In this age of rapidly advancing AI and robotic technology, do we still need to send humans into space? The argument has long been that people can do things better and faster off-Earth, but the changing face of robotic tech has some feeling otherwise. This week's guest is a returning friend of the show, Dr. Pascal Lee, who has thoughts on how and when robots may perform better--and more safely--than humans in space, and then, of course, Tariq and I worry about how our mechanical masters might take our place in the cosmos. Pascal also reports on his recent experience with the National Academies' report on the human exploration of Mars. Join us!

Headlines:

• NASA Unveils Major Overhaul to Artemis Lunar Program, With Arrtemis II & II Facing Delays and A Shift in the Lunar Landing Timeline.
• Mike Fincke Revealed as Astronaut Medically Evacuated from ISS

Main Topic: First Steps for Human Exploration of Mars

• National Academies Report Identifies Top Mars Science Priorities for Astronauts, With the Search for Life on Mars Ranked as the Highest Scientific Priority
• Strategies Debated: Shorter Missions vs. Building Lasting Mars Infrastructure
• Call for Focused Mars Surface Lab to Maximize Science Returns
• Discussion of Sample Return, Planetary Protection, and Evolving AI-Robotics Partnerships
• Debate Over Long-Term Human Settlement on Mars Versus Robotic and Cyborg Exploration
• Implications of Rapid Progress in Humanoid Robotics and AI for the Future of Space Exploration

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Pascal Lee

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One of the most exciting missions to ever journey to the outer solar system has the be the Dragonfly multi-rotor helicopter that will head to Saturn's moon Titan in 2028. The car-sized probe will arrive at that strange, frozen world in 2034, descending into the soupy, smoggy atmosphere and then taking flight before it even touches the ground! We spoke with the mission's Principal Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, about the mission's origins, current progress, and what to expect in the coming years. She also took us through a narrated tour of the surface of Titan, with its hydrocarbon sand dunes and methane seas. The Dragonfly mission will be an adventure of a lifetime!

Headlines:

• NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Aces New Fueling Test
• Boeing Starliner is Rated a "Type A" Mishap and Faces More Launch Delays
• Perseverance Rover Gets Instant Mars GPS-like Functionality

Main Topic: NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan

• Dr. Elizabeth Turtle explains Dragonfly's origins and mission concept
• Why Titan is unique and somewhat akin to the primordial Earth, perfect for exploring prebiotic chemistry
• Dragonfly's advanced science suite and autonomous flying capability
• Insights from the Cassini/Huygens missions and how they are shaping Dragonfly
• Navigation, flight strategy, and safety planning for Titan's harsh environment
• Power, heating, and longevity on Titan's freezing surface
• Titan's dune landscape, flying conditions, and analogs to Earth
• Big scientific questions: methane cycle, atmospheric mysteries, and potential surprises
• Mission timeline, lander design, and the innovative "fly-as-you-land" arrival approach

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Turtle

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Most people don't think of spaceflight when talking about the United Nations, but the UN, through its Office of Outer Space Affairs, or UNOOSA, has been pivotal in securing agreements on space poilicy and behavioral norms. This week, we speak with Aarti Holla-Maini, the director of UNOOSA, and Dr. Rick Jenet, the executive director of Expanding Frontiers and the National Space Society's representative to the UN, about the importance of this office. It's a wide-ranging discussion of the intersection of international space efforts and the intersection with commercial space as we expand activities into Earth orbit, the moon, and beyond.

Headlines:

• SpaceX Crew-12 Launch Sends New Astronauts to the ISS
• Vast Joins Commercial Flights to the ISS, Prepares for Private Space Stations
• Axiom, Voyager, and Vast Face Off in Commercial LEO Station Race
• International Collaboration Ramps Up for Future of Space Policy

Main Topic: Inside UNOOSA—The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

• Dr. Rick Janet Explains the Role of COPUOS and UNOOSA in Global Space Governance
• Aarti Holla-Maini Shares Her Path to Leading UNOOSA and Her Vision for Its Future
• Distinguishing UNOOSA (the office) from COPUOS (the committee)
• UNOOSA's Expanding Mission: Capacity Building, Disaster Response, Space Law, and Sustainability
• The Importance of Neutral Convening, Capacity Building, and Industry Input
• Growing Need for Space Sustainability, Debris Mitigation, and New Regulatory Focus
• Anticipating Lunar Activity: Resource Use, Transparency, and Non-Appropriation Principle
• Engaging Commercial Space Actors While Maintaining Member State Authority
• Megaconstellations: Building New Norms for Responsible Behavior in Orbit
• Future UNOOSA Goals: Coordinating Space Traffic, Centralizing Satellite Data Access, and Fostering Global Partnerships

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guests: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet and Aarti Holla-Maini

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It is widely accepted that over time, humanity will need to expand its presence into the solar system. What are the challenges? Well, space and our nearby worlds have proved to be a much greater challenge than we had long thought. While the rigors of zero-g have been well researched on the International Space Station, the challenges of living in lower gravity, such as that found on the moon and Mars, has not yet been explored. And human reproduction in space, along with genetic challenges, is a complete unknown. Rice Univeristy professor and researcher Scott Solomon joins us to explore these topics in depth, and to posit possible solutions.

Headlines:

• Artemis 2 Moon Launch Faces More Delays Due to Hydrogen Leaks
• Perseverance Rover on Mars Completes First Fully AI-Driven Journey
• Study Warns of Urgent Need to Research Human Reproduction in Space

Main Topic: Becoming Martian – What It Would Take for Humans to Thrive on Mars

• Biological impacts of space and Martian environments on the human body
• Gaps in research about human reproduction, growth, and development in space and partial gravity
• Ethical, social, and medical challenges of having children beyond Earth
• The complexities of transplanting Earth's ecosystems, microbiomes, and the risk of disruptive species
• Evolutionary changes and the likely divergence of human populations living long-term off-Earth
• Considerations around modifying humans versus modifying extraterrestrial environments
• Infectious disease threats and dwindling biological immunity for space settlers
• Psychological, cultural, and population dynamics for future interplanetary communities

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Scott Solomon

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This month marks a bitter annual anniversary for NASA. On February 1, 1967, the crew of Apollo 1 was killed in a horrific fire on the pad in Florida. Years later, as the space shuttle Challenger ascended on February 28, 1986, it was destroyed mid-flight with a loss of seven crewmembers. Finally, on February 1, 2003, the shuttle Columbia was lost during reentry, again with a crew of seven. This episode is a remembrance of these tragic events with Gerry Griffin, former Apollo Flight Director and Director of the Johnson Space Center among his many other roles with NASA and beyond. Gerry brings a personal touch to these events, describing the experiences first-hand and lessons learned. Please join us for this very special episode.

Headlines:

• NASA Artemis 2 Testing and Launch Delayed by Cold Weather
• Crew 12 Launch Schedule Impacted by Artemis II Slip
• New Artemis Launch Windows and Associated Challenges
• Countdown to NASA's Next Moonshot: Updated Flight Timelines

Main Topic: Remembering NASA's Worst Tragedies and Lessons Learned

• Apollo 1 Fire: Causes, Team Reaction, and Aftermath
• Transition from Gemini to Apollo: Organizational and Technical Shifts
• Challenger Disaster: Technical Failures, Team Dynamics, and Impact
• Shuttle Safety Evolution and Lessons from Columbia
• The Resolve and Spirit of NASA Teams After Tragedy
• Evolving Risk Management and Decision-Making in Human Spaceflight
• Reflections and Advice for Today's Flight Directors as Artemis II Flight Approaches

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Gerry Griffin

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The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which was intended to regulate activities in space, is hard to enforce and woefully out of date. New nations and private actors are entering the spaceflight arena, and an updated mechanism with a bit more teeth is needed. Our guest, Ely Sandler, a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, has put forward the idea of using COPs—not the kind in uniform, but a Conference of Parties—as a less-formal gathering of spacefaring (and space-ambitious) entities, to discuss future treaties, agreements, and enforcement mechanisms, eventually leading to new treaties. These would be similar to the annual climate COP that has provided useful discourse on climate change. A space COP would address responsibility for and control of orbital assets, land and resource use on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids; and possibly limits to the militarization of space. Join us for a fascinating discussion!

Headlines:

• Artemis II Moon Rocket Rolls Out for Launch Preparations
• Crew-11 Astronauts Speak on Space Station Medical Evacuation
• Earth Faces Strongest Solar Radiation Storm in 20 Years
• Auroras Sparked Across Unusual Latitudes

Main Topic: Is the Outer Space Treaty Obsolete? Examining the Future of Space Governance with Ely Sandler

• Outer Space Treaty's Vagueness and Limits for Modern Space Activity
• Why New Space Policy Models Are Needed for Orbital Debris, Spacecraft Ownership, and Liability
• "Conference of the Parties" (COP) Model Proposed for Space Law Updates
• Challenges of Property Rights, Exclusion Zones, and International Consensus on the Moon
• How Commercial Space and Military Concerns Intersect Under Outdated Treaties
• Space Solar Power's Potential and Regulatory Hurdles for Energy Beaming

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Ely Sandler

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NASA's history is a long and fascinating story, and we decided we'd invite former NASA Chief Historian Dr. Roger Launius onto the show to tell us about how NASA tracks its history, the public's perceptions of spaceflight, and how our understanding of the past might inform our future in space. Also the Crew 11 return, Artemis II rollout, and MAVEN, phone home! Join us for this engaging conversation!

Headlines:

• NASA Completes First-Ever Medical Evacuation From the ISS
• Artemis 2 Megarocket Rolls Out to the Launch Pad Amid Tight Schedule
• NASA Attempts to Revive MAVEN Spacecraft Around Mars

Main Topic: Chronicling the Space Age — With Dr. Roger Launius

• How NASA's First Chief Historian Got Hooked on Space
• The Role and Daily Work of a NASA Chief Historian
• Transitioning From NASA to Smithsonian: Culture, Audience, and Mission
• Is This a "Second Space Age"? Commercial Players and Evolving Space Policy
• Public Attitudes Toward Space: Then and Now—Separating Myth From Reality
• Historical Parallels Between Apollo and Artemis and the Notion of a New Space Race
• Challenges of Public Engagement and NASA's Struggle to Stay In the Spotlight
• Media Fragmentation, Social Media, and Changing Consumption of Space News
• The Rise of Moon Landing Conspiracies Amid Information Abundance
• The Vital Importance of Documenting Accidents and Hard Lessons in Space History
• Preserving Space History in the Digital Era—From Paper to Tweets
• Dr. Roger Launius' Upcoming Book: NASA History in 100 Objects

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Roger Launius

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2026 promises to be the most exciting year in the new space age yet! Shining bright is the prospect of an Artemis II launch to send astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972, as early as February. We've already seen news about a medical incident on the International Space Station that will force a crew to return to Earth early, but NASA says this won't affect the Artemis launch. On other news, NASA's budget seems on track to be passed at near 2025 levels, China is preparing to send a robot to the south lunar pole, SpaceX plans robust tests of Starship this year—and hopefully refinement of their lander for Artemis III, Boeing will fly Starliner again (uncrewed), Mars Sample Return is poised to be scuttled, and all this under the leadership of a new—and apparently quite capable—NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman. Join us for an in-depth look at what's coming in 2026!

Headlines:

• Medical evacuation planned for ISS astronauts due to health concerns
• NASA Chief Jared Isaacman leads first big press conference amid ISS medical incident
• Artemis 2 lunar mission remains on track for February launch
• Orion spacecraft heat shield faces scrutiny ahead of crewed flight
• NASA budget nearly secured—Congress backs full funding for 2026
• Mars Sample Return project faces likely cancellation
• SpaceX Starship gears up for crucial orbital and refueling tests
• Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander launch delayed, competition heats up
• China's lunar, asteroid, and orbital missions ramp up for 2026
• Boeing Starliner and Sierra Space Dream Chaser schedule ISS cargo missions
• New moon landers, asteroid missions, and global crewed capsule tests coming in 2026
• NASA's Roman Space Telescope possibly launching this year

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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