This Week in Space (Audio)

We've waited, and we've waited, and it looks like Artemis 2 might be ready to go in early April! It's moved back to the launch pad, LC-39B, and will begin preparations for a launch as early as April 1. There will be no wet-dress rehearsal this time — associate administrator Lori Glaze said in a recent press conference that once they fuel successfully, she just wants to go to launch. The crew of Artemis 2 will soon arrive at KSC for pre-launch quarantine, as will Tariq, who will be covering the launch. We invited Mike Wall, the spaceflight and tech editor at Space.com, back to the show to bring us up to date on all the latest Artemis news.



Headlines:

Blue Origin and NASA Team Up to Hunt Earth-Threatening Asteroids

Rocket Lab Nabs $190 Million for 20 Hypersonic Test Launches

Spring Equinox Arrives with Northern Lights Potential

Sun Gun Orbital Mirrors Spark Debate on Utility and Security

Main Topic: Artemis II Launch Update

Rollout and Status of Artemis II: Delays, Rocket Issues, and Launch Windows

Comparing Artemis II Trajectory to Apollo 8 and Apollo 13

Solar Activity Risks for Artemis Astronauts Discussed

Shake-Up in Artemis Program: Artemis III Will Perform Docking Tests with Lunar Landers

Blue Origin vs SpaceX: Moon Lander Progress and Readiness

Gateway Lunar Station Uncertainty and International Partnerships

Challenges with Refueling Starship and Lander Logistics

Legislative Moves Toward a Permanent Moon Base

What to Watch for Ahead of Artemis II—Final Checks and Go/No-Go Signs

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Mike Wall

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When most people think about deep space exploration, management acumen is generally not the first thing they settle on—but without it, no robotic mission would ever succeed. This week we are joined by Jay Gallentine, author of multiple books on the robotic exploration of space. Each of these tomes is a somewhat of a masterpiece; a deep dive into a topic that few explore in such detail. His newest book, "Born to Explore," started off as a book about robots exploring Mars, but his interviews with former JPL manager John Casani was so compelling that he transformed it into a biography. John Casani is a legend at JPL and NASA, and his story reads like a combination of a spaceflight adventure, personal memoir, and a pirate's tale. You'll love the book, and you'll love hearing about it from Jay. Join us!



Headlines:

Artemis II Sets April 1st Launch Date Amid Technical Fixes

NASA Discusses Risks and Media Reactions Around Artemis II Mission Breifing

OIG Report Reveals Delays and Issues with Artemis Moon Landers

NASA's Human Landing System Development Faces Setbacks

Blue Origin and SpaceX Landers Compared for Progress and Outlook

Starship's Next Launch and Orbital Refueling Plans Delayed Again

Main Topic: Jay Gallantine on His Book, Born to Explore, and John Casani's NASA Legacy

Jay Gallantine Shares Origins of His Space Research and Writing Career

Unpacking John Casani's Crucial Role at JPL and Mission Leadership

Casani's Unique Team-Building Tactics and the Legendary Goat Story

Galileo Mission's Hurdles, Constant Redesigns, and Casani's Problem-Solving

Budget Cuts and Hard Choices on Casini Mission Management

How Casani's Leadership and Philosophy Shaped NASA Spacecraft Teams

Sneak Peek: Gallantine's Upcoming Book on the Evolution of Mars Rovers

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Jay Gallentine

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It's our 200th episode, our annual listener special! We took your comments, suggestions, advice, and insults and wove them into a rollicking, fun-filled hour of mishaps, mayhem, and mirth! Plus space headlines and a whole passel of your space jokes! This is a fun one, so don't be shy—join us!



Headlines:

NASA's Artemis Program Unveils New Details and Updates

Moon Safe from Asteroid 2024 YR4 in 2032

NASA Launches "NASA Force" Hiring Initiative Led by Jared Isaacman

MAVEN Orbiter at Mars Faces Potential Loss—Latest Status Update

Total Lunar Eclipse Marks Last Sight Until 2029

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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In this age of rapidly advancing AI and robotic technology, do we still need to send humans into space? The argument has long been that people can do things better and faster off-Earth, but the changing face of robotic tech has some feeling otherwise. This week's guest is a returning friend of the show, Dr. Pascal Lee, who has thoughts on how and when robots may perform better--and more safely--than humans in space, and then, of course, Tariq and I worry about how our mechanical masters might take our place in the cosmos. Pascal also reports on his recent experience with the National Academies' report on the human exploration of Mars. Join us!



Headlines:

NASA Unveils Major Overhaul to Artemis Lunar Program, With Arrtemis II & III Facing Delays and a Shift in the Lunar Landing Timeline.

Mike Fincke Revealed as Astronaut Medically Evacuated from ISS

Main Topic: First Steps for the Human Exploration of Mars

National Academies Report Identifies Top Mars Science Priorities for Astronauts, With the Search for Life on Mars Ranked as the Highest Scientific Priority

Strategies Debated: Shorter Missions vs. Building Lasting Mars Infrastructure

Call for Focused Mars Surface Lab to Maximize Science Returns

Discussion of Sample Return, Planetary Protection, and Evolving AI/Robotics/Human Partnerships

Debate Over Long-Term Human Settlement on Mars Versus Robotic and Cyborg Exploration

Implications of Rapid Progress in Humanoid Robotics and AI for the Future of Space Exploration

Also, Rod and Tariq are celebrating their 200th episode of This Week in Space and are hosting an Ask Us Anything (AUA) episode! Get your questions ready and send them to [email protected] for Rod and Tariq to answer them!

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Pascal Lee

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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One of the most exciting missions to ever journey to the outer solar system has the be the Dragonfly multi-rotor helicopter that will head to Saturn's moon Titan in 2028. The car-sized probe will arrive at that strange, frozen world in 2034, descending into the soupy, smoggy atmosphere and then taking flight before it even touches the ground! We spoke with the mission's Principal Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, about the mission's origins, current progress, and what to expect in the coming years. She also took us through a narrated tour of the surface of Titan, with its hydrocarbon sand dunes and methane seas. The Dragonfly mission will be an adventure of a lifetime!



Headlines:

NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Aces New Fueling Test

Boeing Starliner is Rated a "Type A" Mishap and Faces More Launch Delays

Perseverance Rover Gets Instant Mars GPS-like Functionality

Main Topic: NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan

Dr. Elizabeth Turtle explains Dragonfly's origins and mission concept

Why Titan is unique and somewhat akin to the primordial Earth, perfect for exploring prebiotic chemistry

Dragonfly's advanced science suite and autonomous flying capability

Insights from the Cassini/Huygens missions and how they are shaping Dragonfly

Navigation, flight strategy, and safety planning for Titan's harsh environment

Power, heating, and longevity on Titan's freezing surface

Titan's dune landscape, flying conditions, and analogs to Earth

Big scientific questions: methane cycle, atmospheric mysteries, and potential surprises

Mission timeline, lander design, and the innovative "fly-as-you-land" arrival approach

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Turtle

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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