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The Space Above Us

A podcast about the history of NASA human spaceflight. New episodes every other Thursday.
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Now displaying: 2021
Dec 23, 2021

On Endeavour's tenth flight, we're somehow going to deploy one satellite, but pick up two! Plus more EVA development, zero-gravity karate, and a farewell to a frequent flyer.

 

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Dec 9, 2021

We've docked at Mir before, but moving the Kristall module around is such a hassle. What if we could just make it a little longer so the shuttle could dock with it in its usual location? Also, please don't keep your ice cream next to the blood and urine samples.

 

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Nov 25, 2021

Columbia is back from the shop and is sporting some new upgrades, but seems reluctant to leave Earth on its 18th voyage. Once on orbit, we'll do some science, learn why TV is good, and perform some magic tricks!

 

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Nov 11, 2021

Endeavour is back on the launch pad with two payloads to both deploy and retrieve. One of those payloads looks a whole lot like a gigantic frisbee, something that would be sure to get the attention of any dog (or dog crew) nearby.

 

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Oct 29, 2021

On STS-70 it's time to complete the TRDSS constellation! Or at least the first generation. We'll also resist putting fish eggs on crackers, buy some decoy owls, and wonder why so many people from Ohio are trying to escape Earth.

 

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Oct 15, 2021

Norm Thagard is about to become America's first Cosmonaut. What challenges will he encounter during his four months on the Russian space station Mir? And why are they bringing so much juice?

 

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Sep 30, 2021

Twenty years after the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, four years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and around a hundred days after the launch of Norm Thagard, it's time to finally see a space shuttle dock with Mir.

 

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Sep 16, 2021

ASTRO-1 was a huge success, shining new light (more or less literally) on the universe with its ultraviolet observatory. But that was almost 30 flights ago. It's time for the new and improved ASTRO-2 to see what's out there. We'll also answer that question I'm sure everyone was wondering: which moon is ugliest?

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Sep 2, 2021

After all this talk about the Russian space station Mir, how about we take a close up look for ourselves? A REALLY close look.

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Aug 19, 2021

On STS-66 we welcome Atlantis back from its long maintenance period, further probe the upper atmosphere, test out a new rendezvous technique, and discover what is perhaps the worst payload name of all time.

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Aug 5, 2021

No, it's not a glitch in the Matrix, we're flying the same experiment on the same shuttle! Don't worry, we still find plenty to say. Oh, and Jupiter's about to explode, so that's pretty cool.

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Jul 22, 2021

Space Shuttle Discovery is all loaded up with a grab bag of shuttle program favorites. Rendezvous, tech demonstrations, even an untethered EVA! Just be careful for the ghosts in the bathroom..

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Jul 8, 2021

Space Shuttle Columbia is flying for the 17th time, carrying the International Microgravity Laboratory 2 payload. With fish, newts, and bubbles, it sounds more like a witch's brew than an advanced research laboratory. But don't let vague descriptions fool you! Also, who can leap long Spacelabs in a single bound? None other than IML Man, of course!

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Errata: Around 4:48 I say "[...] sitting behind the Pilot on the middeck [...]" when, of course, the Pilot sits on the flight deck. Got myself all mixed up with MS1/MS3 out of position.

Jun 24, 2021

We've got a giant radar in the payload bay, bubbles in the water, and we're ready to learn about somebody's favorite type of lizard. It's time for STS-59!

 

Errata: Around two minutes into the episode I use the term "frequency" multiple times when "wavelength" is correct. Really, since the wavelength is just the speed of light divided by the frequency if you know one you know the other, but still, I used the wrong term.

Jun 10, 2021

Space Shuttle Columbia has been packed full of so many experiments you might think there are two different payloads back there.. and you'd be right! Let's learn about fake-metal dendrites, how to stop the orbiter from glowing, and why the NASA ground crews think Pierre Thuot smells like garbage.

May 27, 2021

Look out! There's a Russian on the space shuttle! Oh, we invited him? Well alright then.

May 13, 2021

The Hubble Space Telescope is in trouble. With the future of the orbiting observatory, and perhaps NASA itself, on the line, can the crew of STS-61 save the day?

Apr 29, 2021

With STS-61 ready to execute the first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, let's learn about the overall structure of the observatory, what the flaw with its mirror was, and how that flaw came to be.

Apr 15, 2021

Columbia is on the launchpad and we've got a whole bunch of life science to get through. And just when you thought it was safe to drop the word "otolith" from your vocabulary.

Apr 1, 2021

We've got a packed flight with an advanced communciation satellite, a new kick stage, the return of SPAS, an EVA and a sassy air traffic controller.

Mar 18, 2021

In this episode, rather than hearing me talk about STS-51, we talk to someone who worked on its primary payload: astronaut Dan Tani! We also chat a bit about some government job he had down in Houston.

Mar 4, 2021

Space Shuttle Endeavour is here with STS-57, which brings us a little piece of much of what the shuttle program has to offer. Satellite captures, EVAs, technology demonstrations, commercial space stuff, mysterious loud booming noises.. wait, mysterious loud booming noises?

Feb 18, 2021

Germany is back together and back in orbit with their second shuttle flight, the D-2 Spacelab mission. I wonder what sort of science they have in store for us? We also wonder who's squeezing the bag under the middeck.

Feb 4, 2021

ATLAS is back in the payload bay for round two of the ongoing series of Earth observation missions. And TAGS gets some competition!

Jan 21, 2021

TDRS-F needs a ride to orbit, NASA needs more EVA experience, and we all need to figure out what's up with soft x-rays. Good thing Endeavour's on the pad for its third flight!

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