AirSpace

GO, SPEED RACERS! The 1929 Women's Air Derby

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

SPEED . . . SKILL . . . SABOTAGE? In August 1929, twenty pilots took off from Santa Monica in a historic and thrilling air race. The all-female lineup—including big names like Amelia Earhart, Pancho Barnes, and Louise Thaden—hopped from city to city across the U.S. on their way to the finish line in Cleveland. Though it was dismissed by some at the time as the "Powder Puff Derby," the Women's Air Derby of 1929 was a major race between world-class pilots. It was also a national sensation at a time when pilots like Earhart and Barnes were genuine celebrities. And as if the race itself wasn't exciting enough, rumors of sabotage swirl to this day...

Today on AirSpace: Matt and Emily are joined by aeronautics curator Caroline Tapp to learn all about the Women's Air Derby of 1929. Listen to find out who won, what happened along the way, and how the derby changed the way people thought about women pilots.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Caroline Tapp, Aeronautics Curator, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/AirSpaceS11E10.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

A Tale of Two Satellites

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:20:59 -0000

In the Cold War, space was a new and critical frontier for intelligence. Many early satellites were spy satellites (although they did a bit of science, too). In this episode, we learn about two early U.S. spy satellite programs, GRAB and CORONA. We learn what motivated these programs, why they were so important to future satellite development, and how to recover film capsules mid-air using a gigantic hook on the bottom of a plane.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Keith Masback, intelligence expert
Andrew Ross, Guggenheim Fellow, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e9.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Scandalous

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Today on AirSpace: the scandal of the century! Matt and Emily are joined by friend of the show and Museum curator Bob van der Linden to learn all the twists and turns of the Air Mail Crisis of 1934.

The controversy centered on one question: who should fly the mail? Conflicts between brand-new commercial airlines, Congress, and the Roosevelt administration reached a boiling point that led to lucrative contracts being cancelled and the disastrous involvement of the Army Air Corps. In the aftermath, new regulation shaped commercial flight and the Postal Service for generations. This story is a political drama, a postal drama, AND an aviation drama. What more can you ask for?

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Bob van der Linden, Curator for Commercial Aviation, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e8.

To learn even more about the Air Mail Crisis, check out the Museum's website.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Kings of the Capsule

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

July 24th, 1969. After their historic mission to the Moon’s surface and back, there was one final step in the Apollo 11 mission: splashdown. As the command module floated (gracefully, we are sure) in the Pacific Ocean, a team of elite Navy divers known as Frogmen swam up to help the astronauts safely and securely onto a helicopter that would take them to the USS Hornet.

Today on AirSpace, we hear from three of the Frogmen who plucked the Apollo astronauts out of the drink (and may have engaged in some horseplay on the floating capsule). We also hear from our Museum’s own Apollo Curator about the details of this critical final stage in the Apollo missions, and what to expect when capsules full of Artemis astronauts start splashing down this decade.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, Apollo Curator- National Air and Space Museum
John Wolfram, former Navy Frogman
Clancy Hatleberg, former Navy Frogman
Wes Chesser, former Navy Frogman

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e7.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Gone to the Dogs

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Unfortunately, there are still more humans than dogs in the average airport terminal. Still, it’s not uncommon to see dogs as you run to catch your flight. Some dogs, like humans, are just travelers passing through. But others, increasingly, are at the airport to take care of business. Today on AirSpace: it’s Canine Career Day! We discuss the surprisingly wide variety of airport dog jobs, and hear from a few lucky humans about their unique coworkers. Matt and Emily learn about therapy dogs with trading cards; beagles and Labradors sniffing luggage for safety (and prohibited agricultural products); and even an elite doggie duo chasing wildlife off the runway.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Pam Biard, Volunteer, CATS Program, Denver International Airport
Chris Keyser, Wildlife Specialist, West Virginia International Yeager Airport

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e6.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

AirSpace logo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution. Episode photo courtesy of West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW).

AirSpace Live! Cooking in Space

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Space travel is hungry work. Humans have spent nearly six decades experimenting with different ways to feed astronauts (with mixed reviews). As astronauts live and work in space on longer missions further from home, a new generation of chefs and food scientists is thinking outside the box (and can, and tube, and pouch). What if space travelers had kitchens complete with appliances and pantries full of ingredients?

In this episode of AirSpace, recorded in front of a live audience at the National Air and Space Museum, Matt and Emily spoke with an expert panel about the past and future of cooking and eating in space.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Chef Charisse Grey, head of Research & Development, José Andrés Group
Jim Sears, CEO and founder, SATED Space
Margaret Weitekamp, curator and chair of Space History, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e5.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Movie Mini: Arrival

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Science fiction heroes aren't usually humanities professors, but Arrival (2016) is the exception to that rule. Amy Adams stars as Dr. Louise Banks, who may be the only person on Earth who can figure out what a pair of mysterious aliens are trying to say.

Today on AirSpace, Matt and Emily discuss the film, its source material (Ted Chiang's novella Story of Your Life), linguistics, non-linear time, extraterrestrials, explosions, geopolitical tension, oat milk, and other mysteries of the universe.

The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e4

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Miasma of Incandescent Plasma

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how we wonder . . . well, where to even begin? How do stars form from gas and dust? Why do some stars go supernova? And what the heck is the "main sequence?"

We brought in one of the Museum's astronomy educators for a stellar conversation about the birth, life, and death of stars. There's plenty to learn, and even more to wonder about, today on AirSpace.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Shauna Edson, Astronomy Educator, National Air and Space Museum

The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e3.

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

The Journey of a Suitcase

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked bag once you've handed it over to the airline? Us too! We took a field trip to Dulles Airport to visit our friends at United Airlines and find out. Today on AirSpace, follow a suitcase on its journey from check-in through TSA, airline sorting, handling on the aircraft, and back to you on the baggage carousel.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Jim Decker, Director of Ramp Operations for United Airlines at Dulles International Airport

The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e2

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AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Eye of the Hurricane

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

SEEKING: full time aviators slash weather enthusiasts for unique opportunity. SCHEDULE: hurricane season. WORK SITE: Lakeland, FL; Biloxi, MS; and the eye of a hurricane. Members of the Air Force and NOAA Corps spend months each year flying back and forth through hurricanes collecting information vital to weather prediction. On the Season 11 premiere of AirSpace, we talk to three of them and get the download on what it takes to do that job.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Withee, Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
Commander Kevin Doremus, NOAA Corps
Lieutenant Thomas Smith, NOAA Corps

The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e1.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

AirSpace Bonus! There's More to That: Auroras

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

AirSpace will be back with Season 11 very soon. In the meantime we thought y'all would enjoy this episode from the Smithsonian Magazine's podcast, There's More to That: Why Auroras Are Suddenly Everywhere All at Once.

For millennia, auroras have both enchanted and haunted human beings. Ancient lore is filled with myths attempting to explain what caused the celestial phenomenon. More recent historic documentation of auroras may even help us predict damaging solar storms in the future.

As we head into a year expected to bring the best northern lights in two decades, we consider the science behind auroras and why they are suddenly so plentiful—even in places that hardly qualify as northern.

In this episode, Jo Marchant, author of The Human Cosmos, and Smithsonian science editor Carlyn Kranking revel in auroras through the ages and explain how to view these dazzling displays yourself.

Home Front: Anything-to-Anywhere

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) are relatively well-known in the U.S. today (to hear more about their story, see our previous episode), but they weren't the only women who flew planes in World War II. A small group of Americans joined pilots from 25 other countries in England's Air Transport Auxiliary, where they ferried hundreds of thousands of planes across the British Isles. Among the pilots were women from all countries and men too old or otherwise unfit for active duty (including a WWI Ace with only one eye and arm). They braved poor weather, mechanically iffy planes, regular bombings, and dangerous conditions to keep the Allies in the air.

Thanks to our guests in this episode

Becky Aikman, Author of Spitfires: The American Women who Flew in the Face of Danger During WWII
Richard Poad, organizer, Air Transport Auxiliary Museum at the Maidenhead Heritage Centre

Oral histories in the episode came from the NASA Oral History Project and the TWU Libraries Women's Collection at Texas Women's University.

The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/homefront4

AirSpace is made possible by generous support from Lockheed Martin

Home Front: Eyes on the Coast

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Just off the coast of the United States, a menace lurked in the water. German U-boats were a very real problem for merchant vessels and war ships during World War II. With all available military airplanes and pilots needed on the front lines, and the Coast Guard mostly lacking aviation assets, the U.S. needed to get creative. Enter: the brand new Civil Air Patrol. This entirely civilian effort put private planes and pilots to work spotting U-Boats and other threats in the water. They even carried bombs on coastal patrols. The CAP also did search and rescue, medical flights, border patrol and more--roles the organization still serves today.

Thanks to our guest in this episode

Dr. Frank Blazich of the Civil Air Patrol and the Smithsonian's American History Museum

You can find the transcript for this episode at s.si.edu/homefront3

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin

Home Front: 50,000 Planes

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt broadcast a new goal in one of his famous Fireside Chats: he wanted to see 50,000 planes a year built in the United States. Up until that point, the U.S. had built just over 30,000 military planes . . . total. 50,000 seemed like an impossible goal. But with war looming, "Rosie" rolled up her sleeves and said "We can do it!" And she did. Millions of war workers flooded cities and factories to take jobs not open to them before the war, turning out plane after plane to support the war effort. Manufacturing, labor, and the aviation industry would never be the same.

Thanks to our guests in this episode

"Rosie" Erlinda Avila who bucked rivets in Goodyear, Arizona
Cory Graff, Curator and Restoration Manager- National World War II Museum
Dr. Jeremy Kinney, Associate Director for Research, Collections and Curatorial Affairs- National Air and Space Museum

Transcript for this epside is at s.si.edu/homefront2

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin

Home Front: Students of the Air

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In 1937, there were fewer than 20,000 licensed pilots in the United States. The Civilian Pilot Training Program increased that number to more than 400,000 in less than five years. With national "airmindedness" as their goal in the run-up to World War II, the US government created the program to train students (10% of whom could be women) on the ground and in the air at colleges and universities across the country. Later on, trainees had to enlist after training, which meant women were barred. Throughout this limited series, almost every pilot we’ll meet either got their flight training with the CPTP, or taught for the program. Many of them would go on to find work in commercial aviation and reshape the field into the Jet Age.

Thanks to our guest in this episode

Dorothy Cochrane - National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript of this episode at s.si.edu/homefront1

Home Front is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin

AirSpace Revisited: Fly Girl

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The Women's Airforce Service Pilots were a huge part of civilian aviation during WWII. Ahead of our new limited series, Home Front, we've brought back our season four episode. Episodes of Home Front start August 14th.

On this episode of AirSpace we’re spotlighting the heroic service and enduring legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. More than 1,000 of these fearless women flew as civilians for the Army Air Forces during World War II. These skilled pilots performed jobs on the home front – ferrying planes, towing targets, transporting personnel – flying almost every type of military aircraft. Yet despite filling a crucial wartime role, these women weren’t recognized as veterans for more than 30 years. And their campaign to be permitted burial in Arlington National Cemetery lasted even longer. In this episode, we’re welcoming our first ever guest host, historian and author Dr. Katherine Sharp Landdeck. And we’ll hear firsthand from three women connected to the WASP legacy, including a WASP herself, Nell “Mickey” Bright.

AirSpace Revisited: Dancing on the Ceiling

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In just a few weeks, five brand new galleries are opening in the museum down on the mall, including galleries where we are once again hanging some (really big) things from the ceiling. We're revisiting this season eight behind-the-scenes episode to remind you just how they get up there.

AirSpace is looking up! (We know, we know, we're usually looking up what with the air and the space-ness of our podcast) But today we're exploring how we hang really big, priceless artifacts from the ceiling in the Museum. We asked two friends whose jobs are to do just that to talk to us about just what it takes to put airliners, spacecraft, X-wings and more up on the ceiling.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Tony Carp, Museum Specialist, National Air and Space Museum
Hannah O’Toole, Exhibit Designer, National Air and Space Museum

AirSpace Book Club: Milky Way

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

AirSpacers are watchers of movies, but we are also readers of books. In our inaugural Book Club we're reading The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Dr. Moiya McTier. This book is a non-fiction romp through the Milky Way's life (and future death) told from its perspective. How does the Milky Way feel about consuming other galaxies? Does watching us humans get boring? Can a galaxy be self-conscious about its black hole? Dr. Moiya explores these questions and more with personality, or should we say galaxality? Read along with the AirSpace book club.

Thanks to our Guest in this episode:

Dr. Moiya McTier, Author

Find the transcript at s.si.edu/airspaces10e12

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

The Future is Here

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

If you've been to visit us on the National Mall in the last several years you may have noticed that we've been under construction. Which is very exciting! But even more exciting is some of that construction is done! On July 28, we're welcoming visitors into five brand new galleries. But you, lovely AirSpace listener, get a little bit of a sneak peek. A behind the scenes look at Futures in Space, one of the new galleries with two of its curators — including AirSpace host Matt Shindell.

Thanks to our Guest in this episode:

Dr. Emily Margolis, Curator- National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript at s.si.edu/airspaces10e11

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

The Irrepressible Pancho Barnes

airspace@si.edu (National Air and Space Museum) — Thu, 22 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Pancho Barnes was larger than life. Born at the turn of the century, she spent the next 75 years defying every societal norm she found stuffy, boring or just plain stupid. She rode horses and then flew planes in the movies. She raced airplanes and briefly held the women's airspeed record. She owned a notorious inn/restaurant/club/hotel/airport in the desert near what would become Edwards Air Force Base. The Happy Bottom Riding Club was populated by Pancho, her personality and famous people from Roy Rogers to Chuck Yeager. We're exploring all the excitement that was the life of Pancho Barnes.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Lauren Kessler- Author, The Happy Bottom Riding Club: The Life and Times of Pancho Barnes

Find the transcript at here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

AirSpace x Sidedoor: Space Jamz

Thu, 08 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

If you were curating a mixtape that might be heard by aliens billions of years from now, but definitely would be seen by your fellow Earthlings, what would you put on it?

In 1977, two Voyager spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral on a journey that would take them out to our outer solar system and beyond. Affixed to the side of these two planetary explorers was the Voyager Golden Record. This ultimate mixtape of humanity contained 27 pieces of music and also pictures, greetings in many languages, and the sounds of Earth. Nearly 50 years later, we're exploring what's on the record, how it got made, and its legacy with one of it's makers. Oh! and we brought in our friends from Sidedoor to help :)

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Ann Druyan - Voyager Golden Record Creative Director
Lawrence Azerrad - Co-founder of Macroscopic

Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

Bats!

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Bats are the only mammals that truly fly. And the way they do it is very different from other flying things. The way they fly has only recently been understood and there are still questions. Scientist and engineers are trying to use what they do know to create bat-inspired flying machines, but things like bats self-cambering stretching wings skin, skeleton muscles and tiny hair sensors are proving difficult to replicate.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Sharon Swartz-Brown University
Dr. Nancy Simmons-American Museum of Natural History

Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

Scoop There It Is

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

There are a lot of different aircraft that fight wildfires, from Host Matt's favorite Sky Crane helicopter to giant cargo jets that dump tons of fire retardant. But today we're taking about a truly unique, purpose-built firefighting airplane: the Super Scooper. This plane skims the surface of a body of water, collects a shocking amount through tiny scoop ports, flies off, and dumps it on a wildfire. We talk to a pilot about what it's like to fly one.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Scott Blue, Pilot, Bridger Aerospace

Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

Space Race: The Prequel (Part Two)

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

If you haven't listened already, go back and check out Part One. When you hear 'space race' you probably (correctly) think about the 1960s Soviet Union v. U.S. race to put an astronaut on the Moon. But a few hundred years before, the space race was all about Venus. About twice every century we here on Earth get to see Venus pass in the front of the Sun. Back the 18th and 19th centuries, this was a Big Deal. At the time, all astronomers wanted to be the first to use the transit of Venus to figure out the distance between the Earth and the Sun. In Part Two we're bringing you more adventures to observe the transit and talking about what the result (or lack of results) meant for astronomy.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Ted Rafferty, formerly of the United States Naval Observatory
Dr. Samantha Thompson, Astronomy Curator - National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

Space Race: The Prequel (Part One)

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

When you hear 'space race' you probably (correctly) think about the 1960s Soviet Union v. U.S. race to put an astronaut on the Moon. But a few hundred years before, the space race was all about Venus. Twice every century or so we here on Earth get to see Venus pass in front of the Sun (with proper eye protection. Don't stare at the Sun, kids.) Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, this was a Big Deal. At the time, all astronomers wanted to be part of the effort to use the transit of Venus to figure out the distance between the Earth and the Sun. And to claim that astronomical victory for their respective empire. In Part One we're talking about the astronomical breakthroughs that made scientists and adventurers flock to the 1761 transit.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Ted Rafferty, formerly of the United States Naval Observatory
Dr. Samantha Thompson, Astronomy Curator-National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript here.

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AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

Crater Dating

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The oldest Earth rocks we have are 4.3 billion years old, and samples we've brought back from the Moon are even older. But what does that have to do with craters on Mars? When the Apollo missions brought back samples, those rocks let us confirm the age of parts of our lunar bestie for the first time. Now, scientific models use data from those samples to extrapolate the age of other geologic events in our Solar System.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Beau Bierhaus, Senior Research Scientist - Lockheed Martin*

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Find the transcript here.

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Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

*AirSpace is editorially independent from its sponsors

Hypatia Mars

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Right now there are seven women on Mars... kind of. The women of Hypatia Mars started out as a small group of friends from Catalonia who wanted to work together tp advance space science and women in STEM. Today they're on their second analog mission at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, testing systems and equipment, doing multidisciplinary research, and continuously working to reach out to girls and young women about what their careers are like.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Carla Conejo Gonzalez, Co-Founder of Hypatia Mars
Dr. Ariadna Ferrés, Commander of Hypatia II
Dr. Estel Blay, Scientist Hypatia II

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Take our listener survey at s.si.edu/airspace2025

Find the transcript here.

AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin

From Flight to Floor

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

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All the military aircraft and some of the civilian ones in our collections have to be demilitarized before they go on display or into storage. This process, usually called demilling, means taking anything out that might leak, corrode, explode or give away military secrets.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Mike Hankins, Curator of Modern Military Aviation-National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript here.

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AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin.

The Science Never Stops

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

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Our museum collection, like a lot of other museums' collections, can be a working collection. That means that scientist come to do air or space research using objects in the museum. Sometimes it's as simple as an engineer coming after hours to look a little closer at a plane or spacecraft so they can better understand how it works. And other times researchers leave seismometers on the Viking Lander for several weeks.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Malcolm Collum, Head Conservator-National Air and Space Museum
Dr. Ben Fernando, Post-Doctoral Researcher-Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Kevin Lewis, Vice Chair and Professor in Earth and Planetary Science-Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Andy Lazarewicz, Formerly of the Viking Seismology Team

Additional thanks to Lisa Young and Becca Hiatt of the National Air and Space Museum's Collections Processing Unit

Find the transcript here

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AirSpace is created by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with generous support from Lockheed Martin

AirSpace Revisited: The Ninety-Nines

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the lead up to Season 10 we're reviving some of our favorite episodes. Today we bring you Emily's favorite, The Ninety-Nines.

It took a certain amount of pure grit to be a pilot in the early days of aviation – and even more for the women who had to defy convention just to get up in the air. And if you’re thinking the only aviatrix was Amelia Earhart – think again. She was just one of a daring group of women aviators who were walking on wings, flying under bridges, breaking altitude records, and racing across the country – in the 1920s!

Join Emily, Matt, and Nick as they explore the history of the Ninety-Nines, the organization of women pilots originally led by Earhart and still active today. Documentary-maker Heather Taylor sets the scene of the thrilling and dangerous first Women’s National Air Derby in 1929. And Emily discovers an amazing view in her first non-commercial flight (in a tiny four-seater!) with modern-day Ninety-Nine Judy Shaw.

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AirSpace Revisited: Smoke from a Distant Fire

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the lead up to Season 10 we're reviving some of our favorite episodes. Today we bring you Matt's favorite, Smoke from a Distant Fire.

Wildfire season is getting longer, according to the US Forest Service, making firefighting a bigger, more vital operation each year. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick take a look at how the pros fight wildfires with everything from large water-carrying airtankers and helicopters to daring smokejumpers who parachute into the blaze equipped with axes, shovels, and chainsaws. We’ll introduce you to a few of the people who put their lives on the line to keep us and our forests safe and discuss how changes in technology, climate, and communication are impacting aerial firefighting.

We’ll hear from Chelsea Cough, a smokejumper based in Missoula, Montana, about what it’s like to parachute into forest fires too remote to reach over land. And Matt travels out to Utah to the site of an active wildfire where over 1000 people were involved in coordinated air and ground efforts to contain and suppress the flames.

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QueerSpace In Memoriam: Saxophones on the Moon

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We were devastated when we heard of Nikki Giovanni's passing earlier this week. Her poetry evokes life on Earth and in the universe in such a beautiful, thoughtful and inclusive way. We are in the process of sharing our favorite episodes from the past and felt it was fitting to bring you back our QueerSpace episode featuring Nikki among other futurist artists.

When researching QueerSpace, we repeatedly saw creators blending themes of space and themes of queerness in their art. Many of these artists use their art to envision new futures. Futurist thinking uses the experience of the past and present to contextualize and reimagine what the future could be, often creating a future that’s more equitable and radically different than what we have now.

Thanks to our guests in this Episode:

Nikki Giovanni, Futurist Artist
Lola Flash, Futurist Artist
Stamatina Gregory, Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Collections at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

AirSpace Season 10 is just around the corner! Stay tuned through December as we revisit team favorites. New episodes drop starting January 9.

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Meet Your AirSpacers

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Hey Y'all! Since we've made it to season 10 (!!!) we thought we'd take the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves. In this episode you can hear a little more about Hosts Matt and Emily as well as a little bit about the rest of the team behind your favorite pod (we hope).

We reference a lot of past episodes, here's some links for your listening pleasure:

AirSpace, Live at South by Southwest

Rock on the Moon (Matt interviews Ian Anderson)

Smoke from a Distant Fire (Matt gets to meet wildfire fighting pilots)

My Mom the Rocket Scientist (We get to talk to Jack Black)

Voyages to Mars

QueerSpace

AeroEspacial

Say My Name (Amy's fav, for all the Greek Mythology Girlies)

Satellite Hart (Erika's fav #1)

Birds of a Feather (Erika's fav #2)

Fly Girl (Jen's fav history episode, about the WASPs)

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AirSpace Bonus! The Air Up There: Airplane Facts with Max

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

While we get Season 10 ready we're bringing you this episode from our friends at the Federal Aviation Administration's Podcast, The Air Up There.

Find our transcript here.

Did you know that airplanes have two black boxes and they are actually orange? Or that airplanes have closets? Or that one of the tools used to fix an airplane’s auxiliary power unit is referred to as a fishing rod?

In this episode we’re talking with Max, aka Airplane Facts With Max, an aircraft mechanic who hosts social media videos that cleverly blend airplane fact with fantasy fiction. Tune in as Max shares his favorite airplane facts and takes us behind the scenes of his career as an aircraft mechanic, where safety is at the forefront with little margin for error.

You will find out what it takes to be an aircraft mechanic, a trade skill career that offers unique hands-on experiences, excellent compensation, and plenty of job prospects. Plus, hear the story behind the inception of Airplane Facts With Max.

Whether you're an AvGeek, a fantasy geek, or just curious about the world of aviation, join us to celebrate one of the behind the scenes heroes of aviation – aircraft mechanics! As a wise grey wizard once said, “you shall not pass” up listening to this episode. Share with your friends, family, colleagues, hobbits, elves, rangers and other friendly folk of Middle-earth.

Learn more about what it takes to become an FAA-certificated aviation mechanic.

Meet Our Guest:
Max is a certified Aviation Mechanic with Airframe and Powerplant ratings who creates social media content as Airplane Facts With Max.

AirSpace Revisited: Journey to the Past

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

As we wait for season TEN (!!!) we're looking back on this season six favorite.

Every day, satellites orbit Earth taking pictures. These images are used for everything from intelligence to weather prediction and even today’s topic – archaeology. When you hear the term “space archaeology” you might envision a khaki-clad astronaut excavating the Moon. But these space archaeologists are actually Earth-bound researchers who use satellite and other aerial imagery to assist in archaeological applications right here on our home planet. This imagery is used to find new archaeological sites, track changes on already discovered ones, and even helps fight looting. On today’s episode, we hear from a researcher using this technology in Central America to see below the trees and assess where ancient structures may have been. And we talk to a Smithsonian scholar who uses satellite data for cultural heritage preservation.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Kelsey Herndon, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Researcher-NASA SERVIR Program
Dr. Katharyn Hanson, Cultural Heritage Preservation Scholar- Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute

Find the transcript here.

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AirSpace Bonus! Voting From a Station Far Far Away

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Have you ever wondered how astronauts on the ISS or elsewhere in space vote? It turns out there's a whole Texas law about it. We'll tell you exactly how to cast a ballot from 250 miles up in orbit on AirSpace.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Katherine Schaur - NASA Near Space Network

Find the transcript here.

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Defying Gravity

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore! There are so many things that fly in Oz, from broomsticks to monkeys to bubbles. With the Wicked movie coming out this November, we thought we'd look back on all things flight in the land of Oz and tell you all about how those effects were made for the screen and the stage.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Ryan Lintelman - Entertainment Curator, Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Find the transcript here.

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Flak-Bait, Ooh Ha Ha!

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

During WWII one plane survived more missions than any other in Europe. Named 'Flak-Bait,' this medium bomber was saved from the scrap heap after the war and immediately donated to the Smithsonian. However, public display and outdated restoration techniques have taken a toll on the plane. We're taking you inside our restoration hanger to learn all about how the Museum's conservators are reversing damage and conserving Flak-Bait so visitors can learn about her contributions for many years to come.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Lauren Horelick - Object Conservator, National Air and Space Museum. Head conservator working on Flak-Bait
Dr. Jeremy Kinney - Associate Director of Research, Collections, and Curatorial Affairs, National Air and Space Museum. Curator in charge of Flak-Bait

Find the transcript here.

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Movie Mini: Contact

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What if there are intelligent lifeforms elsewhere in the universe? And what if all we need to do to find them is to listen to the right radio frequency at the right time? That's what the scientists of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) have been working on for decades. And that research got the Hollywood Glow-Up back in 1997 with Contact, starring Jodie Foster as SETI researcher Dr. Ellie Arroway. Because if we were alone in the Universe, wouldn't that be such a waste of space?

Find the transcript here.

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Birds of a Feather

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

It's a bird? It's a plane? Its a guy pretending to be a bird?? We have a very odd aircraft in the collection. It's an ultralight. Small, highly maneuverable and based off the wings hang gliders use to jump off mountains, this particular ultralight was used to help birds migrate. And it starred in the movie in the '90s! When we heard that we were like, say more please.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Russ Lee - curator and chair of the Aeronautic Department, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript here

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Limited Edition

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Back in the 'Golden Age' of air travel in the 50s, 60s and 70s going on a trip in an airplane was an event. On those flights you would often get a little souvenir of your air travel; a deck of cards, a little toy, a trading card, captain's wings and a hat for your little tyke. It was a way for you to show off to your friends and for the airline to keep themselves top of mind for your next airline purchase. Like a lot of things from the era, deregulation came along in 1978 and completely changed the flight experience. Now that an airline can offer you a cheap ticket, they're not trying to get your business through tchotchkes. But! There are still some airlines giving out swag. Some of it you have to pony up for first class and some of it you have to ask for. We asked for it (because the AirSpace budget sadly doesn't include first class tickets).

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Bob Van der Linden — Curator of Air Transportation, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript here

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Lasso the Moon

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Over six missions, the Apollo astronauts collected and brought back 842 pounds of Lunar samples. Most of those Moon rocks were put aside for science, but some were earmarked for things like touch rocks (like we have at NASM) or educational disks (which you might have seen if you had a particularly cool science teacher growing up) and to countries and states as diplomatic gifts. But who decides what rocks go where? And how in the heck did the National Cathedral get a rock to put in a stained glass window??

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Ryan Zeigler-Lunar Sample Curator, NASA Johnson Space Center
Dr. Cari Corrigan- Curator of Antarctic Meteorites, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Elody Crimi - Photo Curator, Washington National Cathedral Archives

Find the transcript here

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AirSpace Bonus! My Mom the Rocket Scientist

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Our conversation with Jack Black and his brother Neil Siegal about their Mother, Judith Love Cohen was too good just to give you just the taste from the end of our Star Search episode. Here's the extended producers cut with everything from Jack's birth story, to being an engineer in the 70s, to Judy's 2nd career as a book publisher.

Thanks to Jack Black and Neil Siegal for sharing their memories about their Mom.

Find the transcript here

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Star Search

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

There are a lot of air and space celebrities; pilots, astronauts, engineers, etc etc. But there's another category of celebrities that are famous for other things but also have surprising ties to air or space. Today we're talking about three of those; a famous tv chef who also helped create a shark repellant for aviators and spacecraft, an actor from Hollywood's golden years who invented the basis for wifi, and an aerospace engineer who worked on Apollo and more--and also has a pretty famous kid. Stay tuned to the end for a special celebrity guest.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Paula Johnson, Curator of Food History-Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Dr. Andrew Meade McGee, Curator of Computing-National Air and Space Museum
Dr. Teasel Muir Harmony, Curator of the Apollo Program-National Air and Space Museum
Dr. Neil Siegal and his brother, Jack Black

Find the transcript here

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X-Ray Vision

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

When the Chandra X-Ray Observatory launched 25 years ago, it showed us our universe in a whole new light (literally). From the remnants of exploded stars to Jupiter's auroras, Chandra has shown us so many beautiful and scientifically important sights. Even after a quarter decade this unique telescope is still giving us new data about black holes and whirling neutron stars and all the things out in space that give off x-rays.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Daniel Castro - Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Megan Lin - Chandra X-Ray Observatory Flight Operations Team Lead

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Welcome to Roswell

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The city of Roswell, New Mexico is kind of in the middle of nowhere. Out in the dessert west of Texas, this small oasis in the dessert was first home to indigenous peoples, then cowboys, ranching and farming and then the military before becoming the crash site of a possible UFO in 1947. That story took on a life of it's own and by the time the Army came out with an official explaination in 1997, the myths had stuck. Today, Roswell is still a farming and ranching community but 'the incident' as it's known bred a tourism economy based on aliens. From the flying saucer McDonalds, to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, and the annual UFO festival; Roswell is a unique space-y destination all its own.

We're joined by Dr. Emily Margolis, Curator of Contemporary Spaceflight

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Jan Dunnahoo- Roswell historian
Juliana Halvorson- Roswell City Councilor

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Let's Talk About Sex

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:21:14 -0000

Sci-fi is full of giant ships full of humanity living and dying and reaching out to new places far far away. Usually, these are called generations ships. And they rely on well, generations. But today in science-fact there's so much more about reproducing in space that we don't know than the small amount that we do. And as we get closer to commercial space travel that might include honeymooning on the moon, we kind of need to figure out what's going to happen with pregnancies that are a little extra-terrestrial in origin. Space sex ed is now in session!

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Alex Layendecker, Director-ASRI

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Tiny Jumper

Thu, 23 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick was 15 years old when she first jumped out of a hot air balloon with a parachute in 1908. Over the next 14 years she would make over 1,000 jumps, first out of balloons and then as the first woman to jump from an airplane. Her talent and skill was sought after by the Army in WWI when they first started training their balloon and airplane pilots to use parachutes as a safety device. Tiny even accidentally invented the ripcord that's a staple in parachute design today. Her legacy stretches long, even if she's not as well known of a name as some in early aviation. We're exploring her life and legacy today on AirSpace.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Alex Spencer, Aeronautics Curator - National Air and Space Museum

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

The Suicide Squad

Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In the 1930s, rocketry was basically a joke among the scientific establishment in the U, but that didn't stop a rag tag group out of Pasadena from trying to build rockets. That group would first be known as The Suicide Squad (for all the dangerous experiments they conducted on campus) and later as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Over its first decade, the JPL story includes funding challenges, communist intrigue, brushes with the occult, building weapons, building engines and ultimately--building rockets. Buckle in, this one's a wild ride.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Fraser MacDonald, Author, Escape from Earth: A Secret History of the Space Rocket
Erik Conway, JPL Historian
Interview with Frank Malina from the Caltech Archives and Special Collections

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Bonus! This is Love: Tau = 10.8

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

AirSpace will be back in two weeks with brand new epsiodes. In the meantime, enjoy this episode from our friends at the podcast, This is Love.

When twin rovers named Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars twenty years ago, they were only supposed to last 90 Martian days. But years passed, they were still alive, and engineers kept taking care of them. “I remember telling myself, ‘Please don’t die, Opportunity. Please don’t die.’”

Find more information about this episode here.

AirSpace is from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Bonus! Space Marathon

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:57:43 -0000

While we get Season Nine ready for you, we turned to our friends at Sidedoor to bring you a story of running and running and running and running…in Space! We’ll let them take it from here:

Until the 1970s, women were barred from competing in U.S. marathons because of the belief that the "violent movements" of running would wreak havoc on their reproductive system, "thus defeating a woman’s true purpose in life, i.e., the bringing forth of strong children." Through a series of steps, stumbles—and one epic tackle—running pioneers like Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb and Kathrine Switzer blazed the trail for women marathoners who followed, including Sunita Williams—the first person to run the Boston Marathon in space!

Sunita Williams, astronaut
Jennifer Levasseur, curator, Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Peter Sagal, marathoner; host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Bobbi Gibb, first woman to run the Boston Marathon
Kathrine Switzer, first women to officially run the Boston Marathon

—

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AirSpace Revisited - With a Little Help From My Friends

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

You’ll have new AirSpace episodes soon, but since they may have found Amelia Earhart’s plane(!!!) we thought we’d revisit our episode on her and Eleanor Roosevelt’s somewhat unlikely friendship.

On a spring evening in 1933, Amelia Earhart took first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on a joyride. Imagine two women—dressed for dinner at the White House (white gloves and all)—stealing away from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to pilot and co-pilot a nighttime flight to Baltimore. On this episode of AirSpace, we’re detailing the high-flying friendship of these two women – from their shared background as social workers to their mutual love of flight and advocacy of women’s empowerment and social justice. Amelia and Elanor took the business of being role models seriously, leading by example and using their influence to elevate important societal issues. Talk about an influencer power couple!

Thanks to our guests who helped us contextualize their history and friendship – biographers Allida Black and Susan Butler.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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When the Sun Went Out

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

As we look forward to the upcoming total solar eclipse over North America, AirSpace is looking back in time to a much much older eclipse. In 1142 a total solar eclipse with much the same path as the one coming up April 8. It was also the sign in the sky the Seneca needed to join the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a representative democracy that would govern six tribes below Lakes Erie and Ontario. Before a 1997 journal article, Western Historians insisted the eclipse that decided the Seneca happened much later in the 15th or 16th century. We talk to one of the authors of the paper about the tradition, evidence, and astronomy behind the more accurate date.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Barbara Alice Mann, Professor Emerita-University of Toledo

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Leap Day Bonus: Accounting for the Ish

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Did you know that it takes the Earth 365-ish days to orbit the sun? It’s that ‘ish’ that makes February 29 a thing every four years. We talk to one of the Museum’s astronomy educators to get the low down on Leap Day.

Thanks to Astronomy Educator Shauna Brandt Edson for joining Emily for this episode.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Liberation through Exploration

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that explores the possibilities of Black futures and pasts and presents through art, literature, music, film and pop culture. And a lot of Afrofuturism has a lot of space in it. Today we're talking about Afrofuturist space and Afronauts and walking through the Afrofuturism exhibit by our friends at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Kevin Strait, Curator National Museum of African American History and Culture

Tim Fielder, Author and Artists Matty’s Rocket

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Love at First Flight

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Hollywood is in love with airports and airplanes and we are too! How many rom-coms can you name where the meet cute, the almost meet, the epic chase or the long distance relationships happens thanks to a terminal or twist of fate seat assignment? We can name at least six. And if we missed your favorite, drop us a comment on Instagram or Twitter!

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Scott Meslow, Author From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Romantic Comedy

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

From when it started in 1981, MTV used an iconic neon scribbled astronaut as its channel ID for years. And even today the award you get when you win a VMA is a statuette of an Apollo era astronaut, but why is MTV obsessed with the Moonman? And why do we have two of those statuettes in our collection? We're digging into the history of cable's giant leap, today on AirSpace

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, National Air and Space Museum Space History Chair

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Eye from Above

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean but in 2017, the season was so bad that it changed everything for the people of Puerto Rico. Only two weeks after another major hurricane, Maria barreled into the island bringing more than 200 mile per hour winds, rain and flooding. In the aftermath, the Coast Guard with their helicopters are crucial to search and rescue, aid drops and surveying damage. We spoke to two Coast Guard members, as well as one of our own colleagues, about what the hurricane was like, and what happened after.

We’re joined by Vanessa Parés, Digitization Coordinator NASM

Thanks to our guests for this episode:

Captain Ed Aponte, U.S. Coast Guard
Avionics Technician First Class Mari DeLong, U.S. Coast Guard

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

31,500 Miles

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In January 1942 a B-314 flying boat operated by Pan American World Airways landed in New York after making arguably the first around the world flight by a commercial airliner. But when they set out from San Francisco in 1941, they never intended to hold that record. Trapped in the Pacific by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Captain Bob Ford and his crew were forced to return home flying west. It took them more than a month and several tight spots to get their important aircraft back to the U.S.

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Ed Dover, former Pan Am Radio Operator and Author of The Long Way Home: A Journey into History with Captain Robert Ford

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

These Are the Droids We're Working With

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In a lot of political and financial circles space exploration is often talked about in terms of human space exploration VERSUS robotic space travel. But most scientists and engineers who work on space missions think this question is better answered with a yes, and. We're diving into the pros, cons and uses of both human and robotic space exploration today on AirSpace.

We’re joined by Dr Erica Jawin, Postdoctoral Research Geologist at NASM’s Center for Planetary Studies

Thanks to our guests for this episode:

Dr Brett Denevi, Geology Lead Artemis III, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Bobak Ferdowsi, Systems Engineer on Robotic Space Missions

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Don't Rain on my Parade

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today is a very special day, parade day of course! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday staple for almost 100 years, and the balloons have been a part of it for nearly as long. We got the download on these helium-filled works of art that aren't all that different from the hot-air cousins.

Thanks to our guest on this episode:

Kathleen Wright, Director of Production Operation at Macy’s Parade Studios

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

You're on Your Own, Kid

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Space is dangerous. And as long as we've been sending people into space, we've also been thinking about what we can do to make sure they're prepared for it, and make sure they will come home again. The main way that manifests is in training astronauts before they go up, and contingency planning on how to rescue them if something goes awry.

We’re joined by Dr. Emily A. Margolis, Curator of Contemporary Spaceflight.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Major Nick Barwikowski, Commander, Army SERE School
Chief Warrant Officer, Retired Mike Christanson, Head Instructor, Army SERE School
Grant Cates, Senior Project Manager at The Aerospace Corporation

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

End of an Air-a

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

When the Boeing 747 first came out it revolutionized the already revolutionary Jet Age. Able to carry more than twice as many passengers as it's predecessors, the 747 was initally designed for cargo. Boeing thought it would be quickly outstripped by the U.S.'s SST. But when the 'American Concorde' was scrapped in favor of breathable air and no sonic booms over major cities (see our episode Boom, Clap for deets), the 747 became the plane of choice for high passenger load routes. Now that Boeing's retired her, we're looking back on the more than 50 year history of the original Jumbo Jet.

Thanks to our guest on this episode:

Michael Lombardi, Boeing Historian

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Vast and Beckoning Seas

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Europa Clipper is soon to be on its was to the outer solar system to study one of Jupiter's most interesting moons. In addition to the really awesome science it will do ('sniffing' gases with a mass spectrometer to find out what they're made of?!? How cool is that??), the spacecraft will carry a "message in a bottle" etched with your names and a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. Icy moons, science, and poetry, all our favorite things!

Thanks to our guest on this episode:

Dr. Bob Pappalardo, JPL, Project Scientist-Europa Clipper

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Dancing on the Ceiling

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:36:02 -0000

AirSpace is looking up! (We know, we know, we're usually looking up what with the air and the space-ness of our podcast) But today we're exploring how we hang really big, priceless artifacts from the ceiling in the museum. We asked two friends whose jobs are to do just that to talk to us about just what it takes to put airliners, spacecraft, X-wings and more up on the ceiling.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Tony Carp, Museum Specialist, National Air and Space Museum
Hannah O’Toole, Exhibit Designer, National Air and Space Museum

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AirSpace Revisited - It's a Barbie World and We're All Living in It

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We’re extending our Hot Barbie Summer by looking back on this gem from season seven.

When Barbie first became an astronaut in 1965, she was more than a decade ahead of NASA sending a woman to space. Since then, there have been several versions of astronaut Barbie — from a spangly 80s doll to one who had a jumpsuit just like the one they give you at Space Camp. Today, astronaut Barbie actually went to the International Space Station! And she's joined by a collection of dolls that represent actual people who really contributed to space science like Sally Ride and Katherine Johnson. We're talking about all those versions of Barbie today on AirSpace. (Follow along with pictures of all of these dolls on our Instagram.)

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: Making Space Bustelo

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

From the moment it hit theaters in 1977, Star Wars has been adopted and adapted by many groups. In the past several years an explosion of Star Wars movies, shows, and books have brought more diversity into the universe than ever before. In these recent releases, Latino actors and storylines have taken center stage. We're jumping in to the past and present of Latino representation in the Star Wars universe.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Dr Michelle Martinez, Instructor of Film and Media Studies Arizona State University
Dr Genevieve Carpio, Professor of Chicano/a Studies UCLA
Daniel José Older, Author and Story Architect

AeroEspacial is a four-part series from AirSpace that presents stories of Latino history, culture, and people at the heart of aviation and space. This limited series received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: Haciendo Bustelo Espacial

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Desde que llegó a los cines en 1977, la Guerra de las galaxias ha sido adoptada y adaptada por muchos grupos. En los últimos años, una explosión de películas, series y libros de la Guerra de las galaxias ha aportado más diversidad que nunca al universo. En estos lanzamientos recientes, los actores y las historias latinas han tomado protagonismo. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, nos adentramos en el pasado y el presente de la representación latina en el universo de la Guerra de las galaxias.

Gracias a nuestros invitados en este episodio:

• Dra. Michelle Martínez, Profesora de Estudios de Cine y Medios de Comunicación en la Universidad Estatal de Arizona

• Dra. Genevieve Carpio, Profesora de Estudios Chicanos de la UCLA

•Daniel José Older, autor y arquitecto de historias

AeroEspacial es una serie de cuatro partes, de AirSpace, que presenta relatos de la historia, cultura y gente latina centradas en la aviación y el espacio. Este proyecto recibió apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense de la Smithsonian.

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: El Dorado de Posibilidades

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Los artistas con frecuencia utilizan sus medios para contar historias, enviar mensajes o imaginar futuros distintos de nuestro presente. Para los artistas futuristas latinos, recurrir al pasado es clave para crear futuros que conecten el legado, la experiencia y la indigenidad con el presente y el futuro en un constante círculo temporal. En una sociedad que imagina el pasado como historia antigua, estos artistas desafían lo que es el arte y para quién es el arte. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, exploramos este género artístico con artistas y comentaristas de arte.

Le agradecemos a nuestros invitados en este episodio:

Dr. Catherine Sue Ramírez, profesora y catedrática de Estudios Latinoamericanos y Latinos en la Universidad de California, Santa Cruz
Beatriz Cortez, artista multimedia
Clarissa Tossin, artista multimedia

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: El Dorado of Possibilities

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Artists frequently use their mediums to tell stories, send messages, or imagine futures unlike our present. For Latino Futurist artists, drawing on the past is key to creating futures that connect heritage, experience, and indigeneity to the present and future in constantly circling time. In a society that imagines the past as ancient history, these artists are challenging what and who art is for. We explore this genre of art with artists and art commentators.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Dr Catherine Sue Ramirez, Professor and chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Beatriz Cortez, multimedia artist
Clarissa Tossin, multimedia artist

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: Desde Puerto Rico con Amor

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

En 2020, una devastadora rotura de cable significó el final de uno de los radiotelescopios más icónicos del mundo. Protagonizó películas, nos protegió de los asteroides y escuchó en busca de vida extraterrestre. La ciencia hecha en el Observatorio de Arecibo fue y continúa siendo increíblemente importante, y tener el Observatorio en Puerto Rico es un motivo de orgullo para los locales. En el primer episodio de AeroEspacial, le damos un vistazo a la historia, ciencia e importancia social de Arecibo, y hablamos sobre cuál puede ser el próximo capítulo del observatorio.

Gracias a nuestros invitados de este episodio:

- Dr. Edgard G. Rivera-Valentín, científico planetario

- Dr. Christopher Salter, radioastrónomo retirado

- Dr. Tapasi Ghosh, radioastrónomo retirado

- Pia Salter-Ghosh, «hija del observatorio»

- Olga Figeroa Miranda, directora actual del Observatorio de Arecibo

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: From Puerto Rico with Love

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In 2020, a devastating cable break led to the end of one of the most iconic radio telescopes in the world. It starred in movies, kept us safe from asteroids, and listened for extra-terrestrial life. The science done at Arecibo Observatory was (and continues to be incredibly important), and having the observatory in Puerto Rico is a point of pride for locals. We take a look at the history, science, and social importance of Arecibo, and talk about what the observatory’s next chapter may look like.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Dr. Edgard G. Rivera-Valentín, planetary scientist
Dr. Christopher Salter, retired radio astronomer
Dr. Tapasi Ghosh, retired radio astronomer
Pia Salter-Ghosh, “child of the observatory”
Olga Figeroa Miranda, current director of Arecibo Observatory

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: La Segunda Estrella a la Derecha

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Se necesita un poco de fe, confianza y una exención de visa. A principio de los sesenta, más de 14,000 niños sin acompañante dejaron Cuba y a sus familias, huyendo del régimen castrista. Estos niños vinieron a los Estados Unidos con exenciones de visa del Gobierno de Estados Unidos en el marco de uno de los programas para refugiados patrocinados por el Estado más grandes en la historia de Estados Unidos. También fueron los primeros refugiados en llegar, en gran parte, en avión. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, contamos algunas de las historias de la Operación Pedro Pan e investigamos las fuerzas que la hicieron única.

Gracias a nuestros invitados de este episodio:

Dr. Victor Triay, autor, profesor de Historia en el Middlesex Community College
Dr. Carlos Eire, profesor de Historia y Ciencias de la Religión en la Universidad de Yale

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: The Second Star to the Right

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

It takes a little faith, trust, and a visa waiver. In the early 1960s, more than 14,000 unaccompanied children left Cuba and their families behind, fleeing the Castro regime. These children came to the United States on visa waivers from the U.S. government in one of the largest state-sponsored refugee programs in American history. They were also the first refugees to come largely by plane. In this episode of AeroEspacial, we tell some of the stories of Operation Pedro Pan and dig into the forces that made it unique.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:

Dr. Victor Triay, author, professor of history at Middlesex Community College
Dr. Carlos Eire, Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University

This limited series received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Presenting/Presentación: AeroEspacial

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Coming soon to this podcast feed AeroEspacial, a second limited series from the creators of AirSpace! Published in both English and Spanish, this four-part series presents stories of Latino history, culture, and people at the heart of aviation and space.

¡Próximamente en el podcast AeroEspacial, una segunda serie limitada de los creadores de AirSpace! Publicada en inglés y en español, esta serie de cuatro partes presenta historias de la aviación y el espacio que se desarrollan en el mundo Latino.

Revisited - Sisters of the Moon

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We’re gearing up for Season 8 and we have a special project in the works that you’ll hear sooner but today we’re looking back to one of our favorite Season Six episodes, a topic you may have heard about in the news more recently.

It’s been nearly 50 years (!) since humans last walked on the Moon. But NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions will soon return astronauts to the lunar surface. Artemis isn’t just about going back – it’s about science! So to answer all of our burning questions about what Artemis astronauts will do, where they will go, and what makes this all different from Apollo, we spoke to the Artemis science lead, Dr. Sarah Noble.

Bonus! Wronging the Wrights

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Season seven is over but don’t despair! We have some fun new things headed your way soon. In the meantime, we borrowed this episode from our friends at Smithsonian’s Sidedoor to tide you all over.

It took pride, deceit, and a giant catapult to set off the feud between the Wright brothers and the Smithsonian. On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright made history when he flew over 800 feet across a blustery beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The airplane he flew that day is now a centerpiece of the National Air and Space Museum’s collection. This is the story of how it nearly wasn’t.

It's a Barbie World and We're All Living In It

Thu, 25 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Mars!

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

From Dante to Matt Damon, Percival Lowell to Perseverance, humans have long wondered about, studied, and eventually explored our closest planetary neighbor, Mars. In celebration of Matt's new book "For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet," we're taking you through how humans have shown Mars in stories, movies, and art through the centuries.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

One Small Stop in Ohio

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In 1969, nearly 600 million people tuned in to watch the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Four of these rapt viewers were a family of Indian immigrants in Delaware. Four months later that family was driving through Ohio and decided to stop and knock on Neil Armstrong’s parent's door — because why not? This story, as told in the short film One Small Visit, has been making the rounds at film festivals and screenings around the world. Matt and Emily talk to the woman whose family knocked on that door and her friend who turned it into a film.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

By Land, By Sea, By Dirigible

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Imagine this: It’s 1936 and you’re taking a luxurious three day flight from Germany to the United States in the Hindenburg. But instead of landing in New Jersey as expected, you dock to the top of the tallest building in the world: the Empire State Building. This didn’t actual happen — turns out that’s a logistical and safety impossibility — but that didn’t stop the builders of the Empire State Building from using the potential of a mooring mast to advertise the building. After all, they had to really stick it to the Chrysler Building. Matt and Emily are joined by the Museum’s lighter-than-air flight curator to talk about airships, Zeppelins, mooring masts, and, a first for us, architecture!

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Flying Circus

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Animal Air! We invite all passengers to waddle, trot, sashay or mince aboard the aircraft as we prepare for takeoff. Make sure all tails and tail feathers are out of the aisle and remain inside the aircraft at all times.

A duck in a hot air balloon. A cat in an airship. A lion cub in an airplane. Our animal companions have been up in human created aircraft even longer that we have. Since these stories do great on social media, we brought in our social media manager to help us tell five stories of animals taking flight.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Satellite Hart

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Thanks to GPS, ecologists today can track thousands of animals all the time with tracking devices that can be smaller than a quarter. But in 1970 there was just a weather satellite, a 23 pound collar, and an elk named Monique. Between spooky elk herds, inconsistent darts, a rowdy press gaggle, angry letters, an upside-down collar, and a couple of upsetting deaths, Monique’s tracking didn’t exactly go off without a hitch. Back then scientists really didn’t know where animals went, and tracking them on the ground, even with radio, was arduous and provided incomplete data. So even if it wasn’t perfect Monique’s tracking was a huge breakthrough.

Today, ecologists like the ones at Smithsonian’s Movement of Life Initiative and the ICARUS project track animals from pole to pole and from the tops of mountains to deep under the sea. Insights from these trackers help with habitat conservation and breeding but might also be able to predict the next pandemic. On this episode of AirSpace, we talk to some of the scientists who use space to track animals here on Earth.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Drops From Jupiter

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The Juno spacecraft currently orbiting Jupiter almost didn’t have a camera, and boy would that have been a shame. Any time you launch something into space, weight is money. And when Juno was proposed and funded, a visible light camera wasn’t really needed to meet the mission’s science goals. But, thanks to the insistence of adamant Juno team members, Juno got JunoCam. And we’re so glad it did. On this episode of AirSpace, we unpack how JunoCam has contributed to science and completely changed the way we view this beautiful gas giant.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

It Takes More Than One

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In the fifties and sixties to get hired as a stewardess put you in a club that was akin to being a movie star. Around this time, a highly qualified woman, top of her training class, beautiful and poised, didn't understand why she wasn't being hired, until an instructor told her it was because she was Black. The lawsuit that followed opened the door to Black women being hired as stewardesses, but the result was less of a floodgate and more of a trickle. By the mid-1960s, most US airlines had hired their first Black flight attendant, but these women continued to face discrimination and their representation in the industry hardly mirrored the overall population. On today’s episode, we explore the history of Black women flight attendants by hearing directly from some of the first to serve.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Pigeons Are Pilots Too

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The pigeon – ubiquitous bird, oft city-dweller, and… war hero? You might even consider the humble pigeon to be the first military aviator. Before radio, homing pigeons were one of the most reliable forms of communications for sailors at sea and troops in trenches. The American use of these feathered aviators really took off during World War I when trench warfare made it dangerous for human runners to deliver messages from the front line. And these birds were not only integral to communications, some even rose to the level of heroism. On today’s episode, Emily and Matt take you through the history of this often overlooked military asset and tell the story of one hero bird, Cher Ami.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

A Picture's Worth 1000 Words

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We’ve all seen the breathtaking Hubble and JWST images of our universe, but have you ever wondered how these pictures are made? If you were to travel to the “Cosmic Cliffs” of the Carina Nebula or the “Pillars of Creation” of the Eagle Nebula, your eyes wouldn’t see the beautiful colors and patterns displayed in these popular images. But, that doesn’t make these pictures any less real. In today’s episode we explain how image processors take invisible (to us) light and data from space telescopes and translate it into something that's better than what our naked eyes can see. And we discuss how these images are made even more accessible through detailed alt-text, 3D printing, and sonification.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Across the Universe

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

At the turn of the 20th century, astronomy got a serious glow-up. An influx of money and scientific advancements led to building bigger, better telescopes at newly-founded observatories across the country. Astronomers could see farther than ever before, and this led to a debate about exactly what they were seeing. Were these nebulous, fuzzy-looking discs in the sky part of the Milky Way? How big is our universe? On today’s episode, we’re telling the story of how the work of many astronomers contributed to a complete redesign of how big we know our universe to be and what we think it looks like.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

The Core

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Season 7 of AirSpace! We’re kicking off with an episode that really gets to the core of what AirSpace is all about – drilling down to unpack scientifically questionable movies we love... or at least love to hate. At its crust, this episode’s pick has all the makings of an epic disaster flick — an all-star cast (hello, Stanley Tucci), an epic Space Shuttle scene, and a fictional element called “unobtainium.” But trust us – despite a lot of questionable science, The Core isn’t the pits. In fact, it’s one of Emily’s favorite movies! Join us, as we journey to the center of the Earth.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Now preparing for takeoff...

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:13:21 -0000

Season 7 of AirSpace will be in your feeds starting December 8th!

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Bonus! Live Long and Protest

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Just two more weeks until a brand new season of AirSpace! But today, we’re excited to bring you a special bonus drop from our friends at the National Portrait Gallery’s podcast PORTRAITS.

George Takei went boldly where no man had gone before when he broke racial stereotypes to play Mr. Sulu on Star Trek. But he's also lent his celebrity to a stack of social causes. George traces his activism to a single, searing injustice-- his internment, along with thousands of other Japanese-Americans, during WWII. He was five years old.

Look for more episodes of PORTRAITS wherever you get your podcasts!

Bonus! Hubble Trouble

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Season 7 of AirSpace is just around the corner, but today we have a special bonus drop from our friends at the Sidedoor podcast! You’ve likely seen recent awe-inspiring images from the James Webb Space Telescope, but this episode focuses on its predecessor: the Hubble Space Telescope. Sidedoor explores how America's first large space telescope went from a "billion-dollar blunder" to one of history's most important scientific instruments. Look for more episodes of Sidedoor wherever you get your podcasts!

If the World Was Ending

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Picture this: it’s Halloween eve, 1938, and you’re gathered with your family around the radio to listen to the evening programs. All of a sudden, the broadcast is interrupted by a breaking news bulletin. First, a report of explosions on Mars, then news of a meteorite landing in New Jersey, and suddenly a correspondent is attacked live on air by a Martian heat ray!

Obvious spoiler: there was no Martian attack that night. But there was a radio play — a performance of Orson Welles’ adaptation of “War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells. If you’ve heard of this production before, it’s likely due to the widespread panic it supposedly caused — radio listeners running out of their homes, jamming the interstates, and tying up the phone lines all in a frenzy about what they presumed to be a real Martian attack on Earth. But… is that really what happened? Learn what really went down on today’s episode of AirSpace!

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

October Sky

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0000

On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union successfully launched the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik. This early Space Race milestone sparked a lot of reaction – it was unsettling for some, but for others it inspired an interest in rocketry and brought many scientists into the space industry. One of those people was Homer Hickam, a high schooler in a small West Virginia mining town who would go on to work for NASA, write a memoir, and inspire a movie. On today’s episode we unpack that film – October Sky. If you went to high school in the last 20 years, there’s a chance you saw it in a chemistry or physics class. But, turns out, that wasn’t the case for Matt, Emily, or Nick! It’s rare for these three to unpack a space movie after all seeing it for the very first time. Tune in to hear their initial impressions, what was mispronounced, and what could have been better!

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Boom Clap

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000

You can’t fly really fast without a big boom. In 1964 continual sonic booms spelled a tremendous headache for the residents of Oklahoma City. For six months the US Air Force flew an airplane at supersonic speeds over the annoyed midwestern metropolis, often multiple times a day, in a series of tests called Project Bongo. The tests were part of the United States’ research into developing supersonic transport (civilian passenger aircraft that go faster than the speed of sound). Huge spoiler – things did NOT go well. Think: damages, lawsuits, and a general disturbance of the peace. Ultimately, Project Bongo was one of the reasons the US never developed supersonic transport like Britain and France’s Concorde. The story of how and why the tests happened is a wild ride, and we’re breaking it down for you today on AirSpace.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

How Do You Sleep?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Sleeping in space goes back almost as far as there have been people in space (specifically, a cosmonaut who caught some shuteye in 1961). Astronauts have slept in capsules, shuttles, space stations, and even on the Moon. Sleep is an important part of an astronaut’s health, particularly for longer duration missions. But from noisy crewmates to spaceship sounds and even the sheer excitement of it all, sleeping in space hasn’t always been easy. To find out what it’s really like we speak with former astronaut Mike Massimino who relates his shuttle sleeping experience to a big slumber party. We’re catching Zs in zero-G, today on AirSpace.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Let It Grow

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000

In 1971 an Apollo 14 astronaut took about 500 tree seeds into orbit around the Moon. When he got back, those seeds were distributed, germinated, and planted all around the United States. And then… they were mostly forgotten about, even by NASA. That is, until the mid-1990s when a teacher at a Girl Scout camp in Indiana wondered what was up with this “Moon Tree” at her local camp. On this episode, we speak with the NASA planetary scientist who received her question, and as a result, started a database to track down the Moon Tree locations. Today, there are 67 known, living, first generation Moon Trees all over the United States – maybe even in your town!

AND JUST THIS WEEK NASA announced more tree seeds will fly with the Artemis 1 mission, continuing the Moon Tree legacy started in the Apollo era. We’re giving lunar Johnny Appleseed vibes, this week on AirSpace.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Look at the Sky

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Skywriting is something you might witness at the beach, or a sporting event, or an outdoor concert. A popular form of aerial advertising and even the occasional marriage proposal, skywritten messages can have a BIG impact (and with letters approximately 1500 feet tall… we mean that quite literally). But maybe you didn’t know that it originated with the military and dates wayyy back to the early days of aviation in 1910. This episode will be your exhaustive look into everything you’d want to know about skywriting – how it works, who does it, the most popular examples, and even its code of conduct. And to learn all about it, we speak to a skywriting pilot whose family has been in the business since nearly the beginning.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Journey to the Past

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Every day, satellites orbit Earth taking pictures. These images are used for everything from intelligence to weather prediction and even today’s topic – archeology. When you hear the term “space archeology” you might envision a khaki-clad astronaut excavating the Moon. But, space archeologists are actually Earth-bound researchers who use satellite and other aerial imagery to assist in archeological applications right here on our home planet. This imagery is used to find new archeological sites, track changes on already discovered ones, and even helps fight looting. On today’s episode, we hear from a researcher using this technology in Central America to see below the trees and assess where ancient structures may have been. And we talk to a Smithsonian scholar who uses satellite data for cultural heritage preservation.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Sisters of the Moon

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Electricity

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0000

A decade ago it was pretty rare to see an all-electric car on the road. Now that you see them all. the. time. we wondered – what about electric vehicles in the *sky*? Several companies are working to overcome the challenges of all-electric flight, and it’ll likely be a long time before your commercial plane goes electric. But smaller, shorter-distance applications of all-electric air transport might be just around the corner. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Martine Rothblatt to learn how her company is working towards using electric helicopters to deliver the ultimate precious cargo -- transplantable human organs.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

QueerSpace: Fight For Your Right

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Happy Pride Month! Today, we’re bringing you a special installment of QueerSpace, our limited series featuring stories and people at the intersection of aviation, space, and LGBTQ+ history and culture. Seven years ago this month, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry under the constitution. If you dig into an amicus brief for Obergefell, you’ll see mention of another case, Norton v Macy. This case set the first precedent ruling that the federal government can’t fire an employee for being gay. We talk a lot about pilots and astronauts who’ve made history, but today’s aerospace trailblazer was a humble NASA civil servant and petitioner named Clifford Norton.

In this episode of QueerSpace, attorney Paul Thompson, lawyer for the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC, and writer of that Obergefell amicus brief, walks us through Norton’s case and explains how its impacts are still seen in our legal system today.

QueerSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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Here Comes The Sun

Thu, 26 May 2022 08:00:00 -0000

In 1859 the Sun threw a temper tantrum directed at Earth. It spewed magnetized plasma into space, which made its way here and triggered effects that *literally* shocked telegraph operators (not to mention knocking down telegraph lines and causing aurora to be seen near the equator). If a geomagnetic storm of this size happened today, it could cause a widespread electrical and communications blackout. Events of that magnitude are rare but the Sun’s activity affects us all the time – from static on the radio to a diverted commercial flight or a wonky GPS app. The good news is scientists are monitoring the Sun to predict when and where effects will be felt. On today’s episode, we speak to experts from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to learn how and why they stare at the Sun (for science!).

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Ice Ice Baby

Thu, 12 May 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Brr… it’s cold in here. There must be some thickness to this at-mo-sphere. On today’s episode, we’re cheering for the fraternal twins of the outer solar system. You might know them as the Ice Giants, but really they’re big mush-balls: Uranus and Neptune. And like most siblings, these two planets have plenty in common: both discovered by telescope, both have ring and moon systems, and both were studied by Voyager 2. Scientists have learned a ton about Uranus and Neptune over the last few decades, but since these planets are hard to see and even harder to get to, many questions remain. It’s all about the coolest planets of the solar system today on AirSpace.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

99 Luftballons

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -0000

On the scale of thrilling aviation activities, hot air balloon rides normally rank pretty low. But how would you feel if one balloon ride was your ticket to a better life? AND what if you had to not only pilot the balloon yourself, but build it from scratch, in secret? What started with a magazine article about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta ended with a thrilling aerial escape from East Germany in 1979. On this episode of AirSpace, we hear what it was like from someone who lived it firsthand. And we talk to a modern-day balloonist to learn just how difficult it is to create your own air-worthy balloon.

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AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

QueerSpace: Saxophones on the Moon

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Anyone who’s observed the Milky Way or has seen a beautiful Hubble image can understand how space and space imagery can be a source of creative inspiration. When researching QueerSpace, we repeatedly saw creators blending themes of space and themes of queerness in their art. Many of these artists use their art to envision new futures. Futurist thinking uses the experience of the past and present to contextualize and reimagine what the future could be, often creating a future that’s more equitable and radically different than what we have now. In this episode of QueerSpace, Stamatina Gregory from the Leslie-Lohman Museum helps to contextualize the origins of this intersection of space, queerness, and futurism in art. And we hear from photographer Lola Flash and poet Nikki Giovanni on their art, inspiration, and visions of the future.

QueerSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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QueerSpace: Becoming Light

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Historically, queer-identifying people in the U.S. military have been forced out or forced to hide who they are. It wasn’t until 2011 that gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers could serve openly, and only in the last few years that trans servicemembers could serve at all. And while there’s still a ways to go, last year the Air Force and Space Force formed a working group specifically for LGBTQ+ issues. On this episode of QueerSpace, we speak to the Director of the LGBTQ Initiative Team (LIT), Maj. Gen. Leah Lauderback, to hear how LIT is working to change policy, change minds, and create opportunities for LGBTQ+ members of the military.

QueerSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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QueerSpace: We’re All Stories In The End

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In science fiction, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Sci-fi writers often create entirely new civilizations where our social constructions can be upended and examined, or just thrown out entirely. They can literally rewrite a world in terms of gender, sexuality, and culture, making something that is more inclusive and often more interesting. In this episode, we talk to bookseller Hannah Oliver Depp of Loyalty Books about the history of queer worldbuilding in sci-fi literature and get some book recommendations that are headed to the top of our to-read lists.

QueerSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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QueerSpace: Fly the Friendly Skies

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0000

We’re working on the next season of AirSpace as we speak, but today, we’re excited to bring you QueerSpace — a limited series from the creators of AirSpace, featuring stories and people at the intersection of aviation, space, and LGBTQ+ history and culture. For the next two months, we’re highlighting the scope and diversity of queer experiences found across human flight and space science.

The first episode spotlights the history and community built by male flight attendants. You may think that the role of flight attendant has always been a women-dominated profession. But that wasn’t always the case. Very early on in commercial aviation, many flight attendants (or stewards as they were then known) were men. But in the mid-20th century, that changed as airlines began exclusively hiring women for the role. When, in the 1970s, a court case forced airlines to hire men and women on equal terms and more men became flight attendants, gay men created a community within the industry that was uniquely supportive and welcoming. The next few decades would test that community, first with changes to how airlines were allowed to operate, and then by the AIDS crisis.

In this episode, we talk to Plane Queer author Phil Tiemeyer and former flight attendant David Hinson to explore that community.

QueerSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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Revisited - Supermassive Black Hole

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0000

We’re hard at work on Season 6 (and a super special project coming in just a few weeks!!). But today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from last year. They’re incredibly dense, super cool, and mind-bendingly-mysterious -- BLACK HOLES! But how do you imagine – let alone study—the unseeable? And seriously—what happened at the end of “Interstellar?”

The concept of black holes isn’t new—scientists first theorized their existence in the early 20th century. But in the last few years our knowledge of black holes has expanded – from confirmation of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way (it really ties the galaxy together) to the first-ever image of a black hole captured by the Event Horizon Telescope. We’re now making direct observations that prove their existence. And scientists even released an image of a black hole in polarized light, with signs of magnetic fields around the event horizon. And if you don’t understand what that means, you’re not alone!! We’re all on this magic school bus of discovery together – come abroad, it’s going to be a wild ride!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the show! Take our listener survey.

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Jetstream

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0000

We get it—the early days of aviation were full of outlandish characters, and it can be a little exhausting. But trust us on this one—it’ll be worth it. Wiley Post was an oil-worker and armed robber-turned-recording breaking pilot who discovered the jet stream while wearing a sweet eye-patch and a suit straight out of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (it was a lewk). That should be enough but wait! There’s more! That steampunk getup, which Wiley designed and built with tire company BF Goodrich, was the very first successful pressure suit. And it did more than unlock the stratosphere, it laid the groundwork for the first spacesuits—and modern spacesuits aren’t much different. This tall tale keeps getting higher, but again—trust us (we’ve got the suit!). Special thanks to Tested’s Adam Savage, whose answer for “history’s most important spacesuit” was both unexpected and absolutely on the mark.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

With a Little Help From My Friends

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Thanks to our guests who helped us contextualize their history and friendship – biographers Allida Black and Susan Butler.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

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Fly Me To The Moon

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Traveling for the holidays? Would you rather take a trip to the Moon? On this episode of AirSpace, we’re breaking down Georges Méliès' iconic 1902 film “Le Voyage dans la Lune.” Silent and only about 13 minutes long, this classic might lack a bit of 21st century movie pizazz but it was absolutely groundbreaking to science fiction and filmmaking. Based on Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon,” it was the first film to depict space travel. It also features many moviemaking techniques Méliès pioneered in filming, editing, and storytelling that are still used by the film industry today. We hear lunar weather this time of year is lovely – come on in, the spaceship is fine!

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Little Bombs

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0000

At AirSpace we absolutely LOVE spotlighting stories about incredible aviators who might not already be on your radar. Today, we’re introducing you to the Chinese aviatrix Li Xiaqing: A literal movie star who learned to fly with the aspiration of serving her country. Li’s story is not only inspiring, it’s practically a screenplay waiting to be written. Born in 1911 into a rapidly changing China, she took flying lessons in Switzerland and the United States before returning to China in the 1930s. Despite being grounded by her home country during the war, she still found a way to use her skills in the war effort barnstorming across the US raising money for China. An actress, aviatrix, and altruist? Now, that’s a true triple threat.

Thanks to our guests - Author Patti Gully for sharing Li’s incredible story and historian Stephen MacKinnon for providing the historical context of China in the early 20th century.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

93% of televisions in the United States tuned in to see Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon. Can you believe 7% were watching something else? At 11pm on a Sunday?? But as much as we love it now, Apollo 11’s contemporary acclaim wasn’t exactly universal. Many people, all over America, had reservations about spending billions of dollars on space exploration instead of solving problems here on Earth. And some Americans had their eyes on a very different, much more important prize. The rise of Apollo coincided with the peak of the Civil Rights Movement (which technically ended with the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1968—but we all know the struggle and the movement didn’t end there). In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick explore the intersection of these two moments in American history, discuss the protests, activists, and anthems of the time, and talk to Sylvia Drew Ivie about the issues then and how we’re still working to turn it all around.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Even Better Than the Real Thing

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Have you always wanted to experience what it’s like to be an astronaut but without the queasy upshot of actually shooting into space? Then we’ve got news for you! Only around 550 people have been to outer space (like, ever!). But many more can and do participate in simulated space missions right here on Earth—and it turns out they’re super important. While the mission brief might require a little imagination, these analog astronauts perform real science and research, and sometimes go on to become actual high-flying space travelers. And, as it turns out, these virtual versions really capture the (ahem) atmosphere of living and working on orbit (with slightly different views).

One such analog outpost, HI-SEAS, located on Hawai’i, runs simulated space missions to the Moon and Mars to help answer critical questions about what to do and how to do it when we get there. In this episode, we talk to the center’s director, Dr. Michaela Musilova, and one of their former analog astronauts who just this September flew her own crazy-cool and crazy-real mission in outer space as part of the Inspiration 4 crew, Dr. Sian Proctor! That’s right—we knew her way back when.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Don't Hold Your Breath

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 12:46:37 -0000

Ever wonder what would happen to your body in space without a spacesuit? Given it’s spooky szn, we figured we’d do something a little different for this Halloween episode of AirSpace and dissect one the scariest situations an astronaut could be in. For a crash course in the intersection between astronaut life and rapid decompression we talk to Mary Roach. And having authored the nonfiction books Packing for Mars, Stiff, and Grunt she’s kind of perfectly qualified to talk about this bizarre venn diagram.

But some peace-of-mind spoilers for our squeamish friends, there’s no threat of exploding or even freezing to death when you’re stuck in space sans suit (despite what literally every tv show has taught us). Don’t let the pressure get to you--just remember to breathe (out).

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Reflektor

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Mirror, mirror under the football field, what secrets of the universe will you yield? Okay, so we’re terrible poets (except maybe Matt). But we are feeling a bit reflective these days, so we’re taking this opportunity to ponder reflecting telescopes of all sizes, shapes, and types. Reflectors use mirrors to gather light and produce an image. Some are meant for space (we’re looking at you Hubble and JWST), and others are used here on Earth. In this episode, we’re taking you into two labs – one under the football stadium at the University of Arizona that makes some of the biggest telescope mirrors in the world, and another under the house (okay, it’s a basement) of someone who makes their own telescope mirrors at home. Same deal, way different scale. We promise this one isn’t a grind!

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Leaving for Paris

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0000

100 years ago Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman to earn her pilot’s license. You might remember Bessie from a previous episode of the pod (last season’s Chicago Flyer) – she inspired many of her contemporaries, including those who formed the Challenger Air Pilots Association. But Bessie’s tremendous determination and perseverance is beyond worthy of another episode. In part because she was a woman, and especially a woman of color, Bessie had to travel all the way to Europe to get her flight training. Today on AirSpace, we're looking back on Bessie's experiences in France and Germany in the 1920s and exploring just how far she went to earn her historic license (and inspire generations of pilots along the way).

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Moonshine

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Raise a glass and cheers to a new season of AirSpace! And to help us get in the celebratory mood, today's episode is about a truly intoxicating period of American history – prohibition. You might know [we didn’t] that NASCAR has its roots in bootleggers driving illicit hooch in the 1920s. But it turns out, not all bootleggers were driving their contraband around in cars. In addition to rum runners there were also rum flyers (pinot pilots? alcohol aviators? booze-stormers?). And beyond smuggling alcohol, party-planes were also used to get thirsty customers to destinations outside the US where they could drink legally. Today on AirSpace, learn how prohibition and passenger airlines went hand-in-hand.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AirSpace Revisited - Troop Zero

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0000

We’re just two weeks away from a brand new season of AirSpace! Today, though, we’re revisiting a favorite from May 2020 – the first installment of the AirSpace Movie Club, our very first episode recorded from our respective pandemic bunkers. At this point, we’re old hands at remote recording and thankfully our techniques have improved since this first go round but we love this episode nonetheless. Join us on this trip down memory lane and listen to Emily, Matt, and Nick break down the Voyager-referencing, Bowie-fueled, and endlessly endearing Troop Zero. And don’t miss new episodes of AirSpace beginning September 9th!

BONUS – Say My Name Again

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0000

We’re hard at work on Season 5 (launching this September!) but before then, we’re giving you a second bite at a topic we spent a long time thinking about this year: what’s in a name? Earlier this season we explored how planetary bodies and their geological features get named. And to our surprise, it’s not all Greek and Roman mythology (we’re looking at you, Titan’s hills Gandalf and Bilbo). We also recorded an explainer on how NASA names their spacecraft, but we just didn’t have time for it in the original episode. So, what do Snoopy, Spider, and Gumdrop have in common? Find out in this bonus episode!

It's the End of the World As We Know It

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

We have a flair for the dramatic here at AirSpace (Who… US?!). And we’d be lying if we told you we don’t occasionally daydream about the end of the world. But, like, scientifically speaking. We’ve seen plenty of sci-fi depictions of what the end might look like, but what will actually happen when the Sun engulfs the Earth? And what does the “end of the universe” even mean? To dissect these grim questions, we’re diving into a sci-fi series that offers a lot of hopeful examples of humanity’s perseverance: Doctor Who.

Is this an elaborate ploy to do an episode about one of our favorite television series? You bet it is! But it’s the last episode of the season and we want to go out with a bang. Strap in, we’re going to the end of it all. This is the end of the world according to Doctor Who.

Radar Love

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Earth’s twin or Earth’s evil twin? It depends on who you ask. And no, we’re NOT talking about Mars (take a break from the news cycle, Ingenuity). We’re talking about the beautiful, enigmatic, and hot (VERY hot) VENUS. Not one but TWO NASA spacecraft are heading to Venus later this decade (NASA’s first Venus missions since the early 90s!). But, how do you study a planet whose surface is too hot for robots and whose atmosphere is too dense for the visible light observation? On today’s episode we’re taking a look at the wonder of Venus and the magic of radar.

Nine Voices

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0000

We’re all movie buffs here at AirSpace *gestures to extensive movie episode back catalog.* And while we’re not exactly film critics, we know what we like—and we love when people see themselves represented in their favorite stories. And a long time ago (2013), and not so far away (New Mexico), a group embarked on a quest of their own: to translate Star Wars: A New Hope into Navajo. Their goal was to help preserve the language by introducing it to new generations and audiences beyond the reservation. In this episode, we’ll recount our decade+ hero’s journey from the call to action, to seeking a greenlight from Lucasfilm, to finding the translators and voice actors, creating whole new words for terms like “lightsaber” and “droid,” and finally the triumphant fanfare of a live audience seeing the famous opening crawl for the first time in their language. A herculean grassroots effort to create the first indigenous translation of a major motion picture has become a movement to interpret other indelible pieces of pop culture from Finding Nemo to Baby Shark. Hear how it all started today on AirSpace.

Chicago Flyer

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0000

In the early days of aviation flying was dangerous and expensive. Even if you could afford it, societal barriers in the United States kept many would-be pilots grounded. In this episode, we’re telling the story of how pioneering Black aviators improvised, innovated, and overcame those barriers to fulfill their dreams of flight. Across the U.S., Black aviators banded together to form clubs to instruct others and grow interest in aviation. In Chicago, the Challenger Air Pilots Association cultivated a community that has since helped thousands of Black pilots learn how to fly. And it all started with a broken down car.

Safety Dance

Thu, 27 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

If you’ve flown commercial, you’re familiar with the preflight safety spiel (and if you’ve only ever flown private, we wanna know why, but it’ll have to be a different episode). You know the moves: stow your tray tables, life vests are under the seat, insert the metal end into the buckle until it clicks, and please don’t forget the nearest exit may be behind you. Frequent fliers can probably recite these instructions in their sleep, and we have a whole selfcare philosophy based around securing your own oxygen mask before helping others. But in the last 15 years or so, the safety presentation has become a cinematic celebre -- with everything from famous actors, eye-catching FX, and even Marvel superheroes. Emily, Matt, and Nick dive into the history of the inflight safety briefing to better understand the evolution from straight-forward instruction to Hollywood production, and an expert in cabin safety weighs in on whether these flashy videos actually make air travel safer. Please note the no smoking light will remain on throughout today’s episode, and remember to remain seated until the pilot turns off the seatbelt sign.

Art Decade

Thu, 13 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Did you know the National Air and Space Museum has a huge art collection? Yeah, we keep that secret pretty well. It all STEMs (see what we did there?) from a program organized by NASA beginning in the 1960s where a small number of American artists got tons of access to launch sites, clean rooms, space suits, spacecraft—you name it, they painted it. The result was thousands of works that represented some (but not all, not by a long shot) of the most important art ever inspired by space exploration. On today’s show, we sketch out the origin story of a space agency art’s program, explain where our museum enters the picture, and explore works within and beyond the NASA art scene.

Homesick at Space Camp

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Any child of the 80s or 90s knows about Space Camp. Even if you didn’t attend, you likely have an image of it burned into your brain – the flight suits, the teamwork, the spinning contraption that makes you hurl (aka the multi-axis trainer). Born at the dawn of the Shuttle era, Space Camp has given nearly a million campers a taste of astronaut life, inspired thousands of students to pursue STEM fields, and even gave some real astronauts an early boost. But, what’s its origin story? And how did it become such a part of the millennial zeitgeist? (Even Mary Kate and Ashley solved a Space Camp mystery—spoiler alert: it was woodpeckers). Emily, Matt, and Nick break it down.

Say My Name

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Have you ever wondered how the stuff in space gets named? Sure, names like Earth, Venus, and Mars have been canon for *forever.* But lest you think naming is all about Greek and Roman mythology, think again. Six of Titan’s hills are named after Lord of the Rings characters. Seriously. These days, there’s one organization that approves and keeps track of ALL of the official names from stars and asteroids to mountains on Mars and geysers on Enceladus. We break down the naming process and some of our favorites on today’s episode!

Supermassive Black Hole

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Today we’re tackling something we’ve wanted to talk about for a long time (which is relative, because time and space lose all meaning there). They’re incredibly dense, super cool, and mind-bendingly-mysterious -- BLACK HOLES! But how do you imagine – let alone study—the unseeable? And seriously—what happened at the end of “Interstellar?”

The concept of black holes isn’t new—scientists first theorized their existence in the early 20th century. But in the last few years our knowledge of black holes has expanded – from confirmation of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way (it really ties the galaxy together) to the first-ever image of a black hole captured by the Event Horizon Telescope. We’re now making direct observations that prove their existence. And just yesterday(!) scientists released an image of a black hole in polarized light, with signs of magnetic fields around the event horizon. And if you don’t understand what that means, you’re not alone!! We’re all on this magic school bus of discovery together – come abroad, it’s going to be a wild ride!

Water Me

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Did you hear they found water on the Moon? Or was it Mars? No wait, Mercury? An asteroid? It seems like every time there’s big news from outer space, it’s that we found water some place—as traces of ice or wisps of vapor, embedded in rocks or bound up in dry-as-dirt-regolith. What’s so special about a few molecules of H20 trapped in the ground millions of miles away? How do we even spot that from Earth? Today, Matt, Nick, and Emily explore how we search for wet spots in the solar system, what they can tell us about our home planet, and why they’re the key to making our way in the universe. Today on AirSpace: Water—where is it and why we care?

Nicotine Stain

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000

We’ll admit that we’re getting a little nostalgic about even the most mundane aspects of air travel – like how many times the pre-flight safety video reminds you that smoking is NOT permitted onboard. But that got us thinking – that wasn’t always the case. So what changed? It took decades of research, lobbying, and litigation to prove the dangers of secondhand smoke, and a lot of that work happened at cruising altitude. In this episode, we’ll hear how flight attendants were instrumental in the fight to get smoking OUT of the skies, and how the lawsuit they brought against the tobacco companies had huge ripple effects in the smoke-free public places we enjoy today.

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VOYAGES TO MARS: Landing

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This week the Perseverance Rover will touch down on the surface of Mars, bringing an end to its seven-month journey AND this mixtape. Once it lands, Percy will send back thousands of images, giving us Earthlings a close-up view of the Martian terrain. In 1897 author H.G. Wells imagined a different way to see Mars in his short shorty, “The Crystal Egg.” Writing around the same time as his famous novel, “War of the Worlds,” he introduces us to two humans who discover a mysterious egg-shaped crystal that allows them to view the surface of Mars – and the strange creatures that inhabit it.

About Voyages to Mars: On July 30, 2020 NASA’s Perseverance Rover launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Jezero Crater, Mars. To accompany Percy on seven-month journey, we’re compiling a literary mixtape of Martian-themed sci-fi set to music by DJ Kid Koala. Voyages to Mars is made possible by the support of the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Orlando Regional Council.

Cool It Now

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Season 4 of AirSpace!

Right now COVID-19 vaccines are traveling across the country and around the world – and air travel is a critical component of this supply chain. These vaccines were not only developed in record time (shout out to SCIENCE!) but some of them also have to be kept at record cold temperatures. To meet this challenge, distributors are relying on the cold chain – a supply line that keeps things cold (and sometimes super cold) from ‘source to sink’ (and hopefully soon, into your arm). On today’s episode we’re breaking down the history of the cold chain and how air safety plays a part (particularly with all that dry ice). And Emily has the best analogy of a lipid bilayer that you’ve ever heard.

Bonus! To Gaze

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Over the summer we collaborated with the artist Diplo on a companion album to his new record MMXX. It’s called Under Ancient Skies and it’s available wherever you stream music. But we also created an audio tour of the night sky for a series of small, outdoor concerts Diplo performed. It’s ethereal, it’s relaxing, and it’s just what we need to get us through the winter doldrums. Lie back, listen, and pretend it’s summer – we certainly are.

VOYAGES TO MARS: Searching

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

We’re only ONE month away from the Perseverance Rover touching down on Mars! The search for life is a pillar of Mars exploration. But our search isn’t only confined to the planets of our solar system. Radio telescopes search for signals of intelligent life from far away planets, orbiting other stars. One such telescope, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, collapsed on December 1, 2020. In his story, “The Great Silence,” science fiction author Ted Chiang features the telescope as he considers the significance of the animal life that surrounds it.

Bonus! NOVA Now: How the future of satellites might affect life on Earth

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Season four of AirSpace is just around the corner, but we have a special bonus drop for you today!

Our friends at the PBS podcast NOVA Now have been giving us a behind-the- scenes look at the work of scientists, engineers, technologists, and more who are using their work to address the most pressing questions of our time. Listen to this episode where host Alok Patel explores how satellites have shaped our understanding of the modern world, and what lies ahead at the intersection of justice and space.

Look for NOVA Now wherever you get your podcasts or visit them at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/podcast/.

Never Surrender

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

What a year it has been (alt: Ugh, what a year!). Back in April, we launched our AirSpace Movie Club—and critiquing our favorite air-and-space-films was a fun way to stay in touch remotely until we could get back into the studio for Season 3. Well, 16 episodes and eight months later, we’re still recording from home, so we thought we’d end season 3 back where we started: at the movies!

It’s safe to say that the AirSpace pod loves Galaxy Quest, but doesn’t everyone!? It has it all: sci-fi, action, and comedy, an underdog who saves the day, and feel good story with space aliens! For the Trekkies among us, it’s an unswerving love letter to the importance of fans in any successful franchise. In the final episode of season 3, Emily, Matt, and Nick discuss why this is the movie to watch with your family this holiday season.

Also! We’ll be baaaaack! This is the end of season 3, but we won’t be gone for long! We have a few tricks up our sleeve in January (and Voyages to Mars continues!). And then, we’ll be back before you know it in February! See? So soon!!

VOYAGES TO MARS: Dreaming

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Interplanetary road trips take a WHILE. So for this episode of Voyages to Mars, while we cruise onward towards the Red Planet, we’re listening to some poetry that pays tribute to long duration space travel. Our selections in this episode come from Orrery, a brand-new collection from author Donna Kane that pays homage to the Pioneer 10 space probe launched by NASA in 1972. Kane was inspired by Pioneer 10 to explore themes of consciousness, materiality, and transformation.

Blinded by the Light

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Did you learn the constellations as a child? Odds are, if you lived in a city, you saw more stars in the classroom—or a planetarium if you were lucky—than by looking at the night sky (and if not, we’re jealous). Fact is, most of us live in places that give us a less than ideal view of the stars because of light pollution from our cities and suburbs. But keeping our skies dark is important for so many reasons – for nocturnal animals, for science and astronomy, and for cultural traditions around the world. In this episode, we’re shining a light on the cultural importance of the night sky for native Hawaiians. Turn down the lights and enjoy!

Station to Station

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0000

This month marks the 20th birthday of the International Space Station! That’s 240 straight months—which is exactly how long 2020 feels so far. We all need a little self-care these days, so in honor of the ISS anniversary, we’ll tell you about what astronaut life is like when they aren’t doing the extraordinary science, essential maintenance, and extraterrestrial chores necessary to sustain our home in space. Believe it or not, astronauts get days off too! Find out how they spend their downtime on this episode of AirSpace.

VOYAGES TO MARS: Sending Humans

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0000

We’re back with the fourth installment of our literary mixtape, Voyages to Mars! The Perseverance Rover is on its way to the Red Planet and space agencies around the world hope that someday in the not too distant future, humans will join it. Mars is a popular destination for humans in sci-fi literature. Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, published a few years before the world’s first satellite was even launched (!), remains one of the most influential stories of human settlement on Mars ever published. In two selections from the Chronicles – “The Settlers” and “The Green Morning” – Bradbury considers what the motivation for settling Mars might be, what those first human settlers might be like, and how they might transform Mars into something more in line with life as we know it on Earth.

THE SETTLERS and THE GREEN MORNING from THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES © 1950, renewed 1977 by Ray Bradbury; Broadcast by permission of Don Congdon Associates, Inc. on behalf of Ray Bradbury Literary Works LLC.

Fly Girl

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0000

On this episode of AirSpace we’re spotlighting the heroic service and enduring legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. More than 1000 of these fearless women flew as civilians for the Army Air Forces during World War II. These skilled pilots performed jobs on the home front – ferrying planes, towing targets, transporting personnel – flying almost every type of military aircraft. Yet despite filling a crucial wartime role, these women weren’t recognized as veterans for more than 30 years. And their campaign to be permitted burial in Arlington National Cemetery lasted even longer. In this episode, we’re welcoming our first ever guest host, historian and author Dr. Katherine Sharp Landdeck. And we’ll hear firsthand from three women connected to the WASP legacy, including a WASP herself, Nell “Mickey” Bright.

Open the Gate

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000

Can 650 episodes of a tv show fix society’s deepest, ugliest ills? Maybe not, but it turns out that it’s a pretty good place to start a conversation. We’re all fans of something—movies, tv shows, video games, comic books, sports teams, you name it!—and that can help us connect with new people with shared interests and frames of reference. In this episode, we’re talking about how and why fan communities form, and what happens when the barrier to entry turns toxic and targeted. “Fandoms” aren’t new—they stretch back at least a century in their modern form—but the internet provided a new kind of platform for geeking out, and unfortunately, for airing underlying and overt biases. Misogyny, racism, agism, ableism—all of the problems we struggle with as a society at large happen in fan spaces, but fandoms also create opportunities to connect across divisions. We’ll talk to Blerdcon co-founder Hilton George about creating a dedicated space for the Black nerd experience, and journalist and This American Life producer Bim Adewunmi about the obstacles for engaging with each other through our favorite media—and how we can do better. It’s gatekeeping and pulling down barriers—today on AirSpace.

VOYAGES TO MARS: Robots

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000

We're back with the third installment of our literary mixtape, Voyages to Mars! Humans aren't yet able to go to Mars ourselves, so we’re reliant on the help of rovers and landers to be our eyes and ears on the surface - our mechanical “boots on the ground.” This episode is our ode to ROBOTS!

Our two stories today come from a time before the word “robot” had even entered our vocabulary. L. Frank Baum (of Wizard of Oz fame) introduces us to a wind-up man named Tik-Tok in Ozma of Oz. And in The Steam Man of the Prairies, author Edward Ellis sets his steam powered man against the backdrop of the industrialization of the American West.

About Voyages to Mars: On July 30, 2020 NASA's Perseverance rover launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Jezero Crater, Mars. To accompany Percy on its seven-month journey, we're compiling a literary mixtape of Martian-themed sci-fi set to music by DJ Kid Koala.

Voyages to Mars is made possible by the support of the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Orlando Regional Council.

Danger Zone

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000

There have been great movies about military aviation for almost as long as there have been movies and airplanes—seriously, the very first Best Picture Oscar went to a WWI aero-epic called Wings (and if you ever win bar trivia with that, buy us a drink). Eventually, the US military realized that high adventure onscreen could boost their recruiting efforts, and began to officially cooperate with films featuring flying service members. In this episode, we’ll look at two movies staring iconic aviators—Top Gun and Captain Marvel—and discuss how the military leans into their role as supporting players on the silver screen.

The Long Way Home

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0000

About 82,000 American service members are listed as Missing in Action – 72,000 from World War II alone. Many of these MIAs were lost at sea when their aircraft were shot down over open water. Recent technologies like robotic submersibles, advanced sonar, and DNA matching are making it easier for recovery operations to find the downed airplanes, and identify the remains of service members. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick tell the story of one of those service members, from an aerial battle in the Pacific in 1944, to recovery and repatriation more than 70 years later. And we hear from the head of one of these recovery organizations who describes the herculean effort and coordination that goes into each recovery operation, all with the goal of providing an honorable homecoming to the fallen.

VOYAGES TO MARS: Crossing Lunar Orbit

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0000

We’re back this month with the second installment of our side project, Voyages to Mars!

Leaving Earth on your way to Mars, the first pit stop you might make is the Moon’s orbit. In this episode, we follow three Mars-bound space travelers from Mark Wicks’ novel, “To Mars via the Moon.” We see the Moon through the eyes of two Englishmen and a Scotsman as they explore the lunar surface with a combination of stretched scientific speculation and science fiction imaginings.

About Voyages to Mars: On July 30, 2020 NASA’s Perseverance rover launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Jezero crater, Mars. To accompany Percy on its seven-month journey, we’re compiling a literary mixtape of Martian-themed sci-fi set to music by DJ Kid Koala.

Voyages to Mars is made possible by the support of the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Orlando Regional Council.

Me and the Sky

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0000

If you’re a Broadway fan (or have been ANYWHERE near a theater in the last couple years), you’ve likely heard about Come From Away—the Tony-award-winning smash hit musical with a story firmly rooted in generations of aviation history. On September 11, 2001, 38 commercial airliners were diverted out of US air space to a small town with a big airport called Gander, Newfoundland. Come From Away puts a spotlight on Beverley Bass, American Airlines’ first woman Captain who commanded one of the aircraft. Nick sits down with Beverley to hear the story of her incredible career firsthand, and Emily talks to Come from Away’s writers, Irene Sankoff and David Hein, to learn how they were inspired to write an entire musical about the biggest aviation hub you’ve likely never heard of. Early aviation history, pioneering pilots, and one community’s story of unity on a day of infamy—there’s a lot going on in this episode (but still no intermission).

The Greatest Discovery

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0000

If you had $500 MILLION dollars to spend going anywhere in the solar system (rocket not included), where would YOU go? That’s exactly what NASA asks scientists in its Discovery Program – a (relatively) low budget, but influential, class of missions designed to increase our understanding of our stellar neighborhood through creative concepts that don’t quite fit anywhere else. Think of them as the indie movies of space exploration…they may cost less, but they more than make up for it with bold ideas and chutzpah. Emily, Matt, and Nick discuss the four potential missions currently under consideration, and Emily speaks with Dr. Louise Proctor, the principle investigator of the proposed Trident mission to Neptune’s moon Triton.

VOYAGES TO MARS: Launch

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0000

And now for something a little different. On July 30, 2020 NASA’s Perseverance rover launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Jezero crater, Mars. To accompany Percy on its seven-month journey, we’re compiling a literary mixtape of Martian-themed sci-fi set to music by DJ Kid Koala.

In this first installment of Voyages to Mars, we hear launch stories from two famous science fiction novels written long before the invention of modern rockets. From Percy Greg’s 1880 novel, Across the Zodiac, we get a detailed account of one of the first imaginary ships ever to travel from the Earth to Mars in literature. In Jules Verne’s 1865 novel, From the Earth to the Moon, we find one of the first descriptions ever written of what it might be like to witness a launch. Strap yourself in and come along for the ride.

Special thanks to Lizzie Peabody of Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast.

Voyages to Mars is made possible by the support of the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Orlando Regional Council.

Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0000

With everyone quarantining, it’s like spring cleaning never ended this year—and as important as cleanliness is here on Earth, it’s really, really important when you’re headed for outer space. We’ve talked about planetary protection on the pod before, but it’s never felt closer to home than now, so we’re digging a little deeper into what it takes to keep our planet safe from space germs and keep space safe from Earth germs. On today’s show Emily, Matt, and Nick get into the (dirty) details of how we ensured that our astronauts didn’t bring home bugs from the Moon with our Apollo curator Teasel Muir-Harmony, and look at the (squeaky clean) ways we make sure terrestrial microbes aren’t hitchhiking their way to Mars with NASA Planetary Protection Officer Lisa Pratt. Wash your hands and enjoy!

The Rover

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0000

At least someone's big summer trip isn't cancelled—NASA is sending another rover to Mars! The shiny new robot Perseverance (who looks like a lot its cousin Curiosity) is headed for Jezero Crater—the location of an ancient Martian lake—to search for signs of microbial life. Emily, Matt, and Nick (who'd rather be lakeside themselves—j/k, they've never been outdoorsy types) will break down all the details of the mission, including soil sample caches and the very first helicopter on Mars (if we don't have Martian aerials on our Apple TV screensavers this time next year, we will be so, so disappointed). We'll also tackle the burning question: do we call our new robot friend "Percy" or "Vera" for short? All of that and more, today on AirSpace!

Back in the USSR

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Season 3! Today we’re talking about secret space shuttles--seriously! The Soviet space program (and its Russian successor) is rightfully known for significant achievements like the first man and woman in space, the first spacewalk, and the longest spaceflight…but space shuttles? Not as well known as these other milestones is the Soviet shuttle program, or “Buran” (which is Russian for ‘snowstorm’—thanks, Matt). Developed in secret, launched only once, then mothballed (and worse), the sad tale of Buran occasionally surfaces on the internet, but remains shrouded in mystery for many—even within the space community. From the steppes of Kazakhstan to the banks of the Rhine river, from international intrigue to amusement park attractions, we’re going to peel back the layers surrounding this curious relic of the Cold War arms race.

AirSpace Movie Club: Sully

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0000

We’re back for one last installment of the AirSpace Movie Club! Today we’re talking about Sully, the movie based on the real-life emergency water landing of US Airways flight 1549 which ditched in the Hudson River in January 2009. Emily, Matt, and Nick break down how the portrayal in the film compares to the real-life “Miracle on the Hudson” and how the experience of the crew and pilots like Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger can save lives.

While this is our last foray (for now) into the silver screen, don’t despair! AirSpace is coming back in July with an all new SEASON 3!!!

AirSpace Movie Club: Snowpiercer

Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:00 -0000

In this addition of our at-home movie club, we explore the world of the sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer. This French graphic novel, turned Korean action film, and now TV series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where all that is left of humanity is endlessly circling the globe in a train. Emily, Matt, and Nick break down this distopian future, geoengineering gone wrong, and how learning to survive in extreme environments applies to space travel.

Note to our listeners - This episode is about the world of Snowpiercer which is common to the books, film, and new TV show. We hope you find this world as interesting as we do, but before you go and watch the 2013 film, please note it is rated R for violence and is definitely not suitable for kids. If that's not your thing, you might enjoy the TV show or graphic novels instead.

AirSpace Movie Club: Superman

Tue, 12 May 2020 08:00:00 -0000

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... well, you know the rest. Emily, Matt and Nick talk about the Man of Steel in his appearance in this 1978 classic. From stellar evolution, to the radiation power that makes Clark Kent super, and rocks not doing accurate rock things, the AirSpace hosts dive into the science (some of it accurate, but mostly not) behind Superman: The Movie.

AirSpace Movie Club: Troop Zero

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0000

AirSpace goes to the movies! But not really because we're all stuck at home just like you. In the first episode of this mini-series hosts Matt, Nick, and Emily talk about the movie Troop Zero and the real history behind the voices on the Voyager Golden Record. Spoiler: they weren't actually the voices of Birdie Scouts from rural Georgia.

Survivor

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0000

They say that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, particularly when you’re looking for signs of extraterrestrial life. Is that a Martian bacterium you just found, or is it an Earth bug accidentally along for the ride? An Israeli spacecraft recently crashed on the Moon, unintentionally spilling a payload of adorable, microscopic extremophiles called tardigrades (aka water bears or moss piglets). Tardigrades can survive a lot of harsh environments, including the hard vacuum of space, and may now be alive on the lunar surface. In the final episode of season 2, Emily, Nick, and Matt discuss the implications of tardigrades on the Moon, and why scientists are working hard to ensure that microbes from Earth aren’t contaminating our search for life in the solar system. Water Bears on the Moon! Planetary Defense! Outer Space Law!

Out of the Frying Pan

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 11:00:00 -0000

There are more than a dozen Earth-born satellites orbiting Mars. Why send another? Today’s episode highlights a movie with answers…Science to be done! Engineering challenges to overcome! National prestige! Personal Moonshots! Because it’s there!

Based on India’s 2014 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), the new Hindi-language film Mission Mangal has all of this and more, plus all the energy and charm of a genre-melding Bollywood feature. Why do countries invest in space exploration, why do people devote their careers to places millions of miles away, and what does all of this have to do with fried bread? Emily, Matt, and Nick unpack story behind their new favorite space movie (yes, it’s even better than Armageddon!).

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Today on the show, we tackle the meaning of life. Well… not really. But definitely matters of consequence. We are talking about the beloved children’s book that taught us the meaning of friendship and the value of a child-like perspective – The Little Prince. Odds are you’ve read the book – but do you know the story behind the parable? Nick sits down with biographer Stacey Schiff and journalist Martin Buckley to unravel the larger-than-life story of the book’s author (and famous flier) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Hear how this hero of early French aviation called on his life experience and personal philosophy to pen one of the most widely read stories of ALL time. PLUS crash landings, asteroids, and war stories!

What’s He Building?

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Alt title: ADAM SAVAGE IS IN THIS EPISODE! Today we’re talking about a really cool project that brought together one former-Mythbuster, a couple of Smithsonian units, and makers across the country to reimagine an incredible piece of Apollo engineering. The hatch (aka door) on the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia is SUPER complex and basically irresistible if you’re into solving mechanical puzzles – so much so that master builders Adam Savage and Jen Schachter wanted to recreate it with the help of a few dozen friends. They brought together 44 artists and engineers from across the country to fabricate individual components of the hatch using 3D-scan data from the Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Office. Then Adam and team assembled it live at the Museum in DC during the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. On this episode we hear what happens when lasers, power tools, and a live studio audience (safely) collide!

P.S. Want to build your own Apollo 11 hatch? Visit 3d.si.edu/apollo11cmhatch to view the 3D model and download the .stl files and drawings used by the Project Egress team. Post your photos and tag #ProjectEgress!

Night Witches

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Today (tonight?) we’re talking about a chilling chapter from flight history— Night Bomber Regiment 588. They were a group of about 80 Soviet women who flew combat missions during World War II. Led by famous Russian pilot Marina Raskova, these fearless aviatrixes would fly across German lines under cover of darkness and drop bombs from their WWII bi-planes, striking targets on the ground and terror in the hearts of their enemies. They became so feared by the German army that they were dubbed the die Nachthexen, or the Night Witches. This isn’t a lame Halloween story, this is badass history.

Walking on the Moon Part 2

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0000

Next week is the 50th anniversary of our first steps on the Moon! In our last exciting episode, we explored all the science the Apollo astronauts performed on the lunar surface. In part two, we’re talking about the important science still happening with Apollo Moon rocks here on Earth a half-century later. Of all the 842 pounds of lunar material the astronauts collected up there, three samples were sealed away for scientists to study far in the future. And the future is now! We’ll speak to two scientists from NASA Goddard who will be working with the heretofore sealed samples, which are still in pristine, untouched condition from when astronauts of yesteryear plucked them off our nearest celestial neighbor. And Emily speaks to Lunar geologist Dr. Jennifer Whitten who’s working on a proposal to send a rover back to the Moon to carry on Apollo’s legacy of lunar exploration. Lunar science of the future happens now!

Walking on the Moon Part 1

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000

50 years ago this July, humans set foot on the Moon for the first time. You probably know the highlights – Kennedy’s moonshot challenge, Armstrong’s first small steps, three astronauts returned safely to Earth – but there was more to the Apollo program than getting there and back. When we landed Americans on the Moon, there was a lot we didn’t know about our nearest celestial neighbor. Would the astronauts sink into the lunar dust like quicksand? Would they encounter extraterrestrial germs and bring them back to infect the Earth? What would could rocks and dirt (regolith, actually) tell us about how the Moon formed? To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, AirSpace examines what we knew then, what we know now, and what mysteries of lunar science still remain. And we’ll admit, we’re just a *little *excited about the upcoming anniversary. So much so, this is part ONE of TWO.

Rock on the Moon

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0000

What music would you take along on a quarter-million mile road trip? For the crew of Apollo 11, it was a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and a little bit of… theremin?! In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick discuss the music of the cosmos, or at least what makes a good lunar soundtrack. Matt interviews one of his childhood heroes—Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull—who breaks down his song inspired by Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot (and first director of the National Air and Space Museum!), Michael Collins. And we find out what visitors to the world’s largest space party would put on their Moonshot mixtape.

Help!

Thu, 23 May 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Some of the world’s best pilots are the ones you hope never to see. They fly into places too dangerous for others to navigate, braving extremes to save human lives. In this episode, we’re talking about air rescue. Nick speaks to Chris Kilgore, a Coast Guard search and rescue pilot who evacuated survivors from an oil tanker collision in Galveston Bay. And we hear from AirSpace listener and air ambulance pilot Brian Shaw who serves remote communities in Canada, sometimes flying into airports that are not much more than a clearing in the trees.

Be advised, this episode contains dramatic rescue stories and has descriptions that some listeners might find disturbing.

Big Iron

Thu, 09 May 2019 07:00:00 -0000

Space exploration is a geocentric endeavor. Everywhere we look in the solar system, we learn something new about Earth. Scientists believe our planet has a metallic inner core, but we can’t exactly crack it open and check. Instead, NASA is sending a mission to an asteroid named Psyche, which appears to be a nickel-iron planetary core a lot like the one at the center of the Earth. Heavy metal fans Emily and Matt discuss this mission to pick up the pieces of an early protoplanet to better understand the ground beneath our feet.

Special thanks to: Exzel Music Publishing for use of Chopin Scherzo no.1, also Noise Noir, Bristol Stories and Scampsie.

AirSpace Live at SXSW

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0000

In this special episode recorded at SXSW, Emily, Matt, and Nick recount stories of failure and how they’ve inspired a whole lot of success in science and space exploration. From how the failed Concorde led to important scientific research and a better understanding of our world, to how the crew of Apollo 13 overcame malfunction by having simulated every possible scenario, the hosts explore how failure doesn’t always mean catastrophe. And special guest Bobak Ferdowsi from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory discusses how the NASA culture embraces the possibility of failure by testing and planning for every conceivable outcome.

Special thanks to our host, the Aerospace Industries Association!

Hail to the Chief

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:00:00 -0000

On this episode of AirSpace we’re talking about the most *exclusive *form of public transportation – presidential flight. When you’re the President, flying on Air Force One has its perks, but what about when you’re the one at the controls? And what’s it like to hitch a ride on one of the most recognizable aircraft on Earth?

Air Force historian Dr. Brian Laslie explains how Air Force One became an icon of aviation, and former NPR White House reporter Scott Horsley talks about his experience riding in the press cabin (spoiler – no checked
luggage!). And Nick caught up with former Marine One pilot Matt Howard who recounted what it’s like to fly the President in good times and during one of the worst times imaginable.

BONUS BRIEFING

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:00:00 -0000

As you may have heard, astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain were scheduled to perform a spacewalk today. It would have been the first all-woman spacewalk in history. Based on feedback from McClain following her March 22 spacewalk, NASA decided to alter the astronaut assignments. Why the change? AirSpace hosts Emily, Matt, and Nick break down the multiple factors at play.

Rover RESPECT

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 06:00:00 -0000

AirSpace listeners know that no space mission is complete without a cool name, and there’s no “higher” recognition than having a space probe named in your honor (see what we did there?). When we heard that the European Space Agency named its new Mars rover after our favorite British molecular biologist Rosalind Franklin, we were so stoked. Franklin played a key role in unraveling of the structure of DNA, but she hasn’t always gotten the recognition she deserved for that critical contribution. Our intrepid hosts explore the legacy of the real Rosalind Franklin, who helped us understand life on Earth, and the future of her namesake robot, who is going to search for signs of life on Mars.

Get Off of My Cloud

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 06:00:00 -0000

Welcome to SEASON 2 of AirSpace! We’re back with more stories that defy gravity, and in this exciting episode, we’ll hear about one man’s terrifying ordeal trying to get back down to the ground.

Longtime listeners know that bailing out of an airplane is a last resort that pilots take very seriously. But what happens when you unwittingly eject straight into a thundercloud? The already-harrowing journey to safe ground becomes a rollercoaster of howling wind, pounding hail and deafening thunderclaps. Emily, Matt, and Nick will talk to experts who know just how dangerous cumulonimbus clouds can be, and explore the story of William Rankin, who found out firsthand.

Season 2 is coming!

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0000

We're hard at work on new episodes of AirSpace! We’ll be back with SEASON 2 in March! Can’t wait that long? Check out our instagram @airspacepodcast for behind-the-scenes content!

When You Wish Upon a Star

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 07:00:00 -0000

You probably know that shooting stars aren’t really stars, but what ARE you seeing? Emily, Matt, and Nick give a download on why meteor showers occur, when’s the best time to watch, and what you’re looking at (spoiler: most meteors are A LOT smaller than you think). So bundle up, grab your headphones, and get a crash-course on everything you need to know while enjoying the Ursid shower on December 22nd.

We’re hard at work on new episodes! AirSpace will be back with SEASON 2 in March! Can’t wait that long? Check out our instagram @airspacepodcast for behind-the-scenes content!

Spirit in the Sky

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 07:00:00 -0000

Flying in space is precise, technical, and surprisingly personal. Most astronauts are pilots, scientists, or engineers, but they’re also, you know, people. And seeing the Earth from space for the first time is invariably a profound experience. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick will unpack the often philosophical, sometimes spiritual reactions to viewing of Earth from above. We’ll start with Nick’s all-time favorite Christmas story, Apollo 8’s 1968 Christmas Eve broadcast from the Moon, and the mission’s famous photo of Earth that sparked an ecological revolution here on the ground. We’ll also chat with astronaut Nicole Stott about her experience in orbit, and how it influences her life and work back on Earth.

Good Vibrations

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0000

Have you heard? NASA’s InSight lander is set to touchdown on Mars next Monday, November 26. So, grab your popcorn and leftover turkey and get ready to witness the latest Martian robot land on the Red Planet. InSight, aka Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (holy acronyms, NASA!), is on a quest to understand the insides of the planet. Scientists aren’t exactly sure what Mars looks like beneath the surface or how that material is layered. In layperson’s terms - is Mars more like a hard-boiled egg or a soft-boiled egg? Food metaphors aside, discovering how much of Mars's core is liquid is one question (among many) that can help us better understand how planets age, cool, and change, ultimately providing huge insight into our own Earth.

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0000

This fall has got us hooked on space movies. So, Emily, Matt, and Nick decided to rewatch the 1998 film Armageddon to see how many inaccuracies they could find. And if we needed an excuse for this exercise (really, we didn’t), Armageddon just celebrated its 20th birthday (and now we feel old). In this episode, we list our favorite inaccuracies and highlight a few things that seemed ridiculous, but actually turned out to be true. Also, Nick talks with Bobbie Faye Ferguson, who was the official NASA liaison on the film, about what it was like to bring Hollywood to real NASA locations and why the agency chose to be so closely involved with a popcorn movie. And Matt can’t help but repeatedly serenade us with the sweet musical stylings of Aerosmith. You don’t want to miss this one!

Rocket Man

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 06:00:00 -0000

AirSpace hosts give their take on First Man, the new biopic about the original Moon-walker Neil Armstrong. Starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy and directed by Damien Chazelle, First Man recounts Armstrong’s life during the eight-year period before the Moon landing in 1969. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick share what the movie got right and provide a little more background on some of the historical players, other NASA missions, and cultural context that don’t get a full treatment. If you’ve seen the film, consider this a supplement that makes it even better. And if you haven’t, we’ll give you enough of the highlights to be dinner-party literate. But beware, spoilers!

Smoke From a Distant Fire

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 06:00:00 -0000

Wildfire season is getting longer, according to the US Forest Service, making firefighting a bigger, more vital operation each year. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick take a look at how the pros fight wildfires with everything from large water-carrying airtankers and helicopters to daring smokejumpers who parachute into the blaze strapped with axes, shovels, and chainsaws. We’ll introduce you to a few of the people who put their lives on the line to keep us and our forests safe and discuss how changes in technology, climate, and communication are impacting aerial firefighting.

Today's Lesson

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0000

As part of NASA’s Teacher in Space Program, Christa McAuliffe prepared lesson plans and lectures to beam into classrooms from orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. She, and the rest of the Challenger crew, were lost when the Shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch. This episode is about the lessons she had planned to perform in space, which now form an important part of her legacy.

Christa planned six science activities, known as the six lost lessons, that were to be used as educational resources for students around the world. The Challenger Center, in partnership with NASA and STEM on Station, worked with astronauts Ricky Arnold and Joe Acaba to film these demonstrations on the International Space Station and complete these lessons.

Emily, Matt, and Nick reflect on the Teacher in Space program, the lost lessons, and the impact McAuliffe had on a generation of students, teachers, and astronauts.

You can find more information about Christa McAuliffe’s lost lessons, including videos, lesson plans, and other STEM resources at challenger.org.

Under Pressure

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0000

Want to know what it’s like in outer space? Your best bet is under the sea. Life on a deep-space mission may be a lot like life in a deep-sea submersible, and the extreme environments found on the sea floor may give us clues as to where to look for life on other planets. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick talk deep-sea diving, marine microbes, prog rock, and Emily’s favorite – ocean worlds. Guests include oceanographer and microbiologist Dr. Julie Huber of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik.

Around the World/Around the World

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 06:00:00 -0000

Did you know that the first flag on the Moon was Swiss? Well, *kind of. *But, the international community has contributed more to the exploration of space and our understanding of the universe than you might think. From India to Israel, lots of countries are sending missions to Mars, landing on comets, and observing Earth from orbit. Emily, Matt, and Nick explore space agencies from around the world, including a mission from Japan’s JAXA that just arrived at an asteroid after a 3-year, 2 billion-mile journey…and that’s not the half of it.

The Ninety-Nines

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 06:00:00 -0000

It took a certain amount of pure grit to be a pilot in the early days of aviation – and even more for the women who had to defy convention just to get up in the air. And that’s why early aviatrixes are at the top of our badass list. And if you’re thinking the only aviatrix was Amelia Earhart – think again. She was just one of a daring group of women aviators who were walking on wings, flying under bridges, breaking altitude records, and racing across the country – in the 1920s!

Join Emily, Matt, and Nick as they explore the history of the Ninety-Nines, the organization of women pilots originally led by Earhart and still active today. Documentary-maker Heather Taylor sets the scene of the thrilling and dangerous first Women’s National Air Derby in 1929. And Emily discovers an amazing view in her first non-commercial flight (in a tiny four-seater!) with modern-day Ninety-Nine Judy Shaw.

Happy (Planet) Hunting

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 06:00:00 -0000

NASA launched TESS, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, on April 18, 2018, continuing our search for planets outside of our solar system (aka exoplanets). Over a two-year period, TESS will survey the entire sky looking for drops in the brightness of stars that indicate the presence of a passing, or transiting, planet. On this episode Emily, Matt, and Nick unpack TESS, discussing space telescopes, exoplanets, and the search for life in our universe (also: Goldilocks, crud-eating enzymes, and Dan Brown books).

Spies in the Sky

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 06:00:00 -0000

People have been spying on each other for forever. This episode is about what changed when spies upped their game (literally), rising into the sky. We’ll hear from Museum curator and aviation historian Tom Crouch on how the military application of balloons was first demonstrated to Abraham Lincoln right outside our front door in DC. And, we’ll talk to former SR-71 Blackbird pilot Buz Carpenter on what it was like flying a spy plane 80,000 feet up while going three times the speed of sound. Emily, Matt, and Nick provide the intel on our eyes in the sky and the high-flying hi-tech that makes it possible.

Little Robots

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 06:00:00 -0000

Did we just find life on Mars? No. But NASA did announce two exciting new discoveries on the Red Planet—just before a Martian dust storm engulfed the planet. In this episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick will break down the meaning of the recently discovered organic molecules and mysterious methane, discuss the emotional attachment we invest in our roving robot friends, and explore the daunting challenges and enduring allure of exploring the fourth rock from the Sun.

Space Junk

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:00:00 -0000

Space is a mess. At this moment, there are literally thousands of human-made objects cluttering up Earth orbit. There's the big stuff you would expect, like satellites. But, when two of these large objects collide, they can create millions of tiny orbiting pieces. And all of these little particles can cause big problems.

This episode is all about orbital debris, a.k.a. space junk – where it comes from, how we’re trying to solve the debris problem, and what happens when it comes back to Earth. We’ll talk with Donald Kessler, the former NASA scientist who first modeled the dangers of space junk, and historian Lisa Rand, who shares the creative ideas on how to clean it up (think – lasers… and gecko feet).

Gastro-naut

Thu, 10 May 2018 06:00:00 -0000

You’ve heard about a gastropub, but what about an astropub? Nobody becomes an astronaut for the food, but space cuisine has come a long way since the 1960s. You can now find espresso and tortillas aboard the International Space Station, but there is sadly no astronaut ice cream. In this episode, we’ll explore the Museum’s space food collection with curator Valerie Neal. And we’ll hear from Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt on what it was like to eat on the Moon.

2001: An AirSpace Odyssey

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 06:00:00 -0000

It’s the 50th anniversary of one of the slowest, strangest, and yet, most referenced science fiction films of all time – 2001: A Space Odyssey. It may be your FAVORITE movie, or, quite possibly, you’ve never actually seen it in its 142-minute entirety. Emily, Matt, and Nick break it down for you – Cliff’s Notes on the plot, the collaborations that made the film so realistic, and the first peeks at technologies that really exist today. Become cocktail party conversant about why a 50 year old science fiction movie remains so relevant and what current sci-fi says about our world today and the years ahead.

Remembering Stephen Hawking

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:40:31 -0000

Professor Stephen Hawking died on March 14 at the age of 76. Hawking's contributions to science centered on his search for a unified theory of the universe, but his impact spanned far beyond the scientific community. To the many around the world, he was an expert science communicator and even a pop-culture icon. In this special episode, Emily, Matt, and Nick reflect on Hawking's enduring impact on science and culture.

Bailing Out

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000

“Eject, eject, eject!” Most of us are experienced at bailing out of social situations, but what about airplanes? Fewer than 1% of military pilots ever pull the eject handle, but they all know what comes next.The canopy blows, and the pilot is (literally!) rocketed up and out. Now what? In this episode, we’ll learn how pilots train to get out and back down to Earth safely, and we’ll hear from someone who did it (upside down, at 23,000 feet!). Join Emily, Matt, and Nick as they discuss the ins and outs of bailing out.

Update: We heard from a squadron mate of Chris’, who reminisced about the first time he heard the story (over the radio before Chris and Snake bailed out, and after they were safely recovered). He enjoyed the retelling, but corrected us about one thing: the canopy of an F-14 can actually hover momentarily above the cockpit in the event of an ejection, specifically when the aircraft is in a flat spin, as seen in Top Gun. The procedure for F-14 crews in the event of a confirmed flat spin was to release the canopy manually a few seconds before pulling the eject handle. Many thanks to this listener for correcting the record. We welcome listener feedback anytime via airspace@si.edu.

The Right Stuff Right Now

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 07:00:00 -0000

The criteria to become an astronaut has evolved over the years, but it’s still one of the toughest jobs to land. 18,000 people applied to be a part of NASA’s most recent astronaut class and only 12 were selected. In this episode, we’ll explore how the right stuff has changed with the times and get a taste of what hopefuls go through to make the cut.

Mars Time

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

No human has ever set foot on Mars, but scientists have been working there for years. A day on the red planet is about 40 minutes longer than here on Earth, which wreaks havoc on your workweek. Hosts Emily, Matt, and Nick will explore how scientists have adapted to the challenge of working on “Mars Time.” In this episode find out what it takes to be a professional Martian without ever leaving your home planet.

Countdown to Launch

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:07:47 -0000

The National Air and Space Museum is launching a podcast! You can subscribe to the feed now. Our first episode is coming January 11.

The National Air and Space Museum contains the largest and most significant collection of air- and spacecraft in the world. Behind those amazing machines are thousands of stories of human achievement, failure, and perseverance. Each episode, join Emily, Matt, and Nick as they demystify one of the world’s most visited museums and explore why people are so fascinated with stories of exploration, innovation, and discovery.