This Week in Space (Audio)

This week, we're covering a broad swath, from President-Elect Trump's shocking choice for NASA Administrator to new delays for the Artemis lunar program to UFOs/UAPs! And for such an adventure, we turn to Leonard David, the most seasoned space reporter and journalist out there. Trump's pick for NASA, billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, came as a surprise to space watchers, and his name was not just missing from the shortlist but from *any* list making the rounds. However, he is widely supported and should bring renewed energy to the space agency. Then, after discussing yesterday's NASA press conference about Artemis--in which more delays were announced (no surprise to any of us)--we talk to Leonard about recent disclosures about UFO/UAP government records and the overall consideration of why people think they walk among us (and if they do, Musk is probably one of them). Headlines: Jared Isaacman Nominated as NASA Administrator Artemis II Mission Delayed, Artismis III mission pushed to mid-2027. And Tariq defends his creative choice of words to compare different sizes of asteroids. Main Topic: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Shift from UFO to UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) Discussion about potential alien visitation Concerns about public perception and societal impacts Need for more rigorous scientific approach to UAP research Calls for NASA and National Science Foundation funding Skepticism about current congressional hearings and government disclosure Potential for document declassification under the incoming Trump administration. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Leonard David 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 Sponsors: uscloud.com veeam.com

On this week's episode, Tariq and I speak with Scott Tibbitts, a dynamic and engaging space entrepreneur who spun $7 of hardware store parts into a 150-person, multimillion-dollar space company making tech for NASA that allowed deep space probes, starting with the Cassini mission to Saturn, to operate in the harsh environment of the outer solar system. Scott's tiny actuator replaced expensive, failure-prone explosive squibs with a device that could be tested (you can't really test something that goes *bang*), cycled, and tried again if it didn't work the first time. And it all started with his work at a water heater company and a few dozen cold calls that ended with one to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. There's much more to this story--including some intriguing advice for entrepreneurs--but you'll have to tune in to learn more! See you there. Get "From the Garage to Mars" (Amazon Affiliate): https://amzn.to/3CPUgVw Headlines: • SpaceX successfully launches Starship test flight number six, despite not catching the Super Heavy booster • The FAA releases a new draft environmental assessment, potentially allowing SpaceX to increase Starship launches to 25 per year • Blue Origin completes its ninth crewed spaceflight with the NS-28 mission, carrying the 100th woman to fly to space Main Topic - From the Garage to Mars with Scott Tibbitts: • Tibbitts discusses his background and the role of fun and human connection in his life and work • The origin story of Tibbitts' space company, Starsys, which began with a $7 invention using a copper tube and wax • Tibbitts' cold call to NASA/JPL that led to the company's first contract and the development of a novel, non-explosive actuator for spacecraft • The importance of testing and demonstrating the reliability of space hardware, as exemplified by Starsys' record of 3,500 devices in space with zero failures • Tibbitts' experience fostering a unique company culture at Starsys, balancing the need for reliability with a focus on fun, family, and celebrating both successes and failures • The role of intuition and "gut feelings" in entrepreneurship and how Tibbitts has learned to trust and follow these intuitive nudges • The challenges faced by modern space startups, including the pressure from venture capital investors and the difficulty of hiring experienced space talent • Tibbitts' advice for entrepreneurs: focus on customer discovery and product discovery, and "stop doing what you suck at" by focusing on your strengths and finding partners to complement your weaknesses Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Scott Tibbitts 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 Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com

Kepler's Legacy With Dr. Jason Steffen Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Jason Steffen For full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/137

At this point, can anyone compete with SpaceX? Love him or hate him, Elon Musk and his cadre of very talented employees and partners have built the most remarkable launch service in history, increasing the US launch rate from a handful to over 100 per year in less than a decade. Eric Berger--Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of "Liftoff" and "Reentry," two books about Musk and SpaceX--joins us. We discuss the rise of SpaceX, Musk's future in US politics and the market, and what to expect from SpaceX in the next decade. We also look at the possible competitors to SpaceX's dominance in the market. Join us! Get "Reentry" (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4fe4f5s Headlines: - The 2024 US presidential election results are in, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President. Trump has shown a keen interest in space, name-dropping Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink during his victory speech. - SpaceX conducted its first ISS reboost mission using a Dragon cargo ship, showcasing a new capability for the company. - NASA issued a statement addressing tabloid rumors about astronaut Sunita Williams' health, affirming that all astronauts aboard the ISS are in good health and undergo routine medical evaluations. Main Topic - SpaceX Ascendant: - The Trump administration is expected to embrace SpaceX's Starship vision, potentially fast-tracking the company's progress by reducing regulatory hurdles. - SpaceX has a significant lead in the space industry, with no other company having achieved reusable rocket technology. The closest competitors are Blue Origin and Chinese companies, which are still years behind. - The US government has become increasingly reliant on SpaceX for launches, satellite internet, and the Artemis program, with no viable alternatives currently available. - SpaceX's success can be attributed to Elon Musk's relentless drive and vision to make humanity a multi-planetary species, as well as the company's willingness to take risks and innovate. - Starship is seen as the key to making widespread space access possible, with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of space travel and enable missions to Mars. - The future of space exploration is uncertain, with the potential for significant changes under the new administration and Elon Musk's growing influence as an advisor to the President. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Eric Berger Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: uscloud.com