The Documentary Podcast United In Space – How we built the ISS
Dec 21, 2025
Ginger Kerrick, a NASA flight controller, shares gripping tales of problem-solving during the ISS assembly and operations. Bill Shepherd, the first commander of the ISS, reflects on leading the pioneering crew, while Scott Parazynski recounts daring repairs of damaged solar arrays. The conversation highlights the collaborative spirit that led to the ISS's creation, overcoming cultural barriers. They also discuss the future of private space stations and the vast scientific potential of microgravity manufacturing.
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ISS As A Global Partnership
- The ISS is more than hardware; it's a 25-year international partnership and symbol of human collaboration.
- Peggy Whitson highlights how crew interdependence in emergencies made nationality less important in orbit.
A Fax That Changed The Program
- NASA received a surprising fax from cash-strapped Russians proposing collaboration on a joint space station.
- That Russian offer helped rescue the US space station programme at a critical political moment.
Fixing The Toilet To Earn Trust
- Michael Foale fixed Mir's broken toilet and earned the crew's trust by doing the dirty work.
- That practical bonding made him integrated and accepted when later crises hit.