This Week in Space (Audio)

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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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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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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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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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

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

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