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Liftoff — Education
Liftoff

Liftoff was a podcast about space, the universe, and everything. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the major developments as explained by enthusiastic space fans Stephen Hackett and Jason Snell. Hosted by Jason Snell and Stephen Hackett.

Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Relay FM

Latest Episodes:

141: Apollo 14 Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Less than a year after the disastrous Apollo 13 mission, the program returned to flight when Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell landed on the moon in February, 1971.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Tuparev Technologies: Learn more about the new POLIS initiative now.

Links and Show Notes:

Our Apollo Episodes:

Apollo 14 | NASA

Apollo 14 Flight Journal

Apollo 14 Mission Overview - Lunar and Planetary Institute

Apollo 14 (AS-509) | National Air and Space Museum

Apollo 14 | The Planetary Society

NASA Technical Reports: The Apollo Docking system

Don Eyles | Hack the Moon

Don Eyles: Extra! Weird-Looking Freak Saves Apollo 14! - Rolling Stone

Apollo 14 Science Experiments - Lunar and Planetary Institute

Modular Equipment Transporter - Wikipedia

New Moon Photo Reveals Tracks from Tough Apollo Moonwalk | Space

How NASA brought color TV to the Moon | Astronomy.com

Apollo Television - NASA (PDF)

Apollo 14: 'Rookie' Crew and a Famous Golf Ball | Space

Could you really hit a golf ball miles and miles on the Moon? | ScienceBlogs

Apollo 14 - Golf on the Moon - YouTube

Moon tree - Wikipedia

140: The End of the Year Means Next Year Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Jason and Stephen start 2021 by picking some things they are looking forward to in what promises to be a very busy year in space.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

NASA’s Webb Telescope Looks Back on 2020 Engineering Milestones | NASA

NASA Space Launch System Rocket Proceeding with Green Run Hot Fire | NASA

Landing Toolkit: Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars

Your Guide to Tianwen-1 | The Planetary Society

About EMM | Emirates Mars Mission

Boeing’s Starliner Makes Progress Ahead of Flight Test with Astronauts | NASA

NASA and Boeing Target New Launch Date for Next Starliner Flight Test | NASA

SpaceX - Starship

NASA extends Juno, turning spacecraft into an Io, Europa, and Ganymede explorer | Ars Technica

Staring at Firefly Aerospace’s hot rocket-engine flames in a Texas pasture | Ars Technica

ABL Space Systems tests launch vehicle stage - SpaceNews

Astra came close to achieving what DARPA has sought for two decades | Ars Technica

Blue Origin | Fly With Us

Blue Origin delivers the first BE-4 engine to United Launch Alliance - SpaceNews

NASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System | TheHill

First Commercial Moon Delivery Assignments to Advance Artemis | NASA

Virgin Galactic aborts first powered spaceflight from New Mexico spaceport - The Verge

Joe Biden was ‘indebted’ to Stennis in 1985, now he should rename NASA’s space center in Mississippi - Space Explored

Axiom Space plans first-ever fully private human spaceflight mission to International Space Station — Axiom Space

More About the Human Landing System Program | NASA

NASA Names Companies to Develop Human Landers for Artemis Missions | NASA

China to begin construction of space station this year – Spaceflight Now

139: Space Omelets Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

You get a sample return; you get a sample return; you get a sample return!

In other news: SN8 had a rough landing, SpaceIL is getting back on the horse and NASA has unveiled more Artemis plans.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Tuparev Technologies: Learn more about the new POLIS initiative now.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

Japan Asteroid Mission Ends With Recovered Capsule in Australian Outback - The New York Times

Japan confirms its asteroid mission returned samples of space rocks - The Verge

Hayabusa 2: JAXA finally discovers the treasures of six years of hard work - Space Explored

Watch the Moon Landing of China’s Chang’e-5 Spacecraft - The New York Times

China Moon Mission: Watch Chang'e-5 Launch From the Lunar Surface - The New York Times

China's moon rocks are officially on their way to Earth as Chang'e 5 probe leaves lunar orbit | Space

SpaceX flies Starship prototype rocket to highest altitude yet — but doesn’t stick the landing - The Verge

Can Israelis Put Two Landers on the Moon at Once? - The New York Times

Proton (rocket family) - Wikipedia

Green Run Wet Dress Rehearsal Update – Artemis

SLS, Stennis working on colder LOX for next Green Run WDR attempt - NASASpaceFlight.com

Artemis II Science Definition Team Report (PDF)

Report outlines science goals of first Artemis human lunar landing mission - SpaceNews

At his last Space Council meeting, Mike Pence announces new cadre of lunar astronauts - The Verge

NASA The Artemis Team

Airbus officially hands over first European Service Module to NASA ahead of Artemis I mission - Space Explored

138: A Great Acronym, but it's in Russian Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

The world is mourning the uncontrolled collapse of the Arecibo observatory, even as China's Chang’e-5 mission is underway to return lunar samples to Earth, which would be a first since the final Apollo mission. Also: an update on the SLS and Orion and a look at what's going on at Roscosmos.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

The Arecibo Observatory Platform Has Collapsed - Universe Today

Deborah Martorell on Twitter — Photos of Collapsed Arecibo

Contact (1997) - IMDb

Rocket Lab declares success in Electron rocket recovery - SpaceNews

Russian spaceport officials are being sacked left and right | Ars Technica

Russia’s replacement for the Proton rocket costs way too much | Ars Technica

NASA Prepares for Next Series of RS-25 Engine Tests for SLS Rocket – Artemis

Component failure in NASA’s deep-space crew capsule could take months to fix - The Verge

Update on Orion Final Assembly and Transfer – Artemis

China Launches Lunar Sample Return Mission – SpacePolicyOnline.com

China launches ambitious mission to bring back samples from the Moon - The Verge

Chang’e-5 successfully lands on moon to collect youngest lunar samples - SpaceNews

137: Delicate Dance of Docking Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Commercial Crew has gotten official with the launch of Crew-1 over the weekend, the start of a six-month expedition on the International Space Station. That and the possibilities of Jim Bridenstine's future. Oh, and kilonovas!

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

NASA Chief Plans To Step Aside Under Biden | Aviation Week Network

Jim Bridenstine is leaving NASA. How should we assess his 30-month tenure? | Ars Technica

Jeff Foust on Twitter: "A reminder that NASA was not “closed up” when President Trump took office..."

NASA's Hubble Sees Unexplained Brightness from Colossal Explosion | NASA

SpaceX Crew-1 Astronauts Continue Journey to Station – Commercial Crew Program

Victor Glover to Be First Black Astronaut on I.S.S. for Extended Stay - The New York Times

Crew-1 Heads to Space Station to Conduct Microgravity Science | NASA

136: Don’t Tell the Boss Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Zac Hall from Space Explored and 9to5Mac joins Jason to discuss the post-election future of NASA (and administrator Jim Bridenstine), the 20th anniversary of the permanent habitation of the International Space Station, a bunch of news about the moon, and OSIRIS-REx taking a bite out of Bennu.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Tuparev Technologies: Opportunities for Astronomy Masters or PhD students to work on tools for the 21st Century. Learn more now.

Guest Starring:

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

SpaceX now targeting Nov. 14 for next astronaut launch | Space

TAG Captured by NavCam 2 - OSIRIS-REx Mission

NASA OSIRIS-REX Mission Springs Leak After Touching Asteroid - The New York Times

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Probe Successfully Stows Space-Rock Sample - Scientific American

The case for NASA'S Bridenstine post-Election Day | TheHill

Biden to appoint first female NASA administrator if elected, boost focus on climate change research - Space Explored

Biden’s space policy: One giant leap for climate change - POLITICO

How the Space Station Became a Base to Launch Humanity’s Future - The New York Times

Expedition 1 and the early International Space Station - SpaceFlight Insider

After 20 years of service, the Space Station flies into an uncertain future | Ars Technica

ISS by the numbers: 20 years of continuous life in space - Space Explored

NASA makes milestone discovery of water molecules on sunlit side of Moon - Space Explored

NASA's high-flying 747 SOFIA behind new discovery about Moon before astronauts return - Space Explored

Intuitive Machines gets selected by NASA to harvest ice on the moon in 2022 - Space Explored

ESA - Angelic halo orbit chosen for humankind’s first lunar outpost

Hurricane Zeta pushes back Space Launch System hot fire test as storm viewed from ISS - Space Explored

Zac Hall - @apollozac on Twitter

135: Space is Full of Rocks Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

Stephen comes with good news about InSight's Mole, and Jason says there probably aren't aliens on Venus. Also: OSIRIS-REx is due for a big day and the space industry in China is heating up.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

InSight's 'Mole' is Now Completely buried! - Universe Today

Astronomers Report They've Detected the Amino Acid Glycine in the Atmosphere of Venus - Universe Today

A NASA spacecraft is poised to snag the largest sample of rocks from an asteroid ever - The Verge

NASA selects first human-tended suborbital research payload - SpaceNews

The Worm... Inside the Rotation, Processing… | Flickr

NASA Graphics Standards Manual (PDF)

China’s CASIC reveals five-year plan for reusable spaceplane, commercial space projects - SpaceNews

First launch of Chinese Kuaizhou-11 rocket ends in failure - SpaceNews

US and seven other countries sign NASA’s Artemis Accords to set rules for exploring the Moon - The Verge

134: My Response to Existential Terror, with Dr. Katie Mack Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Jason and Stephen are joined by Dr. Katie Mack to discuss her book The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking).

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Guest Starring:

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

Katie Mack (@AstroKatie) / Twitter

The End of Everything — Katie Mack, Astrophysicist

The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) - Amazon Books

Liftoff #51: Dark Matter, with Dr. Katie Mack - Relay FM

20 Macs for 2020 - Relay FM

133: The World’s Most Expensive WeWork Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

The recent announcement of phosphine being detected in Venus' atmosphere could have a major effect on future scientific missions, so Jason is excited about space blimps again. Then, Stephen walks through NASA's most recent Artemis roadmap, and the guys discuss what the future of the program could look like if the White House changes hands next year.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Tuparev Technologies: Opportunities for Astronomy Masters or PhD students to work on tools for the 21st Century. Learn more now.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

Relay FM for St. Jude 2020

Relay FM Podcastathon for St Jude (2020) - YouTube

Rocket startup Astra’s first orbital launch attempt ends early due to first-stage burn failure | TechCrunch

We Have Liftoff! | Astra

An Update on the Damage to the Arecibo Observatory - Universe Today

NASA releases ISS commercialization plan - SpaceNews

NeXTcube - Wikipedia

Charlie Bolden says the quiet part out loud: SLS rocket will go away | Ars Technica

Bolden talks expectations for Biden’s space policy - POLITICO

Discovery of noxious gas on Venus could be a sign of life - The Verge

On Venus, Cloudy With a Chance of Microbial Life - The New York Times

Missions Are Already Being Planned to Figure Out What's Creating the Biosignature on Venus - Universe Today

Could there be life on Venus? | The Planetary Society

The Search for Life on Venus Could Start With Rocket Lab - The New York Times

Allan Hills 84001 - Wikipedia

NASA Selects 4 Possible Missions to Study Secrets of the Solar System | NASA

Dragonfly's Journey to Titan | NASA

Venera - Wikipedia

EnVision (spacecraft) - Wikipedia

High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC)

NASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon | NASA

NASA makes push for full funding of Artemis human lunar lander program - SpaceNews

Commercial Lunar Payload Services | NASA

NASA Selects First Science Instruments to Send to Gateway

The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack - Amazon

132: In the Shadow of Artemis Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

In the Utah desert, Northrop Grumman has tested a full-sized SLS SRB, while the future of work in low-Earth orbit is being debated. On Mars, InSight's troubles continue and 17 billion light years-away, two black holes have collided.

This episode of Liftoff is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
eero: The WiFi every home deserves. Get your eero delivered with free next day shipping.

Links and Show Notes:

Support Liftoff with a Relay FM Membership

Relay FM for St. Jude

NASA Engineers Checking InSight's Weather Sensors | NASA

Broken Cable Damages Arecibo Observatory | University of Central Florida News

OPINION: Arecibo Observatory should be rebuilt - SpaceFlight Insider

Gerstenmaier warns against ending space station program prematurely - SpaceNews

Bigelow Aerospace lays off entire workforce - SpaceNews

NASA tests a booster that produces 3 million pounds of thrust | Ars Technica

NASA increases cost estimate for SLS development - SpaceNews

Eyes Forward as Artemis Missions Set to Begin Next Year – Artemis

A “bang” in LIGO and Virgo detectors signals most massive gravitational-wave source yet | LIGO Lab | Caltech

These Black Holes Shouldn’t Exist, but There They Are - The New York Times

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