Bonus Episode: Rob Kelso - Inside the Cathedral of Mission Control

In this bonus episode of 16Sunsets, we present the interview performed Kevin Fong and Andrew Luck-Baker with former NASA flight director Rob Kelso—a man whose career spans the whole of the Space Shuttle era and whose stories offer a rare glimpse behind the consoles of Mission Control. From the first flight of Columbia to the secret world of classified missions, from the Challenger tragedy to building bonds through storytelling and chili cook-offs, Kelso's journey captures not only the technical brilliance of spaceflight, but also the human spirit that powered it.

With humour, candor, and deep insight, Rob shares what it really means to serve on the front lines of space exploration: the brutal beauty of simulations, the quiet reverence of “the Cathedral,” and the sacred trust between teammates when lives are on the line. It's a conversation about risk, resilience, and the values that define NASA’s culture—a tribute to those we’ve lost, the lessons they left us, and the path that still lies ahead.

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