Today In Space

On this Christmas Eve episode, we are honored to be joined by Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III, authors of "Starbound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program". Emily Carney is a space historian, podcaster with Space & Things, and the creator of the 'Space Hipsters' Facebook group. She shares her early fascination with space, sparked by the STS-2 launch in 1983. Bruce McCandless III, whose father was Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, shares his journey of becoming a writer and what it was like being the son of an Astronaut. We discuss all things space, including a friendly debate on the evolving definition of "astronaut" in the context of commercial space travel. We also discuss the Space Shuttle's legacy, the importance of space exploration on culture, and the potential of SpaceX, Artemis, and the pick for NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. They also express optimism about the future of space exploration despite current political challenges and the "Space Conundrum" of progress in the space in