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TWiT

The new space age is upon us, and This Week in Space leaves no topic untouched. Every Friday, join Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine, Rod Pyle and Managing Editor of Space.com, Tariq Malik as they explore everything related to the cosmos. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month.

New episodes posted every Friday.

This Week in Space (Audio)

This week we look at why space can be scary with a survey of some of the best (and some of the most laughable) movies about critters from outer space! Witness the terror of men in floppy rubber suits! Cringe as the century plant-like triffids take over people's brains! Scream along with us as rock spiders on the moon devour astroanuts' faces! It's a true popuourri of space-borne horrors as we discuss some of the best (okay, and worst) space sci-fi movies of all time!
 

 
Headlines: 
 
• NASA Science Centers Face Shutdown and Controversy During Budget Crisis
 
• SpaceX Promises to Simplify Artemis 3 Moon Landing, Details Remain Vague
 
• Night Sky Halloween Highlights: Two Can't-Miss Comets
 
• Tribute to Buzz Aldrin's Late Wife, Anka Ferrer
 

Main Topic: Scary Space Movies—A Halloween Special
 
• Classic 1950s Sci-Fi: The Thing from Another World, Terror from Beyond Space
 
• Martian Invasions: War of the Worlds Films and HBO/BBC Adaptations
 
• Alien Franchise: From Horror to Action Blockbusters
 
• Unique Entries: Day of the Triffids, Quatermass, Event Horizon, Apollo 18
 
• Modern Space Horror: Life, Pandorum, Sunshine, and Sputnik
 
• Real-Life Space Terror: Apollo 13's Harrowing True Story
 
• Honorable Mentions and B-movie Picks: Green Slime, The Blob, Leprechaun 4, Jason X
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 184: Space is Scary! - Halloween Movies About Space

Lander, lander, who's got the lander? Last week, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced that the agency would be re-opening the contract for the Artemis III lunar lander, which had previously been let to SpaceX to be fulfilled by their Starship Human Landing System. Unfortunately, that effort is well behind schedule, and the Trump administration has made landing astronauts on the moon, before China does, a national priority. With multiple refuelings and landing tests required, there is concern that SpaceX may not be able to fulfill their commitment before China's announced landing date of 2030. Elon Musk responded to the announcement with characteristic tack, with phrasing like "Sean Dummy" and him having a two-digit IQ. Mike Wall of Space.com joins us to dive into this rapidly evolving story.
 

Headlines: 
 

• Texas vs. the Smithsonian: The Fight Over Space Shuttle Discovery Heats Up 
 
• Artemis II Moon Rocket Fully Assembled, Awaits Rollout 
 
• California Senator Pushes State Funding to Support JPL Amid Federal Cuts
 
• SpaceX Sets Record with 139 Launches, ULA Struggles to Keep Up
 
• New Super-Earth Discovered Just 20 Light Years Away Near Gemini
 

Main Topic: The Lunar Lander Dilemma for Artemis III and Beyond
 
• NASA Acting Chief Sean Duffy Announces Reopening Artemis III Lunar Lander Contract
 
• SpaceX's Starship Faces Orbital Refueling Challenges and Timeline Doubts
 
• Blue Origin Lurking in the Wings: Can They Deliver a Lander On Time?
 
• Political Pressures: China's Moon Plans Drive US Urgency
 
• Spacesuit Development Delays Threaten Artemis Timelines
 
• NASA's Budget Woes and Layoffs Cloud Roadmap for Future Moon Missions
 
• Speculation on Jared Isaacman's Potential Leadership of NASA
 
• Broader Uncertainty Over Artemis IV, V, and Long-Term Lunar Strategy
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Mike Wall
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 183: Lunar Lander Wanted! Apply Within - Artemis III Contract Opening Up?

If you ever saw the IMAX spectacular, "The Dream is Alive," you've seen astronaut Terry Hart in action, capturing the Solar Max satellite with the shuttle's robotic arm. But even if you missed that film, Terry has had a fascinating career as an Air Force pilot, NASA astronaut, senior leadership at Bell Labs (more than once!), and as an academic and creator of a new aerospace engineering program at Lehigh University. Join us for an enjoyable hour with one of our favorite guys. Also, is Jared Isaacman back as the new NASA Administrator? Will the Orion capsule soon be used for non-NASA missions? And what's going on with the layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Lab? All this and more on This Week in Space.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • Jared Isaacman Back in the Running for NASA Administrator
 
 • Lockheed Martin Considers Launching Orion on Rockets Other Than SLS
 
 • JPL Hit Hard by Layoffs and Uncertainty Amid NASA Budget Woes
 

Main Topic: Astronaut Terry Hart's Career, Space Shuttle Missions, and NASA's Evolution

 
 • Terry Hart Recaps a Multifaceted Aerospace Career from Bell Labs to NASA
 
 • Behind the Scenes of the IMAX Film "The Dream is Alive" and Shooting in Space
 
 • In-Depth Look at STS-41C: First Shuttle Rendezvous, Satellite Repair, and Pioneering On-Orbit Servicing
 
 • Long Duration Space Experiments and the Legacy of LDEF
 
 • Reflections on Challenger, Shuttle Risks, and Safety Culture in Human Spaceflight
 
 • The Ongoing Shift from NASA-Led Programs to Private Spaceflight Industry
 
 • Preparing the Next Generation: Aerospace Education and Lehigh University's New Graduate Program
 
 • Insights on Space Bees, Life Aboard the Shuttle, and Visions for the Future of Space Manufacturing
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Terry Hart
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 182: The Dream is Alive - With NASA Astronaut Terry Hart

World Space Week is a global celebration of all things space, bringing together thousands of participants from all over the planet to celebrate our future in space. Chartered by the United Nations in 1999, this year's theme is "Living in Space." The many associated events from across the world are a reminder to all of the importance of space in our lives and our future, and a clarion call to international youth of the value of their future involvement. We spoke with the WSW Association's executive director, Alma Okpalefe, who explained their origins, activities, and plans for the future. It's one of the premier space-related events of the year, and when you're done with the episode, you'll want to know more!
 

 
Headlines: 

 
 • SpaceX Starship Flight 11 Set for Launch 
 
 • 6,000 Alien Planets Discovered—Where's Earth 2.0? 
 
 • Mars Crew Study Reveals Diverse Teams Outperform "Alpha Males"
 

Main Topic: World Space Week 2025 

 
 • Alma Okpalefe Shares Her Path from Legal Counsel to Space Leadership 
 
 • Global Scope and Organization: 95+ Countries, Thousands of Events 
 
 • Types of World Space Week Activities: School Outreach, Museum Events, Art Competitions 
 
 • 2025 Theme: "Living in Space"—Why It Was Chosen, What It Means Globally 
 
 • Building Space Interest in Regions Without Established Programs 
 
 • Outcomes and Impact: Inspiring Space Agencies, Universities, and Advocacy 
 
 • Accessibility and Inclusion as Future Focus for Space Exploration 
 
 • Advice for Young Space Enthusiasts: Get Involved and Dream Big 
 
 • International Collaboration: Why Working Together Matters for Space Progress
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Alma Okpalefe
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 181: World Space Week - A UN-Established Global Celebration of Space

This week we cover the headlines, from the shutdown of NASA, to the risky dismantling of the space shuttle Discovery (because Texas insists), to a rogue exoplanet's weird weather, and much more. Should we be worried about China investing in SpaceX? How about those close-up shots of the interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas? And are asteroids hiding out near Venus a threat to Earth? All this and more on episode 180 of This Week in Space.
 

 
Headlines:

 
 • NASA Suffers Major Disruption Amid Government Shutdown
 
 • Shuttle Discovery Faces Potential Forced Dismantling for Texas Move
 
 • China Might be Eying Perseverance Mars Samples in Race to Retrieve Martian Rocks
 
 • Near-Venus Asteroids Pose Hidden Threats to Earth
 
 • Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Gets Close-Up for Mars Orbiters
 
 • Concerns Over Chinese Investments in SpaceX
 
 • China Fast-Tracks Lunar Landing Systems and Rocket Tests
 
 • James Webb Telescope Delivers First Rogue Exoplanet Weather Report
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 180: NASA is Closed for Business - And Other Top Space Stories

It's almost time for Artemis II to fly to the moon! We got together with Space.com writer Josh Dinner, who joined our own Tariq to attend the "astro unveiling" of NASA's newest class of astronauts and a major press event surrounding the crew of Artemis II. The mission is currently scheduled to loop the moon in early 2026. Join us for the newest details!
 

Headlines:

 
 • NASA's Escapade Mission Gears Up for Mars Launch
 
 • Rocket Lab Prepares for First Interplanetary Mission
 
 • Dream Chaser Space Plane's ISS Debut Delayed, Contract Adjustments Announced
 
 • Simulated Universe Creates 3.4 Billion Digital Galaxies
 
 • Reflections on the Evolution of Space Missions—From Apollo to Artemis
 

Main Topic: Artemis II Updates and NASA's Next Generation Astronauts

 
 • Our Reporters Go Behind the Scenes at Johnson Space Center
 
 • Artemis II Launch Windows Announced for Feb-April 2026
 
 • Overview of Artemis II Crew and Their Spaceflight Experience
 
 • Mission Profile: Free Return Trajectory, Timeline, and Unique Features
 
 • Naming of Orion Capsule as "Integrity"
 
 • NASA Preps for Extensive, Real-time Media Coverage During Artemis II
 
 • Discussion of Public Enthusiasm and Challenges for Engaging a Modern Audience
 
 • Artemis II Crew Details, Training, and Scientific Goals
 
 • Addressing Orion Heat Shield Issues and Design Updates
 
 • Training for Artemis III: Simulating Lunar Gravity and EVA Preparation
 
 • NASA Unveils New Astronaut Class with Diverse Backgrounds
 
 • Discussion of Astronaut Demographics, Public Messaging, and International Partners
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Josh Dinner
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 179: The New Crew of Artemis II - Who Will Fly to the Moon in 2026?

There's a very elite club in astronaut circles, one in which former astronauts go on to political careers. The most elite are senators, and so far, John Glenn, Harrison Schmitt, and Mark Kelly have been members, and may soon be joined by Terry Virts, a former shuttle and ISS astronaut. He's got a lot to say about today's NASA, the budget, the Artemis program (he was the astronaut embedded with the SLS rocket program back in 2011), and much more. Col. Virts is also an author and filmmaker, among his other pursuits. Join us for the enlightening episode.
 

Headlines:
 
• Ukraine Destroys Russian Military-Used Radio Telescope in Crimea
 
• China's Surge in Spaceflight Triggers New Warnings About U.S. Competitiveness
 
• Stunning New Black Hole Images Revealed by Event Horizon Telescope
 
• Partial Solar Eclipse Coming, Visible Most Spectacularly to Penguins
 

Main Topic: Interview with Colonel Terry Virts—Astronaut and Senate Candidate
 
• Highlights of Terry Virts' Career: Air Force, Shuttle & Soyuz Missions, Space Station Command
 
• Motivation Behind Virts' Run for U.S. Senate in Texas
 
• Threats to American Democracy, Middle-Class Issues, and Human Rights Priorities
 
• How Astronaut and Military Experience Prepares Him for Political Office
 
• Views on the U.S. Space Program: Budget Cuts, Program Delays, and China's Lunar Ambitions
 
• Specific Critiques of Artemis, SLS, and Lunar Lander Strategies
 
• Advice for Aspiring Astronauts and Reflections on NASA's Challenges
 
• The ISS at 25: Collaboration, Science Achievements, and Personal Lessons Learned
 
• Space, Star Trek, and Geek Culture Moments from Virts' NASA Years
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Terry Virts
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 178: Tell It to the Mountain - Astronaut and Senate Hopeful Terry Virts Says NASA Needs a Major Rethink

You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet!
 

 
 Headlines:

 
 • NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon
 
 • Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase
 
 • James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence"
 

Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance

 
 • Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater
 
 • Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity
 
 • Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life
 
 • Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings
 
 • Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits
 
 • Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth
 
 • Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth
 
 • Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Dr. Michael Tice
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 177: Life on Mars? - With Dr. Michael Tice

What's next in deep space exploration? Dr. Alan Stern, planetary scientist and the Principal Investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto, joins us to discuss what we learned about Pluto, the prospects for a future Pluto orbiter, the news from the Kuiper Belt, and to talk about his experiences as a commercial suborbital astronaut. Oh, and he might just mention that he was short-listed to fly on the space shuttle! Alan is one of those people that just has one adventure after another... did I mention that he dove on the Titanic? Yeah, that kind of guy. Join us for an hour of deep space adventure.
 

 
Headlines: 

 
 • U.S. Faces Warnings of Losing Lunar Race to China
 
 • NASA Selects a New Associate Administrator
 
 • Third Interstellar Comet Spotted With Unusual CO2 Cloud
 

Main Topic: Pluto, the New Horizons Mission, and the Future of Planetary Exploration

 
 • Why Pluto Was Chosen as a Prime Target for Exploration
 
 • Building and Launching New Horizons: Team Effort and Challenges
 
 • Emotional Moments as Pluto Data Arrived on Earth
 
 • Precise Navigation: Getting New Horizons Safely to Pluto
 
 • Pluto's Surprising Geological Activity and Complexity
 
 • Major Discoveries at Pluto's Moon Charon
 
 • Exploring Arrokoth: Insights into Planetary Formation
 
 • The Search for a Possible Third Flyby Target in the Kuiper Belt
 
 • The Importance of Long-Term Funding for New Horizons
 
 • NASA Budget Threats Could End Multiple Key Space Missions
 
 • The Possible Role of Kuiper Belt Objects in Delivering Organics to Earth
 
 • How Flybys at Pluto and Arrokoth Reshaped Theories of Planetary Systems
 
 • Prospects for Future Pluto Orbiters and Human Spaceflight
 
 • Advocacy for Continued U.S. Leadership in Deep Space Exploration
 

Host: Rod Pyle
 

Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet
 

Guest: Alan Stern
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 176: Beyond the Solar System - With Dr. Alan Stern, PI for New Horizons

So you're on a months-long flight to Mars... seven months with five people and one computer as crewmates. You've been told to put any fears of a HAL-9000 computer takeover of your mission out of your mind, but can you, really? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Selva of Texas A&M joins us to talk about his recent study of crew interactions and trust with AI using, well, computers, and the HERA habitat simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The results were not entirely as expected! Join us for this fascinating look at crew-AI interaction in spaceflight procedures and emergencies.
 

 
Headlines: 

 
 • SpaceX Starship Flight 10 Nails Test Milestones, Despite Some Reentry Damage 
 
 • Simulated Satellite Deployments and Heat Shield Experiments Show Progress for Starship 
 
 • SETI's 1977 "Wow Signal" Mystery Gets Closer to Natural Explanation 
 
 • China Prepares for 2030 Moon Landing with New Hardware Tests, Spurs US Lunar Competition
 

Main Topic: AI Helpers for Diagnosing Space Emergencies (Interview with Dr. Daniel Selva) 

 
 • Dr. Selva's Background and Journey from Europe to Texas A&M and Space AI Research 
 
 • Using AI Agents to Assist Astronauts During Long-Duration, Deep Space Missions 
 
 • Details of the DAPHNE Virtual Assistant Study: Lab and NASA Analog Experiments 
 
 • Surprising Results: AI Shows Big Benefits in Lab, Mixed Results with Experienced Crews 
 
 • Individual Differences: Experience, Trust, and Task Complexity Influence AI Effectiveness 
 
 • Real-World Limitations: Emergency Charts vs. AI, Training, and Interface Design Challenges 
 
 • Broader Implications: Evolving AI to Assist Mission Control, Crew Autonomy, and Future Tech 
 
 • Fun Sci-Fi Comparisons: Favorite AI Assistants in Movies and the Reality of Human-AI Collaboration
 

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
 

Guest: Dr. Daniel Selva
 

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

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
 
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

TWiS 177: Life on Mars? - With Dr. Michael Tice

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