The Best of Coast to Coast AM Space Missions - Best of Coast to Coast AM - 1/5/25
Jan 6, 2025
George Noory and historian Robert Zimmerman explore the ambitious future of lunar travel and the evolving landscape of space missions. They critique the NASA Artemis program's delays, urging a shift towards private aerospace innovation. The discussion highlights Boeing's struggles with its Starliner capsule while celebrating SpaceX's success through creative talent recruitment. The podcast also delves into thrilling Mars exploration, showcasing stunning images from the Curiosity rover and the groundbreaking OSIRIS-REx mission.
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Artemis Program's Uncertain Future
- NASA's Artemis program, using SLS rockets and Orion capsules, faces potential cancellation due to high costs and slow launch frequency.
- SpaceX's Starship is more capable, reusable, and significantly cheaper, making it the likely future of lunar missions.
Orion Heat Shield Concerns
- The Orion capsule's heat shield suffered serious damage during its first unmanned flight, raising safety concerns for future manned missions.
- NASA's decision to use the same heat shield for the first manned mission is questionable and has led to launch delays.
Focus on Building Aerospace Industry
- NASA should focus on building a robust aerospace industry in space, rather than competing with other nations to reach the moon first.
- This approach will enable greater capabilities for solar system exploration and surpass other space programs in the long run.