In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet.

Headlines:

• Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The billionaire Shift4 CEO and astronaut faced intense questioning about his independence from Elon Musk, with senators repeatedly asking if Musk was present during his meeting with Trump. Isaacman confirmed he'll continue with Artemis missions and the ISS through 2030.
• Katy Perry's Space Flight - The pop star will join the world's first all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, scheduled for April 14. The crew includes Gayle King and other accomplished women, though the flight has received criticism for being extravagant during tough economic times.
• New Comet Discovered - Comet C/2025 F2 Swan was discovered on March 29 by a Ukrainian skywatcher and is currently visible to the naked eye in dark skies, though it will soon only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere.

Main Topic - Rocket Plume Effects with Dr. Phil Metzger:

• Rocket Plume Dangers - Dr. Metzger explains how rocket exhaust can propel lunar soil at speeds up to 3 km/second (above lunar escape velocity), potentially damaging equipment far from landing sites and even ejecting material entirely off the Moon.
• Apollo 12 Evidence - The Surveyor 3 spacecraft, visited by Apollo 12 astronauts, showed significant sandblasting damage from the lunar module landing 160 meters away, with paint surfaces scoured and peppered with holes from high-velocity particles.
• SpaceX Starship Launch Analysis - Dr. Metzger studied the first Starship test launch and found concrete chunks traveling at 90 meters per second, with sand carried 6 miles away in raindrops formed within a rotating cloud of hot exhaust.
• Landing Pad Solutions - Various approaches for building lunar landing pads include microwave sintering of lunar soil, bringing polymers from Earth as binders, creating rock beds, and baking pavers in ovens—all requiring robotic construction methods.
• Future of Space Industry - Dr. Metzger advocates moving computing and energy production to space to reduce Earth's industrial burden. He estimates it could take 20-30 years to reach a tipping point where space industry becomes self-sustaining, potentially accelerated by billionaire investment or government support.
• Lunar Mining Potential - Dr. Metzger discusses surface mining approaches versus underground operations, noting the Moon's surface has been bombarded for billions of years with bedrock lying 10 kilometers deep.
• Science Budget Concerns - The hosts and Dr. Metzger express concerns about reported cuts to NASA's science budget, particularly affecting Earth science programs, with Dr. Metzger warning this could harm America's leadership in scientific research.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Phil Metzger

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This week, it's cool space news you can use (if you're not stuck on the ISS!). We look at the recent flight of Fram 2, the first spacecraft to fly a polar orbit; recent revelations about the flight of Starliner from commander Butch Wilmore; a mysterious Russian satellite behaving strangely; and carnivorous Martian dust devils. We also update you on SpaceX's next test of Starship, SpinLaunch's mighty "space cannon," recent experiments on abating lunar dust, and much more. Join us!

• Fram 2 Mission - SpaceX's private orbital mission financed by cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang completed a four-day flight, making history as the first mission to send astronauts over Earth's poles.
• Amazon's Kuiper Satellites - Amazon launched its first batch of 27 Kuiper internet satellites on an Atlas 5 rocket, beginning its planned 3,200-satellite constellation to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.
• Blue Origin's All-Female Flight Controversy? - Actress Olivia Munn is blasting the all-female crew for Blue Origin's next suborbital flight for its costly, gluttonous mission.
• Tariffs Impact on Space Industry - The hosts discussed how new tariffs could affect aerospace companies that rely on international partnerships and imported components for spacecraft manufacturing.
• US Military Cargo Delivery with SpaceX - The US military's Rocket Cargo Vanguard program plans to test using SpaceX's Starship to deliver 100 tons of cargo anywhere in the world in under 90 minutes.
• Starliner's Harrowing Mission - New details revealed that Boeing's Starliner mission was more dangerous than initially reported, with multiple thruster failures creating serious maneuvering issues, threatening to leave them adrift in space.
• Mysterious Russian Satellites - Three Russian satellites (Cosmos 2581-2583) were observed performing proximity operations and possibly deploying another object in orbit, raising concerns about their purpose.
• Starship Test 9 Preparations - SpaceX is preparing to refly a Starship booster with 29 reused engines, marking progress toward their fully reusable rocket system.
• Japan's Mars Plans - JAXA is planning to send multiple mini rovers to Mars using an inflatable heat shield technology to enable larger payload deliveries, and add a lander to Phobos.
• Cannibal Dust Devils on Mars - The Perseverance rover captured images of two dust devils on Mars merging, with the larger one (210 feet wide) absorbing a smaller one (16 feet wide).
• Lunar Dust Mitigation Technology - NASA successfully tested an electrodynamic dust shield on Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander that could help manage the highly problematic lunar dust on future missions.
• Asteroid 2024 YR4 Update - James Webb Space Telescope observations determined the asteroid is about 200 feet wide with a slightly increased 3.8% chance of hitting the moon in 2032, up from 1.7%.
• SpinLaunch's Satellite Plans - SpinLaunch received $12 million in funding to develop an enhanced system using centrifugal force to launch up to 250 satellites at once, potentially offering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly launch alternative.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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If you've ever wondered what the view from the International Space Station might look like in real-time, this is your episode. Or if you just want to know more about who's up there and what's going on at the ISS on a particular day, this is it. Liam Kennedy, the one and only Space TV Director, is with us. Liam has been working to bring content and video from the ISS down to earth for over a decade, and it's all come together just this year! Liam invented ISS Above, a Raspberry Pi-driven system that highlights key information about the space station in real-time. Join us for this special look at the view from on high!

Headlines:

• NASA is cutting $420 million in contracts, as confirmed by NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens.
• Boeing Starliner's next crewed launch was delayed to late 2025 / early 2026 due to ongoing helium leaks and thruster issues.
• Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo mission (CRS-22) was canceled after the spacecraft was damaged during shipping; it will be rescheduled to CRS-23 in the fall.
• Historic FRAM 2 mission launching March 31 - first human spaceflight over Earth's poles, financed by Maltese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wang.
• The Blue Origin launch date with Katy Perry, the first all-female mission since Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight, is set for April 14.
• A partial solar eclipse will be visible over northern US and Canada on March 29.

Main Topic - Interview with Liam Kennedy

• Liam Kennedy's space journey began at age 6, watching the Apollo 11 moon landing, leading to becoming president of Orange County Astronomers and developing ways for the public to experience the Overview Effect.
• ISS Above is a Raspberry Pi device created in 2013 that tracks the ISS and lights up when it passes overhead, and is now in 5,000 locations worldwide.
• Kennedy partnered with SEN, founded by Charles Black, to create high-quality 4K cameras for the ISS after NASA's HDEV camera system stopped transmitting in 2019.
• SEN provides free live streaming of Earth from space via YouTube and SEN.com, generating revenue through advertising and clip licensing.
• The Space TV camera system includes six cameras on the Columbus module of the ISS, showcasing docking ports, Earth views, and the horizon.
• Space TV offers dramatically higher quality than NASA's existing cameras and captured stunning 4K footage of Boeing Starliner's undocking and Crew Dragon flights.
• SEN plans to expand with more cameras and locations, including potential deployment on future commercial space stations and lunar missions.
• Kennedy discusses the "Overview Effect" - how seeing Earth from space creates a transformative perspective that inspires action on Earth.
• The ISS Above Experience will be featured at the Space Symposium to celebrate the 25th anniversary of continuous human presence on the ISS.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Liam Kennedy

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After 60 years of discussion, we may finally be making real, actionable plans to send a crew to Mars. One of the prime advocates for sending humans to the Red Planet has been Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder and president of The Mars Society. In 1990, he and David Baker worked up a plan called "Mars Direct," which took the core of then-current NASA planning and streamlined it into a more realistic, affordable approach. Since then, some of the key elements have been incorporated into NASA's Design Reference Missions, still the primary set of plans for reaching Mars. Join us for this fascinating discussion.

Headlines

• Crew-9 Return: Astronauts Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth via SpaceX Dragon with dolphins swimming around their capsule—spoiler alert: it was NOT AI generated!
• Isar Aerospace: A German company prepared for the first orbital launch from Norway's Andoya Spaceport
• SpaceX Record: Achieved fastest booster turnaround yet by flying the same booster twice within nine days

Main Topic: Mars Exploration with Dr. Robert Zubrin

• Mars Direct Plan: Zubrin's revolutionary 1990 proposal using just two heavy-lift launches and in-situ resource utilization, influencing NASA's planning
• Purpose vs. Vendor-Driven: Critique of NASA's Artemis as "vendor-driven" rather than focused on the mission goal
• Current Opportunity: New potential for Mars exploration under the current administration, but it must be a national program
• Timeline Prediction: Realistic goals of uncrewed Starship on Mars by 2028 and humans by 2033
• Scientific Value: First Mars Starship should carry substantial scientific payload instead of just a demonstration mission—no red Tesla Roadsters to Mars, please
• Planetary Protection: Strong case against the "anti-human aesthetics" of keeping Mars pristine
• Science Budget Concerns: Warning against proposed 50% cuts to NASA's science programs
• Starboat Concept: Proposal for a smaller ascent vehicle to complement Starship for more efficient Mars and Moon missions
• Moon vs. Mars Strategy: Design hardware primarily for Mars that can also work for lunar exploration

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Robert Zubrin

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In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik host Dr. Robert O'Brien, Director of the Universities Space Research Association's Center for Space Nuclear Research, for a fascinating deep dive into nuclear propulsion technology for space exploration. They discuss the history, current developments, and future potential of nuclear electric and nuclear thermal propulsion systems, which could revolutionize our ability to explore Mars and beyond—both robotically and with human crews.

Headlines

• Crew-10 Launch Update: SpaceX's Dragon Endurance prepared to launch relief crew for ISS, addressing delays and setting stage for Williams and Wilmore's return.
• NASA Layoffs: NASA shuttering several offices including Technology Policy and Strategy, Chief Scientist, and diversity initiatives to comply with Trump administration executive orders.
• Saturn's Moon Count: 128 additional moons discovered orbiting Saturn, bringing total to 274 (surpassing Jupiter's 95), raising questions about moon classification criteria.
• Lunar Eclipse: First total lunar eclipse of 2025 visible across western hemisphere, with another eclipse in September for viewers in Asia and Australia.
• New Space Billionaire: Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, takes over as CEO of Relativity Space (a 3D printing rocket company), joining Bezos, Musk, and Branson in the space industry.

Main Topic: Nuclear Propulsion with Dr. Robert O'Brien

• Propulsion Types: Dr. O'Brien explained two main types: nuclear electric propulsion generates electricity for electric thrusters, while nuclear thermal propulsion heats propellant directly through a fission reactor for thrust.
• Efficiency Advantages: Nuclear systems offer greater efficiency than chemical rockets, potentially reducing Mars mission mass to one-third or less while enabling "maneuver without regret" capability.
• Historical Context: US launched SNAP-10A reactor in mid-1960s; Rover-NERVA program demonstrated nuclear thermal rocket technology before cancellation after Apollo.
• Current Development: Working to regain 1960s capabilities while implementing modern safety protocols, testing procedures, and materials science improvements.
• Safety Considerations: Modern development includes full exhaust containment and comprehensive safety measures, with waste containment as the primary focus.
• AI Applications: AI could accelerate development through materials optimization, autonomous operation for deep space, and enhanced reactor control safety.
• Fusion Propulsion: Remains promising future technology potentially enabling interstellar travel, with growing international investment.
• Project Orion: Historical nuclear pulse propulsion concept using small nuclear explosions for thrust - impractical for Earth launches but potential for interstellar applications.
• Public Education: Addressing concerns requires transparent communication, moving away from the "veil of mystery" of earlier nuclear programs.
• Educational Outreach: The Universities Space Research Association is developing a talent pipeline for "unicorn capabilities" in space nuclear expertise.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Robert O'Brien

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In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bunnies of space, Voyagers 1&2. Their wings have been clipped a bit, but they just keep going... join us!

News

• Lunar Landing Week: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander achieved a flawless touchdown in Mare Chrisium, the Intuitive Machines Athena lander reached the Moon's south polar region but experienced issues with its navigation radar (and tipped over), and SpaceX's Starship test flight 8 successfully caught its booster for the third time but lost control of the upper stage, resulting in the breakup of the upper stage and debris over the Bahamas and Caribbean.
• NASA powered down additional instruments on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to extend their remaining power supply, including Voyager 1's cosmic ray system that helped confirm its entry into interstellar space in 2012.
• The secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 434 days in orbit, completing its seventh mission, which tested new orbital capabilities, including aerobraking techniques.
• A newly released list showcases the world's top ten locations for dark skies and stargazing, with the US only having only one location—in Hawaii—to make the list.

Dr. Jim Green

• His Career: Dr. Green goes over his former role as NASA's Chief Scientist and highlights key aspects of his career, including running the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and leading NASA's Planetary Science Division, and how his interest in space first began.
• The Martian: Dr. Green also explains how he got involved as a consultant for Ridley Scott's movie, "The Martian," and how NASA got really involved with the film. He also shares his favorite scene from the movie.
• NASA's Search for Alien Civilizations: Dr. Green shares how he helped shift NASA's focus from traditional SETI to searching for technosignatures like Dyson Spheres and O'Neill structures in other star systems, securing $10 million in funding for research that could detect megastructures in our astronomical data while noting that humanity may need similar space habitats in 800 million years when the sun makes Earth uninhabitable.
• Mars Sample Return Strategy: Dr. Green explains how NASA's evolving plan to return samples fropm Mars includes developing Mars Ascent Vehicles that could eventually support human missions while revealing that Perseverance was deliberately designed to place sample tubes on the surface so any nation could retrieve them, making the mission more politically viable with budget offices and Congress.
• Humanity's Cosmic Future: Dr. Green reveals that he helped create NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to support new companies for lunar missions. Despite early failures, he emphasized that humanity must utilize space resources and capabilities to ensure our species' long-term survival.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Jim Green

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We Answer Your Questions—Possibly Correctly!

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

For full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/150

In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the latest space news, including a potentially hazardous asteroid, SpaceX's plans to launch and land in the Bahamas, and the ongoing debate surrounding the retirement of the International Space Station. They also touch on NASA's budget cuts, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the development of new radiation protection technology for deep space missions.

- Asteroid 2024 YR4: While initially considered a potential threat, the chances of this asteroid impacting Earth have significantly decreased as more data has been collected. Rod and Tariq discuss the changing odds and the importance of tracking near-Earth objects.

- NASA budget cuts: The hosts discuss the proposed 20% budget cut for the James Webb Space Telescope and its potential impact on the groundbreaking observatory's operations and scientific output.

- Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Moon lander: Launched weeks ago, the lander is now in lunar orbit and scheduled to land on or about March 2nd, carrying 10 experiments to Mare Crisium. With several other lunar missions on the horizon, including those from Intuitive Machines and Japan's iSpace, the hosts discuss the exciting developments in the new lunar exploration era.

- SpaceX in the Bahamas: Elon Musk's company is in talks with the Bahamian government about launching and landing rights. The hosts speculate on the reasons behind this move and its potential implications for future missions.

- The retirement of the ISS: Elon Musk suggests de-orbiting the station as soon as possible and to press on to Mars, while others argue for maintaining it until suitable replacements are ready.

- "Stranded" astronauts controversy: The hosts address the recent claims that astronauts Sunny Williams and Butch Wilmore were "stranded" or "abandoned" on the ISS due to political motives. They clarify the situation and express their disappointment with the misleading narrative.

- Radiation shielding technology: The development of 3D-printed hydrogels offers a promising solution for protecting astronauts from harmful radiation during deep space missions. The hosts explore the potential applications and benefits of this innovative technology.

- Search for Extraterrestrial Life: The COSMIC project, working with the Very Large Array telescope, has been using advanced computer processing to seek out focused radio transmissions that might indicate the presence of alien civilizations. While no signals of interest have been found yet, the search continues, and the project serves as a valuable educational tool for aspiring radio astronomers.

- NASA workforce reduction: While NASA has not yet implemented the anticipated workforce reduction, the hosts discuss the potential impact of such cuts on the agency's future and the importance of maintaining a skilled workforce in the face of increasing competition from China.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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Clavius. The very mention of this vast lunar crater brings to mind spectacular images from "2001: A Space Odyssey"— landing spacecraft, alien monoliths, and more. But more immediately, Clavius may be the ideal place to build our first lunar base, and Dr. Pascal Lee rejoins us to explain why. Notably, Clavius is not on NASA's dance card as a first-sitting consideration, but Lee thinks it should be, for many reasons, including interesting lunar geology, possible sites for permanent settlements—including lava tubes, excellent prospects for transportation infrastructure, and much more. Join us for a fascinating look at the near future at Clavius Base!

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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In this episode, we talk to Mick West, a passionate conspiracy debunker who, rather uniquely, proceeds with kindness and empathy as he unravels some of the key pseudoscience of our time. Of particular interest to us is the spate of relatively recent videos of UFOs/UAPs from the US Navy, among other sources. He's got a lot to say and took a deep dive into the phenomenon with us. Buckle up and share the weird and sometimes wacky world of "Not As They Seem!" with us!

Get "Escaping the Rabbit Hole" on Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/42HqpK1

Headlines:
• SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to bring home astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams earlier than planned, swapping with the Axiom Space 4 mission's Endurance Dragon capsule
• Asteroid 2024 YR4's chances of impacting Earth in 2032 slightly increase to a 2.2% chance of hitting our planet on December 22, 2032, according to the European Space Agency. The risk assessment has increased from a chance of 1.2% over the last week due to new observations, but there is still a 97.7% chance it will miss our planet
• Putin replaces Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov with 37-year-old Dmitry Bakunov, former deputy transport minister
• Astrolab's FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover to replace NASA's canceled VIPER rover, hitching a ride on Griffin's lander to the Moon
• The Trump administration's first weeks in office bring significant changes to NASA and the space industry, with acting administrator Janet Petro set to address the future of the agency

Main Topic - UFOs/UAPs, Conspiracy Theories, and Critical Thinking:
• Mick West's background in video game programming and his transition to debunking conspiracy theories
• The importance of contrail science and debunking the chemtrails conspiracy theory
• Psychological factors that lead people to believe in conspiracy theories, such as the need for uniqueness and the appeal of simple explanations
• The role of social media and non-expert influencers in shaping public opinion on UFOs and other fringe topics
• Analyzing recent UFO videos and the challenges of interpreting visual data without proper context or expertise
• The potential impact of the Trump administration on UFO disclosure and the appointment of a "UFO/UAP czar"
• Examining the claims of UFO whistleblowers like Luis Elizondo and David Grusch, and the lack of concrete evidence to support their assertions
• The shift towards a distrust of science and academia, and the potential return to a belief in supernatural explanations
• Debunking moon landing conspiracy theories and the importance of considering evidence from multiple sources
• The potential consequences of hidden technology and the allure of "free energy" conspiracy theories
• Mick West's book, "Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect," and its guidance on communicating with conspiracy theorists

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Mick West

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