Episodes
Thursday May 14, 2020
Athena Brensberger - Founder and CEO of Astroathens, LLC
Thursday May 14, 2020
Thursday May 14, 2020
In this episode:
We meet Founder and CEO of Astroathens, LLC, Athena Brensberger.
Athena advocates for space exploration through her platform Astroathens, which is a website, YouTube channel and various social media platforms combined where people can find DIY videos for astrophysics demos, rocket launch coverage and look behind-the-scenes at space ports and events around the world!
She has worked with Seeker, Futurism and most recently Arianespace, as a correspondent on all things astronomy and rocket science. Athena conducted research on protoplanetary disks --early formation of planetary systems like our solar system!
Athena tell us how her passions, astrophysics, theater and fashion intersect and how space really reaches all walks of life. She is a self-proclaimed Astrophysicist Barbie.
Learn more about Astroathens at https://astroathens.com/.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Thursday May 07, 2020
Laura Forczyk - Space Consultant
Thursday May 07, 2020
Thursday May 07, 2020
In this episode:
We meet Laura Forczyk, owner of Astralytical, a space consulting firm specializing in space science, industry, and policy, and offering space career coaching services.
Laura is a NASA Subject Matter Expert for planetary science missions and serves on the advisory boards for the Lifeboat Foundation and the Society of Women in Space Exploration. In addition, she serves as a mentor for the Brooke Owens Fellowship program.
Laura tells us about her recently released book, Rise of the Space Age Millennials. She interviewed 100 millennials to write the book, exploring where the space industry is heading and what the future leaders of the space industry hope to see happen in their lifetimes.
Laura also does a lot of coaching with students, helping to prepare them for a career in space. In this episode, she also offers bits of advice for listeners to use in their own careers.
You can find Rise of the Space Age Millennials online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble website, or get a signed copy on Laura’s website, https://www.astralytical.com/.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Will Pomerantz – Virgin Orbit
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
In this episode:
We meet Will Pomerantz, Vice President of Special Projects and Brand at Virgin Orbit in Glendale, California. He has been a part of the XPRIZE Team, a weightless flight coach with Zero Gravity Corporation, and was a founder of the Brooke Owens Fellowship. He has worked with Futron Inc., the International Space University, and the United Nations. He has also done a TEDx Talk entitled, “Why We Go: Leaving Our Beautiful Home and Exploring Outer Space.”
In this conversation, Will discusses how he decided space was the place for him career wise when he was growing up, his start at Virgin Galactic, what he does now at Virgin Orbit, and how small satellite launch needs have evolved. He also describes how Virgin Orbit was able to quickly pivot from launch and commercial space activities to producing ventilators to support COVID-19 efforts, taking their ventilator design from concept to production within a month.
In discussing future Virgin Orbit projects, Will says, “I have really come to deeply love and admire the small satellite industry. I’ve gone from being a little bit of a skeptic at first, to believing that this is something that’s going to have an enormous impact on the planet.”
To learn more about Virgin Orbit, visit virginorbit.com.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Bill Gattle – President of Space Systems, L3Harris Technologies
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
In this episode:
We meet Bill Gattle, the President of Space Systems for L3Harris Technologies, Space and Airborne Systems Segment, which covers an extensive portfolio of solutions in intelligence, surveillance, small satellites, electronic warfare, and avionics. Previously, Bill was President of Space and Intelligence Systems for Harris Corporation prior to their merger with L3 Technologies last year. He is also a board member of the Space Foundation, the University of Florida’s Dean’s Advisory Board, and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.
In this episode, Bill explains what inspired him to go into the space industry in 1987, some of the early projects he worked on, lessons learned in the Harris Corporation-L3 Technologies merger, the growing importance of small satellites, protecting our assets in space, how the creation of the Space Force is changing the space industry, as well as his thoughts on mentorship and the skills that companies like L3Harris will look for in their future employees.
In discussing the steps teachers should take to get their students interested in the STEM workforce of the future, Bill said, “It used to be that we’d have a wonderment about space, so we’d just love the aspect of learning about it. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the mechanics of what we’re learning, we don’t see the wonder of what we’re creating, and what we’re doing. With the world changing so fast, I think we’ve got to create that wonder in students again.”
For more information on L3Harris Technologies, visit their site at l3harris.com.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Dr. Tanya Harrison - Professional Martian
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
In this episode:
We meet Dr. Tanya Harrison, who describes herself a “professional Martian.” She has spent the last decade working as a scientist on mission operations on multiple NASA Mars missions, including the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers.
Tanya specializes in geomorphology, the study of a planet’s evolution based on its surface features. Before her Mars work, Tanya had her head in the stars as an astronomer studying the metal content of star clusters and recurring novae systems.
She tells us about how she developed a passion for space and science and explains more about geomorphology. Tanya shares the detective work she does when looking at a photo of Mars and how she uses her knowledge to help further our studies of the red planet. Tanya is also an advocate for advancing the status of women in science and for accessibility in the geosciences. She also talks about being one of the organizers of the annual Women in Space conference.
Tanya tells us about her new book For All Humankind, a collection of true stories based on interviews with people who watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing live but from outside the U.S. The book is available on Amazon and at ForAllHumankind.Space.
You can follow her on Twitter @tanyaofmars.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Wednesday Feb 12, 2020
Alan Ladwig - Author, Part Two
Wednesday Feb 12, 2020
Wednesday Feb 12, 2020
In this episode:
We continue our conversation with Alan Ladwig, the author of “See You in Orbit? Our Dream of Spaceflight.” Between 1981 and 1990, Alan held a variety of positions at NASA Headquarters, including Director of Special Projects for the Office of Exploration and Manager of the Shuttle Student Involvement Program. Alan was also Manager of NASA’s Space Flight Participant program in the 1980s, which included the “Teacher in Space” project, most famously known for its selection of Christa McAuliffe as the first teacher and civilian to be chosen to participate in spaceflight.
In this second part of our conversation, Alan discusses how Russia played an early role in paving the way for civilian passengers to travel to the International Space Station, the plans that four companies currently have to develop commercial space stations for civilian use, how the arts are regarded within the space community, and how the prohibitive cost of space travel hinders the democratization of space.
In discussing how high costs prevent more access to space, Alan said, “We want space to be an environment that is experienced by a wider range of people. Not just scientists, engineers... Not trained astronauts and cosmonauts, but people from all walks of life. Because … space is just an extension of who we are.”
For more information on Alan and his current pursuits, visit his website at toorbitproductions.com, and visit his Facebook page to view his space-inspired artwork. Alan’s book is available for purchase at amazon.com.
Click here for Part One of this conversation.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged
Thursday Sep 05, 2019
Ashlie Smith - Physical Science Teacher
Thursday Sep 05, 2019
Thursday Sep 05, 2019
In this episode:
We meet physical science teacher, Ashlie Smith from Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Girls. Ashlie was the recipient of the 2017 Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, as presented by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Space Foundation.
Ashlie is also a member of the Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program, a group of extraordinary educators who use space-related education programs and principles in the classroom to act as advocates for space-based education in their schools and districts.
Ashlie tells us about her teaching style and how she strives to show young women the amazing careers and opportunities available to them in the space and science industries.
Introductory and closing music: Paint the Sky by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/50718 Ft: Miss Judged