Step inside The Airlock Module Podcast, where analog astronaut Yuki Nishimura explores the human side of space exploration. Each episode dives into real stories from Mars simulation crews, scientists, and engineers, uncovering how life in isolation, teamwork, and innovation prepare us for the stars and teach us about life on Earth.
Step inside The Airlock Module Podcast, where analog astronaut Yuki Nishimura explores the human side of space exploration. Each episode dives into real stories from Mars simulation crews, scientists, and engineers, uncovering how life in isolation, teamwork, and innovation prepare us for the stars and teach us about life on Earth.
In this episode, we head to Homer, Alaska, where the northern lights glow and alpacas roam, to meet Laura Reiske: middle school math teacher, lifelong space nerd, and Chief of Staff for the APUS Analog Research Group. Laura shares how a love for black holes and clear Alaskan skies led her back to space, from NASA’s L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy (Deputy PM for Team SIGMA) to pursuing a master’s in Space Studies.
We dive into her first crewed analog at SAM in Arizona, where she commanded Team Red through a five-day isolation: tracking water, growing spirulina, sealing the habitat in full pressurization mode, and navigating a panic attack before her first EVA with crew-centered breathing techniques. Leadership, teaching, teamwork, and wonder, all in one orbit.
AARG Website: https://www.apusssrp.space/aarg
AARG Email Address: apus.arg@gmail.com
AARG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apus-analog-research-group-aarg/posts/?feedView=all
AARG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apusarg/
AARG X: https://x.com/APUS_Analog
Laura Reiske LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-reiske/
Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.reiske/
SAM at Biosphere 2: https://samb2.space/
AARG’s Mission Blog by SAM: https://samb2.space/blog/page/3/
AARG’s Mission Blog by AMU: https://amuedge.com/the-aarg-1s-mission-and-simulating-a-crew-shift-change/
The Airlock Module Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/AirlockModule