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Tap into the experiences of NASA’s technical workforce as they develop missions to explore distant worlds—from the Moon to Mars, from Titan to Psyche. Learn how they advance technology to make aviation on Earth faster, quieter and more fuel efficient. Each biweekly episode celebrates program and project managers, engineers, scientists and thought leaders working on multiple fronts to advance aeronautics and space exploration in a bold new era of discovery. New episodes are released bi-weekly on Wednesdays. 

A high-resolution free-air gravity map based on GRAIL data, overlaid on terrain based on LRO altimeter (LOLA) and camera (LROC) data. The view is south-up, with the south pole near the horizon in the upper left and the crescent Earth in the distance. The terminator crosses the eastern rim of the Schrödinger basin. Gravity is painted onto the areas that are in or near the night side. Red corresponds to mass excesses and blue to mass deficits. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 112: TECHLEAP NIGHTTIME PRECISION LANDING CHALLENGE

Jul 12, 2023 | Transcript | 16:35
NASA TechLeap Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge Manager Greg Peters discusses the lunar landing challenge. Read More
An image of Raven Zero Pressure Balloon being inflated.The Exo-Atmospheric Aerobrake was tested during the August 2019 flight campaign. Photo Credit: NASA

EPISODE 111: FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

Jun 28, 2023 | Transcript | 21:38
NASA Flight Opportunities Program Manager Danielle McCulloch discusses rapid demonstration of technologies and capabilities for NASA missions and commercial spaceflight. Read More

EPISODE 109: NASA ENGINEERING AND SAFETY CENTER

May 31, 2023 | Transcript | 18:21
NASA Engineering and Safety Center Director Tim Wilson discusses the NESC's contributions to NASA mission success. Read More
Jim Sarafin is diving with an astronaut. The astronaut is in their spacesuit. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 108: UNDERWATER TRAINING FOR ASTRONAUTS

May 17, 2023 | Transcript | 18:12
NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Critical Systems Engineer Jim Sarafin discusses training astronauts for spacewalks. Read More
NASA Glenn researcher Tim Peshek shows off a new type of ultrathin solar cell, known as a ‘perovskite’ because of its structure. These solar cells show promise for space applications because of their high efficiency and radiation tolerance and open the door to extremely low cost and large solar arrays for spacecraft or lunar surface habitats.

EPISODE 107: PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS

May 03, 2023 | Transcript | 17:22
NASA Research Electrical Engineer Lyndsey McMillon-Brown discusses development of perovskite solar cell technology for Moon and Mars exploration. Read More
This illustration depicts the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite with solar arrays fully deployed. Credit: NASA/JPL

EPISODE 106: SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY

Apr 19, 2023 | Transcript | 31:33
Surface Water and Ocean Topography Project Manager Parag Vaze discusses the first global survey of Earth's surface water. Read More
A view of the Perseverance rover drill. NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its Left Mastcam-Z camera on March 7, 2022 (Sol 371) at the local mean solar time of 15:34:26. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 105: SAMPLES FROM MARS

Apr 05, 2023 | Transcript | 23:23
Mars Sample Return Deputy Lead Scientist Lindsay Hays discusses plans to bring the first samples of Mars material to Earth. Read More
Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans rotated the engine section for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket from a vertical to horizontal position to prepare it for joining to the rest of the rocket’s core stage on Sept. 13. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 104: WORKPLACE SAFETY CULTURE

Mar 22, 2023 | Transcript | 44:27
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana discuss the importance of a strong safety culture. Read More
A historical black and white photo of two young women, Michele Brekke and Susan Creasy, who were working in the shuttle mission simulator. To keep warm, they were wearing coats from the STS-2 crew–Joe Engle and Dick Truly. This image is used as a cover for the book “Making Space for Women” by Jennifer Ross-Nazzal. The image is symbolizing that women became accepted and a part of NASA’s culture as the workforce became more diverse. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 103: LEGACY OF INSPIRATION

Mar 08, 2023 | Transcript | 30:10
NASA Human Spaceflight Historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal discusses how careers for women have changed over the past 50 years as the workforce has become more diverse. Read More