Today In Space

On this episode we recap the latest from a busy May in Space, including: - Boeing’s OFT-2 gets a Part DEUX after fixing some valve issues  - James Webb Space Telescope continues Science Instrument commissioning  - Rocket Lab catches their Electron Rocket with a Helicopter and the CAPSTONE spacecraft is on its way to New Zealand for an Artemis/Gateway mission to the Moon - The AG3D lab gets a new 3D Scanner We discuss the balance of staying on mission when things get tough, busy, and confusing. JWST is a great story of staying on mission Have a great week and make sure to spread love and spread science!  LLAP Alex G. Orphanos The unreal science behind how James Webb aligned its mirrors and go it working https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20358 https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_spacecraft/capstone https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html  

This week we have much to discuss about all things space!  - NASA's Crew 4 launches to the ISS on a SpaceX Falcon9 & Crew Dragon NET April 23 5:26AM ET - NASA's SLS Wet Dress Rehersal gets delayed & we get new launch window possibilties for this summer in Florida at Pad39A - The Jame Webb Telescope team was on Twitter Spaces talking about the cryocooling the MIRI instrument is doing to get it ready for first observations - I got to ask a question live! We share the engineer & scientist answers here - We also discuss the latest projects in the AG3D Printing lab, with out resin 3D printed Falcon9 and our early prototype of our next JWST product for our etsy shop! AG3Dprinting.etsy.com to support the podcast and get a cool 3D printing gift at the same time https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/crew-4_mission_overview.pdf https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar/2022/april/rocket-launch-commercial-crew-spacex-crew-4 https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/syste

This week we discuss the nuanced topic of launch independence, the ability of a single country to continue their space programs regardless of global conflict that might interrupt international partnerships like the ISS and other space ventures. Given the continuing conflict in Ukraine, this story continues to develop. NASA also rolled out the SLS for the first time from the VAB to Pad 39B, which marks a momentus moment for Artemis 1 just around the corner. Looking forward to seeing that rocket in person in a few months! We're trying to go down to Florida and take it all in! Having a moon rocket along with all of our amazing "broomsticks" here in the US provides us an opportunity to continue our progress in space without the need for the Russian Soyuz system. US launch independence is at an all time strength given the last 10 years of work to allow America to launch its own Astronauts from American soil. What happened? How did we get here? Why are we so lucky? We attempt to answer those question throughout thi

On this episode we return with another People of Science segment! This week, we are honored to have Steve Good, the Chief Commercial Officer of Ramon.Space - a company dedicated to bringing software & supercomputing to space. Today Ramon.Space Announces their High-Capacity Space-Resilient Storage Solution to the public. The boom of interest in space has been helped out by the economical advancements in rocket launches thanks to companies like Spacex - but what happens now?  Steve shares his STEM origin stories and how math & physics connected with him at a young age while his love of space merged into a 25 year career in Aerospace and Satellites. We discuss the business of satellites, orbits, and computing in space - and how the storage solution Ramon.Space is offering for spacecraft can meet the growing need and bridge the gap of our infrastructure needs in space. If you really want to learn more about satellites and what it takes to launch hardware with 0% failure rate over 50+ missions to space, wh

After alot of delay we are back for another episode of the podcast. I've been through the ringer with food poisining and other life stuff, as I'm sure you have as well. There was alot to catch up on since our episode to close out January and we review what's new in space this week. The war in Ukraine and Russia's invasion is terrible, and I do my best to stay in my lane of experitise and share how this affects the space industry. I am no international expert or political scientist but this conflict is already changing the scope of international policies with the global Space Industry being affected directly. We are in strange and difficult times, and the conundrum of space progress repeats. Major Space Progress parallels Major Global Conflict.  We close out by catching up on some of my favorite space news from last month, including a new Director of JPL, a wild year of SpaceX's Starlink so far (the good & the challenging), and the first engineering images of the James Webb Space Telescope. Thanks for join

This week we are honored to have Jenna Bryant, the Co-Founder of Embedded Ventures and the CEO/General Partner on the podcast. We had Jordan Noone, her Co-Founder and CTO for Embedded at the end of last year (available here). We pick up our conversation about space "beyond launch".  We explore Jenna's non-linear STEM original story and discuss how we should be embracing that as the norm, becuase it has become the norm in Tech. Jenna's has seen this first hand in her early days as a Tech Recruiter during the hayday of Silicon Valley, and its helping her and Embedded Ventures shape the future of space with Dual-Use Technologies.   Learn more on this new exciting episode of the all-things space podcast!  https://www.embedded.ventures/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabryant/ 00:15 welcome Jenna Bryant / Embedded Ventures 01:05 outreach STEM 06:45 mentor ship programs, twitch streaming, 08:15 project payload for middle school girls to design test and launch a rocket! 09:45 science is messy 10:45 Juleah kaliski 11

This week, there have been some thoughts brewing that I keep circling back to. It's got some layers: What kind of skills will the first humans living on another planet need to survive? What is the first 50-100 years of humans living in space going to be like? If people are living somewhere, they'll need money - what is that going to be like on Mars? This line of thinking started with the remote assembly of JWST in space by humans on Earth, and tied in with an article from Interesting Engineering that shared a company who is contactless drilling on Earth and hopes to bring it to Mars.  We would LOVE to hear your thoughts, if you have more information and knowledge on the questions we are posing, or want to let us know what you'd like us to explore next! Mars: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/insight/ https://amp-interestingengineering-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.interestingengineering.com/a-contactless-drilling-robot-can-bore-through-the-hardest-rocks-on-earth Bill Britton - Cyberskills &a

On this week's episode we share some thoughts on just how significant the success of James Webb Space Telescope is so far after being assembled in space on its way to 1 million miles from Earth at L2. There's a lot we will learn about existence after the big bang thanks to JWST, and we know that Hubble changed the way we look at space. Who doesn't have a Hubble pic on their computer? You can support the podcast and get a 3D printed JWST inspired coaster here in our esty store at ag3dprinting.etsy.com We also talk about the difference between Engineers & Scientists, and how they support each other. And of course we share some thoughts about how crazy SpaceX's Starship is as the "chopsticks" of the launch tower are being weight tested before trying to literally catch the most powerful first stage rocket we have ever built... Thanks for joining us this week! Follow us on social: - @todayinspacepod on instragram & twitter - @todayinspace on TikTok - /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook How to Support the po

Wishing you nothing but improvement and the best for you in 2022! Closing out 2021, we wanted to enter 2022 by recapping the story of James Webb Space Telescope as a beacon of hope that even with struggle, difficulty, and decades of doubt - humans can still perform great acts and complete the goals set out before them. After the successful Christmas day launch, the assembly process on the way to 1 million miles away from earth continues to be successful. Some of the most difficult moments are behind with more to come... The journey to getting this astronomical marvel off planet and into space was a saga in its own right. It really resonated with me about what life is like as a human being on this planet called Earth. This week we discuss how similar the challenges that JWST faced is to what we face in today's world. There are so many lessons to take away that we can use to understand the struggle we go through in a post-pandemic world. Struggle may exist, but performing at the moment you need to is critical,

In this episode we cover the latest in all-things space since our last episode on Dec 9th. - Blue Origin launched the 'Original Six' to the edge of space and back landing safely in West Texas.  - The Parker Solar Probe 'touched' the sun and it's corona for the first time, and some recent research linking solar wind and asteroid regolith with creating water which may explain the Earth's water 'budget'. One thing's for sure, our Sun is a main reason we have life as stable as we have it on Earth. To think it may also be 'wetting' the solar systems airless bodies is WILD - Jame Webb Space Telescope launches on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 7:20AM EST. We discuss what JWST will do to expand our understanding of the universe and our existence. Where we come from.  Solar wind research: https://www-cbc-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6271594 Solar Wind Research paper abstract: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01487-w https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/12/15/parker-solar-probe-touches-the-sun/ https://e

This week we're talking about the balance as SpaceX is on red alert! Starship & the Raptor engine are at risk to bankrupt SpaceX if they don't figure it out soon. Elon's email to SpaceX employees was leaked and reveals what we have seen so many times from Musk - logical, almost Vulcan-like honesty.  All of this was revealed as SpaceX continues to battle their competition like Blue Origin (just chosen for a contract to develop Orbital Reef to replace the ISS) and Rocket Lab (who revealed their design for their Neutron Rocket, which will compete with Falcon9!). While these companies duke it out for a share of the space economy, its a great time for space development as this type of healthy competition pushes us further towards sending the first woman and next man to the surface of the moon. And that's just the beginning of what's to come!  Thank you for joining us 00:00 - Introduction/SpaceX on Red Alert! 03:35 - Blue Origin win's Space Station contract 07:00 - Rocket Lab's newest rocket - Neutron 14:00 - E

This week we are joined by Jordan Noone for an episode of People of Science. Jordan is currently the Co-Founder, CTO/Partner of Embedded Ventures, dubbed the "skunkworks of deep tech venture capitol" is investing in companies and technologies for space "beyond launch". There's so much focus on the rockets, but the whole reason we have rockets is to send payloads into space. If we solve the cost problem of going to space with reusability, then what comes next? How good is the stuff we are sending to space? Are we even ready for it? This is what Embedded Ventures is focused on solving for the space industry. Jordan was previously a Co-Founder, CTO of Relativity Space, who are revolutionizing the additive manufacturing and aerospace world by combining 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics to create a rocket from raw material in 60 days with 100X less parts. We learn about Jordan's STEM Origin story, which has ultimately led him to a unique perspective as a 28-year old multi-business entre

A Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US - and happy holidays to everyone around our planet Earth! We have a great travel podcast for you - perfect for the driving, shopping, traveling you'll likely be doing this week. Between Anti-Satellite tests, Orbital debris, and the 5 year anniversary of our 3D printing lab AG3D - there's a lot to cover!  Thanks for joining us Have a great Thanksgiving!

A LOT has happened in the matter of a week in space...NASA & SpaceX continue work on HLS after months long delays, Blue Origin loses protest but strikes back with Orbital Reef for the next stage of Artemis. We learn about the diverse group of technologies, capabilities, and companies that make up Orbital Reef - Blue Origin, Sierra Space, RedWire, Boeing, Genesis Engineering, and Arizona State University (ASU). We explain WHY the HLS contract was so important to progress in space, and WHY Space Stations are a necessary technological development for us to truly have access to space for all. HLS Contract Timeline: April 2021 https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/option-a-source-selection-statement-final.pdf November 4th, 2021 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.uscfc.44185/gov.uscourts.uscfc.44185.74.0_1.pdf Blue Origin loses protest for HLS Contract with NASA https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/580161-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-loses-months-long-legal-battle-with-nas

This weeks episode we are talking about some important launches coming up this year if all goes well. Both missions are long awaited missions years in the making! Space Launch System is stacked inside the Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida for the first time. James Webb Space Telescope FINALLY (hopefully) gets ready for launch onboard an Ariane 5 rocket on 12/18/21. Both missions have been a long time coming and it begs the question - what have we learned from these long delayed missions? What could we do better to have a rugged space program that isn’t susceptible to political whims and a waining public interest? How did we make our 3dprinted Halloween costume of a SpaceX helmet like the one the Inspiration4 wore on their mission? All this and more! We’ve got lot to chat about! We’d love to know what YOU think James Webb telescope gets ready for launch - what to look out for: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-deployments-video https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/nasa-wants-to-buy-sls-ro

So much to catch up on from this month! Blue Origin sends Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to #space, LUCY launches to the Trojan Asteroids, and OrbitFab is launching the first satellite fueling station on a SpaceX Falcon9! & SO MUCH MORE For anyone waiting for a new episode this month - thanks for your patience! Life got the best of me, and sorry you had to wait. But thanks to everyone who reached out. All is good, just busy working on my future!  NASA launches the Crew3 mission on Halloween morning 2:21AM ET from Cape Canaveral, FL! We'll do a show covering the launch so we'll see you next week for another episode LUCY heading to the Trojan Asteroids https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lucy/in-depth/ https://www.space.com/amp/lucy-asteroid-spacecraft-solar-array-issue-continues Blue Origin Drama: https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1445377244860407816?s=21 https://spacexmania.com/archives/553?fbclid=IwAR37Wg7ZRWRziPcLHgOrJJyySR44yV_MKAuHfeI5djt_8Nfz6WyBgtyUg-A Orbit Fab Launch: https://spacenews.

This week we are closing out the exciting month of September and sharing more thoughts about the Inspiration4 mission. This first all-civilian mission has had a PROFOUND affect on me. Still processing just how much but it's really got me focusing on my own body & mind and wanting to make progress in a more healthier & fit me. NOT what I was expecting as my takeaway from this mission, but this really broke down my perception of astronauts as being required to be professionals. We are good enough to train basically anyone to become an astronaut now apparently.  I want to hear YOUR thoughts on what you've loved about Inspiration4 as well - so please reach out to us on social media @todayinspacepod on Twitter & Instagram, @todayinspace on TikTok, and /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook. Or email us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com  As always, the podcast is brought to you by AG3D Printing, our 3D printing lab where we bring people's ideas into reality! We sell fun gifts and things for around the home on

This week's episode begins with a recap of the successful Inspiration4 mission that successfully raised over it's $200 million fundraising and returned the crew of four back home to their families.  I am still searching for the right words to describe all that I am processing after this three day mission in space, that went farther than any current mission in orbit with the worlds largest window ever flown. We follow up with the audio from our 40 minute live hangout on our Facebook page/Todayinspacepodcast with my brother Niko Orphanos on his Twitch channel and discord  Watch the full broadcast from SpaceX that we had on in the background: https://youtu.be/dpFKNNl47AM Follow Nik on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/ngorphii Subscribe & Listen to the Weebs & Weights podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/519N565fUiPsaQS9cN23L7?si=LY0YlnyITcCx0e2EETRDAA&dl_branch=1  

On September 15th, 2021 the first all-civilian crew of Inspiration4 launched aboard a Falcon9 rocket to take a Crew Dragon spacecraft in orbit around the earth for three days at an altitude of roughly 575km (which after Day 1 has already reached as high as 590km!) A truly historic day and a true first that could open the ability for anyone to go to space. The mission is also a fundraiser for St. Jude's Research with the goal of raising $200 million dollars.  This recording was taken from our Facebook LIVE event as we watched the stream of the launch via SpaceX's website. As I am trained as an engineer and not a sound technician, I do apologize for the overlaying of audio feeds at times. We are working on our setup for the next broadcast so if you have any constructive feedback to help us get better please reach out! todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com @todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter @todayinspace on TikTok /TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

We're back after an episode-light August and ALOT of 3D printing with AG3D to talk about the double-edged sword of work-stacking. A technique I learned from a toolmaker in my days working in injection molding and by researching how a certain South African human is able to do so much with their companies in rockets, electric cars, AI, satellite internet, tunneling, neural interfaces and more... It's a powerful tool but WOW can you overload yourself. So we'll be talking about that a little more in depth, as well as covering the latest with Astra, Firefly, Starship and of course the upcoming Inspiration 4 mission. Thanks for joining us - LLAP Astra's 'Hover' Launch https://www.space.com/astra-launch-company-public-nasdaq https://twitter.com/djsnm/status/1431747444258213889?s=21 (https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1431880547924537348?s=21 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaeljsheetz_rocket-builder-astras-stock-is-falling-sharply-ugcPost-6838095550617833472-mHoS Firefly's mostly good test flight of Alpha: ht