This Week in Space (Audio)

Coming into 2025, we have six flights of SpaceX's Starship behind us, with a possibility for as many as 25 tests supported by the FAA license for this year. This is also the year we need to see an orbital test, payloads carried, orbital refueling, and hopefully catches of both the Booster and Ship, and progress toward an uncrewed test landing on the moon. So much to discuss, so join Tariq, Rod, and ace space reporter Leonard David as we deep dive into King Starship! Headlines: • Wildfires near NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, have displaced many employees and caused the facility to shut down temporarily, but the lab itself remains untouched. • NASA is considering two options for the Mars Sample Return mission, both under $8 billion, with a launch planned by 2035-2039. • Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society and former host of "Bill Nye the Science Guy," was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his dedication to science education and space exploration advocacy. Main Topic - SpaceX Starship in 2025: • SpaceX plans to ramp up Starship test flights in 2025, with up to 25 launches scheduled throughout the year. • Starship test flight 7, scheduled for January 13th, will feature a new Starship design with enhanced flaps, a new flight computer, and other upgrades. • The goal of Starship is to serve as a reusable, heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 100 people and 100 metric tons of cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. • SpaceX is rapidly iterating on the Starship design, with stated plans to build new Starships in a single day and test new features on each flight. • While Starship's development has been impressive, questions remain about its life support systems, radiation protection, and interior design for crewed missions. • A discussion of the potential impact of Starship on NASA's Artemis program and the future of space exploration, including the possibility of using Starship as a space station or for Mars missions. • The conversation also touches on the challenges facing NASA, including aging infrastructure and the need for greater collaboration with the private sector, as highlighted in a recent report by the National Academies. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Leonard David Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

On episode 142 we're talking about 2025 in space! It's going to be an exciting year, kicking off with the first launch attempt for Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy booster and another test flight of Starship. Then we'll see a new asteroid sampling mission from China, the first test flight of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander to the moon, and the launch of the first-ever private robotic mission to Venus by Rocket Lab. There's a lot more in store, so be sure to join us for this jam-packed episode! Headlines: - NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes its closest, fastest, and hottest flyby of the Sun yet, flying through the corona and withstanding 1800°F temperatures - Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket is finally on the pad with plans to launch in early January after many years of development - China announces their crewed lunar lander and crew capsule are ready, raising concerns about a new space race to the Moon 2025 in Space: - SpaceX aims for up to 25 Starship launches—and landings—in 2025 if they can secure FAA approval, with flight 7 featuring Starlink satellite deployment tests coming within weeks - Jared Isaacman, billionaire and private space mission funder, expected to be nominated as the new NASA administrator under the incoming Trump administration - Several commercial and international robotic missions to the Moon are planned, some of which will help fill the void left by NASA's canceled VIPER rover - The future of NASA's expensive and long-delayed Mars sample return mission is in question as China aims to complete its own by 2027 - Colorado and Alabama are vying to be the home of U.S. Space Command as it potentially reorganizes under the new administration - Vast Space aims to be the first to launch a private space station module in 2025 without NASA funding, providing a potential ISS replacement - The European Space Agency's Space Rider, a reusable robotic space transportation system, set to launch in 2025 for various orbital experiments and satellite deployment/retrieval - China's ambitious Tianwen-2 mission to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and visit a main-belt comet in the 2030s launches this year - Japan's Destiny+ mission will visit asteroid Phaethon, the source of the Geminid meteor showers, propelled by novel ion engines - Rocket Lab plans to launch a small, privately financed probe to Venus to look for signs of life and organic molecules in the atmosphere Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

It's the holidays! This week, we are joined by producer Anthony and our old pal Ant Pruitt to celebrate and discuss a wide variety of topics, from first space memories to our favorite space toys to what spaceflight means to each of us. It's a warm "family reunion" you won't want to miss! Join us for some holiday cheer, and Tariq's "Tiny Tim" moment... Headlines: • NASA's Parker Solar Probe to make its closest approach to the sun on Christmas Eve 2024, flying within 3.8 million miles and withstanding temperatures up to 2,500°F to study the sun's behavior and dynamics • Christmas and Hanukkah to be celebrated on the same day in 2024, with astronauts on the ISS enjoying the holidays and connecting with their families on Earth, continuing a 50-plus year tradition • A potential partial shutdown is looming for the U.S. government, which could impact NASA and limit public outreach during the Parker Solar Probe's close approach to the sun Main Topic - Space Memories and Space Toys: First Space Memories: • Tariq recalls building paper rockets with his mother and launching them on a friend's farm • Ant shares his first space memories from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and the Challenger disaster • Anthony mentions playing with Lego space sets sent by his aunt from Denmark • Rod remembers listening to a Gemini mission on the radio at the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra lounge where his father worked and being captivated by Apollo 8's mission to orbit the moon and reading of Genesis on December 24, 1968 Favorite Space Toys: • Rod shares memories of his ca. 1965 Big Loo Moon Robot and Major Matt Mason action figures, discussing the evolution of space toys in the 1960s • Tariq reminisces about his Transformers Omega Supreme toy and a paper tab and slot space shuttle and carrier aircraft model • Ant recalls his Transformers Skywarp toy and the appeal of its counterpart, Thundercracker • Anthony talks about playing the video game Escape Velocity on his family's iMac computer • The group discusses the joys and challenges of building model rockets, with Rod and Tariq sharing stories of their experiences • Tariq shows off his new pre-built Estes space shuttle model rocket, comparing it to the more challenging build-it-yourself kits The Importance of Space Exploration: • Ant questions the allocation of resources for space exploration while critical issues on Earth remain unaddressed • Rod counters by highlighting the technological, educational, and inspirational benefits of space programs, as well as the economic returns on investment, and the cultural importance of exploration • The group discusses the potential impact of SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation on global connectivity and the debate surrounding its sustainability and alternatives • Rod emphasizes the distinction between Elon Musk's ambitious Mars colonization plans and NASA's more measured approach to exploration • The TWiS crew wishes everyone a happy holiday and Merry Christmas Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guests: Ant Pruitt and Anthony Nielsen Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Many of us flew model rockets as young people, but USC Rocket Propulsion Lab takes amateur rocketry to a whole new level--in this case, 470,000 feet! Meet Dr. Dan Erwin and student Ryan Kraemer, who, along with a very talented team of other undergrads, built and flew Aftershock II, a 14-foot, 330-pound "amateur" rocket that flew out of the Nevada desert and into the record books. It's a fun episode that will leave you wishing that your university had a club that was half this cool! Headlines: • Mars Ingenuity helicopter lives on after a hard landing, and may last another 20 years as a weather station and fixed camera • Geminid meteor shower peaks this weekend, but the full moon may wash out fainter meteors • NASA releases Moon to Mars architecture review with 12 new white papers covering various needs and capabilities for lunar and Mars missions • Mysterious drones continue to be spotted over New Jersey and other parts of the U.S., with no clear explanation Main Topic - USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory: • Dr. Daniel Erwin discusses the lab's founding in 2004 by student Ian Whittinghill, with the goal of being the first student group to reach space • The lab's rockets have evolved over 20 years, with their current vehicle, Aftershock II, reaching an altitude of 470,000 feet (90 miles) and breaking the 20-year-old amateur rocketry record • Ryan Kraemer explains how their rockets differ from amateur rockets, with a focus on continuity and optimization of design over the years • The lab formulates its own solid propellant, which is mixed and cast under professional supervision due to safety concerns • Discussing the bureaucratic requirements for high-altitude launches, including FAA permits and Bureau of Land Management approvals • The lab's plans for the future include further optimizing rocket performance, developing smaller rockets capable of reaching space, and offering payload slots for scientific research • Dr. Erwin emphasizes the valuable hands-on experience students gain through the lab, making them highly sought after by the aerospace industry • Ryan Kraemer shares his personal journey and passion for rocketry, leading to his upcoming job at SpaceX • The hosts and guests discuss the thrilling atmosphere surrounding the record-breaking launch and the dedication of the student team • The show concludes with information on how to support the USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory and get involved as a student or donor. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guests: Dr. Dan Erwin and Ryan Kraemer Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit