111: Escape of the Mole
Commercial Crew continues to grind forward, while InSight struggles to dig on Mars. Then, some SLS upper stage news, reflections on the Galileo probe and a spoiler-free review of "For All Mankind."
Nov 05, 2019•54 min•Ep. 111
Liftoff
Liftoff was a podcast about space, the universe, and everything. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the major developments as explained by enthusiastic space fans Stephen Hackett and Jason Snell. Hosted by Jason Snell and Stephen Hackett.
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Episodes
110: A Consensual Hallucination
Insight is back up and running, and the ISS has hosted the first all-female spacewalk. Back here on Earth, NASA is making purchases for Artemis, even as Congress threatens the agency's 2024 plans.
Oct 22, 2019•53 min•Ep. 110
109: An SLS in the Garage
This fortnight: NASA works to get its InSight lander digging again, while the SLS program moves forward with training using a replica core stage and some have suggested Planet 9 may not be a planet at all. Oh, and Elon Musk and Jim Bridenstine have been feisty on Twitter.
Oct 08, 2019•49 min•Ep. 109
108: Hungry for Artemis Details
This week, Stephen and Jason discuss a recent exoplanet discovery, NASA's ordering of additional Orion capsules and what Jim Bridenstine can do to ensure ARTEMIS is a success, even beyond his tenure.
Sep 24, 2019•53 min•Ep. 108
107: Build a Lunar Zipline
The Chandrayaan-2 lander seems to have met its end on the lunar surface as SpaceX inches forward with its Raptor testing program. Then, NASA's plans for commercial lunar landers and how the agency prepares Kennedy for hurricanes.
Sep 09, 2019•38 min•Ep. 107
106: One Robot Closet
The first SLS is taking shape, as are Starhopper and Europa Clipper. Stephen struggles with a name and then Jason introduces a new segment.
Aug 27, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 106
105: Hallowed Ground
Stephen and Jason report in after their field trip to Space Center Houston and Johnson Space Center, which included seeing several spacecraft and visiting the restored Apollo Mission Control room.
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 105
104: A Beautiful Rocket Butterfly
As 2024 gets closer and closer, NASA is hard at work on SLS and Orion, but is also partnering with several companies to move several projects forward in parallel. Stephen and Jason then mark the passing of NASA's first Flight Director, Chris Kraft.
Jul 31, 2019•59 min•Ep. 104
103: Apollo 11
50 years ago, humans first set foot on the moon. The work of the crew of Apollo 11 has inspired people for five decades, and their legacy continues to shine on today. In this episode, Stephen and Jason discuss three aspects of the mission that aren’t as well known, including Neil Armstrong’s brush with death in a training exercise, the science performed by the crew during their lunar EVA, and the astronauts’ less-than-glamorous welcome back to Earth.
Jul 16, 2019•37 min•Ep. 103
102: Important Business Meetings
Orion and the Mobile Launch Platform are making progress, InSight's struggles continue and NASA is sending a 8-rotor drone to Saturn's moon Titan.
Jul 05, 2019•47 min•Ep. 102
101: Behind the Back Fence
The Artemis Budget is becoming more and more real, as NASA promotes the number of companies involved in building its hardware. Elsewhere, ESA is preparing to go to Jupiter with the JUICE robotic mission and Bigelow has big plans for the ISS.
Jun 20, 2019•37 min•Ep. 101
100: There's Nobody in Charge
Jason and Stephen discuss the debate around Starlink and its impact on astronomy, cover the latest GAO report and talk about the importance of Commercial Moon Landing Services.
Jun 06, 2019•53 min•Ep. 100
99: Apollo 10
In May 1969, Tom Stafford, John Young and Gene Cernan took their Apollo spacecraft within 48,000 feet of the lunar service.
May 21, 2019•37 min•Ep. 99
98: The Moon is Having a Moment
This fortnight: checking in on the SLS' test procedures and the on-going planning to return to the moon in 2024, and then a dose of planetary defense.
May 07, 2019•49 min•Ep. 98
97: The Titans Who Live There
Stephen and Jason talk the news, from blackholes to Beresheet, and spacesuits to backronyms. Then, a bit about the Crew Dragon anomaly.
Apr 23, 2019•50 min•Ep. 97
96: Probably Not Space Cows
Rocket Lab has a new satellite platform, while methane cycles have been measured on Mars. Elsewhere, NASA continues to work through the details of its new 2024 lunar goal and 2007 OR10 needs a name.
Apr 09, 2019•48 min•Ep. 96
95: The Red Flag
Vice President Mike Pence has challenged NASA to return to the moon within five years.
Mar 26, 2019•42 min•Ep. 95
94: A Planned Countdown Hold
The guys talk through a few stories that didn't make Episode 95, including what's going on with Boeing's Starliner and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser, as well as Bennu's habit of spewing material into space.
Mar 26, 2019•22 min•Ep. 94
93: Budget Season
Stephen and Jason get into the details of the proposed 2020 NASA budget, the future of the SLS rocket, then review the film *Apollo 11.*
Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 93
92: Apollo 9
In March 1969, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott and Rusty Schweickart were the first astronauts to fly the Lunar Module, proving that this vital spacecraft was ready to take a crew to the moon — and help bring them home.
Feb 26, 2019•42 min•Ep. 92
91: Shoot and Hope
Jason and Stephen catch up on the news, then talk about the Pioneer and Ranger programs.
Feb 12, 2019•42 min•Ep. 91
90: My Feet Belong on the Ground
This fortnight, Jason and Stephen mark NASA's Day of Remembrance, discuss layoffs at two private space companies and wish for a mission to Uranus.
Jan 29, 2019•45 min•Ep. 90
89: Some Time at the Taco Bar
China has big plans for the moon and SpaceX has a new test vehicle. Oh, and things got weird with Russia.
Jan 15, 2019•44 min•Ep. 89
88: Pixely Peanut
China's latest lunar mission is about to touchdown on the far side of the moon, and New Horizons has completed its flyby of Ultima Thule.
Jan 02, 2019•49 min•Ep. 88
87: Apollo 8
In December 1968, Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders became the first human beings to travel to the moon, circling our nearest neighbor and making history while doing so.
Dec 18, 2018•38 min•Ep. 87
86: Two-Tone Rocket
The end of 2018 is proving to be busy: InSight has landed, OSIRIS-REx has rendezvoused with Bennu, SpaceX is breaking records and the CLPS program is here, for what that's worth.
Dec 04, 2018•44 min•Ep. 86
85: There's No E in 'Flight'
There was a false alarm concerning Opportunity, and drama about the SLS' future. That, and a conversation about Rocket Lab and a preview of InSight's landing.
Nov 20, 2018•32 min•Ep. 85
84: Emotions of Distant Galaxies
NASA says goodbye to two spacecraft and Stephen and Jason review *First Man.*
Nov 06, 2018•59 min•Ep. 84
83: Apollo 7
In October 1968, Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele and Walter Cunningham spent 11 days in space working the bugs out of the Apollo spacecraft on its first crewed mission. The vehicle performed perfectly; the crew did not.
Oct 22, 2018•34 min•Ep. 83
82: Hubble Trouble
Jason and Stephen discuss the latest Commercial Crew dates, and emerging issues with the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as exomoons and Jason's view of the latest SpaceX launch.
Oct 08, 2018•57 min•Ep. 82
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