This episode is an amazing story about the Commercialization of Cislunar Space by a company named ThinkOrbital. It’s also the story of how two talented people were bold enough to share their innovative idea to design something…different, better, and for all space explorers.   Co-Founders Sebastian Asprella and Dr. Vojtech Holub met on Discord during COVID, and soon found that by applying their interests and talents together in a big way, a big idea for a single-launch space station could become a reality. And thus, ThinkOrbital was born!  One of Beth’s favorite ThinkOrbital long-term objectives is that they look to explore customers beyond “traditional” space users, promoting the quality of business, research and recreational scope available in space! Today on this Casual Space Podcast episode, Sebastian and Vojtech walk us through their concept to create a novel space station that is scalable, modular and can be deployed with a single launch to be assembled on-orbit. Wow.  About Sebastian Asprella: Think Orbital Co-Founder, CEO Sebastian brings 25 years of leadership and intrapreneurship experience across business management and IT sectors. With a background in electromechanics and business administration, Sebastian has been working for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since 2001 starting from business administration to heading complex multinational digitalization programs. Sebastian has previously consulted on business development for EnergyX, while his early career experience ranges across telecom and oil and gas sectors. About Vojtech Holub, Ph.D.: Think Orbital Co-Founder, CTO Vojtech brings 13 years of research and development and software engineering experience, along with research expertise in aerospace engineering. Vojtech holds over 20 patents and has published 17 conference and journal papers. His paper published in the AIAA’s Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets has served as a founding thesis for ThinkOrbital’s Commercial Space Station design.   About ThinkOrbital https://thinkorbital.com/  ThinkOrbital is designing and delivering the premier commercial low Earth orbit destination with a mission to accelerate exploration of cislunar space. They have developed a concept based on mature technologies available today, to create a novel space station that is scalable, modular and can be deployed with a single launch to be assembled on-orbit.   Other Happenings:  James Webb Space Telescope?!?! Here’s a great video about JWST launch and deployment:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6ihVeEoUdo Launch Schedules! https://www.space.com/32286-space-calendar.html  Dylan Taylor launches on Blue Origin! Here’s my conversation with Dylan from earlier this year; https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/2020/12/17/101-dylan-taylor And here’s another great conversation with Dylan and Frank White! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlU76UuDxjA

Casual Space

147: The Creation Story of ThinkOrbital with Sebastian Asprella and Vojtech Holub

When you need to send payloads to space, you call upon the expertise of Stephanie Murphy, because Ms. Murphy and her newly merged company is (and has been) perfectly practiced at providing on-orbit testing for government and commercial customers. Today on the show, you’ll enjoy getting to know the impressive Stephanie Murphy- how she’s overcoming obstacles as a female principal owner in the competitive commercial space industry, what it takes to fly payloads in space, her team’s ability to champion challenging flight schedules (from concept to flown in 3 years!) and what it feels like to receive a new contract from NASA to be the first woman-owned company that will land testing equipment on the moon!!    Alpha Space leads the commercial space industry through its Space Testing as a Service (STaaS) offerings. Alpha Space owns and operates the MISSE – an orbiting commercial science and testing facility permanently installed on the exterior of the International Space Station. MEI Technologies is a nationwide company providing innovative technical services and solutions including Space Access, Engineering Services & Solutions, Modeling and Simulation and IT/Cyber Services & Solutions, and Stephanie Murphy is the woman who formed the merger between Alpha Space and MEI Technologies!    About Stephanie Muñiz Murphy: Stephanie Muñiz Murphy a Hispanic-American woman who owns Aegis and serves as Chair of the Board. Through a new contract with NASA, Aegis will be the first woman-owned company that will land testing equipment on the Moon! Stephanie is working closely with Mark Gittleman, the CEO of Aegis, which was formed in August 2021 through the merger of Alpha Space and MEI Technologies. Gittleman’s background is rich with hardware development in the commercial space industry.    About AEGIS AEROSPACE https://www.aegisaero.com (pronounced ējis) is a woman-owned space and technology company that provides turn-key solutions to government and commercial customers in the space and defense industries. Formed through the merger of Alpha Space and MEI Technologies, Aegis Aerospace offers 30 years of success and innovation in the areas of commercial space services, technology and engineering services, and related products.   About Alpha Space https://www.alphaspace.com/about-alpha-space.html  Unparalleled Commercial On-Orbit Testing and Data Collection Services Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance, LLC (Alpha Space) is a minority-woman-owned commercial space company serving the space R&D and testing markets.  It is an ISS National Laboratory Implementation Partner and Commercialization Partner.  Alpha Space provides turnkey on-orbit technology testing services utilizing its unique, external flight facility, MISSE.  Alpha Space makes it easy to get your science or technology to orbit and into the actual space environment, providing confidential testing and data collection for both passive and active tests and experiments for about 6 months at a time.  When the test period is over, Alpha Space returns your hardware to you.  The Alpha Space team has the experience and skills needed to provide its customers with services that include: Hardware design Hardware/experiment fabrication Payload and experiment integration Flight certification Launch vehicle integration On-orbit operations Confidential data collection De-integration and return   About the MISSE Facility https://www.alphaspace.com/about-misse-ff.html  Affordable, Unparalleled Access for Space Environment Technology Demonstration Testing Instrument Validation | Material Science | Solar Cell Testing The MISSE test platform consists of a flight facility that is permanently installed on an ISS truss and modular technology/experiment carriers.  The flight facility provides structural mounting and utility distribution to up to twelve technology/experiment carriers at a time.  The modular carriers are rotated about every six months with a new set of customer technologies.

146: Sending Science to the Lunar Surface with Aegis Aerospace Principal Owner Stephanie Murphy

Mike Mullane is a NASA astronaut who has written several award-winning and popular books detailing his space exploration experience. Years later, his son, Patrick Mullane, would also write a popular book about his own unique experience watching his father become an astronaut. Both accomplished veterans, Mike and Patrick sit down with Beth on Veteran’s Day to share some of their (hilarious) stories and (sincere) reflections, and even make a few predictions about the future of space exploration (Dad jokes in space?) on this episode of Casual Space. Don’t miss this one- Mike and Patrick are some of the best storytellers you’ve ever heard!    About Mike Mullane: https://mikemullane.com/ Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides.  He was a child of the space race and in the late 1950’s embarked on his own rocket experiments in the deserts near his home. Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam. He holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mullane was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery (STS-41D) and Atlantis (STS-27 & 36) before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal. Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children’s book, Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space?  His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s recommended summer reading list.   About Patrick Mullane: https://www.pjmullane.com/ Patrick Mullane is the Executive Director of Harvard Business School Online. He brings over 20 years of management experience across several industries to the position. As Executive Director, he is responsible for managing HBS Online's growth, expansion in global markets, and long-term success. HBS Online leverages Harvard Business School's reputation for excellence and impact in business education and the broader business community, as well as the vast intellectual property, academic pedagogy, and faculty talent of the School to be the premier provider of high-quality digital business education. Prior to joining HBS Online, Patrick was the CEO of Fabrico, Inc., an industrial manufacturing company that was purchased by Technetics, Inc. in 2014. Subsequent to the sale of Fabrico, he served as vice president and general manager in Technetics' industrial turbine portfolio. Before earning his MBA, Patrick served as a captain in a U.S. Air Force intelligence organization. He has also been an early employee of a technology startup, managed Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions' Washington DC market, and worked for a telecommunications equipment company.

145: Author Patrick Mullane and Astronaut Mike Mullane

Built in 1966 to support the Apollo space missions, the NASA tracking station in Guam (GWM) was equipped with a 30-foot USB antenna and VHF Air-Ground Voice and Telemetry capabilities. Guam was the first dedicated Apollo station built, and it’s where Brian Riehle and his team helped to track and communicate with 5 Apollo missions, including Apollo 11! Beth had the privilege of meeting Brian at the Inspiration4 Mission launch, thanks to family friend and astronaut, Dr. Sian Proctor!   About Brian: Mr. Riehle has 35 years’ experience in computer systems, including 21 years in Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation systems with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of which 13 years were in a management position.  Prior to entering the Federal Civil Service, he was a field engineer with Sperry Univac, and worked on the ARTS 3 Terminal Automation program. While employed with Sperry Univac, he worked in the ARTS 3 development labs in St. Paul, MN, and installed the ARTS 3 systems at Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and the FAA Technical Center (FAATC).  Before going to Sperry Univac, he worked for the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation on the NASA Manned Space Flight Network, and supported 5 Apollo lunar missions as the computer supervisor and data systems supervisor at the Guam and Corpus Christi, TX, Apollo tracking stations.  Before that, he was employed by North American Rockwell and worked on the development of the Navy Tactical Data Systems (NTDS).  He has held numerous FAA technical management positions in Airway Facilities including the positions of Branch Manager, Assistant Division Manager, Division Manager, and Deputy Director of the Operational Support Program. Here's more info about the Guam NASA tracking stations:    Here are all the Apollo tracking stations; https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-DSNLocations.html    Here’s a great story about a little boy who helped saved Apollo from Guam: https://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/07/20/apollo11.irpt/index.html 

144: Tracking Apollo from Guam with Brian Riehle

What kind of space suit will we need to go back to the moon? How long does it take to make a space suit? Why are space suits white? What’s the first thing that could kill you in space? (It’s not what you think). Dan Klopp’s division at ILC Dover has been making space suits for NASA for over 50 years, so he’s perfectly positioned to provide us with a space suit tutorial in this episode of Casual Space!    About Dan Klopp :  Dan Klopp is a business leader with an extensive background in technology and strategic marketing. Dan is currently the Director Of Marketing And Business Development Space Systems Division at ILC Dover Dan holds a BS in Physics (with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics) from Millersville State University, along with an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Additionally, he has done post graduate work in marketing theory at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Dan has worked in marketing, product development and business leadership positions forHewlett Packard Co., W.L. Gore and Associates, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has also served as an adjunct professor of business and marketing for several universities. Dan Klopp resides with his wife in Milton, DE.Find Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danklopp/ About ILC Dover : ILC Dover: https://www.ilcdover.com/aerospace/ ; Instagram: @ilcdover.astrospace    THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION about Space Suite Technology and Spinoffs:  https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2005/ch_1.html Here’s just a part of the article:    Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Space is a hostile environment where astronauts combat extreme temperatures, dangerous radiation, and a near-breathless vacuum. Life support in these unforgiving circumstances is crucial and complex, and failure is not an option for the devices meant to keep astronauts safe in an environment that presents constant opposition. A space suit must meet stringent requirements for life support. The suit has to be made of durable material to withstand the impact of space debris and protect against radiation. It must provide essential oxygen, pressure, heating, and cooling while retaining mobility and dexterity. It is not a simple article of clothing but rather a complex modern armor that the space explorers must don if they are to continue exploring the heavens. Partnership In 1947, before people successfully left the Earth’s atmosphere, ILC Dover, Inc., of Frederica, Delaware, the governmental supply branch of the International Latex Corporation, was manufacturing high-strength rubber rafts for U.S. Navy Seals. This product proved the basis for a succession of increasingly complex projects in the high-strength textile market. In the next decade, the company’s production of pressurized textiles brought it into the realm of creating pressurized flight suits and helmets for American U-2 spy plane pilots, who flew in extreme altitudes. ILC Dover’s success with pressurized flight suits led to its bidding and winning the space suit contract for the Apollo mission in 1965 with its AX5L suit—a modified, pressurized suit with woven restraints, air bladders, and wrist cuffs that still is used by astronauts today. Since the early Apollo contract, ILC Dover, in conjunction with Hamilton Standard, of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, has designed and produced space suits for NASA. These suits have flown on every mission, and ILC Dover maintains a staff of 15 full-time employees at the Johnson Space Center dedicated to fitting, assembling, and repairing the space suits for the entire astronaut corps. ILC Dover’s partnership with NASA to create the space suits resulted in mastery of life-critical applications, quality workmanship, and testing for high reliability and safety in extreme conditions, as well as the repeated analysis of processes and inspection. ILC used these skills and the NASA-honed expertise to create a handful of spinoffs, including work in the medical, pharmaceutical, personal protection, and aerospace markets. NASA also called upon ILC Dover’s skills recently, providing the company’s engineers the opportunity to spin some of their technical talents back into the Space Program. They designed and manufactured the Mars landing space inflatables for the Pathfinder and Mars Explorer Rover (MER) Missions. These large airbags cushioned the drop onto the surface of the Red Planet. In addition, they manufactured the landing ramps and continue to provide suits to support the construction of the International Space Station.

143: Next Generation of Lunar Landing Space Suits with Dan Klopp

A mixed-use business park. In space. That’s the description of the newly introduced Orbital Reef Commercial Space Station. More good news, this is not the ONLY commercial space station proposed, there are BIG plans on the LEO horizon… listen as Beth and Chad examine a future of orbiting laboratories providing solutions on, off and for planet Earth.   About Orbital Reef:  https://www.orbitalreef.com/ Orbital Reef will be the premier mixed-use space station in low Earth orbit for commerce, research, and tourism by the end of this decade.   “Designed for use cases and ideas never before possible, Orbital Reef unlocks LEO by reducing cost and complexity for new kinds of customers. We provide end-to-end services, standard interfaces, and technical support needed by space flight novices: planning, payload development, training, transportation, data analysis, and security for your people or payloads (or both).” Commercially developed, owned, and operated, Orbital Reef opens doors to new markets and catalyzes the growth of a vibrant space ecosystem. It provides an "address on orbit" for use, lease, or ownership that is international and open to all.   About Axiom Space: https://www.axiomspace.com/ The Apollo missions the first Moon landing inspired a generation. It spurred on innovation and ignited a spark in kids to aim high for their dreams. Those kids of yesterday turned into adults who are changing the world today. We want to light the spark in today’s generation to empower them to be the ones to change the world tomorrow. We’ll encourage them to aim higher for their dreams than ever before. Through this giant inspirational and representative Artemis themed Earthwork created by artist Stan Herd, we will honor and recognize African American astronaut Stephanie Wilson who is not only a pioneer but also in the current NASA Artemis group.  She could be the first women to set foot on the Moon.    About Starlab: https://nanoracks.com/starlab/ The First Ever Free-flying Commercial Space Station Nanoracks spent the last decade mastering the commercial operation of space stations, meeting customer demand, charting market growth, and self-investing in private hardware on the ISS. Based on this experience, we are excited to introduce Starlab, a continuously crewed commercial platform supporting a business designed to enable science, research, and manufacturing for customers around the world. To learn more about the business and policy of space, check out Payload: https://payloadspace.com/  To BID on Dr. Sian Proctor’s space art, “Seeker” go here before November 5th: https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/auction-live-bid-seeker-space-flown-world-traveling-2285701?preview=1 More about the IAC (International Astronautical Congress)https://www.iafastro.org/events/iac/iac-2021/  Article about the 2020 space economy: https://www.statista.com/statistics/662231/space-economy-breakdown-globally-by-sector/ 

142: Commercial Space Stations! Orbital Reef, Axiom Space, and Starlab

Christina Korp has traveled the world as a singer, producer, tour manager and as an Astronaut Wrangler. She’s produced groundbreaking, mass participation experiential artworks and event that focus on inspiring people and giving back to the planet. Today on the podcast, Christina shares with Beth her latest #AimHigher project success that recently completed on Monday, October 11, where Christina organized an incredible event in Woodruff Park in Atlanta, Georgia where a giant 6,300 square foot Earthwork portrait of NASA Astronaut Stephanie Wilson created by crop artist Stan Herd was unveiled. The frame and wording of #AimHigher was made from 1500 tiles of space art created by kids from 14 Atlanta Schools and 3 children's hospitals. Astronauts Nicole Stott, Susan Kilrain and Dr. Sian Proctor (who only just returned to Earth from the Inspiration4 Mission where she became the first black woman to pilot a spacecraft) participated in this historic event. Each astronaut spoke about the importance of representation to inspire the next generation to aim higher for their dreams. Stephanie Wilson was the second Black woman to go into space. She's flown in three missions — her first in 2006 — and she's also one of 18 astronauts on the NASA Artemis team, which is set to go to the moon in 2024.    About Christina Korp: https://christinakorp.com/  Christina Korp is an astronaut manager, space advisor and the president of Purpose Entertainment. For ten years she managed Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and launched his education foundations – ShareSpace and the Aldrin Family Foundation. She produced the last five galas at Kennedy Space Center celebrating Apollo 11 and the Webby winning and Emmy nominated, “Cycling Pathways to Mars” VR experience. She is passionate about promoting ways space benefits the planet and people every day and promoting women’s issues. She spearheaded projects in 2020 to celebrate the Women’s Vote Centennial in the USA. She leads SPACE For a Better World producing events and experiences that raise money for partner charities. She currently works with Apollo 16 moon walker Charlie Duke and NASA astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott. About #AimHigher The Apollo missions, the first Moon landing that inspired a generation. It spurred on innovation and ignited a spark in kids to aim high for their dreams. Those kids of yesterday turned into adults who are changing the world today. We want to light the spark in today’s generation to empower them to be the ones to change the world tomorrow. We’ll encourage them to aim higher for their dreams than ever before. Through this giant inspirational and representative Artemis themed Earthwork created by artist Stan Herd, we will honor and recognize African American astronaut Stephanie Wilson who is not only a pioneer but also in the current NASA Artemis group.  She could be the first woman to set foot on the Moon.  Article from Mission: AstroAccess from Space.com: https://www.space.com/astroaccess-disability-ambassadors-zero-g-flight

141: Aim Higher with Christina Korp

Does filming in space change the way in which we view space? How will filming in space change our perspective? When actors, directors, and artists go to space, can they help us see ourselves, and our planet Earth in a different way?    Last week, a Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian film crew docked at the International Space Station to begin a movie shoot in orbit. The Soyuz ferried a Russian actress and a film director to the station alongside a veteran cosmonaut, who commanded the capsule. Their goal? To spend 12 days shooting scenes for a space film called "The Challenge" on the station. This week, William Shatner, also known as Captain Kirk, will travel to space on the Blue Origin New Shepard capsule. Actors are traveling to space, and movies are being made in space, so Beth, Chad and new friend of the show, Chris Byars are ready to celebrate how exciting these events are and what it means for humanity’s future!    Join in on this episode as Beth, Chad and Chris attempt to answer questions about movies in space, including:  How many movies have been filmed in space? How many actors have flown to space? (This answer has since changed from today’s historic Blue Origin flight, by the way) What movie SHOULD have been made in space?  Tune in for a very casual conversation with lots of laughs and a couple of great ideas in this week’s Casual Space Podcast!    More miscellaneous stuff discussed:  The “female friendly” space toilet on the ISS: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/10/space-toilet-nasa-women/616686/ Tom Cruise will be making movies on the ISS: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52556699  Beth references this article from the Chicago Tribune of the top 50 movies about space- here is the list: https://www.chicagotribune.com/featured/sns-stacker-best-space-movies-all-time-20210331-ls6z5ha6ubekdgyov76fxs7tam-photogallery.html  A film made in space, Apogee of Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKOK0VzTix4  Wally Funk’s previous Blue Origin flight: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wally-funk-blue-origin-space-travel-oldest-astronaut/    Want to know more about job opportunities in the space industry? Don’t miss this free webinar, hosted by Space Nation on October 22, Beth mentioned during the show break. You can check it out and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-jobs-and-astropreneurship-opportunities-are-launching-now-tickets-191110435457?aff=bm.

140: William Shatner and Filming Movies in Space

“How can you change the world if no one knows you exist?” – Izzy House    When it comes to marketing, Izzy knows a thing or two. And when it comes to marketing for space, Izzy House wrote the book on it- literally! Her new book, Space Marketing aims to empower companies within the space industry promote space, generate excitement, and implement marketing strategies and tactics to help companies thrive. The space business model is changing, and the companies that are successful right now do ONE THING CONSISTENTLY. On this week’s episode, Izzy shares with Beth one of the simplest marketing strategies that works, yet so many companies just don’t do…      Here’s more about the book Space Marketing:  https://izzy.house/space-marketing-book/ From Izzy’s website: Since the 2015 SPACE Act opened the doors for commercial companies, the space sector has exploded with activity. There are thousands of new players. As of 2018 data, over 72 countries have launched new governmental space agencies. As a result, unprecedented competition levels grow as countries ramp up their programs and the cost for entry into the industry reduces. Subsequently, Many of the space industry professionals have not had to maneuver in these waters before now. NASA’s not the only game in town anymore. ESA, India, Israel, China, United Arab Emirates, and many other countries are going into space. Therefore, it is going to get even more competitive as these counties pour funds into their space programs and their country’s businesses as they reach for a piece of this powerful industry. Marketing will become a necessity if you want to run in the space race. About Izzy: Izzy House utilizes creativity and her extensive marketing experience to help her business partners grow. The marketing strategies that she creates are attractive, produce results, and create income streams that have benefited 600+companies for over 20 years. From websites to print to video, her award-winning campaigns connect companies to their audience. With an extensive marketing background, she turns the lens of marketing onto the space industry. Armed with experience in public affairs, outreach, and marketing, she aims to empower space companies and further their dreams of space exploration.  https://www.ilsehouse.com/

139: Space Marketing with Izzy House

You could say Tim Bailey is a space celebration connoisseur. As the Executive Director for Yuri’s Night- THE biggest space party in the world…Tim is qualified to rate and review the Inspiration4 “splashdown” party held just a week ago when the crew returned safely to Earth. (Acrobats? Star Wars bands? Flying astronauts? COLLECTIVE SOUL?!)  Today on the show, Beth and Tim say they’re “still buzzing” from the EPIC SpaceX celebration, then discuss how space travel is basically available to everyone, right now.    About Tim Bailey: Tim Bailey is space enthusiast, an Eagle Scout, a former counselor for Space Camp Florida, and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Tim never thought he'd be a Flight Attendant on his way to becoming an Astronaut, yet he’s celebrated 18 years on the job and is still loving it! In addition to his part-time work with Zero Gravity Corporation, Tim is the Executive Director for Yuri's Night, a nonprofit best known for the self-named annual world space parties in April. I've done an assortment of other project management jobs for organizations including NSS, Space Generation Advisory Council to the UN, Kennedy Space Center, the Department of Energy, the US Marine Corps, and DARPA. Want to learn more about Tim and his work? Check out his website at www.NovaBailey.com  About Zero G Gravity Corporation:   Zero Gravity Corporation is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of space accessible to the public. The experience offered by Zero-G is the only commercial opportunity on Earth for individuals to experience true “weightlessness” without going to space.Zero-G’s attention to detail, excellent service and quality of experience combine with its exciting history has set the foundation for exhilarating adventure-based tourism. https://www.gozerog.com/about-us/    About Yuri’s Night: Launching parties around the world every year on or around April 12th, in commemoration of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human venture into space on April 12, 1961, and the inaugural launch of the first Space Shuttle on April 12, 1981. We use space to bring the world together, to empower the greatest parts of who we are, and give vision to where we are going. https://yurisnight.net/ 

138: Zero-G and Yuri’s Night with Tim Bailey

On Sept 15, 2021, our friend and colleague Dr. Sian Proctor achieved her life-long dream of launching into space and becoming an astronaut on the Crew Dragon as part of the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission! My fellow analog astronauts Dr. Brandy Nunez and Makiah Eustice share our impressions and insights of this historic flight in an intimate conversation together- 24 hours after witnessing the launch live from the Kennedy Space Center at historic Launch complex 39-A.  Together, we discuss what this means for a new generation of space explorers, what this flight means for women, and what Dr. Sian Proctor brings to every interaction she has.  Buckle in, because THIS episode allows us to showcase, from our own perspectives, the journey our friend has been on, and why we’re oh-so-proud and can’t contain our excitement for Sian’s successful mission, and her many future endeavors!!!     About Dr. Sian Proctor: Sian is an American geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. She was launched into Earth orbit, on September 15, 2021, as the pilot of the Crew Dragon space capsule. This mission is the Inspiration4 private orbital spaceflight. She served as the pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, the first Black woman to serve as the pilot of a spacecraft.   Share your Support for Dr. Proctor and her Artwork Here: https://myspace2inspire.com/   About Inspiration4  Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Inspiration4 will leave Earth from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A, the embarkation point for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90% of the earth’s population. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. https://inspiration4.com/    About Dr. Brandy Nunez: Dr. Brandy Nunez is a practicing small animal  veterinarian, a modular synth musician and an aspiring astronaut.  She is also Director of outreach for the Sensoria Program (www.Sensoria.space), dedicated to making space accessible to all.  She applied to NASA in 2020 for the Astronaut candidate program and has completed two analog simulation missions at the HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa. She hopes to continue her research on future missions and eventually in low earth orbit.  Her love and appreciation of the cosmos infiltrates her work in both the scientific and creative realms.   About Makiah Eustice: Makiah is an aerospace engineer, songwriter, and Officer in the US Air Force. She's been on 3 analog missions, the latest with Sian as part of the first all-women Sensoria crew at HI-SEAS. You can find her on twitter and instagram at @Astro_Eustice   About Beth Mund:  Beth Mund is an Analog Astronaut, Podcast Host, and Space Communications Evangelist.  Beth has 20+ years of speech writing and executive coaching for Fortune 50 companies including Motorola, Allstate and United Airlines.   Beth began her NASA career as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center, and later served as a Communications Officer for the International Space Station program.  She received her Master’s Degree in Journalism at Marquette University, and served an adjunct professor at Elgin Community College. She is the CEO of Stellar Communications, providing speech writing, narrative discovery & design, voice overs, communication workshops & training, and keynote speaking.    Beth served as the host and emcee of the 2020 Space Com Expo global space commerce event. She currently serves on the Space Camp Alumni Board, and is a founding member of the Loras College Women’s Leadership Board, and the Space Drinks Association Board. Beth’s analog adventures include a MARS simulation mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, and most recently a LUNAR simulation and space isolation study at the LunAres Space Research Facility in Pila, Poland.  Her latest projects, analog missions and podcast episodes can be found at www.BethMund.com    How to continue the mission and donate to St. Jude: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/inspiration4.html

137: Insights and Impressions from the Inspiration4 Launch

Jesse Forte was NOT originally scheduled to be on the M4 Lunares X team. A crew member that could not attend the mission left an opening for a new, “first-time” analog astronaut to come and participate in our lunar simulation this July. Enter Jesse Forte, who said YES to this opportunity, and joined the crew with all the positive energy one could ever ask for- as he often does. On today’s episode, Jesse invites you to do the same- to say YES to the interesting events that come across your path. He’ll tell us how (an incredible vision board) and what’s next for this inventor, author, musician, creator, entrepreneur, and now- analog astronaut, Jesse Forte.  Where to find Jesse and all his work-  https://www.youngrevminds.com/flawless-forte     Listen to the M4 Music Album Here: https://linktr.ee/JFORTE

136: Jesse Forte Invites You to Say YES

My conversation with author and philosopher of the Overview Effect Frank White continues - including the announcement of the Overview Effect Film Festival- on this episode of Casual Space.    What is the Overview Effect?   From Frank’s book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I’ve ordered my NEW addition, and so should you):  The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, “hanging in the void,” shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere.  The experience often transforms astronaut’s perspective on the planet and humanity’s place in the universe.  Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment.    About Frank White  Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.   Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.   White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"   In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."   To Learn More about Frank and his work:  frankwhiteauthor.com ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival  

135: Frank White Part Two

Frank White returns to Casual Space: Author, space philosopher and consultant joins Beth to share a lot of news!  A new edition of the Overview Effect is out- and Frank announces a new project coming to you in November!  We discuss non-professional space explorers (astronauts?), the need to migrate off Earth, and examine the many interpretations of the Overview Effect.    What is the Overview Effect?   From Frank’s book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I’ve ordered my NEW addition, and so should you):  The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, “hanging in the void,” shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere.  The experience often transforms astronaut’s perspective on the planet and humanity’s place in the universe.  Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment.    About Frank White  Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.   Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.   White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"   In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."   To Learn More about Frank and his work:  frankwhiteauthor.com ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival… premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival

134: Frank White on Space Exploration and Human Evolution, 4th Edition of the Overview Effect

That famous photo- the one we’re all familiar with- an astronaut in a bright white suit flying untethered – floating, really, above the Earth with the dark contrast of space in the background… that photo has an incredible backstory… and it’s been captured perfectly in an awesome new book by author Bruce McCandless III.     Astronaut Bruce McCandless III is perhaps best remembered as the subject of a famous NASA photograph (below right), flying alongside the space shuttle in the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) -- the first astronaut to fly untethered from his spacecraft… His time as an astronaut encompassed much more than that mission, including serving as the Mission Control communicator for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk on the Apollo 11 mission. There’s so much more to this iconic photo- and now we can enjoy the story behind the moment from Bruce’s son, Bruce McCandless III in his new book, Wonders All Around.  On this episode, Bruce shares his perspective with Beth on what it was like growing up with an astronaut Dad and more right here on this week’s Casual Space Podcast.  Both the book -and this conversation- is really good.     About Bruce McCandless III  Bruce McCandless III grew up in the shadow of Houston’s Johnson Space Center during the Apollo and Skylab eras, watching Batman and Buzz Aldrin with equal enthusiasm. He graduated from the Plan II Honors Program of the University of Texas and went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Reading in England and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. After teaching at Saint David’s School in New York City, he returned to Austin to practice law and retired in 2019 as general counsel of Superior HealthPlan, the Texas affiliate of Fortune 100 company Centene.    In addition to Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and The First Untethered Flight in Space, Bruce is also the author of the science fiction novel Sour Lake (2011), the modern fairy tale Beatrice and the Basilisk (2014), and, with his daughter Carson, a book of light verse for middle schoolers titled Carson Clare’s Trail Guide to Avoiding Death (And Other Unpleasant Consequences) (2017). He has published poems, stories, and essays in a variety of journals, including the Texas Observer, The Seattle Review, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Pleiades, and Consequence, and his book of poems, All of This is Ours, will be published in the summer of 2021 by Kelsay Books. Bruce is an avid runner and mountain biker who spends most of his free time on Central Texas trails. He is also a board member of the Worthy Garden Club—an Oregon-based environmental organization working to plant a million trees in the Pacific Northwest—and the Austin Library Foundation. Bruce and his wife, Pati McCandless, live in Austin To Learn More about Bruce and his work:  First, check out the famous photo here: Bruce McCandless III from the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/astronaut-bruce-mccandless-on-first-ever-untethered-spacewalk And  Bruce III, the author, the attorney, the teacher and more: https://brucemccandless.com.    ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS GREAT BOOK Wonders All Around HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626348650/ref=cm_sw_su_dp  

133: Wonders All Around with Bruce McCandless III

Let’s talk SPACE, and let’s keep it casual. Nothing too technical. Stories that inspire. As a former NASA Public Affairs Officer, let be serve as your guide. I’ll provide conversations that are both interesting and fun. Each weekly episode brings a new, fresh discussion on a variety of space topics & stories. The universe is pretty big, so there’s always something new to discover! Join me and find YOUR inner space geek on Casual Space!

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