Today In Space

In this week's episode, Alex and the Assistant hangout and watch the live coverage of the DSCOVR launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9. While they wait, the two talk about Moon business and eventually aliens. The SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of DSCOVR has been scrubbed and will launch on Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 @ 6:05PM ETwith a backup for Wednesday, February 11th, 2015 @ 6:03PM ET You can watch it here on NASA-TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#.VNlHl8aM7y8   SpaceX DSCOVR Mission Patch Space Links: Moon Business http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1113327032/private-firms-exploring-moon-mining-02031 http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0L715F20150203?irpc=932 Great inforgraphic by Space.com about how SpaceX will land the Falcon 9 http://www.space.com/28167-spacex-risky-reusable-rocket-landing-infographic.html?cmpid=514648_20150208_40132816&adbid=564536686210596866&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible On this weekly update Alex does another Lightning round to go over some of the many things that have happened in Space since the last episode. This week's Lightning Round mixes electronic synth & beat loops as well as some disco-era baselines accompanied by the intuitive GarageBand Drummer Nikki.   She's not real...but she plays like she's real. Topics for this EP: Click the images for the link to the topic, and see underneath for extras! Inflation Deflated Image Credit: ESA/Planck Collaboration. Acknowledgment: M.-A. Miville-Deschênes, CNRS – Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-XI, Orsay, France What the hell is a CubeSats?! Image Credit: Clyde-Space.com Figure 1: Pumpkin 1U CubeSat Structure with Clyde Space Solar Panels. NASA's SMAP Launches Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls Z-1 Prototype Suit - To infinity, or just beyond? Image Credit: NASA. This new spacesuit prototype from NASA might reinvent the ways astronauts experience space. Whe

Welcome to the Weekly Update of Today In Space! EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Topics: The mission to put an Astronaut (Scott Kelly) and two Cosmonauts in space for a year. NASA & the team will check the effects of microgravity with identical twin Mark Kelly (who will be on the ground supporting the mission). http://www.msnbc.com/the-ed-show/watch/a-historic-space-mission-for-identical-twins-388472387515?cid=sm_TW http://www.universetoday.com/118388/president-obama-salutes-nasa-astronaut-kelly-and-1-year-iss-mission-at-state-of-the-union-address/ NASA astronaut Scott Kelly stands as he is recognized by President Barack Obama. Astronaut Scott Kelly will launch to the International Space Station and become the first American to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for a year-long mission. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls   The effects of microgravity on the human body http://www.space.com/20730-human-body-spaceflight-weird-facts.html Credit: "Inside my Sleep Pod - it serves as my bedroom, recording

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Welcome to a special bonus episode of Today in Space! In this episode, Alex talks more about himself and his experiences with college. This episode features the first "Lightning Round", a little experimental piece that could make it's way to being a regular segment. Let me know what you think, email the show at todayinspace.net/contact Topics: UPCOMING: Jan 26, 2015 - Asteroid 2004 BL86 Flyby-Stargazing Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The Mars 'Opportunity' rover - new real-color panorama of Mt. Tribulation & 'robotic amnesia' Opportunity’s view from Cape Tribulation Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State University UPDATE: Ceres Approach by Dawn - March 6, 2015. More info on Ceres Ceres Interior: Cutaway view of Ceres showing the differentiated layers of the asteroid. Last Update: 29 Mar 2011 Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI Last edited UPDATE: Orbital Sciences new Rocket Engines (RD-181's) for Antares and an overview of the manufacturing deal Energia (Russia)

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day everyone. We celebrate a leader who cared about the people and showed us all how to peacefully protest. Today in Space, Alex and the Assistant talk about: The first attempt at landing a rocket after 1st stage seperation by SpaceX's Falcon9 The mystery of the Beagle-2 on Mars - found after 11 years New Dawn mission images of Ceres as it approaches The guys also talk about the success of Boston this week, from Patriots to the UFC at the Garden. Enjoy! Space Links: SpaceX Vine of Falcon 9 attempted landing on DroneShip https://vine.co/v/OjqeYWWpVWK Beagle-2 Found on Mars 11 years later http://www.universetoday.com/118190/beagle-2-found-on-mars-after-an-11-year-hunt/ http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30784886 New Images of Ceres from Dawn http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn-delivers-new-image-of-ceres/#.VL1eMUfF-Ag

SPOILER ALERT! We will ruin these movies for you (Movies listed Below)   Alex has John back on the podcast so they can talk about their favorite Space-Related Movies and other things that happen to pop-up during the episode. Alex also opens with what happened Today in Space: The ISS alarm about a possible leak that occurred @ 4AM EST this morning and what we know What the ESA's Huygens Probe has accomplished and what we know about Titan because of it Enjoy! EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Spoiler: Movies that will be ruined for you (Not in order) Total Recall Armageddon Chronicles of Riddick Interstellar Star Trek Aliens Apollo 13 SPACEBALLS NO Star Wars   Serenity Gravity Wrath of Kahn Europa Report Alien The Fifth Element Galaxy Quest E.T. Elysium Space Links: http://www.universetoday.com/118175/ammonia-leak-on-the-iss-forces-evacuation-of-us-side-crew-safe/ Links to tweets I refer to in this podcast:  @NASA https://twitter.com/NASA/status/555353675418599424 @fcain https://twitter.com/fcain/status/5

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Today In Space, Alex brings updates from SpaceX's CRS-5 mission and the science that they'll be doing up in Space. He also talks about four different events in Space, from the years 1820, 1986, 1997 & 2005 that happened on January 12. Thanks to the friends who tried to keep me out tonight - love you all! But this shit is real. Enjoy! Space Links: http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/12/7531133/spacex-falcon-9-barge-returns-to-port-damaged http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_CRS-5_factsheet.pdf

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Alex dubs the CRS-5 Launch video (since he missed the live launch). He also talks about the cold weather, the student scientists who got a second chance, and things to come with the show! Enjoy! link to the Launch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7x-SumbynI&index=27&list=WL Space Links: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9 http://www.universetoday.com/117914/student-scientists-get-second-chance-to-fly-experiments-to-iss-aboard-falcon-9-after-antares-loss/ https://twitter.com/MarsWxReport/status/553189526487965698/photo/1

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Alex and the Assistant talk about the aborted CRS-5 mission today and what caused the engineers to stop the launch. They also talk about fear and anxiety and how to deal with it. Enjoy! The next launch attempt of the Falcon9 rocket and CRS-5 mission is slated for 4:47AM ET this Saturday (January 10th). You can watch coverage of it here Image Credit: SpaceX http://www.spacex.com/webcast/ Space Links: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/liftoff-aborted-spacex-attempt-historic-landing-delayed-n280391 http://www.space.com/28174-spacex-aborts-falcon9-rocket-launch.html?cmpid=514648 Russian Moon Base Plans http://www.business2community.com/space-science/russian-firm-plans-build-lunar-base-project-costs-estimated-9-4-billion-01113995 SpaceX | Grasshopper 325m Test | Single Camera (Hexacopter) - youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGimzB5QM1M

EXPLICIT MATERIAL Possible Today In Space, Alex introduces the new assistant to the show. The two go over the Big Bang, what it is and how we know about it. Alex then goes into the controversy with the Bicep teams study on Inflation and what the Standard Cosmological Model is - as it relates to the Big Bang. Enjoy! And don't forget to check out the SpaceX Launch tomorrow (01/06/15) at 6AM EST here http://www.spacex.com/webcast/ I'll be covering the launch with the Assistant tomorrow and it should be out by 7PM Space Links: New Spyder telescope launched from balloon in Antarctica  http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/science/big-bang-to-be-investigated-from-balloon-in-antarctica.html?referrer= Arguments against bicep - dust in calculations http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/science/space/study-confirms-criticism-of-big-bang-finding.html Planck mission http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Planck/Planck_reveals_an_almost_perfect_Universe The standard cosmological model - Lambda CDM expl

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! EXPLICIT MATERIAL Welcome to the 16th episode of Today In Space. Thank you to everyone for listening and subscribing, and I'm looking forward to bringing you more of what is new, today in Space! Here is Part 2 of the the "Opinion Panel" featuring Brian Folan. Alex and Brian talk about the Scientific Method, String Theory, Theoretical Physicists, "Armageddon", "Gravity", and real-life Zombie Brains. Enjoy!   Space Links: http://www.spacex.com/news/2014/12/16/x-marks-spot-falcon-9-attempts-ocean-platform-landing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_in_spaceflight http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/poisoners/ Brian had brought this article up to discuss, but considering I didn't read it before-hand, I really didn't have any right to give my take on it. So I cut that part of our conversation out. But, both me and Brian did have problems with this article for different reasons but the general consensus was that we don't agree with the way this article leads people on -

EXPLICIT MATERIAL POSSIBLE In Part 1 of this Two Part episode, Alex has Brian Folan (artist/musician out of Providence, RI) on the show to discuss Dark Energy. This episode is part of the "Opinion Panel" where Alex brings people who are interested in space and science to come on and give their opinion. The idea is to get people who aren't involved in science to "ask questions" and talk about Space. This is the first try. Enjoy! From "What is Dark Energy?", to "How do we know there is Dark Energy?", Alex and Brian sit down and talk about this crazy mystery that is supposed to make up 68% of the Universe. Relax, listen and enjoy! If you want to check out Brian Folan's music, go to Brian4ever.bandcamp.com Topics in this Episode: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, the Composition of the Universe, Planck Telescope,  Space Links: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/planck/news/planck20130321.html#.VKGyBkACHQ http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy/

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 R

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

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

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://w

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.plan

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=