Info

The Space Above Us

A podcast about the history of NASA human spaceflight. New episodes every other Thursday.
RSS Feed
The Space Above Us
2023
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: Page 2
Apr 9, 2022

On STS-77, we've got one of the strangest shuttle payloads I've ever seen, a satellite that's passively stabilized by aerodynamic forces (mostly), a bunch of SPACEHAB experiments, and a blast from the past.

Also, here's that deployment video of IAE that I recommend looking up.. wait until you hear about it first! https://youtu.be/adatQ59j6sc?t=1485

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

Errata: In the outro I mention how I'm not familiar with any passively stabilized spacecraft. This neglects the entire category of spinners, which is kind of their whole point. But I was thinking of "passively stabilized by aerodynamic forces" and just didn't use my words.

Mar 24, 2022

Astronaut Dan Tani joins us once again and talks about what the astronaut interview process was like, what day to day life was like before being assigned to a mission, wearing the "astronaut suit", what makes a good team, and some sage advice from John Young.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

Mar 10, 2022

Shannon Lucid is ready to become the second American to perform a long duration aboard the Russian space station Mir. All she'll need to do is survive Russian language class, memorize a few bolt names, and find her missing shoe.

http://thespaceabove.us


http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs


http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

 

Errata: I said that Usachov was selected as an astronaut, when clearly he was selected as an astronaut.

Feb 19, 2022

On STS-76, the space shuttle will finally shuttle someone to space! Plus the first American EVA outside a space station in 22 years, antics in the SPACEHAB tunnel, and thoughts about 1996 web design.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

Feb 6, 2022

On STS-75 we'll take another try at the Tethered Satellite System. It didn't work so great on STS-46, but with much of the same crew and a little luck, maybe it will go better. Also on this flight, starting fires in space, and disembodied consciousnesses.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

Jan 23, 2022

After checking in with it for years, Galileo has finally arrived at Jupiter. For the 150th episode of The Space Above Us, let's find out what the Galileo orbiter and probe did while they were out there and why it was worth the wait.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

Jan 6, 2022

I'm taking my first break this week! So instead of an episode, I tell the tale of my first rocket launch, what it's like, and what you can do to make yours even better.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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!

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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?

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

 

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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?

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs
http://patreon.com/TheSpaceAboveUs

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.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs

 

 

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.

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs

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..

http://thespaceabove.us
http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs

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!

http://thespaceabove.us

http://twitter.com/SpaceAboveUs

 

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.

1 « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next » 8