Houston We Have a Podcast

Laura Bollweg and Peter Norsk detail the effects that the microgravity environment has on human health, what we’re doing to counteract some of these effects, and the studies taking place to better understand how the Moon and Mars may have different impacts. This is part four of a six part series on NASA’s Human Research Program. HWHAP Episode 126.

Nancy Fleming and Kris Lehnhardt describe the challenges of providing the necessary medical capabilities to astronauts traveling deeper into space. This is part three of a six part series on NASA’s Human Research Program. HWHAP Episode 125.

Aaron Allcorn and Tom Williams discuss NASA’s efforts to understand the optimal spaceflight environment that maximizes human performance. This is part two of a six part series on NASA’s Human Research Program. HWHAP Episode 124.

Dr. Jenn Fogarty gives an overview of the Human Research Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This is the first in a series of six episodes that dive deep into the work being done to understand what exactly happens to the human body in space. HWHAP Episode 123.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar talks about managing finances for the Lone Star State and for its citizens. Hegar describes the economic impact of NASA on the state of Texas based on a report drafted by the Comptroller's office. HWHAP Episode 122.

Dr. Harrison Schmitt, the Apollo 17 lunar module pilot and the only geologist to walk on the Moon, discusses the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program, his Apollo 17 mission, what is scientifically interesting about the Moon, and what we have to look forward to during the Artemis program. HWHAP Episode 121.

Chris Hansen, manager of the Extravehicular Activity Office, talks about the next generation of spacesuits that will be used during the Artemis Program. Hansen discusses the features, development, and testing of the two suits, and he previews upcoming milestones before these new suits are worn by the next astronauts on the Moon. HWHAP Episode 120.

Heather Bergman, Justin Cassidy, and Drew Hood discuss how unique tools were developed to complete the on-orbit repair of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a space particle detector that’s hot on the trail of dark matter and dark energy. This is part three of a three-part series on AMS. HWHAP Episode 119.

Tara Jochim and Brian Mader talk about a unique and difficult set of spacewalks to repair an experiment called the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. The two discuss the work that has been done so far to prepare for these spacewalks and what the teams will be doing to execute these complicated maneuvers. HWHAP Episode 118.

Dr. Brandon Reddell discusses astrophysics, cosmology, and the science behind the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), an experiment looking for evidence of antimatter and dark matter in the cosmos. This is part one of a three-part series on AMS. HWHAP Episode 117.

Nujoud Merancy, Exploration Mission Planning Office Chief, returns to the podcast to explain how the mission architecture of the Artemis program differs from Apollo and why it is important to develop a sustainable presence on the Moon. HWHAP Episode 116.

General Stephen Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and Nick Hague, U.S. Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut, discuss how the Air Force and NASA work together and the future in space for the Air Force, NASA, and the Space Force. HWHAP Episode 115.

Samuel Lawrence, planetary scientist and lead lunar exploration scientist, discusses what we’ve learned about the Moon and some of the more interesting questions that we hope to answer when humans return in the Artemis program. HWHAP Episode 114.

Science journalist and Apollo historian Andrew Chaikin discusses why the Moon is a desirable object for exploration and makes the case for ​applying the lessons of the Apollo lunar program to NASA's Artemis program. HWHAP Episode 113.

A discussion of historical space policy with Stephen Garber and Glen Asner, co-authors of "Origins of 21st Century Space Travel," which examines the formation of NASA's Decadal Planning Team, the tragic Columbia accident, and the direction of NASA after the accident, which they argue shapes how the agency is laid out today. HWHAP Episode 112.

Benji Reed, director of Crew Mission Management for SpaceX, talks about the SpaceX Crew Dragon, the testing and training thus far including an uncrewed mission to the station, and the exciting future for the commercial crew vehicle. HWHAP Episode 111.

NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir talks about her path to becoming an astronaut, her education in biology and space, her research studying marine mammals and birds in Antarctica, and her training to prepare for her first space mission. HWHAP Episode 110.

Women Excelling in Life & Leadership (WELL) and the Human Systems Integration ERG hosted a panel discussion highlighting the legacy of women in spaceflight with panelists who worked at NASA during Apollo and current employees who carry on that legacy today. HWHAP Episode 109.

Tony Castilleja and Celena Dopart, Boeing engineers, talk about the Boeing Starliner spacecraft and all the testing and training happening to get the vehicle and crew ready for the first missions. HWHAP Episode 108.

Space philosopher and author Frank White discusses the impact of looking down at the Earth from above, and how it can create a shift in the way astronauts view and think about our planet and life itself. HWHAP Episode 107.

Bob Zeek and Stacy Hale talk about how students can build and fly hardware to the International Space Station as part of a program called HUNCH. Students in over two hundred schools across the country are doing hardware manufacturing, soft goods training, software development, culinary science and creating videos for station. HWHAP Episode 106.

Laura Shaw, the International Space Station Program Lead for Exploration Life Support Systems, discusses the systems on the station that create a livable and comfortable space for astronauts and cosmonauts. Shaw describes how improving these systems will be critical for exploring the Moon and Mars. HWHAP Episode 105.

Jason Hutt, Orion Crew Systems Integrations Lead, explains how the crew is prepared to respond effectively in the unlikely event of an emergency on board the Orion spacecraft at any stage of flight. HWHAP Episode 104.

Mike Read, International Space Station Commercial Space Utilization Manager, discusses NASA's new directive that further opens up the station for commercialization and space tourism with the goal of developing a robust economy in low-Earth orbit.​ HWHAP Episode 103.

Today's leaders of the human spaceflight programs at NASA discuss how Apollo 11 influenced their lives and careers and share their thoughts on the value of putting the "human" in human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 102.

NASA historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal shares some of the lesser-known stories of the Apollo 11 mission 50 years after the historic landing of humans on the Moon. Alumni from NASA's Apollo program share memories from their unique roles in those missions. HWHAP Episode 101.

For the 100th episode, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discusses the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing as NASA continues to move forward towards an exciting future with a sustainable lunar presence. HWHAP Episode 100.

Houston, we have a birthday! Episode 99 is a special episode to celebrate two years of Houston We Have a Podcast. Host Gary Jordan sits down with audio engineer Alex Perryman, co-host Pat Ryan, and co-host Dan Huot to talk about their favorite moments from this past year of episodes. HWHAP Episode 99.

NASA Astronaut Andrew Morgan shares his journey just before his first spaceflight. Morgan talks about his education, his time as a flight surgeon in the military, and his experience parachuting out of planes. He and his wife Stacey share how they are preparing their family for Morgan's nine month extended stay in space. HWHAP Episode 98.

Lynn Buquo and Steve Rader discuss how NASA is using crowdsourcing as a way to support research and development efforts by tapping into the expertise of global communities to create innovative, efficient and optimal solutions for real world challenges. HWHAP Episode 97.

Sandra Tetley and Adam Graves discuss the journey of restoring the historic Apollo Mission Control Center to look and feel exactly as it did in July 1969 during the moments before, during, and after the moon landing. Ben Feist then focuses on the cleanup of the audio tapes for the restoration project. HWHAP Episode 96.

Mark Baldwin, Orion Occupant Protection Specialist, talks about crash testing of the Orion spacecraft and why it is important to keep the crew safe during some of the most critical moments of their mission. HWHAP Episode 95.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, NASA chats with the rock band Shinedown about the similarities and importance of mental health for orbiting astronauts, touring band members… and everyone! HWHAP Episode 94.

Science fiction meets science fact during a live panel discussion at Comicpalooza in Houston about current medical innovations in space with NASA medical scientists and Star Trek: The Next Generation star Gates McFadden. HWHAP Episode 93.

In this recording of a live panel at the Johnson Space Center, experts discuss the historic Apollo 10 mission and how the lessons learned from that time will help us achieve our goal of returning to the Moon in 2024. HWHAP Episode 92.

In part four of this series, the team of scientists and technical staff turns 19,000 hours of digitized audio into transcripts, all of which can be accessed online. HWHAP Episode 91.

In part three of a special series, the heroes take on another technical challenge to rescue the Apollo 11 mission control tapes for posterity and for academic research. HWHAP Episode 90.

In part two of this special edition of the podcast, John Hansen and Greg Wiseman take the first crack at repairing the only machine capable of playing back the voice recordings of Apollo 11 flight controllers, and they soon find out they're going to need some help. HWHAP Episode 89.

In this special edition of the podcast, the voices of the people who saved a piece of American spaceflight history tell the tale of reviving an obsolete piece of audio equipment that was vital to digitizing the voice recordings of the Apollo 11 flight controllers in Houston. HWHAP Episode 88.

Dr. Andy Feinberg and Dr. Steve Platts discuss the history and details behind the Twins Study. The experts reveal some of the findings from the multi-year endeavor packed with 10 different investigations. HWHAP Episode 87.

Jonathan Abary, Pathways program manager, and Alexis Vance, Pathways intern in the crew and thermal systems division, discuss the Pathways internship program at NASA Johnson Space Center. HWHAP Episode 86.

Prominent local business leaders Cindy DeWease, William Harris, and Bob Mitchell discuss how the presence of the Johnson Space Center in Houston impacts the community and vice versa. HWHAP Episode 85.

Steve Barsi, European Service Module Propulsion Subsystem Manager, discusses the Orion spacecraft’s propulsion system, how it works and why it's suited for deep space travel. HWHAP Episode 84.

Spacewalk experts Tara Jochim and Art Thomason discuss the intense planning over months and sometimes years that goes into the complicated choreography of a spacewalk. HWHAP Episode 83.

NASA Astronaut Christina Koch and her husband, Bob Koch, discuss Christina's path to becoming an astronaut—her childhood in North Carolina, her education, and her work at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and in remote locations all around the world—as she gets ready to make the first spaceflight of her career. HWHAP Episode 82.

Mohammed Saibu and Juan Carlos Lopez, who are pursuing leadership roles at NASA through a program called FIRST, discuss some of the challenges of leadership and how this program will build successful leaders who will be the ones to put boots on our nearest celestial neighbors. HWHAP Episode 81.

Steve Stich, Deputy Manager for Commercial Crew, discusses how we are once again launching astronauts from American soil. Stich talks about the astronauts flying in the commercial crew spacecrafts, the upcoming test missions, and the role of private industry in the future of human spaceflight. HWHAP Episode 80.

John Lewis, Orion ECLS (Environmental Control and Life Support) system manager, discusses how the Orion spacecraft will keep the crew inside comfortable – and more importantly, alive – during a mission into deep space. HWHAP Episode 79.

Expert guests from the Apollo program reveal more behind the challenges faced to successfully land humans on the Moon in less than three years after the tragic Apollo 1 fire. HWHAP Episode 78.

Vanessa Wyche, Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center, leads a panel discussion with key players of the Apollo program to learn critical lessons that can be applied to NASA’s future human spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars. HWHAP Episode 77.