Today In Space

EXPLICIT MATERIAL POSSIBLE The Sierra Nevada Corporation Dream Chaser flight vehicle is readied for 60 mph tow tests at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Aug. 2, 2013 Credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich Alex talks about the postponing of SpaceX's CRS-5 mission to resupply the ISS and also talks about some other private companies and what they are doing to help bring the cost down for space travel and help make it safer. The companies discussed are Sierra Nevada Corporations (SNC) Space Systems and Blue Origins, LLC. Blue Origin's pusher escape system rockets the Crew Capsule away from the launch pad, demonstrating a key safety system for both suborbital and orbital flights. Credit: Jeff Bezos, Blue Origins, LLC. Dream Chaser launches on an Atlas V rocket in this artist's conception. Credit: Mark Maxwell Over=head view comparison of the Space Shuttle (Right) and the Dream Chaser aircraft (Left) In the spirit of Christmas, Alex also demonstrates how the "horse-whinny" is done in that Christmas song - "Sleigh Ride", and what instrument actually makes that sound. TOPICS ON TODAY'S EP: The Holidays (the good, the bad & the ugly), SpaceX CRS-5, static fire test, beta angles, Sierra Nevada Corporations Space Systems (SNC), Dream Chaser, SpaceShipOne & SpaceShipTwo hybrid rocket engine, Launch America, Commercial Crew Program, NASA, Blue Origins, Beta Cutoff, "rotisserie mode", What instrument plays the horse call in "Sleigh Ride" & how is it done. Space Links: New F9R Rocket Get Static Fire Test | SpaceX Space HD – YOUTUBE.COM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsMNrhz5Nh "Back Then...In Space" - NASA's HL-20 http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/HL-20.html#.VJhsu0AACU SNC Space System Links (DreamChaser) http://www.sncspace.com/ss_about_dreamchaser.php https://www.youtube.com/user/SNCspacesystems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgdFotAkUEU Blue Origins, LLC. http://www.blueorigin.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l8aQ3hQyVs

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Alex brings you the information you should know as New Horizons makes its approach to Pluto and it's moons. Alex explains the history of why Pluto became classified as a "dwarf planet" in 2006. Learn a little bit about the mission & what to expect during the time until New Horizons reaches its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015. Also, Alex goes over the different data the science team is planned to gather during their time at Pluto. An artist's drawing shows the New Horizons spacecraft as it nears Pluto. The moon Charon is in the distance Image Credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwes In 2005, this image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was used to identify two new moons orbiting Pluto. Pluto is in the center. The moon Charon is just below it. The newly discovered moons, Nix and Hydra, are to the right of Pluto and Charon. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, H. Weaver (JHU/APL), A. Stern (SwRI), and the HST A drawing of the solar system shows Pluto's tilted orbit. Pluto's orbital path angles 17 degrees above the line, or plane, where the eight planets orbit. Image Credit: NASA Topics in this Episode: Pluto, Why is Pluto a dwarf planet Is Pluto being reconsidered a planet? New Horizons mission (start and voyage details) Geminid Meteor Showers 2014 What classifies a planet? AU (the International Astronomical Union) "Disgruntled scientists" Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics The temperature changes on the surface of Pluto The rocket launch system for the mission Jupiter Gravity Assist What happens during a 9 year mission History of the Pluto Keiper Express Cassini, Saturn, Pluto-Charon encounter Infrared & ultraviolet spectra Atmosphere Charon Styx Nix Kerberos Hydra Kuiper Belt Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) (Possible) extended mission details Space Links: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/index.php http://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons/on-plutos-doorstep-new-horizons-spacecraft-awakens-for-encounter/#.VI-mj4eMpJA http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/multimedia/index.html#.VI-O8IeMpJA Kuiper Belt (NASA) Explanation - via youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXoZwERokmI Kuiper Belt Encounters by New Horizons http://vimeo.com/45883622

EXPLICIT Content Possible Alex talks about the technology that will be tested on the next SpaceX launch (CRS-5) on December 16th, 2014: Hypersonic Grid Fins https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/536258543675252739/photo/1 Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/536262624653365248/photo/1 Alex then talks about the craziness that is the space race we are in the middle of, and he talks about how he got into the space industry. SpaceX unveiled its Dragon V2 spacecraft designed to carry humans into orbit. The company's founder and CEO, Elon Musk, detailed aspects of the design that was developed in partnership with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Image Credit: NASA/Dmitri Gerondidakis TOPICS ON THIS EPISODE SpaceX, CRS-5, Hypersonic Grid Fins, Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship, Falcon 9, Dragon, High School, Conversation SPACE LINKS: Article talking about why Orion may not be taking us in the right direction: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/space_20/2014/12/orion_test_launch_success_will_the_space_launch_system_succeed_for_crewed.html F9R 1000m Fin Flight | Onboard Cam and Wide Shot - (Fins deploy @ 1:10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLBIdVg3EM&app=desktop http://spacexstats.com/index.php Good link for How to download/listen/subscribe to podcasts http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-download-listen-to-podcasts-android-ios-iphone/

Alex gives you a play-by-play of the successful test flight of the Orion service module. Rapidly going through the highlights for today's incredible accomplishment, Alex goes through each major step, explaining different aspects of the mission as well. Alex also shows you how to 'properly' react to this historic event, not only as an American, but as a human being. Launch video of Orion (12/05/14) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hn8qnsucwo Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls Topics on today's Episode: Orion, NASA, Test Flight, America, Lockheed Martin, Delta IV Heavy Rocket, Heat Shield, Van Allen Belt, Radiation, Re-entry, the US Navy, Plasma, Communication Black out, Drogues, Main Parachutes, supersonic, Statute Miles (3,604.2 miles), 20,000 MPH vs. 88 MPH, 1st stage, second stage, RL-10B Engine, Max Q, Launch Abort System. SPACE LINKS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17 https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/ http://www.space.com/13566-photos-nasa-orion-space-capsule-test-flight.html?cmpid=514648 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDYK_qW6qHE via @BadAstronomer

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Today, the Orion Test Flight attempted to launch and faced several challenges during it's launch window and had to scrub the launch for 24 hours. Alex goes over the first (scrubbed) launch of the Orion Spacecraft from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. He goes over the incidents that caused the delay. ("Higher-than-expected" winds, another boat, and "sticky" Hydrogen Valves) He tells the story of the "Four-Inch Launch" of the Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) ...and gets a little too excitable about the boat that entered "restricted area". FAN Question: How do I subscribe/set-up/use a podcast app? How does it work? ANSWER: A HOW-TO for setting up a podcast (any podcast on multiple devices) so that you can listen to it in the best way possible will be up tomorrow. Make sure to check it out Space Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_1 http://www.universetoday.com/116986/high-winds-technical-issues-and-a-boat-delay-orion-test-flight/ http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/20141204-orion-scrub-report-sticky.html

EXPLICIT MATERIAL This is Part 2 of the Interstellar Podcast. Alex, and his guest John, discuss the problems of having a popular "main-stream" science movie. They also make their way through trying to explain the ending too. There is more film and science to learn about as well. Topics in Part 2: 'Her', Apollo 13, film, camera mounting, 'Gravity', field of view, Batman, Christopher Nolan, event horizon, human nature, Hans Zimmer, 'Inception'. Space Links: http://www.tomhanks-online.com/media/video/detail/76/apollo-13-filming-in-space

EXPLICIT MATERIAL SPOILER ALERT! DON'T LISTEN TO THIS IS YOU HAVEN'T/STILL WANT TO/CARE TO SEE THIS MOVIE. WE WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU. Otherwise... Join Alex and special guest John as they talk about the movie Interstellar. They talk about their initial thoughts, comparing the movie to other great sci-fi epics; Star Wars, Star Trek, Back to the Future, Gravity, etc. Be prepared to learn a little bit about the film and the science behind the movie. Topics from Part 1 Relativity, gravity, consequences of Space Travel, Love, Black Holes, "main-stream" science movies, Christopher Nolan, Hans Zimmer, the soundtrack, human nature, fear, Dreamchaser Shuttle, cowardice. Space Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser http://www.sncorp.com/BusinessAreas/SpaceSystems http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/events/2014/1202-past-life-present-life-the-future-of-solar-system-exploration.html

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Welcome back to another week of the show! Thank you everyone who got in touch with me about the show, I really appreciate the support! Enjoy this weeks segment! ELGR3CO Credit: USGS Astrogeology Science Center/Wheaton/NASA/JPL-Caltech Ganymede (Jupiters Moon) What is it? What do we know about it? New scientific research might show it's more similar to Earth than we though Credit: NASA 3D Printing - IN SPACE! Credit: 3Dprint.com November 25th, 2014 - The first thing 3D Printed EVER in Space! How 3D printing will help our Astronauts pour without gravity "Wanderers" by Erik Wernquist. http://vimeo.com/108650530 Alex also rambles about going to the gym and good advice from a friend. Space Links: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/14404/20140502/nasa-discovers-jupiters-giant-moon-ganymede-club-sandwich-oceans-ice.htm Scientific paper: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063314000695 https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jup_Ganymede http://vimeo.com/108650530 http://3dprint.com/27307/3d-printed-coffee-cup/

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Updates on the Philae mission CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK: Pronunciation of the "ORION" Some information on why the harpoons may not have released What is "Flight Heritage" Asteroids Some research shows we're getting hit with more asteroids than we thought Some facts about asteroids How many people have been killed by them? What are they made of? Where do most of the asteroids we know of come from? Alex then goes over different ways we could "defend" ourselves from asteroids - Info on the upcoming launches Orion (12/4/14) and SpaceX CRS-5 (12/16/14) Space links: Philae Harpoon Failure - Suspect Fuel http://txchnologist.com/post/102624788755/philae-harpoon-failure-suspect-propellant-that Asteroids may be more numerous than previously thought, scientists sayhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hazardous-asteroids-may-be-more-numerous-than-previously-thought-scientists-say/2013/11/06/c022a022-46f2-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html SpaceX Rocket Tank Production | Timelapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrR31nHCV-U&feature=youtu.be

Today, November 17, 2014, in Space! - Updates from the Philae mission - Correction from the last show: How many times Philae "bounced" vs. "touched down" - Overview of the Orion Launch System - 1st Test flight (12.4.14), overview of what to expect, etc - A few facts on why we use cones to exit atmospheres, and large wide surfaces to re-enter QUESTION OF THE WEEK: "How can we know what the Milky Way Galaxy looks like, if we are inside and have never sent anything outside the galaxy?" EXPLICIT MATERIAL POSSIBLE

The first independent segment of "Today in Space" with Alex. Alex explains some new things for the podcast, including the intent of the new 20 min episodes and what's to come. SPACE Topics: The Antares incident for Orbcomm3 The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Incident Test Pilots 3-Stage Rockets EXPLICIT MATERIAL POSSIBLE

Today, 11/13/2014, in Space! Alex covers the Rosetta mission and the landing of the Philae robot lander on comet 67P. He covers the mission, the after-math issues with the Philae lander. Later, he talks about the general use of the term "scientist", the difficulty of space travel, and his opinion on allowing robots to go first - then humans. Links: content via ESA http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Touchdown!_Rosetta_s_Philae_probe_lands_on_comet content via The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2014/nov/13/philae-lander-sends-picture-from-comet-video1 content via Universe Today http://www.universetoday.com/116135/get-a-look-at-philaes-first-photos/ © ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA © ESA/Rosetta/ NAVCAM – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0 EXPLICIT MATERIAL POSSIBLE ©ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA ©ESA/Rosetta/MPS forOSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA ©ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR