# Redefining the Imaginable in Space Exploration & Communication

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2021-08-17
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Redefining-the-Imaginable-in-Space-Exploration--Communication-e2l43r8

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=3) Introduction and Neil Mallik's Background
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=314) The Third Wave of Space Exploration and Commercialization
- [10:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=618) NASA's Model for Industry Partnership and ROI
- [14:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=869) Solving Connectivity in Hard-to-Reach Places: LunarNet and MarsNet
- [18:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=1090) Deep Space Bandwidth Challenges and Future Tech
- [20:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=1245) The Feasibility of Human Missions to Mars
- [27:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-17-redefining-the-imaginable-in-space-exploration-communication#t=1624) NASA's Stance on UAP and Extraterrestrial Life

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- NASA (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Blue Origin (company)
- Deep Space Network (tool)
- LunarNet (product)
- MarsNet (product)
- Voyager (product)
- DARPA (company)
- Orbital Sciences (company)
- Stanford (company)
- University of London (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 127: Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-10-03-episode-127-robots-exploring-other-planets-frances-zhu) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep. 31 | NASA Astronauts Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins Talk Engineering at 17,000 mph](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-09-24-ep-31-nasa-astronauts-victor-glover-and-michael-hopkins-talk-engineering-at-17-0) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Shooting for the moon with Steve Altemus of Intuitive Machines](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-12-21-shooting-for-the-moon-with-steve-altemus-of-intuitive-machines) (How I Built This)
- [Out of This World: The Latest from Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-12-03-out-of-this-world-the-latest-from-space) (EE Times Current)
- [Low-Cost IoT Connectivity with Satellites | Wyld Networks’ Alastair Williamson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-06-16-low-cost-iot-connectivity-with-satellites-wyld-networks-alastair-williamson) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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