

Naked Astronomy, from the Naked Scientists
The Naked Scientists
Naked Astronomy: the Naked Scientists' Astronomy and Space Science Podcast - audio that's out of this world...
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 9, 2014 • 34min
Drowning in Space
How do you design the inside of a starship? Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham talk to space architect Rachel Armstrong about journeys to the stars. They also meet Luca Parmitano, the astronaut who almost drowned in space, and take a look at a new hi-tech satellite that will provide Google with close up views of your house. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

May 9, 2014 • 29min
Virtual Rides into Space
Aaron Knoll and Chris Bridges join Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham at the Surrey Space Centre for a virtual ride into space. Plus science minister David Willetts argues for a spaceport in Scotland, and shuttle astronaut and B612 Foundation founder Ed Lu explains why we should act now to save the Earth from an asteroid with our name on it... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Apr 9, 2014 • 34min
The Mars Yard
The Space Boffins are in America to hear about Neil Armstrong and the hypersonic X-15 at the Edwards Air Force base, and they're also reporting from the surface of Mars. More precisely, from the UK's new Mars Yard, in Stevenage. But the head of the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency's head of robotic exploration and Business Secretary Vince Cable are also walking on the red planet with them. There's also an interview with former space shuttle astronaut Jon McBride and the studio guest is Helen Keen - presenter of Radio 4 comedy 'It Is Rocket Science'. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Mar 10, 2014 • 36min
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the challenge of looking for space aliens and why they never attack Belgium is under scrutiny this month. Plus, Richard Hollingham also reports from the Mojave desert on the progress being made by Virgin Galactic and XCOR to fly tourists into space. And he talks to a U2 spy plane pilot about boiling blood and life above the Earthlings... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Feb 10, 2014 • 30min
Exo Mars and Crowd-funded SpaceCraft
Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham dodge a prototype Mars rover on location at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage - where the future Exo Mars mission rover is going to be built. They're joined by space engineer Abbie Hutty and the Mr Future of advanced space concepts, Matthew Stuttard. There are also reports on Urthecast - the two new British-made cameras on the International Space Station - and the imminent launch of the crowd-funded spacecraft, KickSat. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jan 10, 2014 • 26min
Chris Hadfield: How to fix a space toilet
Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham meet astronaut Chris Hadfield. In this special edition of the podcast, Commander Hadfield talks about fixing a space toilet, how rifle practice helped him dock a spacecraft and the advantages of flying musicians in space. We also hear from a group of children he's been singing with and he gives his views on space tourism. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 25, 2013 • 27min
Astronomy in South Africa
Meera Senthilingam takes a tour of the South African Large Telescope (SALT) and neighbouring facilities. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dec 10, 2013 • 38min
The future of lunar space missions
Join Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham for a lunar love-in featuring Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell and studio guests David Baker, author of the latest Apollo 13 Haines Manual, and the spacetastic Gareth Jones. Together they discuss the future of lunar space missions and Richard reports from the United States on Apollo's successor, Orion, with a space architect. Plus there's a seasonal tribute to Apollo 8. What's not to like? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 25, 2013 • 40min
The Space Boffins look forward to ExoMars
Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by new Mars Society president Jerry Stone and aspiring astronaut Kate Arkless-Gray. Sue reports from the UK control room of the Mars SAFER field trial as scientists operate an ExoMars rover prototype; there's a revealing interview by Kate with Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, and shield your ears if you want to hear how Richard got on in QinetiQ's centrifuge. Warning: it's not pretty... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Nov 8, 2013 • 40min
Looking forward to ExoMars
Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by new Mars Society president Jerry Stone and aspiring astronaut Kate Arkless Gray. Sue reports from the UK control room of the Mars SAFER field trial as scientists operate an ExoMars rover prototype, there's a revealing interview by Kate with Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, and shield your ears if you want to hear how Richard got on in QinetiQ's centrifuge. Warning: it's not pretty. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists