Are We There Yet?

The podcast “The Other Moonshot” explores the stories of three Black engineers and their contributions to the Apollo program. Plus, a look ahead at three missions that are launching this year that will help us understand and study our universe like never before.

Boeing is a contractor for NASA’s SLS rocket that will take astronauts on the moon, but Boeing recently announced plans to lay off over 400 employees from its SLS team. Plus, one professor’s experiment went for a spin on Blue Origin’s recent launch of New Sheppard that mimicked lunar gravity.

Researchers have uncovered evidence that Pluto may have found one of its moons through what they call the “kiss and capture method.” Plus, a centaur named Chiron has characteristics of both a comet and an asteroid; making scientist wonder what else makes this celestial body unique.

After almost three decades of science, research and exploration, the International Space Station is set to retire by the end of 2030. Once the station is decommissioned, commercial companies like Axiom Space will establish new orbiting platforms.

The new Trump administration has ended DEI programs for all federal organizations–how will this affect NASA? Plus, a look at the efforts to bring Mars rocks back to Earth.

Exoplanets, or planets orbiting another star, were originally confirmed in 1992. New telescopes and technological advancements have aided in the discovery of thousands of exoplanets. Now, astronomers wonder if worlds like our own could exist.

This year could be transformative for the space economy with new rockets, AI technology and upcoming missions to the moon. Plus, NASA and NOAA scientists found that 2024 was the hottest year on record since the 1850’s.

The Parker Solar Probe is the first man-made spacecraft to get closer to our sun than ever before. Plus, Firefly aerospace is launching its Blue Ghost Lunar Lander to deliver payloads to the moon.

The book, Star bound, A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program, from Goddard's Rockets to Goldilocks Planets and Everything in Between (Outward Odyssey: A People's History of Spaceflight) explains America’s space history while highlighting the nation’s social and cultural contexts in space. Plus, a glimpse into the major space news from this past year.

How an astronaut celebrated holidays at the International Space Station with festive foods, decorations and traditions.