This Week in Space (Video)

TWiS 226: Who Owns the Moon? - Capitalism and Property Rights in Space

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:50:00 PDT

Capitalism—and a strong profit motivation—has driven enterprise for centuries. Two notable examples are the East India Company and the US transcontinental railroad, and the various tycoons who built it. In neither case, by today's standards, were the operations fair or ethical on a number of fronts. Can we do better in space? Dr. Rainer Zitelmann joins us to discuss capitalism and the importance of extraterrestrial land ownership as an enabler of human expansion off-Earth. He's got a lot to say, and not all of it is what you might expect. Join us for this fascinating and informative look at one business case for newspace.

Headlines:
• NASA's Roman Space Telescope Launches to Explore Cosmic Mysteries
• SpaceX Falcon Heavy Returns to Action for Major NASA Mission
• Blue Origin Selected to Build Mars Communications Relay for NASA
• Japan and Europe's BepiColombo Mission Arrives at Mercury

Main Topic: Who Owns the Moon? — Capitalism in Space With Dr. Rainer Zitelmann
• Dr. Zitelmann Explains Market Forces Transforming the Space Industry
• Historical Parallels Between Economic Reforms and the Privatization of Space
• The Outer Space Treaty and Legal Uncertainty Around Private Ownership Off-Earth
• Potential for Stock Markets and REITs for Off-World Real Estate and Resources
• China's Rapid Advancement in Private Space and Market-Driven Innovation
• Safety Zones, Artemis Accords, and the Limits of Current Legal Frameworks
• First-Mover Advantage: How Initial Claims Might Play Out on the Moon and Mars
• Equity, Envy, and Ethical Debates Over Colonization and Space Ownership
• The Role of Commercial Incentive Versus Public Benefit in Expanding Humanity's Reach

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Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Rainer Zitelmann

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TWiS 225: Get a Grip! - New Technologies for Orbital Salvage

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:45:00 PDT

The mitigation of orbital debris is an increasingly serious problem that has not gotten enough attention, but this is changing. Commercial companies are addressing orbital debris, and one of them, KMI Space, has flown its experiments aboard the International Space Station, performing over 170 individual rendezvous-and-grab operations. The results are very promising, and the company is moving ahead with ever more ambitious designs. Adam Kall of KMI joins us to discuss their work on the ISS, the goals of the company, and how nature—via the humble octopus and gecko lizards—may have provided the answers for this vexing problem.

Headlines:

SpaceX to Build Major Starbase Louisiana with Ambitious Launch Plans
Falcon 9 Retirement Looms as Starship Prepares to Take Over
Recovery and Future of Starship Flight 13 Discussed
Roman Space Telescope Launch Previewed
Lunar Eclipse Recap and Next Major Eclipse Forecast
Trump Announces New US Space Academy

Main Topic: KMI Space's REACH Technology and In-Orbit Relocation

KMI Space's Origin Story and Path to the Space Industry
The REACCH Gripper: Gecko and Octopus-Inspired Robotic Arms
How REACCH Grips and Moves Tumbling Satellites and Debris
Real-World ISS Demonstrations and Operational Challenges
Pivot from Debris Removal to Satellite Relocation as a Service
Business Model: Transparent Pricing and Customer Targeting
Future Vision: In-Orbit Collection, Refueling, and Recycling Stations
National Security Implications and Force-Appropriate Applications
Technical Details: Materials, Propulsion, and Size Consideration

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Adam Kall

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TWiS 224: The Science of Artemis - What We'll Do on the Moon

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:00:00 PDT

It has been said that the Moon is a harsh mistress, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the lunar south pole. That is, however, where the Artemis program is headed, and we need to figure out how to best explore the region. Dr. David Kring of the Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute joins us to explore the where, whys, and hows of the Artemis Program's lunar exploration plans, and the answers--and risks--that await us.

Headlines:

Starship Flight 12 Survives Indian Ocean Landing nd Long Sea Journey
China's Chang'e 7 Lunar Hopper Mission Targets Permanently Shadowed Terrain
US National Space Transportation Policy Aims for 1,000 Launches Per Year by 2030

Main Topic: The Science and Planning of the Artemis Lunar Program

Criteria and Studies for Selecting Artemis Landing Sites
South Pole Resource Advantages: Continuous Solar Power and Potential Volatiles
Scientific Promise of the Schrödinger Impact Basin vs. South Pole Mandate
The Value of Lunar Sample Return for Transformational Science
Unique Terrain and Operational Challenges of the Lunar South Polar Region
Training, Mobility, and the Role of Human Exploration versus Robotics
Impact Cratering's Role in Life's Origins and Earth's Early History
Considerations for Lunar Base Location and Hazards
Training Programs for Scientists and Astronauts Preparing for Artemis

Host: Rod Pyle

Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet

Guest: Dr. David Kring

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TWiS 223: The Lunar Domain - Our Future on the Moon with Dr. Scott Pace

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:30:00 PDT

We're headed for a space renaissance, and it will be focused on the Moon. The US, China, and international partners of both are vying to land people there and construct a permanent lunar base. Meanwhile, NASA is evolving to embrace commercial enterprise unlike any time in its past, and American lunar efforts are lagging. What are the stakes? Does it matter who returns humans there first? What does the future of lunar commerce look like? Dr. Scott Pace, the Director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, joins us.

Main Topic: The Evolving Lunar Domain and US Space Policy
• Dr. Scott Pace's space policy background and legacy
• Policy continuity from Trump to Biden and the focus on implementation
• Artemis program direction and geopolitical influences
• The importance of commercial and international partnerships
• NASA's commercial contract successes and limitations
• Need for an off-ramp from SLS as commercial heavy lift matures
• Differentiating between short-term wins and long-term infrastructure goals in lunar strategy
• Tension between NASA centers and commercial LEO station development
• Challenges and prospects for lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin
• Recommendations for NASA's future focus: tough technical problems, integration, and talent
• The cultural and inspirational necessity of human presence in space despite advancing AI and robotics

Host: Rod Pyle

Co-Host: Dale Skran

Guest: Dr. Scott Pace

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TWiS 222: How to Invade Earth in 22 Easy Steps - With Rich Edwards

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:30:00 PDT

We've all seen the movies... the aliens come to Earth, the aliens overcome the inferior humans, and the aliens fall prey to something dumb they overlooked, like microbes, Windows 95, or most absurdly, water. From the 1950s through yesterday, some of the best movies we've seen were about the invasion of our planet. They can be clever, scary, or even downright dumb, but they are all fun. Veteran space writer Rich Edwards joins us to give advice on how to repel the invaders!

Headlines:

Department of Defense drops new batch of UFO/UAP files
Blue Origin traces New Glenn rocket explosion to faulty oxygen valve
SpaceX's first public earnings call reveals key financials and hints at Starship's future
Total solar eclipse set to cross Europe; safety tips and gear recommendations

Main Topic: How to Invade Earth in Sci-Fi—22 Dos and Don'ts with Rich Edwards

The enduring appeal and adaptability of War of the Worlds
Why alien invaders always go for major landmarks (and why it's all for show)
Critique of aliens with impractical invasion strategies—water allergies and cocky attitudes
Pop culture's obsession with alien disguises, conspiracy plots, and gradual infiltration
Deep dive into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Day of the Triffids, and the power of slow, stealthy takeovers
Starting small: Alien invasions in isolated towns and subtle conquests
The strategic use of time travel in alien invasion movies, with Star Trek: First Contact
Why James Cameron's Aliens remains a sci-fi invasion classic decades later
What makes a satisfying alien invasion ending—and the pitfalls of lazy resolutions

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Richard Edwards

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TWiS 221: Starship Can Float? - Roman Space Telescope Ready to Launch!

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:45:00 PDT

Rod Pyle is out this week, so Rick Jenet of the National Space Society joins Tariq Malik this week to talk about SpaceX's Starship Flight 13, which deployed new Starlink V3 satellites and stunned viewers when the ship survived reentry intact enough to float in the ocean for days afterward. They also discuss NASA's Roman Space Telescope, now just a month from launch, and an in-progress emergency effort to save the ailing Swift Space Observatory using a servicing spacecraft that is itself now experiencing technical trouble. Finally, they look into Boeing's continued Starliner delays and India's first successful private orbital launch via Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket. Tune in!

Headlines:

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Splashdown and Recovery Efforts
Starlink V3 Satellite Deployment Updates
SpaceX Wins $1.6 Billion Space Force Contract
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Countdown and Origin Story
Urgent Swift Space Observatory Rescue Mission Faces Technical Setbacks
Boeing Starliner Faces More Delays and Uncertainty
India's First Commercial Rocket Launch Enters Global Market
Artemis II Astronaut Questions South Pole as Lunar Landing Target
Astronomers Detect Possible First-Ever Exomoon
Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Impact Experiment on the Moon
Preview: August Almost Total Solar Eclipse and Night Sky Events

Host: Tariq Malik

Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet

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TWiS 220: First on Mars - The 50th Anniversary of Viking 1

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:20:00 PDT

This week, we cover how Starship Flight 13 finally prepares to launch amid a legal battle over SpaceX's proposed land swap at Starbase, plus a Chinese Long March 3B rocket gets struck by lightning during liftoff, yet still delivers its satellite safely. Then, guests Dr. Pascal Lee and astrobiologist Dr. Penny Boston join the show to mark the 50th anniversary of Viking 1's landing on Mars and revisit the mission's groundbreaking life-detection experiments and the decades-long controversy over what they actually found. The conversation traces Mars exploration from the earliest Mariner flybys through Viking's ambiguous, still-debated results—later explained by perchlorates in the Martian soil—and the fierce scientific rivalry the findings sparked. Join us!

Headlines:

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 faces engine and weather delays ahead of launch
SpaceX land swap proposal sparks conservation group lawsuit over Rio Grande Valley wildlife preserve
Chinese Long March rocket survives dramatic lightning strike during launch

Main Topic: 50th Anniversary of Viking Mars Landers—Search for Life on Mars

The evolution of Mars exploration from telescopes to Viking lander
Early Mars missions: Mariner flybys, Soviet attempts, and breakthroughs in orbital imaging
Viking 1 and 2: Ambitious design, life-detection experiments, and landing impact
Mixed public and scientific reactions to Viking's first iconic Mars surface images
Technical overview of the Viking biology experiments and their controversial results
The unresolved debate: Did Viking detect life or chemical reactions on Mars?
Personal accounts of key scientists, scientific disputes, and the "Wolf Trap" experiment that never flew
Lessons from Viking: Limitations of technology, extremophile discoveries, and shifting strategies for detecting life
The scientific case for seeking life in Martian caves and subsurface environments
Critique of current and future Mars missions: Perseverance rover findings and value of Mars Sample Return
Exploring planetary protection, contamination risks, and the challenges of certifying Martian samples=
Key takeaways for future missions—bold searches, new technologies, and the ongoing quest for answers

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guests: Pascal Lee and Dr. Penelope Boston

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TWiS 219: SpaceX Goes to War! - And Other Space Headlines

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:00:00 PDT

This week we're jumping into the space headlines for the past few weeks. It's been busy, and some exciting things are happening! A couple of companies are moving into the space solar power arena--something we've long advocated--and that's welcome progress. Starship is set to fly Starship test number 13, and a lot is riding on this--the system is overdue for some proof of concept to keep up with NASA's HLS contract. An exoplanet spotted a decade ago has shown signs of a potentially habitable atmosphere; there are landslides--big ones--on Pluto, and evidence of "space candy" sugars in an interstellar cloud are in the news. Finally, SpaceX is doubling down on their big defense contracts with a well-funded US Space Force. Join us for all the latest!

Headlines:

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Launch Aborted Due to Engine Issue
Meteorite Crashes Into New Jersey, Preserved Sample Fuels Origins of Life Research
Discovery of Atmosphere Around Habitable-Zone Exoplanet LHS 1140 b
NASA Moon Tree Planted After Artemis 1 Mission
Reflect Orbital to Launch Mirrors in Space, Sparking Astronomer Backlash
Landslides Found on Pluto Could Bury Entire Cities
Rare Sugar Found in Interstellar Cloud Hints at Building Blocks of Life
SpaceX's Growing Military Launch Contracts and Pentagon Ties
Space Development Agency's Expanding Satellite Constellation for Space Force
Starship's Dual Focus: NASA Moon Landings vs. Mars and Satellite Deployment
Artemis 3 Updates: New Renderings, Docking Plans, and Starlink HD Laser Payloads
Defense Innovation Unit's Push for Space-Based Power Beaming Technology
Pulse Space and Laser-Based Satellite Power and Communication
New Satellite Concept to Detect Nuclear Devices in Orbit Amid Global Security Concerns

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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TWiS 218: Which Way to the Moonbase? - With Dr. Pascal Lee

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:30:00 PDT

We've been hearing a lot about NASA's new moonbase plans, and they are ambitious. Starting with Artemis V (so far), the US plans to begin preparations for a permanent base situated in the south polar regions of the moon. Details are somewhat fluid, but one thing stands out: the poles are likely to be the most challenging places to set up shop in an already hostile environment. Planetary scientist Dr. Pascal Lee joins us to discuss moonbase siting options and why the poles may not be the best choice at first.

Headlines:

China Demonstrates Impressive Rocket Landing and Catch Mechanism
New Horizons Probe Awakens to Transmit Deep Space Data
Wally Funk, Last of the "Mercury 13," Passes Away
West Coast Rocket Launch Alert: SpaceX Falcon 9 Visual Spectacle

Main Topic: Moon Base Strategy and Location Debate

History and Evolution of U.S. Moon Base Plans
NASA's New Multi-Phase Moon Base Timeline and Missions
Strategic and Logistical Challenges of South Pole Moon Bases
Arguments for a Centralized, Benign Location for Moon Infrastructure
Commercial and International Partnership Models for Lunar Operations
Role of Robotics and AI in Moon Exploration and Prospecting
Lessons from Antarctic Base Logistics Applied to the Moon
Potential for Tourism and Commercial Development on the Lunar Surface

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Pascal Lee

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TWiS 217: America in Space - 250 Years of Bold Firsts & Our Favorite Missions!

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:45:00 PDT

Since 1958, the United States has been part of the spaceflight adventure, and since the mid-1960s has led in just about any category that counts. In this episode, we discuss the progression of American space efforts, review which flights launched or landed on July 4, and relive some of our very favorite US space missions of all time!

"Headlines:
• NASA's Swift Boost Mission Aims to Rescue Swift Space Telescope
• Astronomer Avi Loeb Tapped to Chair White House UAP Panel
• Celebrating 30 Years of the Film Independence Day

Main Topic: 250 Years of America in Space
• American Flags Across the Solar System
• Origins of the Space Age: Operation Paperclip and the V2 Legacy
• Explorer 1 and Early U.S. Satellite Achievements
• Mariner and Viking Missions: Mars Exploration Milestones
• Key American Firsts in Human Spaceflight
• Apollo Landings and Moonwalk Milestones
• Skylab and Its Legacy as America's First Space Station
• The Rise of Reusable Rockets: Space Shuttle, Blue Origin, and SpaceX
• Private Spaceflight and Tourism: From Dennis Tito to Jared Isaacman
• Curiosity, Pathfinder, and Other Mars Rovers as Iconic U.S. Achievements
• Reflections on Favorite Missions and the Future of U.S. Space Leadership"

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

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