The Space Show

Welcome to our ISDC 2025 preview program. Aggie Kobrin & Rod Pyle were with us to let you know what you will experience at this year's ISDC in Orlando. For more info, visit https://isdc.nss.org. Aggie and Rod took us through the list of very exciting speakers and program track participants that you will hear, including the likely next NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman. Along with the conference schedule, you will have the opportunity to participate in special tours of KSC, the Cape and the great musuem that has one of the few remaining Saturn 5 rockets on full display. There will be a SpaceX band gig to die for, lots of networking opportunities, astronauts to meet plus many awards to those you have heard of but now get the opportunity to meet. If you are into wildlife, just drive around the Cape and see most of it. We fielded several questions about the conference, the schedule, logistics along with the Orlando area. Space Settlement has a great track as does Living in Space with Dr. Bell. AI is strongly represented at this event along with other important topics such as space health, New Space, and more. We talked about the great value of joining the National Space Society (NSS) with membership benefits include the great quarterly print magazine, Ad Astra. For more information on this event, contact our guests or DrSpace @ drspace@thespaceshow.com. Be sure to check our our new Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com.

We welcomed Dr. Jaimie Blok of Cal Tech and JPL to introduce us to and talk about the new SPHEREx space telescope now scanning all of the sky. This is a most interesting two segment discussion about SPHEREX, scan skies, what is being searched for and more. Please read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Dr Bae returned to the program to discuss his new book, "Photonic Laser Propulsion" plus he explained the technology, answered many listener questions plus we talked time lines, a general development plan, the Moon, Mars, beamed laser propulsion comparisons, chemical launch rockets, economics and our vision for humanity's future. Dr. Bae started out with a lengthy intro to the book and his photonic laser propulsion work, he used a quote about inspiration from Carl Sagan and much more. Later in the discussion, when he was asked for his plan to get his ideas and work to policy makers and those that develop tech, he thought that would be take up by maybe other governments, interested parties, private funders. He thought his work was complete as a scientist by developing the tech and putting it out there for all in his book. We talked about funding, specifically gov. vs private funding. Also mentioned was human spaceflight, tourism, and settlement. Don't miss how it tech might apply to each of these categories plus timelines for them. Read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Friday, May 9, 2025.

Jim Class, well known adventurer and Forbes writer joined us to talk about his adventures, even his almost space adventures. His bio mentions many of exploits but hearing him tell us about them is better than reading about them. For instance, his discussion of the U2 flight and what he had to do re the "space suit" required for U2 flights. He has videos and more on his Forbes website, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash. Read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

Marc Feldman, co-author of the important new book, "Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit," was our guest for this program. Marc did an excellent job talking about software and hardware risks from the ground and space. He talked about the power of cartels in commercial businesses and how they will evolve to space activities. He used many examples, answered listener email and phone questions plus he talked about the Space Force and why they as yet do not have these risks on their view screen. Don't miss the full summary of this program when it appears at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, May 4, 2025.

We welcomed both Marc Hon and Avi Shporer from MIT to discuss the lucky discovery of a planet that is rapidly disintegrating nd producing a comet-like tail. The team tells how they discovered this item by looking at images and data from the TESS satellite . During our discussion, we learned that there were other disintegrating planets but that they are rare. According to their data, in another million to two million years the planet will be gone. It is very close to its sun, very hot and 140 light years from Earth. Read the full program summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this dated, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

We welcomed Dr. West to the program to discuss her paper which is on our blog, "Freedom In Outer Space Is At Risk." In addition, we talked about her additional work concerning weapons, nuclear and otherwise and how best to avoid space weaponization. Other topics included space debris, NGOs, China and Russian space goals, the Outer Space Treaty Article One and how best to assure freedom of space for all. We talked about what appears to be a growing contradiction including commercial space and military space. Our questions were by email but to the point. Please post comments, questions or your concerns on our blog for this show. Read the full summary of the program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Friday, May 2, 2025.

John Hunt returned with news and timeline updates regarding the evolving UAP story. John talked about the different whistleblowers and what they had to say. Since none of them have any hard evidence, just their stories and observations, I kept asking John why we should believe what they had to say. John listed many good reasons why they might be credible. We also talked about government behavior which seems to yell out loudly that there is something to hide and coverup. Otherwise, why would secrecy and classification be such a big thing? Due to some early audio issues that were resolved during the broadcast, we did not have as much audience participation as expected but there were still some good listener questions and comments. John attempted to address my skepticism although I confess that while I know the information and the people mentioned by John, and I do want to believe, I am still a skeptic absent hard evidence. Please read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Welcome to our Open Lines discussion covering many topics Note my message for a Drupal 7 expert to assist in maintaining our website. If you are that person or know someone please refer them to me. We talked about the suggested NASA science cuts, the Roman telescope and the size of its mirror. Another topic was the Russian "nuclear" possible satellite that is reported tumbling and out of control. There was much speculation about the purpose of this satellite per the Reuters article. Michael Listner, Atty, called in to help clarify the satellite situation for us. Fremont John called about the space budget plus he uploaded several great documents to the blog for this program. John had additional topics for us that he mentioned. Artemis was a topic as was the FH plan suggested and promoted by Dr. Kothari on many programs and with other formats. We talked about China and their lunar plans plus the possibility we just move on to Mars leaving the Moon for China. Ft. Worth John brought us some of the SLS and Orion issues plus some of the FH constraints were it selected as the return to the Moon architecture. Please read the full summary of the program when it appears at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, April 27, 2025.

Ajay was back with us to discuss his approach to returning to the Moon using Falcon Heavy rather than the infrastructure planned for in Artemis. Our guest went through the economics supporting his plan but also the faster timeline which he said would assure us getting back on the Moon before China. In the second half of our program, our guest promoted the use of a Molten Salt Thorium reactor for our power, also in space. He pointed the progress being made on bring thorium power to market in both China and Russia. He talked extensively about the reserves of thorium for the US, China, etc. and the advantages in using Thorium Please read the full summary of the show at www.thespaceshow.com for this program on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

We welcomed Dr. David Bell, Director of the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science which is an institute of the parent company, Universities Space Research Association (USRA). Our guest introduced us to USRA, then we discussed its history and some of the history associated with AI and machine learning for space as well as other industries. We talked about ways in which AI has been used in space and is now being used for space exploration, weather analysis with satellites, imaging and more. Quantum computing was an additional part of our discussion, along with the energy needed for AI and quantum. In fact one of our callers inquired about the market for He3 for fuel for quantum. At time Dr. Bell said that AI for space was now routine, going on to tell us what parts of space were routine. Don't miss his commentary. Lots of other topics came up including self-replicating machines, AI for settlement, AI on the Moon and for lunar development, AI to further human spaceflight. Toward the end of our program we talked about global competition and a race for leadership with AI and Quantum. Listen to what our guest had to say about China in this context. Also plasma 3D printing, partnerships and the commercial industry. Please read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Friday, April 25, 2025.

Joe Carroll was our guest for updates and discussions about the gravity RX, multi-planetary vs. interplanetary, space exploration versus prepping for space settlelment, robotic development and more. Lots was said about Musk and his plans for humans to Mars questioning his ability to handle life support, the needed human infrastructure and his timelines. We had multiple callers, a few of which were quite lengthy. The same for emails which I read on air. The Mars Moon debate was rehashed, Starship was discussed in detail along with Artemis and SLS Orion plans. Read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Laura Montgomery, Atty, was back with us to stress the importance of establishing space property rights for the commercial industry and future plans for space development. She went over laws, regulations, policies and treaties and made a very strong case for property rights. In addition, she suggested how to accomplish with space development and was U.S. laws would be to use as models, precedent and planning. Read the full summary of this program when it appears at www.thespaceshow.com for this day, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

Bob return for multi-topic discussion ranging from the recent successful Blue Origin all woman suborbital flight to the latest with NASA budget and science cut rumors, Jared Isaacman hearings for NASA Administrator, Starship demos, repairs, Artemis good and bad, possible SLS, Orion and Gateway cuts and much more. Bob spent lots of time with his analysis of the pending Nancy Roman telescope which is rumored to be on the budget cutting list though Bob see the OMB rumored and leaked news as a Trump administration negotiating tactic. Bob talked about the need to clean house regarding costly, overdue and not so necessary NASA and other government projects and continued as he always does to support private commercial everything over government. We talked about the private space station efforts on the part of VAST, cislunar development, and other recent human spaceflight missions Bob said many times that the F9 was approaching airline like operations. For threats to commercial space, he focused in on excessive regulations. Listen to the entire program for all our discussion points. Please read the summary at www.thespaceshow.com when posted at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Mark was with us today to discuss multiple topics including suggested White House OMB NASA Science budget cuts. We spent the first part of our program going through these suggested cuts with Mark saying he doubted congress would agree to them. He also mentioned that Musk had posted on Twitter that he was not in support of these cuts. Several callers and those sending in emails also did not support the cuts. Other topics included Boeing and NASA on their plans to repair the Starliner, Starship plans, Artemis plans and which Artemis missions might be scrapped when the new Administrator is confirmed. The Senate committee meeting with proposed Administrator Isaacman was a discussion topic along with the potential damage Musk might be doing to space and SpaceX with his politics. Please read the full summary when it is posted at www.thespaceshow.com for this day, Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Chris and Sam talk about the documentary movie made from the recent book authored by Chris, "Alcohol In Space." Our guests had lots to say about the cultural use of alcohol so why would it not be used in space. They also talked about the use of it so far in space though that info was limited. Sam even mentioned it for use after a hard day of work in space because space is challenging and hard. We fielded many listener emails and a few calls. We also talked about the use of alcohol for analog sites along with other unique locations here on Earth. Space Settlement was an issue plus Moon and Mars. During the last part of our program we talked about the upcoming Explore Mars conference May 28-29. Part of that discussion included the three of us talking about how our advocacy has changed over the past twenty plus years and for the most part, we can see doing multiple projects, not being forced into doing just one or the other. Please read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, March 30, 2025

Courtney Stadd was back to discuss his AIAA Aerospace America Feb-March issue article re the U.S. retaining its leadership in space and why that was important. We had quite the vibrant discussion on this topic for a good portion of the program, then we turned to Courtney's ideas around the National Space Council and should it be retained or discontinued with the current administration. For both topics we had multiple email questions and comments. Additionally, we talked about the venture capital investment in space over the last decade, the still lack of markets and industry development, and our guest attempted an answer to the question of why so much money is flowing to uncertainty in terms of customers, markets, experience and such. Do not miss how Courtney responded to these questions. I thought his response was excellent. Before we ended our almost 90 minute discussion, I pointed out what seemed to be a very slow developing human spaceflight industry. Courtney had lots to say about that including the fact that we likely followed the wrong but government influenced track that led to that outcome which he hoped was starting to change, especially as space access become more affordable. Read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Friday, March 28, 2025.

John returned to The Space Show to discuss his having used four AI programs to look at the Musk-SpaceX plans for launching supply and humans to Mars between 2030-2050. John wanted to know how many launch sites would be required for the plans Musk has announced to date. During this program, John went through his questions for AI, his assumptions and he he evolved his model. We also disected each of the AI responses. With listener emails and phone calls, this was a thorough discussion but specific to the question John asked the AI with the assumptions he made. All of this was made very transparent on this program. Read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Space Atty Camisha Simmons was back with us to both preview her ISDC 2025 upcoming talk and to discuss her recent Space Review article which you can find on our blog. During our discussion, Camisha made a compelling case for congressional clarification regarding property rights per the Commercial Space Act of 2015. Our guest received several phone calls and multiple emails regarding potential legal conflicts once we start resource usage and more in space. Don't miss this program! Please read the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, March 23. 2025.

John and I welcomed Dr. Julian de Witt and Dr. Benjamin Rackham to the program for four segments over 36 minutes on an in-depth discussion of the Trappist 1 exoplanet system. This was a highly detailed discussion regarding the sun and all seven planets close together in this system. During the four segments we covered all aspects of the system, the use of the JWST and other preferred imaging devices. how best to research the system going forward and why we want to do that plus we talked about learning about this system means for studying exoplanets and looking for an Earth-like planet and life as we know it. Don't miss the full summary when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Wednesday, March 19, 2025.