Casual Space

On Sept 15, 2021, our friend and colleague Dr. Sian Proctor achieved her life-long dream of launching into space and becoming an astronaut on the Crew Dragon as part of the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission! My fellow analog astronauts Dr. Brandy Nunez and Makiah Eustice share our impressions and insights of this historic flight in an intimate conversation together- 24 hours after witnessing the launch live from the Kennedy Space Center at historic Launch complex 39-A. Together, we discuss what this means for a new generation of space explorers, what this flight means for women, and what Dr. Sian Proctor brings to every interaction she has. Buckle in, because THIS episode allows us to showcase, from our own perspectives, the journey our friend has been on, and why we're oh-so-proud and can't contain our excitement for Sian's successful mission, and her many future endeavors!!! About Dr. Sian Proctor: Sian is an American geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. She was launched into Earth orbit, on September 15, 2021, as the pilot of the Crew Dragon space capsule. This mission is the Inspiration4 private orbital spaceflight. She served as the pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, the first Black woman to serve as the pilot of a spacecraft. Share your Support for Dr. Proctor and her Artwork Here: https://myspace2inspire.com/ About Inspiration4 Inspiration4 is the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Inspiration4 will leave Earth from Kennedy Space Center's historic Launch Complex 39A, the embarkation point for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90% of the earth's population. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, this milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. https://inspiration4.com/ About Dr. Brandy Nunez: Dr. Brandy Nunez is a practicing small animal veterinarian, a modular synth musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is also Director of outreach for the Sensoria Program (www.Sensoria.space), dedicated to making space accessible to all. She applied to NASA in 2020 for the Astronaut candidate program and has completed two analog simulation missions at the HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa. She hopes to continue her research on future missions and eventually in low earth orbit. Her love and appreciation of the cosmos infiltrates her work in both the scientific and creative realms. About Makiah Eustice: Makiah is an aerospace engineer, songwriter, and Officer in the US Air Force. She's been on 3 analog missions, the latest with Sian as part of the first all-women Sensoria crew at HI-SEAS. You can find her on twitter and instagram at @Astro_Eustice About Beth Mund: Beth Mund is an Analog Astronaut, Podcast Host, and Space Communications Evangelist. Beth has 20+ years of speech writing and executive coaching for Fortune 50 companies including Motorola, Allstate and United Airlines. Beth began her NASA career as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center, and later served as a Communications Officer for the International Space Station program. She received her Master's Degree in Journalism at Marquette University, and served an adjunct professor at Elgin Community College. She is the CEO of Stellar Communications, providing speech writing, narrative discovery & design, voice overs, communication workshops & training, and keynote speaking. Beth served as the host and emcee of the 2020 Space Com Expo global space commerce event. She currently serves on the Space Camp Alumni Board, and is a founding member of the Loras College Women's Leadership Board, and the Space Drinks Association Board. Beth's analog adventures include a MARS simulation mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, and most recently a LUNAR simulation and space isolation study at the LunAres Space Research Facility in Pila, Poland. Her latest projects, analog missions and podcast episodes can be found at www.BethMund.com How to continue the mission and donate to St. Jude: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/inspiration4.html

Jesse Forte was NOT originally scheduled to be on the M4 Lunares X team. A crew member that could not attend the mission left an opening for a new, "first-time" analog astronaut to come and participate in our lunar simulation this July. Enter Jesse Forte, who said YES to this opportunity, and joined the crew with all the positive energy one could ever ask for- as he often does. On today's episode, Jesse invites you to do the same- to say YES to the interesting events that come across your path. He'll tell us how (an incredible vision board) and what's next for this inventor, author, musician, creator, entrepreneur, and now- analog astronaut, Jesse Forte. Where to find Jesse and all his work- https://www.youngrevminds.com/flawless-forte Listen to the M4 Music Album Here: https://linktr.ee/JFORTE

My conversation with author and philosopher of the Overview Effect Frank White continues - including the announcement of the Overview Effect Film Festival- on this episode of Casual Space. What is the Overview Effect? From Frank's book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I've ordered my NEW addition, and so should you): The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, "hanging in the void," shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. The experience often transforms astronaut's perspective on the planet and humanity's place in the universe. Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment. About Frank White Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo. Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019. White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?" In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe." To Learn More about Frank and his work: frankwhiteauthor.com ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival

Frank White returns to Casual Space: Author, space philosopher and consultant joins Beth to share a lot of news! A new edition of the Overview Effect is out- and Frank announces a new project coming to you in November! We discuss non-professional space explorers (astronauts?), the need to migrate off Earth, and examine the many interpretations of the Overview Effect. What is the Overview Effect? From Frank's book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I've ordered my NEW addition, and so should you): The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, "hanging in the void," shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. The experience often transforms astronaut's perspective on the planet and humanity's place in the universe. Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment. About Frank White Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo. Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019. White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?" In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe." To Learn More about Frank and his work: frankwhiteauthor.com ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival

That famous photo- the one we're all familiar with- an astronaut in a bright white suit flying untethered – floating, really, above the Earth with the dark contrast of space in the background… that photo has an incredible backstory… and it's been captured perfectly in an awesome new book by author Bruce McCandless III. Astronaut Bruce McCandless III is perhaps best remembered as the subject of a famous NASA photograph (below right), flying alongside the space shuttle in the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) -- the first astronaut to fly untethered from his spacecraft… His time as an astronaut encompassed much more than that mission, including serving as the Mission Control communicator for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk on the Apollo 11 mission. There's so much more to this iconic photo- and now we can enjoy the story behind the moment from Bruce's son, Bruce McCandless III in his new book, Wonders All Around. On this episode, Bruce shares his perspective with Beth on what it was like growing up with an astronaut Dad and more right here on this week's Casual Space Podcast. Both the book -and this conversation- is really good. About Bruce McCandless III Bruce McCandless III grew up in the shadow of Houston's Johnson Space Center during the Apollo and Skylab eras, watching Batman and Buzz Aldrin with equal enthusiasm. He graduated from the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas and went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Reading in England and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. After teaching at Saint David's School in New York City, he returned to Austin to practice law and retired in 2019 as general counsel of Superior HealthPlan, the Texas affiliate of Fortune 100 company Centene. In addition to Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and The First Untethered Flight in Space, Bruce is also the author of the science fiction novel Sour Lake (2011), the modern fairy tale Beatrice and the Basilisk (2014), and, with his daughter Carson, a book of light verse for middle schoolers titled Carson Clare's Trail Guide to Avoiding Death (And Other Unpleasant Consequences) (2017). He has published poems, stories, and essays in a variety of journals, including the Texas Observer, The Seattle Review, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Pleiades, and Consequence, and his book of poems, All of This is Ours, will be published in the summer of 2021 by Kelsay Books. Bruce is an avid runner and mountain biker who spends most of his free time on Central Texas trails. He is also a board member of the Worthy Garden Club—an Oregon-based environmental organization working to plant a million trees in the Pacific Northwest—and the Austin Library Foundation. Bruce and his wife, Pati McCandless, live in Austin To Learn More about Bruce and his work: First, check out the famous photo here: Bruce McCandless III from the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/astronaut-bruce-mccandless-on-first-ever-untethered-spacewalk And Bruce III, the author, the attorney, the teacher and more: https://brucemccandless.com. ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS GREAT BOOK Wonders All Around HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626348650/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Awesome! Join the growing community of scientists, researchers, innovators, writers, artists and explorers working to enhance space exploration efforts. Now that Beth is back from her latest analog, Chad's got some questions. On this episode, learn the who, what, where, when and why analogs are helping humans to better explore the universe! NASA's official definition of an analog, with additional notations from Beth: Analog missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments. NASA engineers and scientists work with government agencies, academia, and industry to gather requirements for testing in harsh environments before they are used in space. Analogs often look to test and research: new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats, communications, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, design, and storage. Behavioral effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue, and others are also observed. Past generations used analog missions to prepare for leaving Earth's atmosphere, landing on the moon, and permanently orbiting our planet. In keeping with this concept, NASA is using analog missions to actively prepare for deep space destinations, such as an asteroid or Mars. Analogs provide NASA with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human-robotic exploration operations. Analogs can help define ways to combine human and robotic efforts to enhance scientific exploration. Analog locations can be found all over the world, including the Antarctic, oceans, deserts, arctic and volcanic environments! About Beth & Chad Beth and Chad still implement the lessons and experiences they learned from their work at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Chad has officially been named Beth's favorite co-host, and joins Beth on the podcast to share his wisdom, unique perspective, and to add humor. Beth recently returned from her latest analog mission in Poland at the LunAres Research Station, where she spent the month of July in an isolation study with her LunAres X crew mates. What's next for Beth (and Chad)? Tune in to find out! To Learn More about Analog Astronauts: From the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/what-are-analog-missions And http://www.analogastronaut.com/ And, check out all of the Mund on Mars and Mund on the Moon podcast series right here on Casual Space! Enjoy interviews from each crew member- learn about their goals & experiments on the analog… and why their work on each mission matters.

Did you know that the people and environment around you that you interact with can impact and even change the inside of your gut flora? Dr. JJ Hastings has found that in many of the past analog astronaut studies, there's been a convergence- an evolution- between crew members and their environment, one that's been seen on the International Space Station as well. These studies have shown how the immune system of a particular astronaut is responding to a specific environment, and JJ is working to showcase how this strong connection between the microbiome and the microflora will impact us in while in space! JJ's work at LunAres (and in most analog missions) is to model the method of collecting and monitoring biological samples from the crew in order predict what we think will happen to us humans on long-duration space flights (like Mars). Biology + Genomics + Machine learning = Interrogating what it means for a machine to be creative with your own (biological) data- it's all in a day's work for Dr. J.J. Hastings, our LunAresX Mission Commander! On this episode, we're together INSIDE the LunAres habitat discussing what it means to gather biological data while in an isolation study- what the data has potential to be used for, and I discover what secret rations our mission commander has been keeping from us…. "When we participate in an analog, we are intrinsically in a more controlled environment. And as an analog astronaut, we represent a diverse and self-selecting crew that is looking for astronaut like or expeditionary like experiences, and while we may not necessarily represent the general public, we are contributing the science that will greatly IMPACT the general public." -JJ Hastings from the Casual Space Podcast About JJ Hastings Dr. Jaden Hastings is an extremophile in every regard. Her field research takes her to every corner of the globe from pole to pole, into caves, and across the ocean. As a Research Fellow at Cornell, JJ studies microbial flora from extreme environments- both in space and on Earth. She is also an expert in machine learning and biodesign, with roles in multiple startups that aim to make living on and off Earth more sustainable. JJ is a professional artist, with formal training in Fine Art, and has exhibited her work across the US, Europe, India, Asia and Australia. JJ served as Commander of SNESORIA M1 and as the Program Director for the SENSORIA Program.

Sorry, folks. You won't find Paul Bakken on social media. You will find him running around the LunAres habitat repairing, improving and applying his years of analog astronaut experience to our mission in the LunAres Research Station! We've been beyond grateful that Paul's been selected as one of our crew mates- in addition to his extensive background in law, community service, and analog missions, Paul happens to be an incredible chef! After enjoying this conversation with Paul, you will have a perfect understanding of what a mission generalist does, and then you'll find yourself asking, "where can I find a mission generalist to help me in my everyday life?!?!" "I like fixing things and feeding people. It's what I enjoy doing at home, so it's a natural fit for me to do it here at LunAres." -Paul Bakken from the Casual Space Podcast About Paul Paul Bakken is a native Minnesotan, husband of 28 years and a father of three children. He has served his community as an elected official for over 18 years. He serves on the Board of Directors for his local distribution cooperative. Other community experience and volunteering includes Boy Scouts, where he has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and service as an officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Bakken earned a B.A. in Political Science and Classics from St. Olaf College and a M.A. from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Paul has also earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, and has completed the FEMA/ EMI Integrated Emergency Management Course. When he's not baking up amazing food for analog astronauts, Bakken enjoys reading science fiction and tinkering. He has a long-standing interest in the exploration of space, and particularly in our exploration of the Moon and Mars. As an analog astronaut, he has served as Commander of two crew rotations at the Mars Desert Research Station, or MDRS, and as Executive Officer for NEPTUNE, a five-day underwater research mission. He's also served as the Operations Officer for Selene I, a fourteen-day lunar analog research mission at HI-SEAS. He's currently enjoying his new title of Mission Generalist on the LunAresX Sensoria mission in Pila Poland at the LunAres Research Station.

In the first MUND ON the MOON series, meet Paul Tomko. He is our crew's Executive Officer- applying his expertise of Aeronautical & Astronautical engineering with his passion for space exploration and optimal health & performance. "I'm always looking to improve myself. I don't want to go through life just existing…become healthier, explore new things, if I have a passion or a dream that I want to pursue, then I move towards it. It may change over time, but as long as you have a goal that moves your heart and something you are excited about and you move towards it every day… to me, that's a great life." -Paul Tomko from the Casual Space Podcast About Paul Paul has a multi faceted background ranging from engineering and project management to health&fitness and business. Paul graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelors in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering. He spent 4 years as a crew chief and project manager at the Kirsten Wind Tunnel where he led a student crew that conducted tests for a wide range of industry partners including NASA, Air Force Research Labs, and over 100 other customers. Paul was also a program manager at the National Reconnaissance Office where he led a large team of contractors to effectively design, build, and launch critical military space assets. Paul is currently a business development manager working with clients across a wide variety of industries. He is currently focused on solving the engineering challenges needed to help take humanity to Mars and beyond. In Feb 2021 Paul was selected to join the HISEAS Valoria II space analog mission. Paul has an extensive health and fitness background, in high school he focused primarily on swimming. In college Paul transitioned to rowing as a member of the NCAA UW Men's Crew team, where he continued his intense training of 3-5 hours a day, 6 days a week. Paul then transitioned into competitive bodybuilding for 5 years, winning several overall titles and his IFPA/NGA natural bodybuilding pro cards along the way. Since retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Paul has turned his attention to health, fitness and longevity and has helped train dozens of elite athletes over the years. Listen to Paul's Anti-Aging Lifestyle podcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anti-aging-lifestyle-longevity-aesthetics-health-beauty/id1477656566 You can also find Paul on: Instagram: paul_tomko Facebook: /ptomko71 LinkedIn: /paul-tomko

THIS WEEK, in the news from Space.com: Nuclear-powered spaceships for fast trips to Mars may now be one step closer to reality. "NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have teamed up to fund three design concepts for reactors that could become part of a nuclear thermal propulsion system, a next-generation technology that could make the exploration of deep space faster and more efficient." On this episode, learn how Dr. Paolo Venneri and his team help provide hardware and services for reliable energy anywhere – on Earth and in Space by providing design, licensing, and technology capabilities to develop nuclear power systems for advanced applications, including; Transportable Power Units, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion and Lunar Surface Power systems. About Dr. Paolo Venneri Dr. Paolo Venneri is the Executive Vice President of the USNC Advanced Technologies division, where he is responsible for setting company direction, managing multiple projects, and building new business and growth opportunities. He has overseen multiple successful Phase I and Phase II NASA SBIRs and leads projects related to developing fuel and reactor designs for nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, and surface fission power. His technical background includes researching the development of thermal spectrum Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (LEU-NTP) systems for the past five years. He was the first to publish on LEU-NTP systems' neutronic design and is involved in the development of the LEU graphite composite, tungsten cermet, and various advanced NTP systems. More about Ultra Safe Nuclear: https://usnc.com/space/

This is the story of one amazing woman who is taking her expertise of space systems and implementing changes that will benefit us all- like making life support technologies easily accessible and affordable for terrestrial humanity. Clean and accessible water. Better air quality. And leaving the world a better place than when you found it. Brittany Zimmerman is the CEO and Chief of Innovation at Yummet, a company she's built herself from asking the big questions, including how each of us can be a catalyst for positive change. Before she built Yummet, Brittany served as Principal Investigator and Aerospace Systems Engineer developing life support systems for long-duration spaceflight and habitation. Brittany Zimmerman Brittany has spent 30 years working on expanding her breadth of skills to build a synergy of competencies to achieve her lifetime goal: organizational success through bettering the conditions of humanity. Read more about Brittany's work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-zimmerman/ And learn more about Yummet at: https://www.yummet.com/

Today on the podcast…. Beth welcomes back Chris Carberry to help introduce Space Drinks Association, a new organization comprised of diverse and unique collection of brewers, distillers, space exploration professionals, farmers, medical professionals, inventors, hospitality professionals, enthusiasts and futurists who are actively advancing the production and consumption of alcohol in space! Listen as Chris and Beth say "cheers" to the holiday weekend, and to all of the great potential benefits (and potential challenge) that the SDA plans to create for mission success: "To work to encourage, promote and celebrate achievements made in the space science and beverage industries." http://spacedrinks.space/ Chris Carberry Carberry is President of the Space Drinks Association and CEO of Explore Mars, Inc. Prior tohis tenure with Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director of The Mars Society.Carberry is the author of Alcohol in Space: Past, Present, Future was released by McFarlandPublishers in 2019 and has published over 100 articles in publications around the world,including in USA Today, US News and World Report, Huffington Post, The Washington Post,San Jose Mercury Times, Foxnews.com, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, The Telegram(UK), The Boston Herald, and many others. Carberry has also been interviewed hundreds oftimes for print and online publications: local, national, and international radio and televisionincluding CNN, NBC News, Fox News, BBC International, and many others.Carberry has testified extensive political and policy outreach experience with the United StatesCongress and Executive branch and has testified to both the United States Senate and House ofRepresentatives.Prior to joining the space exploration community, Carberry worked as an historical researcherand archivist. And learn more about Explore Mars at https://www.exploremars.org/

There are *billions* of dollars' worth of invaluable imagery, information, and data available, for free from NASA, NOAA, ESA, and more but unfortunately, sometimes it can be hard to get to… and hard to use. The folks at Element 84, a software development firm specializing in large scale geospatial data systems and remote sensing believe that the more they can help make that data accessible and usable, the more we can learn about our planet and how it's changing. "How hard can it be?" is a question Dan Pilone often asks his team. As the CEO & CTO of Dan oversees the architecture, design, and development for Element 84's commercial and government data clients including NASA, USGS, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Capella Space. " About Element 84 "We are impatient optimists." "It's not magic, but it can *feel* like that - you can literally *see* the world changing, see storms, progress of wildfires, patterns of burning and growth, how to plan for changing water levels, how to help people impacted by disasters, or even just see some fantastic images of leaves changing in the fall.... Space gives us an incredible view of the planet we live on- and we want as many people to be able to take advantage of that unique view as possible." – Dan Pilone More at: www.element84.com Dan mentions: FunCube: https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-cubesat/ More about Dan Pilone: ​Dan has supported NASA's Earth Observing System for over 15 years; currently acting as Chief Technologist for the NASA EOSDIS Evolution and Development contract. He has supported transitioning NASA's Petabyte scale archive to the cloud, contributed to metadata standards, led multiple working groups on data services and cloud architectures, authored studies on architecture and transition plans for cloud-native data management solutions, and helped shape software development processes for both government and commercial clients. Mr. Pilone has authored multiple books on software development and taught Software Engineering at Catholic University in Washington DC.

"How might we prepare today's students for humanities multi-planet future?" -Mark Wagner, Casual Space Podcast How will we go to school in space? What will we need to learn? What do the "classrooms" look like? And who will be our "teachers?" Mark and the team at ARES Learning have thought about these questions and have come up with some very inspiring solutions! About ARES Learning At ARES Learning, cadets build the knowledge, skills and mindsets necessary to navigate the great challenges of the future - on this planet or any other. ARES cadets emerge from their experience prepared for jobs that don't yet exist, to use technology that hasn't been invented, and to solve enormous problems we can't foresee. ARES prepares young people to become the designers, builders, philosophers and explorers of tomorrow. https://www.areslearning.com/ About Mark Wagner, Ph.D.​ ​Originally a high school English teacher, Dr. Mark Wagner also served as an educational technology coordinator at the site, district, and county levels. For fourteen years, he then served as CEO of EdTechTeam, a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists which provides professional development to fifty thousand teachers a year. In this capacity he helped lead the Google Certified Innovator Program since 2006, led a series of conference-style summits featuring Google for Education since 2011, and helped launch Future Ready Schools in 2014. Over this time he also founded or helped lead six influential non-profit organizations. ​ As co-founder of ARES Learning, Dr. Wagner now unites his early love of space exploration (he originally studied Astronautical Engineering as an undergrad) with his career in education technology. He brings a unique combination of experience with constructivist learning theory, school transformation, and space science education. He focuses on student agency, inspiring and empowering students to generate their own solutions to the problems they are most passionate about. Mark Wagner has a Ph.D. in Educational Technology and a master's degree in cross-cultural education. His doctoral research focused on the use of video games in education, and specifically on the potential applications of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) as constructivist learning environments. He is the author of More Now: A Message from The Future for The Educators of Today (2018). Dr. Wagner is currently engaged in original research for graduate certificates in Space Education and Space Philosophy at the Kepler Space Institute, with expected completion in 2021.

People often ask me what it was like as a "NASA" insider. On this episode of Casual Space, one of the very best of the best, Michael Ciannilli joins me to share highlights and lessons learned from more than 25 years at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Michael "Mike" Ciannilli is NASA's manager of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, where he helps innovatively and effectively share NASA's lessons of the past to help ensure future success. Inspired by Mike and his work? Check out these videos from NASA EDGE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvOHNIbVBRI and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtowgLH-HyA And read more about Mike here: As manager of this agency level program, Ciannilli oversees the Columbia Research and Preservation Office, which preserves all Columbia artifacts, as well as the loan program, which loans out Columbia artifacts for research and academic purposes. In addition, this role involves giving lessons learned tours for NASA engineers, scientists, interns, executives, commercial partners and others. During these tours, he uses the stories of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia to share what has been learned from these past mishaps to prevent reoccurrence in future applications. Ciannilli also does lessons learned events at Kennedy Space Center where he works to bring these past experiences and the emotions behind the accidents alive through multimedia and storytelling; these events will be expanding across the agency. In addition to his main activities supporting the agency, Ciannilli also collaborates with outside media organizations like National Geographic to share these lessons learned with a wider audience. Prior to his current role, Ciannilli was the lead of the Columbia Research and Preservation Office, a position that is now encompassed in his new role. He also led the creation and development of the Forever Remembered project for Columbia and Challenger at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Previously, he served nine years as NASA Test Director for the Space Shuttle Program at Kennedy, responsible for processing oversight of the space shuttle orbiters and ground support systems including launch and landing facilities. In addition, this responsibility included leading the launch team through launch countdown activities. He also was the Landing Recovery Director during that time, responsible for leading contingency operations during launch countdown and landing activities, including flight crew recovery. In 2003, during the Columbia accident recovery, Ciannilli flew extensively onboard helicopters across Texas supporting air search operations and Columbia artifact recovery.Before joining NASA in 2005, Ciannilli was a contractor for the United Space Alliance where he spent eight years as a Test Project Engineer, leading the testing and engineering integration during processing of the shuttles and launch operations, and before that he was the lead of the Launch Countdown Simulation Team, which developed simulations to train the launch team. As the simulation lead for the Mission Management Team, he also trained the leadership of the Space Shuttle Program. Prior to this he worked as a fuel cell systems engineer assigned to Columbia. He also worked as an intern for Pan Am World Services at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base and taught high school. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the astronauts' Silver Snoopy, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, NASA Program Leadership Award, Launch and Landing Leadership Award, Launch Countdown Simulation Contingency Leadership Award, NASA Quest Outreach Award and a Columbia Recovery Team Award, among many others. Ciannilli has a Bachelor of Science in space science from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Ciannilli grew up in Syracuse, New York. He enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, swimming, boating, sailing, hiking, skiing and film production.

"Everything in a NASA mission patch exists for a purpose. Every part is deliberate and important." -KSCArtist Tim Gagnon, from Casual Space Podcast Have you ever really looked at a mission patch? Every detail was designed and put in place specifically for a reason. Artist Tim Gagnon has "had the honor and privilege" to have been selected by several NASA Flight Crews to design their mission patches. Perhaps you have seen several of his patch designs (Tim has designed many for both space shuttle missions and International Space Station missions)? On this episode, Beth asks Tim about his work as an artist, and how he was first commissioned to work with the NASA crews, and reviews several specific patch designs with Beth. Beth and Tim reference several specific mission patches. You can see them here, along with all of Tim's work: https://www.kscartist.com/ More about Tim, in his own words: "A self-taught artist since 1974, I enjoy painting portraits and graphically designing commemorative emblems for various organizations. I especially enjoy the challenge of relating a mission objective in a four inch square canvas. I have had the great honor and privilege to work with a number of NASA Flight Crews on their mission patches. To see my work orbiting the Earth is the ultimate compliment. I am always looking for new challenges and to assist organizations that promote space-science education. I strive every day to do the same with my modest talents. Only you, the viewer, can decide if I have succeeded." What does art do for space, and vice versa? "You know how you have color commentators for sports? They often fill in the details and help humanize the people playing and so forth? What art does for space is to humanize the mission and the goal for all the people involved [in that mission]. It's why patches have lasted this long, and I suspect a couple of hundred years of now, someone will do a search on a mission and understand what the mission was about, and help to understand something that I was involved in." -Tim Gagnon from Casual Space Podcast Beth asks Tim about several specific NASA patches: STS 127, STS 129, Expedition 29, and Expedition 55 Enjoy Tim's gallery and work at www.kscartist.com

What happens when we integrate multi-media art with space, science, and technology? Neuroscientist Jancy McPhee is the founder and executive director of SciArt Exchange, an organization providing science and art fusion programs and celebrations of creative innovations. Jancy McPhee works as a Multidisciplinary Program Scientist in the NASA Human Research Program's Chief Scientist's Office and works with Aerospace Human Exploration and Space Flight scientific research with STEM/STEAM education programs. "Space exploration has made an evolution to make sure that the human could survive…For short missions, and when we are sticking our toes in the waters of the universe, that was really what was needed. Now, when we're talking about being gone for 1, 2, 3 years, now we're talking about not just surviving, but thriving. That's where there's more room for the exchange between science and art. It's really about being human in space. Human beings need to do more than just breathe their air.'" -Jancy McPhee on Casual Space Podcast About Jancy: Jancy McPhee wasn't quite sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. She loved science and exploring, but all her hobbies were related to music and theater and reading about how other humans think, feel, create and move. Hoping to combine her interests, she became a neuroscientist, a person who examines the science behind these human capabilities. Formally, Dr. McPhee has a B.A. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Brandeis University. She was a cellular and molecular neuroscience researcher in academia for 17 years before joining the National Space Biomedical Research Association and later the Universities Space Research Association to manage various aspects of NASA's domestic and international space life sciences research programs. Since 2010, she has been implementing motivating and novel ways to enhance space education and science and technology innovation and to promote global collaboration in human space exploration. She created the international Humans in Space Art Program and has been working to establish SciArt Exchange. About SciArt Exchange: SciArt Exchange is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed to continue and expand the international Humans in Space Art Program and to develop new science-and-art fusion programs. SciArt Exchange focuses on issues related to space, science, and technology and aim to provide an interdisciplinary framework for more effective dialogue, education, and innovation. https://www.sciartex.net/

Can an artist's work help to forecast the future? Can art in different forms (infographics, etc.) help decision makers within the industry? Is the ISS beautiful? With more than 20+ years of work in space exploration industry, Phil Smith brings a strong sense of experience and foundation to his work as an analyst and artist. Phil joins Beth on the podcast to explain how his unique role can bring understanding and inspiration to space companies and clients who are looking to peer into the future with a little help from a visionary expert. Phil Smith has an incredible job- listen as Phil shares incredible examples like the time when NASA asks Phil and his team to "produce a map of the universe in a way that had never been seen before…a socio-economic map that reflects how NASA impacts our view of the universe and potential use of its future within our solar system." "Space on the one hand is relatively simple to understand but the way we use it in art and the relationship is very complex, like it is when you ask, 'What is your relationship with the Earth?'" -Phil Smith on Casual Space Podcast About Phil, in his own words: I have a tendency to see nature through an artistic lens, despite not believing some higher power created the wonders around us. Like most people, I have the capacity to assign meaning to things and to see beauty in the great and small. I also suffer from the relentless desire to create order where there is none. I'm fascinated by the workings of the universe and use traditional and digital media to represent what I feel are its most magnificent aspects. Though I think of myself as an artist, I make my living as a space industry analyst. This liberates me financially to pursue my art yet also informs my creative work. I've worked in the space industry for over 20 years (now at BryceTech), building on a technical foundation of graduate-level education and military experience. I also leverage my artistic skills wherever and whenever possible. My background includes space industry analysis and market forecasting, astroculture, astrofuturism, aerospace history, nuclear weapons technology, industrial hygiene, clinical laboratory studies, and policy analysis. In addition to conducting research, analyzing the results, and drafting written materials, I translate this work into high-quality documents, briefings, wall charts, and infographics using various publishing tools, bringing a mix of analytical skills and artistic talent to provide customers with a diversity of approaches in problem solving, from conceptualization to final delivery. I've also been a tour guide for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum since 2003. I've been interviewed or quoted by SpaceNews, Satellite Today, Via Satellite, The Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg News, Associated Press, United Press International, Houston Chronicle, Agence France-Presse, The Moscow Times, Sputnik, CNN International, CNBC, Nightly Business Report, Newsy, and The Diane Rehm Show. Where to find Phil & his work: Phil's website: www.astrazoic.comContact Phil: [email protected] And here are some of Phil's work he referenced that you won't want to miss: NASM Udvar-Hazy Center: https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center "The map" produced for NASA is here: https://brycetech.com/reports/report-documents/solar_system_map

What are lava tubes? What can they tell us about the rest of the solar system? Could lava tubes harbor life deep inside them on other planets? Ph.D. student Gavin Tolometti believes the best way to understand the surfaces of planetary bodies like the Moon, Mars, Io, and Venus is to study features like lava tubes on own planet Earth. "I study lava flows. In particular, I want to understand how we can infer how lava flows on Earth and on the Moon and Mars using remote data sets – in particular using radar, because it's a type of data set that's used on a lot of planetary bodies- and compare what we see in remote data sets (radar) and what we see on the ground (in the field) to confirm what's predicted against what we see. They are very unique features and I learn a lot every time I study them." -Gavin Tolometti on Casual Space Podcast About Gavin: Originally from the UK, Gavin received his bachelors of science in geology at the University of St. Andrews. His father was in the royal air force when Gavin was a kid, so he lived in five different countries. With an appreciation of different cultures and backgrounds during his time moving, it also opened his eyes to the potential of studying abroad. Currently, Gavin is preparing to complete his PhD at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He enjoys cooking and trying new recipes. Where to find Gavin & his work: Twitter and Instagram: @GavinOnTheMoonResearch: https://gavintolometti.wixsite.com/gavinonthemoon Podcast Twitter: @DiariesofSpacePodcast Instagram: @diariesofspaceexplorers And enjoy Gavin's podcast, Diaries of Space at https://diariesofspace.podbean.com/

How is one person working to make space travel accessible to everyone? One scholarship at a time, according to Niko Blanks. "For me, sending pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp is all about inspiring them to know that they can achieve their dreams no matter what hurdles they face." Niko's a senior spaceflight operations student looking to accomplish a big goal. And he's just the person to make it happen- he's already overcome big obstacles in his life at an early age. With his new, Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship, Niko is helping to send pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp. You can help send these patients and their families, too- the application process for the summer of 2021 is open, and the fundraising for this scholarship just kicked off in a BIG way during Yuri's Night! Space Camp, Space Kind, Space Flight Operations and space travel- it's all right here in this conversation with the amazing and aspiring Niko Blanks. About the scholarship: https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp About Yuri's Night and where to donate! https://yurisnight.net/scholarship/ About Niko! Niko Blanks is from Chattanooga, TN and is currently a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studying Spaceflight Operations. Niko has interned as a mechanical engineer on the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract and has been a part of multiple NASA engineering design challenges for Artemis EVA operations. As the Crew Engineer of the Sensoria M3 Mission, Niko conducted human factors and EVA operations research at HI-SEAS in December 2020. Most recently, Niko is partnering with the Yuri's Night Foundation and the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer to start the Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship. Cosmic Odyssey is dedicated to inspiring pediatric cancer survivors by providing them with scholarships to attend SpaceCamp in Huntsville, Alabama. As a brain cancer survivor, Niko's ultimate goal is to make space travel accessible to everyone and one day set foot on the Moon and Mars himself. Follow Niko on Insta: @nikoinspace About the Austin Hatcher Foundation https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/spacecamp The Austin Hatcher Foundation is partnering with the Yuri's Night to help send pediatric cancer survivors to space camp! With the help of former Austin Hatcher Foundation patient, Niko Blanks, the foundation will be offering our patients and families the opportunity to apply for a scholarship for space camp! Niko Blanks was treated as a child at the Austin Hatcher Foundation for a Grade II Fibrillary Astrocytoma. Following his diagnosis and treatment, Niko decided he wanted to give back in any way he could to children experiencing the same trials he had to overcome. Niko now a student studying Spaceflight Operations and wants to educate those going through the difficulties that come with pediatric cancer on the thing that he feels truly changed his life. This is where the idea for the Cosmic Odyssey Space Camp Scholarship Program was born! Find out more about Space Kind training, and join the program in May: https://www.spacekind.org And don't forget- Join me at the 1st Annual Analog Astronaut Conference! http://www.analogastronaut.com/

Are you intimidated by looking at the night sky? Wondering what's what in our big universe? The astronomers are here to help (it's easier than you think)! Beth recently invited John, Samantha and Jenna to take your questions about the stars, the planets, the comets and more- all LIVE on the Casual Space Podcast Facebook page! A fun time was had by all (you can tell right away- there's a LOT of laughing) and the gang promises to return with more great questions in May, so start stargazing tonight, and get your questions ready & tune in again in May when YOU can ASK THE ASTRONOMERS!!! About the Astronomers: John Read fell in love with astronomy in his late twenties after viewing Saturn in a $13 telescope from the pharmacy. A few years later, he quit his job in the Fortune 500 to become a full-time astrophysics student, author, and father of three. ASK JOHN MORE SPACE QUESTIONS: [email protected] Samantha Jewett is the Outreach Assistant at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's (RASC) National Office. She's got a Bachelor's in Physics with an Astrophysics Specialization, and is currently earning her Master's degree in Education focusing on informal science education. Samantha spent her undergrad learning about the physics and math behind space science, joining the RASC introduced her to the exciting world of amateur visual astronomy. LEARN MORE ABOUT SAMANTHA's WORK AT: [email protected] Jenna Hinds is the Outreach Coordinator at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's National Office. She studied marine biology in university and shifted into science communication after realizing she prefers talking about science to actually doing science. Now, Jenna gets to share science with folks from around the world every day! CHECK OUT JENNA's MOST RECENT SHOW AT: rasc.ca/moonatnoon Check out the RASC: RASC | Canada's premier organization of amateur and professional astronomers, promoting Astronomy to all. You're going to want to enjoy John's You Tube engaging videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkcV7-BZTDxlqIKYS89T4fQ And there's lots of books, too- https://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-John-Read-Space-Science/s?rh=n%3A13443%2Cp_lbr_one_browse-bin%3AJohn+Read If you're ready to stargaze and want to enjoy a fun challenge, go here: https://www.learntostargaze.com/astronomychallenge Have fun! And as John says, "Clear skies!"

Is there life out there? It is the fundamental question we humans have been asking since the beginning of our existence. Beth and Chad attempt to answer this question, then work in The Fermi Paradox, the Drake Equation, and of course, chickens and lizards. Learn more about the Fermi paradox here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox, And here's the Drake Equation N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L And here's how SETI helps us understand the Drake Equation (SETI): https://www.seti.org/drake-equation-index If you have questions or topics that Must Be Discussed, share them with Beth & Chad at [email protected] and join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram!

Have you ever been hesitant to try to learn the night sky, or wonder how you can view the cosmos with just a little help? David Dickinson has created the ultimate field guide for us backyard astronomers! David Dickinson is the co-author of The Universe Today Guide to Viewing the Cosmos. Whether you want to impress viewers at a star party, or learn what you can see with your new telescope, David shows you how to find the most impressive views the night sky has to offer. He is an Earth science teacher, freelance science writer, retired USAF veteran and backyard astronomer. He currently writes and ponders the universe as he travels the world with his wife. In his new book (he's got several) The Backyard Astronomer's Field Guide: How to Find the Best Objects the Night Sky has to Offer, David helps each of us discover beautiful nebulas, constellations, deep sky objects and more with our telescopes. Find more of David's books and guides here: https://www.amazon.com/David-Dickinson/e/B00JH2909O Broken down by month and by hemisphere to ensure you get the best possible view, David shows you how to find objects like spiral galaxies, stunning sights in the Milky Way and stars that bring the "wow factor" to astronomy. With 44 sky charts and David's expertise, it's like having a pro-astronomer out in the field with you. This week on the show, David explains to Beth: -how constellations got their names, how they've been different names throughout history, depending on who was ruling at the time, and from what location you were looking at the night sky -what it's like to see the southern constellations and other unique cosmic phenomena for us in the northern hemisphere, and -how you can connect with the stars in your very own unique way, you don't have to be an expert or make a star purchase to do it, either! Follow Dave on Twitter at: Dave 'Indoor Cat' Dickinson @Astroguyz

Laurie thought middle school music students would participate more if they had music about space and rockets, but no such music existed. So she created it. You can guess what happened next. Music educator, author, and space enthusiast, Laurie Orth, had the out-of-the-box idea that perhaps her students would participate more in music class if they had music about space and rockets. Inspired by NASA's STEM education website, with countless STEM lesson ideas for educators, she decided to create her own space-themed recorder music. After incorporating the space music, Laurie found that her students were more attentive and eager to learn. The combination of the two contrasting disciplines of music and space exploration kept everyone 100% engaged in class. They increased their music reading abilities without even realizing it! This week on the show, Laurie shares with Beth: -how her son inspired her to merge her love of music with a newfound interest in space, -how one of the simplest of instruments- the Recorder- can serve as a powerful tool for students to enjoy music, and -how being brave and inventing something new for the world can provide benefits beyond what you ever imagined! Learn more about Laurie and grab a copy of Rocket Recorder at https://www.laurieorth.com/ Download FREE MUSIC RESOURCES from Laurie here! https://www.laurieorth.com/free-downloads-signup/

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space and a veteran of three shuttle missions, talks with Beth about her experience as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope on this week's episode of the Casual Space Podcast. The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It has, among many other achievements, revealed thousands of galaxies in what seemed to be empty patches of sky; transformed our knowledge of black holes; found dwarf planets with moons orbiting other stars; and measured precisely how fast the universe is expanding. In Handprints on Hubble, retired NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan describes her work on the NASA team that made all of this possible. This week, Dr. Sullivan joins Beth to describe how she and other astronauts, engineers, and scientists launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained Hubble, the most productive observatory ever built! A moment from the show: Beth: What invited you to write your book, "Handprints on Hubble" and share your story? Dr. Sullivan: I, like countless engineers on the ground and at mission control, am really proud of everything Hubble has done, and I feel like I have a fingerprint, I have a contribution on everything Hubble has done. The idea of (sharing this) percolated for a long time until a friend at the Smithsonian was trying to get me to consider writing a memoir, and that's when the penny dropped- If my story could be the vehicle for telling an overlooked chapter of the Hubble history, and bringing the people who really are the hidden figures of the Hubble story into the foreground so the important work they did got its due. All of the creativity, the engineering, the design work, the imagining in the mid-60's a school-bus size telescope and that the astronauts would take care of it! It was astonishing! People don't often think of engineers of being imaginative, but Hubble is a really brilliant example of the kind of vision and imagination that describes most of engineering, so if I could use my story to help people understand the importance of this early history of Hubble, that would be worth writing. -Kathy Sullivan from the Casual Space Podcast Learn more about Dr. Sullivan at http://kathysullivanastronaut.com/ Get your copy of Handprints on Hubble at: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/handprints-hubble

Carissa Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of BryceTech. Christensen is an internationally-recognized expert on R&D processes, technology forecasting, and the space industry. She is currently a member of the National Research Council Space Technology Industry Government-University Roundtable, which advises NASA. She has served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council since 2018. She is a Senior Advisor to the annual US Air Force Schriever Wargame. She serves on the Advisory Council of the Aerospace Corporation's Center for Space Policy and Strategy. On this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Ms. Christensen enjoys a more casual conversation with Beth about our inherent desire as humans to explore, to learn, and how exploring space can help us be better human beings. A moment from the show: From Beth: When did your interest in space begin? From Carissa: My interest in space started with a series of questions. I began with asking, "How is knowledge created? How do we figure things out?" Then, my questions evolved into, "How does science work?" Then I found a parallel thread in asking how governance and government work. To me, representative government is an extremely powerful human invention-because it gives us access to the minds and the capabilities of so much broader a cross-section of humanity. Those threads all come together for me (maybe unexpectedly) in a career in space because governments and governance is such an important part of how space activities have occurred. As we were talking about getting to space is so much about learning and exploring…all of those things come together for me in the framework of knowing (more), learning (more), and ultimately for humans- being more. ​ And, "When I think about what's universal about space, I think about the very fundamental human desire to want to learn, to know and to explore. And to me, space is the extreme manifestation of that. You can't explore it unless you learn and unless you know- which is so difficult and so challenging. It's a fundamental desire to unpack that mystery, and it's a tough mystery to work with. -Carissa Christensen from the Casual Space Podcast Learn more about Bryce at https://brycetech.com/ Read any of the available Bryce Tech Reports here: https://brycetech.com/reports

If space exploration didn't happen the way you envisioned it, go back and rewrite the story. For All Mankind is an incredible new sci-fi series on Apple TV+ created and written by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. If you have not yet discovered this intense and dramatic show, here's why it's worth binge watching immediately- it's an alternate history depicting "what would have happened" if the global space race never ended after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States. In this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth asks Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and television producer Ron Moore (Star Trek; Battlestar Galactica and Outlander), about the challenges presented when telling (rewriting) the alternative history of America's space race, and why this show moved Beth (many times) to tears. When will we see a woman walk on the moon? Can art imitate life to influence our next space race? How in the world did Ron and his team perfectly recreate historic Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center? All this and more waiting for your ears to enjoy in this episode of Casual Space! A moment from the show: ​Beth: How do you think people will react when we witness a woman walk on the Moon for the first time? Ron: "I think when a woman sets foot on the Moon, that is going to be a real seminal moment. I think it's going to move people, I think people will all gather around their TV sets just like they did in 1969 to see it happen… it means something… especially in the context of this event not having happened for so long, that when women do it, it will be a major event! -Ron Moore from Casual Space Podcast To watch every episode from every season of For All Mankind, go to: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/for-all-mankind/umc.cmc.6wsi780sz5tdbqcf11k76mkp7 Follow Ron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerRonDMoore or on Twitter at: @RonDMoore

Science communication can often be challenging… and at times, make even the most talented scientists, reporters, and educators reluctant to take on the task of communicating scientific findings and new discoveries. In this episode, Brian Palermo infuses his expertise from his experience with improvisation and acting to help us better communicate science! By implementing strategies from improv (think of the "yes, AND" approach to conversations), Brian shows how all of us can easily communicate information successfully through story. Brian Palermo is a professional actor and communications expert who works with executives, business leaders, and audiences teaching the art of improv to present powerful (and funny) stories. In this Casual conversation Brian Palermo will help us: - implement improv in your daily conversations to better connect with peers, colleagues, even family members (even your kids)!! - enjoy excerpts from Brian's book; Connection, Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinking- where a former scientist, a story consultant, and an improv actor come together to give you the critical thinking of science combined with a century of Hollywood knowledge in the creation and shaping of stories! -laugh! Stories about science and space can be fun and inspirational, and Brian reminds us that storytelling should be . I really enjoyed this conversation with Brian and plan on continuing to follow him on TV, in the movies- and if you are in the LA area, you can find Brian perform as an improv stand up actor every Wednesday in the Groundlings in Hollywood. From the Show: ​Beth: Can we bridge our science-illiterate nation via story?? Brian: "We can, and I think that's one great tool to do it, but you know, having the concept of, "We need to use story" is great, but having the ability to execute that is very hard. It's not easy to construct a story – to take science data and construct it into narrative form is very difficult, AND, to deliver it, to present it to other humans is another challenge. It's doable, but it takes work to get there." -Brian Palermo from Casual Space Podcast To learn more about Brian Palermo, go to: https://www.palermoimprovtraining.com/about We mentioned Randy Olsen's book: https://www.amazon.com/Houston-We-Have-Narrative-Science/dp/022627084X And of course, check out Brian's book with Randy Olsen, and Dorie Barton, "Connection. Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinking." https://www.amazon.com/Connection-Hollywood-Storytelling-Critical-Thinking/dp/0615872387/ref=asc_df_0615872387/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=265958393932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16145716171067840377&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021552&hvtargid=pla-538612589161&psc=1

Will we find life on Mars? On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Mars Perseverance rover will land at the site of an ancient river delta in a lake that was once filled known as Jezero Crater. The rover will spend at least one Mars year (two Earth years) searching for signs of ancient life! What happens when the Mars Perseverance rover lands on Mars this Thursday? What is EDL and why does it make for such a stressful moment? What are some of the differences with this rover "Percey," vs. Curiosity? What is a sky crane? How will it work? The specific location where Percy is intending to land is important and significant. Why? Answers to these questions and more, on this BONUS episode of Casual Space with Dr. Tanya Harrison, and Dr. Graham Lau. Tanya is a respected Mars expert who worked as a geoscientist and mission operations specialist on multiple NASA Mars missions over the past 13 years, including the Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Dr. Tanya is a respected thought leader in the commercial space sector and has served as Director of Research for Arizona State University's NewSpace Initiative. Currently, Tanya works as the Director of Science Strategy for the federal arm of the Earth observing satellite company Planet Labs. Tanya holds a Ph.D. in Geology with a Specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration from the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Graham Lau is an astrobiologist and communicator of science, and many people know him online as "The Cosmobiologist." Dr. Graham Lau also serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a Research Scientist with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, the Director of Logistics for the University Rover Challenge, and the host of the NASA Astrobiology and SAGANet show "Ask an Astrobiologist". To learn more about Dr. Tanya and her work: https://www.tanyaharrison.com/ To learn more about Dr. Lau and his work: https://cosmobiota.com/ This will be the very first attempt of a sample return from Mars! To learn more about this very long and complicated process, check out: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-sample-return-msr To learn more about Mars Perseverance Rover: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/ And don't miss this LANDING TOOLKIT: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ Curiosity is STILL exploring Mars! Check out the continued activity at: https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/ And, JOIN THE LIVE WATCH PARTY AT https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/landing/watch-online/ Watch with Tanya at WeMartians: https://www.wemartians.com/ Watch with Dr. Graham Lau and Beth Mund at Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/

Mars Mission Success with Dr. Sian Proctor, Sensoria Mission Control Mission control plays a critical role in the success of any analog mission. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes activities that the Commander and Mission Control work to resolve, provide and communicate. As a one of the original analog astronauts at the HI-SEAS research facility, and as a analog astronaut to many other mission locations on both land and at sea, Dr. Sian Proctor was perfectly positioned to serve as Mission Control for the Sensoria Mission last November! Dr. Sian lends her uniquely qualified perspective with Beth as she provides answers to the following questions: Do you have to be a former analog astronaut to work at mission control? What's more challenging: being in the habitat or working to support a crew remotely from mission control? What's the difference between working in Mission Control and volunteering to serve as mission support? Dr. Sian has served as both an analog astronaut and as mission control. From her experienced perspective, what items does she insist are going to be necessary to bring with when humans travel to Mars? Answers to these questions and more, on this episode of Casual Space! To learn more about Dr. Sian and her work: https://www.drsianproctor.com/ Watch this previously recorded conversation with Dr. Sian on the Casual Space Podcast https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=671101750471846&ref=watch_permalink To learn more about Analog Astronaut Missions and the HI-SEAS research facility: http://hi-seas.org/

Dr. Brandy Nunez is a microbiologist, a veterinarian, a mother, a live electronic musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is CEO of Mobile Veterinary Services, Inc, based in Orange County, CA. Her formal education is in microbiology/chemistry, with an emphasis on novel therapeutic discovery. She then obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences. After several years of clinical and emergency work, Dr. Nunez opened her own mobile practice, focusing on underserved populations. "I forge my own path. That's how I'm going to get to space, too." -Dr. Brandy on the Casual Space Podcast with Beth Mund In addition to her love of science, Dr. Nunez is a lifelong musician and multi-instrumentalist. She often uses samples and recordings from space incorporated into her compositions. She is co-founder of the Southern California Synth Society; whose purpose is to educate and facilitate interest in electronic music through open synthesizer performances, modular DIY builds and community events targeting women and people of color. She performs live music at venues around Los Angeles under the moniker, Space Racer. Her new project aims to launch a DIY satellite into orbit for recording sonic data to be used in future compositions. Her other interests include astrobiology, botany/horticulture, hydroponic garden design and urban farming. She enjoys T'ai Chi practice, creative writing and spending time with family. Her goal is to continue her scientific research and music composition on the moon. Find Brandy On Instagram at @space_racer_ On Soundcloud as spaceracer and Support Brandy on her journey to become an astronaut at: space_racer_ and find out more about her competition at: https://advancingx.com/careerastronauts/

RICHELLE GRIBBLE is a multidisciplinary artist exploring planetary connectivity. Her work explores networks and systems-based investigations to reflect the ways human impact, technology, and environment collide. She has had solo shows in Los Angeles, New York, Japan, and international orbit around Earth etched on satellites and aboard rockets. She has exhibited at renowned art fairs including Art Market San Francisco, Texas Contemporary, and Miami Project and had her artwork illuminated on a LED screen in Times Square NYC. Gribble has completed 17 art residencies as part of her project The Nomadic Artist, where she travels the world to reflect social and environmental changes across the globe and off-planet. Awarded residencies include Planet Labs, Biosphere 2, The Arctic Circle Residency, Awagami Factory and many more. Work presented in a TEDxTrousdale talk "What is our Role within a Networked Society?" and published in The Creator's Project, The Atlantic, Artillery, Hyperallergic and VICE. She is the Founding Director of SUPERCOLLIDER, an art + sci + tech exhibition platform and satellite initiative and co-founder of Beyond Earth, an artist collective exploring frontiers of art and space. She is a Scholar for the Kepler Space Institute examining the arts and humanities in space and is a Planet Ambassador at Planet Labs, an Earth-imaging satellite company devoted to use space to help life on Earth. Find Richelle on Twitter at @richellegribble View her artwork at richellegribble.com "With every stage in my life, I've been shifting my perspective." -Richelle Gribble on Casual Space Podcast About what Richelle is looking to achieve while on her "Mars" simulation: "I'm really prioritizing creative research while I am on this mission…I'm here at the habitat because of this interested in exploring art at it's intersection with space. I have this desire to (eventually) become an art astronaut. I know that at some point, there will be an artist in space, so getting that proper training, doing that analog experience, and preparing mentally and physically to be able to make that adventure and be able to reflect that experience of spaceflight, or even just that process of getting there as reflected in the artwork is going to be an important part of our story as humans." "Having artists go to space, having artists go to Mars… we're inherently extremely resourceful! I think that's one of artist's biggest strengths. When you give us restrictions, we get really creative." "We're here in a small enclosure. But if you are making art, experiencing art, you travel everywhere, you can go anywhere. When you're stuck inside a white dome, you turn on a song and you can go beyond. I think that's going to be so important for these longer duration space flights."

Dr. Michaela Musilova is an astrobiologist and the Director of the HI-SEAS analog space station. Michaela studied and conducted research at the University of Bristol, University College London, California Institute of Technology, Chiba University, International Space University (ISU) and others. She worked for NASA, University of London Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and was the Commander of over 20 simulated missions to the Moon and Mars. She is also a visiting Professor at the Slovak University of Technology, Vice-Chair of the Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA), Adjunct Faculty at ISU and Senior Research Adviser for Mission Control Space Services Inc. Michaela has received numerous prizes and research grants, including the Emerging Space Leaders Grant from the International Astronautical Federation; Women in Aerospace – Europe Young Professional Award and she was selected as one of the most promising 30 under 30 by Forbes Slovakia. She is also actively involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, as a patron of the programme in Slovakia and an Emerging Leader Representative for Europe, Mediterranean and Arab states. Furthermore, Michaela regularly performs a variety of outreach activities, such as: teaching, presenting, working with media and being an Advisory Board Member of the STEM Punks educational programs. Where to find Michaela: Dr. Michaela Musilova Director of HI-SEAS International Moonbase Alliance (IMA) LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Amanda Knutson Chief Engineering Officer, Mission Specialist: Extravehicular Activity Amanda Knutson is an Active Duty US Air Force member, currently working as a Weapons Armament Specialist at Luke AFB. While working full time at Luke AFB, she is studying part-time at Estrella Mountain Community College with plans to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddle. As a high school student enamored of engineering, Amanda was part of the FIRST Robotics Tech Challenge and Lego League programs. In 2017, she earned a place at the World Competition of FIRST Robotics securing the Engineering Inspiration award supported by NASA. During the SENSORIA mission, Amanda brought and built an entirely new space capsule aquaponics system of her own design that can be used in micro- and fractional gravity conditions with an eye toward long-duration space missions. Additionally, she is developing her own "propellant depots" for deep space missions to Jupiter and Saturn. As a strong STEM advocate, she looks to inspire children and adults alike to strive for to achieve their own ambitions. Chelsea Gohd Chief Science Officer, Mission Specialist: Documentary Filmmaker Chelsea Gohd is a Senior Writer at Space.com, where she writes articles and creates and hosts videos about everything from climate change to exoplanet exploration and human spaceflight. Prior to her work at Space.com, Chelsea worked as a freelancer, with bylines in publications including Scientific American, Astronomy Magazine and Discover Magazine. She also recently wrote an installation for the American Museum of Natural History's Hall of Meteorites, which included touchscreen exhibit placards and design and text for interactive, in-exhibit games. Chelsea is also a musician and writes, performs and records indie pop music under the pseudonym Foxanne. As Foxanne, she released her debut full-length record in 2020, titled "It's real (I knew it)," named after an iconic scene from the hit sci-fi film "Galaxy Quest." The album features a number of space-y easter eggs, including audio from the OA-9 rocket launch, a 2018 cargo mission that launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, and a song written from the perspective of NASA's Opportunity rover. Indie pop artist Foxanne released her debut full-length album "It's real (I knew it)" in December of 2020. The highly anticipated independent release can be found on all available platforms for streaming and download including Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp. The album was produced by Doug Gallo at AGL studios and mastered by Daughterboard Audio.

Beth recently returned from Mars, and Chad has a few questions. In November, 2020- Beth Mund and 5 other crew members lived, worked and survived a simulated "Mars" mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the big island of Hawaii. In this episode, Beth "unpacks" the questions Chad has, like, What is an analog astronaut? Why Mars? Why do a mission like this, and what's been learned so far, and what's next?" Here are some answers to Chad's questions beyond the conversation on the podcast, in Beth's own words: What is an Analog astronaut? Why are they important to our future missions to explore beyond Earth and our wonders in the universe? An analog astronaut is a person who conducts activities in simulated space conditions. Ground-based studies involving analog astronauts are conducted by many laboratories, facilities, and research centers around the world. Analog astronauts engage in a wide range of research such as human physiology, psychology, crew cohesion, exercise, and nutritional studies along with testing cutting-edge science, technology, & engineering applications. Analog missions are recognized by NASA and are seen as an important part of space exploration. I was one of 6 ALL FEMALE crew members that included scientists, researchers, musicians, artists, doctors, Moms, active military service members, and writers! All professionals who applied their science to the mission, along with the required science that was expected of us. Why "Mars," or "why Hawaii?" I stayed on the main island, Hawaii on top on Mona Kea volcano at the HI-SEAS research facility. It's run by the International Moon Base Alliance. It looks a LOT like Mars and has many features that are Mars-like! The terrain, the rocks, the cold weather, the remoteness, etc. Many people apply to be an analog astronaut as part of the NASA training and application to become an actual astronaut. Although so few are selected, it's extreme experiences like these analog missions that help showcase their ability to work and live in space with success. Often, astronauts will work to accomplish MANY analog missions. HI-SEAS is one facility that runs analog missions- there are others in the US and around the world. They are run and affiliated with different companies and institutions. So why do this? What has been learned so far? Living off earth is HARD. Exploring takes guts and lots of being uncomfortable. I did this for my own personal reasons and for professional reasons, too. I'll be sharing the personal and professional in more detail in my blog, be sure to read it. What we've learned is that humans are difficult, and fragile and it's beyond challenging to live in space and off-planet. But IT CAN BE DONE. It can even be fun at times. We have learned SO much from the ISS. Analog missions help us learn in detail (and in person!) about: Geology and astrobiology Physiological and psychological and sociological research Technology testing Engineering & Maintenance Systems Outreach and Research (More details to read about these on the blog) Here is some information about why we explore space, from my favorite science guy (and yours): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnDt_DOZeLY What's next? (NASA is returning humans to the moon in 2024 with Artemis program. We're going to the moon to STAY. We can learn what works well for living and surviving on the Moon close to Earth before were years away on Mars! Mars changed me. Forever. In all kinds of ways. I use less water and electricity, (ha)! I have a deeper understanding of the overview effect and how precious our own earth is. I am still capturing lessons from my experience that make me stop in my everyday moments and realize how lucky we are- to be living on this planet- to be LIVING! Here is some detailed information about the HI-SEAS facility: http://www.HI-SEAS.org Here is some interesting information about an analog astronaut: http://www.analogastronaut.com/2018/08/what-is-analog-astronaut.html, and https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/what-are-analog-missions

Gary Li is currently a spacecraft system engineer at The Aerospace Corporation. He recently graduated with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA in 2020 and a dual B.A. in Astrophysics and Physics from UC Berkeley in 2014. As an NDSEG fellow, he conducted research on advanced materials for plasma rocket and nuclear fusion technologies. During his academic career, he published over 10 papers and received 1 patent. Gary is also passionate about science communication. In 2017, he gave a presentation titled "Can weak plasma rockets get us to Mars?" at TEDxUCLA. He has also published popular science articles on plasma rockets and lunar fuel depots that have been featured on The Conversation, BusinessInsider, and space.com. After becoming a Matthew Isakowitz Fellow in 2019, Gary decided to pursue a commercial space career and set a goal of becoming a science and technology leader in the New Space era. He believes that humanity will hit two enormous milestones in the coming decades: a sustained human presence on the moon and the first human on Mars. Plasma rocket technology is sure to play a major role in making that happen. Where to find out more from Gary Li and his work, as mentioned on the show: You can find Gary on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-li-1b301047/ and: Grad school at UCLA - PhD research on plasma rockets Iternships at JPL, Air Force Research Lab on "future" propulsion concepts TEDxUCLA talk in 2017 "Can weak plasma rockets get us to Mars?" UCLA Grad Slam (3 minute thesis competition) winner in 2016 "Traveling to Mars with Immortal Plasma Rockets" Caltech Space Challenge in 2017 (two 16-person teams working on 5-day lunar refueling depot mission design competition with JPL) Popular science contributor on The Conversation, BusinessInsider, space.com, phys.org, etc. Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship in 2019 (intern at Aerospace Corporation, summit with Elon Musk and Buzz Aldrin)

Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist. Every day is like Christmas for Dylan, because working in the space industry has always been his passion and calling. Beth asks Dylan about when his interest in space began, and Dylan describes how investments in space can be transformational for all humans and our future- on this episode of the Casual Space Podcast. ABOUT DYLAN TAYLOR: Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist. Currently, Dylan serves as Chairman & CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, a multi-national space holding firm that acquires and integrates leading space exploration enterprises globally. Dylan has been cited by Harvard University, SpaceNews, the BBC, Pitchbook, CNBC, CNN and others as having played a seminal role in the growth of the private space industry. As an early-stage investor in more than 50 emerging ventures, including Accion, Kepler, York, Astrobotic, Made in Space, Relativity, and Planet, Dylan is widely considered the most active private space investor in the world. Dylan has extensive global business experience as both a board director and CEO. He previously served as a Director for UMB Bank, a Fortune 500 company based in Kansas City and as a mutual fund director for the Jackson Funds where he oversaw assets of $8B across 130 distinct funds. Dylan has been a Fortune 1000 CEO with P&L responsibility in excess of $3B and operations encompassing 16,000 employees in 60 countries. In addition, Dylan has participated in 4 IPOs over the course of his career. From the Casual Space Podcast: On how his love for space got started and why it's getting stronger every day: "Every day is like Christmas, I certainly love what I do. For me, (space) is a life long passion, the question I ask myself a lot is, 'Why did it take so long to realize what I loved and was truly passionate about?!' I think the answer is, you get caught up in life, you get caught up in a career path… and ironically, if you have early success in your career that's not directly tied to your passion, it can be a little bit of a trap. I think you can find yourself in the hamster wheel, and it can be hard to get off.. I certainly was like the situation I was in. I was in more of a traditional business career, and that was fine, and there were gratifying elements of that, but it was not truly satisfying the passion that I had for space." "My passion for space is really about the societal impact of space. It's about the transformational element of space. It's about the ability for humanity to reimagine what it means to be human, and what our opportunity as a species is going forward. So to me, it's more about having the canvas to paint our future onto. I think space is truly transformational from a contextual, intellectual standpoint." On what made Dylan Taylor brave enough to leave his career path to follow his passion for space: "My close friends and family encouraging me- I could see that we were entering a growth for the industry, and I've never been personally happier being in the industry. My free time and social activity and my life revolves around it- it's not a career, it's more of a calling." On the challenges of space and why it's worth exploring: "We have some real global challenges. Climate change, income inequality, mass migration caused by civil unrest, geopolitics, etc. My thesis is that the reason those problems seem intractable, is because we really don't have the right context to evaluate those problems. We don't really have the right view, that we're all humans, on a rock floating in the middle of space, squabbling over (in my mind) tiny differences. I'm all about space as a contextual reorientation that allows you to see things clearer, and in a more enlightened way. "The ROI of space in infinite. Humanity 2.0, a reimagining of what we could be- a more aspirational inspirational viewpoint is amazing, and space holds the canvas that we can paint that future on to." On why it takes everyone to make space exploration successful: "It's incredibly important that we diversify space and that we take advantage of all the talent that exists in the world. This is a human endeavor, and we all know humans are identical in their capacity to do incredible things. In fact, if we can't figure out a way to bring all humans into the fold, we will not be successful in space. And it does not have to be just in STEM, space is for everybody, and we need all skills. All backgrounds. We are commercializing space at such a rapid rate that I tell my friends, 'Everyone is in the space industry. They just don't know it yet.' The number of jobs within the space economy that are going to be created over the next few years is going to be mind-boggling. So if you're focused on space, and you're tra

Chad and Beth sit down (literally, in their living room) and reflect (while enjoying a cocktail) on reaching the 100th episode of Casual Space! Beth and Chad talk about: what's been the best part of hosting the podcast some of the most memorable guests when Beth realized the show was "successful" and what's next for the Casual Space Podcast!! Thank you to everyone who has helped make the Casual Space Podcast so much fun each week. I sincerely appreciate it! Can't wait to share with you the next 100! -Beth

Space investor and entrepreneur Robert C. Jacobson shares highlights from his first book "Space is Open for Business," providing readers with an insightful guide to the evolving space industry. Robert presents perspectives from experts, industry leaders and investors, each examining the economics and strategies for leading the trillion-dollar race to commercialize space. Jacobson has spent over a decade working and investing in private spaceflight and provides a comprehensive overview of this transformative industry. This book allows everyone to understand the integral role space plays in our lives and how it will continue to transform our world. About Robert Jacobson: Jacobson is an expert in the commercial space industry also known as New Space. His work enables investors to make smarter decisions in the space sector and works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve them vision. Some of his accomplishments include: CEO of Space Advisors Co-founder of 1000+ community for aerospace leaders and executives Co-founder of an organization connecting the public and the space sector Former Principal of a space focused management group Led first institutional investment round in an emerging space company Team member on 3 successful space missions Interviewed dozens of experts from many areas in and around the $350 Billion dollar space industry Where to find Robert and his latest work: https://www.robertjacobson.com/ Where to find "Space is Open for Business" https://www.spaceisopenforbusiness.com/book-v1

Dr. Graham is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a Research Scientist with Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, the Director of Logistics for the University Rover Challenge, the Host of the NASA Astrobiology and SAGANet show "Ask the Astrobiologist" AND the Research Community Coordinator for the Hypothesis Browser and the Life Detection Forum's Knowledge Base. *Whew!* *Ask an Astrobiologist airs live on SAGANet and on the NASA Astrobiology Facebook page. People watching the show live can ask questions of our interviewees on either streaming platform or on Twitter using #AskAstrobio. Check out Graham's talks, presentations and videos all below- lots of fun here to learn, chat about, and share! Where to find Graham and pretty much everything he's doing: https://cosmobiota.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmobiologist/ On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cosmobiologist/

Dr. Tricia Larose is the Principal Investigator for Tumors in Space. She is preparing for a 31-day Space mission on board the China Space Station. She is supported by 14 international collaborators from four countries. Originally from a mining town in Northern Ontario Canada, she is now based in Oslo, Norway. She is also adjunct faculty in Human Performance in Space at the International Space University, and a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project POSSuM! Valuable resources Tricia mentions on the show: Where to find Dr. Larose and all of her papers, etc. www.tricialarose.com Tumors in space: https://www.intechopen.com/books/preparation-of-space-experiments/tumors-in-space-preparation-for-spaceflight The International Space University: https://www.isunet.edu/ On Twitter: @TricLarose

NASA is testing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's 212-foot tall core stage- the tallest rocket stage the agency has ever built- with a Green Run test on Earth before launch day. The core stage design will be used for all configurations of the SLS rocket, and the series of eight tests will verify the stage is ready for the first and future Artemis lunar missions. On this episode, Beth speaks with Doug Bradley, RS-25 Deputy Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Yassaman Liaghati from Boeing, Tyler Nester, SLS Chief of Staff at NASA MSFC, and Maury Vander, from NASA Stennis to discuss this exciting milestone! The last test is a hot fire test with all four of the stage's RS-25 engines firing, just as they will during the Artemis I launch. After the firing test at NASA's Stennis Space Center, the stage will be assembled with the other parts of the rocket and the Orion spacecraft, in preparation for the first integrated flight of SLS and Orion on Artemis I. What IS the Artemis Green Run Test? Start here with this video: https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram/greenrun Green Run Overview: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls-core-stage-green-run-tests-critical-systems-for-artemis-I.html Most Recent Completed Test (Test 5) https://www.nasa.gov/feature/engineers-complete-5th-green-run-test-of-space-launch-system-core-stage http://www.boeing.com/features/2020/09/engine-eering-artemis-i-sls-core-stage-completes-green-run-test-5.page

Marshall McKellar is an attorney in the aerospace industry, currently serving as an Attorney-Advisor in The Office of the General Counsel at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Marshall is also the co-founder of This Side, LLC, a marketing/web development agency in the bio-materials industry. He received a J.D. from the University of Mississippi and a B.A. in history and religion from William Carey University. On the side, Marshall enjoys surfing, flying, and making records with his band, The Devil Music Co. Where to find Marshall: www.thisside.co www.thedevilmusiccompany.com Instagram: @marshallmckellar // @thedevilmusicco

Dr. Harrison is known widely in the planetary science and research industry as Tanya of Mars. Why? Tanya is the founder of Professional Martian LLC, a company focused on science and sci-fi consulting, communications, and outreach in ways to break space out of the echo chamber to reach broader audiences. Currently, she is the Manager of Science Programs at Planet Federal in Washington DC, the government-focused arm of Planet Labs. In this role, she helps scientists understand the utility of—and how to access, process, and use—Planet's incredible daily imaging of the entire landmass of the Earth and its coral reefs. Tanya was the Director of Research for Arizona State University's Space Technology and Science ("NewSpace") Initiative where she worked on commercial-academic space partnerships and martian geomorphology research. She was the Science Team Collaborator on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity and the upcoming Mars 2020 sample caching rover. Tanya received her Ph.D. in Geology with a specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration from the University of Western Ontario's Centre for Planetary Science and Space Exploration (CPSX). From 2008 until 2012, was on the science operations team for NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) and Mars Color Imager (MARCI) at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS). In Tanya's own words: For CTX, I chose what the camera takes pictures of in a given week and then analyze those images from a geologist's standpoint. For MARCI, I wrote weather reports for the general public, as well as a few times for the Spirit and Opportunity rover teams to alert them of any impending storms that could threaten the rovers. I was also a science team collaborator for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Mast Cameras (Mastcam), Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI). While this work was exciting, I made the decision after 4 years to return to graduate school and get my Ph.D. My undergraduate degree is in astronomy and physics from the University of Washington, and I did my graduate work in geology (well, "Earth and Environmental Sciences") at Wesleyan University. Areas of interest include martian geomorphology and terrestrial analogues, spectroscopy, and glaciology. My work in astronomy has involved cooling mechanisms of interstellar dust clouds, diffuse interstellar bands, the metallicity of the old, metal-rich cluster NGC 6791, and the metallicity and lithium abundances of the recurrent novae T Coronae Borealis and RS Ophiuchi. I have also been active in education and public outreach, getting involved with organizations such as The Planetary Society, Expanding Your Horizons, Girl Scouts, Norwescon, The Mars Society, and The National Space Society. In my spare time, I am a professional photographer and the owner/photographer behind Station Toronto. Where to find Tanya: http://tanyaofmars.com/ and [email protected]

Michal Ziso is the founder of Ziso, a studio working at the intersection of architecture, innovation, space and human equality. She is also a Space Architect focused on human experience a trailblazer by dealing with social and psychological diversity aspects, and an active member of WiSpace- Israeli Professional Women in Space Association. A visionary architect practicing for almost a decade in Israel and NYC, she has extensive experience in designing skyscrapers and large-scale urban projects. A graduate of the Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology, she also served in the elite intelligence unit 8200 of the Israeli Defense Force. Taken together is a rare combination of creative skills, intelligence data analysis and technical abilities which she manifests as a Space Architect and thought leader. She is a two time TEDx speaker (TEDxISU International Space University, Strasborg, France + TEDxJaffaWomen, Tel Aviv Israel), frequent lecturer and mentor at academic institutions, organizations and creative tech companies such as ISA- Israeli Space Agency, Ramon Foundation, UNOOSA, Explore Mars, Parsons School of Design, Wix and more. With a mission to create a built environment in space and on earth that fits the needs of its diverse users to ensure not only a surviving but thriving human society, Michal is actively raising awareness for gender and human equality through work with international organizations such as Global Citizen, UN Women, UN SDG global and SDG Israel. ZISO was chosen to be part of the 10 top global initiatives fighting for gender equality by the UN SDG Action Campaign of 2019. As a mentor to young individuals, especially young women, at various forums such as UNOOSA, Space4Women, ProWoman organization and ISE (Israel Startup Experience), Michal promotes courageous creative thinking, innovation through extreme conditions and encourages all to become passionate change agents. A proud activist and avid traveler, Michal is inspired by cultures, diversity, and the various ways people use space on earth and beyond. Where to find Michal: https://www.theziso.com/ Watch Michal's TEDx Talks: TEDxJaffaWomen: https://www.ted.com/talks/michal_ziso_equality_lessons_from_mars AND The Surprising things I learnt on my journey to become a Space Architect https://www.ted.com/talks/michal_ziso_the_surprising_things_i_learnt_on_my_journey_to_become_a_space_architect

Dr. Mindy Howard's company, Innerspace Training helps commercial astronauts become more mentally prepared before they go into space, so they can get the most out of their mission. During this engaging dialogue, Mindy explains to Beth how we can all work to engage in and implement this "Overview Effect" in our lives, a deep connection to everywhere and everyone. Dr. Mindy Howard is symbolic of someone who has set out to passionately achieve her dreams and is reaching the uppermost heights in her chosen field. American and Dutch, Dr. Howard obtained her Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Industrial Engineering in the United States and her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. Now living in the Netherlands, Mindy's life ambition was always to become an astronaut. Narrowed down from thousands to the last 200 candidates, she was selected by NASA as a "Highly Qualified Astronaut Candidate", following the conclusion of her Ph.D. Despite not making the final selection to become an astronaut, she refused to let her dream go without a fight. Having worked internationally as a sustainability manager, strategy leader, diversity and inclusiveness manager, people manager, and trainer in several blue-chip corporations. Mindy's background started out in the oil industry. In her last job at Royal Dutch Shell, she was the Sustainability Manager in one of the global businesses as she tried to change hearts and minds, within the company and the leadership, to become more sustainable. Travelling the globe, working in over 35 different countries in extreme environments (e.g. offshore), Mindy was able to explore different countries and appreciate different people and their cultures. After leaving the oil industry, Mindy decided to reignite her dream and complete her training on what it felt like to be a commercial astronaut while undergoing 6Gs in a human centrifuge. It was when she saw others in the training struggling in the centrifuge, that she saw a need to help commercial astronauts psychologically prepare for the rigours of space flight. Striving towards her goal of becoming an astronaut, and wanting to help others do the same, Mindy harnessed her academic and professional skills to create the first and only psychological space training for commercial astronauts, called "Inner Space Training", in the emerging field of commercial/new space. In addition, Mindy is working for Blue Abyss Ltd., the world's first commercial astronaut training centre as the Director of Inner Space Training. As one of the few commercial astronaut trainers in this new field, she has been asked to accompany a team of people who will win a "once in a lifetime" trip to space. The competition, called 'Career Astronauts', will see Mindy take on the role of astronaut trainer and coach for the lucky winners and will achieve her dream by flying with them to space in 2023. Other astronaut training that she has personally undergone includes, experiencing weightlessness in a Parabolic Flight, High-G Tolerance training, Simulated Space Flight Experience, Hypobaric (High altitude) Training, Situational Awareness Training, SIRIUS Space Disorientation and Motion Sickness Training and Unusual attitude training to name but a few. A fully trained flight member for the Association of Spaceflight Professionals, Dr. Howard has also written and presented publications on a variety of subjects at various international scientific and space conferences. Her extensive knowledge has resulted in appearances in the media, both on national TV, Discovery Channel, Dutch TV and radio as a "space correspondent" both in the United States and in Europe. She is also a TEDx speaker with the title, "Train your fear away, like an astronaut". She has just recently published her book called, Blast Off! Train like an astronaut for success on earth". Blast Off! is the first book to use the techniques of commercial astronaut training to help people right here on earth maintain the anxiety-free emotional equilibrium and sustained mental focus needed to successfully overcome the day-to-day challenges and obstacles in their personal and professional lives. Lastly, she is a Guest Lecturer at the International Space University. Mindy loves speaking both to adults and children about and helping people become high performing individuals who can achieve peak performance, and also can create the conditions to enable a peak experience, like the "Overview Effect". Her talks and training are not only valuable for people training to go to space but also for high performing individuals, STEM students and executive teams. Mindy helps individuals learn how to get in flow and be more mindful of the present moment, so that they can enjoy their lives more and enable them to achieve their dreams. Where to find Dr. Mindy and her work: Internet: www.innerspacetraining.com Twitter: @Spacetraining @MindyAstro Facebook: Inner space training Linkedin: Inner Space

Beth Mund gets to travel "at the speed of thought" with the incredibly fun Janet Ivey, from Janet's Planet! With 12 regional Emmys, 5 Gracie Allen and numerous other awards, it's evident that Janet Ivey is dedicated to producing quality entertainment that inspires, enlightens and entertains us all! Frederick Beuchner's quote starts our show and started everything for Janet: "You will always be called to the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Little did Janet know that two profound teachers who showed her the planets and whispered in her ear, "science is not just for the boys" encouraged Janet to continue her love for science and to continue to be curious! Janet reminisces about all of her teachers- both the official teachers she's had in school- and the students that inspire HER every day. You won't want to miss every opportunity to listen to and learn from Janet in this episode! BE SURE TO SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH A CURIOUS KID! Here are just some of Beth's favorite quotes from the show: "People ask me all the time, what age group is this [Janet's Planet] for?" They want to put it into a category. I answer, "yes!" - Science is for all ages. We had Dr. Ken Carpenter on, and it was the best presentation, his amazing mission, his work with Dr. Carl Sagan, he tears up when he talks about Hubble sharing with these kids- then, my 7 year old from New Jersey named Lucas- he asked "Have you ever been to New Jersey?" I'm a firm believer in waiting for the genius to happen! After the uhming and ahing that seemed to be going on FOREVER- then he asks, "are you disappointed that Hubble never got another chance to get worked on after the last 10 years when it was serviced?" Brilliant! He's talking about the Hubble being serviced 10 years ago! WE HAVE TO GIVE KIDS THE SPACE TO GET TO THAT GOOD QUESTION. – Janet Ivey from the Casual Space Podcast "If there was anything I could offer to educators or grown-ups with little ones- whether they are 5 or 19 or 50something, Sometimes it takes us a while to say what we feel, and what we are curious about, and it's about giving people the space to do that." Where to find Janet's work: http://www.janetsplanet.com About Janet and Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/leader/janet-ivey/ Janet Ivey, President, of Explore Mars, Inc., and Creator and CEO of the award winning Janet's Planet is committed to enriching the lives of children via education and live performances, TV, and online programming. With over 27 years in the children's edutainment and space science outreach sector, Janet has captivated Nashville and beyond with her work. Her first Tedx Talk was in 2014 entitled, AWE,(Art, Wonder and Experiential) Inspired Science, her second Tedx Talk will happen May 3rd, at the Weiss School, entitled, "How To Inhabit Your Very Own Planet, #PlanetYou." She has received 12 Regional Emmys, five Gracie Allen Awards, for her children's series Janet's Planet that airs on 140+ public television stations nationwide. Most recently Janet joined the Board of Directors for Explore Mars, she is an active NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, on the Board of Governors for the National Space Society, the Educational Director of the Midsouth Chapter of NATAS, (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) recipient of the New World's Institute's inaugural Permission to Dream Award in 2016 and has won a STEM-FLORIDA Award for "Exploring Microgravity," an educational video about gravity and microgravity, she wrote and produced for Space Florida. Janet's Planet is a dynamic and fast-paced series is geared to 5-10 year olds and focuses on science, space, history and exploration. The short form series can be seen also on streaming sites, YouTube, BatteryPop, Club Jelly Telly and HighBrow in the UK. Her mission is simple, amplify the love of space, science and exploration and to encourage this generation that MARS is theirs.

The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program connects exceptional current college juniors, seniors, and graduate students with paid, summer internships in the exciting field of commercial spaceflight, as well as with notable aerospace leaders for mentorship. The summer culminates in a memorable networking summit! Upon completing the supper internship, the Fellows remain among a group of alumni who have the opportunity to continue to network with this program, their Fellow peers, assigned mentors, and future Fellows, on the path to becoming future space icons! Three of these future icons, (fellows), along with family member Jennifer Isakowitz join Beth Mund on the Casual Space Podcast to talk about what this program has meant to each of them- and why it's an appropriate tribute to Matthew Isakowitz- an engineer, entrepreneur, and extraordinary individual whose passion for commercial space exploration led to great strides in the industry and inspired all who knew him. The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship program seeks to instill that same enthusiasm into the next generation of commercial spaceflight leaders by providing impactful career training to those who embody Matthew's drive for exploring our universe to help better humankind. WHERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY: https://www.matthewisakowitzfellowship.org/about On this episode, Beth speaks with: Jenny Isakowitz, MIFP Team Member (and Matthew's sister) Hossain Ahmad, 2020 Fellow, Senior at Rutgers University, interned at Blue Origin Cadence Payne, 2020 Fellow, Graduate student at MIT, interned at Millennium Space Systems Josh Ingersoll, Graduate student at GWU, full-time engineer at Aerospace Corporation Additional information about this program can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/mattfellowship/ https://www.instagram.com/mattfellowship/ https://twitter.com/mattfellowship

Ever thought about putting our species' DNA in space? Or preserving our life on Earth, it's blueprint, and records for a possible Earth to be reproduced in the future? Ben has. As a matter of fact, Ben is currently doing it. And with his company, LifeShip, YOU can be a part of Ben's mission by sending your very OWN DNA to the moon or to orbit! Who knows? Maybe one day your great, great, great, great, great ancestors will unfreeze you and thank you. What is LifeShip? Has this ever been done before? Why now? What can this mean for the future of space exploration and life preservation? And finally, how can you be a part of this idea turned company and send your DNA to space? It's all right here in this episode with Beth Mund and Ben Haldeman, CEO of LifeShip, and space entrepreneur. About LifeShip: (from the website) Inspire: We need missions of hope to remind us of our connection to each other, to our Earth, to all life, and to the universe. LifeShip celebrates each being's purpose in the cosmos. Preserve: We are rapidly losing species. LifeShip exists to help Earth's biodiversity now and save the blueprint for our incredible planet till the end of time. Spread: Life on a single planet is fragile. Humanity has the opportunity to continue the fundamental existence of life in the universe. Helping Earth reproduce may even be humanity's purpose. About LifeShip: https://lifeship.com/ How to get your kit: https://lifeship.com/pages/products About Ben Ben is space entrepreneur, long-term thinker, and product designer. He founded LifeShip to back-up Earth in space and spread life to the stars. LifeShip sends people's DNA to the Moon and beyond. Ben was an early engineer at Planet Labs where he worked on hundreds of satellites for imaging the Earth daily. Ben built a global robotic telescope network with LCO that is discovering new planets. While at grad school in Berkeley, Ben built life detection instruments for Mars rover missions. Ben lives in San Francisco with daughter Luna. He is a certified yoga teacher and often finds inspiration amongst the redwood trees in Marin.

Analog astronaut. Chef. Explorer. Pilot. Geologist. Artist. Professor. Author. STEM Communicator and…Cowgirl!? In short, Dr. Sian Proctor is just…. Incredible! You will want to get to know this impressive woman beyond the Casual Space conversation with Beth, so here are some links to Dr. Sian's TedX Talks, videos, cookbooks, artwork and more! START HERE: https://www.drsianproctor.com/ TEDx Talks: https://www.drsianproctor.com/media/ Space2Inspire (Dr. Sian's Artwork): https://www.drsianproctor.com/space2inspire/ Support Sian here: https://www.patreon.com/drsianproctor About Sian: Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and science communication specialist with a passion for space exploration. Her motto is called Space2inspire where she encourages people to use their unique, one-of-a-kind strengths, and passion to inspire those within their reach and beyond. She uses her AfronautSpace art to encourage conversations about women of color in the space industry. She's an analog astronaut and has completed four analog missions including the all-female SENSORIA Mars 2020 mission at the Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat, the NASA funded 4-months Mars mission at HI-SEAS, a 2-weeks Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), and a 2-weeks Moon mission in the LunAres Habitat. She believes that when we solve for space, we also solve issues on Earth. She promotes sustainable food practices used in space exploration as a way to reduce food waste on Earth. She has a TEDx talk called Eat Like a Martian and published the Meals for Mars Cookbook. Dr. Proctor was a finalist for the 2009 NASA Astronaut Program and got down to the Yes/No phone call which came from Astronaut Sunita Williams. She is an international speaker who enjoys engaging in educational outreach. She is a continuing NASA Solar System Ambassador and serves on the Explore Mars Board of Directors, JustSpace Alliance Advisory Board, the Science in the Wild Advisory Board, the SEDS USA Advisory Board, and the National Science Teaching Association's Aerospace Advisory Board. In 2019, she was the science communication outreach officer on the JOIDES Resolution Expedition 383 and spent 2-months at sea with researchers investigating the Dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. She also participated in the 2-week faculty development seminar Exploring Urban Sustainability in India. She was a 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea, a 2016 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador (ACEAP), and a 2014 PolarTREC Teacher investigating climate change in Barrow, Alaska. She is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a member of the Arizona Wing Aerospace Education Officer. Dr. Proctor spent 21 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the Open Educations Resource Coordinator for the Maricopa Community College District. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education. She recently finished a sabbatical at Arizona State University's Center for Education Through Exploration creating virtual field trips. She did her 2012-13 sabbatical at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute developing their science of disasters curriculum. She has appeared in multiple international science shows and is currently on A World Without NASA and Strange Evidence. You can follow her on social media @DrSianProctor.