Ep. 340: Wernher von Braun

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) When the United States helped defeat Germany at the end of World War II, they acquired the German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. He had already developed the German V2 rocket program, and went on to design all the major hardware of the US rocket...

Ep. 318: Escape Velocity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it all. From your planet, your Solar System and your galaxy. If you’re looking to escape, you’ll need to know just what velocity it’ll take to break the surly bonds of gravity and punch the...

Ep. 300: What We’ve Learned in Almost 7 Years

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) We created Astronomy Cast to be timeless, a listening experience that’s as educational in the future as it was when we started recording. But obviously, things have changed in almost 7 years and 300 episodes. Today we’ll give you an update on...

Ep. 299: Space Stations, Part 4 — Future Space Stations

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) Sometimes a trilogy needs four parts. We’ve looked at the history and modern era of space stations but now it’s time to peer into the future at some space station concepts still in the works. Most of these will never fly, but the ideas are...

Ep. 298: Space Stations, Part 3 — International Space Station

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) And now we reach the third part in our trilogy on space stations, with the largest vehicle ever assembled in space: the International Space Station. Launched in 1998, it now consists of 450 metric tonnes of modules, power systems and spacecraft and is...

Ep. 297: Space Stations, Part 2 — Mir

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) Last week we introduced the history of space stations and focused on the US and Soviet stations that were launched. This week we look at one of the longest running missions ever launched: Mir. From its launch and construction to its fiery finale, Mir helped...