Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Recent Episodes
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.
Robots inspired by nature? A novel realm of engineering called soft robotics is being studied at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Engineers are working to understand how soft robotics could one day support space exploration, including missions to the Moon’s surface.
Cleaning scum from bathtubs and pipes can be a costly chore. It’s even more challenging aboard spacecraft. NASA researchers are looking at ways to keep astronauts from having to deal with fungal or bacterial buildup, known as biofilm.
The Internet of Animals, a collaborative research project with the U.S. Geological Survey along with several universities and institutions is giving insight into the intersection of animal movement patterns and climate. By combining remote sensing data with wildlife tracking tags, experts can get a better idea of scientific needs to manage conservation at the federal level.
In this episode, Dr. Gioia Massa, senior Life Sciences project scientist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, outlines the systems and processes used for growing vegetables aboard the International Space Station. The technology could one day support astronauts on long-duration missions in deep space. What we learn can benefit agriculture on Earth as well.
A new NASA report titled "Cost and Benefit Analysis of Mitigating, Tracking, and Remediating Orbital Debris" compares the cost-effectiveness of several strategies that could reduce the risk of collisions between spacecraft, including the space station, and orbital debris.
In this episode, Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist, tells us about the science goals of the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle and how NASA is collaborating with industry to explore more of the Moon’s surface than ever before.
Teddy Tzanetos shares his project management experiences and lessons learned from leading the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter demonstration mission, the first test of powered, controlled flight on another world.
In this episode, Dr. Chelle Gentemann, Open Science Program Scientist for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer, explains NASA’s initiative to make science more collaborative, accessible, and inclusive. Known as Transform to Open Science, or TOPS, the program encourages increased access to research and data.
How inflatable habitats moved from concept papers to the International Space Station, and what NASA is doing to eventually put one on the Moon.
Dave Mitchell brings extensive experience as an engineer and project manager to a new position leading a small team with the broad mandate of improving acquisitions and program and project management across NASA.
In this episode we’ll focus on Gateway, a small space station NASA is developing to place in orbit at the Moon. We’ll speak with Mark Wiese, who leads the team that will ensure Gateway will receive the cargo, equipment, and supplies it needs to support Artemis astronauts.
Janet Karika, who retired recently from NASA after 43 years in the aerospace industry, shares career highlights and her approach to leading the Artemis I Lessons Learned process.
Dive deep into the world of in-space manufacturing (ISM) with our guest, Zach Courtright, the In-Space Manufacturing Portfolio Manager at NASA. Zach shares his perspectives on cutting-edge advancements and collaborations in the field and the potential of the technology for game-changing impacts on space exploration and resource utilization.
Today, we look at NASA’s PACE mission, which seeks to unravel some of the mysteries of Earth’s atmosphere and the vital role played by aerosols and clouds. Join us as we delve into this fascinating journey with atmospheric scientist Dr. Kirk Knobelspiesse.
In this episode, we step behind the scenes of NASA's Orion project to explore the remarkable teamwork, leadership, and communication that drive this groundbreaking endeavor. Join us as we sit down with Stu McClung, the NASA Orion Test lead, to talk about the Orion mission and the human side of space exploration.
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Zach Pirtle, a policy analyst for NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy about NASA’s Artemis and Ethics workshop, which explored the ethical, legal, and societal implications of its Artemis and Moon to Mars missions.
In this episode, we sit down with Jim Rostohar, Chief Knowledge Officer for NASA's Johnson Space Center, to explore the vital role of knowledge sharing within the organization.
Rocket Propulsion Test Program Manager Christine Powell discusses chemical propulsion testing at NASA’s world-class facilities.
NASA SpaceTech's Michael LaPointe and John Nelson discuss the Center Innovation Fund and Early Career Initiative.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineering Technicians John Hood, Amy Meekham, and Mark Sloan discuss details of their work on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer.
NASA Technicians Scott Bartram, Eric Bentley, Maria Salinas, and Phil Steele discuss their hands-on work on a variety of projects and technologies.
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Engineering Technicians Jason Nelson, Kyle Whitfield, and Alex Zamora discuss their essential contributions to NASA missions.
NASA Langley Research Center Retired Chief Scientist Dennis Bushnell discusses highlights of his 60-year NASA career and the future of the agency.
OSIRIS-REx Mission Systems Engineer Ron Mink discusses preparation for the return of the United States' first asteroid sample from space to Earth.
NASA TechLeap Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge Manager Greg Peters discusses the lunar landing challenge.
NASA Flight Opportunities Program Manager Danielle McCulloch discusses rapid demonstration of technologies and capabilities for NASA missions and commercial spaceflight.
NASA Chief Knowledge Officer and APPEL Knowledge Services Director Tiffany Smith discusses knowledge sharing and learning and development.
NASA Engineering and Safety Center Director Tim Wilson discusses the NESC's contributions to NASA mission success.
NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Critical Systems Engineer Jim Sarafin discusses training astronauts for spacewalks.
NASA Research Electrical Engineer Lyndsey McMillon-Brown discusses development of perovskite solar cell technology for Moon and Mars exploration.
Surface Water and Ocean Topography Project Manager Parag Vaze discusses the first global survey of Earth's surface water.
Mars Sample Return Deputy Lead Scientist Lindsay Hays discusses plans to bring the first samples of Mars material to Earth.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana discuss the importance of a strong safety culture.
NASA Human Spaceflight Historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal discusses how careers for women have changed over the past 50 years as the workforce has become more diverse.
NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Rob Grant discusses the agency’s Black History Month theme: Building a Legacy of Achievement, Connection, and Knowledge.
Artemis Mission Manager Mike Sarafin discusses Artemis I and NASA's increasingly complex Moon to Mars missions.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy discusses NASA's positive impact on humanity—and the people who make it happen.
NASA James Webb Space Telescope Mission Systems Engineer Mike Menzel discusses highlights of the observatory's first year in space.
Voyager Project Manager Suzanne Dodd discusses NASA's longest-operating mission and the only spacecraft to explore interstellar space.
NASA InSight Mars Lander Principal Investigator Bruce Banerdt discusses the first mission dedicated to studying the deep interior of Mars.
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Chief Engineer CJ Bixby discusses what it takes to achieve airworthiness.
NASA's Nick Jedrich and Andrew Maynard discuss the benefits of developmental assignments.
Mars Sample Return Scientists Lindsay Hays and Meenakshi Wadhwa discuss the mission to return samples from the surface of Mars to Earth.
The Nature Conservancy's Kim Hall discusses the use of NASA Earth observation data to map animal movement and patterns.
NASA Research Engineer Ryan McClelland discusses digital engineering technologies that are transforming classical engineering tasks and processes.
OSAM-1 Lead Systems Engineer Wendy Morgenstern discusses NASA's On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 mission to robotically refuel a satellite that wasn't designed to be serviced.
NASA Space Radiation Element Scientist Robin Elgart discusses research aimed at reducing radiation health risks.
Boston University Assistant Professor Virginia Greiman discusses enduring lessons from the largest, most technically challenging highway project in U.S. history.
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Chief Pilot Håvard Grip discusses the rotorcraft's history-making flights on the Red Planet.
NuSTAR Principal Investigator Fiona Harrison discusses NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array.
NASA Astrobiology Program Senior Scientist Mary Voytek discusses Research Coordination Networks.
NASA's Tiffany Nickens discusses habitats being developed for living on the lunar surface and traveling to Mars.
NASA Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor Kate Calvin discusses the agency's role in climate research.
NASA Water Resources and Agriculture Program Manager Brad Doorn discusses how NASA tools and data help solve big problems on Earth.
NASA Johnson Space Center Engineering Director Julie Kramer White discusses the skills required to be a top-notch engineer.
NASA Space Launch System Chief Engineer John Blevins discusses the rigorous engineering of the world's most powerful rocket.
NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Chief Engineer Steve Hirshorn discusses what it takes to be a successful chief engineer.
NASA's Kristin Morgan discusses 2021 progress and what's ahead for the Artemis Program in 2022.
NASA's Les Johnson discusses solar sail propulsion and the upcoming Near-Earth Asteroid Scout and Solar Cruiser missions.
James Webb Space Telescope Program Director Greg Robinson discusses NASA's largest and most powerful space science telescope ever constructed.
NASA's Marc Rayman discusses the legacy of the Dawn mission to the two most massive bodies in the main asteroid belt.
Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment Principal Investigator Mike Hecht discusses the MOXIE technology demonstration that's generating oxygen on the Red Planet.
Lucy Deputy Project Systems Engineer Mike Sekerak discusses the first space mission to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroid swarms.
NASA Lessons Learned Program Manager Michael Bell discusses the agency's Lessons Learned Information System.
NASA Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Deputy Project Manager Cathy Bahm discusses the X-59 quiet supersonic research mission.
NASA Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project Manager Keith Wichman discusses mapping problems and solutions to transform aviation.
NASA Space Communications and Navigation Chief Engineer Neil Mallik discusses how SCaN keeps the universe connected.
OSIRIS-REx Principal Investigator Dante Lauretta discusses the NASA mission to near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Principal Investigator Dave Israel discusses the dynamic power of laser communications technologies.
NASA's Nettie Roozeboom discusses a new state-of-the-art technique to measure unsteady aerodynamics using pressure-sensitive paint.
Dragonfly Principal Investigator Zibi Turtle discusses NASA's planned rotorcraft-lander mission to Titan.
NASA Spacecraft Window Design Expert Lynda Estes discusses the evolution of windows that give humans a unique view into space.
SOFIA Project Scientist Naseem Rangwala discusses the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.
NASA's Johnny Nguyen discusses insight gained through closeout of the Space Shuttle Program.
NASA's Terry Hill and Jessica Knizhnik discuss the agency's transition to model-based systems engineering.
Psyche Mission Co-investigator Ben Weiss discusses the mission to a unique metal asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA Astrophysicist and Pioneers Program Lead Scientist Michael Garcia discusses the new program’s first mission concepts selected for further development.
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Chief Engineer Bob Balaram discusses the first experimental aircraft flight on another planet.
Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Deputy Project Scientist Katie Stack Morgan discusses science objectives of NASA’s first astrobiology-focused mission to the Red Planet.
NASA Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign Deputy Lead Shivanjli Sharma discusses the "third revolution" in aviation.
NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program Executive Jason Derleth discusses visionary concepts that could transform future space missions.
NASA’s Bill Todd and Joyce Abbey and retired Astronaut Nicole Stott discuss NEEMO and a new case study they developed about the unique undersea analog.
NASA's Michelle Munk, Ashley Korzun and Eric Nielsen discuss the impact of state-of-the-art computing on future NASA missions.
International Space Station Flight Director Royce Renfrew discusses the complexity of the orbiting laboratory as NASA counts up to 20 years of continuous human presence in space.
American Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson discusses 20 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station.
NASA Digital Transformation Officer Jill Marlowe discusses the agency’s digital transformation strategy and approach.
NASA Deputy Director of Astrophysics Jeff Volosin discusses the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission.
White Sands Test Facility Manager Bob Cort discusses the history and capabilities of the NASA facility.
NASA Game Changing Development Program Executive Niki Werkheiser discusses advancement of space technologies that could lead to new approaches for future space missions.
NASA’s Jon Olansen, Jenny Devolites and Ben Asher share technical stories and discuss storytelling technique with Storytelling Strategist Johel Brown-Grant.
Storytelling Strategist Johel Brown-Grant with the U.S. State Department discusses organizational benefits of technical storytelling.
Plum Brook Station Director David Stringer discusses world-unique test facilities at the NASA station in Ohio.
NASA Armstrong Operations Engineering Branch Chief Kate McMurtry discusses the value of understanding the impact of human factors on mission performance.
NASA Safety Center Director Harmony Myers discusses resources to help achieve technical excellence in safety and mission assurance.
NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation Deputy Manager Steve Rader discusses driving innovation through crowdsourcing and the gig economy.
NASA Commercial Crew Program Chief Engineers Steve Sullivan, Chris Lupo and Deborah Crane discuss the new approach for launching American astronauts to space.
NASA Scientist Michelle Thaller discusses anticipated discoveries and exciting missions planned during this decade.
Kenny Harris, a NASA engineer named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Class of 2020, discusses his experiences as a young professional.
Europa Clipper Project System Engineer Jennifer Dooley discusses NASA’s outer planets flagship mission.
Steve Clarke, the Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, discusses commercial payload delivery services to the Moon.
VIPER Project Manager Dan Andrews discusses the lunar rover’s upcoming mission to look for water ice on the Moon.
Monsi Roman, NASA Centennial Challenges Program Manager, discusses the agency’s flagship prizes and competition program.
Anna McGowan, NASA’s Senior Engineer for Complex Systems Design, discusses the impact of interdisciplinary interactions on mission success.
Anna McGowan, NASA’s Senior Engineer for Complex Systems Design, discusses engineering trends and the impact of rapid technology changes.
NASA Independent Verification and Validation Program Director Greg Blaney discusses the impact of IV&V on high-profile NASA missions.
NASA Technology Transfer Program Executive Dan Lockney discusses the transfer of innovative space and aeronautics technologies for practical, terrestrial applications.
NASA TechPort’s Patrick Murphy and Ryan Miller discuss how technologists and innovators can use the tool to exchange ideas for groundbreaking solutions.
NASA Swamp Works Senior Technologist Rob Mueller discusses technologies being developed for missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Chief Knowledge Officer Ed Rogers discusses the complex human elements involved in disasters such as the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.
NASA Human Research Program Director Bill Paloski discusses methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel to the Moon and Mars.
NASA Exploration EVA System Development Lead Jesse Buffington discusses spacesuit design for spacewalks on the Moon and Mars.
Orion Spacesuit Engineer Kirstyn Johnson discusses the internal systems of the Orion spacesuit.
Orion Crew Survival Systems Project Manager Dustin Gohmert discusses Orion spacesuit design.
NASA Astronaut Candidate Woody Hoburg discusses his experiences as the 2017 NASA Astronaut Class approaches the two-year mark of extensive training for space travel.
Kathleen McIntyre, PACE Deputy Project Manager, discusses NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission.
Chandra X-ray Observatory Project Manager Helen Cole and Project Scientist Martin Weisskopf discuss 20 years of exploring the extreme universe.
Lisa Jones, NASA Landing and Impact Research Facility Manager, discusses the facility where the Apollo astronauts trained for the lunar landing.
Award-winning journalist, space historian and author Andrew Chaikin discusses the Apollo Program, almost 50 years after the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Brent Cobleigh, NASA Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities Project Manager, discusses new technologies that could transform air travel.
Jon Cowart, a veteran space engineer, discusses NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and progress toward launching astronauts from American soil.
The European Space Agency’s Torsten Bieler discusses how ESA uses concurrent engineering.
Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Mars Exploration Rover mission, discusses the Opportunity rover mission.
Joe Gasbarre, NASA Science Mission Directorate Chief Engineer, discusses the engineering side of science missions.
Mike Ciannilli, the agency’s manager of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, previews the Space Shuttle Columbia National Tour.
Brian Thomas, Agency Data Scientist at NASA Headquarters, discusses artificial intelligence.
John Sprague, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Technology, Data and Innovation at NASA Headquarters, discusses big data.
Roger Forsgren, NASA Chief Knowledge Officer and APPEL Knowledge Services Director, discusses the integration of training and knowledge sharing activities.
David Miranda, innovation point of contact for the Exploration Ground Systems Program’s Operations Division, offers tips for unleashing innovation.
An Exploration Ground Systems Program division chief, Jeremy Parsons, discusses practical ways to make quality decisions faster.
Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich discusses the challenges and opportunities of managing America’s next-generation spacecraft.
APPEL Knowledge Services presents a preview of the new Small Steps, Giant Leaps podcast.