The Space Above Us

Latest Episodes:

194 - STS-100 - Giving the ISS a Hand (ISS 6A: Canadarm2) Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

The ISS is growing so much that soon the shuttle arm won't be able to help attach new modules. So let's give the ISS an arm of its own! We'll also wonder just what happened to the Command and Control computers, and try to blink our way through our problems.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep194_sts-100

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

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TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

193 - STS-102 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Logistics Module (ISS 5A.1: Exp1/2 swap) Nov 15, 2025

Show notes

On STS-102 it looks like we're just doing a simple crew swap, but complexity abounds. Get ready for new hardware, two spacewalks, cargo swaps, the first ISS crew swap, and a surprise cameo by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep193_sts-102

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

192 - Expedition 1 - ISS, Meet IT Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

The first long duration crew of the International Space Station is finally here! Let's learn about what life on the ISS was like, shake our fists at Microsoft, and wonder where to get bootleg movies on the streets of Moscow.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep192_exp-1

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

Supplemental 9 - Where Does the Time Go? (Schedule Update) Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

It's been a long time since the last episode of the podcast was posted. What's going on? Fear not, dear listener, it's all good news. Well, mostly good news. And really it's more good for me than for you but– you know what, just give the supplemental a listen.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/s09_where_does_the_time_go

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

191 - STS-98 - Destiny Manifest (ISS 5A: Destiny) Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

On STS-98 it's time for the ISS crew to meet its Destiny. Oh wait, does everyone make that joke? How about "Destiny is on the manifest"? No, I already used that in the title. OK, let's go with "humanity's Destiny is off the planet". Yeah, that works!

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep191_sts-98

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

190 - STS-97 - Ratcheting Up the Tension (ISS 4A: P6) Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

On STS-97 the Space Shuttle is delivering its heaviest ISS payload yet: the P6 truss. We'll climb high above the payload bay, consider some strange analogies, and both slack off and tense up. Most of that will make sense once you listen.

Also, please note that this episode has a couple of small audio clicks that I wasn't able to remove. So it's not your equipment, it's my audio. Most of you won't notice but I still wanted to mention something for those who do!

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep190_sts-97

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

189 - STS-92 - Over and Under (Z1 and PMA-3) Jun 22, 2024

Show notes

After a long wait for the crew (and audience!) STS-92 is finally here. We'll be delivering the heart of the ISS external structure, the Z1 truss, as well as a new docking port, PMA-3. Along the way we'll learn a bit about the folks on the ground who make this all possible, walk through four complicated EVAs, see something no one's seen since 1967, and put our plumber's hats on.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep189_sts-92

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

188 - STS-106 - 2A or not 2b (ISS Resupply 2A.2b) May 05, 2024

Show notes

On STS-106, we finally get to meet Zvezda, the Russian service module for the International Space Station. We also meet some new faces, decrypt some mission designations, move a bunch of equipment, and perform an EVA that may or may not be a milestone.

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep188_sts-106

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

187 - Interview with former NASA flight surgeon Dr. Kim Broadwell Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

I think we can all agree that social media (and anything approaching it) was a mistake, but sometimes the internet decides to throw you a bone and you meet a NASA flight surgeon on Reddit. After some friendly chatting via email, Dr. Kim Broadwell was gracious enough to speak to me on the podcast. Let's hear what he has to say!

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep187_interview_dr_kim_broadwell

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

186 - STS-101 - Screens and Stations (ISS Resupply 2A.2a) Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

On STS-101 we've got a slick new cockpit to show off, a pile of launch delays, a ton or two of new equipment and supplies and some floppy disks in the payload bay. Let's head back to the ISS!

Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep186_sts-101

The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us

Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate

TSAU Patreon: https://patreon.com/thespaceabove.us

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