The Space Show this week – May.7.2018

May 7, 2018 TopSpacer

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, May 7, 2018; 2-3:30 pm PDT (4-5:30 pm CDT, 5-6:30 pm EDT): We welcome Dr. Nathalie Cabrol of The SETI Institute and NASA Ames for a new take on astrobiology and more.

2. Wednesday, May 9, 2018: Hotel Mars. See Upcoming Show Menu and the website newsletter for details. Hotel Mars is pre-recorded by John Batchelor. It is archived on The Space Show site after John posts it on his website.

3. Thursday, May 10 , 2018: 7-8:30 pm PDT; 9-10:30 pm CDT; 10-11:30 pm EDT: Tim Pickens returns to update us with his activities and news. Can’t wait!

4. Friday, May 11, 2018; 9:30 am -11 am PDT, (12:30 -2 pm EDT; 11:30 am -1 pm CDT): Meet the new AIAA Executive Director, Dr. Dan Dumbacher.

5. Sunday, May 13, 2018: 12-1:30 pm PDT; 2-3:30 pm CDT; 3-4:30 pm EDT. No show today due to MOTHER’S DAY.

See also:
* The Space Show on Vimeo – webinar videos
* The Space Show’s Blog – summaries of interviews.
* The Space Show Classroom Blog – tutorial programs

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

The Space Show - David Livingston — David Livingston

Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

Video: TMRO Orbit 11.18 – From Public to Private Space

May 7, 2018 TopSpacer

The latest TMRO.tv episode is now available: From Public to Private Space – Orbit 11.18 – TMRO

We have a popup round table this week where we ask, what current Government space programs are well suited to move to the commercial market? And is commercializing space even a good thing? Make sure to leave your own personal comments and thoughts below, remembering to follow our very basic rules: treat others as you wish to be treated and debate the idea, not the person.

Launches and news topics covered:

Launches:
Blue Origin Conducts 8th Test Flight of New Shepard
Long March 3B Launches Apstar 6C
Atlas V Launches InSight Lander to Mars

News:
Hubble Spots Supernova Survivor
NASA cancels Lunar rover in favor of commercial landers
NASA Greenlights A Self-Assembling Telescope Study

TMRO is viewer supported:

TMRO shows are crowd funded. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmro for funding levels, goals and all of our different rewards!

Mars, Rockets, Space Science

Video: InSight Lander successfully launched to Mars

May 5, 2018 TopSpacer

In a heavy fog, as is common where Vandenberg AFB lies on the California coast, an Atlas V rocket blasted off this morning and successfully deployed the InSight spacecraft into a trajectory that will take it to Mars for a landing in November.

(See earlier postings here and here about the Insight mission.)

Two MarCO CubeSats, which will demonstrate communications and propulsion technologies for deep space missions with smallsats, were also deployed. First contact attempt will be noon Pacific time.

Other reports, photos & videos of the launch:

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Rockets, Space industry and microgravity R&D, Space Policy

SpaceX Dragon returning for a splashdown in Pacific with a load of cargo

May 4, 2018 TopSpacer

A SpaceX Dragon Cargo spaceship will depart from the ISS on Saturday morning. The Dragon was launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral on April 2 and berthed to the station April 4th. The vehicle delivered over 2.5 mT of supplies, equipment, and science/technology experiments.

The vehicle is to land in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, bringing over 2 tons of cargo and science/tech experimental items: NASA Science to Return to Earth aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft | NASA.

Updates on the return and recovery from the ocean will be posted at:

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Speaking of SpaceX and NASA, the Everyday Astronaut discusses the question of whether the two organizations are competitors or partners: