This week, we welcome Ethan Siegel on the podcast! Our guest, author of "Infinite Cosmos," discusses his STEM origin story from a curious child with a telescope to a renowned astrophysicist and science communicator. He recounts his educational path, including his PhD from the University of Florida and postdoctoral work at the University of Arizona.

Siegel emphasizes the importance of curiosity and overcoming crises in career choices. He highlights the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as a revolutionary tool for understanding the universe's early stages. Siegel's book, "Infinite Cosmos: Visions from the James Webb Space Telescope," explores JWST's discoveries, including the earliest galaxies and the formation of supermassive black holes. He calls for continued investment in space telescopes to uncover more cosmic mysteries.

For all you Big Bang Theory fans (the theory, not the show) Ethan showcases just how JWST & Hubble have helped us understand how the universe looks and now, thanks to Webb, how the early universe grew up! From black holes, to dark matter, and the early universe - there's plenty here for the astrophysics junkies & the space newbies. Make sure to check out Ethan's book here: https://amzn.to/48gg6xh

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/

https://bigthink.com/people/ethansiegel/

Topics:
James Webb Space Telescope, Ethan Siegel, astrophysicist journey, science communication, early universe, dark matter, pulsar timing, cosmic inflation, supermassive black holes, Orion Nebula, Fomalhaut system, discovery potential, National Geographic book, perfect launch, science outreach

Timestamps:

00:00 Ethan Siegel's Journey to Becoming an Astrophysicist
03:37 Ethan's Education and Early Career in Astrophysics
14:54 Navigating Career Crises and Choosing a Path Forward
19:12 Ethan's Early Universe Research Focus and Contributions
34:07 The Role of Curiosity and Continuous Learning
38:55 The impact of James Webb Space Telescope
52:58 Key Discoveries and Surprises from JWST
55:58 The Future of Space Telescopes and Cosmology
01:00:38 Closing Thoughts and Final Advice

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)!
Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net

#space #podcast #science #nasa #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #astronaut #jameswebb #jwst #webbtelescope #jameswebbtelescope #jameswebbspacetelescope #blackholes #earlyuniverse #darkmatter #bigbangtheory #infrared

Hey there Space Fam we’re back for another episode of Today In Space! We need to review SpaceX’s historic success of Starship’s Flight Test 5, which happened just this past Sunday on October 13th, 2024. They made the impossible possible and gave us a glimpse of what our future looks like going back to the Moon, on to Mars in 2026, and beyond in the future of human space travel. Let's dive right in!

This week we review some of the top facts from the mission in a lightning round, and then share a launch and landing breakdown! We close with some thoughts after Flight Test 5 showed us the impossible is quite possible, and this had me thinking about the first humans to touchdown on Mars and how Starship will change how we think about the crew selected for such an adventure.

Topics:

Starship launch, super heavy booster, liquid oxygen, methane plumes, hot stage separation, Mechazilla catch, 33 Raptor engines, propellant load, Starbase Texas, regulatory approval, boost back burn, lifting lugs, stainless steel, Mars missions, skilled labor

Sources:

https://www.spacex.com/updates/

https://x.com/ELGR3CO/status/1842607356611563936

https://www.spacevoyaging.com/news/2024/10/13/starship-completes-its-fifth-test-flight-demonstrating-booster-catch/

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-5

https://x.com/spacex/status/1845152255944819015?s=46&t=CTA3xJCHFoY9hV9qgrj4Jw

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:41 Starship IFT5 Facts Lightning Round
03:05 Details around Launch of Starship & Super Heavy Catch
04:42 Launch Breakdown: Challenges & Successes
07:50 Thoughts on Starship after successful flight test 5
13:47 How Starship will change the game is space
16:15 Closing thoughts and outlook for a fantastic future

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)!
Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net
• Try Magic Mind for added productivity & more well-balance and long lasting caffeine intake https://www.magicmind.com/TODAY20

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #eva #science #3dprinting #nasa #vanallenbelts #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #polarisprogram #3dprinting #polarisdawn #astronaut #3dprinted #spacewalk #crewdragon #falcon9 #elonmusk #starship #super heavy booster

We're back to start October for a Space Update!

This week on Episode 359:

• Crew-9 successfully docked with the space station, marking a significant milestone for the Commercial Crew Program as Crew Dragon acts as backup to bring Suni & Butch home in Early 2025
• Astronomy news | Comet C/2023-A3 Atlas is now visible, with its brightness increasing as it approaches perihelion (best time might be the last two weeks of October!)
• SpaceX's Starlink is aiding hurricane-affected areas (Hurricane Helene) with free internet services.
• Starship is assembled for Test Flight 5 and awaiting FAA approval for its fifth test flight.
  • My thoughts on SpaceX & the FAA
• Heading to NYCC to compete in Veefriends TCG Championship!

Topics:

Crew 9, Starliner drama, Commercial Crew Program, visible comet, Comet a3, Starlink satellites, Hurricane Helene, SpaceX Starship, FAA approval, Mars mission, New York Comic Con, VeeFriends TCG, trading cards, cosplay, space update

Sources:

https://earthsky.org/space/comet-c-2023-a3-sep-oct-2024-tsuchinshan-atlas/

https://www.space.com/comet-tsuchinshan-atlas-brightening-perihelion-how-to-see

https://www.instagram.com/veefriendscards/p/DAYzKQeOdcJ/

https://www.spacex.com/updates/

https://x.com/ELGR3CO/status/1842607356611563936

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:47 No more 'stranded Astronauts' Crew 9 at Space Station!
02:49 Astronomy news: Comet Atlas (A3) Visible in October!
05:40 SpaceX's Starlink and Hurricane Helene Releif
07:56 Starship and FAA Regulations
13:50 New York Comic Con and VeeFriends TCG Championship!

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)!
Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net
• Try Magic Mind for added productivity & more well-balance and long lasting caffeine intake https://www.magicmind.com/TODAY20

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #eva #science #3dprinting #nasa #vanallenbelts #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #polarisprogram #3dprinting #polarisdawn #astronaut #3dprinted #spacewalk #crewdragon #falcon9 #elonmusk

On this week's episode we are joined by John Conafay, the CEO & Co-Founder of Integrate to share his STEM Origin story and chat with us about the company. Integrate is touted as the only program management tool built specifically for multi-team hardware development. Another way of saying it could be that Integrate is bringing all of the various hardware teams involved in launching a rocket to space under one platform.

The overlapping timelines of each piece of hardware on that rocket is a daunting task, especially when more than one thing goes wrong. Going to space is not just technically hard, it's a web of decisions that all need to go right - and it's not being looked at as fully or strategically as even the most Space Hardcore might think!

John and his team at Integrate are working to solve this problem by bringing all of these hardware teams into one program management tool. One timeline, everyone's needs, one source of truth. Which, if done well, could help reduce many potential mistakes and stressful time management issues last second. Reducing these "easy human mistakes" with program management can make space travel more successful, cost less, and reduce a lot of baseline risk. At the end of the day, what's a rocket launch other than a string of risky decisions that need to go right in order to get to space?

We'd love to know what YOU think! Let us know in the comments below or by emailing us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com.

Topics:

space, industry, company, building, hardware, work, launch, integrate, risk, mission, sales, spacex, satellites, small launch, punk, entrepreneur, business, hardware integration, mission planning

Sources:

https://integrate.co/

https://blog.integrate.co/why-the-price-discrepancy-between-integrate-and-jira-d793dafd5b6d

Timestamps:

00:00 John Conafay Introduction & Background & What Integrate is all about
02:14 What is Business Development and Sales....in Space?
12:28 Challenges in the Space Industry today
15:42 Integrate's Role in Space Industry Collaboration
19:10 You need someone else to go to space - it's inherently Teamwork driven
26:14 John's Space Industry Origin Story
33:06 John's creative/entreprenureal Origin Story
41:52 When did you recognize the problem that Integrate was made to solve?
48:42 What excites you about the future of Space Travel?
55:18 Closing Thoughts & Motivation

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space and humanity!

Spread Love, Spread Science
Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:
AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram & Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #moon #science #3dprinting #nasa #tothemoon #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #lunar #3dprinting #create #astronaut #spacestation #lunarbase #lunar #moonbase #moon #integrate #projectmanagement #johnconafay

On this episode, we're breaking down the Polaris Dawn Mission after the Crew of 4 has returned safely from their 5-Day mission & 1st Commercial Spacewalk! If you wanted a quick catch up of everything Polaris Dawn - we got you covered. We'll start with a mission overview, and discuss the Human Spaceflight records broken, the scientific research done, the details of the spacewalk, reentry & splashdown recovery, and what we think are the significance and impact of the mission!

A great episode to get caught up! Let us know what you think in the comments or email us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com

Topics:

spacex, space, crew, astronauts, polaris dawn, spacewalk, spacesuit, EVA, nasa, human spaceflight, earth, launch,, science, research, falcon 9, crew dragon

Sources:

https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/

https://x.com/PolarisProgram

Timestamps:

00:00 Polaris Dawn Mission Overview
02:34 Breaking Human Spaceflight Records
04:51 Scientific Research and Spacewalk Details
06:47 Re-Entry and Recovery Process
08:59 Public Engagement and Future Plans
11:33 Significance and Impact of the Mission
16:09 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)!
Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net
• Try Magic Mind for added productivity & more well-balance and long lasting caffeine intake https://www.magicmind.com/TODAY20

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #eva #science #3dprinting #nasa #vanallenbelts #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #polarisprogram #3dprinting #polarisdawn #astronaut #3dprinted #spacewalk #crewdragon #falcon9 #elonmusk

On this week's episode Matthew Onassis and Luca De Caneva, co-founders of NAVXCOM, join us to discuss their company's mission to develop a Lunar Positioning System (LPS) for autonomous navigation and communication on the moon.

Matt & Luca share their STEM origin story which includes meeting at NASA identifying a gap in lunar infrastructure. NAVXCOM won a contract with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to establish the first proof of concept by the end of the year.

The NAVXCOM team aims to support autonomous lunar operations, including rover deployment and habitat preparation. Leaning into AI & collaboration in the space industry, NAVXCOM has big plans for dual-use technologies for Earth and Space Applications!

We'd love to know what YOU think! Let us know in the comments below or by emailing us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com.

Topics:
ai, nasa, companies, space, system, rovers, idea, lunar, proposal, talk, started, today, industry, terms, develop, people, satellites, moon, working, operations, navxcom

Sources:

https://www.navxcom.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Today In Space Podcast, we NEED Lunar Infrastruture!
03:15 Matthew Onassis & Luca De Caneva / NAVXCOM Co-Founders
04:41 What is NAVXCOM and Its Mission?
05:37 NASA Internship Experience
12:27 Transition from NASA to NAVXCOM
17:37 Challenges and Opportunities in the Space Industry
19:12 Lunar Positioning System (LPS), Autonomous Deployment and Scalability
45:24 AI and Cybersecurity in Space Technology
58:49 Future of NAVXCOM and Space Industry
01:11:03 Closing Remarks and Encouragement

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space and humanity!

Spread Love, Spread Science
Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:
AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram & Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #moon #science #3dprinting #nasa #tothemoon #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #lunar #3dprinting #create #astronaut #spacestation #ai #gps #lunarbase #lunar #moonbase #moon

We're back for another Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test update! NASA has finally made the decision to return the Starliner uncrewed, leaving the Crew 9 mission with two empty seats so that SpaceX can bring Astronauts Suni Williams & Butch Wilmore back to Earth in February 2025. It's been a summer full of human spacflight and enough chaos to go with it! We share the top 3 press questions from the conference that truly encapsulates the whole situation.

But this was a truly special day in Human Spaceflight History that I think will be given more appreciation in the future when we look back at it. In the meantime, the press will have a field day with Boeing. And while NASA will have some flack, they truly represented the best of human spaceflight today with this decision and how they held themselves in leadership positions. We need more of that. I'm very excited and optimistic for the future of space and humanity after today!

We'd love to know what YOU think! Let us know in the comments below or by emailing us at todayinspacepodcast@gmail.com.

Topics:

nasa, spacecraft, thruster, engineer, risk, data, boeing, testing, thrust, space, engineering, crew, astronauts, seal, problem, white sands, trust, decision, oxidizer, mission, vehicle, disagreement

Sources:

August 24. 2024 NASA Boeing CFT Update Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/AGOswKRSsHc?si=mi4qg-iAILJRONFa

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08/yes-nasa-really-could-bring-starliners-astronauts-back-on-crew-dragon/

https://apnews.com/article/astronauts-landing-space-station-frank-rubio-7826312581aa71a969781fbbb2dd9435

https://starlinerupdates.com/

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/nasa-nears-decision-on-what-to-do-with-boeings-troubled-starliner-spacecraft/

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/russia-will-abandon-soyuz-on-orbit-fly-up-a-new-one-to-bring-crew-home/

https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-changes-astronaut-seats-boeing-starliner

Timestamps:

00:00 NASA's Decision on Starliner and Crew-9 | Great Leadership from NASA!
04:00 Press Question #1 Rebuilding Trust with Boeing?
07:41 Press Question #2 Technical Disagreements and Data Analysis, when did the doubt begin for the thrusters?
11:41 Press Question #3 NASA's Decision-Making Process for choosing Crew Dragon?
14:41 Closing thoughts from Alex on the NASA decision

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)! Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
/TodayInSpacePodcast on Facebook

Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #moon #science #3dprinting #nasa #tothemoon #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #lunar #3dprinting #create #astronaut #solarpanel #spacestation #boeingstarliner #boeing #starliner

On this episode we are breaking down the next exciting human spaceflight mission: Polaris Dawn! The mission will be the 1st Commercial Spacewalk at 700km/435 miles above the Earth. Aside from breaking human spaceflight records, there will be an incredible amount of research, science, and technology demonstrations as well! The new SpaceX EVA (Spacewalk) suit, Crew Dragon spacecraft, and Falcon 9 rocket are ready - and so is the crew! Preparations for launch NET April 27th 03:38AM ET are underway!

We dive into the original of the Polaris Program, Inspiration 4 - which was the 1st Commercial Orbital Mission before it. It's commander - Jared Isaacman, is leading the Polaris Dawn crew to the next adventure of attempting the highest ever Human-flown Earth orbit & EVA! Meet the crew and hear the story of what to expect for this 5-day mission and why it might be the most underrated human spaceflight mission of 2024!

A great episode to get caught up before the launch - and some thoughts on why its important, as well as what to look out for on this 5 day mission!

Topics:

spacex, space, crew, astronauts, polaris dawn, spacewalk, spacesuit, EVA, nasa, human spaceflight, earth, launch, inspiration, SANS, science, research, falcon 9, crew dragon

Sources:

https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/

https://inspiration4.com/

https://x.com/PolarisProgram

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-023-02522-y

Timestamps:

00:00 Polaris Dawn Mission Overview
02:55 3D Printed Star Man Helmet
04:02 Inspiration4 - A Recap of the mission before Polaris Dawn
06:37 Polaris Dawn Crew Introduction
15:54 Mission Objectives and Research
16:14 Spacesuit Technology and Mobility
20:07 Mission Timeline and Launch Details
22:35 Final Thoughts and Future Polaris Program Missions

--------------------------

Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)! Spread Love, Spread Science

Alex G. Orphanos

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Support the podcast: MAGIC MIND You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code TODAY20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/TODAY20

AG3D Printing

Follow us:
@todayinspacepod on Instagram/Twitter
@todayinspace on TikTok
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Support the podcast:
• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - ag3dprinting.etsy.com
• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at ag3d-printing.com
• Donate at todayinspace.net
• Try Magic Mind for added productivity & more well-balance and long lasting caffeine intake https://www.magicmind.com/TODAY20

#space #rocket #podcast #people #spacex #eva #science #3dprinting #nasa #vanallenbelts #spacetravel #spaceexploration #spacecraft #technology #aerospace #spacetechnology #engineer #stem #artemis #polarisprogram #3dprinting #polarisdawn #astronaut #3dprinted #spacewalk #crewdragon #falcon9 #elonmusk