This Week in Space (Audio)

• TWiS 148: Clavius Base - Why Clavius Crater Is the Best Spot for Nasa's Moon Base With Dr. Pascal Lee

  Clavius. The very mention of this vast lunar crater brings to mind spectacular images from "2001: A Space Odyssey"— landing spacecraft, alien monoliths, and more. But more immediately, Clavius may be the ideal place to build our first lunar base, and Dr. Pascal Lee rejoins us to explain why. Notably, Clavius is not on NASA's dance card as a first-sitting consideration, but Lee thinks it should be, for many reasons, including interesting lunar geology, possible sites for permanent settlements—including lava tubes, excellent prospects for transportation infrastructure, and much more. Join us for a fascinating look at the near future at Clavius Base! 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 shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

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• TWiS 147: Not As They Seem - Mick West on UFOs, Conspiracy Theories, and Pseudoscience

  In this episode, we talk to Mick West, a passionate conspiracy debunker who, rather uniquely, proceeds with kindness and empathy as he unravels some of the key pseudoscience of our time. Of particular interest to us is the spate of relatively recent videos of UFOs/UAPs from the US Navy, among other sources. He's got a lot to say and took a deep dive into the phenomenon with us. Buckle up and share the weird and sometimes wacky world of "Not As They Seem!" with us! Get "Escaping the Rabbit Hole" on Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/42HqpK1 Headlines: • SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to bring home astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams earlier than planned, swapping with the Axiom Space 4 mission's Endurance Dragon capsule • Asteroid 2024 YR4's chances of impacting Earth in 2032 slightly increase to a 2.2% chance of hitting our planet on December 22, 2032, according to the European Space Agency. The risk assessment has increased from a chance of 1.2% over the last week due to new observations, but there is still a 97.7% chance it will miss our planet • Putin replaces Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov with 37-year-old Dmitry Bakunov, former deputy transport minister • Astrolab's FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover to replace NASA's canceled VIPER rover, hitching a ride on Griffin's lander to the Moon • The Trump administration's first weeks in office bring significant changes to NASA and the space industry, with acting administrator Janet Petro set to address the future of the agency Main Topic - UFOs/UAPs, Conspiracy Theories, and Critical Thinking: • Mick West's background in video game programming and his transition to debunking conspiracy theories • The importance of contrail science and debunking the chemtrails conspiracy theory • Psychological factors that lead people to believe in conspiracy theories, such as the need for uniqueness and the appeal of simple explanations • The role of social media and non-expert influencers in shaping public opinion on UFOs and other fringe topics • Analyzing recent UFO videos and the challenges of interpreting visual data without proper context or expertise • The potential impact of the Trump administration on UFO disclosure and the appointment of a "UFO/UAP czar" • Examining the claims of UFO whistleblowers like Luis Elizondo and David Grusch, and the lack of concrete evidence to support their assertions • The shift towards a distrust of science and academia, and the potential return to a belief in supernatural explanations • Debunking moon landing conspiracy theories and the importance of considering evidence from multiple sources • The potential consequences of hidden technology and the allure of "free energy" conspiracy theories • Mick West's book, "Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect," and its guidance on communicating with conspiracy theorists Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Mick West 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 shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

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• TWiS 146: All the Way With USRA - CEO Dr. Elsayed Talaat Shares Insights on Cutting-Edge Space Science

  What do schools, universities, motivated STEM students, NASA, and the space industry have in common, all across the globe? The Universities Space Research Association! You may not have heard of this group before, but it's high time you did. Their new President and CEO, Dr. Elsayed Talaat, joins us to discuss the association's long history, educational and industry affiliations, and perhaps most impressively, their vast areas of research. If it's space, cutting-edge, and cool, the USRA is probably engaged. Join us for this fascinating look at one of the best education and research facilitators anywhere--the USRA. Headlines: • Astronomers mistakenly identified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as an asteroid, highlighting the challenges of tracking an increasing number of objects in space • AstroForge, a space mining company, announced their target asteroid for a mission launching next month, following calls for increased transparency from the scientific community • SpaceX is completing construction on their fifth and final Crew Dragon capsule, as the current fleet is expected to meet NASA's needs until Starship becomes operational • A newly discovered asteroid, 2024 YR4, has a small chance (1 in 83) of impacting Earth in 2032; NASA emphasizes that an impact is highly unlikely but will continue to track the object and refine the trajectory plot Main Topic - All the Way with the USRA: • The USRA was founded in 1969 to connect universities with NASA projects, particularly for lunar sample research during the Apollo era • The organization has since expanded to cover a wide range of space-related research areas, including astrophysics, heliophysics, Earth science, space nuclear propulsion, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and microgravity science • The USRA plays a key role in workforce development by providing internship and scholarship opportunities for students interested in space research • The organization has a consortium of 121 member universities worldwide, which helps guide USRA's research focus and advocate for the interests of the academic space research community • The USRA's funding primarily comes from competitively awarded NASA contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, as well as some funding from the Department of Defense and Department of Energy • President and CEO Dr. Talaat emphasizes the importance of collaboration and cross-disciplinary research in advancing space science and technology • The USRA's Lunar and Planetary Institute has been a key player in lunar research and exploration since the Apollo era, and continues to offer internship programs to inspire and train the next generation of space scientists • Dr. Talaat highlights the critical role of space weather research in protecting technological infrastructure and ensuring the safety of astronauts and pilots • He encourages young people to get involved in space research, emphasizing the excitement of scientific discovery and the real-world applications that benefit society Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Elsayed R. Talaat 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 shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

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• TWiS 145: We're Star Bound! - Authors of 'Star Bound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program'

  This week, we're talking to the authors of a new book about spaceflight called "Star Bound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program, from Goddard's Rockets to Goldilocks Planets and Everything in Between," Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III. Emily started the popular Facebook group Space Hipsters, now 66,000 members strong, and Bruce is a retired lawyer and space enthusiast who also happens to be the son of Bruce McCandless II, the NASA astronaut who flew on the shuttle and pioneered the use of the Manned Maneuvering Unit. We're going to cover a lot of territory in this one, so take your hand off the eject lever and strap in! Get "Star Bound" (Amazon Affiliate): https://amzn.to/4hvHtXo Headlines - Trump's Mars Vision: The administration's push for a crewed Mars mission by 2029 sparks debate. Tariq notes Elon Musk's visible enthusiasm, while Rod highlights the technical and political hurdles. - NASA Leadership Shuffle: Janet Petro named interim NASA administrator, bypassing Jim Free. The move might signal potential shifts in Artemis priorities. - DEI Rollbacks: Executive orders halt NASA's diversity initiatives, sparking workforce concerns. - SpaceX Milestones: 400th Falcon 9 landing celebrated, with 60 Starlink satellites launched in a week. ULA's Vulcan launch remains delayed. - Meteorite Doorbell Footage: A meteorite impact in Canada, captured on camera, stuns scientists and homeowners. - Quirky Moon Naming: IAU dubs a quasi-moon "Cardea" after the Roman goddess of door hinges. Main Topic: Star Bound - Book Overview: A cultural history of the U.S. space program, connecting missions like Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab to societal shifts (e.g., civil rights movements). Authors Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III emphasized accessibility, avoiding "engineer-speak." - Skylab's Legacy: Emily's passion shines as she details Skylab's role as a bridge between Apollo and the Shuttle, citing the groundbreaking science performed and how it may help us send humans to Mars. - MMU & Bruce McCandless II: Bruce shares stories of his father's iconic untethered flight with the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), suggesting that future missions may revive jetpack tech for tourism and repairs. - Shuttle Era Love/Hate: Both guests defend the Shuttle's cultural impact (e.g., Judy Resnik's inspiring legacy) while acknowledging its flaws. - Conspiracy Corner: The duo laughs over wild theories (STS-1 being flown by clones; Neil Armstrong being a robot) and praises Rod's 2016 book "Amazing Stories of the Space Age" for documenting Project Orion's nuclear explosive propulsion tech. - Future of Space: The book ends at today's "precipice"—Artemis delays, Mars hype, and private ventures. Bruce predicts jetpacks and hotels; Emily urges newcomers to embrace space history's messy, human side. Don't Miss: - Emily's Space Hipsters Facebook group for lively space discussions. - Bruce's website (brucemccandless.com) with book sources and WWII project teasers. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guests: Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III 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

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• TWiS 144: The Great Lunar Armada - 2025 Will Be a Big Year Moon Missions

  2025 is the year that introduces the Great Lunar Armada! A small fleet of private and publicly-funded orbiters, landers, and rovers are heading off to explore Luna Incognita this year, and it will only speed up after that. We also look at the recent Starship test flight number seven—which ended in the total loss of the Starship upper stage—and the inaugural flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn mega-rocket, which flew successfully but did not manage to land on the recovery ship. Plus, our usual space dad joke and an update on the LA fires' impact on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and how you can help. Headlines: • SpaceX's Starship test flight experiences partial success with booster catch but an explosive ending for the upper stage • Blue Origin successfully launches its New Glenn rocket, marking a major milestone for the company • India demonstrates automated docking capability in space with the SPADEX mission, crucial for future lunar exploration plans • Wildfires in Los Angeles cause extensive damage, impacting the community around NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Main Topic: The Great Lunar Armada • Overview of recent lunar missions launched by private companies and national space agencies • Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, carrying various scientific payloads, aims to study the lunar surface and test new technologies • ispace's Hakuto-R mission, featuring a lunar lander and rover, will explore the moon and test in-situ resource utilization techniques • Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander, equipped with a drill and other scientific instruments, targets the lunar south pole • Retrospective on previous private lunar missions, including SpaceIL's Beresheet lander and the defunct Google Lunar XPrize • China's steady progress in lunar exploration, with plans for the International Lunar Research Station in collaboration with Russia • Russia's setbacks and reduced budget for lunar missions and the failed mission of Luna 25 • India's advancements in space technology and plans for a robotic lunar sample return mission • The crew express excitement about the rapid pace of lunar exploration and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in the near future 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

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