16 Sunsets

Now that the Space Shuttle Enterprise has successfully flown over the Mojave Desert, NASA needs to press ahead. Next stop is low Earth Orbit but first, this new star ship needs a crew. No longer the preserve of white male military pilots, the next generation of astronauts would need to have a variety of different skills and expertise. They would also need to better reflect the diversity of American society in the 1970s. So to help find these new recruits, NASA got help from an unexpected source - someone who had already crossed new frontiers on a fictional starship. Ever wondered how the Space Shuttle came to be? Welcome to a new podcast series, 16 Sunsets. In this episode, Host Kevin Fong explores the hiring of NASA's astronaut class from 1978, called the "Thirty Five New Guys." This group included the first six women astronauts, as well as the first African-American, Asian-American, and Jewish astronauts. The podcast reveals the challenges they faced as well as the hope and inspiration they brought to many people back on Earth.Featuring: Alan Bean, Charles Bolden, Marianne Dyson, Jeff Hoffman, Rob Kelso, Cheryl McNair, Ron McNair, Bill Moon, Mike Mullane, Sally Ride, Rhea Seddon and Kathy Sullivan.Credits:Written and presented by Dr Kevin FongProducers: Dave Giles, Rami Tzabar and Andrew Luck-Baker.Assistant Producer: Kate Arkless GraySound Design and Mixing: Richard CourticeMusic: Christian Lundberg, part of Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Composer CollectiveWith special thanks to Sandra Johnson and Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre Oral History Project Executive Producers: Stuart Coxe, Kevin Fong, Jago Lee and Rami Tzabar16 Sunsets is an Antica and TellTale Production 2024Check out our website at https://sixteensunsets.com Instagram: @sixteen_sunsetsX: @16sunsetsWant more 16 Sunsets? Become a premium member of our community and unlock exclusive content, including early and ad-free episodes, by subscribing to 16 Sunsets on Supercast. Learn more at https://16sunsets.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BJo Trimble, a US Navy veteran and passionate science fiction fan, campaigned for the Space Shuttle's name, while John Aaron, a former Apollo flight controller, managed crucial systems during its inaugural flight. They discuss the drama of the shuttle's first free flight, including a critical computer failure that put the crew's quick thinking to the test. The impact of science fiction on the shuttle's naming and the fierce grassroots advocacy behind it reveals a fascinating intersection of culture and aerospace history.

A space shuttle stands on the pad, seething in the darkness, ready to go. Its mission is high speed espionage. Launching into the night sky, it heads north toward the pole, lining up over the Soviet Union. This is no science mission, but part of a highly classified military plan, which sees the Shuttle become an instrument of the Cold War. That requirement shaped both the design of the shuttle and the future of NASA’s human space exploration programme for the next thirty years. So why did that secret mission never fly?Ever wondered how the Space Shuttle came to be? Welcome to a new podcast series, 16 Sunsets. Host Kevin Fong takes you back to a pivotal moment in history, revealing the high-stakes drama behind this iconic orbiter, as told by those who were there. Featuring: Bob Crippen, Guy Faget, Max Faget, Matthew Hersch, Jeff Hoffman, Chris Kraft, Jennifer Lavasseur, Ken Mattingly, Tom Moser, Bob Stewart, Ken Young.Credits:Written and presented by Dr Kevin FongProducers: Rami Tzabar and Andrew Luck-Baker with additional production by Dave GilesAssistant Producer: Kate Arkless GraySound Design and Mixing: Richard CourticeMusic: Christian Lundberg, part of Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Composer CollectiveWith special thanks to Sandra Johnson and Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre Oral History Project Executive Producers: Stuart Coxe, Kevin Fong, Jago Lee and Rami Tzabar16 Sunsets is an Antica and TellTale Production 2024Check out our website at https://sixteensunsets.com Instagram: @sixteen_sunsetsX: @16sunsetsWant more 16 Sunsets? Become a premium member of our community and unlock exclusive content, including early and ad-free episodes, by subscribing to 16 Sunsets on Supercast. Learn more at https://16sunsets.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 It’s 1968 and humanity reaches the Moon, but back on Earth, NASA is fighting for its life. As Apollo 8 makes history, the space agency faces a crisis. With the Vietnam War raging, political assassinations and social unrest gripping America, public interest in space exploration is dwindling, even before Neil Armstrong takes that one giant leap for mankind. To survive, NASA gambles on a radical new program: the Space Shuttle - a reusable spacecraft promising a new era of spaceflight, but it comes at a cost – a Faustian bargain with the US military, that will reshape its dreams and NASA's destiny.Ever wondered how the Space Shuttle came to be? Welcome to a new podcast series, 16 Sunsets. Host Kevin Fong takes you back to a pivotal moment in history, revealing the high-stakes drama behind the iconic program, as told by those who were there. Discover how NASA, facing oblivion, forged an unlikely alliance and changed the course of space exploration forever.Featuring: John Aaron, Guy Faget, Max Faget, Gerry Griffin, Matthew Hersch, Jeff Hoffman, Chris Kraft, Jennifer Lavasseur, David Mindell, Tom Moser, Teasel Muir-Harmony. Credits: Written and presented by Dr Kevin FongProducers: Rami Tzabar and Andrew Luck-Baker with additional production by Dave GilesSound Design and Mixing: Richard CourticeMusic: Christian Lundberg, part of Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Composer CollectiveAdditional Research by Kate Arkless-GrayWith special thanks to Sandra Johnson and Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre Oral History Project Executive Producers: Stuart Coxe, Kevin Fong, Rami Tzabar and Jago Lee16 Sunsets is an Antica and TellTale Production 2024Links:Check out our website at https://sixteensunsets.com Instagram: @sixteen_sunsetsX: @16sunsetsWant more 16 Sunsets? Become a premium member of our community and unlock exclusive content, including early and ad-free episodes, by subscribing to 16 Sunsets on Supercast. Learn more at https://16sunsets.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the hosts as they embark on a thrilling journey through the origins of the Space Shuttle program. They delve into the exciting development stories and engineering challenges that led to Columbia's daring first mission in 1981. Music plays a key role in enhancing the narrative, thanks to a collaboration with talented professionals. With a peek at the upcoming content, the passion for space exploration shines through, promising a fascinating exploration of human achievements in the final frontier.

Dive into the thrilling history of NASA's Space Shuttle program, exploring its daring beginnings with the Shuttle Columbia in 1981. Discover the incredible challenges that engineers and astronauts faced along the way. The podcast features exclusive interviews with NASA veterans, unearthing personal stories that reveal the human spirit behind space exploration. Musical contributions highlight the emotional depth of this extraordinary journey, while the intersection of politics and culture shapes this fascinating era.