TWiS 149: SpaceX, Moon Missions, and Killer Asteroids? - 2024 YR4, ISS Deorbiting, and NASA Budget Cuts - podcast episode cover

TWiS 149: SpaceX, Moon Missions, and Killer Asteroids? - 2024 YR4, ISS Deorbiting, and NASA Budget Cuts

This Week in Space (Audio)
Feb 22, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 149
--:--
--:--
Listen in podcast apps:
Metacast
Spotify
Youtube
RSS

Episode description

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 threat, the chances of this asteroid impacting Earth have significantly decreased as more data has been collected. Rod and Tariq discuss the changing odds and the importance of tracking near-Earth objects.
  • NASA budget cuts: The hosts discuss the proposed 20% budget cut for the James Webb Space Telescope and its potential impact on the groundbreaking observatory's operations and scientific output.
  • Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Moon lander: Launched weeks ago, the lander is now in lunar orbit and scheduled to land on or about March 2nd, carrying 10 experiments to Mare Crisium. With several other lunar missions on the horizon, including those from Intuitive Machines and Japan's iSpace, the hosts discuss the exciting developments in the new lunar exploration era.
  • SpaceX in the Bahamas: Elon Musk's company is in talks with the Bahamian government about launching and landing rights. The hosts speculate on the reasons behind this move and its potential implications for future missions.
  • The retirement of the ISS: Elon Musk suggests de-orbiting the station as soon as possible and to press on to Mars, while others argue for maintaining it until suitable replacements are ready.
  • "Stranded" astronauts controversy: The hosts address the recent claims that astronauts Sunny Williams and Butch Wilmore were "stranded" or "abandoned" on the ISS due to political motives. They clarify the situation and express their disappointment with the misleading narrative.
  • Radiation shielding technology: The development of 3D-printed hydrogels offers a promising solution for protecting astronauts from harmful radiation during deep space missions. The hosts explore the potential applications and benefits of this innovative technology.
  • Search for Extraterrestrial Life: The COSMIC project, working with the Very Large Array telescope, has been using advanced computer processing to seek out focused radio transmissions that might indicate the presence of alien civilizations. While no signals of interest have been found yet, the search continues, and the project serves as a valuable educational tool for aspiring radio astronomers.
  • NASA workforce reduction: While NASA has not yet implemented the anticipated workforce reduction, the hosts discuss the potential impact of such cuts on the agency's future and the importance of maintaining a skilled workforce in the face of increasing competition from China.

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

Transcript

Primary Navigation Podcasts Club Blog Subscribe Sponsors More… Tech NASA's Challenges: Budget Cuts, ISS Deorbiting, and JWST's Future

Feb 27th 2025 by Anthony Nielsen

AI created, human edited. 

In the latest episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik dive into the current challenges facing NASA, including potential budget cuts, the future of the International Space Station (ISS), and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The discussion sheds light on the complex issues surrounding these topics and the varying perspectives held by stakeholders.

One of the main points of contention is the proposal by Elon Musk to deorbit the ISS "as soon as possible," despite the station still being functional. Musk, who has a stake in this decision due to SpaceX's contract to deorbit the ISS, argues that this move would allow for a more rapid focus on sending humans to Mars. However, Pyle and Malik point out that the smaller successor space stations meant to replace the ISS are not yet ready, potentially leading to a gap in orbital habitation and research.

The conversation also touches on the proposed 20% budget cut to the JWST, a move that has raised concerns among the scientific community. The JWST, which cost around $10 billion to develop, has been delivering groundbreaking results and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. Malik argues that cutting funding to such a successful project seems counterintuitive, especially considering the telescope is still in its primary mission phase.

Lastly, the hosts discuss the recent announcement of potential workforce reductions at NASA, which has since been put on hold. They question the timing of these proposed cuts, particularly in light of the ongoing competition with China in space exploration and the need to retain the next generation of NASA talent.

Throughout the episode, Pyle and Malik provide insightful commentary and analysis, drawing from their extensive experience in the space industry. While they acknowledge the need for efficiency improvements within NASA, they also stress the importance of maintaining a strong foundation for scientific research and innovation.

To learn more about these critical issues facing NASA and to hear the full discussion, be sure to listen to the latest episode of This Week in Space featuring Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik.

Share: Copied! This Week in Space #149
Feb 21 2025 - SpaceX, Moon Missions, and Killer …
2024 YR4, ISS Deorbiting, and NASA… All Tech posts Contact Advertise CC License Privacy Policy Ad Choices TOS Store Twitter Facebook Instgram YouTube Yes, like every site on the Internet, this site uses cookies. So now you know. Learn more Hide Home Schedule Subscribe Club TWiT About Club TWiT FAQ Access Account Members-Only Podcasts Update Payment Method Connect to Discord TWiT Blog Recent Posts Advertise Sponsors Store People About What is TWiT.tv Tickets Developer Program and API Tip jar Partners Contact Us
Transcript source: Provided by creator in RSS feed: download file