This Week in Space (Audio)

We've all heard of it, and some of us have seen the Netflix comedy series, but what exactly is the U.S. Space Force, and what do they do? We invited Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna to the podcast to discuss the founding of Space Force, what they are charged with overseeing, their role in continuously monitoring U.S. orbital assets and possible threats to them, and their future role in guarding the space lanes. We also look at the controversy surrounding the recent Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry and other women of note, a recent explosion at a Northrop Grumman facility, and the announcement of a possible detection of life on exoplanet k2-18b!

Headlines:

• Possible Life on Exoplanet K2-18b: Scientists have detected potential signs of life in the spectra of exoplanet K2-18b, including dimethyl sulfide, a substance produced by algae and microbes on Earth.
• Blue Origin's Glam Flight Controversy: The recent Blue Origin NS-31 flight, intended to promote women in STEM, sparked debate about space tourism and what defines an astronaut.
• Northrop Grumman Explosion: A recent explosion at Northrop Grumman's Promontory, Utah, test site destroyed a building, raising questions about the future of solid rocket motor development.

Interview with Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna:

• His role in the Space Force: Chief Master Sergeant Bentivegna discusses his role as the senior enlisted member, advising on guardian development, strategy, and welfare.
• Career Path: Bentivegna recounts his journey from joining the Air Force in 1994 to becoming a key leader in the Space Force, highlighting his experience in space operations.
• Space Force Mission: He details the Space Force's core functions: assured space access, global space operations (including GPS management and space domain awareness), and space control to ensure space superiority.
• Space Warfighting Framework: The launch of the Space Warfighting Framework, just released this week, is discussed, emphasizing its importance for integrating and planning space operations across the joint force and clarifying the Space Force's capabilities and operational lexicon.
• Concerns About Threats in Space: The podcast addresses the threats posed by adversarial actions in space, such as the deployment of ASAT weapons and potential EMP attacks, and the measures the Space Force is developing to protect and defend critical space assets.
• Space Force and NASA Collaboration: The ongoing collaboration between the Space Force and NASA is highlighted, including the role of guardians in space exploration, research, and astronaut support.
• Future of Space Operations: The episode concludes with a look at the future of space operations, including the potential for a "Space Coast Guard" and the expanding role of the Space Force in lunar and cislunar activities.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: John Bentivegna

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In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet.

Headlines:

• Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The billionaire Shift4 CEO and astronaut faced intense questioning about his independence from Elon Musk, with senators repeatedly asking if Musk was present during his meeting with Trump. Isaacman confirmed he'll continue with Artemis missions and the ISS through 2030.
• Katy Perry's Space Flight - The pop star will join the world's first all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, scheduled for April 14. The crew includes Gayle King and other accomplished women, though the flight has received criticism for being extravagant during tough economic times.
• New Comet Discovered - Comet C/2025 F2 Swan was discovered on March 29 by a Ukrainian skywatcher and is currently visible to the naked eye in dark skies, though it will soon only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere.

Main Topic - Rocket Plume Effects with Dr. Phil Metzger:

• Rocket Plume Dangers - Dr. Metzger explains how rocket exhaust can propel lunar soil at speeds up to 3 km/second (above lunar escape velocity), potentially damaging equipment far from landing sites and even ejecting material entirely off the Moon.
• Apollo 12 Evidence - The Surveyor 3 spacecraft, visited by Apollo 12 astronauts, showed significant sandblasting damage from the lunar module landing 160 meters away, with paint surfaces scoured and peppered with holes from high-velocity particles.
• SpaceX Starship Launch Analysis - Dr. Metzger studied the first Starship test launch and found concrete chunks traveling at 90 meters per second, with sand carried 6 miles away in raindrops formed within a rotating cloud of hot exhaust.
• Landing Pad Solutions - Various approaches for building lunar landing pads include microwave sintering of lunar soil, bringing polymers from Earth as binders, creating rock beds, and baking pavers in ovens—all requiring robotic construction methods.
• Future of Space Industry - Dr. Metzger advocates moving computing and energy production to space to reduce Earth's industrial burden. He estimates it could take 20-30 years to reach a tipping point where space industry becomes self-sustaining, potentially accelerated by billionaire investment or government support.
• Lunar Mining Potential - Dr. Metzger discusses surface mining approaches versus underground operations, noting the Moon's surface has been bombarded for billions of years with bedrock lying 10 kilometers deep.
• Science Budget Concerns - The hosts and Dr. Metzger express concerns about reported cuts to NASA's science budget, particularly affecting Earth science programs, with Dr. Metzger warning this could harm America's leadership in scientific research.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Phil Metzger

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This week, it's cool space news you can use (if you're not stuck on the ISS!). We look at the recent flight of Fram 2, the first spacecraft to fly a polar orbit; recent revelations about the flight of Starliner from commander Butch Wilmore; a mysterious Russian satellite behaving strangely; and carnivorous Martian dust devils. We also update you on SpaceX's next test of Starship, SpinLaunch's mighty "space cannon," recent experiments on abating lunar dust, and much more. Join us!

• Fram 2 Mission - SpaceX's private orbital mission financed by cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang completed a four-day flight, making history as the first mission to send astronauts over Earth's poles.
• Amazon's Kuiper Satellites - Amazon launched its first batch of 27 Kuiper internet satellites on an Atlas 5 rocket, beginning its planned 3,200-satellite constellation to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.
• Blue Origin's All-Female Flight Controversy? - Actress Olivia Munn is blasting the all-female crew for Blue Origin's next suborbital flight for its costly, gluttonous mission.
• Tariffs Impact on Space Industry - The hosts discussed how new tariffs could affect aerospace companies that rely on international partnerships and imported components for spacecraft manufacturing.
• US Military Cargo Delivery with SpaceX - The US military's Rocket Cargo Vanguard program plans to test using SpaceX's Starship to deliver 100 tons of cargo anywhere in the world in under 90 minutes.
• Starliner's Harrowing Mission - New details revealed that Boeing's Starliner mission was more dangerous than initially reported, with multiple thruster failures creating serious maneuvering issues, threatening to leave them adrift in space.
• Mysterious Russian Satellites - Three Russian satellites (Cosmos 2581-2583) were observed performing proximity operations and possibly deploying another object in orbit, raising concerns about their purpose.
• Starship Test 9 Preparations - SpaceX is preparing to refly a Starship booster with 29 reused engines, marking progress toward their fully reusable rocket system.
• Japan's Mars Plans - JAXA is planning to send multiple mini rovers to Mars using an inflatable heat shield technology to enable larger payload deliveries, and add a lander to Phobos.
• Cannibal Dust Devils on Mars - The Perseverance rover captured images of two dust devils on Mars merging, with the larger one (210 feet wide) absorbing a smaller one (16 feet wide).
• Lunar Dust Mitigation Technology - NASA successfully tested an electrodynamic dust shield on Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander that could help manage the highly problematic lunar dust on future missions.
• Asteroid 2024 YR4 Update - James Webb Space Telescope observations determined the asteroid is about 200 feet wide with a slightly increased 3.8% chance of hitting the moon in 2032, up from 1.7%.
• SpinLaunch's Satellite Plans - SpinLaunch received $12 million in funding to develop an enhanced system using centrifugal force to launch up to 250 satellites at once, potentially offering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly launch alternative.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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If you've ever wondered what the view from the International Space Station might look like in real-time, this is your episode. Or if you just want to know more about who's up there and what's going on at the ISS on a particular day, this is it. Liam Kennedy, the one and only Space TV Director, is with us. Liam has been working to bring content and video from the ISS down to earth for over a decade, and it's all come together just this year! Liam invented ISS Above, a Raspberry Pi-driven system that highlights key information about the space station in real-time. Join us for this special look at the view from on high!

Headlines:

• NASA is cutting $420 million in contracts, as confirmed by NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens.
• Boeing Starliner's next crewed launch was delayed to late 2025 / early 2026 due to ongoing helium leaks and thruster issues.
• Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo mission (CRS-22) was canceled after the spacecraft was damaged during shipping; it will be rescheduled to CRS-23 in the fall.
• Historic FRAM 2 mission launching March 31 - first human spaceflight over Earth's poles, financed by Maltese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wang.
• The Blue Origin launch date with Katy Perry, the first all-female mission since Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight, is set for April 14.
• A partial solar eclipse will be visible over northern US and Canada on March 29.

Main Topic - Interview with Liam Kennedy

• Liam Kennedy's space journey began at age 6, watching the Apollo 11 moon landing, leading to becoming president of Orange County Astronomers and developing ways for the public to experience the Overview Effect.
• ISS Above is a Raspberry Pi device created in 2013 that tracks the ISS and lights up when it passes overhead, and is now in 5,000 locations worldwide.
• Kennedy partnered with SEN, founded by Charles Black, to create high-quality 4K cameras for the ISS after NASA's HDEV camera system stopped transmitting in 2019.
• SEN provides free live streaming of Earth from space via YouTube and SEN.com, generating revenue through advertising and clip licensing.
• The Space TV camera system includes six cameras on the Columbus module of the ISS, showcasing docking ports, Earth views, and the horizon.
• Space TV offers dramatically higher quality than NASA's existing cameras and captured stunning 4K footage of Boeing Starliner's undocking and Crew Dragon flights.
• SEN plans to expand with more cameras and locations, including potential deployment on future commercial space stations and lunar missions.
• Kennedy discusses the "Overview Effect" - how seeing Earth from space creates a transformative perspective that inspires action on Earth.
• The ISS Above Experience will be featured at the Space Symposium to celebrate the 25th anniversary of continuous human presence on the ISS.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Liam Kennedy

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After 60 years of discussion, we may finally be making real, actionable plans to send a crew to Mars. One of the prime advocates for sending humans to the Red Planet has been Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder and president of The Mars Society. In 1990, he and David Baker worked up a plan called "Mars Direct," which took the core of then-current NASA planning and streamlined it into a more realistic, affordable approach. Since then, some of the key elements have been incorporated into NASA's Design Reference Missions, still the primary set of plans for reaching Mars. Join us for this fascinating discussion.

Headlines

• Crew-9 Return: Astronauts Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth via SpaceX Dragon with dolphins swimming around their capsule—spoiler alert: it was NOT AI generated!
• Isar Aerospace: A German company prepared for the first orbital launch from Norway's Andoya Spaceport
• SpaceX Record: Achieved fastest booster turnaround yet by flying the same booster twice within nine days

Main Topic: Mars Exploration with Dr. Robert Zubrin

• Mars Direct Plan: Zubrin's revolutionary 1990 proposal using just two heavy-lift launches and in-situ resource utilization, influencing NASA's planning
• Purpose vs. Vendor-Driven: Critique of NASA's Artemis as "vendor-driven" rather than focused on the mission goal
• Current Opportunity: New potential for Mars exploration under the current administration, but it must be a national program
• Timeline Prediction: Realistic goals of uncrewed Starship on Mars by 2028 and humans by 2033
• Scientific Value: First Mars Starship should carry substantial scientific payload instead of just a demonstration mission—no red Tesla Roadsters to Mars, please
• Planetary Protection: Strong case against the "anti-human aesthetics" of keeping Mars pristine
• Science Budget Concerns: Warning against proposed 50% cuts to NASA's science programs
• Starboat Concept: Proposal for a smaller ascent vehicle to complement Starship for more efficient Mars and Moon missions
• Moon vs. Mars Strategy: Design hardware primarily for Mars that can also work for lunar exploration

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Robert Zubrin

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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