SPEXcast
90 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsHomepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
84: Inspiration4
September 15, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThe first all-civilian crew space mission is set to launch as Inspiration4. SPEXcast sits down to discuss the importance of this mission in the context of American space flight, commercial space flight, and private space flight. We discuss the crew selection and inside peeks into the SpaceX Crewed Spaceflight program via the Netflix documentary for the mission. We also explore how this mission will impact future crewed missions going forward.
82: NASA Selects SpaceX for HLS
April 27, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteAfter 10 months of exploratory work, NASA has selected SpaceX's Starship to return humans to the Moon. We analyze NASA's announcement and break down NASA's own Source Selection Document to understand how Blue Origin and Dynetics stacked up against SpaceX's proposal.
81: The ISS gets new wings
February 05, 2021 18:00 - 54 minutes - 1 Byte23 years after the first module of the International Space Station was launched into space, the station is getting another major upgrade! On January 11th, NASA announced 6 new advanced solar panels will be installed on the ISS starting later this year. These panels are much more efficient than the originals that were installed in the early 2000s, and will enable exciting new experiments on the ISS going forward. Today we dive into what makes these panels special, as well as the impact th...
80: Rethinking Aerospace Design Tools with nTopology
November 18, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteOn this episode, nTopology CEO Brad Rothenberg walks us through how generative design techniques and new engineering tools are changing the way we design spacecraft.
79: Talking Starlink and Fiber Internet with Stealth Communications
October 26, 2020 21:00 - 54 minutes - 1 ByteSpaceX's Starlink constellation claims to serve low-latency, high-bandwidth internet access to anyone in the United States with a Starlink base station. In New York, another company has a head start connecting businesses with high-speed internet. Shrihari Pandit is the CEO of Stealth Communications. His company serves gigabit internet to NYC over their own fiber optic network. On this episode, Shrihari takes us through the ins and outs of how LEO constellations like Starlink and Pro...
78: Virgin Orbit's Will Pomerantz
July 28, 2020 18:00 - 38 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, Vice President of Special Projects & Brand at Virgin Orbit, Will Pomerantz, talks about the origins of Virgin Orbit, mentorship, and diversity in today's aerospace industry. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/78-will-pomerantz-virgin-orbit .
77: SpaceX Starship SN4 explosion
July 21, 2020 07:00 - 23 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss SpaceX's historic Demonstration Mission 2 for NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Program. We dive into how this mission will change NASA going forward, as well as the challenges and achievements SpaceX worked through over the past 10 years. Finally we look forward to the next big milestones for commercial spaceflight.
76: SpaceX DM-2 and the Impact of Commercial Crew
June 01, 2020 18:30 - 59 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss SpaceX's historic Demonstration Mission 2 for NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Program. We dive into how this mission will change NASA going forward, as well as the challenges and achievements SpaceX worked through over the past 10 years. Finally we look forward to the next big milestones for commercial spaceflight.
75: SPHEREx with Dr. Michael Zemcov
May 20, 2020 18:30 - 54 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer (or SPHEREx). It is a two year science mission designed to survey the cosmos in 96 color bands, mapping the whole sky once every 6 months, and all this data will be publicly available. The mission was recently selected by NASA’s Explorer program and is targeting a 2023 launch. Today on the show we are speaking with Dr. Michael Zemcov of the Rochester Institut...
74: NASA Human Landing System Selection
May 13, 2020 18:30 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss NASA's announcement of Human Landing System contracts for three companies: Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Dynetics. We dive into the details behind NASA's decision, breaking down each proposal by technial merit, management organization, and price.
73: Can the Space Industry survive Coronavirus?
April 16, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we analyze the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the space industry. OneWeb files for bankruptcy, Bigelow Aerospace fires all employees, and small launcher startups face an uncertain future.
72: 2019 Recap and Looking Forward to 2020 in Space
March 17, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we kickoff the year by recapping 2019 in space. Faris joins the team as an episode regular, and we also discuss what we anticipate will be the biggest stories and missions of 2020.
71: In-Space Refueling with Orbit Fab's James Bultitude
November 20, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast we sit down with James Bultitude, Lead Engineer at Orbit Fab. Orbit Fab aims to build 'gas stations' in space, allowing spacecraft to refuel when they would otherwise be discarded. He talks through the challenges of in-space refueling as well as what it is like going from a mission proposal to functioning experiment on the ISS within 6 months. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/71-orbit-fab-in-space-refueling-james-bultitu...
70: SpaceX Starlink Takes Flight
September 24, 2019 17:30 - 59 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast we recap Space'x first operational Starlink launch. SpaceX plans to build and launch thousands of Low Earrth Orbit satellites to provide satellite internet around the world. We break down the unique design considerations of the Starlink satellite and talk about the implications of the global constellation. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/starlink-1/ .
69: Improving the Spaceport America Cup for 2019
July 18, 2019 17:30 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThe Spaceport America Cup provides students from around the world a safe opportunity to practice the art of high-powered rocketry. University teams descend to the New Mexico desert for the week to present their technical achievements and battle the elements and plain-old rocket science problems to take flight. This week on SPEXcast we sit down to discuss Spaceport America 2019, including the highlights of the competition, the changes since 2018, and the future of this event as space engi...
68: Space Policy with SpacePolicyOnline.com's Marcia Smith
July 18, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteWhether it be NASA directives, FCC regulations or military operations in space, there's no doubt that policy has a significant impact on industry at every turn Today on SPEXcast we will take a closer look at space policy with Marcia Smith, the founder and editor of spacepolicyonline.com . You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/space-policy-marcia-smith .
67: NASA's AWEsome Atmospheric Waves Experiment and DALI Awards
May 09, 2019 08:08 - 41 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast we dive into the scientific instruments that drive new discoveries. NASA’s Development and Advancement of Lunar Instrumentation (DALI) selected 5 finalist projects for continued development. From neutron generators that can determine the composition of planets to lasers that can determine how old our solar system is, these new instruments promise exciting scientific potential if and when they fly on spacecraft in the future. NASA also selected the Atmospheric Waves ...
66: Robotic Exploration with SpaceIL and Hayabusa2
April 01, 2019 08:09 - 46 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we dive into the exciting advancements and discoveries robotic science vehicles are making across the solar system. SpaceIL launched the first commercial lunar lander on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Also JAXA’s Hayabusa2 landed on its target asteroid Ryugu, shooting it with a bullet to collect samples for the next stage of its multi-year mission. Lastly, we remember Opportunity, one of the most prolific robotic explorers. You can check out additional links and references at ...
65: Commercial Crew Takes Flight to LEO and Beyond
February 28, 2019 06:11 - 46 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we dive into NASA's manned spaceflight initatives. Commercial Crew is finally flying, albeit uncrewed. NASA also announced its follow up to the Commercial Crew development program with NextSTEP-2, a proposal to build manned lunar landers to support future Moon landings. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/commercial-crew-takes-flight .
64: SpaceX Raptor Breathes Fire and Virgin Galactic Takes Flight
February 14, 2019 06:14 - 47 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we kick of 2019 with some of the biggest space stories of the year, so far. SpaceX has radically redesigned their BFR/ITS Mars rocket into the gleaming Starship and Super Heavy. Virgin Galactic reached space for the first time, and Stratolaunch backs out of the rocket development game. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/spacex-raptor-test-fire-virgin-galactic-flight .
63: Student Innovation at Spaceport America Cup 2018
September 13, 2018 06:01 - 2 hours - 1 ByteOn June 19th, 2018 SPEXcast headed down to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Spaceport America Cup. We were able to speak with the organizers of the event, student teams, and key space industry figures. This episode is part one of three, covering our overall experience at the competition, how it works, and our main takeaways from the experience. Stay tuned for Part Two in the coming weeks, which will follow the moment-by-moment stories of several student teams throughout the week as well as...
62: On-Demand Satellite Constellations with York Space Systems' Charles Beames
August 08, 2018 07:10 - 31 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we sit down with Charles Beames, CSO of York Space Systems, a New Space startup that provides full service satellite development and operations to companies seeking to utilize the space environemnt. We discuss the unique challenges of offering end-to-end service to customers, how to build satellites within two days, and the evolving opportunities New Space provides businesses and government. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spe...
61: Unlocking the Potential of Synthetic Aperture Radar with ICEYE's Pekka Laurila
June 22, 2018 22:45 - 38 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we sit down with Pekka Laurila, Co-Founder of ICEYE, a New Space startup trying to revolutionize the business of space-based, synthetic aperture radar imagery. We talk about the challenges of building microsatellite constellations capable of imaging the entire planet and the key commercial technologies ICEYE leverages to make radar imagery available more quickly than ever before. We also discuss the technologies required to turn radar data into actionable informati...
60: SpaceX Flight Control, CRS-15 Payloads, and Chinese Lunar Missions
June 16, 2018 05:20 - 55 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we dive into the recent announcements by SpaceX on their new launch complex, the exciting new research and technology demonstrations on NASA's CRS-15 mission to the International Space Station, and some of the unique payloads launched by global launch providers including infrastructure for China's most ambitious lunar mission yet. We also cover the Tesla Roadster SpaceX edition unveil as well as Soyuz MS-09, bringing three new crew members to the ISS. You can check...
59: Copenhagen Suborbitals with Mads Wilson
June 04, 2018 11:00 - 51 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we sit down with Mads Wilson, communications lead for Copenhagen Suborbitals, a volunteer space program based in Denmark with the ambitious goal of launching a human into orbit. We delve into the history of CopSub with Mads, reflecting on the engineering process for their past and future rockets, and the unique challenges and benefits of volunteering engineering blood, sweat and tears into a space program open to (almost) all. You can check out additional links and...
58: Terraforming Mars: Challenges and Misconceptions
June 01, 2018 03:30 - 47 minutes - 1 ByteThis is the last part of our four part 'Mars May' series where we discuss the missions and technologies enabling Mars exploration.Mars is a tantalizing goal for the next step in human exploration. However, the fourth, rocky planet from the Sun is a harsh world to live on. Terraforming offers the possibility of making Mars a new home for humans, but the challenge is immense. We dive into some of the key aspects of Mars colonization and terraforming today on SPEXcast. You can check out add...
57: Mars Rover Operations with Doug Klein
May 21, 2018 18:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThe third installment of SPEXcast's "Mars May" leads us to a part of interplanetary missions that doesn't get much attention. We often discuss the capabilities of rovers, their designs and objectives, and all the science learned from years spent on the surface of Mars. But what about the engineers who interact with the rovers themselves? What goes into operating a vehicle millions of miles away, and what is a typical work day like? To answer these questions, we spoke with Doug Klein, a s...
56: Mars Cube One, the first interplanetary CubeSats with Joel Steinkraus
May 12, 2018 01:45 - 59 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast we continue 'Mars May' with Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) engineer Joel Steinkraus to discuss two CubeSats hitching a ride with the InSight mission, which launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5th. Mars Cube One (MarCO) is comprised of a pair of 6U CubeSats which will each relay signals from the InSight lander back to Earth during while it enters the Martian atmosphere. We ask Joel about the technology behind MarCO and the challenges of designing two inte...
55: Digging into Mars with InSight's Troy Hudson, Instrument Systems Engineer
May 04, 2018 16:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we sit down with Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) engineer Troy Hudson to discuss NASA's Mars InSight mission. InSight is scheduled to launch May 5th from Vandenburg Air Force Base on its journey to the surface of Mars. We discuss several of the instruments on InSight and go into a deep dive on HP^3, which Troy Hudson primarily worked on, including how the probe functions, its scientific objective, and the challenges of digging on another planet. You can check out a...
54: SpaceX's New Mars Rocket Factory and a Fully-Reusable Falcon 9
April 27, 2018 20:30 - 46 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we dive into this developments and give the inside scoop on SpaceX’s recovery efforts. On April 9th, Elon Musk shared a photo of a large mandrel to be used to manufacture the Big Fucking Spaceship (BFS). This unveil comes along side the confirmation that the Port of LA will be the location of the BFR factory. While BFR is still years away, Elon also teased 2nd stage recovery again, hinting at inflatable ballutes as the key to safely returning the 2nd stage to Earth...
53: NASA's New Administrator, OmegA, and Europa Clipper
April 20, 2018 21:00 - 38 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast we talk about news from the 34th Space Symposium, political intrigue behind Europa Clipper, and the admission of defeat by the Russian space company ILS. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/53-nasa-new-administrator-omega-europa-clipper.
52: HAB4 - RIT Space Exploration's latest mission
April 16, 2018 02:00 - 43 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we sit down with Dan Mitchell and Matt Glazer, two RIT students and alumni who worked on RIT Space Exploration's High Altitude Balloon program. We talk about some of the scientific payloads that go onto the balloon platform, as well as the history of prior launches and past accomplishments. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/spex-hab4 .
51: NOAA Controversy, New Glenn Evolution, and Tiangong-1 Re-entry
April 06, 2018 20:00 - 44 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss the recent Iridium-5 launch and fairing recovery efforts. We also dive into Tiangong-1 re-entry and the history of space station deorbits. Blue Origin announced their decision to focus on BE-3 for their upper stage on New Glenn. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/noaa-controversy-new-glenn-evolution-tiangong-1-re-entry .
50: CRS-7 Public Report and Satellite 2018
April 02, 2018 18:00 - 56 minutes - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we discuss the recent release of the public report on the CRS-7 incident. We also cover the exciting new from Satellite 2018, including updates from key space industry executives. Orbital ATK also unveiled their Mission Extension Vehicle, which they intend to use to provide on-orbit maintenance and mission life extensions. You can check out additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/crs-7-report-satellite-2018 .
49: Christian Davenport Interview
March 23, 2018 19:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we interview Christian Davenport, staff writer for The Washington Post, and author of the new book, 'Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos'. We ask him what inspired him to tell this story now, and for his insight into industry trends like the shift from Journey to Mars back to the Moon. You can check out a written version of the interview and additional links and references at https://blog.spexcast.com/space-reporter-chris-daven...
48: MIT New Space Age Conference and SXSW
March 17, 2018 01:10 - 1 hour - 1 ByteThis week on SPEXcast, we delve into illegal cubesats, Blue Origin's plan for a cislunar economy, as well as Elon's thoughts on Starman and the Falcon Heavy launch. Show notes and references can be found at our blog, https://blog.spexcast.com/mit-new-space-sxsw-conference
47: GOES-S, StarLink, and the Challenges of Space Engineering Programs
March 10, 2018 03:30 - 1 hour - 1 ByteEngineering space to be useful to humans is hard work. Today on SPEXcast we sit down to discuss two space satellite networks, GOES and StarLink, and how they help humanity during our day to day lives. But we’re also covering two examples of the challenges of space engineering, the VA241 anomaly on Ariane V and new delays and cost overruns for JWST.
46: 2 Years of SPEXcast
March 02, 2018 23:30 - 57 minutes - 1 ByteIt's SPEXcast's birthday! Two years ago, some college students released their first ever podcast. 45 episodes later, SPEXcast reminisces on the start of the show, our top 3 favorite episodes, and the process that goes into each episode.
45: Holly Griffith - Space Shuttle Flight Controller and Orion Safety Engineer
March 01, 2018 20:30 - 56 minutes - 1 ByteSPEXcast sits down with Holly Griffith, Vehicle Systems Engineer for ECLSS on Orion Program in Safety and Mission Assurance and a former Shuttle flight controller. We ask her about her experiences sitting in on the return to flight launch of the Shuttle in 2005, her most stressful day on the job, as well as her new work on Orion. We also geek out over her Star Wars fandom, and discuss her mission to encourge women to join STEM fields. Check her out on social media @absolutspacegrl
44: NASA Budget 2019
February 25, 2018 01:15 - 1 hour - 1 ByteSPEXcast sits down with SPEX alumn, Anthony Hennig, to discuss the proposed changes in the FY2019 NASA budget. We delve into the WFIRST cancelation, the future of humanity's continued presence into space, and cuts to the Office of Education. We also delve into the Head of the ESA's reactions to the FH launch.
43: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Flies!
February 12, 2018 08:15 - 1 hour - 1 ByteSPEXcast sits down to discuss the first launch of Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful operational orbital rocket. The test launch was almost completely successful, with two of the three booster cores returning to Earth intact, and Elon's Tesla Roadster with Starman on its way to the asteroid belt. We delve into the sequence of events on launch day, as well as break down all of the exciting announcements from the post-launch press conference.
42: SPEXcast Space News Recap: Winter 2018
February 12, 2018 08:10 - 1 hour - 1 ByteSPEXcast returns from its winter hiatus with all new episodes on the science and technology of space exploration. We sit down to discuss the recent Rocket Labs Electron launch, commercial crew challenges, as well as two NASA exploration missions that have advanced to the next stage of development.
41: SPEXcast Book Club: Ignition Chapter 1 and 2
November 02, 2017 16:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteToday's episode is a new format; SPEXcast Book Club! We will be choosing a space-related book, and reading through it a few chapters at a time and giving our feedback, questions, and discussion. Our first book is called Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants by John D. Clark. We dive through the first two chapters, covering the historical basis of rocket propulsion pre World War II and then diving into the exciting advances made in WWII by Nazi Germany and the U.S.
40: Post-IAC 2017 Discussion
October 17, 2017 14:00 - 1 hour - 1 ByteAt this year's International Astronautical Congress, Elon Musk unveiled a new design for SpaceX's Big Falcon Rocket. We sit down with Brendan Byrne, from Are We There Yet, and Matt, from The Interplanetary Podcast, to discuss the radical and not so radical changes to a rocket that could take humans to Mars by 2025.
39: Pre-IAC Predications 2017
September 26, 2017 05:00 - 59 minutes - 1 ByteLast year, Elon Musk took to the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara Mexico to unveil the Interplanetary Transport System. A year later, he is set to deliver an update on the plan, and SPEXcast sits down to discuss what potential changes we might see in the architecture.
38: SmallSat Conference 2017
September 19, 2017 08:45 - 53 minutes - 1 ByteSPEXcast sits down with Anthony Hennig, a Graduate Research Assistant at George Washington University, to record his thoughts from SmallSat 2017. We delve into how the CubeSat space has evolved over time, as well as take a look at what exciting missions and advancements we will be seeing in the near future.
37: Green Propellant Infusion Mission
August 27, 2017 20:30 - 35 minutes - 1 ByteSPEXcast discusses Ball Aerospace's Green Propellant Infusion Mission. This satellite will test new monopropellants that are more efficient, and less toxic, than existing fuels. We dive into this new, exciting technology and discuss its advantages and disadvantages in length. We also delve into its potential impact on the satellite industry in the future.
36: ISS Research and Development Conference and Elon Musk Keynote
August 10, 2017 15:40 - 59 minutes - 1 ByteSPEXcast returns with an episode delving into the stunning announcements from ISSRDC by Elon Musk. We cover the Red Dragon cancellation, Falcon Heavy Demo flight risks, and the cancellation of SpaceX's full-size Interplanetary Transport System vehicle.
35: NASA Authorization Bill and New Glenn
April 28, 2017 16:20 - 1 hour - 1 ByteSPEXcast sits down with SPEX alumn, Anthony Hennig, a Ph.D student studying Systems Engineering at George Washington University. We discuss the recently passed NASA Authorization Act that provides the direction for all of NASA's activities. We also discuss New Glenn, which had been recently announced when this episode was recorded.
34: Rocket Reuse Revisted
April 21, 2017 15:20 - 50 minutes - 1 ByteSPEXcast returns after a short hiatus to discuss the biggest trend in the space industry: reusing rockets. Our first episode was on this topic just over a year ago, and things have advanced dramatically during that time. We dicuss SpaceX's SES-10 mission and post-press conference news, as well as the effects rapid reuse will have on the industry in the next few years.