermal propulsion system, a next-generation technology that could make the exploration of deep space faster and more efficient.”
On this episode, learn how Dr. Paolo Venneri and his team help provide hardware and services for reliable energy anywhere – on Earth and in Space by providing design, licensing, and technology capabilities to develop nuclear power systems for advanced applications, including; Transportable Power Units, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion and Lunar Surface Power systems.
About Dr. Paolo Venneri
Dr. Paolo Venneri is the Executive Vice President of the USNC Advanced Technologies division, where he is responsible for setting company direction, managing multiple projects, and building new business and growth opportunities. He has overseen multiple successful Phase I and Phase II NASA SBIRs and leads projects related to developing fuel and reactor designs for nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, and surface fission power. His technical background includes researching the development of thermal spectrum Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (LEU-NTP) systems for the past five years. He was the first to publish on LEU-NTP systems' neutronic design and is involved in the development of the LEU graphite composite, tungsten cermet, and various advanced NTP systems.
More about Ultra Safe Nuclear: https://usnc.com/space/
This is the story of one amazing woman who is taking her expertise of space systems and implementing changes that will benefit us all- like making life support technologies easily accessible and affordable for terrestrial humanity. Clean and accessible water. Better air quality. And leaving the world a better place than when you found it.
Brittany Zimmerman is the CEO and Chief of Innovation at Yummet, a company she’s built herself from asking the big questions, including how each of us can be a catalyst for positive change. Before she built Yummet, Brittany served as Principal Investigator and Aerospace Systems Engineer developing life support systems for long-duration spaceflight and habitation.
Brittany Zimmerman
Brittany has spent 30 years working on expanding her breadth of skills to build a synergy of competencies to achieve her lifetime goal: organizational success through bettering the conditions of humanity.
Read more about Brittany’s work here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-zimmerman/
And learn more about Yummet at: https://www.yummet.com/
Today on the podcast…. Beth welcomes back Chris Carberry to help introduce Space Drinks Association, a new organization comprised of diverse and unique collection of brewers, distillers, space exploration professionals, farmers, medical professionals, inventors, hospitality professionals, enthusiasts and futurists who are actively advancing the production and consumption of alcohol in space!
Listen as Chris and Beth say “cheers” to the holiday weekend, and to all of the great potential benefits (and potential challenge) that the SDA plans to create for mission success: “To work to encourage, promote and celebrate achievements made in the space science and beverage industries.”
http://spacedrinks.space/
Chris Carberry
Carberry is President of the Space Drinks Association and CEO of Explore Mars, Inc. Prior to
his tenure with Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director of The Mars Society.
Carberry is the author of Alcohol in Space: Past, Present, Future was released by McFarland
Publishers in 2019 and has published over 100 articles in publications around the world,
including in USA Today, US News and World Report, Huffington Post, The Washington Post,
San Jose Mercury Times, Foxnews.com, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, The Telegram
(UK), The Boston Herald, and many others. Carberry has also been interviewed hundreds of
times for print and online publications: local, national, and international radio and television
including CNN, NBC News, Fox News, BBC International, and many others.
Carberry has testified extensive political and policy outreach experience with the United States
Congress and Executive branch and has testified to both the United States Senate and House of
Representatives.
Prior to joining the space exploration community, Carberry worked as an historical researcher
and archivist.
And learn more about Explore Mars at https://www.exploremars.org/
There are billions of dollars’ worth of invaluable imagery, information, and data available, for free from NASA, NOAA, ESA, and more but unfortunately, sometimes it can be hard to get to… and hard to use. The folks at Element 84, a software development firm specializing in large scale geospatial data systems and remote sensing believe that the more they can help make that data accessible and usable, the more we can learn about our planet and how it's changing.
“How hard can it be?” is a question Dan Pilone often asks his team. As the CEO & CTO of Dan oversees the architecture, design, and development for Element 84's commercial and government data clients including NASA, USGS, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Capella Space. “
About Element 84 “We are impatient optimists.”
“It's not magic, but it can feel like that - you can literally see the world changing, see storms, progress of wildfires, patterns of burning and growth, how to plan for changing water levels, how to help people impacted by disasters, or even just see some fantastic images of leaves changing in the fall.... Space gives us an incredible view of the planet we live on- and we want as many people to be able to take advantage of that unique view as possible.” – Dan Pilone
More at: www.element84.com
Dan mentions:
FunCube: https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-cubesat/
More about Dan Pilone:
Dan has supported NASA's Earth Observing System for over 15 years; currently acting as Chief Technologist for the NASA EOSDIS Evolution and Development contract. He has supported transitioning NASA’s Petabyte scale archive to the cloud, contributed to metadata standards, led multiple working groups on data services and cloud architectures, authored studies on architecture and transition plans for cloud-native data management solutions, and helped shape software development processes for both government and commercial clients. Mr. Pilone has authored multiple books on software development and taught Software Engineering at Catholic University in Washington DC.
“How might we prepare today’s students for humanities multi-planet future?” -Mark Wagner, Casual Space Podcast
How will we go to school in space? What will we need to learn? What do the “classrooms” look like? And who will be our “teachers?” Mark and the team at ARES Learning have thought about these questions and have come up with some very inspiring solutions!
About ARES Learning
At ARES Learning, cadets build the knowledge, skills and mindsets necessary to navigate the great challenges of the future - on this planet or any other. ARES cadets emerge from their experience prepared for jobs that don't yet exist, to use technology that hasn't been invented, and to solve enormous problems we can't foresee. ARES prepares young people to become the designers, builders, philosophers and explorers of tomorrow.
https://www.areslearning.com/
About Mark Wagner, Ph.D.
Originally a high school English teacher, Dr. Mark Wagner also served as an educational technology coordinator at the site, district, and county levels. For fourteen years, he then served as CEO of EdTechTeam, a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists which provides professional development to fifty thousand teachers a year. In this capacity he helped lead the Google Certified Innovator Program since 2006, led a series of conference-style summits featuring Google for Education since 2011, and helped launch Future Ready Schools in 2014. Over this time he also founded or helped lead six influential non-profit organizations.
As co-founder of ARES Learning, Dr. Wagner now unites his early love of space exploration (he originally studied Astronautical Engineering as an undergrad) with his career in education technology. He brings a unique combination of experience with constructivist learning theory, school transformation, and space science education. He focuses on student agency, inspiring and empowering students to generate their own solutions to the problems they are most passionate about.
Mark Wagner has a Ph.D. in Educational Technology and a master’s degree in cross-cultural education. His doctoral research focused on the use of video games in education, and specifically on the potential applications of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) as constructivist learning environments. He is the author of More Now: A Message from The Future for The Educators of Today (2018). Dr. Wagner is currently engaged in original research for graduate certificates in Space Education and Space Philosophy at the Kepler Space Institute, with expected completion in 2021.
People often ask me what it was like as a “NASA” insider. On this episode of Casual Space, one of the very best of the best, Michael Ciannilli joins me to share highlights and lessons learned from more than 25 years at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Michael “Mike” Ciannilli is NASA’s manager of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, where he helps innovatively and effectively share NASA’s lessons of the past to help ensure future success.
Inspired by Mike and his work? Check out these videos from NASA EDGE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvOHNIbVBRI and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtowgLH-HyA
And read more about Mike here:
As manager of this agency level program, Ciannilli oversees the Columbia Research and Preservation Office, which preserves all Columbia artifacts, as well as the loan program, which loans out Columbia artifacts for research and academic purposes. In addition, this role involves giving lessons learned tours for NASA engineers, scientists, interns, executives, commercial partners and others. During these tours, he uses the stories of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia to share what has been learned from these past mishaps to prevent reoccurrence in future applications. Ciannilli also does lessons learned events at Kennedy Space Center where he works to bring these past experiences and the emotions behind the accidents alive through multimedia and storytelling; these events will be expanding across the agency. In addition to his main activities supporting the agency, Ciannilli also collaborates with outside media organizations like National Geographic to share these lessons learned with a wider audience.
Prior to his current role, Ciannilli was the lead of the Columbia Research and Preservation Office, a position that is now encompassed in his new role. He also led the creation and development of the Forever Remembered project for Columbia and Challenger at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Previously, he served nine years as NASA Test Director for the Space Shuttle Program at Kennedy, responsible for processing oversight of the space shuttle orbiters and ground support systems including launch and landing facilities. In addition, this responsibility included leading the launch team through launch countdown activities. He also was the Landing Recovery Director during that time, responsible for leading contingency operations during launch countdown and landing activities, including flight crew recovery. In 2003, during the Columbia accident recovery, Ciannilli flew extensively onboard helicopters across Texas supporting air search operations and Columbia artifact recovery.
Before joining NASA in 2005, Ciannilli was a contractor for the United Space Alliance where he spent eight years as a Test Project Engineer, leading the testing and engineering integration during processing of the shuttles and launch operations, and before that he was the lead of the Launch Countdown Simulation Team, which developed simulations to train the launch team. As the simulation lead for the Mission Management Team, he also trained the leadership of the Space Shuttle Program. Prior to this he worked as a fuel cell systems engineer assigned to Columbia. He also worked as an intern for Pan Am World Services at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base and taught high school.
He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the astronauts’ Silver Snoopy, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, NASA Program Leadership Award, Launch and Landing Leadership Award, Launch Countdown Simulation Contingency Leadership Award, NASA Quest Outreach Award and a Columbia Recovery Team Award, among many others.
Ciannilli has a Bachelor of Science in space science from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Ciannilli grew up in Syracuse, New York. He enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, swimming, boating, sailing, hiking, skiing and film production.
“Everything in a NASA mission patch exists for a purpose. Every part is deliberate and important.” -KSCArtist Tim Gagnon, from Casual Space Podcast
Have you ever really looked at a mission patch? Every detail was designed and put in place specifically for a reason. Artist Tim Gagnon has “had the honor and privilege” to have been selected by several NASA Flight Crews to design their mission patches. Perhaps you have seen several of his patch designs (Tim has designed many for both space shuttle missions and International Space Station missions)?
On this episode, Beth asks Tim about his work as an artist, and how he was first commissioned to work with the NASA crews, and reviews several specific patch designs with Beth.
Beth and Tim reference several specific mission patches. You can see them here, along with all of Tim’s work: https://www.kscartist.com/
More about Tim, in his own words: “A self-taught artist since 1974, I enjoy painting portraits and graphically designing commemorative emblems for various organizations. I especially enjoy the challenge of relating a mission objective in a four inch square canvas.
I have had the great honor and privilege to work with a number of NASA Flight Crews on their mission patches. To see my work orbiting the Earth is the ultimate compliment.
I am always looking for new challenges and to assist organizations that promote space-science education. I strive every day to do the same with my modest talents. Only you, the viewer, can decide if I have succeeded.”
What does art do for space, and vice versa?
“You know how you have color commentators for sports? They often fill in the details and help humanize the people playing and so forth? What art does for space is to humanize the mission and the goal for all the people involved [in that mission]. It’s why patches have lasted this long, and I suspect a couple of hundred years of now, someone will do a search on a mission and understand what the mission was about, and help to understand something that I was involved in.” -Tim Gagnon from Casual Space Podcast
Beth asks Tim about several specific NASA patches:
- STS 127,
- STS 129,
- Expedition 29, and
- Expedition 55
Enjoy Tim’s gallery and work at www.kscartist.com
What happens when we integrate multi-media art with space, science, and technology? Neuroscientist Jancy McPhee is the founder and executive director of SciArt Exchange, an organization providing science and art fusion programs and celebrations of creative innovations.
Jancy McPhee works as a Multidisciplinary Program Scientist in the NASA Human Research Program's Chief Scientist's Office and works with Aerospace Human Exploration and Space Flight scientific research with STEM/STEAM education programs.
“Space exploration has made an evolution to make sure that the human could survive…For short missions, and when we are sticking our toes in the waters of the universe, that was really what was needed. Now, when we’re talking about being gone for 1, 2, 3 years, now we’re talking about not just surviving, but thriving. That’s where there’s more room for the exchange between science and art. It’s really about being human in space. Human beings need to do more than just breathe their air.’”
-Jancy McPhee on Casual Space Podcast
About Jancy:
Jancy McPhee wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. She loved science and exploring, but all her hobbies were related to music and theater and reading about how other humans think, feel, create and move. Hoping to combine her interests, she became a neuroscientist, a person who examines the science behind these human capabilities. Formally, Dr. McPhee has a B.A. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Brandeis University. She was a cellular and molecular neuroscience researcher in academia for 17 years before joining the National Space Biomedical Research Association and later the Universities Space Research Association to manage various aspects of NASA’s domestic and international space life sciences research programs. Since 2010, she has been implementing motivating and novel ways to enhance space education and science and technology innovation and to promote global collaboration in human space exploration. She created the international Humans in Space Art Program and has been working to establish SciArt Exchange.
About SciArt Exchange:
SciArt Exchange is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed to continue and expand the international Humans in Space Art Program and to develop new science-and-art fusion programs. SciArt Exchange focuses on issues related to space, science, and technology and aim to provide an interdisciplinary framework for more effective dialogue, education, and innovation. https://www.sciartex.net/
Can an artist’s work help to forecast the future? Can art in different forms (infographics, etc.) help decision makers within the industry? Is the ISS beautiful?
With more than 20+ years of work in space exploration industry, Phil Smith brings a strong sense of experience and foundation to his work as an analyst and artist. Phil joins Beth on the podcast to explain how his unique role can bring understanding and inspiration to space companies and clients who are looking to peer into the future with a little help from a visionary expert.
Phil Smith has an incredible job- listen as Phil shares incredible examples like the time when NASA asks Phil and his team to “produce a map of the universe in a way that had never been seen before…a socio-economic map that reflects how NASA impacts our view of the universe and potential use of its future within our solar system.”
“Space on the one hand is relatively simple to understand but the way we use it in art and the relationship is very complex, like it is when you ask, ‘What is your relationship with the Earth?’” -Phil Smith on Casual Space Podcast
About Phil, in his own words:
I have a tendency to see nature through an artistic lens, despite not believing some higher power created the wonders around us. Like most people, I have the capacity to assign meaning to things and to see beauty in the great and small. I also suffer from the relentless desire to create order where there is none. I’m fascinated by the workings of the universe and use traditional and digital media to represent what I feel are its most magnificent aspects. Though I think of myself as an artist, I make my living as a space industry analyst. This liberates me financially to pursue my art yet also informs my creative work.
I’ve worked in the space industry for over 20 years (now at BryceTech), building on a technical foundation of graduate-level education and military experience. I also leverage my artistic skills wherever and whenever possible. My background includes space industry analysis and market forecasting, astroculture, astrofuturism, aerospace history, nuclear weapons technology, industrial hygiene, clinical laboratory studies, and policy analysis. In addition to conducting research, analyzing the results, and drafting written materials, I translate this work into high-quality documents, briefings, wall charts, and infographics using various publishing tools, bringing a mix of analytical skills and artistic talent to provide customers with a diversity of approaches in problem solving, from conceptualization to final delivery. I’ve also been a tour guide for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum since 2003. I’ve been interviewed or quoted by SpaceNews, Satellite Today, Via Satellite, The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg News, Associated Press, United Press International, Houston Chronicle, Agence France-Presse, The Moscow Times, Sputnik, CNN International, CNBC, Nightly Business Report, Newsy, and The Diane Rehm Show.
Where to find Phil & his work:
Phil’s website: www.astrazoic.com
Contact Phil: artistphilsmith@gmail.com
And here are some of Phil’s work he referenced that you won’t want to miss:
NASM Udvar-Hazy Center: https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center
“The map” produced for NASA is here: https://brycetech.com/reports/report-documents/solar_system_map
What are lava tubes? What can they tell us about the rest of the solar system? Could lava tubes harbor life deep inside them on other planets? Ph.D. student Gavin Tolometti believes the best way to understand the surfaces of planetary bodies like the Moon, Mars, Io, and Venus is to study features like lava tubes on own planet Earth.
“I study lava flows. In particular, I want to understand how we can infer how lava flows on Earth and on the Moon and Mars using remote data sets – in particular using radar, because it’s a type of data set that’s used on a lot of planetary bodies- and compare what we see in remote data sets (radar) and what we see on the ground (in the field) to confirm what’s predicted against what we see. They are very unique features and I learn a lot every time I study them.” -Gavin Tolometti on Casual Space Podcast
About Gavin:
Originally from the UK, Gavin received his bachelors of science in geology at the University of St. Andrews. His father was in the royal air force when Gavin was a kid, so he lived in five different countries. With an appreciation of different cultures and backgrounds during his time moving, it also opened his eyes to the potential of studying abroad. Currently, Gavin is preparing to complete his PhD at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He enjoys cooking and trying new recipes.
Where to find Gavin & his work:
Twitter and Instagram: @GavinOnTheMoon
Research: https://gavintolometti.wixsite.com/gavinonthemoon
Podcast Twitter: @DiariesofSpace
Podcast Instagram: @diariesofspaceexplorers
And enjoy Gavin’s podcast, Diaries of Space at https://diariesofspace.podbean.com/
How is one person working to make space travel accessible to everyone?
One scholarship at a time, according to Niko Blanks.
“For me, sending pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp is all about inspiring them to know that they can achieve their dreams no matter what hurdles they face.”
Niko’s a senior spaceflight operations student looking to accomplish a big goal. And he’s just the person to make it happen- he’s already overcome big obstacles in his life at an early age. With his new, Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship, Niko is helping to send pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp. You can help send these patients and their families, too- the application process for the summer of 2021 is open, and the fundraising for this scholarship just kicked off in a BIG way during Yuri’s Night! Space Camp, Space Kind, Space Flight Operations and space travel- it’s all right here in this conversation with the amazing and aspiring Niko Blanks.
About the scholarship: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp
About Yuri’s Night and where to donate! https://yurisnight.net/scholarship/
About Niko! Niko Blanks is from Chattanooga, TN and is currently a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studying Spaceflight Operations. Niko has interned as a mechanical engineer on the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract and has been a part of multiple NASA engineering design challenges for Artemis EVA operations. As the Crew Engineer of the Sensoria M3 Mission, Niko conducted human factors and EVA operations research at HI-SEAS in December 2020. Most recently, Niko is partnering with the Yuri's Night Foundation and the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer to start the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship. Cosmic Odyssey is dedicated to inspiring pediatric cancer survivors by providing them with scholarships to attend SpaceCamp in Huntsville, Alabama. As a brain cancer survivor, Niko's ultimate goal is to make space travel accessible to everyone and one day set foot on the Moon and Mars himself.
Follow Niko on Insta: @nikoinspace
About the Austin Hatcher Foundation https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp
The Austin Hatcher Foundation is partnering with the Yuri's Night to help send pediatric cancer survivors to space camp! With the help of former Austin Hatcher Foundation patient, Niko Blanks, the foundation will be offering our patients and families the opportunity to apply for a scholarship for space camp!
Niko Blanks was treated as a child at the Austin Hatcher Foundation for a Grade II Fibrillary Astrocytoma. Following his diagnosis and treatment, Niko decided he wanted to give back in any way he could to children experiencing the same trials he had to overcome. Niko now a student studying Spaceflight Operations and wants to educate those going through the difficulties that come with pediatric cancer on the thing that he feels truly changed his life. This is where the idea for the Cosmic Odyssey Space Camp Scholarship Program was born!
Find out more about Space Kind training, and join the program in May: https://www.spacekind.org
And don’t forget- Join me at the 1st Annual Analog Astronaut Conference! http://www.analogastronaut.com/
Are you intimidated by looking at the night sky? Wondering what’s what in our big universe? The astronomers are here to help (it’s easier than you think)!
Beth recently invited John, Samantha and Jenna to take your questions about the stars, the planets, the comets and more- all LIVE on the Casual Space Podcast Facebook page! A fun time was had by all (you can tell right away- there’s a LOT of laughing) and the gang promises to return with more great questions in May, so start stargazing tonight, and get your questions ready & tune in again in May when YOU can ASK THE ASTRONOMERS!!!
About the Astronomers:
John Read fell in love with astronomy in his late twenties after viewing Saturn in a $13 telescope from the pharmacy. A few years later, he quit his job in the Fortune 500 to become a full-time astrophysics student, author, and father of three.
ASK JOHN MORE SPACE QUESTIONS: John@LearnToStargaze.com
Samantha Jewett is the Outreach Assistant at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s (RASC) National Office. She’s got a Bachelor's in Physics with an Astrophysics Specialization, and is currently earning her Master’s degree in Education focusing on informal science education. Samantha spent her undergrad learning about the physics and math behind space science, joining the RASC introduced her to the exciting world of amateur visual astronomy. LEARN MORE ABOUT SAMANTHA’s WORK AT: outreach@rasc.ca
Jenna Hinds is the Outreach Coordinator at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s National Office. She studied marine biology in university and shifted into science communication after realizing she prefers talking about science to actually doing science. Now, Jenna gets to share science with folks from around the world every day! CHECK OUT JENNA’s MOST RECENT SHOW AT: rasc.ca/moonatnoon
Check out the RASC: RASC | Canada's premier organization of amateur and professional astronomers, promoting Astronomy to all.
You’re going to want to enjoy John’s You Tube engaging videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkcV7-BZTDxlqIKYS89T4fQ
And there’s lots of books, too- https://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-John-Read-Space-Science/s?rh=n%3A13443%2Cp_lbr_one_browse-bin%3AJohn+Read
If you’re ready to stargaze and want to enjoy a fun challenge, go here: https://www.learntostargaze.com/astronomychallenge
Have fun! And as John says, “Clear skies!”
Is there life out there?
It is the fundamental question we humans have been asking since the beginning of our existence. Beth and Chad attempt to answer this question, then work in The Fermi Paradox, the Drake Equation, and of course, chickens and lizards.
Learn more about the Fermi paradox here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox,
And here’s the Drake Equation N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L
And here’s how SETI helps us understand the Drake Equation (SETI): https://www.seti.org/drake-equation-index
If you have questions or topics that Must Be Discussed, share them with Beth & Chad at Beth@CasualSpacePodcast.com and join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram!
Have you ever been hesitant to try to learn the night sky, or wonder how you can view the cosmos with just a little help? David Dickinson has created the ultimate field guide for us backyard astronomers!
David Dickinson is the co-author of The Universe Today Guide to Viewing the Cosmos. Whether you want to impress viewers at a star party, or learn what you can see with your new telescope, David shows you how to find the most impressive views the night sky has to offer.
He is an Earth science teacher, freelance science writer, retired USAF veteran and backyard astronomer. He currently writes and ponders the universe as he travels the world with his wife.
In his new book (he’s got several) The Backyard Astronomer’s Field Guide: How to Find the Best Objects the Night Sky has to Offer, David helps each of us discover beautiful nebulas, constellations, deep sky objects and more with our telescopes. Find more of David’s books and guides here: https://www.amazon.com/David-Dickinson/e/B00JH2909O
Broken down by month and by hemisphere to ensure you get the best possible view, David shows you how to find objects like spiral galaxies, stunning sights in the Milky Way and stars that bring the “wow factor” to astronomy. With 44 sky charts and David’s expertise, it’s like having a pro-astronomer out in the field with you.
This week on the show, David explains to Beth:
-how constellations got their names, how they’ve been different names throughout history, depending on who was ruling at the time, and from what location you were looking at the night sky
-what it’s like to see the southern constellations and other unique cosmic phenomena for us in the northern hemisphere, and
-how you can connect with the stars in your very own unique way, you don’t have to be an expert or make a star purchase to do it, either!
Follow Dave on Twitter at: Dave 'Indoor Cat' Dickinson @Astroguyz
Laurie thought middle school music students would participate more if they had music about space and rockets, but no such music existed. So she created it. You can guess what happened next.
Music educator, author, and space enthusiast, Laurie Orth, had the out-of-the-box idea that perhaps her students would participate more in music class if they had music about space and rockets. Inspired by NASA’s STEM education website, with countless STEM lesson ideas for educators, she decided to create her own space-themed recorder music.
After incorporating the space music, Laurie found that her students were more attentive and eager to learn. The combination of the two contrasting disciplines of music and space exploration kept everyone 100% engaged in class. They increased their music reading abilities without even realizing it!
This week on the show, Laurie shares with Beth:
-how her son inspired her to merge her love of music with a newfound interest in space,
-how one of the simplest of instruments- the Recorder- can serve as a powerful tool for students to enjoy music, and
-how being brave and inventing something new for the world can provide benefits beyond what you ever imagined!
Learn more about Laurie and grab a copy of Rocket Recorder at https://www.laurieorth.com/
Download FREE MUSIC RESOURCES from Laurie here! https://www.laurieorth.com/free-downloads-signup/
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space and a veteran of three shuttle missions, talks with Beth about her experience as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope on this week’s episode of the Casual Space Podcast.
The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It has, among many other achievements, revealed thousands of galaxies in what seemed to be empty patches of sky; transformed our knowledge of black holes; found dwarf planets with moons orbiting other stars; and measured precisely how fast the universe is expanding. In Handprints on Hubble, retired NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan describes her work on the NASA team that made all of this possible. This week, Dr. Sullivan joins Beth to describe how she and other astronauts, engineers, and scientists launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained Hubble, the most productive observatory ever built!
A moment from the show:
Beth: What invited you to write your book, “Handprints on Hubble” and share your story?
Dr. Sullivan: I, like countless engineers on the ground and at mission control, am really proud of everything Hubble has done, and I feel like I have a fingerprint, I have a contribution on everything Hubble has done. The idea of (sharing this) percolated for a long time until a friend at the Smithsonian was trying to get me to consider writing a memoir, and that’s when the penny dropped- If my story could be the vehicle for telling an overlooked chapter of the Hubble history, and bringing the people who really are the hidden figures of the Hubble story into the foreground so the important work they did got its due. All of the creativity, the engineering, the design work, the imagining in the mid-60’s a school-bus size telescope and that the astronauts would take care of it! It was astonishing! People don’t often think of engineers of being imaginative, but Hubble is a really brilliant example of the kind of vision and imagination that describes most of engineering, so if I could use my story to help people understand the importance of this early history of Hubble, that would be worth writing. -Kathy Sullivan from the Casual Space Podcast
Learn more about Dr. Sullivan at http://kathysullivanastronaut.com/
Get your copy of Handprints on Hubble at: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/handprints-hubble
Carissa Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of BryceTech. Christensen is an internationally-recognized expert on R&D processes, technology forecasting, and the space industry. She is currently a member of the National Research Council Space Technology Industry Government-University Roundtable, which advises NASA.
She has served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council since 2018. She is a Senior Advisor to the annual US Air Force Schriever Wargame. She serves on the Advisory Council of the Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy.
On this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Ms. Christensen enjoys a more casual conversation with Beth about our inherent desire as humans to explore, to learn, and how exploring space can help us be better human beings.
A moment from the show:
From Beth: When did your interest in space begin?
From Carissa: My interest in space started with a series of questions. I began with asking, “How is knowledge created? How do we figure things out?” Then, my questions evolved into, “How does science work?” Then I found a parallel thread in asking how governance and government work. To me, representative government is an extremely powerful human invention-because it gives us access to the minds and the capabilities of so much broader a cross-section of humanity. Those threads all come together for me (maybe unexpectedly) in a career in space because governments and governance is such an important part of how space activities have occurred. As we were talking about getting to space is so much about learning and exploring…all of those things come together for me in the framework of knowing (more), learning (more), and ultimately for humans- being more.
And,
“When I think about what’s universal about space, I think about the very fundamental human desire to want to learn, to know and to explore. And to me, space is the extreme manifestation of that. You can’t explore it unless you learn and unless you know- which is so difficult and so challenging. It’s a fundamental desire to unpack that mystery, and it’s a tough mystery to work with.
-Carissa Christensen from the Casual Space Podcast
Learn more about Bryce at https://brycetech.com/
Read any of the available Bryce Tech Reports here: https://brycetech.com/reports
If space exploration didn’t happen the way you envisioned it, go back and rewrite the story.
For All Mankind is an incredible new sci-fi series on Apple TV+ created and written by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. If you have not yet discovered this intense and dramatic show, here’s why it’s worth binge watching immediately- it’s an alternate history depicting "what would have happened” if the global space race never ended after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States.
In this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth asks Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and television producer Ron Moore (Star Trek; Battlestar Galactica and Outlander), about the challenges presented when telling (rewriting) the alternative history of America’s space race, and why this show moved Beth (many times) to tears. When will we see a woman walk on the moon? Can art imitate life to influence our next space race? How in the world did Ron and his team perfectly recreate historic Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center?
All this and more waiting for your ears to enjoy in this episode of Casual Space!
A moment from the show:
Beth: How do you think people will react when we witness a woman walk on the Moon for the first time?
Ron: “I think when a woman sets foot on the Moon, that is going to be a real seminal moment. I think it’s going to move people, I think people will all gather around their TV sets just like they did in 1969 to see it happen… it means something… especially in the context of this event not having happened for so long, that when women do it, it will be a major event! -Ron Moore from Casual Space Podcast
To watch every episode from every season of For All Mankind, go to:
https://tv.apple.com/us/show/for-all-mankind/umc.cmc.6wsi780sz5tdbqcf11k76mkp7
Follow Ron on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/writerRonDMoore or on Twitter at: @RonDMoore
Science communication can often be challenging… and at times, make even the most talented scientists, reporters, and educators reluctant to take on the task of communicating scientific findings and new discoveries. In this episode, Brian Palermo infuses his expertise from his experience with improvisation and acting to help us better communicate science! By implementing strategies from improv (think of the “yes, AND” approach to conversations), Brian shows how all of us can easily communicate information successfully through story.
Brian Palermo is a professional actor and communications expert who works with executives, business leaders, and audiences teaching the art of improv to present powerful (and funny) stories.
In this Casual conversation Brian Palermo will help us:
-
implement improv in your daily conversations to better connect with peers, colleagues, even family members (even your kids)!!
-
enjoy excerpts from Brian’s book; Connection, Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinking- where a former scientist, a story consultant, and an improv actor come together to give you the critical thinking of science combined with a century of Hollywood knowledge in the creation and shaping of stories!
-laugh! Stories about science and space can be fun and inspirational, and Brian reminds us that storytelling should be .
I really enjoyed this conversation with Brian and plan on continuing to follow him on TV, in the movies- and if you are in the LA area, you can find Brian perform as an improv stand up actor every Wednesday in the Groundlings in Hollywood.
From the Show:
Beth: Can we bridge our science-illiterate nation via story??
Brian: “We can, and I think that’s one great tool to do it, but you know, having the concept of, “We need to use story” is great, but having the ability to execute that is very hard. It’s not easy to construct a story – to take science data and construct it into narrative form is very difficult, AND, to deliver it, to present it to other humans is another challenge. It’s doable, but it takes work to get there.”
-Brian Palermo from Casual Space Podcast
To learn more about Brian Palermo, go to: https://www.palermoimprovtraining.com/about
We mentioned Randy Olsen’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Houston-We-Have-Narrative-Science/dp/022627084X
And of course, check out Brian’s book with Randy Olsen, and Dorie Barton, “Connection. Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinking.” https://www.amazon.com/Connection-Hollywood-Storytelling-Critical-Thinking/dp/0615872387/ref=asc_df_0615872387/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=265958393932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16145716171067840377&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021552&hvtargid=pla-538612589161&psc=1
Will we find life on Mars?
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Mars Perseverance rover will land at the site of an ancient river delta in a lake that was once filled known as Jezero Crater. The rover will spend at least one Mars year (two Earth years) searching for signs of ancient life!
What happens when the Mars Perseverance rover lands on Mars this Thursday?
What is EDL and why does it make for such a stressful moment?
What are some of the differences with this rover “Percey,” vs. Curiosity?
What is a sky crane? How will it work?
The specific location where Percy is intending to land is important and significant. Why?
Answers to these questions and more, on this BONUS episode of Casual Space with Dr. Tanya Harrison, and Dr. Graham Lau. Tanya is a respected Mars expert who worked as a geoscientist and mission operations specialist on multiple NASA Mars missions over the past 13 years, including the Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Dr. Tanya is a respected thought leader in the commercial space sector and has served as Director of Research for Arizona State University’s NewSpace Initiative. Currently, Tanya works as the Director of Science Strategy for the federal arm of the Earth observing satellite company Planet Labs. Tanya holds a Ph.D. in Geology with a Specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration from the University of Western Ontario.
Dr. Graham Lau is an astrobiologist and communicator of science, and many people know him online as “The Cosmobiologist.” Dr. Graham Lau also serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a Research Scientist with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, the Director of Logistics for the University Rover Challenge, and the host of the NASA Astrobiology and SAGANet show “Ask an Astrobiologist”.
To learn more about Dr. Tanya and her work: https://www.tanyaharrison.com/
To learn more about Dr. Lau and his work: https://cosmobiota.com/
This will be the very first attempt of a sample return from Mars! To learn more about this very long and complicated process, check out: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-sample-return-msr
To learn more about Mars Perseverance Rover: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/
And don’t miss this LANDING TOOLKIT: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
Curiosity is STILL exploring Mars! Check out the continued activity at: https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/
And, JOIN THE LIVE WATCH PARTY AT https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/
Watch with Tanya at WeMartians: https://www.wemartians.com/
Watch with Dr. Graham Lau and Beth Mund at Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/
Mars Mission Success with Dr. Sian Proctor, Sensoria Mission Control
Mission control plays a critical role in the success of any analog mission. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes activities that the Commander and Mission Control work to resolve, provide and communicate. As a one of the original analog astronauts at the HI-SEAS research facility, and as a analog astronaut to many other mission locations on both land and at sea, Dr. Sian Proctor was perfectly positioned to serve as Mission Control for the Sensoria Mission last November! Dr. Sian lends her uniquely qualified perspective with Beth as she provides answers to the following questions:
Do you have to be a former analog astronaut to work at mission control?
What’s more challenging: being in the habitat or working to support a crew remotely from mission control?
What’s the difference between working in Mission Control and volunteering to serve as mission support?
Dr. Sian has served as both an analog astronaut and as mission control. From her experienced perspective, what items does she insist are going to be necessary to bring with when humans travel to Mars?
Answers to these questions and more, on this episode of Casual Space!
To learn more about Dr. Sian and her work: https://www.drsianproctor.com/
Watch this previously recorded conversation with Dr. Sian on the Casual Space Podcast https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=671101750471846&ref=watch_permalink
To learn more about Analog Astronaut Missions and the HI-SEAS research facility: http://hi-seas.org/
Dr. Brandy Nunez is a microbiologist, a veterinarian, a mother, a live electronic musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is CEO of Mobile Veterinary Services, Inc, based in Orange County, CA. Her formal education is in microbiology/chemistry, with an emphasis on novel therapeutic discovery. She then obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences. After several years of clinical and emergency work, Dr. Nunez opened her own mobile practice, focusing on underserved populations.
“I forge my own path. That’s how I’m going to get to space, too.” -Dr. Brandy on the Casual Space Podcast with Beth Mund
In addition to her love of science, Dr. Nunez is a lifelong musician and multi-instrumentalist. She often uses samples and recordings from space incorporated into her compositions. She is co-founder of the Southern California Synth Society; whose purpose is to educate and facilitate interest in electronic music through open synthesizer performances, modular DIY builds and community events targeting women and people of color. She performs live music at venues around Los Angeles under the moniker, Space Racer. Her new project aims to launch a DIY satellite into orbit for recording sonic data to be used in future compositions.
Her other interests include astrobiology, botany/horticulture, hydroponic garden design and urban farming. She enjoys T’ai Chi practice, creative writing and spending time with family. Her goal is to continue her scientific research and music composition on the moon.
Find Brandy
On Instagram at @space_racer_
On Soundcloud as spaceracer and
Support Brandy on her journey to become an astronaut at: space_racer_ and find out more about her competition at: https://advancingx.com/careerastronauts/
RICHELLE GRIBBLE is a multidisciplinary artist exploring planetary connectivity. Her work explores networks and systems-based investigations to reflect the ways human impact, technology, and 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 has exhibited at renowned art fairs including Art Market San Francisco, Texas Contemporary, and Miami Project and had her artwork illuminated on a LED screen in Times Square NYC.
Gribble has completed 17 art residencies as part of her project The Nomadic Artist, where she travels the world to reflect social and environmental changes across the globe and off-planet. Awarded residencies include Planet Labs, Biosphere 2, The Arctic Circle Residency, Awagami Factory and many more. Work presented in a TEDxTrousdale talk “What is our Role within a Networked Society?” and published in The Creator’s Project, The Atlantic, Artillery, Hyperallergic and VICE.
She is the Founding Director of SUPERCOLLIDER, an art + sci + tech exhibition platform and satellite initiative and co-founder of Beyond Earth, an artist collective exploring frontiers of art and space. She is a Scholar for the Kepler Space Institute examining the arts and humanities in space and is a Planet Ambassador at Planet Labs, an Earth-imaging satellite company devoted to use space to help life on Earth.
Find Richelle on Twitter at @richellegribble
View her artwork at richellegribble.com
“With every stage in my life, I’ve been shifting my perspective.” -Richelle Gribble on Casual Space Podcast
About what Richelle is looking to achieve while on her “Mars” simulation: “I’m really prioritizing creative research while I am on this mission…I’m here at the habitat because of this interested in exploring art at it’s intersection with space. I have this desire to (eventually) become an art astronaut. I know that at some point, there will be an artist in space, so getting that proper training, doing that analog experience, and preparing mentally and physically to be able to make that adventure and be able to reflect that experience of spaceflight, or even just that process of getting there as reflected in the artwork is going to be an important part of our story as humans.”
“Having artists go to space, having artists go to Mars… we’re inherently extremely resourceful! I think that’s one of artist’s biggest strengths. When you give us restrictions, we get really creative.”
“We’re here in a small enclosure. But if you are making art, experiencing art, you travel everywhere, you can go anywhere. When you’re stuck inside a white dome, you turn on a song and you can go beyond. I think that’s going to be so important for these longer duration space flights.”
Dr. Michaela Musilova is an astrobiologist and the Director of the HI-SEAS analog space station. Michaela studied and conducted research at the University of Bristol, University College London, California Institute of Technology, Chiba University, International Space University (ISU) and others.
She worked for NASA, University of London Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and was the Commander of over 20 simulated missions to the Moon and Mars. She is also a visiting Professor at the Slovak University of Technology, Vice-Chair of the Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA), Adjunct Faculty at ISU and Senior Research Adviser for Mission Control Space Services Inc.
Michaela has received numerous prizes and research grants, including the Emerging Space Leaders Grant from the International Astronautical Federation; Women in Aerospace – Europe Young Professional Award and she was selected as one of the most promising 30 under 30 by Forbes Slovakia.
She is also actively involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, as a patron of the programme in Slovakia and an Emerging Leader Representative for Europe, Mediterranean and Arab states. Furthermore, Michaela regularly performs a variety of outreach activities, such as: teaching, presenting, working with media and being an Advisory Board Member of the STEM Punks educational programs.
Where to find Michaela:
Dr. Michaela Musilova
Director of HI-SEAS
International Moonbase Alliance (IMA)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Amanda Knutson Chief Engineering Officer, Mission Specialist: Extravehicular Activity
Amanda Knutson is an Active Duty US Air Force member, currently working as a Weapons Armament Specialist at Luke AFB. While working full time at Luke AFB, she is studying part-time at Estrella Mountain Community College with plans to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddle. As a high school student enamored of engineering, Amanda was part of the FIRST Robotics Tech Challenge and Lego League programs. In 2017, she earned a place at the World Competition of FIRST Robotics securing the Engineering Inspiration award supported by NASA.
During the SENSORIA mission, Amanda brought and built an entirely new space capsule aquaponics system of her own design that can be used in micro- and fractional gravity conditions with an eye toward long-duration space missions. Additionally, she is developing her own “propellant depots” for deep space missions to Jupiter and Saturn. As a strong STEM advocate, she looks to inspire children and adults alike to strive for to achieve their own ambitions.
Chelsea Gohd Chief Science Officer, Mission Specialist: Documentary Filmmaker
Chelsea Gohd is a Senior Writer at Space.com, where she writes articles and creates and hosts videos about everything from climate change to exoplanet exploration and human spaceflight. Prior to her work at Space.com, Chelsea worked as a freelancer, with bylines in publications including Scientific American, Astronomy Magazine and Discover Magazine. She also recently wrote an installation for the American Museum of Natural History's Hall of Meteorites, which included touchscreen exhibit placards and design and text for interactive, in-exhibit games.
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.
Indie pop artist Foxanne released her debut full-length album "It's real (I knew it)" in December of 2020. The highly anticipated independent release can be found on all available platforms for streaming and download including Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp. The album was produced by Doug Gallo at AGL studios and mastered by Daughterboard Audio.
Beth recently returned from Mars, and Chad has a few questions.
In November, 2020- Beth Mund and 5 other crew members lived, worked and survived a simulated “Mars” mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the big island of Hawaii. In this episode, Beth “unpacks” the questions Chad has, like, What is an analog astronaut? Why Mars? Why do a mission like this, and what’s been learned so far, and what’s next?”
Here are some answers to Chad’s questions beyond the conversation on the podcast, in Beth’s own words:
What is an Analog astronaut? Why are they important to our future missions to explore beyond Earth and our wonders in the universe?
- An analog astronaut is a person who conducts activities in simulated space conditions. Ground-based studies involving analog astronauts are conducted by many laboratories, facilities, and research centers around the world. Analog astronauts engage in a wide range of research such as human physiology, psychology, crew cohesion, exercise, and nutritional studies along with testing cutting-edge science, technology, & engineering applications. Analog missions are recognized by NASA and are seen as an important part of space exploration. I was one of 6 ALL FEMALE crew members that included scientists, researchers, musicians, artists, doctors, Moms, active military service members, and writers! All professionals who applied their science to the mission, along with the required science that was expected of us.
Why “Mars,” or “why Hawaii?”
- I stayed on the main island, Hawaii on top on Mona Kea volcano at the HI-SEAS research facility. It’s run by the International Moon Base Alliance. It looks a LOT like Mars and has many features that are Mars-like! The terrain, the rocks, the cold weather, the remoteness, etc. Many people apply to be an analog astronaut as part of the NASA training and application to become an actual astronaut. Although so few are selected, it’s extreme experiences like these analog missions that help showcase their ability to work and live in space with success. Often, astronauts will work to accomplish MANY analog missions. HI-SEAS is one facility that runs analog missions- there are others in the US and around the world. They are run and affiliated with different companies and institutions.
So why do this? What has been learned so far?
Living off earth is HARD. Exploring takes guts and lots of being uncomfortable. I did this for my own personal reasons and for professional reasons, too. I’ll be sharing the personal and professional in more detail in my blog, be sure to read it. What we’ve learned is that humans are difficult, and fragile and it’s beyond challenging to live in space and off-planet. But IT CAN BE DONE. It can even be fun at times. We have learned SO much from the ISS. Analog missions help us learn in detail (and in person!) about:
- Geology and astrobiology
- Physiological and psychological and sociological research
- Technology testing
- Engineering & Maintenance Systems
- Outreach and
- Research
(More details to read about these on the blog)
Here is some information about why we explore space, from my favorite science guy (and yours):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnDt_DOZeLY
What’s next?
(NASA is returning humans to the moon in 2024 with Artemis program. We’re going to the moon to STAY. We can learn what works well for living and surviving on the Moon close to Earth before were years away on Mars!
- Mars changed me. Forever. In all kinds of ways. I use less water and electricity, (ha)! I have a deeper understanding of the overview effect and how precious our own earth is. I am still capturing lessons from my experience that make me stop in my everyday moments and realize how lucky we are- to be living on this planet- to be LIVING!
Here is some detailed information about the HI-SEAS facility: http://www.HI-SEAS.org
Here is some interesting information about an analog astronaut: http://www.analogastronaut.com/2018/08/what-is-analog-astronaut.html, and https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/what-are-analog-missions
Gary Li is currently a spacecraft system engineer at The Aerospace Corporation. He recently graduated with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA in 2020 and a dual B.A. in Astrophysics and Physics from UC Berkeley in 2014. As an NDSEG fellow, he conducted research on advanced materials for plasma rocket and nuclear fusion technologies.
During his academic career, he published over 10 papers and received 1 patent. Gary is also passionate about science communication. In 2017, he gave a presentation titled "Can weak plasma rockets get us to Mars?" at TEDxUCLA. He has also published popular science articles on plasma rockets and lunar fuel depots that have been featured on The Conversation, BusinessInsider, and space.com. After becoming a Matthew Isakowitz Fellow in 2019, Gary decided to pursue a commercial space career and set a goal of becoming a science and technology leader in the New Space era. He believes that humanity will hit two enormous milestones in the coming decades: a sustained human presence on the moon and the first human on Mars. Plasma rocket technology is sure to play a major role in making that happen.
Where to find out more from Gary Li and his work, as mentioned on the show:
You can find Gary on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-li-1b301047/ and:
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Grad school at UCLA - PhD research on plasma rockets
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Iternships at JPL, Air Force Research Lab on "future" propulsion concepts
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TEDxUCLA talk in 2017 "Can weak plasma rockets get us to Mars?"
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UCLA Grad Slam (3 minute thesis competition) winner in 2016 "Traveling to Mars with Immortal Plasma Rockets"
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Caltech Space Challenge in 2017 (two 16-person teams working on 5-day lunar refueling depot mission design competition with JPL)
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Popular science contributor on The Conversation, BusinessInsider, space.com, phys.org, etc.
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Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship in 2019 (intern at Aerospace Corporation, summit with Elon Musk and Buzz Aldrin)
Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist.
Every day is like Christmas for Dylan, because working in the space industry has always been his passion and calling. Beth asks Dylan about when his interest in space began, and Dylan describes how investments in space can be transformational for all humans and our future- on this episode of the Casual Space Podcast.
ABOUT DYLAN TAYLOR:
Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist. Currently, Dylan serves as Chairman & CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, a multi-national space holding firm that acquires and integrates leading space exploration enterprises globally.
Dylan has been cited by Harvard University, SpaceNews, the BBC, Pitchbook, CNBC, CNN and others as having played a seminal role in the growth of the private space industry. As an early-stage investor in more than 50 emerging ventures, including Accion, Kepler, York, Astrobotic, Made in Space, Relativity, and Planet, Dylan is widely considered the most active private space investor in the world.
Dylan has extensive global business experience as both a board director and CEO. He previously served as a Director for UMB Bank, a Fortune 500 company based in Kansas City and as a mutual fund director for the Jackson Funds where he oversaw assets of $8B across 130 distinct funds. Dylan has been a Fortune 1000 CEO with P&L responsibility in excess of $3B and operations encompassing 16,000 employees in 60 countries. In addition, Dylan has participated in 4 IPOs over the course of his career.
From the Casual Space Podcast:
On how his love for space got started and why it’s getting stronger every day:
“Every day is like Christmas, I certainly love what I do. For me, (space) is a life long passion, the question I ask myself a lot is, ‘Why did it take so long to realize what I loved and was truly passionate about?!’ I think the answer is, you get caught up in life, you get caught up in a career path… and ironically, if you have early success in your career that’s not directly tied to your passion, it can be a little bit of a trap. I think you can find yourself in the hamster wheel, and it can be hard to get off.. I certainly was like the situation I was in. I was in more of a traditional business career, and that was fine, and there were gratifying elements of that, but it was not truly satisfying the passion that I had for space.”
“My passion for space is really about the societal impact of space. It’s about the transformational element of space. It’s about the ability for humanity to reimagine what it means to be human, and what our opportunity as a species is going forward. So to me, it’s more about having the canvas to paint our future onto. I think space is truly transformational from a contextual, intellectual standpoint.”
On what made Dylan Taylor brave enough to leave his career path to follow his passion for space:
“My close friends and family encouraging me- I could see that we were entering a growth for the industry, and I’ve never been personally happier being in the industry. My free time and social activity and my life revolves around it- it’s not a career, it’s more of a calling.”
On the challenges of space and why it’s worth exploring:
“We have some real global challenges. Climate change, income inequality, mass migration caused by civil unrest, geopolitics, etc. My thesis is that the reason those problems seem intractable, is because we really don’t have the right context to evaluate those problems. We don’t really have the right view, that we’re all humans, on a rock floating in the middle of space, squabbling over (in my mind) tiny differences. I’m all about space as a contextual reorientation that allows you to see things clearer, and in a more enlightened way.
“The ROI of space in infinite. Humanity 2.0, a reimagining of what we could be- a more aspirational inspirational viewpoint is amazing, and space holds the canvas that we can paint that future on to.”
On why it takes everyone to make space exploration successful:
“It’s incredibly important that we diversify space and that we take advantage of all the talent that exists in the world. This is a human endeavor, and we all know humans are identical in their capacity to do incredible things. In fact, if we can’t figure out a way to bring all humans into the fold, we will not be successful in space. And it does not have to be just in STEM, space is for everybody, and we need all skills. All backgrounds. We are commercializing space at such a rapid rate that I tell my friends, ‘Everyone is in the space industry. They just don’t know it yet.’ The number of jobs within the space economy that are going to be created over the next few years is going to be mind-boggling. So if you’re focused on space, and you’re training yourself up to be part of the space economy, you will be providing yourself a very very bright future!”
More about Dylan Taylor and the “space” he works with: Dylan’s technical background, global business experience and unbridled passion for space make him a unique figure within his industry. He regularly speaks and writes about the future of the space economy and is sought after by the media for his expertise in the financial aspects of space investing as well as industry dynamics. As a writer and columnist, he has written several widely read pieces on the future of the space industry for SpaceNews, ROOM, The Space Review, Apogeo Spatial and Space.com. As a speaker, Dylan has keynoted many of the major space conferences around the world and has appeared regularly on Bloomberg, Fox Business, and CNBC.
Dylan is a leading advocate of space manufacturing and the utilization of in-space resources to further space exploration and settlement. In 2017 he became the first private citizen to manufacturer an item in space when the gravity meter he co-designed and commissioned was 3D printed on the International Space Station. The historic item is now housed in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
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. Additionally Dylan 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, a Jeffersonian styled dinner series featuring some of the world’s leading influencers discussing the future of humanity in space. Another subsidiary of Multiverse Media 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.
For his influence as a global leader and his commitment to creating a positive impact on the world, Dylan has been honored with numerous personal and professional accolades in recent years. The World Economic Forum recognized Dylan as a Young Global Leader in 2011 and he was named a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute in 2014. In 2020, Dylan was recognized by the Commercial Spaceflight Federation with their top honor for business and finance, following in the footsteps of 2019’s inaugural winner, the late Paul Allen.
Dylan Taylor earned an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the Booth School of Business at University of Chicago and holds a BS in Engineering from the honors college at the University of Arizona, where he graduated Tau Beta Pi and in 2018 was named Alumnus of the year. In 2013, he attended the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century program at Harvard University.
Dylan and his family live in Denver where he is active locally with Colorado Concern and the Colorado Spaceport. In his spare time, Dylan enjoys hiking, competing in triathlons and spending time outdoors. He is married to author Gabrielle V. Taylor and has two teenage daughters.
“I love to travel and explore- anything that’s new and edgy and a little bit dangerous...the pinnacle would be to go to the moon. If I could do that in my lifetime, that would be cool.” -Dylan Taylor from the Casual Space Podcast
Chad and Beth sit down (literally, in their living room) and reflect (while enjoying a cocktail) on reaching the 100th episode of Casual Space!
Beth and Chad talk about:
- what’s been the best part of hosting the podcast
- some of the most memorable guests
- when Beth realized the show was “successful” and
- what’s next for the Casual Space Podcast!!
Thank you to everyone who has helped make the Casual Space Podcast so much fun each week. I sincerely appreciate it! Can’t wait to share with you the next 100! -Beth
Space investor and entrepreneur Robert C. Jacobson shares highlights from his first book “Space is Open for Business,” providing readers with an insightful guide to the evolving space industry.
Robert presents perspectives from experts, industry leaders and investors, each examining the economics and strategies for leading the trillion-dollar race to commercialize space. Jacobson has spent over a decade working and investing in private spaceflight and provides a comprehensive overview of this transformative industry. This book allows everyone to understand the integral role space plays in our lives and how it will continue to transform our world.
About Robert Jacobson:
Jacobson is an expert in the commercial space industry also known as New Space. His work enables investors to make smarter decisions in the space sector and works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve them vision.
Some of his accomplishments include:
- CEO of Space Advisors
- Co-founder of 1000+ community for aerospace leaders and executives
- Co-founder of an organization connecting the public and the space sector
- Former Principal of a space focused management group
- Led first institutional investment round in an emerging space company
- Team member on 3 successful space missions
- Interviewed dozens of experts from many areas in and around the $350 Billion dollar space industry
Where to find Robert and his latest work: https://www.robertjacobson.com/
Where to find “Space is Open for Business” https://www.spaceisopenforbusiness.com/book-v1
Dr. Graham is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a Research Scientist with Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, the Director of Logistics for the University Rover Challenge, the Host of the NASA Astrobiology and SAGANet show “Ask the Astrobiologist” AND the Research Community Coordinator for the Hypothesis Browser and the Life Detection Forum’s Knowledge Base. Whew!
*Ask an Astrobiologist airs live on SAGANet and on the NASA Astrobiology Facebook page. People watching the show live can ask questions of our interviewees on either streaming platform or on Twitter using #AskAstrobio.
Check out Graham’s talks, presentations and videos all below- lots of fun here to learn, chat about, and share!
Where to find Graham and pretty much everything he’s doing: https://cosmobiota.com/
- On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmobiologist/
- On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cosmobiologist/
Dr. Tricia Larose is the Principal Investigator for Tumors in Space. She is preparing for a 31-day Space mission on board the China Space Station. She is supported by 14 international collaborators from four countries. Originally from a mining town in Northern Ontario Canada, she is now based in Oslo, Norway. She is also adjunct faculty in Human Performance in Space at the International Space University, and a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project POSSuM!
Valuable resources Tricia mentions on the show:
- Where to find Dr. Larose and all of her papers, etc. www.tricialarose.com
- Tumors in space: https://www.intechopen.com/books/preparation-of-space-experiments/tumors-in-space-preparation-for-spaceflight
- The International Space University: https://www.isunet.edu/
- On Twitter: @TricLarose
NASA is testing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s 212-foot tall core stage- the tallest rocket stage the agency has ever built- with a Green Run test on Earth before launch day. The core stage design will be used for all configurations of the SLS rocket, and the series of eight tests will verify the stage is ready for the first and future Artemis lunar missions.
On this episode, Beth speaks with Doug Bradley, RS-25 Deputy Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Yassaman Liaghati from Boeing, Tyler Nester, SLS Chief of Staff at NASA MSFC, and Maury Vander, from NASA Stennis to discuss this exciting milestone!
The last test is a hot fire test with all four of the stage’s RS-25 engines firing, just as they will during the Artemis I launch. After the firing test at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, the stage will be assembled with the other parts of the rocket and the Orion spacecraft, in preparation for the first integrated flight of SLS and Orion on Artemis I.
What IS the Artemis Green Run Test? Start here with this video: https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram/greenrun
Green Run Overview: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls-core-stage-green-run-tests-critical-systems-for-artemis-I.html
Most Recent Completed Test (Test 5)
- https://www.nasa.gov/feature/engineers-complete-5th-green-run-test-of-space-launch-system-core-stage
- http://www.boeing.com/features/2020/09/engine-eering-artemis-i-sls-core-stage-completes-green-run-test-5.page
Marshall McKellar is an attorney in the aerospace industry, currently serving as an Attorney-Advisor in The Office of the General Counsel at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Marshall is also the co-founder of This Side, LLC, a marketing/web development agency in the bio-materials industry. He received a J.D. from the University of Mississippi and a B.A. in history and religion from William Carey University.
On the side, Marshall enjoys surfing, flying, and making records with his band, The Devil Music Co.
Where to find Marshall: www.thisside.co
www.thedevilmusiccompany.com
Instagram: @marshallmckellar // @thedevilmusicco
Dr. Harrison is known widely in the planetary science and research industry as Tanya of Mars. Why?
Tanya is the founder of Professional Martian LLC, a company focused on science and sci-fi consulting, communications, and outreach in ways to break space out of the echo chamber to reach broader audiences.
Currently, she is the Manager of Science Programs at Planet Federal in Washington DC, the government-focused arm of Planet Labs. In this role, she helps scientists understand the utility of—and how to access, process, and use—Planet's incredible daily imaging of the entire landmass of the Earth and its coral reefs.
Tanya was the Director of Research for Arizona State University's Space Technology and Science ("NewSpace") Initiative where she worked on commercial-academic space partnerships and martian geomorphology research. She was the Science Team Collaborator on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity and the upcoming Mars 2020 sample caching rover.
Tanya received her Ph.D. in Geology with a specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration from the University of Western Ontario's Centre for Planetary Science and Space Exploration (CPSX). From 2008 until 2012, was on the science operations team for NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) and Mars Color Imager (MARCI) at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS).
In Tanya’s own words: For CTX, I chose what the camera takes pictures of in a given week and then analyze those images from a geologist’s standpoint. For MARCI, I wrote weather reports for the general public, as well as a few times for the Spirit and Opportunity rover teams to alert them of any impending storms that could threaten the rovers. I was also a science team collaborator for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Mast Cameras (Mastcam), Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI). While this work was exciting, I made the decision after 4 years to return to graduate school and get my Ph.D.
My undergraduate degree is in astronomy and physics from the University of Washington, and I did my graduate work in geology (well, “Earth and Environmental Sciences”) at Wesleyan University. Areas of interest include martian geomorphology and terrestrial analogues, spectroscopy, and glaciology. My work in astronomy has involved cooling mechanisms of interstellar dust clouds, diffuse interstellar bands, the metallicity of the old, metal-rich cluster NGC 6791, and the metallicity and lithium abundances of the recurrent novae T Coronae Borealis and RS Ophiuchi.
I have also been active in education and public outreach, getting involved with organizations such as The Planetary Society, Expanding Your Horizons, Girl Scouts, Norwescon, The Mars Society, and The National Space Society.
In my spare time, I am a professional photographer and the owner/photographer behind Station Toronto.
Where to find Tanya: http://tanyaofmars.com/ and tanya@tanyaofmars.com
Michal Ziso is the founder of Ziso, a studio working at the intersection of architecture, innovation, space and human equality. She is also a Space Architect focused on human experience a trailblazer by dealing with social and psychological diversity aspects, and an active member of WiSpace- Israeli Professional Women in Space Association.
A visionary architect practicing for almost a decade in Israel and NYC, she has extensive experience in designing skyscrapers and large-scale urban projects. A graduate of the Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology, she also served in the elite intelligence unit 8200 of the Israeli Defense Force. Taken together is a rare combination of creative skills, intelligence data analysis and technical abilities which she manifests as a Space Architect and thought leader.
She is a two time TEDx speaker (TEDxISU International Space University, Strasborg, France + TEDxJaffaWomen, Tel Aviv Israel), frequent lecturer and mentor at academic institutions, organizations and creative tech companies such as ISA- Israeli Space Agency, Ramon Foundation, UNOOSA, Explore Mars, Parsons School of Design, Wix and more. With a mission to create a built environment in space and on earth that fits the needs of its diverse users to ensure not only a surviving but thriving human society, Michal is actively raising awareness for gender and human equality through work with international organizations such as Global Citizen, UN Women, UN SDG global and SDG Israel. ZISO was chosen to be part of the 10 top global initiatives fighting for gender equality by the UN SDG Action Campaign of 2019.
As a mentor to young individuals, especially young women, at various forums such as UNOOSA, Space4Women, ProWoman organization and ISE (Israel Startup Experience), Michal promotes courageous creative thinking, innovation through extreme conditions and encourages all to become passionate change agents. A proud activist and avid traveler, Michal is inspired by cultures, diversity, and the various ways people use space on earth and beyond.
Where to find Michal: https://www.theziso.com/
Watch Michal’s TEDx Talks:
- TEDxJaffaWomen: https://www.ted.com/talks/michal_ziso_equality_lessons_from_mars
AND
- The Surprising things I learnt on my journey to become a Space Architect
- https://www.ted.com/talks/michal_ziso_the_surprising_things_i_learnt_on_my_journey_to_become_a_space_architect
Dr. Mindy Howard’s company, Innerspace Training helps commercial astronauts become more mentally prepared before they go into space, so they can get the most out of their mission. During this engaging dialogue, Mindy explains to Beth how we can all work to engage in and implement this “Overview Effect” in our lives, a deep connection to everywhere and everyone.
Dr. Mindy Howard is symbolic of someone who has set out to passionately achieve her dreams and is reaching the uppermost heights in her chosen field.
American and Dutch, Dr. Howard obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Industrial Engineering in the United States and her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Now living in the Netherlands, Mindy’s life ambition was always to become an astronaut. Narrowed down from thousands to the last 200 candidates, she was selected by NASA as a “Highly Qualified Astronaut Candidate”, following the conclusion of her Ph.D. Despite not making the final selection to become an astronaut, she refused to let her dream go without a fight.
Having worked internationally as a sustainability manager, strategy leader, diversity and inclusiveness manager, people manager, and trainer in several blue-chip corporations. Mindy’s background started out in the oil industry. In her last job at Royal Dutch Shell, she was the Sustainability Manager in one of the global businesses as she tried to change hearts and minds, within the company and the leadership, to become more sustainable. Travelling the globe, working in over 35 different countries in extreme environments (e.g. offshore), Mindy was able to explore different countries and appreciate different people and their cultures.
After leaving the oil industry, Mindy decided to reignite her dream and complete her training on what it felt like to be a commercial astronaut while undergoing 6Gs in a human centrifuge. It was when she saw others in the training struggling in the centrifuge, that she saw a need to help commercial astronauts psychologically prepare for the rigours of space flight.
Striving towards her goal of becoming an astronaut, and wanting to help others do the same, Mindy harnessed her academic and professional skills to create the first and only psychological space training for commercial astronauts, called “Inner Space Training”, in the emerging field of commercial/new space. In addition, Mindy is working for Blue Abyss Ltd., the world’s first commercial astronaut training centre as the Director of Inner Space Training.
As one of the few commercial astronaut trainers in this new field, she has been asked to accompany a team of people who will win a “once in a lifetime” trip to space. The competition, called ‘Career Astronauts’, will see Mindy take on the role of astronaut trainer and coach for the lucky winners and will achieve her dream by flying with them to space in 2023.
Other astronaut training that she has personally undergone includes, experiencing weightlessness in a Parabolic Flight, High-G Tolerance training, Simulated Space Flight Experience, Hypobaric (High altitude) Training, Situational Awareness Training, SIRIUS Space Disorientation and Motion Sickness Training and Unusual attitude training to name but a few.
A fully trained flight member for the Association of Spaceflight Professionals, Dr. Howard has also written and presented publications on a variety of subjects at various international scientific and space conferences. Her extensive knowledge has resulted in appearances in the media, both on national TV, Discovery Channel, Dutch TV and radio as a “space correspondent” both in the United States and in Europe. She is also a TEDx speaker with the title, “Train your fear away, like an astronaut”. She has just recently published her book called, Blast Off! Train like an astronaut for success on earth”. Blast Off! is the first book to use the techniques of commercial astronaut training to help people right here on earth maintain the anxiety-free emotional equilibrium and sustained mental focus needed to successfully overcome the day-to-day challenges and obstacles in their personal and professional lives. Lastly, she is a Guest Lecturer at the International Space University.
Mindy loves speaking both to adults and children about and helping people become high performing individuals who can achieve peak performance, and also can create the conditions to enable a peak experience, like the “Overview Effect”. Her talks and training are not only valuable for people training to go to space but also for high performing individuals, STEM students and executive teams. Mindy helps individuals learn how to get in flow and be more mindful of the present moment, so that they can enjoy their lives more and enable them to achieve their dreams.
Where to find Dr. Mindy and her work:
- Internet:
- www.innerspacetraining.com
- Twitter:
- @Spacetraining @MindyAstro
- Facebook:
- Inner space training
- Linkedin:
- Inner Space Training
- Instagram:
- @AstroMindy
Beth Mund gets to travel “at the speed of thought” with the incredibly fun Janet Ivey, from Janet’s Planet! With 12 regional Emmys, 5 Gracie Allen and numerous other awards, it’s evident that Janet Ivey is dedicated to producing quality entertainment that inspires, enlightens and entertains us all!
Frederick Beuchner’s quote starts our show and started everything for Janet: “You will always be called to the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Little did Janet know that two profound teachers who showed her the planets and whispered in her ear, “science is not just for the boys” encouraged Janet to continue her love for science and to continue to be curious! Janet reminisces about all of her teachers- both the official teachers she’s had in school- and the students that inspire HER every day. You won’t want to miss every opportunity to listen to and learn from Janet in this episode! BE SURE TO SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH A CURIOUS KID!
Here are just some of Beth’s favorite quotes from the show:
“People ask me all the time, what age group is this [Janet’s Planet] for?” They want to put it into a category. I answer, “yes!” - Science is for all ages.
We had Dr. Ken Carpenter on, and it was the best presentation, his amazing mission, his work with Dr. Carl Sagan, he tears up when he talks about Hubble sharing with these kids- then, my 7 year old from New Jersey named Lucas- he asked “Have you ever been to New Jersey?” I’m a firm believer in waiting for the genius to happen! After the uhming and ahing that seemed to be going on FOREVER- then he asks, “are you disappointed that Hubble never got another chance to get worked on after the last 10 years when it was serviced?” Brilliant! He’s talking about the Hubble being serviced 10 years ago! WE HAVE TO GIVE KIDS THE SPACE TO GET TO THAT GOOD QUESTION.
– Janet Ivey from the Casual Space Podcast
“If there was anything I could offer to educators or grown-ups with little ones- whether they are 5 or 19 or 50something, Sometimes it takes us a while to say what we feel, and what we are curious about, and it’s about giving people the space to do that.”
Where to find Janet’s work: http://www.janetsplanet.com
About Janet and Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/leader/janet-ivey/
Janet Ivey, President, of Explore Mars, Inc., and Creator and CEO of the award winning Janet’s Planet 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 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 about gravity and microgravity, she wrote and produced for Space Florida. Janet’s Planet is a dynamic and fast-paced series is geared to 5-10 year olds and focuses on science, space, history and exploration. The short form series can be seen also on streaming sites, YouTube, BatteryPop, Club Jelly Telly and HighBrow in the UK.
Her mission is simple, amplify the love of space, science and exploration and to encourage this generation that MARS is theirs.
The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program connects exceptional current college juniors, seniors, and graduate students with paid, summer internships in the exciting field of commercial spaceflight, as well as with notable aerospace leaders for mentorship. The summer culminates in a memorable networking summit! Upon completing the supper internship, the Fellows remain among a group of alumni who have the opportunity to continue to network with this program, their Fellow peers, assigned mentors, and future Fellows, on the path to becoming future space icons!
Three of these future icons, (fellows), along with family member Jennifer Isakowitz join Beth Mund on the Casual Space Podcast to talk about what this program has meant to each of them- and why it’s an appropriate tribute to Matthew Isakowitz- an engineer, entrepreneur, and extraordinary individual whose passion for commercial space exploration led to great strides in the industry and inspired all who knew him.
The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship program seeks to instill that same enthusiasm into the next generation of commercial spaceflight leaders by providing impactful career training to those who embody Matthew’s drive for exploring our universe to help better humankind.
WHERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY: https://www.matthewisakowitzfellowship.org/about
On this episode, Beth speaks with:
Jenny Isakowitz, MIFP Team Member (and Matthew’s sister)
Hossain Ahmad, 2020 Fellow, Senior at Rutgers University, interned at Blue Origin
Cadence Payne, 2020 Fellow, Graduate student at MIT, interned at Millennium Space Systems
Josh Ingersoll, Graduate student at GWU, full-time engineer at Aerospace Corporation
Additional information about this program can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/mattfellowship/
https://www.instagram.com/mattfellowship/
https://twitter.com/mattfellowship
Ever thought about putting our species’ DNA in space? Or preserving our life on Earth, it’s blueprint, and records for a possible Earth to be reproduced in the future? Ben has. As a matter of fact, Ben is currently doing it. And with his company, LifeShip, YOU can be a part of Ben’s mission by sending your very OWN DNA to the moon or to orbit! Who knows? Maybe one day your great, great, great, great, great ancestors will unfreeze you and thank you.
What is LifeShip? Has this ever been done before? Why now? What can this mean for the future of space exploration and life preservation? And finally, how can you be a part of this idea turned company and send your DNA to space? It’s all right here in this episode with Beth Mund and Ben Haldeman, CEO of LifeShip, and space entrepreneur.
About LifeShip: (from the website)
Inspire: We need missions of hope to remind us of our connection to each other, to our Earth, to all life, and to the universe. LifeShip celebrates each being's purpose in the cosmos.
Preserve: We are rapidly losing species. LifeShip exists to help Earth's biodiversity now and save the blueprint for our incredible planet till the end of time.
Spread: Life on a single planet is fragile. Humanity has the opportunity to continue the fundamental existence of life in the universe. Helping Earth reproduce may even be humanity's purpose.
About LifeShip: https://lifeship.com/
How to get your kit: https://lifeship.com/pages/products
About Ben Ben is space entrepreneur, long-term thinker, and product designer. He founded LifeShip to back-up Earth in space and spread life to the stars. LifeShip sends people’s DNA to the Moon and beyond.
Ben was an early engineer at Planet Labs where he worked on hundreds of satellites for imaging the Earth daily. Ben built a global robotic telescope network with LCO that is discovering new planets. While at grad school in Berkeley, Ben built life detection instruments for Mars rover missions. Ben lives in San Francisco with daughter Luna. He is a certified yoga teacher and often finds inspiration amongst the redwood trees in Marin.
Analog astronaut. Chef. Explorer. Pilot. Geologist. Artist. Professor. Author. STEM Communicator and…Cowgirl!? In short, Dr. Sian Proctor is just…. Incredible!
You will want to get to know this impressive woman beyond the Casual Space conversation with Beth, so here are some links to Dr. Sian’s TedX Talks, videos, cookbooks, artwork and more!
START HERE: https://www.drsianproctor.com/
TEDx Talks: https://www.drsianproctor.com/media/
Space2Inspire (Dr. Sian’s Artwork): https://www.drsianproctor.com/space2inspire/
Support Sian here: https://www.patreon.com/drsianproctor
About Sian: Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and science communication specialist with a passion for space exploration. Her motto is called Space2inspire where she encourages people to use their unique, one-of-a-kind strengths, and passion to inspire those within their reach and beyond.
She uses her AfronautSpace art to encourage conversations about women of color in the space industry. She’s an analog astronaut and has completed four analog missions including the all-female SENSORIA Mars 2020 mission at the Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat, the NASA funded 4-months Mars mission at HI-SEAS, a 2-weeks Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), and a 2-weeks Moon mission in the LunAres Habitat.
She believes that when we solve for space, we also solve issues on Earth. She promotes sustainable food practices used in space exploration as a way to reduce food waste on Earth. She has a TEDx talk called Eat Like a Martian and published the Meals for Mars Cookbook. Dr. Proctor was a finalist for the 2009 NASA Astronaut Program and got down to the Yes/No phone call which came from Astronaut Sunita Williams. She is an international speaker who enjoys engaging in educational outreach.
She is a continuing NASA Solar System Ambassador and serves on the Explore Mars Board of Directors, JustSpace Alliance Advisory Board, the Science in the Wild Advisory Board, the SEDS USA Advisory Board, and the National Science Teaching Association’s Aerospace Advisory Board. In 2019, she was the science communication outreach officer on the JOIDES Resolution Expedition 383 and spent 2-months at sea with researchers investigating the Dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. She also participated in the 2-week faculty development seminar Exploring Urban Sustainability in India.
She was a 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea, a 2016 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador (ACEAP), and a 2014 PolarTREC Teacher investigating climate change in Barrow, Alaska. She is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a member of the Arizona Wing Aerospace Education Officer.
Dr. Proctor spent 21 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the Open Educations Resource Coordinator for the Maricopa Community College District. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education.
She recently finished a sabbatical at Arizona State University’s Center for Education Through Exploration creating virtual field trips. She did her 2012-13 sabbatical at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute developing their science of disasters curriculum.
She has appeared in multiple international science shows and is currently on A World Without NASA and Strange Evidence. You can follow her on social media @DrSianProctor.
In 1984, Jim Wetherbee was selected to join NASA in its tenth group of astronauts. Over a twenty-year career, he flew six times on the Space Shuttle. The five-time commander flew two missions to the Russian Space Station, Mir, and two missions to the International Space Station. In 1998, he was appointed as the Director, Flight Crew Operations, specifically selected to improve the flight and ground safety in the astronaut corps. Based on that success, Jim was selected after the Columbia accident to enhance the safety aspects in the organizational culture at the Johnson Space Center, home of NASA’s human space flight program.
With thirty-five years of experience in high-hazard operational environments, Jim enjoys consulting with leaders and operators in dangerous endeavors with critical mission objectives. He is the only American astronaut to have commanded five missions in space, and is the only person to have landed the Space Shuttle five times.
What an incredible conversation Beth and Jim share about space with SO many great techniques to apply in our every day lives! Here are some of Beth’s favorite moments:
On the balance between having confidence and humility: “You must be confident to do the kinds of things astronauts and test pilots do… you have to have the confidence to be able to get in the vehicle and strap in, but you better have the humility to recognize that we’re all humans and we might make a mistake- even as best trained as I am, I might make a mistake. If you have confidence, you’ll make mistakes… If you don’t have humility, you won’t KNOW you’re making mistakes.”
Often I ask people, ‘Do you know someone with supreme confidence and insufficient humility?’ We all know those kind os people- and it’s best to avoid those people and avoid their trailing wake of disfunction and debris.”
-Jim Wetherbee from the Casual Space Podcast**
At 35 minutes in, Jim shares his own perspective from flying the space from the shuttle- what surprised him, what he went looking for, and what came full-circle from his goal he set when he was 10 years old. At the end of the podcast, Jim explains what went through his mind and helped him sleep the night before he would launch and start his mission.
Here’s more great memories about shuttle launches from Jim:
“When you see a rocket launch from a far, and you notice how very slow the rocket/ vehicle seems to be moving up off the Earth… there is NOTHING slow about a launch!!! You get that sense because it’s so far away from the camera, but when you are SITTING IN IT, and it FIRES, and you instantly are accelerating at twice the force of gravity….I try to describe this experience in the book, and it’s exactly analogous to lying down on a hard bench, in an elevator, in a 19-story tall building, having the floor suddenly open up, and you’re dropping straight down 190 feet! The space shuttle feels that that, accelerating, but in the other direction. The launch tower out your window just disappears. You are forced back in your seat with twice the force of gravity, then quickly picks up to three times the force of gravity. I did the math, and at one point, there was more than 800+ pounds pushing on my body as I traveled straight up, and it’s so hard you almost can’t breathe! But you can’t think about it or devote any brain cells towards breathing because your job is to be thinking about the life support, the reaction control systems, the readouts on the computers, making sure everything is working flawlessly, and if it doesn’t and when it doesn’t, you must take action right away.”
You wrote the book, “Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World.” How can we control risk when there’s so much that seem out of our control right now in the world?!?!: Can we predict all accidents from observing the past? Are some unpreventable? We easily prevent potential accidents that are similar to recent occurrences, but preventing accidents that exceed corporate experience seems extraordinarily difficult. Organizations continue to be blindsided by tragedies that no one thought would occur. Yet, in any given postincident analysis, investigators often determine the latest catastrophe was tragically similar to a forgotten previous incident. New rules are promulgated, operating procedures are updated—and the cycle of accidents continues. Organizations must need something more than rules and procedures to prevent accidents.
About Jim Wetherbee: https://www.jimwetherbee.com/about-1
Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. He began his career as a Naval Aviator aboard the USS John F Kennedy, flying the A-7 Corsair. After graduating from the US Naval Test Pilot School, Jim performed flight-testing of the F/A-18 Hornet.
Bringing his experience from the aerospace industry as a former NASA executive and astronaut, Jim joined the oil and gas industry as a Safety and Operations Auditor for BP. Four years later, he was selected as a VP for Operating Leadership. In this role, he supported efforts to improve performance results consistently over the long-term, by emphasizing effective leadership behaviors as a key way to influence and inspire people to conduct safe and high-quality operations.
After successful careers in naval aviation, aerospace, and the oil and gas industry, Jim is passionate about helping leaders and operators perform successfully in hazardous environments.
Get a copy of Jim’s Book here: https://www.jimwetherbee.com/book
What a fun conversation! Beth and Alan combine all of the space topics you love in one incredibly entertaining episode, including: Astrochicks, George Lucas, hyphenated astronauts and tickets to the moon offered from former airlines company PanAm.
See You in Orbit? Our Dream of Spaceflight is the book Alan presents that will guide you on a historical, personal, irreverent, and often-humorous tour of the promises, expectations, principal personalities, and milestones regarding the goal individuals have to fly in space. At the end of the tour we'll assess whether we are getting closer to the day when we can greet fellow dreamers with the joyful salutation: See You in Orbit!Where to get your copy of the book, See You in Orbit https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Orbit-Dream-Spaceflight/dp/1733265708
“Their letters inspired me- they were so heartfelt. Look no further! I’m your man/ woman! This would bring meaning to my life! Why a teacher? Why not a plumber? How about Journalists? Nurses? Everyone wanted to go.” -Alan Ladwig about being the manager of space flight participant program at NASA and receiving letters from people wanting to fly to space (from the Casual Space Podcast ).
Where to find Alan Ladwig:
https://toorbitproductions.com/about-me
On Twitter @SpaceArtAl
Here’s more about Alan:
Alan has been recognized for his leadership and contributions in the field of policy, communications, and STEAM education in the aerospace sector. He is especially known for playing a leading role in developing and managing programs to directly engage the general public in space research and space-related outreach opportunities.
He is Chief of To Orbit Productions, an independent company that provides consulting services and lectures on space policy as well the creation of art projects based on space themes. Ladwig is also serving as the Chief of Communications and a member of the Board of Directors of the Star Harbor Space Training Academy, a startup company with plans to offer astronaut training for the general public.
During his career Ladwig received NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal, the Exceptional Achievement Medal, two Exceptional Service Medals, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, and was a member of six Group Achievement Awards. He is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. In 2014 Ladwig received the Distinguish Alumni Award for both Elgin Community College and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.
He served in U.S. Army with the 558th Artillery Group, stationed in Athens, Greece from 1972-1974.
Ladwig received a Masters in Higher Education (1976) and Bachelors in Speech (1970) from Southern Illinois University. He received an Associates degree in Business from Elgin Community College (1968).
The overview effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from outer space (Wikipedia reference) The term and concept were coined in 1987 by Frank White, who explored the theme in his book The Overview Effect — Space Exploration and Human Evolution.
Since 1987, there’s been a recently series of interviews done at the Johnson Space Center with a new group of Astronauts in a series that’s been produced called, “Down to Earth” (you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L6eqgnmlPo)
It is the experience of seeing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space, which is immediately understood to be a tiny, fragile ball of life, "hanging in the void", shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. From space, national boundaries vanish, the conflicts that divide people become less important, and the need to create a planetary society with the united will to protect this "pale blue dot" becomes both obvious and imperative.[5]
The thing that really surprised me was that it [Earth] projected an air of fragility. And why, I don’t know. I don’t know to this day. I had a feeling it’s tiny, it’s shiny, it’s beautiful, it’s home, and it’s fragile. — Michael Collins, Apollo 11[7]
Astronauts Michael Collins, Ron Garan,[8] Rusty Schweikart,[5] Edgar Mitchell,[5] Tom Jones,[5] Scott Kelly,[9] James Irwin,[10] Mike Massimino,[11] Chris Hadfield,[13] Sally Ride, and Anne McClain[14] are all reported to have experienced the effect.[5]
Frank White has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.
Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.
White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"
In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."
Once you are done enjoying this episode, the hope is that you find yourself asking, “How can we bring the overview effect down to Earth? How can I use the Overview Effect to address inequality? Conflict resolution? How can we apply it to Psychotherapy? Basically, I hope this conversation inspires you to look at how we can be better humans, and look at things with a different perspective.
What the Overview Effect is from Frank’s own words: “It’s a message from the universe via the astronauts and then through me. And it’s not a one-time message, it’s a continuing message.”
What is the Overview Effect? “I was searching for a way into space exploration without a technical bio. The moment the Overview Effect came to me was when I was flying across the country and looking out the window. I was obsessing about living off the planet, and I was looking down and I just had this idea that, gosh- if I lived in a place like this, I would see the Earth as a whole system and the connectedness and the unity of our planet and of ourselves would not be a discussion, it would just be obvious. When we landed, I was thinking, how can we pursue this? It didn’t start out with astronauts, it was about space settlements and space communities, and there were not any people I could interview [to speak about these things] so I interviewed astronauts as a proxy. I was thinking about it as something ordinary- there’s the Earth, from the sky. When I started talking to astronauts, they saw the Earth from a distance was extraordinary. So that shifted the dialogue for a bit and it’s been shifted for a while where people are far more focused on ‘how do we apply this to create a better life on Earth. How do we bring the overview effect down to Earth. And I’m glad. The overview effect is a theory yet to be proven in it’s original form.” -Frank White
Where to get your copy of the book, Overview Effect and more books by Frank White: https://www.amazon.com/Overview-Effect-Exploration-Evolution-Library/dp/162410262X
The Overview Effect Movie: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+overview+effect+vinmo&rlz=1C1DVJR_enUS852US863&oq=the+overview+effect+vinmo&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.7670j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Where to find Frank White: www.FrankWhiteAuthor.com
“What I really want to do is to create a movement or support a movement that has the overview effect as it’s core philosophy…as it’s basic understanding of who we are, where we are in the universe, and that means supporting other people.” -Frank White on the Casual Space Podcast
Other podcasts with more Frank White and the Overview Effect:
NASA’s Houston, We Have a Podcast: Episode 107 https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/the-overview-effect
On this inspirational episode, Beth talks with former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver about the Brooke Owens Fellowship.
Created to honor the legacy of a beloved space industry pioneer and accomplished pilot, Dawn Brooke Owens (1980 – 2016), the Brooke Owens Fellowship is designed to serve both as an inspiration and as a career boost to capable young women and other gender minorities who, like Brooke, aspire to explore our sky and stars, to shake up the aerospace industry, and to help their fellow people here on planet Earth. This incredible organization matches up to forty students per year with purpose-driven, paid internships at leading aerospace companies and organizations and with senior and executive level mentors. Join Beth and Lori as they share this sincere conversation about a friend, a desire, and a mission to turn promising students into thriving leaders.
What is the Brooke Owens Fellowship? PAID INTERNSHIPS & EXECUTIVE MENTORSHIP FOR EXCEPTIONAL UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN AND GENDER-MINORITY STUDENTS IN AEROSPACE
Learn More about Brooke Owens and the Brooke Owens Fellowship at : http://www.brookeowensfellowship.org/
About Dawn Brooke Owens: Brooke was a beloved friend and colleague to many in the aerospace industry. Coming from humble beginnings in a small mining company town (population: ~2,750) just outside of Death Valley National Park, Brooke managed to make a lasting impact on the industry through talent, character, and sheer determination.
Always an excellent student – she was valedictorian of her high school class… though she was always quick to point out that there were only two students in her class! – Brooke was an alumna of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the International Space University. Professionally, she worked at the NASA's Johnson Space Center, the non-profit XPRIZE Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Brooke also committed herself to whole-hearted service. Supporting organizations such as AidChild and Mercy’s Village International, Brooke was passionate about making her world a better place by supporting children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis, ending human trafficking, fighting poverty, and empowering girls and women.
Outside of work and her philanthropic efforts, Brooke was a caring, warm, and adventurous spirit. She was an accomplished pilot, and spent many of her happiest moments flying. She found time to go kayaking, run triathlons, become a party DJ, perform at spoken word events, and a million other things.
Brooke was the sort of person for whom no amount of time on this Earth would have been enough to do all that she wanted to do. Thankfully, she was also the sort of person who lived life to its fullest, and found joy in every moment.
About Lori Garver: Lori Garver is the former Deputy Administrator of NASA. Prior to her Senate confirmation, she headed the NASA transition team and was the lead space policy advisor to Senator Clinton and Senator Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Lori is currently the CEO of Earthrise Alliance - a philanthropic initiative established to fully utilize Earth science data to combat climate change. Earthrise Alliance funds fellowships and awards grants to partner organizations that engage and activate educators, journalists, voters and decision makers.
Rachel Lyons is a key advocate in the advancement of space technology and exploration. Rachel is the former Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space – USA, a non-profit that empowers young people to make an impact in space exploration. She is a former public radio host. She holds a BSc. in Aerospace Engineering and Economics from the University of Miami.
Astronauts return from space with a new understanding of life on earth — from the environment to politics, resources to energy, to humanitarian issues. Rachel believes this perspective is essential in addressing the challenges we face globally, as well as creating a connection to each other and our home planet earth.
She is committed to providing opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to expand their perspective – both for the futuristic vision of humanity, and for our world today.
About Space For Humanity: https://www.spaceforhumanity.org/
Joe Cassady is Executive Director of Space Programs in the Washington DC Operations for Aerojet Rocketdyne. Joe and the AR team help to plan human missions to the Moon and Mars, helping to develop the strategy and architectures for future space and launch systems.
Joe and Beth met at the NASA Stennis Space Center and the NASA Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans for the NASA Artemis Day celebration. Together, Beth and Joe geek out about rocket engines and what it takes to get us to the Moon and Mars and beyond. They discuss the different types of rockets, types of propulsion systems, how building rocket engines is a kind of architecture, and working to shorten the transit time of getting to the places we want to go in space. Learn what the GREEN RUN test is coming up, and why it’s another HUGE milestone in our journey toward our return to the moon. What surprises people most when it comes to rocket engines? Find out all this and more on this episode with Joe!
Beth’s favorite quote from Joe on the podcast: “Literally, tens of thousands of people and hundreds of companies are involved- many are small companies that are our suppliers…they’re the real lifeblood of things like this and they are very proud of it. Being able to go out, and go across the country and say to people, ‘The road to Mars and the road back to the Moon starts here, in your town. You’re part of this’. It’s really exciting.
More great stuff from Joe:
“We’re able to use what we learned on the Space Shuttle Program- some of the very engines themselves on a fleet of orbiters that flew three of the RS-25s that gave us an inventory of engines! Rather than keeping them on the orbiters that went to museums, they removed the flight engines and we’ll be using them for the first few Artemis missions! We went back an equipped them with a new brain, and electronic controller…it’s really neat to see them be available to the nation to get us on this path in an accelerated way.
“I’m looking forward to the day we put those boots back on the Moon, and I’m really really looking forward to seeing the first steps taken on the surface of Mars.”
About Joe Cassady is Aerojet Rocketdyne's Executive Director for Space in the company’s Washington Operations. He is responsible for strategy and capture activities related to many of the company’s NASA programs, including: the Space Launch System (SLS);the propulsion system for the Orion deep space capsule; Commercial Crew propulsion and power systems; advanced electric propulsion; International Space System (ISS) power system, as well as AFRL and DARPA programs. He also is involved with research activities for next-generation space technology, including additive manufacturing, advanced materials, non-toxic propellants, modular propulsion for small satellites, and nuclear propulsion and power technology efforts.
Joseph Cassady joined Aerojet in 1985 and was appointed to his present position in June 2013. Previously, he served in various Engineering and Business Development positions related to advanced propulsion for missiles and spacecraft. He began his career at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards AFB, where he performed research into the acceleration mechanisms of Magneto Plasma Dynamic (MPD) thrusters as part of an AFOSR graduate program. After graduation, Joseph Cassady continued his research at the AFRPL, where he helped to create the in-house Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL). He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Purdue University. He is the recipient of several technical awards from Aerojet Rocketdyne and outside organizations. Joseph Cassady has authored or co-authored more than 50 papers dealing with mission design, space architectures, and propulsion technology and its applications and holds four patents for electric propulsion technologies. His professional affiliations included the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he is an Associate Fellow; the American Astronautical Society; and the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, where he serves as Vice President. He also serves on the board of ExploreMars, Inc., an organization dedicated to education, STEM activities and outreach related to the exploration of Mars.
Videos and more from this rocket engine conversation:
State of NASA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvLuM8ZzGc
What is the Green Run test mentioned? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebzxYAIOb-w
What is Artemis Core Stage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWkBeOqvtWA
What is a rocket and how does it work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI-HeXhsUIg
About AeroJet Rocketdyne: https://www.rocket.com/
“Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader providing propulsion and energetics to its space, missile defense, strategic, tactical missile and armaments customers throughout the world. Aerojet Rocketdyne's strategic and tactical missile programs defend America, our troops and our allies.”
More about Joe and where to find him:
Twitter: @MarsJoe
Joe obtained his BS and MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University as well as a Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University. He has nearly 40 years of experience in various forms of rocket propulsion and mission and systems analysis and has authored more than 60 technical papers dealing with electric propulsion, power and attitude control systems, space architectures and mission analysis. Recently, Mr Cassady collaborated with three Purdue University professors to co-author a new textbook for university level studies entitled Rocket Propulsion. He also serves on the Board of the non-profit Explore Mars, Inc.
Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides is a public speaker, co-creator of Yuri's Night, and an author on space exploration. Whitesides received a bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford and a master's from Caltech, with a particular interest in astrobiology. She accumulated over five hours of weightless time as a Flight Director for Zero-G Corporation, and plans to travel to space as a "Founder Astronaut" on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo with her husband George T. Whitesides.[1]
Beth’s favorite quote from Loretta on the podcast: “I’ve been to a Hollywood movie premier! I’ve been to the bottom of the ocean! I’ve partied with Buzz Aldrin! I’ve done all of these fancy, glitzy, amazing, check-the-box-I’m-a-successful-person-things, and I can assure you, IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING. At the end of the day and on my deathbed, what’s going to matter most is, Do I love myself? Am I proud of myself? Am I proud of who I am? Am I proud of the relationships that I’ve maintained? Have I restored integrity? Have I forgiven people? Have I let go of resentment? That’s what important and that’s what life is really made of, and what I hope people attend to.”
“My religion is Jedi.”
About wanting to be princess Leia: “She was so courageous, and she was so powerful. I was like, yeah, that’s obviously like what women are! That’s obviously what women should do in the universe, and that’s obviously like what I’m going to be when I grow up.”
“We talk about being “successful and miserable” and the transformational journey of being honest. We discuss the many Star Wars references and the influences books and movies and art had on Loretta from a very young age. I ask Loretta if we’re really meant to leave this planet, and if we can afford to make mistakes in space.
“When we go to space, we will have to learn how to live sustainably in a closed ecosystem, and how and take care of everyone in our community and to care for ourselves so we are all honored, nurtured, and will help us back on our home world. Space is not s silver bullet. It does not fix us, but it IS an opportunity. I’m saying the most precious resource is the opportunity we have in space is to hit that restart. We can either squander that resource, and we can just do things the way we’ve always done them, or we can take advantage of that opportunity. We have one chance to restart fresh when we go to space. And I want to make sure we’ve done the thinking before we go, and that we make the most of it.
About Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides
Having dreamed of space since she was a little girl, Loretta wants to use the power of space to shift our perspectives, connect us with each other and our home planet and become the kind of species we would be proud to send to the nearest star.
About The New Right Stuff book: (Taken from the website)This book was written for you. It was created to support you in fulfilling what you came to Earth to do. It will take you on a hero's journey, to find your calling, to face your dark side, to be the person you have always wanted to be, to capture your dream and to return home to share the wisdom you have gained from your journey with others. We use space as a backdrop for the whole adventure. Why? Because I love space, many of you love space, and space is a powerful reminder of what we are capable of as a species. Space is also an inspiration for us each fulfilling our piece in creating what Buckminster Fuller called, "a world that works for everyone." I invite you to continue your training here. We each have a unique mission. If you don't fulfill your mission, no one else can.
More about Loretta: Having studied astrobiology at Stanford and Caltech, Loretta has 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 Hidalgo Whitesides has been a Future Astronaut with Virgin Galactic since 2005.
She currently lives in the desert outside Los Angeles with her husband George and their two kids and leads leadership development training for Virgin Galactic staff as well as continuing to give talks and write to help people fulfill on what they came to Earth to do!
MORE with Loretta:
Space Kind: http://www.spacekind.org/?fbclid=IwAR3EBZt3CpQSqONtOjiEd8tBPVyzkJeSlYgLXkTg5mZIsL4uNkZiJrKUze0
Yuri’s Night: https://yurisnight.net/
- "The New Right Stuff"
- “The World Space Party: TMRO Interviews Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides - March 25, 2017”
- “It’s Up To Us: GeekDad Interviews Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides”
- “Cuppa and chat with Loretta Whitesides from Galactic Unite”
- Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides on LinkedIn
- Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides on IMDb
- "10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris - February 13, 2019"
TED Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdJlJ0V-UaA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8p6QuNf0DE
Dr. Andrew Aldrin is Director of the Aldrin Space Institute at Florida Institute of Technology. ASI is a multidisciplinary institute created to advance commercial space development.
On the podcast, Andy tells Beth and the Casual Space listeners about the Graduate Certificate in Commercial Space Studies. It’s a partnership between the International Space University and Florida Tech. Beth and Andy also discuss seeing the Falcon Heavy Launch in person last summer, why communicating what’s happening in the space industry effectively is so important, and Andy tells Beth where he would like to go in space, and what he would pay a significant amount of money to do in space!
About the Graduate Certificate in Commercial Space Studies: This space-focused, multidisciplinary program is only graduate-level certificate of its kind in the U.S., and provides rigorous, practical training in the nuances of space finance, policy, management, technology and entrepreneurship. Master’s students and young professionals from around the world will gain valuable academic and real-world insight to spark economic innovation in the fast-emerging commercial space industry.
ISU (International Space University) Center for Space Entrepreneurship: https://www.fit.edu/isucse/
About International Space University: https://www.isunet.edu/
About Andy Aldrin:
Prior to FIT, Dr. Aldrin was President of Moon Express, responsible for day to day operations for the company. Dr. Aldrin also held executive positions in more traditional aerospace industry, serving as Director of Business Development and Advanced Programs at United Launch Alliance where he oversaw development of corporate strategies, business capture, senior customer relations and advanced program development for civil space markets.
Before ULA, Dr. Aldrin headed Business Development and Advanced Programs for Boeing’s NASA Systems, and Launch Services business units. He has also served on the professional research staff of the RAND Corporation and the Institute for Defense Analyses.
Elizabeth Howell is a space writer, science consultant and writing teacher based in Ottawa, Canada. She writes about space, science and astronauts, and has even BEEN an astronaut in a simulation on Mars!**
Elizabeth writes hundreds a stories a year on the space business, from conferences, from live events and from my own home. You can see her work daily in places like Space.com, Forbes and SpaceQ. Elizabeth’s notable projects include:
- Elizabeth journeyed to Kazakhstan twice to report on two International Space Station launches: Expedition 56 and Expedition 58.
- She documented living on a “Mars” base for two weeks.
- And, Elizabeth attended three space shuttle launches (like this one), and talked to numerous astronauts about how to prepare for spaceflight.
*She participated in the Mars Desert Research Station. Run by the Mars Society- researchers go there for 2 weeks with isolated conditions to work and learn and adapt to the environment. She rocked the research. Not so much the cooking…
About writing her latest book: “Canada Arm and Collaboration” about the Canadian space program, and it will be published in October. It will be my 3rd book about science that will be out earlier this year… What really made the book easy to write form me- because book writing is terrible- it’s a lot of work and a lot of research- it was the result of 25 years of passion from the Apollo 13 movie just pouring out. what I really wanted to highlight was the behind the scenes work the astronauts do.” – Elizabeth Howell from Casual Space
About the story behind the story: “The challenge is that there’s not very much coverage because there’s only about 6 of us (covering space) across the country (in Canada), so I’ve trying to attend as much as possible trying to tell the stories of both the astronauts from the launch, but they do all of these cool things on the ground that nobody talks about! They do underwater missions! They do geological field work! They do inspirational events for children! They have conversations with our Prime Minister! I like to be there and report when they are doing things in between (missions).
About being a writer: “I was quite good at writing, it just seemed to come naturally to me. I had this ability to sit down and translate complex ideas into really cool stuff!”
About inspiring her students: “There are many ways to do something. If you want to be an astronaut, I tell students that I’ve gone and simulated being an astronaut, I’ve gotten a degree where I was studying astronaut behavior. I’ve written and talked to so many astronauts over the years, so I basically have come as close as I can!”
Where to find Elizabeth and her work: https://elizabethhowell.ca/
On Twitter: @Howellspace
Books: https://elizabethhowell.ca/books/
The Science of Time Travel: The Secrets Behind Time Machines, Time Loops, Alternate Realities, and More!
The Search of Life On Mars: The Greatest Scientific Detective Story of All Time by Elizabeth Howell and Nicholas Booth
And
Canadarm and Collaboration: How Canada’s Astronauts and Space Robots Explore New Worlds
Adam is an evangelist of science. From everything sci-fi to just thinking, looking and observing the world, science has always provided a sense of oneness with the universe for Adam. Adam is a theoretical/computational astrophysicist and he heads a research group that is developing new tools for simulating the cosmos.
SO many great things discussed on this episode!
*Beth asks Adam: Which is harder? Trying to communicate the need for a long-term investment in space exploration, or trying to change the mind of a climate denialist?
*What are techno signatures, and why should we be looking for them? And why would science fiction writers help us in the search?
*AI, propulsion systems to get us to Mars, exploring the universe in the next 200 years, understanding consciousness and more….
Quotes from the show:
“Science is a mechanism for being exposed to the wonder.” – Adam Frank on Casual Space
“The universe is more creative and more imaginative than we are.” – Adam
“Machines can be intelligent, but can they be self-aware? My intuition is that we miss understand consciousness so profoundly. The philosophical tradition in which this question is asked (the western tradition) never had an empirical way of asking questions about the nature of consciousness. It took reason as the only way to explore questions about consciousness. Whereas in the classical Indian and Asian school of philosophy, (who also thought about consciousness for thousands of years and had contemplative practice), had a VERY different way of looking of things. I think that the west has sort of fooled itself, it thinks it can reduce consciousness to neural activity. The view that everything is made of atoms, and you can build your way up into something like consciousness….in fact, at least from my experiences, consciousness is where you start. Then you do this weird thing called science where you tell stories about the world, and then with experiments you can extend your reach of awareness. We can become sort of trapped thinking you can reduce consciousness to a bunch of wires.”
Where to find Adam and his work: https://www.adamfrankscience.com/about
Twitter: @AdamFrank4
Adam recommends!
Books:
- Kim Stanley Robinson (sci-fi writer)
- The Mandalorian
- Passengers
Writers:
- Alastair Reynolds
- William Gibson
TV Shows:
- Alter Carbon on Nextflix,
- Westworld
- The Expanse
About Adam Frank: Adam Frank fell in love with astronomy when he was 5 years old and the affair has never cooled.
Late one night in the family library, Adam found the keys to the universe sketched out on the covers of his dad's pulp-science-fiction magazines—astronauts bounding across the jagged frontiers of alien worlds, starships rising to discovery on pillars of fire. The boundless world of possibilities on those covers became the one he was determined to inhabit.
Later, the love for astronomy transformed into a passion for the practice of science itself when his father's simple explanation of electric currents and sound waves turned the terror of a booming thunderstorm into an opportunity to marvel at the world's beauty. Now a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester, he studies the processes that shape the formation and death of stars and has become a leading expert on the final stages of evolution for stars like the sun. Adam is a theoretical/computational astrophysicist and he heads a research group that is developing new tools for simulating the cosmos.
Adam also describes himself as an "evangelist of science." His commitment to showing others the beauty and power of science has led him to a second career as a popular writer and speaker on the subject.
He is the co-founder of National Public Radio’s 13.7: Cosmos and Culture blog as well as a regular on-air commentator for All Things Considered. He also contributes occasionally to The New York Times. Adam is the author of three books. The most recent, Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth, explores a new vision for climate change and the human future by placing them both in their proper “astrobiological” context. Climate change may likely be an expected consequence of any civilization on any planet developing an advanced industrial civilization. Adam’s first book, The Constant Fire: Beyond the Religion and Science Debate, focuses on perspectives on science and human spirituality that went beyond the usual creationism vs. Richard Dawkins debate. About Time: Cosmology and Culture at the Twilight of the Big Bang explores the links between changing conceptions of cosmology and the human experience of time. He is also the author of a textbook Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos. You can also sign up for his free Coursera course "Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy".
Gary Gattis spent his entire career making video games, AI/Space was a late life industry transition. Why? When Gary decided it was time to move into the next adventure in his professional career, he asked everyone (yes, everyone) two important questions that led him to Hypergiant, where Gary and the team believes that AI is essential to secure our place in the universe via space exploration.
“We started looking at ground control, and saw there was a lot of room for disruption.”- Gary Gattis on Casual Space Podcast
When it was time to move into the next chapter of Gary’s professional journey, he went to friends and colleagues and asked everyone two questions: “1. What’s the coolest stuff going on in the world, and 2. If you weren’t doing what you were doing, what WOULD you be doing? That was a fascinating time in my life! I was doing 10+ coffee/ lunches a week! It was full time!”
“I call it my journey of discernment. Really, three things came out of it. The first was a deeper connection to myself. I was talking to people I’ve known 20-30 years ago- old friends. Second, I got to see myself through other people’s eyes. Third, it really helped me hone my personal brand. It took a lot of external conversations for me to validate [what my personal brand was] through other people. It was a great experience for me, and I highly recommend this experience.” -Gary
Oh by the way, He’s been to Space Force HQ.
About Gary Gattis: Gary is an Interdisciplinary leader guiding people and process to improve our world. Specialties include growth, operations, and management. Founded several companies at the intersection of technology and design, led extremely diverse teams to success.
Currently CEO for Hypergiant Galactic Systems, focussed on integrating Artificial Intelligence with the commercialization of Space.
More about Gary and his work and career at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygattis/
Interesting stuff about Hypergiant from Texas Monthly: Hypergiant aims to help its clients gather and analyze vast amounts of data. You’re working on improving the sensory perception of machines. You’re aiming to launch a network of small satellites gathering data from above. And you’re looking to empower “smart cities,” stitching together data from cameras that are increasingly everywhere
Hypergiant does sell—artificial intelligence-enabled software and hardware—and you’ll appreciate Lamm’s problem. Even many people lacking in technological savvy have heard of AI as a force with the potential to shape much of humanity’s future—for better or worse. Some of those people look to get into business with Hypergiant without any real idea of what it is they’re buying. They just know they want some. “It’s like the most addictive drug that no one’s ever had,” says Lamm, who serves as the company’s CEO.
Brian is the CEO of Solstar Space Company where they are working to create a ‘Space Wide Web’ to connect everything in space, to everyone on Earth. Solstar’s mission is to build and create the tools necessary to enable 24/7 secure, economical, convenient, two-way, internet-based communications with every “thing” in space, to be the ISP of choice in Earth Orbit and beyond.
“We are able to provide a Wi-Fi connection for payloads, and payload specialists, as well as future astronauts, during take off, landing and throughout their spaceflight.
In 2018 we sent the first commercial Tweet from Space. Imagine the first phone call during a commercial flight, the first selfie sent from the Kármán line, and the first instant results from payloads on-board a commercial spacecraft. Solstar Space Company can make that happen.” -Brian Barnett
NASA has government-supplied wi-fi for the current astronauts. But what about when commercial astronauts and you and I go to space? We’re going to want to be wi-fi connected, too- along with rovers, robots wi-fi enabled payloads to be connected, too. Brian’s company, Solstar Space, if working on providing world-class customer service, and we believe that this will revolutionize
“We enable you to do things for the first time in space. There are an infinite number of things people can do for the first time in space! We did the first commercial wi-fi in space, and the first commercial tweet in space, and I want to fly the first drumsticks in space as the first drummer!” -Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast
“Solstar is providing a commercial wi-fi service that people can purchase. More and more people will be flying in space, and wi-fi will be used for things in space- laptops, smartphones, wearable devices that astronauts will want to stay connected to.”- Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast
About Brian Barnett:
Brian Barnett barnett@solstarspace.com
Brian Barnett is a serial entrepreneur with 33 years’ experience in commercial space, the mobile satellite services industry, as a aerospace technologies at NASA, and at KPMG Consulting as a management consultant. He is Founder and CEO of Solstar Space Co., the first internet service provider for people, Internet of things and machines in space is that is developing technologies to build a Space Wide Web. On April 29th, 2018, Solstar demonstrated the first commercial two-way data and wi-fi hotspot service in space and Tweet from space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard crew capsule, using Barnett’s patent-pending technology. Mr. Barnett began his career at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center where he provided Space Shuttle payload integration services at the Payloads Project Office.
He also provided astronaut crew training in the Mission Operations Laboratory for Spacelab missions. At Johnson Space Center, he worked in the Missions Operations Directorate, and later worked on JSC’s 1992 Strategic Plan. He also managed a contract to document all Space Shuttle operations processes as directed by Congress after the Challenger accident. Later, as a management consultant for KPMG’s Space and High Technology group, he wrote dozens of business plans and market assessments for commercial space companies.
This is the group that very early and accurately, predicted that GPS applications would grow into the huge market it is today. Barnett led the Team that wrote the initial business plan and helped identify the best location for the spaceport that eventually became Spaceport America in New Mexico. Solstar Space is his third commercial space start-up. He earned a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma, a Masters in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a graduate of the International Space University. Mr. Barnett is a classically-trained rock and reggae drummer and is founder and producer of DrumsAstro®, an organization Connecting Artists and Musicians of all Genres to Space and Space Exploration.
About Soltar: www.SolstarSpace.com and www.Solstar.net
Solstar is the leading commercial satellite communications company pioneering the use of WiFi in space. We use existing commercial communications satellite networks in Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Earth Orbit. We provide space-to-space communications on spacecraft and bi-directional two-way data services for payloaders.
- Solstar is: Harnessing the power of the very best existing infrastructure to facilitate constant communication with space assets such as SmallSats, Astronauts, LEO platforms, suborbital/orbital spacecraft, and eventually Lunar and Mars exploration.
- Revolutionizing the way people on Earth communicate and interact with their payloads in space
- Improving the way space research is conducted and communicated from space to the ground and back again
- Protecting valuable space assets through enhanced two-way communication opportunities for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving issues.
- Providing reliable emergency backup communications for people and things in space
- Helping to solve the space junk problem enabling our customers to send the “re-enter” command using our embedded space communicator and service.
- Providing 24/7 customer service to payloaders/researchers previously not available to the market
Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. And, Chris is the author of Alcohol in Space, a perfect look at the past, present and future of alcohol in the story of human exploration.
Chris and Beth enjoy raising a glass and celebrating this rich history and look forward to how we will enjoy our libations in space, perhaps sooner than you might think. Cheers!
Enjoy this lively episode as Beth and Chris talk about the Star Wars (Mos Eisley) cantina, the bar from the movie Passengers, and the wise bartender in Star Trek (Guinan)...and more:
“Science fiction writers look at alcohol as a part of humanity within their stories. It’s naturally assumed alcohol will be part of our future in space in most science fiction writing.”- Chris Carberry from the Casual Space Podcast
About the Book: Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future
By Chris Carberry
Forward by Andy Weir
- https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/alcohol-in-space/ .
Alcohol in Space is the first book on this topic and examines the history of alcohol in space, as well as dozens of companies and projects that are exploring the possibilities of alcohol production in space. Some of these companies have sent barley experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). Whiskey producers Ardbeg and Suntory have also sent experiments to ISS, analyzing how whisky ages in microgravity.
“The production and consumption of alcohol has played a significant role in human society since the dawn of civilization,” stated author Chris Carberry. “Will this still hold true when humanity is exploring and settling the outer reaches of space?”
The book also highlights the long history of alcohol in human society, how alcohol has been addressed in science fiction, and space agriculture technologies. This volume is based on extensive research and interviews with some of the most prominent individuals in the space industry as well as the alcohol industry.
About Chris Carberry
https://www.exploremars.org/leader/chris-carberry/
Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community and has been responsible for growing many partnerships, grants and sponsorships for leading industry organizations. Currently, as CEO of Explore Mars, he acts as the main liaison for efforts and project ventures.
Prior to joining Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director to The Mars Society. In his early career, he acted as a member of the Steering Committee where he organized congressional outreach efforts around the country. He also played a leadership role in congressional outreach events such as the 2007-2017 Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz and has coordinated numerous briefing panels and other events on Capitol Hill over the past two decades.
In more recent years, he has organized and led successful international conferences including the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. In 2012, he represented Explore Mars as a delegate to the Mars500 Symposium in Moscow, Russia, and in 2013, he spearheaded the annual Humans to Mars Summit in Washington, DC that has become the largest annual conference in the world focused on sending humans to Mars. Carberry also helped to launch the Get Curious Campaign in 2012 and the Humans to Mars Report starting in 2015. Carberry is also a co-founder and co-chair of the Mars Achievability and Sustainability workshop series, and he recently launched the 1st AR/VR and Space workshop series. In 2018, under Carberry’s leadership, Explore Mars will also launch programs in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.
Carberry has presented both oral and written testimony to Congress and has contributed positioning work dealing with space exploration for the Republican Party’s National Platform in 2000. He is the author of scores of articles and Op-Ed pieces that have appeared in such publications as USA Today, US News and World Report, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, San Jose Mercury Times, Foxnews.com, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, The Telegram (UK), The Boston Herald and many other publications. He has been featured on national and international television and radio programs such as NBC Nightly News, Fox News, CNN, BBC World, and NPR and is frequently asked for commentary from print news outlets around the world.
Prior to his space career, Carberry worked as an archivist of modern political papers and was research assistant for numerous best-selling biographers.
Carberry received a B.A. degree in political science and a M.A. in history and archival methods
About Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/about/leadership/
Alcohol in Space on OTHER great podcasts!
- Planetary Radio - https://www.planetary.org/multimedia/planetary-radio/show/2019/1204-2019-chris-carberry-alcohol.htm
- Are we There Yet ? (Podcast) - Booze in Space? The Storied History and Bright Future of Alcohol In The Final Frontier - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/470937634/are-we-there-yet
- The Whisky Topic Podcast – http://whisky.buzz/thewhiskytopic
- What the If (Podcast) - https://whattheif.com/episodes/tag/alcohol
Jennifer Inman helps spacecraft enter the atmospheres of other worlds. She and the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team use a bunch of instruments on board a plane while it’s flying, follow a space vehicle’s reentry that’s traveling thousands of miles an hour (think Mach 25) from space back to Earth and find it through a field of view as small as a straw. Then, the SCIFLY team has to observe and keep the spacecraft in the middle of the field of view to gather the data necessary to study.
Together on the podcast, Beth and Jennifer talk heat shields, re-entry, Orion, Artemis, Hollywood film makers, and heat imaging and the surprising fact that parachutes on reentry vehicles can be quite challenging, and where she’ll be watching the historic spaceflight mission scheduled for May 27, 2020!
About NASA’s Forward to the Moon 20204 Mission: “As we talk about going back to the moon, it occurs to me WE haven’t been to the Moon… our generation has not been to the Moon..it’s important for US to figure out how we’re going to go to the Moon.” -Jennifer Inman on the Casual Space Podcast
Did you always know you would work for NASA one day? “When I was 6 years old, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut, a Mom, a teacher, and a waitress on roller skates. If it can’t be MY boots on the Moon, I’m going to daydream and work towards getting others there.”
About studying space and science in school: “I took physics on a whim and fell in love with it. It was all the beauty of calculus with answers that had connections to the real world. Once I got to quantum mechanics and relativity, I was hooked! I just loved the way I could look at the universe around me and have my understanding expanded, and just be in awe of the understanding of the universe we find ourselves in.”
Where to find Jennifer and her work at NASA:
https://www.innovationnow.us/index.php/2019/03/25/meet-jennifer-inman/
You’ve GOT to learn about SCIFLI:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/how-the-perfect-picture-advances-spaceflight
https://scifli.larc.nasa.gov/team-members-organizations/
The SCIFLI team is based at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA.
In 2007 the HYTHIRM team was formed at the NASA Langley Research Center through the support of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in order to determine the feasibility of obtaining high quality thermal imagery data of the Space Shuttle during hypersonic atmospheric reentry flight. The outcome of that study convinced the Space Shuttle Program Office to fund the HYTHIRM team to attempt to accomplish the goal of acquiring a single thermal image of the Space Shuttle during reentry. After returning with hundreds of thousands of frames of imagery acquired over an eight minute period of reentry, and after processing that thermal imagery to show that high quality measurements were not only possible but could provide unique and unexpected results, the HYTHIRM team conducted imaging operations on six more Shuttle reentries, the SpaceX C1 Dragon capsule reentry, and more. Every mission has been successful in meeting or exceeding the acquisition and processing of the desired data.
SCIFLI for Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery. The goal is to pursue the development and deployment of state of the art remote thermal, visual and spectral imaging capabilities from land, sea and airborne platforms over a multi-band spectrum.
How the Perfect Picture Advances Spaceflight
The researchers working on the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team acquire engineering quality data images of spacecraft launches, reentries, flight tests, and parachute tests from aircraft- and ground-based imaging systems. The SCIFLI team comprises members from multiple NASA centers, industry, academia, Department of Defense, and international and commercial partners, and together they support human spaceflight, improve aerodynamic models, and ultimately reduce mission risk.
“Our job is to get engineering data using telescopes on the ground or in the air,” said Dr. Jennifer Inman, SCIFLI project manager. “The imagery acquired during a test, launch, or re-entry yields flight-truth data.”
The team's core capability is quantitative thermal and hyperspectral imaging using state-of-the-art imaging systems with high spatial, spectral, and/or temporal resolution.
“We close the gap between ground testing in wind tunnels, computational fluid dynamics, and flight truth,” Inman said. “Even with the best ground testing, we can’t match every parameter of flight. A flight test allows us to interpret our ground testing data and improve our computational models.”
The team has been continuously improving their techniques since starting work in 2007 and has made more than 28 observations in 2019 alone, including parachute drop tests, spacecraft reentries, and rocket launches.
“Not just anyone with a high-resolution camera can do this work. We’re sometimes trying to acquire a target at horizon break, when the vehicle is hundreds of kilometers away; you have to get it right the first time because there are no do-overs,” Inman said.
Part of mission planning involves determining the best possible optics and lenses specific to the mission; in addition, radiance modelling is sometimes required to predict optimal sensor settings. To help sensor operators make these kinds of informed decisions, researcher Richard Schwartz created a virtual environment tool that takes into account parameters like focal length, relative angles between imaging target and imaging platform, exposure time, and aperture setting, to enable pre-configuration of the sensors which provides the sensor operators with a baseline plan for acquisition and tracking. He then incorporates mission-specific information like aircraft and/or test vehicle geometry, velocity, latitude, longitude, and altitude to generate synthetic imagery to allow the team to get the data every time.
The needs of the customer dictate the type of datasets the researchers pursue. The team has imaged seven Space Shuttle reentries, the return of JAXA's HAYABUSA spacecraft, the launch of several SpaceX rockets, the return of SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1, the return of three Commercial Resupply Services capsules, and dozens of tests of SpaceX Crew Dragon parachute systems required for crewed operation certification.
Over the last two years, the team has been conducting observations for Orion and both of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program partners -- SpaceX and Boeing. Many of these tests have occurred in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, and have involved testing to qualify parachutes for returning crewed vehicles to Earth. During these tests, darts, weigh sleds, Parachute Test Vehicles (PTV, a lower fidelity version of the Crew Dragon capsule), or boilerplate capsule models, are dropped from helicopters, balloons, or out the back of a cargo aircraft. The SCIFLI team is charged with capturing imagery that reveals intricate details of how the parachutes behave.
“Parachute performance is incredibly reliable under the loads and speeds involved in something like skydiving, but spaceflight occurs at higher speed and is much more challenging. The dynamic pressures are higher, so you need parachutes that can withstand higher impulse forces, and the air is thinner, which makes parachute inflation a less predictable process,” Inman said. “In addition, this higher performance requires parachute systems that are far more complex, with multiple parachutes deploying in several stages.”
The SCIFLI team is slated to do more work in 2020 with the Commercial Crew Program as it prepares to once again launch astronauts from US soil, with JAXA on the return of Hayabusa II from asteroid Ryugu, and with the Space Launch System and Orion Programs in preparation for Artemis and NASA’s return to the Moon in 2024 and journey to Mars.
Kristyn DamadeoNASA Langley Research Center
Rachel is from a newspaper family and started as a journalist, teacher, freelancer and exceptional writer. Then, Rachel joined Twitter, and started writing about NASA missions and soon became a storyteller and science ambassador for the International Space Station at NASA Johnson Space Center. Her official title is Communications Managing Editor for the International Space Station Program Science Office at Barrios Technology.
You’re going to want to know more about Rachel and her work, so here you are:
www.NASA.gov/iss/science
NASA Explorers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2aBZuCeDwlQDM6x6FpHE_X0iL7hvoRpR
“When you’re watching a launch, you’re looking at this incredible achievement of humanity and completely overwhelming visually, audibly, and then you think, ‘There are people up there that I just talked to just days before!’.”-Rachel Barry from Casual Space Podcast
“I’ve learned from NASA coming from an outside perspective, having the advantage of NOT working at NASA for 20+ years- and I can approach things in a way most everyday folks would, so it’s helped me be a good communicator.” -Rachel
“’You can’t be what you can’t see’ is a shortened version of a longer quote from Sally Ride. It’s important for me to share that there are so many brilliant women at NASA, on station, and supporting station, and that there’s a place for women here at NASA. I’m excited to see what the future looks like for space exploration and how we have evolved to better reflect what our society is, and how we can all be represented.” - Rachel
Where to find Rachel and follow the SCIENCE on Station:
Twitter | NASA.gov | Watch NASA Explorers: Microgravity
The Outer Space Treaty is vague. Rebekah believes there’s a way to encourage the international community and develop education to balance opportunities for everyone to use and benefit from the resources space can provide.
We talk Space Force, NASA, private space companies, international and domestic treaties and everything in between. When it comes to space law and policy, sometimes the answers can be as interesting as the questions. So let’s dive in and discuss!
“I think we need to be more responsible about space. I think we need to look at space as this avenue for uniting rather than dividing. In some ways, I’m a real optimist.” -Rebekah Rounds on Casual Space Podcast
Valuable resources Rebekah mentions on the show:
- A certificate program for non-lawyers (ideal for CEOs and executives of space start-up companies) at The University of Mississippi https://law.olemiss.edu/academics-programs/llm/
- The American Bar Association https://www.americanbar.org/groups/air_space/divisions/divisions/
- The New Space Conference https://spacefrontier.org/newspace2020/
About Rebekah:
Rebekah Rounds is a Maryland and California-licensed attorney whose private practice focuses on corporate law, start-ups related to emerging technologies and industries, telecommunications, and domestic and international space law and policy.
Before graduating with her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law in 2014, Rebekah served as a legal fellow for the Chairman of the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Steven Palazzo. Under Chairman Palazzo, Rebekah researched international and domestic space law, space law issues related to Federal Acquisition Regulations and Space Act Agreements, and various legal issues pertaining to NASA Reauthorization, commercial space policy, and liability and indemnity regimes for private space launch actors.
In 2017 Rebekah published her paper “The Intersection of U.S. Space Policy Goals and National Security Needs: An Argument for a Regulatory Regime Oversight Commission That Balances Space-Related Policy Interests” in the Journal of Space Law. In 2018 she graduated with her LL.M. in Air and Space Law from the University of Mississippi.
Rebekah believes that the future of space activity relies on a well-established education pipeline.
Dr. Sarah Imam teaches advanced physiology and environmental physiology at the Citadel. She helps describe for us on the podcast what our human body has to endure in extreme environments, including microgravity environments like the astronauts work and live in. Our future in space requires our full understanding of the space environment, and the effects it will have on us as humans. While Sarah’s perspective is optimistic, the space environment is not looking like a favorable one for our human bodies.
Here’s are some interesting questions Dr. Sarah and I ponder together:
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When you go into these extreme environments (like space), there are so many detrimental effects on our human body, so understanding the impacts of microgravity is going to be more important as we humans continue explore space. Or, are we just not intended to be space travelers?
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Sarah asks me what I’m likely to do when I fall into the icy cold water… and the answer is the complete opposite what I would have thought…
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Is it possible to mind over matter our bodies into health?
“When your body is aware that it will be exposed to a different environment, it helps you to be better prepared.”-Dr. Sarah Wallace from Casual Space Podcast
About Dr. Sarah: Sarah A. Imam M.D.
www.citidel.edu (Health and Human Performance)
Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. She teaches physiology-based classes, including graduate-level Environmental Physiology, which incorporates physiology of microgravity. Her training is in neurology and the neurosciences, and her current research involves the study of physical impact and activity upon the brain. She currently works on glioblastoma research at MUSC and has numerous student-based research projects.
Sarah is an advisor of the health professions and has introduced and designed programs to maximize the applicant’s chances of admission. She has developed a pre-health app (patent pending), and she runs one of the top healthcare study abroad program’s in the nation. She will be co-presenting her study abroad work with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) conference in June 2020. Sarah started the Citadel Health Career’s Society, which organizes student volunteering in the community. Sarah was recognized for her work by being the recipient of the 2019 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an award for excellence of character and service to humanity.
Sarah is a board member of the Southern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (SAAHP) and a member of The Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) in the NAAHP. Sarah is a member of several associations and has numerous leadership roles.
Seeing a launch from a young age inspired a clear goal for Debi Tomek: a calling to work at NASA and help enable a sustainable human presence in space beyond Earth.
Working towards this goal is exactly what Debi Tomek is doing, serving as the Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate where she leads the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM).
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NASA has needed to shift and change just like everyone else, being innovative and flexible is NOT a new concept for NASA- The NASA ability to innovate and bring space-based solutions to us on Earth is what keeps Debi and the NASA teams going. Applying ways to help solve the current COVID problem for humanity -whether it be using NASA’s super computers and coders, algorithms, and understanding models, to the ways NASA implements new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to computation of fluid dynamic to study penetrating different materials in the masks that folks are wearing.
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Learn what OSAM stands for and why it will CHANGE the future of space and the Mars Perseverance rover mission launched later this summer
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The many ways Aretims IS SO different from Apollo
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“If you’re life’s work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you’re not thinking big enough” is a quote that fuels Debi and her work to think beyond the Moon, Mars and even further!
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NASA HAS TECHNOLOGY READY TO GO. Right now today- ready to be used on the surface of Mars, and the Moon- working with commercial partners to develop the technologies- is EXACTLY the business model NASA’s has been planning for!
About how NASA is working within the COVID-19 challenges: “At NASA, we're used to having to figure out how to operate and live around constraints. Think of space, think of everything we've got to do up there. You can't go outside on the space station very easily without any kind of being suited up and being protected. We can't get ourselves under the surface of the moon or to Mars, without having the proper constraints and limitations and understanding risk. So even though that's extreme sense, I think our ability at NASA to innovate and just think like that is helping us with the folks that are healthy, with COVID.
How can we think out of the box, what innovations do we have in our way of thinking and how can we apply that to helping solve this problem for humanity whether it be our super computers and our coders, in the algorithm, and us understanding models, whether it be in our ability to innovate new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to other areas, and they're actually using a lot of our computation through a dynamic spokes to do computer modeling of flow through masks that folks are wearing to understand how much is actually penetrating different materials.
We're shifting like everybody else, but we're really trying to take how we think, how we innovate and how we've addressed challenges in space and how can we apply that thinking to here on Earth to help with this problem. Right now, that is a little glimmer of hope that's really kept us going.”-Debi Tomek from Casual Space Podcast
About Debi Tomek:
Deborah (Debi) Tomek began her career with NASA in 1997 at Langley Research Center. Ms. Tomek has over 20 years of research and technical management experience at NASA and Lockheed Martin.
Throughout her career Ms. Tomek has served numerous roles inclusive of researcher, principal investigator, test engineer, and technical manager on numerous cross-Agency projects and programs. Ms. Tomek’s research in flight vehicle dynamic stability characterization was instrumental in the development of numerous flight vehicle aerodatabases inclusive of the NASA Orion Crew Module and Launch Abort System (LAS).
During the Space Shuttle Program, Ms. Tomek managed the Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements (HYTHIRM) Project that was responsible for obtaining high resolution spatially resolved temperature measurements of the Shuttle Orbiter as it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. Ms. Tomek also served as the HEOMD Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Space Radiation manager and the STMD Advanced Radiation Project manager leading teams in the development of passive radiation shielding systems, space weather forecasting codes, and integrated space vehicle hardware in support of long duration human spaceflight.
Ms. Tomek spent nearly four years with NASA Headquarters leading cross-Agency technical capability assessments for the NASA Associate Administrator in support of the development of the Capability Leadership Model and the new Agency operating model. Since her return from Headquarters she has served as Chief of Staff at NASA Langley Research Center working to promote, collaborate, and evolve the projects and capabilities of the Center before moving into her current role as Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED). In this role Ms. Tomek is currently leading the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM).
Ms. Tomek holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University in Auburn, AL, and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.
Learn More about OSAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP4_Q7iIlb0
NASA Technologies https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/index.html
NASA Mars Perseverance Mission: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance/overview
Anima is the Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager & xEMU Spacesuit Engineer at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Anima recently moved to Texas after 20 years in California to pursue her dream to become a NASA astronaut. Her journey has been a long one, but always determined, driven, sometimes sacrificing, and never wavering. Her steadfast and unyielding approach has finally come to fruition with a formal astronaut application when NASA opened the applications and invited candidates to apply for a 30 day window in March. * Since she was a young child, Anima wanted to be an astronaut. Growing up in India, a clear path toward achieving her dream was just not available. So she moved, and made her own path towards the stars…
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Anima came to the US as a software engineer in 2000. Becoming a U.S. Citizen was a 12 year endeavor. She just finished her 3rd Masters Degree.
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Anima explains her MANY NASA adventures and endeavors, including looking for life on other planets (exoplanets), how Kepler worked, and Anima believes there is life in the universe and we are capable of finding it.
“I don’t want to die thinking, ‘what if I tried?’ I want to die with the satisfaction knowing I tried!. If I get selected (to be a NASA astronaut), I would be the happiest person on this Earth. It will be like my life has come full circle. All my life I’ve worked towards this goal, and it would be all worth it!”-Anima from Casual Space Podcast
Advice for young students and want-to-be astronauts: “I don’t know how far I will get, but I am enjoying the journey! Have a career you see yourself doing every day and enjoy it!”
About Anima:
Anima Patil-Sabale is an Aerospace, Software and Human Factors Engineer, currently working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for Jacobs as Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager and xEMU Spacesuit Engineer. Prior to this she has worked on NASA’s Kepler Mission and in NASA’s Intelligence Systems Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center. She worked in the software industry for 14 years before coming to work for NASA.
Anima has a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Master’s in Space Studies - Human Factors, Master’s in Computer Applications and a BS in Physics.
While Anima aspires to be a NASA Astronaut and is preparing herself for the same, she is also a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for commercial spaceflight research projects during her off-work hours. After selection and training, Anima has been participating in upper-atmospheric and bioastronautics research as a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for Project PoSSUM. She has trained in the topics of Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Environment, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing and Aerospace Cinematography, Spaceflight Simulation and Operations, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Methods, Introduction to Aerospace Physiology and Life Support Systems, and Celestial Navigation and Atmospheric Scattering.
She has flown several parabolas aboard a Falcon 20 aircraft while participating in the testing of a commercial spacesuit in zero-G. She has also flown a high-altitude mission in a Mooney aircraft to study noctilucent clouds.
She has been in a 6-inch head-down tilt position for a NASA Simulated Microgravity Fluid Loading study.
She has spun in a centrifuge and experienced up to 6-G's as she contributed to a Federal Aviation Administration study.
Anima has been a Commander for NASA’s HERA VII in 2015, an analog mission to an asteroid.
In April 2018 she has been a Commander for a Martian Analog Mission at the Mars Desert Research Station. She has also been a First Tier Support Engineer for the Hi-SEAS Analog and Simulation missions since 2014. She has been participating and contributing towards the research required for long-duration space missions.
She is a certified scuba diver, and a student pilot (105 hours logged).
She has also completed the following trainings: Land and Sea Survival, Spacecraft Emergency Egress, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Method in addition to several others.
Anima loves working with the younger generation the most, to provide them the guidance she missed out on growing up. She is an Assistant Scout Master and a STEM-NOVA mentor for the BoyScouts of America. She is a NASA Girls Mentor and a NASA Speakers Bureau member. She’s also been a First Lego Robotics team coach. She has delivered several talks in the US and in India including a TEDx talk while she pursues her motto to Inspire, Guide and Motivate the younger generation.
Her work has been recognized and appreciated by people everywhere. She has received the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence 2017 award and is a “Forty Woman Over Forty To Watch Out For” honoree. Rocket-women.com, Silicon Valley Business Journal, TriValley Journal are just a few of the several publications that have published a feature on Anima’s journey to share her story to inspire and motivate young and old, alike. Here is the rocket-women.com feature:
https://rocket-women.com/2016/05/meet-a-rocket-woman-anima-patil-sabale-nasa/
She’s also a choreographer, dancer, singer, poet artist, and a model. But above all she is a Mom to her two handsome boys.
Learn More About Anima!
http://www.facebook.com/animpatilsabale
http://www.animapatilsabale.com
Watch Anima’s Ted Talk!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZv9TBPrKp0
A 6th grade science teacher, a field trip to the Cosmosphere, lots of hard work, several advanced degrees, and a NASA internship has all been a influential part of Dr. Sarah Wallace’s journey. Dr. Sarah Wallace has always been in love with space, and through her work at NASA, she’s found her calling.
As a microbiologist, Sarah serves as the principal investigator for the Biomolecule Sequencer, allowing DNA to be sequenced in space on board the International Space Station. Talking to Sarah is like talking to your best friend, if your best friend happens to be a super-smart, yet down-to-Earth NASA microbiologist!
Beth and Sarah energetically enjoy discussing:
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The Kansas Cosmosphere and how it fostered the joy and inspiration for Sarah to understand space
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How we are all just walking bacteria…
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What it’s like to see her experiments be flown on the International Space Station, including the first ever DNA sequencer in space!
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AND, having a space wedding. Not just a space-themed wedding, I mean, a serious space nerd let’s-take-this-all-the-way SPACE wedding. Short of actually having it IN space.
About Dr. Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaEqVYw7O3g
Taken from adafruit.com: Dr. Sarah Wallace is currently is the NASA Microbiologist and Principal Investigator for the Genes in Space-3 Project aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She works at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wallace conducts research to understand how the environment in space alters the behavior of microbes and runs her tests aboard the ISS. This will help us to one day identify microbes in-flight. The recent Biomolecule Sequencer (MinION) that Wallace worked on, showed that DNA sequencing in space is possible.
BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES:
On being a female in microbiology: “I had a pretty even split of females and males in my graduate classes, and at my lab here at NASA, we have TONS of female scientists, and it’s really exciting! I have several female colleagues that started with me right out of their undergrad or Ph. D. programs and have blossomed into become these phenomenal scientists! I feel like things are really opening up for anyone who is qualified and passionate, and it’s no longer a stereotypical ‘man’s world’.
I got to meet with some of the women from the Apollo mission, and most of them were assistants. Now, females are running the divisions and the directorates, and females leading as subject matter experts in all disciplines. It’s really great to see how big that change has been since Apollo.
Sarah attended Wichita State and loved microbiology, and molecular biology. Determined to find a graduate program that had both, Sarah found the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The NASA connection and fellowships in the life sciences through NASA allowed Sarah to conduct most of her research at the NASA Johnson Space Center for her Ph.D. dissertation.
“It’s been a rewarding path, steppingstones often presented themselves to me, AND, I worked REALLY hard to make that happen. I was laser focused to get to NASA.”
About Being a Part of the Team to Put the First DNA Sequencer on Station: “If you just stop and think about it, something that’s very complex on Earth, sequencing DNA, has become commonplace in space! We have DNA sequencing in space! We have been sequencing DNA on board ISS since 2016. To date, we’ve done about 30 sequencing runs with about 6 different astronauts. Why that’s important: it’s been not only an incredible achievement, and there are SO many applications… from my area we monitor the station (air and water microbes) and we have no way to do that unless we bring the samples back to Earth, which does not set us up very well as we try to move away from low-Earth orbit and not be dependent on sample return. My team developed a method where we could go all the way from sample to answer not only to fly the sequencer, but we developed all the preparation methods to take a swab of anything really and sequence the microbial DNA from that swab. The things we find are common and they are the same things we find in your room. ISS is incredibly clean.
About What’s Next: “I have colleagues who are interested in getting in the human health domain. We know humans are changing in response to spaceflight. The hows and whys and what’s really going on are not widely known, so this technology can be very powerful in helping us understand this better. Based on an astronaut’s genetic makeup, there could be a “eat this, do this kind of exercise” monitoring to understand if they are responding favorably or poorly to the recommendations (based on the sequencing) and really get into a precision medicine type approach. This (sequencing technology) is definitely something that I see moving into a doctor’s office for everyone’s benefit.
On DNA and RNA sequencing and epigenetics- “Yes, there’s absolutely ways that we ourselves are regulating what genes are turned on or off through these mechanisms, HOW that’s happening and to what responses are the types of questions that we are looking to answer right now.”
On What Happens When Girls Get to Meet Sarah (as a Doctor, as a Scientist, as a NASA researcher for Station): “It’s surreal.” Between all of the amazing opportunities I’ve had since we launched the sequencer in 2016 until now, I’ve had more people ask for my autograph and to take selfies with me.. it’s like, ‘what is happening? I’m just a nerd!’ It’s incredible and it makes me feel so good. NASA has a video series called, “What’s on Board?” and I was fortunate to talk about the DNA sequencer. There was a young girl in the audience interested in science journalism, and she came up to me after the program and said to me, ‘You are NOT what I expected a NASA scientist to be!’ It made me feel really good because obviously I connected with her.”
What’s On the Horizon: “I look forward to when we can address those opportunities with cutting edge technologies, making sure we’re making the environment safe for the crew, and then using these technologies to learn more about what happens to life in space. We are at the cusp of this really exciting time where we know things change, but we don’t really understand the hows and the whys and the next decade is really going to start to shine light into these answers, and I’m excited to see NASA using these technologies to understand what’s happening in space with cellular life.”
MORE!!!!
On International Space Station DNA Sequencing:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/dna_sequencing
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/biomolecule_sequencer
KIDS! Students! Check out Genes in Space- YOUR opportunity to fly an experiment in SPACE: https://www.genesinspace.org/
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If you've ever wondered how astronauts might survive a deep-space mission or how we might use biology to transform new worlds, Genes in Space is for you:
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- Propose an experiment that utilizes molecular biology capabilities aboard the ISS, specifically polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
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- Test your hypothesis in the ultimate lab: The International Space Station
Kelly Larson has climbed mountains. Literally and figuratively.
(Check out her TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49CaCeC4C_Y)!
As the CEO of Aquarian Space, there’s always challenges to be overcome, just like the challenges we must overcome within our universe. Major space weather events. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections. Don’t worry, Kelly’s working on it.
Beth and Kelly share a casual conversation that answers:
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What’s more difficult? Being a CEO to a space start-up, or completing a Ph.D.?
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What motivates Kelly to climb mountains when it can be SO DIFFICULT?
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A LOT of our asteroid detection is done by volunteers. This global threat has some great people working on this and they’re doing a great job. Is it enough?
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Which leadership traits can be implemented from years of yoga practice and instruction?
“This industry is a key essential about life… our capacity to be in touch with the wonder and the awe that space reminds us of. To be in touch with that, I believe, makes us better humans.”-Kelly Larson from Casual Space Podcast
About Kelly Larson: CEO of Aquarian Space, TEDx speaker and a serial entrepreneur, Kelly Larson, ABD, is an innovator at the intersection of business, science and leadership. As a farm girl grown into a Yoga and transformation entrepreneur turned space CEO, she trail-blazes new business ventures and connects people and ideas across the globe. Kelly is widely known for her innovative approaches to business and her strategic range. She currently specializes in aerospace market-ready development strategies with an emphasis in collaborative international partnerships and high-level entrepreneurial ventures. Kelly sees that we can only develop a strong interplanetary economy together.
“We’re going to network the solar system so that people going to Jupiter, anybody that wants to go out into space can send a signal back to Earth- we’re offering a higher data capacity option.”
About Aquarian Space: https://aquariandevices.com/
Aquarian Space (formerly Devices) is the world’s first commercial Space Based Interplanetary Communications Provider.
Their Space Based Relay Network allows customers to send and receive high volumes of uninterrupted streaming data quickly and reliably, 24/7.
Aquarian Devices is building the foundational infrastructure for a fully networked Solar System that will relieve a major bottleneck in lunar and deep space communications and open the door for humanity’s expansion into the next frontier.
PS- Aquarian Devices is currently looking for a CTO, and a COO! More details at the end of the show notes.
BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES:
On being a female CEO: “During today’s space conference, I’ve been noticing on the panels where both male and female CEO’s are presenting, the females are asked about risk, and the males are asked about their upsides.” I feel like I’m paddling upstream sometimes. I prefer to be kind, and a relational-based person. That means that (at times) people tend to often underestimate me. I have advantages: I can relate with people really well. I have a fresh energy.
What I see in my future is an adventure. To me, being a woman and being a leader is not just about breaking stereotypes, it’s also about bringing the gifts that are innate. I have different hormones in my body and I’m wired differently, so I feel delighted in trailblazing as one of many women that’s about femininity that’s really powerful in leadership.”
About Being a CEO: “I’ve done start-ups before. The bootstrapping. It’s hard. I mean, it’s really hard. Raising capital is a whole other level with the team. Doing a start up with one of the more audacious technologies, and one of the most ‘out there’ industries, it was so hard. It was so challenging. I just listened to my gut and I just knew that this was going to be a long-term thing for me. I got through the first layer of fire, and now it’s really fun.”
“I never questioned that I was supposed to be doing this. When I’m committed, I’m committed. What kept me climbing mountains and walking through fires (as a CEO)? The answer today, is that it’s FUN. I’m not just getting to create a really cool company in an incredible industry, but a company that’s going to make a major impact on the space industry AND, one of the technologies our company makes possible are space weather and asteroid detection, which are two of the biggest threats to human kind. I get to literally and very functionally contribute to the preservation of our species!”
“I get to speak about space, and get people re-connected to space and the beauty & magnificence of it. It feels like a privilege and an honor. It is so hard and it’s great.”
About Solving the Problems of Space Threats: “NeoCam Near-Earth Object Camera is coming, and it will help, but it doesn’t help cover all of the problems. So what we can do at Aquarian Devices is the first high-data rate deep space communication, to help with space weather and asteroid detection. Through 360 degree cameras and AI, we are able to get the data so that the brilliant scientists on Earth can predict and track the threats.”
On the Space Exploration Industry from Kelly’s Unique Perspective: “Space right now is in this profound moment of growth and change. It is THE time that start-ups are starting to thrive and take off. Everything is changing right now.”
Aquarian Devices: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Salary Upon Funding • Co-Founder equity position to vest with milestones
Aquarian Space is an interplanetary communications start-up company offering 24/7 high data rate, high speed delivery relay satellites between the Moon, Mars and Earth. The targeted customer markets are international space agencies, international defense agencies and commercial space explorers.
Aquarian Space is a growing startup seeking a full-time executive to develop and execute key technology plans. We have strong innovative designs and customer interest, solid partnerships forming and dedicated cofounders to build with. Initially, the compensation will be equity-only. However, with the execution of near-term plans to acquire both revenue and funding in the next quarter, a salary will be immediately introduced.
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the company. The CTO works closely with the CEO and executive management and reports to the CEO. Using an active and practical approach, the CTO will direct all employees in Engineering Department to attain the company’s established strategic goals. The company is young, so incoming CTO will also help define the position itself.
To ensure success you should have a clear understanding of our company’s core values and culture. Top candidates will be experienced in the aerospace start up industry, exemplary leaders, have superb technical and business acumen and have sound understanding of lunar and deep space communications.
CORE VALUES:
Trust, integrity, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, co-creation, service, respect, honor, playfulness, freedom to do it differently, simplicity and boundaries.
CTO RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Works with CEO and Chief Inventor to establish the company’s technical vision and leads all aspects of the company’s technological development.
- Directs the company’s technical strategic direction, development and future growth.
- Works in a consultative fashion with other department heads, such as sales and operations, in service of collaborative support.
- Provide leadership in a fashion that supports the company’s culture, mission and values.
- Coordinates with Chief Inventor on research and case studies on leading edge technologies and makes determinations on the probability of implementation.
- Acts as a good steward of Aquarian Space by co-creating an economically efficient, culturally inspiring company that produces robust technology with integrity.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Co-Founder equity position Aquarian Space is an interplanetary communications start-up company offering 24/7 high data rate, high speed delivery relay satellites between the Moon, Mars and Earth. The targeted customer markets are international space agencies, international defense agencies and commercial space explorers. Aquarian Space is a growing startup seeking a full-time executive to develop and execute key technology plans. We have strong innovative designs and customer interest, solid partnerships forming and dedicated cofounders to build with. Initially, the compensation will be equity-only. However, with the execution of nearterm plans to acquire both revenue and funding in the next quarter, a salary will be immediately introduced. We are looking for a seasoned COO to create and refine our company’s operational processes. The COO will assist in compiling the company's budget and employ strategies to safeguard assets, compile financial reports, and control financial policies and procedures until the CFO comes on board. The COO will team up with management to implement business strategies. The company is young, so incoming COO will also help define the position itself. To ensure success you should have a clear understanding of our company’s core values and culture. Top candidates will be experienced in the start up aerospace industry, exemplary leaders, have superb business acumen and have sound understanding of tech industry business strategies. CORE VALUES: Trust, integrity, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, co-creation, service, respect, honor, playfulness, freedom to do it differently, simplicity and boundaries.
COO RESPONSIBILITIES: • Assist the CEO to scale business and grow through Seed & Series A rounds. • Work with executive team to build company culture. • Work together with key participants to refine operations budget. • Spearheading strategies to steer the company’s future in a positive direction. • Driving the company’s operating capabilities to surpass customer satisfaction and retention, and company goals. • Implement better business practices. • Delegate responsibilities to ensure staff members grow as capable participants. • Employ various initiatives to coach employees to optimize their capabilities.
- PODCASTS!!!
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- Casual Space Podcast! I love #61 with Bill Nye and #65 with Matthew Dominick
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- Houston, We Have a Podcast – Mission Patches, Episode #130
- Houston, We Have a Podcast – Art and Space with Astronaut Nicole Stott #129
- Planetary Radio – The Return of Cosmos with Ann Duryan
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NETFLIX and SHOWS
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- Cosmos: Possible Worlds (On National Geographic)
- The EXPANSE (On Syfy)
- Picard (Star Trek) This is on CBS All-Access, but DON’T PAY- right now it’s FREE.
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MUSEUMS
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- Virtual Tours at your local museum, planetarium or observatory- or NATIONAL Museum. Have fun looking at different museums and locations!
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GO OUTSIDE..
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- Star Finder app, Sky Watch app
- Sky Live app and there’s many more to choose from
- Telescopes! Binoculars! Looking up with the naked eyes!
- International Space Station sighting!
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MODEL ROCKET
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- Kits available at: Walmart!
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Old School Videos from our Nation’s Favorite Science Guy, BILL NYE!
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- Planets and Moons
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MASTER CLASS video subscription learning service
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- Chris Hadfield
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S’MORE MAGAZINE
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- https://www.smoremagazine.com/
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LIBRARY and other FREE downloads and educational resources galore!
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- E-learning downloads from your local library.
- NASA’ has an INCREDIBLE “NASA at Home” that I’m LOVING. It’s got a little something for everyone.
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BOOKS
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- Alcohol in Space, by Chris Carberry
- The Girl Who Named Pluto, by Alice McGinty
- Here We Are, Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers
- What If? By Randall Munroe
- Space 2.0 by Rod Pyle
Irene Woerner is no stranger to start ups (she’s built a few) and is a certified space expert; she was the principal investigator on research and ground software on the Pluto missions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory AND, while at NASA, she led a team of researchers on advanced information systems.
Currently, Irene is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of emTRUTH, because she believes in the transformative power of innovative technologies combined with people of excellence to make it happen. Prior to emTRUTH, Irene was a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies.
Beth and Irene finally meet in person at SPACECOM Expo, and share a casual conversation that includes:
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What emTruth works to provide: technology that self-detects and self-fixes devices and cyber security in the world and in the aerospace industry.
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How influential a summer camp opportunity (in Hawaii) was for Irene’s future and love for science…
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What it’s like to be able to select the people you WANT to work with, and what happens when you love the work you do… and
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About working at NASA, why playing softball at NASA was so important, and how having the support from your family helps encourage career success
“I founded the company on two principals. One, I wanted to do something that I believed in. Two, I wanted to do it with people that I really liked.” -Irene Woerner from Casual Space Podcast
About Irene Woerner: Irene Woerner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder
Irene co-founded emTRUTH, because she believes in the transformative power of innovative technologies combined with people of excellence to make it happen. Prior to emTRUTH, Irene was a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies. emTRUTH is Irene’s second start-up. Irene spent many years at NASA JPL and was responsible for flight and ground software on the Pluto mission. While at JPL, she also led a team of researchers on advanced information systems.
About emTruth: https://www.emtruth.com/
Every company is a data company. Cybersecurity, authenticity, traceability and compliance are all important factors for this data.
Powered by an innovative blockchain technology stack, emTRUTH provides secure and trusted solutions for enduring value.
Beth sits down with NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick last week at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to discuss his work as an Artemis Generation astronaut. At the time of his selection as an Astronaut Candidate in June 2017, Matt was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, a Naval Aviator, and a department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115.
He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours in 28 aircraft models, 400 carrier arrestments, 61 combat missions, and nearly 200 flight test carrier landings (arrested and touch-and-go). Yep, it’s impressive. And the conversation Matt and Beth share is just as impressive! Listen to hear highlights that include:
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Where Matt was and what he was doing when he “got the call” to welcome him to the NASA astronaut corp (Once Matt found out he was selected as an astronaut, Matt called someone incredibly special from the ship and asked her not to tell a soul! Listen to find out who)
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What cultural impression stayed with Matthew after living in Japan
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Matt’s used to living in many places, but the BUGS of Texas have their own story…
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How exploring space is like exploring the south pole…
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Matt’s thoughts regarding the NASA Administrator’s goal to return to the Moon in2024
This is a unique time at NASA- For the first time in more than four years, NASA began accepting applications Monday for future astronauts. Aspiring Moon to Mars explorers have until 11:59 p.m. EDT Tuesday, March 31, to apply.
The call for more astronauts comes at a time when the agency is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the Moon with the Artemis program. Exploring the Moon during this decade will help prepare humanity for its next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.
U.S. citizens may submit applications to #BeAnAstronaut at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/561186900
About Becoming a NASA Astronaut:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/an-astronaut-s-guide-to-applying-to-be-an-astronaut
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/news/2015/11/4/so-you-want-to-be-an-astronaut/
About Matthew:
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/matthew-dominick/biography
Summary:
Matthew Dominick was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reported for duty in August 2017 and having completed the initial astronaut candidate training is now eligible for a mission assignment. The Colorado native earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego and a Master of Science degree in in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He graduated from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He has more than 1,600 hours of flight time in 28 aircraft, 400 carrier-arrested landings, and 61 combat missions.
Personal Data:
Dominick was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He is married to Faith Dominick, and the couple has two daughters. His parents, Donald and Rhonda Dominick, still live in Wheat Ridge.
Education:
Graduated from D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School in Golden, Colorado. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego with minors in Physics and Mathematics. Earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland.
Experience:
Dominick was commissioned through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) following graduation from the University of San Diego in 2005 and reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He was designated as a Naval Aviator in 2007 and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Following his initial training, Dominick was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 143. He made two deployments to the North Arabian Sea, flying close air support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While with Strike Fighter Squadron 143, Dominick was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School / U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Co-Operative Program, where he earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.
Designated a developmental test pilot in 2013, Dominick was assigned to the fixed wing carrier suitability flight test department of Air Test Evaluation Squadron 23. There he served as developmental flight test project officer for a variety of carrier suitability test programs, including MAGIC CARPET, Joint Precision Approach & Landing Systems, Infrared Search and Track Pod, and the precision approach and landing certification of aircraft carriers. He flew developmental flight tests in the F/A-18ABCD, F/A-18E/F, and EA-18G. Additionally, he contributed to X-47B, Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance and Strike, V-22, T-45, E-2C, C-2A, and F-35C test programs.
In 2016, Dominick returned to an operational naval squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 115, flying F/A-18E Super Hornets in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces stationed in Atsugi, Japan.
At the time of his selection as an Astronaut Candidate in June 2017, Dominick was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, a Naval Aviator, and a department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115. He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours in 28 aircraft models, 400 carrier arrestments, 61 combat missions, and nearly 200 flight test carrier landings (arrested and touch-and-go).
NASA Experience:
Dominick reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. He is currently awaiting flight assignment.
Awards/Honors:
2015 Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test Pilot of the Year; Member of the 2015 Department of the Navy Test Team of the Year; Strike Flight Air Medal (three awards); Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal; and Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards)
Organizations:
Society of Experimental Test Pilots Society of Flight Test Engineers and Tailhook Association.
Norah started photography in high school, from a camera her father gave her. By playing around with her camera and just shooting pictures, she fell in love with photography. Then she went to school to study imaging and photographic technology. After several NASA summer internships and lots of networking, Norah was brought on at NASA Johnson Space Center as a Science Photographer. You can see her talented work, along with her colleagues at www.images.nasa.gov
Norah got her first NASA internship at the NASA Langley Research Center, working on videos and interviews for several projects. Discovering the archives at Langley had the most incredible things- flags, scuba gear! Then Norah got a contact at NASA Ames Research Center for her next internship, and learned how to photograph lasers with mirrors and light source. A brave application later to Johnson Space Center for a full-time photographer position landed her the job that allows her to see everything that happens within the entire center!
Every day’s assignment is different at NASA JSC- you never know what’s next, so there’s lots of fun to be had and lots to learn. Norah set up a baseball field shoot to test the Artemis space suits’ movement capabilities! You can see the baseball shot at www.Images.NASA.gov.
“I was taking all of the art classes and I was missing science. I didn’t feel challenged the way I wanted to be challenged, so I went to a panel of graduates from all of the photo degrees, and discovered a NASA photographer who talked about his work and the idea of working for NASA was something that got in my brain and that was it for me. I applied to every internship I could!”
“My all-time favorite assignment I got to do it train/ camp with the new astronaut class when they did their required geology studies for a week and I got to camp with them and learn, too!...I set up my camera and got to shoot time-lapse photos of the stars every night. They are called star trails. One of the astronauts that came along was Don Pettit, and we got to talk about star trails from the space station that he saw, and the star trails I was shooting from the Earth from the dessert. It was really cool.”
“There were a lot of qualified candidates to choose from when I applied for my position. I asked the person who hired me what shoot out to select me. He said it was my passion and excitement for NASA that allowed me to be selected.”
What’s next for Norah? Shooting high-speed photography from simulations and tests that need images from some pretty fast photos (think launches, tests and planned explosions)!
Some advice from up and coming artists who may want to work for NASA from Norah:
“There are so many creative opportunities needed here at NASA, like lighting, audio engineers, videographers, producers, it’s not just scientists and engineers. Apply for EVERYTHING, it does not matter if you have all the qualifications. And wherever you are, network. It’s what got me here. Always be open to talking to people about what you love.”
There’s no title big enough to hold the accomplishments and aspirations for Taylor Winkelman. What has this woman NOT done? Just read her bio. Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Legislative Assistant. Veterinarian. Army Sergeant. Advocate for space policy in Washington D.C. In general, Taylor works to make our world a better place for all of us. And, in typical Taylor fashion, why stop with the world? Let’s bring the benefits of the UNIVERSE- the many benefits that space exploration brings us - available to all. Taylor will lead the way.
About Taylor, in her own words: I am currently working as a consultant for health security and humanitarian outreach issues in the Washington, DC area. I previously served as a Legislative Assistant in the office of Senator Edward J. Markey, primarily working on foreign relations, military and veterans issues, science and space issues, and global health issues. I also contributed to agriculture, animal rights, and veterinary issues within the context of our office's work. I paid particular attention to humanitarian crises, international development, human rights, the outer space treaty, and global health issues such as cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
I spent six years in the Army as a Cryptologic Voice Intercept Operator, leaving as a Sergeant (E5). I led a team of 12 joint service members working a strategic mission, and a squad of 7 soldiers who worked on other missions. I deployed to Baghdad in support of OIF2. Honorably discharged, I attended Augusta State University in Georgia, double majoring in English and Biology. While there, I completed an Honors Thesis in Organic Chemistry under Dr. Thomas Crute, III, studying the synthesis of Persin (a potential breast cancer drug) and derivatives. I volunteered for the humane society and at the local Pediatric Emergency Room, worked as a freelance journalist, a veterinary technician, and an office assistant and tutor for the Chemistry and Physics Department at ASU. In 2011, I interned at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
I graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine's DVM/MPH program, completing my MPH in Public Health Policy in December 2015 and my DVM in May 2016. I completed a summer externship at the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, summer research on Salmonella in backyard chickens in 2012, and an externship with the AVMA-GRD in Washington, DC in 2014. I went to Uganda with Veterinarians Without Borders in 2016, followed by a stint at the mEpi Lab at Massey University.
It seems like Dan Jacobs was made for his role as the International Relations Manager for NASA’s Gateway Program and the International Space Station. Within his NASA career, Dan has found a perfect balance between both space and politics, and that’s a good thing.
As a liaison between the scientists and engineers and non-scientists and the general public – Dan works to interpret ideas, then putting them into technical agreements that benefit 19 countries, 240+ astronauts who have traveled to the International Space Station, and the 2,700+ research investigations that the laboratory has completed since 2000.
10 Fun Facts About CineSpace:
- This year marks the 5th annual competition for Cinespace and in those 5 years, there’s been more than 1,700 films submitted
- More than 55 countries have submitted from around the world!
- Two people within the competition have seen every single film! Everyone sees some, and everyone judges them.
- Richard Linkletter is the celebrity judge (from School of Rock) and helps select the winners.
- Out of 15 finalists, 9 traveled from around the world to come to the award event!
- Visitors center will soon be showing the films
- Anyone can make a film- even Beth!
- There’s no rules about subjects, or topics, or genres, so there’s films that are narratives, documentaries, comedies, music videos, abstract films, they just have to meet the 10% quantity of including NASA imagery.
- Some NASA imagery has never been seen, ever- even by the judges!
- NASA has created an archive that’s open to the public and anyone can now see it, and enjoy it, or use it for this film competition!
More information on CineSpace: http://cinespace.org/
CineSpace, a short film competition, is a collaboration between NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society that offers filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by, and using, actual NASA imagery
About Dan Jacobs:
Dan Jacobs has lead, managed, and supported negotiations with NASA’s Space Station International Partners. Dan has worked to manage international team members at Johnson Space Center and overseas, reviewing numerous agreements to obtain new spacecraft, barter for Space Station modules, provide astronaut flight opportunities, resolve major disagreements, set new policies, and create science cooperation.
The value to the U.S. Government of these agreements totals greater than $9B. As the Executive Liasion to the Greater Houston Partnership, Dan represented NASA/JSC to the City of Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP, equivalent to Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center, and International Trade Organization for Houston), the Texas Medical Center, and innovation/entrepreneurial organizations throughout the city. He helped identify and pursue opportunities for partnership with JSC with new innovation organizations in the fields of medical device technologies, life sciences, robotics and automation, advanced manufacturing, software development and internet of things, all in support of NASA’s critical technology needs for future missions.
Dan has created concept for international short film competition of films that use NASA imagery, resulting in the formation of the CineSpace Film competition. This event was designed together partnership with Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) to develop the competition and to screen finalists and winners at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival and film festivals around the country. Academy Award-nominated director Richard Linklater serves as judge and selects the winners, and in the last 5 years since the film competition began, CineSpace has received almost 1600 films from 60 countries.
Beth shares a Casual Space conversation with the incredible Bill Nye! Together, they enjoy:
- Sharing the incredible success story of the Planetary Society’s Light Sail 2 (a spacecraft that is still sailing on sunbeams), and why it’s such a significant and inspiring citizen-science project, and what it could mean for the future for space travel. (Read more about Light Sail 2 right here in the show notes at the link below)
- Discussing the many ways we can travel to space, but the challenge of getting to space still exists. When Bill Nye travels to space, he’s sure to experience THE OVERVIEW EFFECT.
- How we are working to answer the mission of The Planetary Society- to know the cosmos and our place within it.
- An optimistic belief that within our lifetimes, we will find evidence of life on Mars!
About Bill Nye:
Along with serving as CEO of the world’s largest independent space interest group, The Planetary Society, Nye is also an internationally renowned and award-winning science educator, television presenter, mechanical engineer, science advocate, and author. He is best known as the host of the PBS children’s science show Bill Nye the Science Guy, and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator and advocate.
After earning a degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University, Nye spent more than 20 years working as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation, Sundstrand Data Control (now Honeywell), and other engineering firms in the Seattle area. Drawing on his strengths in science and comedy, Nye went on to create, write, produce, and host the Emmy award-winning television show Bill Nye the Science Guy between 1993 and 1998. He continued his work in television with The Eyes of Nye in 2005 and Bill Nye Saves The World in 2017 and 2018. A documentary film about his life’s work, Bill Nye: Science Guy, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim.
Nye has authored several books, including the New York Times Bestseller Undeniable, Unstoppable, and Everything All at Once. In addition to his many other activities, he travels the world and appears on television on a regular basis, sharing his views on the importance of science and space exploration, and inspiring people of all ages to change the world for the better.
Where to find Bill Nye:
Planetary.org https://www.planetary.org/about/
Science Rules! Podcast: https://www.billnyepodcast.com/
BONUS LINKS AND NOTES FROM THIS CASUAL SPACE CONVERSATION:
About Light Sail 2: https://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/heres-what-we-learned-so-far-ls2.html
Learn more about Light Sail 2 from Planetary Radio’s Mat Kaplan on EPISODE 58 of Casual Space! http://bethmund.com/2020/01/23/58-mat-kaplan/
You know that teachers are already an intricate and massively important part of helping to educate (STEAM) and inspire student explorers and curious minds! And while some great PAYLOADS have gone from the classroom to space, it soon will be the TEACHERS TURN TO EXPLORE. This opportunity is way overdue, don’t you think?
Liz Kinnick and her team at the Teachers In Space program agrees. So she’s working to provide teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections.
- Liz was on an international flight when she read an article from British Airways inviting Liz to “collect your miles and go to space”… and thus the plans began.
- The Teachers in Space program is a non-for-profit, independent organization, and started as a project of the Space Frontier Foundation, inspired by NASA’s Teacher in Space Program.
- In 2008, the Space Frontier Foundation felt like the space sub-orbital programs that were starting should include teachers to be cheaper, safer, more environmentally friendly and does not quite exist yet- you can’t fly as a paid passenger YET.
- The first call-out was done by the Space Frontier Foundation and they received 1,100 teacher responses- a lot of a time when there we no flights, and the space shuttle program was about to end with the launch of Endeavor. 7 were selected and several teachers are still with the program. Some were even from NASA Educator Astronaut Trainee program.
WHAT CAN I DO? Go to www.teachers-in-space.com and donate. OR tell your local school/ science museum/ church camp/ educations that there’s a place that can provide them resources for students who are interested in space!
More information on Teachers In Space:
www.teachers-in-space.com
Teachers in Space, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization which stimulates student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing their teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections.
Our professional development workshops for STEM teachers include personal and experimental flight opportunities, hands-on work with data sensors and remote device control, opportunities to meet and interact with scientists and developers at NASA and commercial space companies, and unique teaching materials and design contests to take back to the classroom.
Teachers In Space, Inc. sparks a transfer of passion for space science and exploration from teachers to their students, preparing and encouraging those students to pursue further education and exciting, rewarding careers in the emerging space industry.
www.firefly.com
About Liz: Liz Kennick has directed the Teachers in Space (TIS) program since 2011, initially as a project manager for the Space Frontier Foundation (SFF). In 2014 Liz and her management team incorporated TIS as an educational nonprofit organization in the state of New York.
A member of SFF’s Board from 2009-2013, Liz was previously Vice President of Client Technology at Morgan Stanley with a $2M annual budget for 1700 software users. She holds degrees in Information Systems / Operations Analysis, English, and Education and is certified as a Project Management Professional and as a Network Engineer. Liz is co-founder of NYC’s Software Process Improvement Network and has produced Yuri’s Night NY, a space-themed party for 200+ guests, annually since 2008, and TEDxMidTownNY, as space-themed speaker series, in 2010-2011.
Liz created the Space Frontier Foundation’s Business Plan Bootcamp for the 5 finalists in the foundation’s 2011 Business Plan Competition, and was a judge at the 2011 SEDS Student Business Plan Competition. She created Escape Guesthouse LLC, a boutique bed and breakfast in Brooklyn, New York in 2006 and sold it in 2013 for 3 times purchase price.
She has flown on ZeroG, experienced centrifuge and hypobaric chamber training, scuba dived to 70 feet, and climbed Cotopaxi, Earth’s highest extinct volcano. Liz is a frequent speaker on The Space Show, The Invisible World, Rotary Club and TEDx events, and at conferences such as NewSpace, SpaceVision, Project World and the International Space Development Conference (ISDC). Her 2014 TEDx presentation “Gimme Some Space!” can be seen at: http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/Space-adventures-get-real-Eliza
BONUS NOTES FROM THE SHOW:
- Best thing that’s happened in the Teacher in Space program lately? Standing in Texas watching Blue Origin launching their payload! (A CubeSat that they’ve been working on since 2012!)
- Blue Steel by “Consider the Source” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlkiOYUmzkg
Our nation’s space agency has experienced many incredible human feats (landing a human on the moon, walking in space, assembling an International Space Station, etc.) as well as three very public manned missions that resulted in heroes’ lives lost. In this episode, Beth and Dean continue the second part of this discussion about NASA’s Successes from Failures to include the manned missions; Apollo 1, the Challenger space shuttle, and Columbia STS-107.
Beth worked at NASA Johnson Space Center during the Columbia tragedy, and Dean worked at NASA during the loss of Challenger, and share both their unique perspectives from these events, and the changes they watched NASA implement after the extensive accident investigations. At the end of this (at times difficult) conversation, Dean and Beth look at the “planned anomalies” that NASA and commercial space flight companies will experience, working towards future missions’ safety and success.
- This is a difficult time for the NASA “family,” the employees, contractors and support teams who remember these tragedies, the astronaut crew’s families, and for the nation. On January 30, NASA will honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, during the agency's annual Day of Remembrance.
- Dean served a significant role in the Challenger investigation by flying over the debris field and gather visual imagery data. He recalls the series of events that day, and how helping to serve NASA post-tragedy was a significant extension of working the mission.
- Beth was a Public Affairs Officer and NASA spokesperson at the Johnson Space Center during the Columbia STS-107 mission. As part of her job, along with the newsroom staff, was to report all activity from the Johnson Space Center to the public in the form of broadcast, writing, or digital media. The Johnson Space Center is the home of human space flight, the NASA location (there are 10 NASA centers throughout the United States) where the astronauts work and train. The astronauts and their families usually live nearby. On that Saturday in February, Beth and the staff assigned to work this particular mission were just as shocked as the rest of the nation when they witnessed the live coverage of the re-entry of the shuttle, and the shuttle’s break up after overheating from debris hitting the leading edge of the left wing at launch. Beth shares her memory of the event, along with the national memorial that happened shortly after on the JSC campus from her unique perspective as an employee trying to process the accident with the “NASA family” of employees during the difficult time.
- While difficult, there are opportunities to learn during times of crisis. At the end of the episode, Beth and Dean discuss a “planned” anomaly from SpaceX that recently took place last week- an abort test that resulted in an explosion of a Falcon 9 booster, and a successful separation and water landing of the Dragon capsule. This test was an unmanned success, and its demonstration of a successful abort away from the booster allows SpaceX to proceed with a crewed capsule test later this year (scheduled as early as next month!).
About Apollo 1: https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/
About Challenger: https://history.nasa.gov/sts51l.html
About Columbia STS-107: https://www.nasa.gov/subject/3308/sts107
Beth and Mat enjoyed sharing their Falcon Heavy Launch experience AND..
- Why this launch was the MOST spectacular folks have ever seen
- What Light Sail 2 is, and why it’s such a significant and inspiring citizen-science project, and what it could mean for the future for space travel
- How Mat has ALWAYS been inspired by space exploration and joined the National Space Society at a very young age
- What it’s like working with the talented team of experts at the Planetary Society, including his “boss” Bill Nye the science guy!
- How hosting Planetary Radio allows Mat to tell the story of space exploration and showcase the narrative of the people who work to explore and document everything going on within space.
About Mat:
Mat Kaplan loves hosting and producing Planetary Radio. He was just 17 when he got his first job in broadcasting, yet it wasn't until the 2002 premiere of The Society's popular weekly broadcast and podcast series that he combined his twin loves of space and radio. A Planetary Society staff member for more than 15 years, Mat also plans and manages technical support for our Planetfest celebrations and other major events and webcasts. Outside of The Planetary Society, he hosts a series of live events for Southern California Public Radio called NEXT: People|Science|Tomorrow, and frequently serves as moderator or speaker at space and science gatherings. His extensive background in journalism has ranged from public radio reporter covering the political conventions to movie reviewer for an international magazine. Some may remember him as a correspondent for a pioneering national TV series about personal computers. Mat also enjoyed a 30-year career in higher education that included major television awards and recognition for service to the community. The longtime Long Beach, California resident has two adult daughters raised to be citizens of the solar system. Mat is available as a moderator or host for conversations about space and science topics. He’s also a passionate speaker about the mission of The Planetary Society, the importance of space exploration and development, and the history of human fascination with Mars, including robotic exploration of the Red Planet.
Where to find Mat Kaplan:
Planetary.org
Follow Mat on Twitter at @planrad
BONUS LINKS AND NOTES FROM THIS CASUAL SPACE CONVERSATION:
This is the rocket image Beth and Mat reference from the launch YOU CAN’T MISS: #rocketnebula
This is the what’s what about NASA’s recent announcement to move forward with the Dragonfly Mission: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasas-dragonfly-will-fly-around-titan-looking-for-origins-signs-of-life
“We are addressing the problem of communications, being able to provide big data from small spacecraft.” -Doug Stetson from FreeFall Aerospace
When we travel through and explore space, we’re going to need to communicate, and gather a LOT of data. Fast, reliable, low-cost access to large volumes of data is one of the most critical capabilities that will define the future. So the folks at Freefall provide some pretty neat technologies that help move data and help us communicate effectively and quickly. Julie Bonner and Doug Stetson sat down with Beth at SpaceCom Expo in Houston, Texas and highlighted these new technologies, why and how they will “disrupt” and improve communications, and what some of the challenges their company, Freefall Aerospace, will have to overcome, including a LAUNCH later this year. Freefall’s technologies include an All-Sky Antenna (think of an antenna for things on the move like vehicles and ships), an INFLATABLE Cubesat Antenna (think of a small, thin, skinny balloon) and a Smart City Antenna, all enabling data to move quickly- which is going to be important in the space-based communication systems we’ll use.
“We are developing some very innovative technologies. That’s a good thing, but one of the challenges is that when you have something that’s what we call disruptive, it has to be not just a little bit better, but a LOT better than the other systems that people and companies are used to using…and it’s a question of proving to the community that the rewards of using this type of new system are worth the additional risk to implement something new.” -Doug Stetson
About Doug Stetson: Doug Stetson is President and CEO of FreeFall Aerospace, a small business dedicated to advancing and developing innovative antenna technology for satellite communications and 5G internet applications. Prior to founding FreeFall in 2016, Doug spent nearly 30 years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a variety of technical and management positions including several assignments at NASA Headquarters. At JPL, he had lead roles in systems engineering and mission design for a number of high-profile missions to Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and was responsible for the development of new planetary mission concepts and programs. Doug led the development of a number of mission and technology “roadmaps” for the national science community and NASA, and established new initiatives for mission and system innovation and cost assessment. During his three tours at NASA Headquarters, Doug served as the deputy manager of the NASA Advanced Planning and Integration Office, coordinated development of the Agency’s 2003 Strategic Plan, and served as acting chief of Planetary Advanced Studies in the early 1990’s After leaving JPL in 2008, Doug established the Space Science and Exploration Consulting Group and was project manager for the LightSail mission, a privately-funded Cubesat that successfully deployed and tested a solar sail in Earth orbit. Doug holds a B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.He is the recipient of a number of local and national awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the JPL Award for Excellence in Leadership.
About Julie: Julie Bonner, Marketing Director for FreeFall Aerospace, connects partners, vendors, and investors to FreeFall’s intelligent antenna systems. She’s created marketing campaigns and collateral for national corporations like Mister Car Wash and Clear Channel Outdoor, to Tucson-based start-ups and non-profits. She has been awarded the Tucson AdFed Next Generation Award for making a significant impact on the advertising industry through leadership, career achievements and personal qualities, which also inspire others to excel. She is also active in Start-Up Tucson, Arizona Technology Council and Local First Arizona. Julie holds a Bachelors of Science in Graphic Design from Drexel University and a Masters in Business.
For more information about FreeFall: www.freefallmovingdata.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freefall-aerospace/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeFall5G
Did you know… FreeFall Aerospace received the 2019 Innovator of the Year Startup Company award https://freefallmovingdata.com/innovator-of-the-year/
Listen to more! Julie was recently interviewed about marketing for FreeFall: https://youtu.be/20kvGzZ0bt8
Jason is the lead for Orion Crew Systems Integration at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Human factors are always considered when designing a new spacecraft for the crew. Jason and his team consider EVERY BUTTON, SWITCH, and DIAL placement, function, and purpose. This is just a PART of Jason’s intricate role helping our space exploration crews travel safely… he’s got more than 25 years of experience training astronauts and flight controllers to operate life support system components on-board the International Space Station, AND he’s trained response to on-board emergencies such as fire, rapid depressurization, and toxic release. Whew!
Impressive! How did it all start?
Jason’s MOM took him to see Star Trek at a young age where he was first introduced to space designs and ideas! He knew at an early age that he wanted to be an aerospace engineer.
When you left Shuttle Program to go to International Space Station Program, what were some of the challenges?
“One of the most difficult challenges applying his years of knowledge from International Space Station to the new Orion capsule, has been the size. There’s also a different identification language from station to capsule. These are intricate details that are really important…”
All of the consumer electronics impose challenges on board when in space. Batteries can be very toxic. (A fire in space is really bad). Materials testing is important, knowing what kind of chemicals on board is very important. It can ever determine the type of masks the crew would wear in the case of an emergency.
“Crews accept risks every day. That’s not going away. There are things that can go wrong and we put together a response that we think will work, but it’s not proven. We owe it to them to make sure we are looking at hazards and are reasonably addressing them. Even if it’s something simple and straightforward.”- Jason Hutt
What’s next for your work on Orion?
“Human In the Loop” testing campaign- where crew members get into the mock-ups, and all the various aspects of the cockpit are tested. Jason and the human engineering team take concerns and issues to a forum to be presented along with doctors, health care representatives, radiation experts, astronaut representatives, operations, an entire team of people! They look to address each of the problems and concerns to see what and how needs to happen next.
FUN FACTS ABOUT JASON ONLY DISCOVERED IN THIS EPISODE OF CASUAL SPACE:
- “Jason brings a sense of safety and relaxation to every mission…..”
- STAR WARS helped influence Jason’s work on modern-day space ship designs!
- Jason is going to Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge in Florida with his family to geek out!
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Astronauts provide feedback to Jason and his team when they return from a spaceflight!
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Jason is a Sci-fi writer! One of his books features a realistic story of how to take care of a spacecraft if you were needing to live inside it for a really long time. Hmmm, sounds like work imitating life imitating work…..
About Jason: Jason is the Orion Crew Systems Integration Lead at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Co-Chair the Orion Cockpit Working Group. Review proposed crew interfaces and crew support hardware to ensure they meet NASA requirements. Jason and his team help formulate technical recommendations on the addition of new hardware to the Orion cockpit through the integration of design proposals from hardware owners with assessments from human engineering, environments, radiation, acoustics, and crew medical experts. Jason has worked to help support both the space exploration crews and the vehicles that carry them beyond Earth’s orbit for quite some time.
More about Jason… in his own words: Jason Hutt has worked in human spaceflight for 20 years, contributing to the development and operations of the International Space Station and, more recently, as the Crew Systems Integration Lead for the NASA Orion Program. Over 20 years, he’s held a variety of roles including ISS Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Instructor, Station Training Lead, ISS CAPCOM, as well as various management positions. In his current role, Jason is responsible for ensuring the integrated Orion cockpit allows the astronaut crew to successfully and safely complete Artemis Program missions. Jason lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, 3 daughters, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and a handful of fish. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and started his professional career commanding satellites as a contractor for the US Navy. Originally from Philadelphia, he has never met a cheesesteak he wouldn’t eat. In his spare time, you may find him writing science fiction or tinkering in the Star Wars room of his house.
For more information about Orion:
https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/orion/index.html
Check out a sneak peek video of inside Orion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVYwFFzaPp0
The tables are turned in THIS episode as Dean takes over the microphone! Dean wants to know the HOW, WHO, and WHY so he asks:
- How did Beth’s love for space exploration start?
- Who were some of the people that helped Beth in her success?
- Why did she start the CASUAL SPACE PODCAST?
Dean’s approach is as much fun as it is sincere. Get a genuine understanding for Beth and Dean’s passion for space exploration, right down to the heart of their inner geek.
Did you know? Beth went to Space Camp 3 times? Once as a student, once as a teacher, and two years ago, she returned with her daughter to attend the family space camp program!
Did you know? Beth had to TYPE OUT her application to NASA? She sill has it- and shares it only with students looking to achieve their goals when she presents her keynote, “Lessons Learned from NASA.”
Guess what?! Beth made Dean do the JOBS IN SPACE excerpt of this podcast- Hey, if you’re going to hijack a show- you’ve got to take the entire show on!
Did you know- You can contact Beth directly with questions, ideas or comments about the show at AskBeth@CasualSpacePodcast.com
Happy New Year everyone! Get ready for more fun and great episodes of Casual Space in 2020!!!
About Beth Mund: Beth is a speaker, writer, and space advocate. Beth speaks to authors, engineers, space experts and enthusiasts weekly on her podcast, Casual Space, and delivers keynote programs and workshops for companies and organizations worldwide. When she’s not advocating #spaceisforeveryone, she’s attempting to bake the perfect macaroon, or looking for the next family adventure.
BethMund.com
Bill Foster is a Ground Control Officer and has supported more than 50 NASA missions from within Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center. He shares his unique perspective with Beth on:
- What it’s like INSIDE NASA’s Mission Control Center? Bill walks us through a behind-the scenes history of the Mission Control Center: from the state-of-the-art projectors on the main screens in the 1960s, to the modern ground stations around the world (along with the Air Force and the Deep Space Network) have all helped ensure mission success
- Simulations. Mission-like environments that help crews both on the ground and in space. These simulations are at the very heart of what NASA does to ensure mission safety and success.
- Movie stars! Rock stars! And NASA’s own stars: the people who stay calm, collected and focused during our most impactful moments in space exploration… Bill has been witness to all of this and more. He shares a few of his most impactful moments and fun memories with us on Casual Space.
If you would like to hear more about Bill and his work Episode 26 features Bill Foster, Ground Controller in Mission Control Houston, talks about how space communication networks work and what they will look like for missions into deep space, listen to NASA’s “Houston, We Have a Podcast,” Episode number 26: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/can-you-hear-me-now/
About Bill Foster: Reports to the Flight Director during real time mission support on all matters concerning the Mission Control Center and NASA Integrated Network required to receive and display telemetry, radar data and voice; and works to transmit commands and voice to/from spacecraft carrying NASA and International Partner Astronauts. Bill manages a team of backroom support personnel in the MCC and at various locations throughout the Integrated Network to ensure proper support to human spaceflight. Bill has served as lead Ground Controller (GC) for Space Shuttle Ascent and Entry phases of flight, and currently supports the International Space Station, major upgrades to the MCC and supporting MCC and network requirements for Boeing CST-100 spacecraft.
Learn about NASA’s Mission Control at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8aWXJeh9R4
And: https://www.nasa.gov/content/johnson-space-centers-mission-control-center-1/#.Xf0470dKg2w
Dr. David Warmflash returns to the podcast to discuss the timely anniversary of Apollo 12, and shares several highlights from this mission and potential future lunar missions on episode 53, including…
- The crew, Commander Charles, “Pete” Conrad, Alan Bean, and Richard Gordan- were a great crew who helped cheer one another on throughout the mission. It was a very different tone than some of the previous Apollo missions….
- Seeing Earth from the distance (The Overview Effect), caused several Apollo astronauts to come back changed in many ways, some becoming artists! Check out some incredible astronaut artwork here from Alan Bean that was referenced in the show: https://www.alanbean.com/
- The many insightful spinoffs we still benefit from the Apollo 12 mission, 50 years later!
Find David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-warmflash-md-b1234a/
Find a copy of David’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Illustrated-Colonies-Tomorrow-Histories/dp/1454931981/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=David+Warmflash&qid=1576026327&s=books&sr=1-1
About David: Dr. David Warmflash is an astrobiologist and prolific science writer. He was in the first cohort of NASA astrobiology postdoctoral trainees and served as a member of NASA's Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Science Definition Team. He has collaborated with The Planetary Society on three experiments that have flown in space, including "the peace experiment" that involved an Israeli and a Palestinian student working with Dr. Warmflash as co-investigators. He has published in scientific journals and popular science publications including Wired UK, Scientific American, Discover, Air and Space, Astronomy Magazine, and others. He contributed to the book George and the Blue Moon by Lucy Hawking and Stephen Hawking, and was interviewed for an article in the Kansas City Star concerning the accuracy of the science in the sci-fi TV series Orphan Black.
Kevin Cole is a geologist and astronomer who loves looking at what makes up our planet, and the planets all around us. When we study rocks from our planet Earth, sometimes we find answers to the questions within our universe! Beth never knew rocks could provide so much information, until she talked to Kevin.
- Beth asks Kevin to take a geological tour of the universe and his description is fascinating. No joke- gather your kiddos and learn about the interesting parts of our solar system that you may never knew!
- Bacteria, bugs, and things that survive in space! We discuss tardigrades and Apollo mission bacteria and such.
- Kevin worked to support the Galileo space probe program; helping to educate folks about this impressive mission. We both cry a tear for how these great machines need to quietly die in order to protect the biological environment of the planet.
- If Kevin could travel to just ONE place in the UNIVERSE to study the planet as a geologist, it would be…(Kevin describes the details of this incredible place, and you’ll want to go there, too).
“Plate tectonics has pretty much changed the entire way we’ve looked at our planet Earth. I tell my students, ‘if you really want to take a look at really an alien world, go back in time about 300 million years ago and look at the Earth, you won’t recognize it’ .” – Kevin Cole on the Casual Space Podcast
About Kevin Cole: Kevin is an assistant professor of geology and astronomy, and current department chair of the Department of Physical Sciences at Harper College in Palatine, IL. In 1992 he completed his MS degree in Geology from the Univ of Ill-Chgo (UIC) modeling the paleohydraulic characteristics that formed the massive channels on Mars’ surface called outflow channels. Prior to becoming a science educator, he participated in the analysis and classification of meteorites from all over the world, especially from Africa and the Antarctic while working with the Planetary Studies Foundation; and researched many types of advanced planetary mission concepts (manned and robotic) for NASA while at Science Applications International Corp, Space Sciences Division.
In 1998, he received a NASA/JPL fellowship award as part of the Solar System Educator Program, focusing on education and public outreach for the Galileo Europa Mission, an extension of the Galileo Mission at Jupiter. Subsequent missions in which he served in this capacity included the Deep Impact Mission to comet Temple1, and the STARDUST Mission to comet Wild2.
Experience the inspiration from a LIVE program at Harper College: https://www.harpercollege.edu/observatory/index.php
Read more about the solar system here https://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/index.html