Redefining the Imaginable in Space Exploration & Communication

Over the Air · 17 Aug 2021 · 38m

What this episode covers

Neil Mallik, Office of the Chief Engineer for Space Communications and Navigation at NASA, discusses the commercialization of space exploration and the technical challenges of interconnectivity in deep space. He explains NASA's strategy of leveraging private industry to fill gaps in near-Earth communications and navigation, moving away from doing everything in-house. The conversation covers the development of LunarNet and MarsNet frameworks to provide ubiquitous connectivity for spacecraft and astronauts, addressing bandwidth limitations of the Deep Space Network. Mallik also shares his perspective on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), dismissing extraterrestrial visitation as unlikely due to the lack of credible evidence and logical inconsistencies in the sightings.

Mentioned

Companies
NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, DARPA, Orbital Sciences, Stanford, University of London
Products
LunarNet, MarsNet, Voyager
Tools
Deep Space Network

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Robot Talk · 32m

    Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu

    Frances Zhu, an Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines leading the ROSE Lab, discusses intelligent robotic systems for space exploration, focusing on planetary rovers and the shift toward autonomy. She explains how AI and computer vision are being integrated into autonomy stacks to handle communication delays and terrain uncertainty, moving beyond traditional teleoperation. Zhu also addresses the critical challenge of 'trust' in AI-driven systems, emphasizing the need for transparency and explainability in high-stakes aerospace environments. The conversation covers testing on Earth analogs, the role of commercial entities like SpaceX and Astrobotic, and the competitive landscape of global space robotics.

  • Moore's Lobby · 1h 04m

    Ep. 31 | NASA Astronauts Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins Talk Engineering at 17,000 mph

    NASA astronauts Colonel Mike Hopkins and Commander Victor Glover Jr. discuss their backgrounds as test pilots and engineers, detailing their historic SpaceX Crew Dragon mission and 167-day stay on the International Space Station. They describe the physical realities of microgravity, the engineering challenges of spacewalks, and specific in-orbit repairs, such as fixing a combustion sensor using rubber tubing from a plant growth system. The conversation also covers the upcoming NASA Artemis program, highlighting the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, while addressing the role of commercial spaceflight and the importance of inspiring the next generation of engineers.

  • How I Built This · 37m

    Shooting for the moon with Steve Altemus of Intuitive Machines

    Steve Altemus, co-founder and CEO of Intuitive Machines, explains how he left NASA in 2013 to build a commercial space company focused on lunar exploration. He details the development of the NovaC-1 lander, the company's business model of selling payload delivery services for roughly $1 million per kilogram, and their partnership with SpaceX using Falcon 9 rockets. Altemus discusses the technical challenges of landing on the moon's rugged terrain, the legal framework of the Artemis Accords, and his strategy of accepting failure as a necessary part of iterating toward reliable lunar infrastructure.

  • EE Times Current · 25m

    Out of This World: The Latest from Space

    EE Times editor-in-chief Brian Santo speaks with veteran aerospace editor George Leopold about two major upcoming space launches: the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the James Webb Space Telescope. Leopold explains that LCRD aims to establish high-bandwidth laser communications from geosynchronous orbit to ground stations in California and Hawaii, addressing the spectrum congestion caused by satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink. The conversation also covers the dangers of space debris following a Russian anti-satellite test, which forced International Space Station crew members into emergency vehicles, and the high-risk deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, which faces multiple points of failure in its complex unfolding sequence.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 26m

    Low-Cost IoT Connectivity with Satellites | Wyld Networks’ Alastair Williamson

    Alastair Williamson, CEO of Wyld Networks, explains how his company provides affordable, low-power satellite IoT connectivity by connecting LoRaWAN sensors to low Earth orbit satellites. He details the engineering challenges of mitigating interference in the unlicensed ISM band and highlights use cases in agriculture, supply chain, and energy where global coverage is critical. Williamson notes that Wyld Networks is preparing for a commercial launch in the second half of 2022, aiming to unlock a massive market for remote IoT devices.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Over the Air. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.