Seems we can't go through an hour without hearing news about artificial intelligence these days. There are a lot of exciting developments, and some of the most exciting when thinking about space are coming from the USRA's Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science (RIACS), which is on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. In this episode, we're speaking with the institute's director, Dr. David Bell, who will walk us through the differences between current AI, agentic AI, and--are you ready...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 159
The Hubble Space Telescope has been one of NASA's most successful flagship missions, recently celebrating 35 years in space. Often referred to as "the gift that keeps giving," the HST has provided not just magnificent science—shared worldwide—but also some of our universe's most significant and stunning images, inspiring wonder and driving countless young people into the sciences and STEM fields in general. And for the general public, Hubble continues to provide a profound sense of the wonders o...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 158
We've all heard of it, and some of us have seen the Netflix comedy series, but what exactly is the U.S. Space Force, and what do they do? We invited Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna to the podcast to discuss the founding of Space Force, what they are charged with overseeing, their role in continuously monitoring U.S. orbital assets and possible threats to them, and their future role in guarding the space lanes. We also look at the controversy surrounding the recent Blue O...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 157
In this episode of This Week in Space , hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet. Headlines: Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The bi...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 156
This week, it's cool space news you can use (if you're not stuck on the ISS!). We look at the recent flight of Fram 2, the first spacecraft to fly a polar orbit; recent revelations about the flight of Starliner from commander Butch Wilmore; a mysterious Russian satellite behaving strangely; and carnivorous Martian dust devils. We also update you on SpaceX's next test of Starship, SpinLaunch's mighty "space cannon," recent experiments on abating lunar dust, and much more. Join us! Fram 2 Mission ...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 155
If you've ever wondered what the view from the International Space Station might look like in real-time, this is your episode. Or if you just want to know more about who's up there and what's going on at the ISS on a particular day, this is it. Liam Kennedy, the one and only Space TV Director, is with us. Liam has been working to bring content and video from the ISS down to earth for over a decade, and it's all come together just this year! Liam invented ISS Above, a Raspberry Pi-driven system t...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 154
After 60 years of discussion, we may finally be making real, actionable plans to send a crew to Mars. One of the prime advocates for sending humans to the Red Planet has been Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder and president of The Mars Society. In 1990, he and David Baker worked up a plan called "Mars Direct," which took the core of then-current NASA planning and streamlined it into a more realistic, affordable approach. Since then, some of the key elements have been incorporated into NASA's Design Refe...
Mar 22, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 153
In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik host Dr. Robert O'Brien, Director of the Universities Space Research Association's Center for Space Nuclear Research, for a fascinating deep dive into nuclear propulsion technology for space exploration. They discuss the history, current developments, and future potential of nuclear electric and nuclear thermal propulsion systems, which could revolutionize our ability to explore Mars and beyond—both robotically and with human crews....
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 152
In this episode of This Week in Space , Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bu...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 151
On episode 150 of This Week in Space , it's our Listener Special edition! Not only do we answer your questions and respond to your comments, but we lined up a number of your most tummy-tickling space jokes in the humor shooting gallery. This one is more fun than wearing new shoes! Join us as we talk about asteroid 2024YR4, the Space Launch System's prospects, Katy Perry in space, the newest lunar missions, the X-37B "secret shuttle," Apollo-era flight director Gene Kranz and astronaut ...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 150
In this episode of This Week in Space , hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the latest space news, including a potentially hazardous asteroid, SpaceX's plans to launch and land in the Bahamas, and the ongoing debate surrounding the retirement of the International Space Station. They also touch on NASA's budget cuts, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the development of new radiation protection technology for deep space missions. Asteroid 2024 YR4: While initially considered a potential...
Feb 22, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 149
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-siting consideration but Lee thinks it should be, for many reasons, including interesting lunar geology, possible sites for permanent settlements—inclu...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 148
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" ...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 147
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 probabl...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 146
