Space Launch Systems Are Reusable, Right?

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Alan of Wales: It is amazing to see the space launch system successfully orbit. But really, what grounds does NASA have to continue to build expandable launch systems? Chuck: There's quite an interesting economic tradeoff there between reusability and the cost of your mission. He says you got to start somewhere and the sun knows how to do it.

Could there be life under the icy surface of Europa? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice explore interplanetary missions, asteroid mining, and other exciting launches with the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Laurie Leshin.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-the-future-of-the-nasa-jet-propulsion-lab-with-laurie-leshin/

Thanks to our Patrons Statton Broxham, Ethan Codyre, Ron Lanier,

Nathaniel England, and Roger Lee for supporting us this week.

Photo Credit: NASA / Jet Propulsion Lab-Caltech / SETI Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.