Casual Space

In 1984, Jim Wetherbee was selected to join NASA in its tenth group of astronauts. Over a twenty-year career, he flew six times on the Space Shuttle. The five-time commander flew two missions to the Russian Space Station, Mir, and two missions to the International Space Station. In 1998, he was appointed as the Director, Flight Crew Operations, specifically selected to improve the flight and ground safety in the astronaut corps. Based on that success, Jim was selected after the Columbia accident to enhance the safety aspects in the organizational culture at the Johnson Space Center, home of NASA's human space flight program. With thirty-five years of experience in high-hazard operational environments, Jim enjoys consulting with leaders and operators in dangerous endeavors with critical mission objectives. He is the only American astronaut to have commanded five missions in space, and is the only person to have landed the Space Shuttle five times. What an incredible conversation Beth and Jim share about space with SO many great techniques to apply in our every day lives! Here are some of Beth's favorite moments: On the balance between having confidence and humility: "You must be confident to do the kinds of things astronauts and test pilots do… you have to have the confidence to be able to get in the vehicle and strap in, but you better have the humility to recognize that we're all humans and we might make a mistake- even as best trained as I am, I might make a mistake. If you have confidence, you'll make mistakes… If you don't have humility, you won't KNOW you're making mistakes." Often I ask people, 'Do you know someone with supreme confidence and insufficient humility?' We all know those kind os people- and it's best to avoid those people and avoid their trailing wake of disfunction and debris." -Jim Wetherbee from the Casual Space Podcast At 35 minutes in, Jim shares his own perspective from flying the space from the shuttle- what surprised him, what he went looking for, and what came full-circle from his goal he set when he was 10 years old. At the end of the podcast, Jim explains what went through his mind and helped him sleep the night before he would launch and start his mission. Here's more great memories about shuttle launches from Jim: "When you see a rocket launch from a far, and you notice how very slow the rocket/ vehicle seems to be moving up off the Earth… there is NOTHING slow about a launch!!! You get that sense because it's so far away from the camera, but when you are SITTING IN IT, and it FIRES, and you instantly are accelerating at twice the force of gravity….I try to describe this experience in the book, and it's exactly analogous to lying down on a hard bench, in an elevator, in a 19-story tall building, having the floor suddenly open up, and you're dropping straight down 190 feet! The space shuttle feels that that, accelerating, but in the other direction. The launch tower out your window just disappears. You are forced back in your seat with twice the force of gravity, then quickly picks up to three times the force of gravity. I did the math, and at one point, there was more than 800+ pounds pushing on my body as I traveled straight up, and it's so hard you almost can't breathe! But you can't think about it or devote any brain cells towards breathing because your job is to be thinking about the life support, the reaction control systems, the readouts on the computers, making sure everything is working flawlessly, and if it doesn't and when it doesn't, you must take action right away." You wrote the book, "Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World." How can we control risk when there's so much that seem out of our control right now in the world?!?!: Can we predict all accidents from observing the past? Are some unpreventable? We easily prevent potential accidents that are similar to recent occurrences, but preventing accidents that exceed corporate experience seems extraordinarily difficult. Organizations continue to be blindsided by tragedies that no one thought would occur. Yet, in any given postincident analysis, investigators often determine the latest catastrophe was tragically similar to a forgotten previous incident. New rules are promulgated, operating procedures are updated—and the cycle of accidents continues. Organizations must need something more than rules and procedures to prevent accidents. About Jim Wetherbee: https://www.jimwetherbee.com/about-1 Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. He began his career as a Naval Aviator aboard the USS John F Kennedy, flying the A-7 Corsair. After graduating from the US Naval Test Pilot School, Jim performed flight-testing of the F/A-18 Hornet. Bringing his experience from the aerospace industry as a former NASA executive and astronaut, Jim joined the oil and gas industry as a Safety and Operations Auditor for BP. Four years later, he was selected as a VP for Operating Leader

What a fun conversation! Beth and Alan combine all of the space topics you love in one incredibly entertaining episode, including: Astrochicks, George Lucas, hyphenated astronauts and tickets to the moon offered from former airlines company PanAm. See You in Orbit? Our Dream of Spaceflight is the book Alan presents that will guide you on a historical, personal, irreverent, and often-humorous tour of the promises, expectations, principal personalities, and milestones regarding the goal individuals have to fly in space. At the end of the tour we'll assess whether we are getting closer to the day when we can greet fellow dreamers with the joyful salutation: See You in Orbit!Where to get your copy of the book, See You in Orbit https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Orbit-Dream-Spaceflight/dp/1733265708 "Their letters inspired me- they were so heartfelt. Look no further! I'm your man/ woman! This would bring meaning to my life! Why a teacher? Why not a plumber? How about Journalists? Nurses? Everyone wanted to go." -Alan Ladwig about being the manager of space flight participant program at NASA and receiving letters from people wanting to fly to space (from the Casual Space Podcast ). Where to find Alan Ladwig: https://toorbitproductions.com/about-me On Twitter @SpaceArtAl Here's more about Alan: Alan has been recognized for his leadership and contributions in the field of policy, communications, and STEAM education in the aerospace sector. He is especially known for playing a leading role in developing and managing programs to directly engage the general public in space research and space-related outreach opportunities. He is Chief of To Orbit Productions, an independent company that provides consulting services and lectures on space policy as well the creation of art projects based on space themes. Ladwig is also serving as the Chief of Communications and a member of the Board of Directors of the Star Harbor Space Training Academy, a startup company with plans to offer astronaut training for the general public. During his career Ladwig received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, the Exceptional Achievement Medal, two Exceptional Service Medals, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, and was a member of six Group Achievement Awards. He is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. In 2014 Ladwig received the Distinguish Alumni Award for both Elgin Community College and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. He served in U.S. Army with the 558th Artillery Group, stationed in Athens, Greece from 1972-1974. Ladwig received a Masters in Higher Education (1976) and Bachelors in Speech (1970) from Southern Illinois University. He received an Associates degree in Business from Elgin Community College (1968).

The overview effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from outer space (Wikipedia reference) The term and concept were coined in 1987 by Frank White, who explored the theme in his book The Overview Effect — Space Exploration and Human Evolution. Since 1987, there's been a recently series of interviews done at the Johnson Space Center with a new group of Astronauts in a series that's been produced called, "Down to Earth" (you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L6eqgnmlPo) It is the experience of seeing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space, which is immediately understood to be a tiny, fragile ball of life, "hanging in the void", shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. From space, national boundaries vanish, the conflicts that divide people become less important, and the need to create a planetary society with the united will to protect this "pale blue dot" becomes both obvious and imperative.[5] The thing that really surprised me was that it [Earth] projected an air of fragility. And why, I don't know. I don't know to this day. I had a feeling it's tiny, it's shiny, it's beautiful, it's home, and it's fragile. — Michael Collins, Apollo 11[7] Astronauts Michael Collins, Ron Garan,[8] Rusty Schweikart,[5] Edgar Mitchell,[5] Tom Jones,[5] Scott Kelly,[9] James Irwin,[10] Mike Massimino,[11] Chris Hadfield,[13] Sally Ride, and Anne McClain[14] are all reported to have experienced the effect.[5] Frank White 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." Once you are done enjoying this episode, the hope is that you find yourself asking, "How can we bring the overview effect down to Earth? How can I use the Overview Effect to address inequality? Conflict resolution? How can we apply it to Psychotherapy? Basically, I hope this conversation inspires you to look at how we can be better humans, and look at things with a different perspective. What the Overview Effect is from Frank's own words: "It's a message from the universe via the astronauts and then through me. And it's not a one-time message, it's a continuing message." What is the Overview Effect? "I was searching for a way into space exploration without a technical bio. The moment the Overview Effect came to me was when I was flying across the country and looking out the window. I was obsessing about living off the planet, and I was looking down and I just had this idea that, gosh- if I lived in a place like this, I would see the Earth as a whole system and the connectedness and the unity of our planet and of ourselves would not be a discussion, it would just be obvious. When we landed, I was thinking, how can we pursue this? It didn't start out with astronauts, it was about space settlements and space communities, and there were not any people I could interview [to speak about these things] so I interviewed astronauts as a proxy. I was thinking about it as something ordinary- there's the Earth, from the sky. When I started talking to astronauts, they saw the Earth from a distance was extraordinary. So that shifted the dialogue for a bit and it's been shifted for a while where people are far more focused on 'how do we apply this to create a better life on Earth. How do we bring the overview effect down to Earth. And I'm glad. The overview effect is a theory yet to be proven in it's original form." -Frank White Where to get your copy of the book, Overview Effect and more books by Frank White: https://www.amazon.com/Overview-Effect-Exploration-Evolution-Library/dp/162410262X The Overview Effect Movie: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+overview+effect+vinmo&rlz=1C1DVJR_enUS852US863&oq=the+overview+effect+vinmo&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.7670j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie

On this inspirational episode, Beth talks with former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver about the Brooke Owens Fellowship. Created to honor the legacy of a beloved space industry pioneer and accomplished pilot, Dawn Brooke Owens (1980 – 2016), the Brooke Owens Fellowship is designed to serve both as an inspiration and as a career boost to capable young women and other gender minorities who, like Brooke, aspire to explore our sky and stars, to shake up the aerospace industry, and to help their fellow people here on planet Earth. This incredible organization matches up to forty students per year with purpose-driven, paid internships at leading aerospace companies and organizations and with senior and executive level mentors. Join Beth and Lori as they share this sincere conversation about a friend, a desire, and a mission to turn promising students into thriving leaders. What is the Brooke Owens Fellowship? PAID INTERNSHIPS & EXECUTIVE MENTORSHIP FOR EXCEPTIONAL UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN AND GENDER-MINORITY STUDENTS IN AEROSPACE Learn More about Brooke Owens and the Brooke Owens Fellowship at : http://www.brookeowensfellowship.org/ About Dawn Brooke Owens: Brooke was a beloved friend and colleague to many in the aerospace industry. Coming from humble beginnings in a small mining company town (population: ~2,750) just outside of Death Valley National Park, Brooke managed to make a lasting impact on the industry through talent, character, and sheer determination. Always an excellent student – she was valedictorian of her high school class… though she was always quick to point out that there were only two students in her class! – Brooke was an alumna of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the International Space University. Professionally, she worked at the NASA's Johnson Space Center, the non-profit XPRIZE Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Brooke also committed herself to whole-hearted service. Supporting organizations such as AidChild and Mercy's Village International, Brooke was passionate about making her world a better place by supporting children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis, ending human trafficking, fighting poverty, and empowering girls and women. Outside of work and her philanthropic efforts, Brooke was a caring, warm, and adventurous spirit. She was an accomplished pilot, and spent many of her happiest moments flying. She found time to go kayaking, run triathlons, become a party DJ, perform at spoken word events, and a million other things. Brooke was the sort of person for whom no amount of time on this Earth would have been enough to do all that she wanted to do. Thankfully, she was also the sort of person who lived life to its fullest, and found joy in every moment. About Lori Garver: Lori Garver is the former Deputy Administrator of NASA. Prior to her Senate confirmation, she headed the NASA transition team and was the lead space policy advisor to Senator Clinton and Senator Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. Lori is currently the CEO of Earthrise Alliance - a philanthropic initiative established to fully utilize Earth science data to combat climate change. Earthrise Alliance funds fellowships and awards grants to partner organizations that engage and activate educators, journalists, voters and decision makers.

Rachel Lyons is a key advocate in the advancement of space technology and exploration. Rachel is the former Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space – USA, a non-profit that empowers young people to make an impact in space exploration. She is a former public radio host. She holds a BSc. in Aerospace Engineering and Economics from the University of Miami. Astronauts return from space with a new understanding of life on earth — from the environment to politics, resources to energy, to humanitarian issues. Rachel believes this perspective is essential in addressing the challenges we face globally, as well as creating a connection to each other and our home planet earth. She is committed to providing opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to expand their perspective – both for the futuristic vision of humanity, and for our world today. About Space For Humanity: https://www.spaceforhumanity.org/

Joe Cassady is Executive Director of Space Programs in the Washington DC Operations for Aerojet Rocketdyne. Joe and the AR team help to plan human missions to the Moon and Mars, helping to develop the strategy and architectures for future space and launch systems. Joe and Beth met at the NASA Stennis Space Center and the NASA Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans for the NASA Artemis Day celebration. Together, Beth and Joe geek out about rocket engines and what it takes to get us to the Moon and Mars and beyond. They discuss the different types of rockets, types of propulsion systems, how building rocket engines is a kind of architecture, and working to shorten the transit time of getting to the places we want to go in space. Learn what the GREEN RUN test is coming up, and why it's another HUGE milestone in our journey toward our return to the moon. What surprises people most when it comes to rocket engines? Find out all this and more on this episode with Joe! Beth's favorite quote from Joe on the podcast: "Literally, tens of thousands of people and hundreds of companies are involved- many are small companies that are our suppliers…they're the real lifeblood of things like this and they are very proud of it. Being able to go out, and go across the country and say to people, 'The road to Mars and the road back to the Moon starts here, in your town. You're part of this'. It's really exciting. More great stuff from Joe: "We're able to use what we learned on the Space Shuttle Program- some of the very engines themselves on a fleet of orbiters that flew three of the RS-25s that gave us an inventory of engines! Rather than keeping them on the orbiters that went to museums, they removed the flight engines and we'll be using them for the first few Artemis missions! We went back an equipped them with a new brain, and electronic controller…it's really neat to see them be available to the nation to get us on this path in an accelerated way. "I'm looking forward to the day we put those boots back on the Moon, and I'm really really looking forward to seeing the first steps taken on the surface of Mars." About Joe Cassady is Aerojet Rocketdyne's Executive Director for Space in the company's Washington Operations. He is responsible for strategy and capture activities related to many of the company's NASA programs, including: the Space Launch System (SLS);the propulsion system for the Orion deep space capsule; Commercial Crew propulsion and power systems; advanced electric propulsion; International Space System (ISS) power system, as well as AFRL and DARPA programs. He also is involved with research activities for next-generation space technology, including additive manufacturing, advanced materials, non-toxic propellants, modular propulsion for small satellites, and nuclear propulsion and power technology efforts. Joseph Cassady joined Aerojet in 1985 and was appointed to his present position in June 2013. Previously, he served in various Engineering and Business Development positions related to advanced propulsion for missiles and spacecraft. He began his career at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards AFB, where he performed research into the acceleration mechanisms of Magneto Plasma Dynamic (MPD) thrusters as part of an AFOSR graduate program. After graduation, Joseph Cassady continued his research at the AFRPL, where he helped to create the in-house Electric Propulsion Laboratory (EPL). He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Purdue University. He is the recipient of several technical awards from Aerojet Rocketdyne and outside organizations. Joseph Cassady has authored or co-authored more than 50 papers dealing with mission design, space architectures, and propulsion technology and its applications and holds four patents for electric propulsion technologies. His professional affiliations included the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he is an Associate Fellow; the American Astronautical Society; and the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society, where he serves as Vice President. He also serves on the board of ExploreMars, Inc., an organization dedicated to education, STEM activities and outreach related to the exploration of Mars. Videos and more from this rocket engine conversation: State of NASA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvLuM8ZzGc What is the Green Run test mentioned? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebzxYAIOb-w What is Artemis Core Stage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWkBeOqvtWA What is a rocket and how does it work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI-HeXhsUIg About AeroJet Rocketdyne: https://www.rocket.com/ "Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader providing propulsion and energetics to its space, missile defense, strategic, tactical missile and armaments customers throughout the world. Aerojet Rocketdyne's strategic and tactical missile programs defend America,

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides is a public speaker, co-creator of Yuri's Night, and an author on space exploration. Whitesides received a bachelor's degree in biology from Stanford and a master's from Caltech, with a particular interest in astrobiology. She accumulated over five hours of weightless time as a Flight Director for Zero-G Corporation, and plans to travel to space as a "Founder Astronaut" on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo with her husband George T. Whitesides.[1] Beth's favorite quote from Loretta on the podcast: "I've been to a Hollywood movie premier! I've been to the bottom of the ocean! I've partied with Buzz Aldrin! I've done all of these fancy, glitzy, amazing, check-the-box-I'm-a-successful-person-things, and I can assure you, IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING. At the end of the day and on my deathbed, what's going to matter most is, Do I love myself? Am I proud of myself? Am I proud of who I am? Am I proud of the relationships that I've maintained? Have I restored integrity? Have I forgiven people? Have I let go of resentment? That's what important and that's what life is really made of, and what I hope people attend to." "My religion is Jedi." About wanting to be princess Leia: "She was so courageous, and she was so powerful. I was like, yeah, that's obviously like what women are! That's obviously what women should do in the universe, and that's obviously like what I'm going to be when I grow up." "We talk about being "successful and miserable" and the transformational journey of being honest. We discuss the many Star Wars references and the influences books and movies and art had on Loretta from a very young age. I ask Loretta if we're really meant to leave this planet, and if we can afford to make mistakes in space. "When we go to space, we will have to learn how to live sustainably in a closed ecosystem, and how and take care of everyone in our community and to care for ourselves so we are all honored, nurtured, and will help us back on our home world. Space is not s silver bullet. It does not fix us, but it IS an opportunity. I'm saying the most precious resource is the opportunity we have in space is to hit that restart. We can either squander that resource, and we can just do things the way we've always done them, or we can take advantage of that opportunity. We have one chance to restart fresh when we go to space. And I want to make sure we've done the thinking before we go, and that we make the most of it. About Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides Having dreamed of space since she was a little girl, Loretta wants to use the power of space to shift our perspectives, connect us with each other and our home planet and become the kind of species we would be proud to send to the nearest star. About The New Right Stuff book: (Taken from the website)This book was written for you. It was created to support you in fulfilling what you came to Earth to do. It will take you on a hero's journey, to find your calling, to face your dark side, to be the person you have always wanted to be, to capture your dream and to return home to share the wisdom you have gained from your journey with others. We use space as a backdrop for the whole adventure. Why? Because I love space, many of you love space, and space is a powerful reminder of what we are capable of as a species. Space is also an inspiration for us each fulfilling our piece in creating what Buckminster Fuller called, "a world that works for everyone." I invite you to continue your training here. We each have a unique mission. If you don't fulfill your mission, no one else can. More about Loretta: Having studied astrobiology at Stanford and Caltech, Loretta has worked in the Astronaut Office in Houston Texas, done research on plant life in the Canadian Arctic with NASA, dove to the bottom of the ocean with Titanic Director James Cameron to film the IMAX "Aliens of the Deep," floated weightless hundreds of times as a Flight Director for Zero Gravity Corporation, studied terraforming Mars with Dr. Chris McKay of NASA Ames, worked for the X Prize Foundation during the $10M winning Ansari X Prize flights in 2004, helped launch the Space Generation Advisory Council in 1999, and Co-Created Yuri's Night, The World Space Party in 2001. Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides has been a Future Astronaut with Virgin Galactic since 2005. She currently lives in the desert outside Los Angeles with her husband George and their two kids and leads leadership development training for Virgin Galactic staff as well as continuing to give talks and write to help people fulfill on what they came to Earth to do! MORE with Loretta: Space Kind: http://www.spacekind.org/?fbclid=IwAR3EBZt3CpQSqONtOjiEd8tBPVyzkJeSlYgLXkTg5mZIsL4uNkZiJrKUze0 Yuri's Night: https://yurisnight.net/ "The New Right Stuff" "The World Space Party: TMRO Interviews Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides - March 25, 2017" "It's Up To Us: GeekDad Interviews Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides" "Cuppa and chat with Loretta Whitesides from Galactic Uni

Dr. Andrew Aldrin is Director of the Aldrin Space Institute at Florida Institute of Technology. ASI is a multidisciplinary institute created to advance commercial space development. On the podcast, Andy tells Beth and the Casual Space listeners about the Graduate Certificate in Commercial Space Studies. It's a partnership between the International Space University and Florida Tech. Beth and Andy also discuss seeing the Falcon Heavy Launch in person last summer, why communicating what's happening in the space industry effectively is so important, and Andy tells Beth where he would like to go in space, and what he would pay a significant amount of money to do in space! About the Graduate Certificate in Commercial Space Studies: This space-focused, multidisciplinary program is only graduate-level certificate of its kind in the U.S., and provides rigorous, practical training in the nuances of space finance, policy, management, technology and entrepreneurship. Master's students and young professionals from around the world will gain valuable academic and real-world insight to spark economic innovation in the fast-emerging commercial space industry. ISU (International Space University) Center for Space Entrepreneurship: https://www.fit.edu/isucse/ About International Space University: https://www.isunet.edu/ About Andy Aldrin: Prior to FIT, Dr. Aldrin was President of Moon Express, responsible for day to day operations for the company. Dr. Aldrin also held executive positions in more traditional aerospace industry, serving as Director of Business Development and Advanced Programs at United Launch Alliance where he oversaw development of corporate strategies, business capture, senior customer relations and advanced program development for civil space markets. Before ULA, Dr. Aldrin headed Business Development and Advanced Programs for Boeing's NASA Systems, and Launch Services business units. He has also served on the professional research staff of the RAND Corporation and the Institute for Defense Analyses.

Elizabeth Howell is a space writer, science consultant and writing teacher based in Ottawa, Canada. She writes about space, science and astronauts, and has even BEEN an astronaut in a simulation on Mars!** Elizabeth writes hundreds a stories a year on the space business, from conferences, from live events and from my own home. You can see her work daily in places like Space.com, Forbes and SpaceQ. Elizabeth's notable projects include: Elizabeth journeyed to Kazakhstan twice to report on two International Space Station launches: Expedition 56 and Expedition 58. She documented living on a "Mars" base for two weeks. And, Elizabeth attended three space shuttle launches (like this one), and talked to numerous astronauts about how to prepare for spaceflight. *She participated in the Mars Desert Research Station. Run by the Mars Society- researchers go there for 2 weeks with isolated conditions to work and learn and adapt to the environment. She rocked the research. Not so much the cooking… About writing her latest book: "Canada Arm and Collaboration" about the Canadian space program, and it will be published in October. It will be my 3rd book about science that will be out earlier this year… What really made the book easy to write form me- because book writing is terrible- it's a lot of work and a lot of research- it was the result of 25 years of passion from the Apollo 13 movie just pouring out. what I really wanted to highlight was the behind the scenes work the astronauts do." – Elizabeth Howell from Casual Space About the story behind the story: "The challenge is that there's not very much coverage because there's only about 6 of us (covering space) across the country (in Canada), so I've trying to attend as much as possible trying to tell the stories of both the astronauts from the launch, but they do all of these cool things on the ground that nobody talks about! They do underwater missions! They do geological field work! They do inspirational events for children! They have conversations with our Prime Minister! I like to be there and report when they are doing things in between (missions). About being a writer: "I was quite good at writing, it just seemed to come naturally to me. I had this ability to sit down and translate complex ideas into really cool stuff!" About inspiring her students: "There are many ways to do something. If you want to be an astronaut, I tell students that I've gone and simulated being an astronaut, I've gotten a degree where I was studying astronaut behavior. I've written and talked to so many astronauts over the years, so I basically have come as close as I can!" Where to find Elizabeth and her work: https://elizabethhowell.ca/ On Twitter: @Howellspace Books: https://elizabethhowell.ca/books/ The Science of Time Travel: The Secrets Behind Time Machines, Time Loops, Alternate Realities, and More! The Search of Life On Mars: The Greatest Scientific Detective Story of All Time by Elizabeth Howell and Nicholas Booth And Canadarm and Collaboration: How Canada's Astronauts and Space Robots Explore New Worlds

Adam is an evangelist of science. From everything sci-fi to just thinking, looking and observing the world, science has always provided a sense of oneness with the universe for Adam. Adam is a theoretical/computational astrophysicist and he heads a research group that is developing new tools for simulating the cosmos. SO many great things discussed on this episode! *Beth asks Adam: Which is harder? Trying to communicate the need for a long-term investment in space exploration, or trying to change the mind of a climate denialist? *What are techno signatures, and why should we be looking for them? And why would science fiction writers help us in the search? *AI, propulsion systems to get us to Mars, exploring the universe in the next 200 years, understanding consciousness and more…. Quotes from the show: "Science is a mechanism for being exposed to the wonder." – Adam Frank on Casual Space "The universe is more creative and more imaginative than we are." – Adam "Machines can be intelligent, but can they be self-aware? My intuition is that we miss understand consciousness so profoundly. The philosophical tradition in which this question is asked (the western tradition) never had an empirical way of asking questions about the nature of consciousness. It took reason as the only way to explore questions about consciousness. Whereas in the classical Indian and Asian school of philosophy, (who also thought about consciousness for thousands of years and had contemplative practice), had a VERY different way of looking of things. I think that the west has sort of fooled itself, it thinks it can reduce consciousness to neural activity. The view that everything is made of atoms, and you can build your way up into something like consciousness….in fact, at least from my experiences, consciousness is where you start. Then you do this weird thing called science where you tell stories about the world, and then with experiments you can extend your reach of awareness. We can become sort of trapped thinking you can reduce consciousness to a bunch of wires." Where to find Adam and his work: https://www.adamfrankscience.com/about Twitter: @AdamFrank4 Adam recommends! Books: Kim Stanley Robinson (sci-fi writer) The Mandalorian Passengers Writers: Alastair Reynolds William Gibson TV Shows: Alter Carbon on Nextflix, Westworld The Expanse About Adam Frank: Adam Frank fell in love with astronomy when he was 5 years old and the affair has never cooled. Late one night in the family library, Adam found the keys to the universe sketched out on the covers of his dad's pulp-science-fiction magazines—astronauts bounding across the jagged frontiers of alien worlds, starships rising to discovery on pillars of fire. The boundless world of possibilities on those covers became the one he was determined to inhabit. Later, the love for astronomy transformed into a passion for the practice of science itself when his father's simple explanation of electric currents and sound waves turned the terror of a booming thunderstorm into an opportunity to marvel at the world's beauty. Now a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester, he studies the processes that shape the formation and death of stars and has become a leading expert on the final stages of evolution for stars like the sun. Adam is a theoretical/computational astrophysicist and he heads a research group that is developing new tools for simulating the cosmos. Adam also describes himself as an "evangelist of science." His commitment to showing others the beauty and power of science has led him to a second career as a popular writer and speaker on the subject. He is the co-founder of National Public Radio's 13.7: Cosmos and Culture blog as well as a regular on-air commentator for All Things Considered. He also contributes occasionally to The New York Times. Adam is the author of three books. The most recent, Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth, explores a new vision for climate change and the human future by placing them both in their proper "astrobiological" context. Climate change may likely be an expected consequence of any civilization on any planet developing an advanced industrial civilization. Adam's first book, The Constant Fire: Beyond the Religion and Science Debate, focuses on perspectives on science and human spirituality that went beyond the usual creationism vs. Richard Dawkins debate. About Time: Cosmology and Culture at the Twilight of the Big Bang explores the links between changing conceptions of cosmology and the human experience of time. He is also the author of a textbook Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos. You can also sign up for his free Coursera course "Confronting The Big Questions: Highlights of Modern Astronomy".

Gary Gattis spent his entire career making video games, AI/Space was a late life industry transition. Why? When Gary decided it was time to move into the next adventure in his professional career, he asked everyone (yes, everyone) two important questions that led him to Hypergiant, where Gary and the team believes that AI is essential to secure our place in the universe via space exploration. "We started looking at ground control, and saw there was a lot of room for disruption."- Gary Gattis on Casual Space Podcast When it was time to move into the next chapter of Gary's professional journey, he went to friends and colleagues and asked everyone two questions: "1. What's the coolest stuff going on in the world, and 2. If you weren't doing what you were doing, what WOULD you be doing? That was a fascinating time in my life! I was doing 10+ coffee/ lunches a week! It was full time!" "I call it my journey of discernment. Really, three things came out of it. The first was a deeper connection to myself. I was talking to people I've known 20-30 years ago- old friends. Second, I got to see myself through other people's eyes. Third, it really helped me hone my personal brand. It took a lot of external conversations for me to validate [what my personal brand was] through other people. It was a great experience for me, and I highly recommend this experience." -Gary Oh by the way, He's been to Space Force HQ. About Gary Gattis: Gary is an Interdisciplinary leader guiding people and process to improve our world. Specialties include growth, operations, and management. Founded several companies at the intersection of technology and design, led extremely diverse teams to success.Currently CEO for Hypergiant Galactic Systems, focussed on integrating Artificial Intelligence with the commercialization of Space. More about Gary and his work and career at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygattis/ Interesting stuff about Hypergiant from Texas Monthly: Hypergiant aims to help its clients gather and analyze vast amounts of data. You're working on improving the sensory perception of machines. You're aiming to launch a network of small satellites gathering data from above. And you're looking to empower "smart cities," stitching together data from cameras that are increasingly everywhere Hypergiant does sell—artificial intelligence-enabled software and hardware—and you'll appreciate Lamm's problem. Even many people lacking in technological savvy have heard of AI as a force with the potential to shape much of humanity's future—for better or worse. Some of those people look to get into business with Hypergiant without any real idea of what it is they're buying. They just know they want some. "It's like the most addictive drug that no one's ever had," says Lamm, who serves as the company's CEO.

Brian is the CEO of Solstar Space Company where they are working to create a 'Space Wide Web' to connect everything in space, to everyone on Earth. Solstar's mission is to build and create the tools necessary to enable 24/7 secure, economical, convenient, two-way, internet-based communications with every "thing" in space, to be the ISP of choice in Earth Orbit and beyond. "We are able to provide a Wi-Fi connection for payloads, and payload specialists, as well as future astronauts, during take off, landing and throughout their spaceflight. In 2018 we sent the first commercial Tweet from Space. Imagine the first phone call during a commercial flight, the first selfie sent from the Kármán line, and the first instant results from payloads on-board a commercial spacecraft. Solstar Space Company can make that happen." -Brian Barnett NASA has government-supplied wi-fi for the current astronauts. But what about when commercial astronauts and you and I go to space? We're going to want to be wi-fi connected, too- along with rovers, robots wi-fi enabled payloads to be connected, too. Brian's company, Solstar Space, if working on providing world-class customer service, and we believe that this will revolutionize "We enable you to do things for the first time in space. There are an infinite number of things people can do for the first time in space! We did the first commercial wi-fi in space, and the first commercial tweet in space, and I want to fly the first drumsticks in space as the first drummer!" -Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast "Solstar is providing a commercial wi-fi service that people can purchase. More and more people will be flying in space, and wi-fi will be used for things in space- laptops, smartphones, wearable devices that astronauts will want to stay connected to."- Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast About Brian Barnett: Brian Barnett [email protected] Brian Barnett is a serial entrepreneur with 33 years' experience in commercial space, the mobile satellite services industry, as a aerospace technologies at NASA, and at KPMG Consulting as a management consultant. He is Founder and CEO of Solstar Space Co., the first internet service provider for people, Internet of things and machines in space is that is developing technologies to build a Space Wide Web. On April 29th, 2018, Solstar demonstrated the first commercial two-way data and wi-fi hotspot service in space and Tweet from space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule, using Barnett's patent-pending technology. Mr. Barnett began his career at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center where he provided Space Shuttle payload integration services at the Payloads Project Office. He also provided astronaut crew training in the Mission Operations Laboratory for Spacelab missions. At Johnson Space Center, he worked in the Missions Operations Directorate, and later worked on JSC's 1992 Strategic Plan. He also managed a contract to document all Space Shuttle operations processes as directed by Congress after the Challenger accident. Later, as a management consultant for KPMG's Space and High Technology group, he wrote dozens of business plans and market assessments for commercial space companies. This is the group that very early and accurately, predicted that GPS applications would grow into the huge market it is today. Barnett led the Team that wrote the initial business plan and helped identify the best location for the spaceport that eventually became Spaceport America in New Mexico. Solstar Space is his third commercial space start-up. He earned a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma, a Masters in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a graduate of the International Space University. Mr. Barnett is a classically-trained rock and reggae drummer and is founder and producer of DrumsAstro®, an organization Connecting Artists and Musicians of all Genres to Space and Space Exploration. About Soltar: www.SolstarSpace.com and www.Solstar.net Solstar is the leading commercial satellite communications company pioneering the use of WiFi in space. We use existing commercial communications satellite networks in Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Earth Orbit. We provide space-to-space communications on spacecraft and bi-directional two-way data services for payloaders. Solstar is: Harnessing the power of the very best existing infrastructure to facilitate constant communication with space assets such as SmallSats, Astronauts, LEO platforms, suborbital/orbital spacecraft, and eventually Lunar and Mars exploration. Revolutionizing the way people on Earth communicate and interact with their payloads in space Improving the way space research is conducted and communicated from space to the ground and back again Protecting valuable space assets through enhanced two-way communication opportunities for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving issues. Providing reliable emergency backup communic

Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. And, Chris is the author of Alcohol in Space, a perfect look at the past, present and future of alcohol in the story of human exploration. Chris and Beth enjoy raising a glass and celebrating this rich history and look forward to how we will enjoy our libations in space, perhaps sooner than you might think. Cheers! Enjoy this lively episode as Beth and Chris talk about the Star Wars (Mos Eisley) cantina, the bar from the movie Passengers, and the wise bartender in Star Trek (Guinan)...and more: "Science fiction writers look at alcohol as a part of humanity within their stories. It's naturally assumed alcohol will be part of our future in space in most science fiction writing."- Chris Carberry from the Casual Space Podcast About the Book: Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future By Chris Carberry Forward by Andy Weir - https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/alcohol-in-space/ . Alcohol in Space is the first book on this topic and examines the history of alcohol in space, as well as dozens of companies and projects that are exploring the possibilities of alcohol production in space. Some of these companies have sent barley experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). Whiskey producers Ardbeg and Suntory have also sent experiments to ISS, analyzing how whisky ages in microgravity. "The production and consumption of alcohol has played a significant role in human society since the dawn of civilization," stated author Chris Carberry. "Will this still hold true when humanity is exploring and settling the outer reaches of space?" The book also highlights the long history of alcohol in human society, how alcohol has been addressed in science fiction, and space agriculture technologies. This volume is based on extensive research and interviews with some of the most prominent individuals in the space industry as well as the alcohol industry. About Chris Carberry https://www.exploremars.org/leader/chris-carberry/ Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community and has been responsible for growing many partnerships, grants and sponsorships for leading industry organizations. Currently, as CEO of Explore Mars, he acts as the main liaison for efforts and project ventures. Prior to joining Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director to The Mars Society. In his early career, he acted as a member of the Steering Committee where he organized congressional outreach efforts around the country. He also played a leadership role in congressional outreach events such as the 2007-2017 Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz and has coordinated numerous briefing panels and other events on Capitol Hill over the past two decades. In more recent years, he has organized and led successful international conferences including the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. In 2012, he represented Explore Mars as a delegate to the Mars500 Symposium in Moscow, Russia, and in 2013, he spearheaded the annual Humans to Mars Summit in Washington, DC that has become the largest annual conference in the world focused on sending humans to Mars. Carberry also helped to launch the Get Curious Campaign in 2012 and the Humans to Mars Report starting in 2015. Carberry is also a co-founder and co-chair of the Mars Achievability and Sustainability workshop series, and he recently launched the 1st AR/VR and Space workshop series. In 2018, under Carberry's leadership, Explore Mars will also launch programs in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Carberry has presented both oral and written testimony to Congress and has contributed positioning work dealing with space exploration for the Republican Party's National Platform in 2000. He is the author of scores of articles and Op-Ed pieces that have appeared in such publications as 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 other publications. He has been featured on national and international television and radio programs such as NBC Nightly News, Fox News, CNN, BBC World, and NPR and is frequently asked for commentary from print news outlets around the world. Prior to his space career, Carberry worked as an archivist of modern political papers and was research assistant for numerous best-selling biographers. Carberry received a B.A. degree in political science and a M.A. in history and archival methods About Explore Mars: https://ww

Jennifer Inman helps spacecraft enter the atmospheres of other worlds. She and the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team use a bunch of instruments on board a plane while it's flying, follow a space vehicle's reentry that's traveling thousands of miles an hour (think Mach 25) from space back to Earth and find it through a field of view as small as a straw. Then, the SCIFLY team has to observe and keep the spacecraft in the middle of the field of view to gather the data necessary to study. Together on the podcast, Beth and Jennifer talk heat shields, re-entry, Orion, Artemis, Hollywood film makers, and heat imaging and the surprising fact that parachutes on reentry vehicles can be quite challenging, and where she'll be watching the historic spaceflight mission scheduled for May 27, 2020! About NASA's Forward to the Moon 20204 Mission: "As we talk about going back to the moon, it occurs to me WE haven't been to the Moon… our generation has not been to the Moon..it's important for US to figure out how we're going to go to the Moon." -Jennifer Inman on the Casual Space Podcast Did you always know you would work for NASA one day? "When I was 6 years old, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut, a Mom, a teacher, and a waitress on roller skates. If it can't be MY boots on the Moon, I'm going to daydream and work towards getting others there." About studying space and science in school: "I took physics on a whim and fell in love with it. It was all the beauty of calculus with answers that had connections to the real world. Once I got to quantum mechanics and relativity, I was hooked! I just loved the way I could look at the universe around me and have my understanding expanded, and just be in awe of the understanding of the universe we find ourselves in." Where to find Jennifer and her work at NASA: https://www.innovationnow.us/index.php/2019/03/25/meet-jennifer-inman/ You've GOT to learn about SCIFLI: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/how-the-perfect-picture-advances-spaceflight https://scifli.larc.nasa.gov/team-members-organizations/ The SCIFLI team is based at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. In 2007 the HYTHIRM team was formed at the NASA Langley Research Center through the support of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in order to determine the feasibility of obtaining high quality thermal imagery data of the Space Shuttle during hypersonic atmospheric reentry flight. The outcome of that study convinced the Space Shuttle Program Office to fund the HYTHIRM team to attempt to accomplish the goal of acquiring a single thermal image of the Space Shuttle during reentry. After returning with hundreds of thousands of frames of imagery acquired over an eight minute period of reentry, and after processing that thermal imagery to show that high quality measurements were not only possible but could provide unique and unexpected results, the HYTHIRM team conducted imaging operations on six more Shuttle reentries, the SpaceX C1 Dragon capsule reentry, and more. Every mission has been successful in meeting or exceeding the acquisition and processing of the desired data. SCIFLI for Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery. The goal is to pursue the development and deployment of state of the art remote thermal, visual and spectral imaging capabilities from land, sea and airborne platforms over a multi-band spectrum. How the Perfect Picture Advances Spaceflight The researchers working on the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team acquire engineering quality data images of spacecraft launches, reentries, flight tests, and parachute tests from aircraft- and ground-based imaging systems. The SCIFLI team comprises members from multiple NASA centers, industry, academia, Department of Defense, and international and commercial partners, and together they support human spaceflight, improve aerodynamic models, and ultimately reduce mission risk. "Our job is to get engineering data using telescopes on the ground or in the air," said Dr. Jennifer Inman, SCIFLI project manager. "The imagery acquired during a test, launch, or re-entry yields flight-truth data." The team's core capability is quantitative thermal and hyperspectral imaging using state-of-the-art imaging systems with high spatial, spectral, and/or temporal resolution. "We close the gap between ground testing in wind tunnels, computational fluid dynamics, and flight truth," Inman said. "Even with the best ground testing, we can't match every parameter of flight. A flight test allows us to interpret our ground testing data and improve our computational models." The team has been continuously improving their techniques since starting work in 2007 and has made more than 28 observations in 2019 alone, including parachute drop tests, spacecraft reentries, and rocket launches. "Not just anyone with a high-resolution camera can do this work. We're sometimes trying to acquire a target at horizon break, when the vehicle is hund

Rachel is from a newspaper family and started as a journalist, teacher, freelancer and exceptional writer. Then, Rachel joined Twitter, and started writing about NASA missions and soon became a storyteller and science ambassador for the International Space Station at NASA Johnson Space Center. Her official title is Communications Managing Editor for the International Space Station Program Science Office at Barrios Technology. You're going to want to know more about Rachel and her work, so here you are: www.NASA.gov/iss/science NASA Explorers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2aBZuCeDwlQDM6x6FpHE_X0iL7hvoRpR "When you're watching a launch, you're looking at this incredible achievement of humanity and completely overwhelming visually, audibly, and then you think, 'There are people up there that I just talked to just days before!'."-Rachel Barry from Casual Space Podcast "I've learned from NASA coming from an outside perspective, having the advantage of NOT working at NASA for 20+ years- and I can approach things in a way most everyday folks would, so it's helped me be a good communicator." -Rachel "'You can't be what you can't see' is a shortened version of a longer quote from Sally Ride. It's important for me to share that there are so many brilliant women at NASA, on station, and supporting station, and that there's a place for women here at NASA. I'm excited to see what the future looks like for space exploration and how we have evolved to better reflect what our society is, and how we can all be represented." - Rachel Where to find Rachel and follow the SCIENCE on Station: Twitter | NASA.gov | Watch NASA Explorers: Microgravity

The Outer Space Treaty is vague. Rebekah believes there's a way to encourage the international community and develop education to balance opportunities for everyone to use and benefit from the resources space can provide. We talk Space Force, NASA, private space companies, international and domestic treaties and everything in between. When it comes to space law and policy, sometimes the answers can be as interesting as the questions. So let's dive in and discuss! "I think we need to be more responsible about space. I think we need to look at space as this avenue for uniting rather than dividing. In some ways, I'm a real optimist." -Rebekah Rounds on Casual Space Podcast Valuable resources Rebekah mentions on the show: A certificate program for non-lawyers (ideal for CEOs and executives of space start-up companies) at The University of Mississippi https://law.olemiss.edu/academics-programs/llm/ The American Bar Association https://www.americanbar.org/groups/air_space/divisions/divisions/ The New Space Conference https://spacefrontier.org/newspace2020/ About Rebekah: Rebekah Rounds is a Maryland and California-licensed attorney whose private practice focuses on corporate law, start-ups related to emerging technologies and industries, telecommunications, and domestic and international space law and policy. Before graduating with her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law in 2014, Rebekah served as a legal fellow for the Chairman of the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Steven Palazzo. Under Chairman Palazzo, Rebekah researched international and domestic space law, space law issues related to Federal Acquisition Regulations and Space Act Agreements, and various legal issues pertaining to NASA Reauthorization, commercial space policy, and liability and indemnity regimes for private space launch actors.In 2017 Rebekah published her paper "The Intersection of U.S. Space Policy Goals and National Security Needs: An Argument for a Regulatory Regime Oversight Commission That Balances Space-Related Policy Interests" in the Journal of Space Law. In 2018 she graduated with her LL.M. in Air and Space Law from the University of Mississippi. Rebekah believes that the future of space activity relies on a well-established education pipeline.

Dr. Sarah Imam teaches advanced physiology and environmental physiology at the Citadel. She helps describe for us on the podcast what our human body has to endure in extreme environments, including microgravity environments like the astronauts work and live in. Our future in space requires our full understanding of the space environment, and the effects it will have on us as humans. While Sarah's perspective is optimistic, the space environment is not looking like a favorable one for our human bodies. Here's are some interesting questions Dr. Sarah and I ponder together: When you go into these extreme environments (like space), there are so many detrimental effects on our human body, so understanding the impacts of microgravity is going to be more important as we humans continue explore space. Or, are we just not intended to be space travelers? Sarah asks me what I'm likely to do when I fall into the icy cold water… and the answer is the complete opposite what I would have thought… Is it possible to mind over matter our bodies into health? "When your body is aware that it will be exposed to a different environment, it helps you to be better prepared."-Dr. Sarah Wallace from Casual Space Podcast About Dr. Sarah: Sarah A. Imam M.D. www.citidel.edu (Health and Human Performance) Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. She teaches physiology-based classes, including graduate-level Environmental Physiology, which incorporates physiology of microgravity. Her training is in neurology and the neurosciences, and her current research involves the study of physical impact and activity upon the brain. She currently works on glioblastoma research at MUSC and has numerous student-based research projects. Sarah is an advisor of the health professions and has introduced and designed programs to maximize the applicant's chances of admission. She has developed a pre-health app (patent pending), and she runs one of the top healthcare study abroad program's in the nation. She will be co-presenting her study abroad work with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) conference in June 2020. Sarah started the Citadel Health Career's Society, which organizes student volunteering in the community. Sarah was recognized for her work by being the recipient of the 2019 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an award for excellence of character and service to humanity. Sarah is a board member of the Southern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (SAAHP) and a member of The Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) in the NAAHP. Sarah is a member of several associations and has numerous leadership roles.

Seeing a launch from a young age inspired a clear goal for Debi Tomek: a calling to work at NASA and help enable a sustainable human presence in space beyond Earth. Working towards this goal is exactly what Debi Tomek is doing, serving as the Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate where she leads the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM). NASA has needed to shift and change just like everyone else, being innovative and flexible is NOT a new concept for NASA- The NASA ability to innovate and bring space-based solutions to us on Earth is what keeps Debi and the NASA teams going. Applying ways to help solve the current COVID problem for humanity -whether it be using NASA's super computers and coders, algorithms, and understanding models, to the ways NASA implements new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to computation of fluid dynamic to study penetrating different materials in the masks that folks are wearing. Learn what OSAM stands for and why it will CHANGE the future of space and the Mars Perseverance rover mission launched later this summer The many ways Aretims IS SO different from Apollo "If you're life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough" is a quote that fuels Debi and her work to think beyond the Moon, Mars and even further! NASA HAS TECHNOLOGY READY TO GO. Right now today- ready to be used on the surface of Mars, and the Moon- working with commercial partners to develop the technologies- is EXACTLY the business model NASA's has been planning for! About how NASA is working within the COVID-19 challenges: "At NASA, we're used to having to figure out how to operate and live around constraints. Think of space, think of everything we've got to do up there. You can't go outside on the space station very easily without any kind of being suited up and being protected. We can't get ourselves under the surface of the moon or to Mars, without having the proper constraints and limitations and understanding risk. So even though that's extreme sense, I think our ability at NASA to innovate and just think like that is helping us with the folks that are healthy, with COVID. How can we think out of the box, what innovations do we have in our way of thinking and how can we apply that to helping solve this problem for humanity whether it be our super computers and our coders, in the algorithm, and us understanding models, whether it be in our ability to innovate new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to other areas, and they're actually using a lot of our computation through a dynamic spokes to do computer modeling of flow through masks that folks are wearing to understand how much is actually penetrating different materials. We're shifting like everybody else, but we're really trying to take how we think, how we innovate and how we've addressed challenges in space and how can we apply that thinking to here on Earth to help with this problem. Right now, that is a little glimmer of hope that's really kept us going."-Debi Tomek from Casual Space Podcast About Debi Tomek: Deborah (Debi) Tomek began her career with NASA in 1997 at Langley Research Center. Ms. Tomek has over 20 years of research and technical management experience at NASA and Lockheed Martin. Throughout her career Ms. Tomek has served numerous roles inclusive of researcher, principal investigator, test engineer, and technical manager on numerous cross-Agency projects and programs. Ms. Tomek's research in flight vehicle dynamic stability characterization was instrumental in the development of numerous flight vehicle aerodatabases inclusive of the NASA Orion Crew Module and Launch Abort System (LAS). During the Space Shuttle Program, Ms. Tomek managed the Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements (HYTHIRM) Project that was responsible for obtaining high resolution spatially resolved temperature measurements of the Shuttle Orbiter as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere. Ms. Tomek also served as the HEOMD Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Space Radiation manager and the STMD Advanced Radiation Project manager leading teams in the development of passive radiation shielding systems, space weather forecasting codes, and integrated space vehicle hardware in support of long duration human spaceflight. Ms. Tomek spent nearly four years with NASA Headquarters leading cross-Agency technical capability assessments for the NASA Associate Administrator in support of the development of the Capability Leadership Model and the new Agency operating model. Since her return from Headquarters she has served as Chief of Staff at NASA Langley Research Center working to promote, collaborate, and evolve the projects and capabilities of the Center before moving into her current role as Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED). In this role Ms. Tomek is currently leadi

Anima is the Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager & xEMU Spacesuit Engineer at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Anima recently moved to Texas after 20 years in California to pursue her dream to become a NASA astronaut. Her journey has been a long one, but always determined, driven, sometimes sacrificing, and never wavering. Her steadfast and unyielding approach has finally come to fruition with a formal astronaut application when NASA opened the applications and invited candidates to apply for a 30 day window in March. Since she was a young child, Anima wanted to be an astronaut. Growing up in India, a clear path toward achieving her dream was just not available. So she moved, and made her own path towards the stars… Anima came to the US as a software engineer in 2000. Becoming a U.S. Citizen was a 12 year endeavor. She just finished her 3rd Masters Degree. Anima explains her MANY NASA adventures and endeavors, including looking for life on other planets (exoplanets), how Kepler worked, and Anima believes there is life in the universe and we are capable of finding it. "I don't want to die thinking, 'what if I tried?' I want to die with the satisfaction knowing I tried!. If I get selected (to be a NASA astronaut), I would be the happiest person on this Earth. It will be like my life has come full circle. All my life I've worked towards this goal, and it would be all worth it!"-Anima from Casual Space Podcast Advice for young students and want-to-be astronauts: "I don't know how far I will get, but I am enjoying the journey! Have a career you see yourself doing every day and enjoy it!" About Anima: Anima Patil-Sabale is an Aerospace, Software and Human Factors Engineer, currently working at NASA's Johnson Space Center for Jacobs as Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager and xEMU Spacesuit Engineer. Prior to this she has worked on NASA's Kepler Mission and in NASA's Intelligence Systems Division at NASA's Ames Research Center. She worked in the software industry for 14 years before coming to work for NASA. Anima has a Master's in Aerospace Engineering, Master's in Space Studies - Human Factors, Master's in Computer Applications and a BS in Physics. While Anima aspires to be a NASA Astronaut and is preparing herself for the same, she is also a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for commercial spaceflight research projects during her off-work hours. After selection and training, Anima has been participating in upper-atmospheric and bioastronautics research as a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for Project PoSSUM. She has trained in the topics of Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Environment, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing and Aerospace Cinematography, Spaceflight Simulation and Operations, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Methods, Introduction to Aerospace Physiology and Life Support Systems, and Celestial Navigation and Atmospheric Scattering. She has flown several parabolas aboard a Falcon 20 aircraft while participating in the testing of a commercial spacesuit in zero-G. She has also flown a high-altitude mission in a Mooney aircraft to study noctilucent clouds. She has been in a 6-inch head-down tilt position for a NASA Simulated Microgravity Fluid Loading study. She has spun in a centrifuge and experienced up to 6-G's as she contributed to a Federal Aviation Administration study. Anima has been a Commander for NASA's HERA VII in 2015, an analog mission to an asteroid. In April 2018 she has been a Commander for a Martian Analog Mission at the Mars Desert Research Station. She has also been a First Tier Support Engineer for the Hi-SEAS Analog and Simulation missions since 2014. She has been participating and contributing towards the research required for long-duration space missions. She is a certified scuba diver, and a student pilot (105 hours logged). She has also completed the following trainings: Land and Sea Survival, Spacecraft Emergency Egress, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Method in addition to several others. Anima loves working with the younger generation the most, to provide them the guidance she missed out on growing up. She is an Assistant Scout Master and a STEM-NOVA mentor for the BoyScouts of America. She is a NASA Girls Mentor and a NASA Speakers Bureau member. She's also been a First Lego Robotics team coach. She has delivered several talks in the US and in India including a TEDx talk while she pursues her motto to Inspire, Guide and Motivate the younger generation. Her work has been recognized and appreciated by people everywhere. She has received the Silicon Valley Business Journal's Women of Influence 2017 award and is a "Forty Woman Over Forty To Watch Out For" honoree. Rocket-women.com, Silicon Valley Business Journal, TriValley Journal are just a few of the several publications that have published a feature on Anima's journey to share her story to inspire and motivate

A 6th grade science teacher, a field trip to the Cosmosphere, lots of hard work, several advanced degrees, and a NASA internship has all been a influential part of Dr. Sarah Wallace's journey. Dr. Sarah Wallace has always been in love with space, and through her work at NASA, she's found her calling. As a microbiologist, Sarah serves as the principal investigator for the Biomolecule Sequencer, allowing DNA to be sequenced in space on board the International Space Station. Talking to Sarah is like talking to your best friend, if your best friend happens to be a super-smart, yet down-to-Earth NASA microbiologist! Beth and Sarah energetically enjoy discussing: The Kansas Cosmosphere and how it fostered the joy and inspiration for Sarah to understand space How we are all just walking bacteria… What it's like to see her experiments be flown on the International Space Station, including the first ever DNA sequencer in space! AND, having a space wedding. Not just a space-themed wedding, I mean, a serious space nerd let's-take-this-all-the-way SPACE wedding. Short of actually having it IN space. About Dr. Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaEqVYw7O3g Taken from adafruit.com: Dr. Sarah Wallace is currently is the NASA Microbiologist and Principal Investigator for the Genes in Space-3 Project aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She works at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wallace conducts research to understand how the environment in space alters the behavior of microbes and runs her tests aboard the ISS. This will help us to one day identify microbes in-flight. The recent Biomolecule Sequencer (MinION) that Wallace worked on, showed that DNA sequencing in space is possible. BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES: On being a female in microbiology: "I had a pretty even split of females and males in my graduate classes, and at my lab here at NASA, we have TONS of female scientists, and it's really exciting! I have several female colleagues that started with me right out of their undergrad or Ph. D. programs and have blossomed into become these phenomenal scientists! I feel like things are really opening up for anyone who is qualified and passionate, and it's no longer a stereotypical 'man's world'. I got to meet with some of the women from the Apollo mission, and most of them were assistants. Now, females are running the divisions and the directorates, and females leading as subject matter experts in all disciplines. It's really great to see how big that change has been since Apollo. Sarah attended Wichita State and loved microbiology, and molecular biology. Determined to find a graduate program that had both, Sarah found the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The NASA connection and fellowships in the life sciences through NASA allowed Sarah to conduct most of her research at the NASA Johnson Space Center for her Ph.D. dissertation. "It's been a rewarding path, steppingstones often presented themselves to me, AND, I worked REALLY hard to make that happen. I was laser focused to get to NASA." About Being a Part of the Team to Put the First DNA Sequencer on Station: "If you just stop and think about it, something that's very complex on Earth, sequencing DNA, has become commonplace in space! We have DNA sequencing in space! We have been sequencing DNA on board ISS since 2016. To date, we've done about 30 sequencing runs with about 6 different astronauts. Why that's important: it's been not only an incredible achievement, and there are SO many applications… from my area we monitor the station (air and water microbes) and we have no way to do that unless we bring the samples back to Earth, which does not set us up very well as we try to move away from low-Earth orbit and not be dependent on sample return. My team developed a method where we could go all the way from sample to answer not only to fly the sequencer, but we developed all the preparation methods to take a swab of anything really and sequence the microbial DNA from that swab. The things we find are common and they are the same things we find in your room. ISS is incredibly clean. About What's Next: "I have colleagues who are interested in getting in the human health domain. We know humans are changing in response to spaceflight. The hows and whys and what's really going on are not widely known, so this technology can be very powerful in helping us understand this better. Based on an astronaut's genetic makeup, there could be a "eat this, do this kind of exercise" monitoring to understand if they are responding favorably or poorly to the recommendations (based on the sequencing) and really get into a precision medicine type approach. This (sequencing technology) is definitely something that I see moving into a doctor's office for everyone's benefit. On DNA and RNA sequencing and epigenetics- "Yes, there's absolutely ways that we ourselves are regulating what genes are turned on or off through these mechanisms, HOW that's happ

Kelly Larson has climbed mountains. Literally and figuratively. (Check out her TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49CaCeC4C_Y)! As the CEO of Aquarian Space, there's always challenges to be overcome, just like the challenges we must overcome within our universe. Major space weather events. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections. Don't worry, Kelly's working on it. Beth and Kelly share a casual conversation that answers: What's more difficult? Being a CEO to a space start-up, or completing a Ph.D.? What motivates Kelly to climb mountains when it can be SO DIFFICULT? A LOT of our asteroid detection is done by volunteers. This global threat has some great people working on this and they're doing a great job. Is it enough? Which leadership traits can be implemented from years of yoga practice and instruction? "This industry is a key essential about life… our capacity to be in touch with the wonder and the awe that space reminds us of. To be in touch with that, I believe, makes us better humans."-Kelly Larson from Casual Space Podcast About Kelly Larson: CEO of Aquarian Space, TEDx speaker and a serial entrepreneur, Kelly Larson, ABD, is an innovator at the intersection of business, science and leadership. As a farm girl grown into a Yoga and transformation entrepreneur turned space CEO, she trail-blazes new business ventures and connects people and ideas across the globe. Kelly is widely known for her innovative approaches to business and her strategic range. She currently specializes in aerospace market-ready development strategies with an emphasis in collaborative international partnerships and high-level entrepreneurial ventures. Kelly sees that we can only develop a strong interplanetary economy together. "We're going to network the solar system so that people going to Jupiter, anybody that wants to go out into space can send a signal back to Earth- we're offering a higher data capacity option." About Aquarian Space: https://aquariandevices.com/ Aquarian Space (formerly Devices) is the world's first commercial Space Based Interplanetary Communications Provider. Their Space Based Relay Network allows customers to send and receive high volumes of uninterrupted streaming data quickly and reliably, 24/7. Aquarian Devices is building the foundational infrastructure for a fully networked Solar System that will relieve a major bottleneck in lunar and deep space communications and open the door for humanity's expansion into the next frontier. PS- Aquarian Devices is currently looking for a CTO, and a COO! More details at the end of the show notes. BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES: On being a female CEO: "During today's space conference, I've been noticing on the panels where both male and female CEO's are presenting, the females are asked about risk, and the males are asked about their upsides." I feel like I'm paddling upstream sometimes. I prefer to be kind, and a relational-based person. That means that (at times) people tend to often underestimate me. I have advantages: I can relate with people really well. I have a fresh energy. What I see in my future is an adventure. To me, being a woman and being a leader is not just about breaking stereotypes, it's also about bringing the gifts that are innate. I have different hormones in my body and I'm wired differently, so I feel delighted in trailblazing as one of many women that's about femininity that's really powerful in leadership." About Being a CEO: "I've done start-ups before. The bootstrapping. It's hard. I mean, it's really hard. Raising capital is a whole other level with the team. Doing a start up with one of the more audacious technologies, and one of the most 'out there' industries, it was so hard. It was so challenging. I just listened to my gut and I just knew that this was going to be a long-term thing for me. I got through the first layer of fire, and now it's really fun." "I never questioned that I was supposed to be doing this. When I'm committed, I'm committed. What kept me climbing mountains and walking through fires (as a CEO)? The answer today, is that it's FUN. I'm not just getting to create a really cool company in an incredible industry, but a company that's going to make a major impact on the space industry AND, one of the technologies our company makes possible are space weather and asteroid detection, which are two of the biggest threats to human kind. I get to literally and very functionally contribute to the preservation of our species!" "I get to speak about space, and get people re-connected to space and the beauty & magnificence of it. It feels like a privilege and an honor. It is so hard and it's great." About Solving the Problems of Space Threats: "NeoCam Near-Earth Object Camera is coming, and it will help, but it doesn't help cover all of the problems. So what we can do at Aquarian Devices is the first high-data rate deep space communication, to help with space weather and asteroid detection. Through 360 degree cameras and AI, we are

PODCASTS!!! Casual Space Podcast! I love #61 with Bill Nye and #65 with Matthew Dominick Houston, We Have a Podcast – Mission Patches, Episode #130 Houston, We Have a Podcast – Art and Space with Astronaut Nicole Stott #129 Planetary Radio – The Return of Cosmos with Ann Duryan NETFLIX and SHOWS Cosmos: Possible Worlds (On National Geographic) The EXPANSE (On Syfy) Picard (Star Trek) This is on CBS All-Access, but DON'T PAY- right now it's FREE. MUSEUMS Virtual Tours at your local museum, planetarium or observatory- or NATIONAL Museum. Have fun looking at different museums and locations! GO OUTSIDE.. Star Finder app, Sky Watch app Sky Live app and there's many more to choose from Telescopes! Binoculars! Looking up with the naked eyes! International Space Station sighting! MODEL ROCKET Kits available at: Walmart! Old School Videos from our Nation's Favorite Science Guy, BILL NYE! Planets and Moons MASTER CLASS video subscription learning service Chris Hadfield S'MORE MAGAZINE https://www.smoremagazine.com/ LIBRARY and other FREE downloads and educational resources galore! E-learning downloads from your local library. NASA' has an INCREDIBLE "NASA at Home" that I'm LOVING. It's got a little something for everyone. BOOKS Alcohol in Space, by Chris Carberry The Girl Who Named Pluto, by Alice McGinty Here We Are, Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers What If? By Randall Munroe Space 2.0 by Rod Pyle

Irene Woerner is no stranger to start ups (she's built a few) and is a certified space expert; she was the principal investigator on research and ground software on the Pluto missions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory AND, while at NASA, she led a team of researchers on advanced information systems. Currently, Irene is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of emTRUTH, because she believes in the transformative power of innovative technologies combined with people of excellence to make it happen. Prior to emTRUTH, Irene was a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies. Beth and Irene finally meet in person at SPACECOM Expo, and share a casual conversation that includes: What emTruth works to provide: technology that self-detects and self-fixes devices and cyber security in the world and in the aerospace industry. How influential a summer camp opportunity (in Hawaii) was for Irene's future and love for science… What it's like to be able to select the people you WANT to work with, and what happens when you love the work you do… and About working at NASA, why playing softball at NASA was so important, and how having the support from your family helps encourage career success "I founded the company on two principals. One, I wanted to do something that I believed in. Two, I wanted to do it with people that I really liked." -Irene Woerner from Casual Space Podcast About Irene Woerner: Irene Woerner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Irene co-founded emTRUTH, because she believes in the transformative power of innovative technologies combined with people of excellence to make it happen. Prior to emTRUTH, Irene was a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies. emTRUTH is Irene's second start-up. Irene spent many years at NASA JPL and was responsible for flight and ground software on the Pluto mission. While at JPL, she also led a team of researchers on advanced information systems. About emTruth: https://www.emtruth.com/ Every company is a data company. Cybersecurity, authenticity, traceability and compliance are all important factors for this data. Powered by an innovative blockchain technology stack, emTRUTH provides secure and trusted solutions for enduring value.

Beth sits down with NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick last week at NASA's Johnson Space Center to discuss his work as an Artemis Generation astronaut. At the time of his selection as an Astronaut Candidate in June 2017, Matt was at sea on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, a Naval Aviator, and a department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115. He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours in 28 aircraft models, 400 carrier arrestments, 61 combat missions, and nearly 200 flight test carrier landings (arrested and touch-and-go). Yep, it's impressive. And the conversation Matt and Beth share is just as impressive! Listen to hear highlights that include: Where Matt was and what he was doing when he "got the call" to welcome him to the NASA astronaut corp (Once Matt found out he was selected as an astronaut, Matt called someone incredibly special from the ship and asked her not to tell a soul! Listen to find out who) What cultural impression stayed with Matthew after living in Japan Matt's used to living in many places, but the BUGS of Texas have their own story… How exploring space is like exploring the south pole… Matt's thoughts regarding the NASA Administrator's goal to return to the Moon in2024 This is a unique time at NASA- For the first time in more than four years, NASA began accepting applications Monday for future astronauts. Aspiring Moon to Mars explorers have until 11:59 p.m. EDT Tuesday, March 31, to apply. The call for more astronauts comes at a time when the agency is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the Moon with the Artemis program. Exploring the Moon during this decade will help prepare humanity for its next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars. U.S. citizens may submit applications to #BeAnAstronaut at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/561186900 About Becoming a NASA Astronaut: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/an-astronaut-s-guide-to-applying-to-be-an-astronaut https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/news/2015/11/4/so-you-want-to-be-an-astronaut/ About Matthew: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/matthew-dominick/biography Summary: Matthew Dominick was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reported for duty in August 2017 and having completed the initial astronaut candidate training is now eligible for a mission assignment. The Colorado native earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego and a Master of Science degree in in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He graduated from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He has more than 1,600 hours of flight time in 28 aircraft, 400 carrier-arrested landings, and 61 combat missions. Personal Data:Dominick was born and raised in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He is married to Faith Dominick, and the couple has two daughters. His parents, Donald and Rhonda Dominick, still live in Wheat Ridge. Education:Graduated from D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School in Golden, Colorado. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego with minors in Physics and Mathematics. Earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Experience:Dominick was commissioned through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) following graduation from the University of San Diego in 2005 and reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He was designated as a Naval Aviator in 2007 and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Following his initial training, Dominick was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 143. He made two deployments to the North Arabian Sea, flying close air support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While with Strike Fighter Squadron 143, Dominick was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School / U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Co-Operative Program, where he earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Designated a developmental test pilot in 2013, Dominick was assigned to the fixed wing carrier suitability flight test department of Air Test Evaluation Squadron 23. There he served as developmental flight test project officer for a variety of carrier suitability test programs, including MAGIC CARPET, Joint Precision Approach & Landing Systems, Infrared Search and Track Pod, and the precision approach and landing certification of aircraft carriers. He flew developmental flight tests in the F/A-18ABCD, F/A-18E/F, and EA-18G. Additionally, he contributed to X-47B, Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance and Strike, V-22, T-45, E-2C, C-2A, and F-35C test programs. In 2016, Dominick returned to an operational naval squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 115, flying F

Norah started photography in high school, from a camera her father gave her. By playing around with her camera and just shooting pictures, she fell in love with photography. Then she went to school to study imaging and photographic technology. After several NASA summer internships and lots of networking, Norah was brought on at NASA Johnson Space Center as a Science Photographer. You can see her talented work, along with her colleagues at www.images.nasa.gov Norah got her first NASA internship at the NASA Langley Research Center, working on videos and interviews for several projects. Discovering the archives at Langley had the most incredible things- flags, scuba gear! Then Norah got a contact at NASA Ames Research Center for her next internship, and learned how to photograph lasers with mirrors and light source. A brave application later to Johnson Space Center for a full-time photographer position landed her the job that allows her to see everything that happens within the entire center! Every day's assignment is different at NASA JSC- you never know what's next, so there's lots of fun to be had and lots to learn. Norah set up a baseball field shoot to test the Artemis space suits' movement capabilities! You can see the baseball shot at www.Images.NASA.gov. "I was taking all of the art classes and I was missing science. I didn't feel challenged the way I wanted to be challenged, so I went to a panel of graduates from all of the photo degrees, and discovered a NASA photographer who talked about his work and the idea of working for NASA was something that got in my brain and that was it for me. I applied to every internship I could!" "My all-time favorite assignment I got to do it train/ camp with the new astronaut class when they did their required geology studies for a week and I got to camp with them and learn, too!...I set up my camera and got to shoot time-lapse photos of the stars every night. They are called star trails. One of the astronauts that came along was Don Pettit, and we got to talk about star trails from the space station that he saw, and the star trails I was shooting from the Earth from the dessert. It was really cool." "There were a lot of qualified candidates to choose from when I applied for my position. I asked the person who hired me what shoot out to select me. He said it was my passion and excitement for NASA that allowed me to be selected." What's next for Norah? Shooting high-speed photography from simulations and tests that need images from some pretty fast photos (think launches, tests and planned explosions)! Some advice from up and coming artists who may want to work for NASA from Norah: "There are so many creative opportunities needed here at NASA, like lighting, audio engineers, videographers, producers, it's not just scientists and engineers. Apply for EVERYTHING, it does not matter if you have all the qualifications. And wherever you are, network. It's what got me here. Always be open to talking to people about what you love."

There's no title big enough to hold the accomplishments and aspirations for Taylor Winkelman. What has this woman NOT done? Just read her bio. Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Legislative Assistant. Veterinarian. Army Sergeant. Advocate for space policy in Washington D.C. In general, Taylor works to make our world a better place for all of us. And, in typical Taylor fashion, why stop with the world? Let's bring the benefits of the UNIVERSE- the many benefits that space exploration brings us - available to all. Taylor will lead the way. About Taylor, in her own words: I am currently working as a consultant for health security and humanitarian outreach issues in the Washington, DC area. I previously served as a Legislative Assistant in the office of Senator Edward J. Markey, primarily working on foreign relations, military and veterans issues, science and space issues, and global health issues. I also contributed to agriculture, animal rights, and veterinary issues within the context of our office's work. I paid particular attention to humanitarian crises, international development, human rights, the outer space treaty, and global health issues such as cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. I spent six years in the Army as a Cryptologic Voice Intercept Operator, leaving as a Sergeant (E5). I led a team of 12 joint service members working a strategic mission, and a squad of 7 soldiers who worked on other missions. I deployed to Baghdad in support of OIF2. Honorably discharged, I attended Augusta State University in Georgia, double majoring in English and Biology. While there, I completed an Honors Thesis in Organic Chemistry under Dr. Thomas Crute, III, studying the synthesis of Persin (a potential breast cancer drug) and derivatives. I volunteered for the humane society and at the local Pediatric Emergency Room, worked as a freelance journalist, a veterinary technician, and an office assistant and tutor for the Chemistry and Physics Department at ASU. In 2011, I interned at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.I graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine's DVM/MPH program, completing my MPH in Public Health Policy in December 2015 and my DVM in May 2016. I completed a summer externship at the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, summer research on Salmonella in backyard chickens in 2012, and an externship with the AVMA-GRD in Washington, DC in 2014. I went to Uganda with Veterinarians Without Borders in 2016, followed by a stint at the mEpi Lab at Massey University.

It seems like Dan Jacobs was made for his role as the International Relations Manager for NASA's Gateway Program and the International Space Station. Within his NASA career, Dan has found a perfect balance between both space and politics, and that's a good thing. As a liaison between the scientists and engineers and non-scientists and the general public – Dan works to interpret ideas, then putting them into technical agreements that benefit 19 countries, 240+ astronauts who have traveled to the International Space Station, and the 2,700+ research investigations that the laboratory has completed since 2000. 10 Fun Facts About CineSpace: This year marks the 5th annual competition for Cinespace and in those 5 years, there's been more than 1,700 films submitted More than 55 countries have submitted from around the world! Two people within the competition have seen every single film! Everyone sees some, and everyone judges them. Richard Linkletter is the celebrity judge (from School of Rock) and helps select the winners. Out of 15 finalists, 9 traveled from around the world to come to the award event! Visitors center will soon be showing the films Anyone can make a film- even Beth! There's no rules about subjects, or topics, or genres, so there's films that are narratives, documentaries, comedies, music videos, abstract films, they just have to meet the 10% quantity of including NASA imagery. Some NASA imagery has never been seen, ever- even by the judges! NASA has created an archive that's open to the public and anyone can now see it, and enjoy it, or use it for this film competition! More information on CineSpace: http://cinespace.org/ CineSpace, a short film competition, is a collaboration between NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society that offers filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by, and using, actual NASA imagery About Dan Jacobs: Dan Jacobs has lead, managed, and supported negotiations with NASA's Space Station International Partners. Dan has worked to manage international team members at Johnson Space Center and overseas, reviewing numerous agreements to obtain new spacecraft, barter for Space Station modules, provide astronaut flight opportunities, resolve major disagreements, set new policies, and create science cooperation. The value to the U.S. Government of these agreements totals greater than $9B. As the Executive Liasion to the Greater Houston Partnership, Dan represented NASA/JSC to the City of Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP, equivalent to Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center, and International Trade Organization for Houston), the Texas Medical Center, and innovation/entrepreneurial organizations throughout the city. He helped identify and pursue opportunities for partnership with JSC with new innovation organizations in the fields of medical device technologies, life sciences, robotics and automation, advanced manufacturing, software development and internet of things, all in support of NASA's critical technology needs for future missions. Dan has created concept for international short film competition of films that use NASA imagery, resulting in the formation of the CineSpace Film competition. This event was designed together partnership with Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) to develop the competition and to screen finalists and winners at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival and film festivals around the country. Academy Award-nominated director Richard Linklater serves as judge and selects the winners, and in the last 5 years since the film competition began, CineSpace has received almost 1600 films from 60 countries.

Beth shares a Casual Space conversation with the incredible Bill Nye! Together, they enjoy: Sharing the incredible success story of the Planetary Society's Light Sail 2 (a spacecraft that is still sailing on sunbeams), and why it's such a significant and inspiring citizen-science project, and what it could mean for the future for space travel. (Read more about Light Sail 2 right here in the show notes at the link below) Discussing the many ways we can travel to space, but the challenge of getting to space still exists. When Bill Nye travels to space, he's sure to experience THE OVERVIEW EFFECT. How we are working to answer the mission of The Planetary Society- to know the cosmos and our place within it. An optimistic belief that within our lifetimes, we will find evidence of life on Mars! About Bill Nye: Along with serving as CEO of the world's largest independent space interest group, The Planetary Society, Nye is also an internationally renowned and award-winning science educator, television presenter, mechanical engineer, science advocate, and author. He is best known as the host of the PBS children's science show Bill Nye the Science Guy, and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator and advocate. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University, Nye spent more than 20 years working as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation, Sundstrand Data Control (now Honeywell), and other engineering firms in the Seattle area. Drawing on his strengths in science and comedy, Nye went on to create, write, produce, and host the Emmy award-winning television show Bill Nye the Science Guy between 1993 and 1998. He continued his work in television with The Eyes of Nye in 2005 and Bill Nye Saves The World in 2017 and 2018. A documentary film about his life's work, Bill Nye: Science Guy, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. Nye has authored several books, including the New York Times Bestseller Undeniable, Unstoppable, and Everything All at Once. In addition to his many other activities, he travels the world and appears on television on a regular basis, sharing his views on the importance of science and space exploration, and inspiring people of all ages to change the world for the better. Where to find Bill Nye: Planetary.org https://www.planetary.org/about/ Science Rules! Podcast: https://www.billnyepodcast.com/ BONUS LINKS AND NOTES FROM THIS CASUAL SPACE CONVERSATION: About Light Sail 2: https://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/heres-what-we-learned-so-far-ls2.html Learn more about Light Sail 2 from Planetary Radio's Mat Kaplan on EPISODE 58 of Casual Space! http://bethmund.com/2020/01/23/58-mat-kaplan/

You know that teachers are already an intricate and massively important part of helping to educate (STEAM) and inspire student explorers and curious minds! And while some great PAYLOADS have gone from the classroom to space, it soon will be the TEACHERS TURN TO EXPLORE. This opportunity is way overdue, don't you think? Liz Kinnick and her team at the Teachers In Space program agrees. So she's working to provide teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections. Liz was on an international flight when she read an article from British Airways inviting Liz to "collect your miles and go to space"… and thus the plans began. The Teachers in Space program is a non-for-profit, independent organization, and started as a project of the Space Frontier Foundation, inspired by NASA's Teacher in Space Program. In 2008, the Space Frontier Foundation felt like the space sub-orbital programs that were starting should include teachers to be cheaper, safer, more environmentally friendly and does not quite exist yet- you can't fly as a paid passenger YET. The first call-out was done by the Space Frontier Foundation and they received 1,100 teacher responses- a lot of a time when there we no flights, and the space shuttle program was about to end with the launch of Endeavor. 7 were selected and several teachers are still with the program. Some were even from NASA Educator Astronaut Trainee program. WHAT CAN I DO? Go to www.teachers-in-space.com and donate. OR tell your local school/ science museum/ church camp/ educations that there's a place that can provide them resources for students who are interested in space! More information on Teachers In Space: www.teachers-in-space.com Teachers in Space, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization which stimulates student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing their teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections. Our professional development workshops for STEM teachers include personal and experimental flight opportunities, hands-on work with data sensors and remote device control, opportunities to meet and interact with scientists and developers at NASA and commercial space companies, and unique teaching materials and design contests to take back to the classroom. Teachers In Space, Inc. sparks a transfer of passion for space science and exploration from teachers to their students, preparing and encouraging those students to pursue further education and exciting, rewarding careers in the emerging space industry. www.firefly.com About Liz: Liz Kennick has directed the Teachers in Space (TIS) program since 2011, initially as a project manager for the Space Frontier Foundation (SFF). In 2014 Liz and her management team incorporated TIS as an educational nonprofit organization in the state of New York. A member of SFF's Board from 2009-2013, Liz was previously Vice President of Client Technology at Morgan Stanley with a $2M annual budget for 1700 software users. She holds degrees in Information Systems / Operations Analysis, English, and Education and is certified as a Project Management Professional and as a Network Engineer. Liz is co-founder of NYC's Software Process Improvement Network and has produced Yuri's Night NY, a space-themed party for 200+ guests, annually since 2008, and TEDxMidTownNY, as space-themed speaker series, in 2010-2011. Liz created the Space Frontier Foundation's Business Plan Bootcamp for the 5 finalists in the foundation's 2011 Business Plan Competition, and was a judge at the 2011 SEDS Student Business Plan Competition. She created Escape Guesthouse LLC, a boutique bed and breakfast in Brooklyn, New York in 2006 and sold it in 2013 for 3 times purchase price. She has flown on ZeroG, experienced centrifuge and hypobaric chamber training, scuba dived to 70 feet, and climbed Cotopaxi, Earth's highest extinct volcano. Liz is a frequent speaker on The Space Show, The Invisible World, Rotary Club and TEDx events, and at conferences such as NewSpace, SpaceVision, Project World and the International Space Development Conference (ISDC). Her 2014 TEDx presentation "Gimme Some Space!" can be seen at: http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/Space-adventures-get-real-Eliza BONUS NOTES FROM THE SHOW: Best thing that's happened in the Teacher in Space program lately? Standing in Texas watching Blue Origin launching their payload! (A CubeSat that they've been working on since 2012!) Blue Steel by "Consider the Source" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlkiOYUmzkg

Our nation's space agency has experienced many incredible human feats (landing a human on the moon, walking in space, assembling an International Space Station, etc.) as well as three very public manned missions that resulted in heroes' lives lost. In this episode, Beth and Dean continue the second part of this discussion about NASA's Successes from Failures to include the manned missions; Apollo 1, the Challenger space shuttle, and Columbia STS-107. Beth worked at NASA Johnson Space Center during the Columbia tragedy, and Dean worked at NASA during the loss of Challenger, and share both their unique perspectives from these events, and the changes they watched NASA implement after the extensive accident investigations. At the end of this (at times difficult) conversation, Dean and Beth look at the "planned anomalies" that NASA and commercial space flight companies will experience, working towards future missions' safety and success. This is a difficult time for the NASA "family," the employees, contractors and support teams who remember these tragedies, the astronaut crew's families, and for the nation. On January 30, NASA will honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, during the agency's annual Day of Remembrance. Dean served a significant role in the Challenger investigation by flying over the debris field and gather visual imagery data. He recalls the series of events that day, and how helping to serve NASA post-tragedy was a significant extension of working the mission. Beth was a Public Affairs Officer and NASA spokesperson at the Johnson Space Center during the Columbia STS-107 mission. As part of her job, along with the newsroom staff, was to report all activity from the Johnson Space Center to the public in the form of broadcast, writing, or digital media. The Johnson Space Center is the home of human space flight, the NASA location (there are 10 NASA centers throughout the United States) where the astronauts work and train. The astronauts and their families usually live nearby. On that Saturday in February, Beth and the staff assigned to work this particular mission were just as shocked as the rest of the nation when they witnessed the live coverage of the re-entry of the shuttle, and the shuttle's break up after overheating from debris hitting the leading edge of the left wing at launch. Beth shares her memory of the event, along with the national memorial that happened shortly after on the JSC campus from her unique perspective as an employee trying to process the accident with the "NASA family" of employees during the difficult time. While difficult, there are opportunities to learn during times of crisis. At the end of the episode, Beth and Dean discuss a "planned" anomaly from SpaceX that recently took place last week- an abort test that resulted in an explosion of a Falcon 9 booster, and a successful separation and water landing of the Dragon capsule. This test was an unmanned success, and its demonstration of a successful abort away from the booster allows SpaceX to proceed with a crewed capsule test later this year (scheduled as early as next month!). About Apollo 1: https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/ About Challenger: https://history.nasa.gov/sts51l.html About Columbia STS-107: https://www.nasa.gov/subject/3308/sts107

Beth and Mat enjoyed sharing their Falcon Heavy Launch experience AND.. Why this launch was the MOST spectacular folks have ever seen What Light Sail 2 is, and why it's such a significant and inspiring citizen-science project, and what it could mean for the future for space travel How Mat has ALWAYS been inspired by space exploration and joined the National Space Society at a very young age What it's like working with the talented team of experts at the Planetary Society, including his "boss" Bill Nye the science guy! How hosting Planetary Radio allows Mat to tell the story of space exploration and showcase the narrative of the people who work to explore and document everything going on within space. About Mat: Mat Kaplan loves hosting and producing Planetary Radio. He was just 17 when he got his first job in broadcasting, yet it wasn't until the 2002 premiere of The Society's popular weekly broadcast and podcast series that he combined his twin loves of space and radio. A Planetary Society staff member for more than 15 years, Mat also plans and manages technical support for our Planetfest celebrations and other major events and webcasts. Outside of The Planetary Society, he hosts a series of live events for Southern California Public Radio called NEXT: People|Science|Tomorrow, and frequently serves as moderator or speaker at space and science gatherings. His extensive background in journalism has ranged from public radio reporter covering the political conventions to movie reviewer for an international magazine. Some may remember him as a correspondent for a pioneering national TV series about personal computers. Mat also enjoyed a 30-year career in higher education that included major television awards and recognition for service to the community. The longtime Long Beach, California resident has two adult daughters raised to be citizens of the solar system. Mat is available as a moderator or host for conversations about space and science topics. He's also a passionate speaker about the mission of The Planetary Society, the importance of space exploration and development, and the history of human fascination with Mars, including robotic exploration of the Red Planet. Where to find Mat Kaplan: Planetary.org Follow Mat on Twitter at @planrad BONUS LINKS AND NOTES FROM THIS CASUAL SPACE CONVERSATION: This is the rocket image Beth and Mat reference from the launch YOU CAN'T MISS: #rocketnebula This is the what's what about NASA's recent announcement to move forward with the Dragonfly Mission: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasas-dragonfly-will-fly-around-titan-looking-for-origins-signs-of-life

"We are addressing the problem of communications, being able to provide big data from small spacecraft." -Doug Stetson from FreeFall Aerospace When we travel through and explore space, we're going to need to communicate, and gather a LOT of data. Fast, reliable, low-cost access to large volumes of data is one of the most critical capabilities that will define the future. So the folks at Freefall provide some pretty neat technologies that help move data and help us communicate effectively and quickly. Julie Bonner and Doug Stetson sat down with Beth at SpaceCom Expo in Houston, Texas and highlighted these new technologies, why and how they will "disrupt" and improve communications, and what some of the challenges their company, Freefall Aerospace, will have to overcome, including a LAUNCH later this year. Freefall's technologies include an All-Sky Antenna (think of an antenna for things on the move like vehicles and ships), an INFLATABLE Cubesat Antenna (think of a small, thin, skinny balloon) and a Smart City Antenna, all enabling data to move quickly- which is going to be important in the space-based communication systems we'll use. "We are developing some very innovative technologies. That's a good thing, but one of the challenges is that when you have something that's what we call disruptive, it has to be not just a little bit better, but a LOT better than the other systems that people and companies are used to using…and it's a question of proving to the community that the rewards of using this type of new system are worth the additional risk to implement something new." -Doug Stetson About Doug Stetson: Doug Stetson is President and CEO of FreeFall Aerospace, a small business dedicated to advancing and developing innovative antenna technology for satellite communications and 5G internet applications. Prior to founding FreeFall in 2016, Doug spent nearly 30 years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a variety of technical and management positions including several assignments at NASA Headquarters. At JPL, he had lead roles in systems engineering and mission design for a number of high-profile missions to Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and was responsible for the development of new planetary mission concepts and programs. Doug led the development of a number of mission and technology "roadmaps" for the national science community and NASA, and established new initiatives for mission and system innovation and cost assessment. During his three tours at NASA Headquarters, Doug served as the deputy manager of the NASA Advanced Planning and Integration Office, coordinated development of the Agency's 2003 Strategic Plan, and served as acting chief of Planetary Advanced Studies in the early 1990's After leaving JPL in 2008, Doug established the Space Science and Exploration Consulting Group and was project manager for the LightSail mission, a privately-funded Cubesat that successfully deployed and tested a solar sail in Earth orbit. Doug holds a B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.He is the recipient of a number of local and national awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the JPL Award for Excellence in Leadership. About Julie: Julie Bonner, Marketing Director for FreeFall Aerospace, connects partners, vendors, and investors to FreeFall's intelligent antenna systems. She's created marketing campaigns and collateral for national corporations like Mister Car Wash and Clear Channel Outdoor, to Tucson-based start-ups and non-profits. She has been awarded the Tucson AdFed Next Generation Award for making a significant impact on the advertising industry through leadership, career achievements and personal qualities, which also inspire others to excel. She is also active in Start-Up Tucson, Arizona Technology Council and Local First Arizona. Julie holds a Bachelors of Science in Graphic Design from Drexel University and a Masters in Business. For more information about FreeFall: www.freefallmovingdata.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freefall-aerospace/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeFall5G Did you know… FreeFall Aerospace received the 2019 Innovator of the Year Startup Company award https://freefallmovingdata.com/innovator-of-the-year/ Listen to more! Julie was recently interviewed about marketing for FreeFall: https://youtu.be/20kvGzZ0bt8

Jason is the lead for Orion Crew Systems Integration at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Human factors are always considered when designing a new spacecraft for the crew. Jason and his team consider EVERY BUTTON, SWITCH, and DIAL placement, function, and purpose. This is just a PART of Jason's intricate role helping our space exploration crews travel safely… he's got more than 25 years of experience training astronauts and flight controllers to operate life support system components on-board the International Space Station, AND he's trained response to on-board emergencies such as fire, rapid depressurization, and toxic release. Whew! Impressive! How did it all start? Jason's MOM took him to see Star Trek at a young age where he was first introduced to space designs and ideas! He knew at an early age that he wanted to be an aerospace engineer. When you left Shuttle Program to go to International Space Station Program, what were some of the challenges? "One of the most difficult challenges applying his years of knowledge from International Space Station to the new Orion capsule, has been the size. There's also a different identification language from station to capsule. These are intricate details that are really important…" All of the consumer electronics impose challenges on board when in space. Batteries can be very toxic. (A fire in space is really bad). Materials testing is important, knowing what kind of chemicals on board is very important. It can ever determine the type of masks the crew would wear in the case of an emergency. "Crews accept risks every day. That's not going away. There are things that can go wrong and we put together a response that we think will work, but it's not proven. We owe it to them to make sure we are looking at hazards and are reasonably addressing them. Even if it's something simple and straightforward."- Jason Hutt What's next for your work on Orion? "Human In the Loop" testing campaign- where crew members get into the mock-ups, and all the various aspects of the cockpit are tested. Jason and the human engineering team take concerns and issues to a forum to be presented along with doctors, health care representatives, radiation experts, astronaut representatives, operations, an entire team of people! They look to address each of the problems and concerns to see what and how needs to happen next. FUN FACTS ABOUT JASON ONLY DISCOVERED IN THIS EPISODE OF CASUAL SPACE: "Jason brings a sense of safety and relaxation to every mission….." STAR WARS helped influence Jason's work on modern-day space ship designs! Jason is going to Disney's Galaxy's Edge in Florida with his family to geek out! Astronauts provide feedback to Jason and his team when they return from a spaceflight! Jason is a Sci-fi writer! One of his books features a realistic story of how to take care of a spacecraft if you were needing to live inside it for a really long time. Hmmm, sounds like work imitating life imitating work….. About Jason: Jason is the Orion Crew Systems Integration Lead at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Co-Chair the Orion Cockpit Working Group. Review proposed crew interfaces and crew support hardware to ensure they meet NASA requirements. Jason and his team help formulate technical recommendations on the addition of new hardware to the Orion cockpit through the integration of design proposals from hardware owners with assessments from human engineering, environments, radiation, acoustics, and crew medical experts. Jason has worked to help support both the space exploration crews and the vehicles that carry them beyond Earth's orbit for quite some time. More about Jason… in his own words: Jason Hutt has worked in human spaceflight for 20 years, contributing to the development and operations of the International Space Station and, more recently, as the Crew Systems Integration Lead for the NASA Orion Program. Over 20 years, he's held a variety of roles including ISS Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Instructor, Station Training Lead, ISS CAPCOM, as well as various management positions. In his current role, Jason is responsible for ensuring the integrated Orion cockpit allows the astronaut crew to successfully and safely complete Artemis Program missions. Jason lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, 3 daughters, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and a handful of fish. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and started his professional career commanding satellites as a contractor for the US Navy. Originally from Philadelphia, he has never met a cheesesteak he wouldn't eat. In his spare time, you may find him writing science fiction or tinkering in the Star Wars room of his house. For more information about Orion: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/orion/index.html Check out a sneak peek video of inside Orion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVYwFFzaPp0

The tables are turned in THIS episode as Dean takes over the microphone! Dean wants to know the HOW, WHO, and WHY so he asks: How did Beth's love for space exploration start? Who were some of the people that helped Beth in her success? Why did she start the CASUAL SPACE PODCAST? Dean's approach is as much fun as it is sincere. Get a genuine understanding for Beth and Dean's passion for space exploration, right down to the heart of their inner geek. Did you know? Beth went to Space Camp 3 times? Once as a student, once as a teacher, and two years ago, she returned with her daughter to attend the family space camp program! Did you know? Beth had to TYPE OUT her application to NASA? She sill has it- and shares it only with students looking to achieve their goals when she presents her keynote, "Lessons Learned from NASA." Guess what?! Beth made Dean do the JOBS IN SPACE excerpt of this podcast- Hey, if you're going to hijack a show- you've got to take the entire show on! Did you know- You can contact Beth directly with questions, ideas or comments about the show at [email protected] Happy New Year everyone! Get ready for more fun and great episodes of Casual Space in 2020!!! About Beth Mund: Beth is a speaker, writer, and space advocate. Beth speaks to authors, engineers, space experts and enthusiasts weekly on her podcast, Casual Space, and delivers keynote programs and workshops for companies and organizations worldwide. When she's not advocating #spaceisforeveryone, she's attempting to bake the perfect macaroon, or looking for the next family adventure. BethMund.com

Bill Foster is a Ground Control Officer and has supported more than 50 NASA missions from within Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center. He shares his unique perspective with Beth on: What it's like INSIDE NASA's Mission Control Center? Bill walks us through a behind-the scenes history of the Mission Control Center: from the state-of-the-art projectors on the main screens in the 1960s, to the modern ground stations around the world (along with the Air Force and the Deep Space Network) have all helped ensure mission success Simulations. Mission-like environments that help crews both on the ground and in space. These simulations are at the very heart of what NASA does to ensure mission safety and success. Movie stars! Rock stars! And NASA's own stars: the people who stay calm, collected and focused during our most impactful moments in space exploration… Bill has been witness to all of this and more. He shares a few of his most impactful moments and fun memories with us on Casual Space. If you would like to hear more about Bill and his work Episode 26 features Bill Foster, Ground Controller in Mission Control Houston, talks about how space communication networks work and what they will look like for missions into deep space, listen to NASA's "Houston, We Have a Podcast," Episode number 26: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/can-you-hear-me-now/ About Bill Foster: Reports to the Flight Director during real time mission support on all matters concerning the Mission Control Center and NASA Integrated Network required to receive and display telemetry, radar data and voice; and works to transmit commands and voice to/from spacecraft carrying NASA and International Partner Astronauts. Bill manages a team of backroom support personnel in the MCC and at various locations throughout the Integrated Network to ensure proper support to human spaceflight. Bill has served as lead Ground Controller (GC) for Space Shuttle Ascent and Entry phases of flight, and currently supports the International Space Station, major upgrades to the MCC and supporting MCC and network requirements for Boeing CST-100 spacecraft. Learn about NASA's Mission Control at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8aWXJeh9R4 And: https://www.nasa.gov/content/johnson-space-centers-mission-control-center-1/#.Xf0470dKg2w

Dr. David Warmflash returns to the podcast to discuss the timely anniversary of Apollo 12, and shares several highlights from this mission and potential future lunar missions on episode 53, including… The crew, Commander Charles, "Pete" Conrad, Alan Bean, and Richard Gordan- were a great crew who helped cheer one another on throughout the mission. It was a very different tone than some of the previous Apollo missions…. Seeing Earth from the distance (The Overview Effect), caused several Apollo astronauts to come back changed in many ways, some becoming artists! Check out some incredible astronaut artwork here from Alan Bean that was referenced in the show: https://www.alanbean.com/ The many insightful spinoffs we still benefit from the Apollo 12 mission, 50 years later! Find David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-warmflash-md-b1234a/ Find a copy of David's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Illustrated-Colonies-Tomorrow-Histories/dp/1454931981/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=David+Warmflash&qid=1576026327&s=books&sr=1-1 About David: Dr. David Warmflash is an astrobiologist and prolific science writer. He was in the first cohort of NASA astrobiology postdoctoral trainees and served as a member of NASA's Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Science Definition Team. He has collaborated with The Planetary Society on three experiments that have flown in space, including "the peace experiment" that involved an Israeli and a Palestinian student working with Dr. Warmflash as co-investigators. He has published in scientific journals and popular science publications including Wired UK, Scientific American, Discover, Air and Space, Astronomy Magazine, and others. He contributed to the book George and the Blue Moon by Lucy Hawking and Stephen Hawking, and was interviewed for an article in the Kansas City Star concerning the accuracy of the science in the sci-fi TV series Orphan Black.

Kevin Cole is a geologist and astronomer who loves looking at what makes up our planet, and the planets all around us. When we study rocks from our planet Earth, sometimes we find answers to the questions within our universe! Beth never knew rocks could provide so much information, until she talked to Kevin. Beth asks Kevin to take a geological tour of the universe and his description is fascinating. No joke- gather your kiddos and learn about the interesting parts of our solar system that you may never knew! Bacteria, bugs, and things that survive in space! We discuss tardigrades and Apollo mission bacteria and such. Kevin worked to support the Galileo space probe program; helping to educate folks about this impressive mission. We both cry a tear for how these great machines need to quietly die in order to protect the biological environment of the planet. If Kevin could travel to just ONE place in the UNIVERSE to study the planet as a geologist, it would be…(Kevin describes the details of this incredible place, and you'll want to go there, too). "Plate tectonics has pretty much changed the entire way we've looked at our planet Earth. I tell my students, 'if you really want to take a look at really an alien world, go back in time about 300 million years ago and look at the Earth, you won't recognize it' ." – Kevin Cole on the Casual Space Podcast About Kevin Cole: Kevin is an assistant professor of geology and astronomy, and current department chair of the Department of Physical Sciences at Harper College in Palatine, IL. In 1992 he completed his MS degree in Geology from the Univ of Ill-Chgo (UIC) modeling the paleohydraulic characteristics that formed the massive channels on Mars' surface called outflow channels. Prior to becoming a science educator, he participated in the analysis and classification of meteorites from all over the world, especially from Africa and the Antarctic while working with the Planetary Studies Foundation; and researched many types of advanced planetary mission concepts (manned and robotic) for NASA while at Science Applications International Corp, Space Sciences Division. In 1998, he received a NASA/JPL fellowship award as part of the Solar System Educator Program, focusing on education and public outreach for the Galileo Europa Mission, an extension of the Galileo Mission at Jupiter. Subsequent missions in which he served in this capacity included the Deep Impact Mission to comet Temple1, and the STARDUST Mission to comet Wild2. Experience the inspiration from a LIVE program at Harper College: https://www.harpercollege.edu/observatory/index.php Read more about the solar system here https://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/index.html

Marcelo Gleiser is a theoretical physicist who specializes in particle cosmology, working to study and make sense of the fundamental questions we all share about the origins of the cosmos, life and our conscious mind. On this episode, Marcelo shares… His very close connection to Albert Einstein, how this connection invited Marcelo to learn beyond about Einstein the scientist; he was encouraged to learn about Einstein the man. His idea about "reality amplifiers" the tools we can use to help us discover the world around us. Thoughts about what research has shown us (or not shown us) about dark matter! Dark energy! Gravitational waves! What are they!?! Will we ever really understand the universe? "Science, philosophy and religion are the tripod of humanity that have helped us find the answers to who we are." – Marcelo Gleiser on the Casual Space Podcast About Marcelo Gleiser: Marcelo Gleiser is a theoretical physicist at Dartmouth College specializing in particle cosmology—mixing the physics of the very smallest constituents of the universe with the physics of the universe as a whole. To make sense of the world and our place in the grand scheme of things, he studies the emergence of complex structures in nature, focusing on very fundamental questions related to what he calls the "three origins": cosmos, life, and mind. Where to find Marcelo and his work: https://marcelogleiser.com/ Reach Marcelo's best-selling books! https://marcelogleiser.com/all-books

Stuart helps Beth understand the work he and the team at Catapult… a unique technology and innovation company, boosting UK productivity by helping organizations harness the power of satellite -based services. Beth asks Stuart, "What is Catapult?" (A network of physical locations designed to transform the UK's capability for innovation in specific areas and help drive future economic growth.) Stuart explains to Beth how he's driven by how his team's actions to help different organizations (both large and small), bring new space services to market. Stuart believes that connecting industry and academia allow new research from the ground get into the space market more quickly, and what the future generations of space industry influencers are the real "heroes." About Stuart Martin: Stuart is CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult. He joined the Catapult in January 2013 from Logica (now part of CGI) where he was Business Director for Space and Satellite Communications for nearly seven years, leading all the company's activities in the Space domain. Stuart is a former vice-chair of UKSpace, the British trade association representing the Space industry, and council member of Eurospace – its European equivalent. He also sits on the UK Space Leadership Council, the top-level cross-industry, academia and government stakeholder group responsible for overseeing and implementing the UK Space Innovation and Growth Strategy. Stuart is a passionate advocate of the Catapult programme, which he considers to be a vital element of the UK strategy to secure and accelerate economic growth from emerging technologies. Furthermore, for satellite applications, he believes there is a great opportunity to establish a world-leading position Where to find Stuart and his work at Catapult: https://sa.catapult.org.uk/about-us/ More featured and impressive guests like Stuart from the SpaceCom Expo are now here and available! Check out who's presenting what and when at: https://spacecomexpo.com/

Boeing! The U.S. Air Force! Space Command! Ron's been there, done that, and shares his experiences as he works to implement them at Astroscale (a pioneering international space technology company that is working to solve a global space-environmental problem) What is space situational awareness? Ron helps us all understand- there's a LOT of space debris out there… What is ELSA-D? (It's a very exciting project you should know about- coming soon in 2020!) https://astroscale.com/showcasing-elsa-d-to-japanese-prime-minister-abe/ Beth HIGHLY recommends checking out Astrocale's website- it's got incredible graphics and information that really paints a clear picture of orbital debris within our Earth's orbit: https://astroscale.com/ About Ron Lopez: Ron joined Astroscale as Managing Director in April 2019 to lead the company's business operations in the United States.Ron brings over 25 years of government and industry experience, encompassing systems engineering, program management, sales and marketing, technology/research and development management, and strategy formulation. Ron started his career as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force, serving as the focal point for Space Situational Awareness capability development at Air Force Space Command's Space Control Division. He then joined Boeing and worked on various programs as a Systems Engineering Manager within Boeing Research & Technology and Phantom Works and led business development activities for the Network & Space Systems division throughout the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Astroscale, Ron led the Defense & Space Asia Pacific sales team at Honeywell Aerospace, helping the company achieve significant sales growth and expansion into new markets.Over half of Ron's career has been spent working and living in Japan, and he is an active member of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation's U.S.-Japan Space Forum.Ron earned a Bachelor of Science from The United States Air Force Academy in 1993. Where to find Ron and his work at Astroscale: https://astroscale.com/ More featured and impressive guests like Ron from the SpaceCom Expo are coming! Check out who's presenting what and when at https://spacecomexpo.com/

Mike's love for space exploration runs deep and was influenced by the space movies and museums that he enjoyed as a kid. Now he enjoys watching rocket launches through the eyes of his kids! Mitigating orbital space debris- what does this mean for the future of space and how both governments and private industry can work together on this challenging issue? Mike helps us understand "the rules of the road" when it comes to how space debris is governed, and why the U.S. has been a leader in helping to serve as a model and an example for all countries exploring space helping to shape international space exploration policy. "[In the space community], you have highly capable people used to working in an environment where you need a team to get it done, and they have an overall sense of the mission – it's geared toward collaboration- and it's a very unique aspect of [this] industry." -Mike French About Mike French: Mike French is Vice President for Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association. As the lead of the Space Systems policy division, Mike works with AIA's membership to advocate for policies, regulations, and investments that ensure American leadership and strong industry partnership across the civil, commercial, and national security sectors. Mike's experience in the space industry ranges from advising senior government leaders on space policy, to developing market forecasts and assessments for industry executives, to analyzing major space investments for companies and banks. He previously served as the Senior Vice President for Commercial Space at Bryce Space and Technology, a market analysis and management consulting firm. Mike has also held several federal government positions, most recently serving as NASA's Chief of Staff, advising the NASA Administrator, White House, and other government leadership on national space policy issues. He received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal for his service. Prior to serving in government, he practiced law in the defense and aerospace sector in Los Angeles where he advised clients on matters regarding aircraft and aerospace weapons systems. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Where to find Mike and his work: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/ Career opportunities and this week's featured "Job In Space" at: https://www.aia-aerospace.org/careers/ More featured guests from the SpaceCom Expo are coming! Check out who's presenting what and when at https://spacecomexpo.com/

Christina Koch and Jessica Meir make HISTORY as the first two women to complete spacewalks TOGETHER in space! Beth and Dean review what this means for women everywhere, why this is a significant milestone for women, and how women have been a significant part of our success in space exploration for over 50 years. Beth and Dean discuss many firsts for women in space in this episode and more: NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir successfully completed a spacewalk on Friday, October 18, 2019– the first to be conducted by two women, which Koch and Meir replaced a faulty battery charger on the International Space Station's truss structure, restoring power capabilities for station operations and ongoing research. The spacewalk was Koch's fourth and Meir's first. Meir became the 15th U.S. woman to spacewalk, during the 43rd spacewalk to include a woman. Women have been performing spacewalks since 1984 – Russian cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya spacewalked that July, and NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan spacewalked in October that same year. Dean and Beth predict who will be the FIRST WOMAN ON THE MOON! If you want to hear MORE about the Women of the Johnson Space Center and the history of the work within the space program, Beth HIGHLY recommends, "Houston, We Have a Podcast, Episode 109 Women of JSC; Apollo to Artemis." Listen here: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/women-of-jsc-apollo-to-artemis About Dean M: Dean is an American Astronomer who has been gazing at the heavens for over fifty years. From early trips to NASA centers, Dean caught the Space Bug at a very young age. Having many mentors in his quest to become an astronomer, Dean excelled at Physics & Astronomy. The only problem I can see in becoming an astronomer is that I have trouble staying up at night. I was able to get around this situation by getting my Master's in Solar Physics. However, I did end up biting the astronomy bullet by doing research on Quasars and Galaxies. An early instructor of mine once said, "Dean, I don't understand how you can keep looking out the window and still get an "A" in my class." I responded to him by saying, "I hear and understand everything you're saying, but if I have questions, I'll ask. " That was my 6th grade science teacher Mr. Pederson. Dean went on to using major astronomical research centers in the Midwest, such as LARC Lindheimer Astronomical Research Center on the campus of Northwestern University and also Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago. Dean published 3 papers on his research. Published in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Being very outspoken, Dean was able to land a position at Marshall Spaceflight Center as a Public Affairs Officer. Beside his regular duties of promoting NASA, Dean was able to study computer programming. This led Dean to do minor software programs for the space shuttle. Recruited by the Jet propulsion laboratory in California Dean's position directly supported the MER program to Mars. Dean continues to actively promote NASA through his lectures to students and space enthusiasts throughout the Midwest. Dean's passion for Space & Astronomy has led him on a quest to educate the public through his classes and lectures on Space & Astronomy. Where to find Dean: www.TritionCollege.edu/Cernan www.HarperCollege.edu More news coverage about this historic spacewalk: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/18/nasa-astronauts-international-space-station-first-all-female-spacewalk/4020056002/ and https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/10/nasa-first-all-female-spacewalk/600331/ and https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/in-space-news-conference-to-review-first-all-woman-spacewalk and https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/women-of-jsc-apollo-to-artemis

Let's clear up some space myths with astronomer and author Bob King: Bob believes incorporating humor and fun is beneficial when learning about space! The Earth is NOT flat. It's fun to debunk myths about the Moon, the planets, the stars, gravity…contrails! Did you know Bob King IS the famous blogger AstroBob? Read his posts at: http://astrobob.areavoices.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/astrobobking/ Bob shares how to live a long & blissful life knowing we're safe from an asteroid collision with Earth. For now. About Bob King: From Bob "I've enjoyed the night sky and astronomy since childhood and love to share my passion through public observing, speaking and writing. I grew up in Illinois but have lived in Duluth, Minn. for many years. I'm the photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune and specialize in capturing moments and stories about people, but when the sun goes down you'll often find me out at night photographing the northern lights or fireflies. Besides my two books, "Night Sky with the Naked Eye" and "Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die," I write a frequently updated astronomy blog called Astro Bob and teach community education astronomy at our local planetarium. I also write for Sky & Telescope and Universe Today. May you always find inspiration in the stars!" Where to find Bob King: http://astrobob.areavoices.com/ More great books by Bob: https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Legends-Space-Biggest-Demystified/ And https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-blogs/explore-night-bob-king/ https://twitter.com/astrobob_bk/ Check out these fun facts about the Sun from NightSkyPix: https://nightskypix.com/facts-about-the-sun/

When we're exploring space, we have to play nice with others. And, protect our planet Earth. Cara and Beth discuss: How the Girl Scouts started Cara's love for space, then confirmed by the Mars Curiosity landing The Science Communication campaign Cara worked on to support the Rosetta Mission! Why studying in Ireland brings a new perspective when it comes to International Space Exploration How inspiring it is to see so many opportunities for women in the field of space exploration! About Cara: Cara Cavanaugh is a Science Policy Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) in Washington, DC, where she supports the space portfolio. Her projects have included analyses of asteroid mining, space situational awareness, and planetary protection policies. Ms. Cavanaugh graduated from Princeton University in 2016 with a BA in History of Science. Her senior thesis explored international relations between emerging space programs in Europe, Brazil, and the United States. She presented her research as a speaker at the 2017 European Space Agency History Conference in Padua, Italy. Ms. Cavanaugh received a Fulbright Award to complete an MSc in Science Communication at Dublin City University, Ireland. For her master's thesis, she collaborated with the European Space Agency to analyze the communications campaign for their Rosetta mission. During her Fulbright Award, she was chosen to represent Ireland at the 2017 Fulbright EU-NATO Seminar in Brussels. Before joining STPI, Ms. Cavanaugh worked in the Press Office and Marketing Department at Cell Press in Cambridge, MA. Where to find Cara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpcavanaugh/ More about the Science and Technology Policy Institute: https://www.facebook.com/SpacePolicyInstitute/ And https://www.ida.org/en/careers/students-and-recent-graduates/summer-associate-internships-and-fellowships/science-policy-fellowship

Everything you ever wanted to know about exoplanets! Our Resident Space Expert Dean explains: Who, what, where and why exoplanets are important! What is TESS and Kepler as it relates to our search for exoplanets and What we can expect in the future once we find planets outside our solar system that might be able to host life! About Dean: BS Technical Photography MS Astrophysics NASA MER Mars program NASA Public Relations Astronomy instructor & lecturer Where to find Dean: www.TritionCollege.edu/Cernan www.HarperCollege.edu

The movie Contact was inspired by scientist, Jill Tarter! Sarah and Beth discuss: What it was like to meet (and then write about) her childhood mentor, Jill Tarter How Sarah met Jill and asked to write the story of Jill's life- all from a bus?!? The impression left on you growing up with rocket launches in your backyard And… what the future of SETI might bring us – answers to our deepest questions- are we alone in the universe? About Sarah Scoles: http://www.sarahscoles.com/ "I'm a Denver-based freelance science writer, a contributing writer at WIRED Science, a contributing editor at Popular Science, and the author of the book ​Making Contact: Jill Tarter and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. A writing portfolio lives here. In previous lives, I was an associate editor at Astronomy and a public education person at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. When I'm not making sentences or recording our conversations, I enjoy reading short story collections, running weirdly long distances in the wilderness, teaching my dog English, and trying to become a better navigator." Learn more about SETI: https://seti.org/ Watch Jill Tarter's TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_tarter_s_call_to_join_the_seti_search

Jeffrey discusses with Beth: How Jeffrey became a entrepreneurial pioneer, becoming one of the first (commercial) space contractors (working on the Russian space program on MIR and Soyuz, and later with the international Space Station). About starting the first commercial space company, NanoRacks and what's on the horizon for the company's (international) future… About bringing whiskey to space! And so much more, including Jeffrey's perspective on: About space exploration's public and private partnership About loving space exploration at a young age and why space is alive now more than ever! How space is not the first or final frontier About Jeffrey Manber: Jeffrey has served as the CEO of NanoRacks since 2009, growing the company into the first commercial space station company with customers. Before NanoRacks, Jeffrey was the only American to officially work for the Russian space program, he served as Managing Director of Energia USA, carried over the first commercial contract between NASA and the Soviet Union, and served as CEO of MirCorp, which leased the Russian space station. While at MirCorp, he oversaw the first ever, and still only, commercially funded manned mission, of over 70 days, to the Mir space station. Jeffrey later represented Russian space organizations when the initial International Space Station contracts were negotiated. He also co-developed the first fund dedicated to commercial space on Wall Street (Shearson Lehman) and has served as an adviser to numerous companies and governments. The author of three books, his second (Selling Peace) chronicles his time working with the Russian space program. In 2012, Jeffrey was awarded the NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal, and in 2017, Space Frontier Foundation's Pioneer of New Space Award. In 2018, Jeffrey spoke before the National Space Council and Vice President Mike Pence on commercial trade with China on space services. Read and learn more about Jeffrey's work at: http://jeffreymanber.com/ Watch numerous media clips about Jeffrey and his perspectives at: http://jeffreymanber.com/media/ Read about NanoRacks here: http://nanoracks.com/ From Wikiwand.com: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Jeffrey_Manber Jeffrey Manber is regarded as one of the pioneering commercial space entrepreneurs.[1] As CEO of NanoRacks, from 2009, Manber has steered the growth of the first company to own and market its own hardware and services on board the International Space Station.[2] Manber has been involved in several of the key breakthrough commercial space projects, principally those revolving around the commercialization of space assets as well as the integration of the Russian space industry into major space programs, including that of the International Space Station. Manber is believed to be the only American to be an official part of the Russian space corporation, RSC Energia, during their privatization period of the 1990s.[3]

Beth, Kelly and Zach have way too much fun geeking out about: Whether or not we would put an Elon Musk- invented NeuroLink implant in our brains… How Kelly and Zach had to really focus on only 10 technologies for their book, "Soonish" Kelly's extreme fear of being bored and her many career achievements from bugs to asteroids…and how she keeps parasites in her ice cubes in her kitchen freezer sometimes (not really). Asteroid mining and the future of accessing raw materials while we're traveling in space How Zach captures his cleverness all in one (single-panel) cartoon About Kelly: Dr. Kelly Weinersmith From www.weeklyweinersmith.com: "I'm a parasitologist, podcaster, mom, and sci writer (not necessarily in that order). I study parasites that manipulate the behavior of their hosts, making the host behave in ways that benefit the parasite. My favorite parasite is the crypt-keeper wasp, which you can read more about here. I am an adjunct assistant professor at Rice University in the BioSciences Department. You can find out more about my research here. Follow me on twitter, where I occasionally post photos of the cool parasites I study." -Kelly Read and learn more about Kelly's work at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/01/crypt-keeper-wasps-parasites-new-species/ and www.weinersmith.com About Zach: Zach Weinersmith is the creator of the popular webcomic SMBC, the creator of the nerd comedy show BAHFest, and the co-author of the New York Times-bestselling popular science book, Soonish. Read and learn more about Zach's work at: Zach's graphic novel on immigration (Open Borders, with Bryan Caplan) http://openborderscomic.com/ And http://theweinerworks.com/ Watch great videos with BOTH Zach and Kelly: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=about+kelly+and+zach+weinersmith&&view=detail&mid=8EB541CDAE82452444AC8EB541CDAE82452444AC&rvsmid=CB7EFDB51B7A10837EF1CB7EFDB51B7A10837EF1&FORM=VDMCNR

There's lots to learn in this episode including: What makes neutrinos (the building blocks of the universe) so important and so elusive! What you can see in a particle vacuum- they pop in and out of existence- and Jessica is searching for new particles! How Jessica was inspired by watching sci-fi shows with her aunt, and how knew she wanted to become an astrophysicist at a very young age. And… what is Wakandacon? https://wakandaconforever.com/ At the end of the day, what Jessica wants YOU to realize, is that: "anybody can do physics, and anybody can study space! There's this mentality that you have to be Albert Einstein smart to study physics. Anybody can do it! Studying space or physics in general, is all about failure! When we think about it, it's the scientific method! You come up with a hypothesis or theory, you test that theory and it may not hold up- then you go back to the drawing board and start again. So being comfortable with failure- taking it in stride- and full disclosure, I'm still working on that!" About Jessica: http://jessicaesquivelphd.com/ Jessica Esquivel received her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas where she double majored in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics. She went on to become the 2nd black female to receive a Ph.D. in physics from Syracuse University in 2018, and worked to study neutrinos. Jessica now works as a Fermilab Postdoc research associate on the Muon g-2 experiment, where an inconsistence between experiment and theory could point to new physics! Jessica has recently been selected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science If/Then Ambassador! You can learn more about this impressive appointment here: http://ifthenshecan.org and AAAS - The American Association for the Advancement of Science African American Women in Physics, Inc Learn more about Fermilab National Laboratory: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Triple threat Tyler Nordgren and Beth talk about: Seeing the Great American Solar Eclipse in 2017 and what to expect when in comes back Why our National Parks are a treasure for our observation and appreciation Traveling the world in search of cosmic phenomenon About Tyler: Dr. Tyler Nordgren is a professional astronomer and artist. He holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Cornell University where he did work on dark matter as well as a B.A. in Physics from Reed College. For over a decade he has worked with the National Park Service to turn the national parks into the single largest source for public science and astronomy education in the world. His popular science book "Stars Above, Earth Below: A guide to astronomy in the national parks," reveals what visitors to America's national parks can observe in their dark night skies. The color illustrations in this book include both his night sky photography as well as vintage-style "travel posters" he designed to help the public learn about and see the astronomical wonders in the sky. For the 2017 "Great American Eclipse" he wrote the book, "SUN MOON EARTH: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets," describing the vast array of social and scientific influences eclipses have had throughout history. Dr Nordgren also produced a series of 30 eclipse travel posters for communities, state, and national parks in the path of totality. These posters are being collected by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In addition to the Smithsonian, Dr. Nordgren's work has appeared at NASA Headquarters and the White House where he designed the poster for President Obama's final White House Astronomy Night. In 2012, NASA's Curiosity rover joined Spirit and Opportunity on Mars, each carrying sundials, or "Marsdials" which Dr. Nordgren helped design through his science and art. Dr. Nordgren also leads astronomically themed tours for various companies to see the beauty of the northern lights in Alaska, dark skies in the Grand Canyon rafting the Colorado River, and locations around the world following the shadow of the Moon to share the glory of a total solar eclipse with the general public. Where to find Tyler and his books: https://www.tylernordgren.com/