app_store_button

google_play_button

DK - Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst 

TWiT

The new space age is upon us, and This Week in Space leaves no topic untouched. Every Friday, join Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine, Rod Pyle and Managing Editor of Space.com, Tariq Malik as they explore everything related to the cosmos. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month.

New episodes posted every Friday.

This Week in Space (Audio)

This week we're jumping into the space headlines for the past few weeks. It's been busy, and some exciting things are happening! A couple of companies are moving into the space solar power arena--something we've long advocated--and that's welcome progress. Starship is set to fly Starship test number 13, and a lot is riding on this--the system is overdue for some proof of concept to keep up with NASA's HLS contract. An exoplanet spotted a decade ago has shown signs of a potentially habitable atmosphere; there are landslides--big ones--on Pluto, and evidence of "space candy" sugars in an interstellar cloud are in the news. Finally, SpaceX is doubling down on their big defense contracts with a well-funded US Space Force. Join us for all the latest!
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Launch Aborted Due to Engine Issue
 
 • Meteorite Crashes Into New Jersey, Preserved Sample Fuels Origins of Life Research
 
 • Discovery of Atmosphere Around Habitable-Zone Exoplanet LHS 1140 b
 
 • NASA Moon Tree Planted After Artemis 1 Mission
 
 • Reflect Orbital to Launch Mirrors in Space, Sparking Astronomer Backlash
 
 • Landslides Found on Pluto Could Bury Entire Cities
 
 • Rare Sugar Found in Interstellar Cloud Hints at Building Blocks of Life
 
 • SpaceX's Growing Military Launch Contracts and Pentagon Ties
 
 • Space Development Agency's Expanding Satellite Constellation for Space Force
 
 • Starship's Dual Focus: NASA Moon Landings vs. Mars and Satellite Deployment
 
 • Artemis 3 Updates: New Renderings, Docking Plans, and Starlink HD Laser Payloads
 
 • Defense Innovation Unit's Push for Space-Based Power Beaming Technology
 
 • Pulse Space and Laser-Based Satellite Power and Communication
 
 • New Satellite Concept to Detect Nuclear Devices in Orbit Amid Global Security Concerns
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT
ethos.com/twis

TWiS 219: SpaceX Goes to War! - And Other Space Headlines

We've been hearing a lot about NASA's new moonbase plans, and they are ambitious. Starting with Artemis V (so far), the US plans to begin preparations for a permanent base situated in the south polar regions of the moon. Details are somewhat fluid, but one thing stands out: the poles are likely to be the most challenging places to set up shop in an already hostile environment. Planetary scientist Dr. Pascal Lee joins us to discuss moonbase siting options and why the poles may not be the best choice at first.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • China Demonstrates Impressive Rocket Landing and Catch Mechanism
 
 • New Horizons Probe Awakens to Transmit Deep Space Data
 
 • Wally Funk, Last of the "Mercury 13," Passes Away
 
 • West Coast Rocket Launch Alert: SpaceX Falcon 9 Visual Spectacle
 

Main Topic: Moon Base Strategy and Location Debate

 
 • History and Evolution of U.S. Moon Base Plans
 
 • NASA's New Multi-Phase Moon Base Timeline and Missions
 
 • Strategic and Logistical Challenges of South Pole Moon Bases
 
 • Arguments for a Centralized, Benign Location for Moon Infrastructure
 
 • Commercial and International Partnership Models for Lunar Operations
 
 • Role of Robotics and AI in Moon Exploration and Prospecting
 
 • Lessons from Antarctic Base Logistics Applied to the Moon
 
 • Potential for Tourism and Commercial Development on the Lunar Surface
 

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.
 

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT
rippling.ai/twis
threatlocker.com/twit

TWiS 218: Which Way to the Moonbase? - With Dr. Pascal Lee

Since 1958, the United States has been part of the spaceflight adventure, and since the mid-1960s has led in just about any category that counts. In this episode, we discuss the progression of American space efforts, review which flights launched or landed on July 4, and relive some of our very favorite US space missions of all time!
 

"Headlines:
 
• NASA's Swift Boost Mission Aims to Rescue Swift Space Telescope
 
• Astronomer Avi Loeb Tapped to Chair White House UAP Panel
 
• Celebrating 30 Years of the Film Independence Day
 

Main Topic: 250 Years of America in Space
 
• American Flags Across the Solar System
 
• Origins of the Space Age: Operation Paperclip and the V2 Legacy
 
• Explorer 1 and Early U.S. Satellite Achievements
 
• Mariner and Viking Missions: Mars Exploration Milestones
 
• Key American Firsts in Human Spaceflight
 
• Apollo Landings and Moonwalk Milestones
 
• Skylab and Its Legacy as America's First Space Station
 
• The Rise of Reusable Rockets: Space Shuttle, Blue Origin, and SpaceX
 
• Private Spaceflight and Tourism: From Dennis Tito to Jared Isaacman
 
• Curiosity, Pathfinder, and Other Mars Rovers as Iconic U.S. Achievements
 
• Reflections on Favorite Missions and the Future of U.S. Space Leadership" 
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT
helixsleep.com/space

TWiS 217: America in Space - 250 Years of Bold Firsts & Our Favorite Missions!

We've had endless conversations about aliens and first contact--but what if a conversation with other intelligences is beyond our scope? Dr. Daniel Whiteson, particle physicist at CERN's Large Hadron Collider and professor at UC Irvine, joins us to explore less conventional thoughts on first contact. We look at the challenges of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligences, potential difficulties of communicating via non-terrestrial mathematics and physics, and the possibility that extraterrestrials might actually be terrestrial... but existing as denizens of the dark energy universe. One might be sitting in your lap right now! Join us for the far-ranging discussion.
 

Headlines:

 
 • Boeing's Troubled Starliner Spacecraft Faces Further Setbacks and Delays
 
 • NASA Perseverance Rover Finds Promising Clues of Ancient Life on Mars
 
 • NASA Space Telescope Faces Fiery Descent, Mission Planned to Save It
 

Main Topic: Dark Matter, Particle Physics, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

 
 • UC Irvine's Dr. Daniel Whiteson Discusses Path into Space Science and Particle Physics
 
 • Exploring Nontraditional Signals for Alien Communication Beyond Radio Waves
 
 • The Mystery of Ultra-High Energy Particles and Speculation on Artificial Cosmic Rays
 
 • Challenges of Detecting, Interpreting, and Interacting with Alien Intelligence
 
 • Implications of Dark Matter for Hidden Civilizations and Parallel Existence
 
 • Complexities in Communicating with Truly Alien Life and Human-Centric Scientific Assumptions
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Daniel Whiteson
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 216: Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson

If you've seen "Disclosure Day" or "Age of Disclosure," you're going to want to join us for this fascinating discussion with famed bestselling sci-fi/sci-fact author Dr. David Brin. Long known for his universe-spanning visions, storytelling skills, and occasionally contrarian viewpoints, this episode will not disappoint! Our discussion ranged from reactions to Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" to why people believe in AI and more. This week's guest co-host is ace science journalist Susan Karlin.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" Premieres to Mixed Reviews
 
 • Alien Lore and the Evolution of Sci-Fi Tropes
 
 • Comparing Modern and Classic Alien Invasion Films
 
 • NASA's NIAC Program and Cutting-Edge Space Concepts
 
 • UFO Conspiracies and Cultural Obsessions
 

Main Topic: Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" and the Alien Narrative

 
 • Film critiques: Plot, character arcs, and visual effects
 
 • Overused tropes in government conspiracy stories
 
 • Modern alien movies compared to classics like Independence Day and Close Encounters
 
 • Recurring alien mythologies and sci-fi's role in cultural reflection
 
 • Exploration of why UFO conspiracy theories persist
 
 • Insights from David Brin on skepticism, evidence, and hidden truths
 
 • Connections drawn between UFO lore and folklore about elves and fairies
 
 • Examination of AI's parallels to alien encounters, danger, and self-accountability
 

Host: Rod Pyle
 

Co-Host: Susan Karlin
 

Guest: Dr. David Brin
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 215: Disclosure Day - With Dr. David Brin

There are NASA Administrators, and then there are NASA Administrators—all are very accomplished individuals, but some stand out for their unique backgrounds and on-the-job successes, and Jim Bridenstine is one of the latter. Entering service as the new NASA Administrator in 2017 with a background as a Navy pilot, Congressman, and museum director, he was an unconventional choice, and faced some headwinds in the appointment—but Jim turned out to be exceptional in the job, especially given the state of NASA when he took it on. Join us to hear his experiences with our favorite space agency and what he's doing today.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • SpaceX Shatters Records with Largest IPO Ever
 
 • NASA Faces Backlash Over Artemis 3 Diversity
 
 • Scientists Propose Magnetosphere Shield Against Solar Storms
 

Main Topic: Jim Bridenstine & Quantum Space

 
 • Jim Bridenstine's Unconventional Path to NASA Leadership
 
 • Overcoming Political Challenges as NASA Administrator
 
 • Launch and Evolution of the Artemis Moon Program
 
 • Securing Bipartisan Support and Budget for Artemis
 
 • Reflections on Artemis 2 Success and Artemis 3's Challenges
 
 • The Need for a Robust Lunar Lander Solution
 
 • NASA's Global Influence and Soft Power
 
 • The Role of Private Investment in Space Exploration
 
 • Bridenstine's Leadership at Quantum Space
 
 • Quantum Space's Ranger Spacecraft and Military Space Tech
 
 • National Security and Distributed Satellite Architectures
 
 • Small Satellites and Future Space Warfare
 
 • Quantum Space's Move to Go Public via SPAC
 
 • Vision for Moon Bases and Lunar Resource Utilization
 
 • Geopolitics of the New Moon Race and First Mover Advantage
 
 • Quantum Space's Ambitions in Cislunar and Lunar Operations
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Jim Bridenstine
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsor:

threatlocker.com/twit

TWiS 214: Moon Man - With Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

Recorded live from the International Space Development Conference in McLean, Virginia, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik are joined by Apollo legend and former Johnson Space Center director Gerry Griffin. Griffin takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career, from his appointment as a flight director in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire, through the audacious decision to send Apollo 8 around the moon, all the way to the nail-biting rescue of Apollo 13. We also venture behind the scenes of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 film, where Griffin reveals the real story behind some of Hollywood's most famous dramatic liberties. It's a rare, firsthand account of the golden age of human spaceflight — from one of the few people who was there for all of it.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • Space Station Faces Recurring Air Leak Crisis
 

Main Topic: Jerry Griffin's Legacy in Space Exploration

 
 • Transition from Fighter Pilot to Mission Control
 
 • Gemini and Apollo Era Engineering Breakthroughs
 
 • The Apollo 1 Fire: Lessons and Safety Changes
 
 • Fast-Tracking from Apollo 7 to Apollo 8 Lunar Orbit
 
 • Insights From the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
 
 • Apollo 13 Crisis Management Onscreen and in Reality
 
 • The Evolution and Importance of Mission Control Teams
 
 • Reflections on NASA's Culture and Training Through Decades
 
 • Preparing Future Generations for Artemis and Beyond
 

(Note: Apologies for the video flickering that occurs in the podcast.)
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Gerry Griffin
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

Melissa.com/twit
helixsleep.com/space

TWiS 213: Live From ISDC With Gerry Griffin - NASA Flight Director Breaks Down the Realities of Spaceflight

What a wild week in space news! We were all set to discuss Starship Test Flight 12 and NASA's recent press conference updating their lunar base plans, when on Thursday night, Blue Origin lost a New Glenn rocket on the pad during a static test. The explosion appears to have severely damaged the launch structure, LC36, along with the loss of the rocket. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But this does throw NASA's schedule for returning American astronauts to the moon into question, given that the agency had recently signaled their choice of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander for Artemis 4 in 2028. It's now a toss-up between the US and China, with the competition hotter--and closer--than ever. And of course, we'll still discuss Starship and the latest lunar base plans! Space.com's Mike Wall joins us.
 

Headlines:
 
• Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Static Fire Test
 
• Manhattanhenge Aligns City Streets with the Sunset
 

Main Topic: NASA's Artemis Moon Base and Lunar Exploration Plans
 
• SpaceX Starship Flight 12 Performance and Booster Mishap Investigation
 
• Starship's Role in Artemis and Competitive Moon Race with China
 
• Moon Base Contract Awards: Landers, Rovers, and Robotics
 
• National Security and Legal Implications of Lunar "Territory"
 
• China's Push for a 2030 Lunar Landing and US Response Strategy
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Mike Wall
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 212: Kabooms, Starship, and a Moon Base - What New Glenn's Explosion Means for NASA's Moon Base

When one ponders the diet of Mars-bound astonauts, oysters don't often come to mind... but they should. As it turns out, the plucky bivalves have much to offer space voyagers, including water filtration and a ready source of protein. Jacob Scoccimerra, formerly of Nanoracks and now with Monolith Space, initiated a research project with students from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, to design, build, and operate a closed-circuit, automated support environment for oysters in a simulated space analog. It's a fascinating discussion that may leave you hungry.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • SpaceX IPO Filing Reveals Company Finances
 
 • NASA Opens JPL Operations to New Bidders, Eyes Management Shakeup
 
 • Viral Cardboard Star Wars Fan Film Gets a Nod
 
 • SpaceX Announces Crypto Billionaire's Planned Mars Flyby on Starship
 

Main Topic: Oysters in Space – Bioregenerative Life Support and Student Research

 
 • Jacob Discusses Monolith Space and Roots in Chemical Engineering
 
 • Origins and Environmental Role of Oysters in Water Filtration
 
 • Applying Aquatic Organisms to Space-Based Life Support Systems
 
 • Harrisburg University Student Collaboration and Prototype Development
 
 • Technical and Biological Challenges of Running Aquatic Habitats in Space
 
 • Educational Outcomes and Cross-Disciplinary Engineering Experience
 
 • Potential Earth Applications and Insights for Aquaculture Industry
 
 • Broader Prospects for Bioregenerative Systems in Space (e.g., other aquatic species, food sustainability)
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Jacob Scoccimerra
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsor:

outsystems.com/twit

TWiS 211: Oysters in Space - With Jacob Scoccimerra of Monolith Space

Poor Mars. After a warm, wet childhood, the planet dried out and became cold and arid. And why? Mostly because it lost most of its atmosphere, scraped away by solar radiation. NASA's Maven mission studied the phenomenon of atmospheric loss for years, but has now gone silent. Enter Mars ESCAPADE—the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers—twin orbiters that will study the loss of Martian atmosphere more closely than ever before. The mission has been executed at a budget price. was largely built by industry upstart Rocket Lab, and launched on a New Glenn rocket. It will arrive at Mars in 2028, but we're giving you an early look at why it's an important and, frankly, very cool mission.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • SpaceX Unveils Starship V3 Launch Plans
 
 • NASA Details Artemis 3 Earth Orbit Mission Updates
 
 • Psyche Probe Performs Mars Gravity Assist for Asteroid Mission
 

Main Topic: ESCAPADE Mars Mission—Twin Satellites to Study Atmospheric Loss

 
 • Introducing ESCAPADE: Twin Orbiters for Studying Mars' Upper Atmosphere
 
 • Explaining Why Mars Loses Its Atmosphere and Comparative Planetology
 
 • Stereo Measurements: Scientific Advantages of Two Orbiters Over One
 
 • How ESCAPADE's Orbits and Science Campaigns Are Structured
 
 • Rocket Lab and Commercial Partnerships Expand Mission Flexibility
 
 • Unique Launch Timing and Innovations in Trajectory Planning
 
 • Early Data from ESCAPADE's Mission and Earth's Magnetotail
 
 • Onboard Cameras to Capture Mars Auroras and Possibly Earth-Moon Portraits
 
 • Extended Mission Possibilities and Future Science Goals
 
 • The Role of Space Weather and Mars' Magnetic Field in Atmospheric Loss
 
 • Implications for Future Mars Missions, Technology, and Human Exploration
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Dr. Robert Lillis
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 216: Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Other podcasts you might like ...