Best Space Administration (NASA Podcasts (2025)

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The Missing Sensor, with Nicolaas Verheem (CEO of TRL11) 47:52

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16d ago47:52

47:52

Spacecraft carry all kinds of sensors, but rarely the one humans rely on most: video. Despite offering the richest insight per watt, gram, and dollar, cameras have been largely absent from orbit.That’s what TRL11 is out to change. The company is building radiation-tolerant optics, edge computers that process and compress video in real time, and gro…

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How Webb Illuminates Stars’ Cloudy Origins 22:43

18d ago22:43

22:43

In the space between stars, dark clouds of gas, dust, and ice mingle in a chemical laboratory unlike any on Earth. Ewine van Dishoeck, an astronomer who studies molecules in space and who helped develop an instrument aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, explains how Webb is revealing new details about the formation of stars and planets. This r…

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On a Desert Island with the 2025 Class of Astronaut Candidates 1:13:40

20d ago1:13:40

1:13:40

NASA’s all-American 2025 astronaut candidates share a little aboutthemselves by playing a fun icebreaker game. HWHAP 402.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Engineering Mass Abundance, with Neel Kunjur (CTO of K2 Space) 58:40

23d ago58:40

58:40

Smallsats have defined the last decade of space, but their limitations are clear: low power, limited throughput, and fragile unit economics. K2 Space is betting on the opposite. The company is building mega class and giga class satellites, platforms measured in tons rather than kilograms, that deliver unprecedented power, capacity, and resilience. …

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What Webb Is Teaching Us About Our Solar System 27:32

25d ago27:32

27:32

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is hard at work answering our biggest questions about the birth of our universe and faraway galaxies. But some astronomers are pointing its powerful eyes much closer to home. In this episode, Caltech astronomer Katherine de Kleer explains how Webb is rewriting our understanding of objects within our solar system–fr…

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6,000 Exoplanets and Counting 22:12

28d ago22:12

22:12

On September 17, 2025, NASA announced that the number of exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, tracked by NASA has reached 6,000. In the three decades since the groundbreaking detection of exoplanet 51 Pegasi b, the first confirmed planet orbiting a Sun-like star, astronomers have concluded that exotic worlds are everywhere.…

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Proven Propulsion, with Kristin Houston (President of Space Power & Propulsion Systems of L3Harris) 50:55

1M ago50:55

50:55

This episode is presented by L3Harris Technologies. On this special edition of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Kristin Houston, President of Space Propulsion and Power Systems at L3Harris. Kristin leads the team responsible for propulsion and space power systems across Artemis and beyond, from the RS-25 main engines to the Gateway’s high-power ele…

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Artemis II: Launch 46:21

1M ago46:21

46:21

NASA Artemis II launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson shares herpath to the console and what it takes to launch the first crewed Artemismission to the Moon. HWHAP 401.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Advancing NASA 33:01

1M ago33:01

33:01

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy joins us for our milestone 400th episode to share his journey and vision for advancing NASA into the future. HWHAP 400.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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From Seabed to Space, with Tyler Bernstein (CEO of Zeno Power) 50:28

1M ago50:28

50:28

Some environments are simply too harsh for traditional power sources. Solar panels fail in darkness, batteries die quickly, and diesel can’t reach. That’s where Zeno Power comes in. The company is pioneering nuclear batteries, compact systems that recycle radioactive waste into safe, reliable power for years at a time. On this episode of Valley of …

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NASA's Zero Gravity Research Facility 19:07

1M ago19:07

19:07

A steel vacuum chamber 50 stories deep at NASA’s Glenn Research Center lets researchers simulate near-weightlessness by letting test hardware freefall for 5.18 seconds.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Webb's Exoplanet Research Sounds Like Sci-Fi—But It's Real 23:43

1M ago23:43

23:43

Some exoplanets—like a gas giant with rain made of glass and 5,000-mile-per-hour winds—sound like worlds dreamed up by a science fiction writer. But they’re real. From light-years away, scientists can uncover details about planets orbiting distant stars and even ask whether some exoplanets could support life. Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer at the S…

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A Record-Breaking Astronaut 52:17

2M ago52:17

52:17

NASA astronaut Suni Williams reflects on her recent record-breakingmission on board the International Space Station. HWHAP 399.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Case for Continuity, with Pam Melroy (Former Deputy Administrator of NASA) 1:05:44

2M ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Continuous human presence in orbit has been a cornerstone of U.S. leadership in space for 25 years. But recent changes to NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) strategy have Pam Melroy—former NASA Deputy Administrator and shuttle commander—sounding the alarm. She warns that shifting to short-duration missions risks ceding leadership in LEO and u…

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Artemis II: The Orion Spacecraft 48:17

2M ago48:17

48:17

Acting Vehicle Integration Office Manager for NASA's Orion Program Chris Edelen discusses the spacecraft that will carry astronauts around the Moon on Artemis II. HWHAP 398.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Logistics Wins Wars, with David Tuttle (CEO of Rune) 50:37

2M ago50:37

50:37

Logistics rarely makes headlines, but it wins or loses wars. Rune Technologies is betting that the future of contested sustainment won’t be built on warehouses and spreadsheets, but on software. The company recently raised a $24M Series A to accelerate that vision. On this episode of Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Rune co-founder and CEO David Tu…

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Turning Space Data Into Sound 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

From black holes to star clusters, scientists are turning space data into sound with a process called sonification. Dr. Kimberly Arcand, visual scientist with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, joins us to explore how data sonification lets more people experience the cosmos and give researchers a new way to interpret science one note …

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The Art of Astronaut Photography 1:19:55

2M ago1:19:55

1:19:55

NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Matt Dominick share their experiences capturing stunning photography from the International Space Station. HWHAP 397.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Funding Deterrence, with Tommy Hendrix (Managing Partner at Decisive Point) 54:52

2M ago54:52

54:52

Tommy Hendrix is Managing Partner at Decisive Point, a venture firm backing early-stage companies developing critical national security technologies. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we unpack what it really means to fund the future of national defense and how venture capital is becoming a tool of statecraft. A former Green Beret turned investor…

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Lunar Surface Research 46:59

2M ago46:59

46:59

NASA project scientists Maria Banks and Sue Lederer revisit recent Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions and discuss research on the Moon. HWHAP 396.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Float. Foil. Fly., with Billy Thalheimer (CEO of Regent Craft) 51:32

2M ago51:32

51:32

In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Regent cofounder and CEO Billy Thalheimer to explore a radical reimagining of coastal mobility, not with eVTOLs or hyperloops, but with high-speed electric seagliders that skim just above the water. Part hydrofoil, part aircraft, and fully electric, Regent’s vehicles operate in the sweet spot bet…

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StarBurst: Gamma-ray Hunter 19:51

2M ago19:51

19:51

StarBurst, a satellite the size of a washing machine, aims to detect the initial blast of gamma-rays, the most powerful bursts of energy in the universe. These huge explosions can occur when dense neutron stars collide, forging metals like gold and platinum. These metals are some of the building blocks of planets — like Earth.…

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Why Webb's Earliest Galaxies Are Blowing Scientists' Minds 27:54

2M ago27:54

27:54

With the James Webb Space Telescope, we are seeing the early universe like never before. Webb produces beautiful images and detailed scientific data that leave astronomers in awe. In this episode, Mic Bagley, a NASA scientist on the Webb team, guides us through new discoveries made possible by Webb. Mic tells the story of a remarkable galaxy discov…

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Constructing NASA Infrastructure 40:36

3M ago40:36

40:36

USACE Chief Historian John Lonnquest shares the legacy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their role in building NASA’s spaceflight infrastructure. HWHAP 395.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Pulses Towards Power, with Conner Galloway & Alexander Valys (Co-Founders of Xcimer Energy) 52:40

3M ago52:40

52:40

In this episode of Valley of Depth, we sit down with Xcimer Energy’s cofounders, Conner Galloway and Alexander Valys, to unpack one of the boldest bets in fusion: resurrecting a Cold War-era laser technology to build the fastest, most scalable path to commercial fusion power. Xcimer has raised over $100 million to bring its inertial confinement fus…

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Artemis II: The Mission 46:14

3M ago46:14

46:14

NASA’s Artemis II Flight Director Jeff Radigan shares what it takes to lead the first human mission of the Artemis program around the Moon. HWHAP 394.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Stratospheric Platforms, with Mikkel Vestergaard (CEO of SCEYE) 44:40

3M ago44:40

44:40

Mikkel Vestergaard isn’t a typical aerospace founder. Before building solar-powered stratospheric airships, he spent two decades in humanitarian innovation, distributing a billion malaria nets, co-creating the LifeStraw, and helping eradicate Guinea worm disease. Now, as CEO of Sceye, he’s applying that same ethos to aerospace. In this conversation…

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Hubble: An Engineering Marvel 23:31

3M ago23:31

23:31

The Hubble Space Telescope has changed humanity’s understanding of the universe. Now in orbit for 35 years, it remains a remarkable feat of engineering.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Crew-11 1:23:23

3M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 quartet each dive into their paths to space and what lies ahead aboard the International Space Station. HWHAP 393.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Energy Grail, with Julien Barber (Investor at Emerson Collective) 47:44

3M ago47:44

47:44

Julien Barber is an investor at Emerson Collective, a venture and policy firm founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, where he backs bold bets on decarbonization, infrastructure, and long-horizon climate technologies. Before becoming an investor, Julien researched fusion energy at MIT and co-founded a carbon-tech startup. In today’s episode, we go deep int…

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Built for Complexity, with John Conafay (CEO of Integrate) 49:00

3M ago49:00

49:00

Welcome to a special Tuesday-edition of Valley of Depth, powered by Integrate. John Conafay spent years inside the space and defense worlds, from Spire to Astranis to the U.S. Air Force, and saw the same problem everywhere: complex programs were managed with spreadsheets, slide decks, and…crossed fingers. So in 2022, he founded Integrate to fix it.…

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Ask an Astronaut on Our Anniversary 38:13

3M ago38:13

38:13

Houston We Have a Podcast celebrates eight years! Three astronauts from the agency’s most recent class discuss their first year of training and answer questions from our listeners. HWHAP 392.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Back from the Dead, with Chris Kemp (CEO of Astra) 59:03

3M ago59:03

59:03

Chris Kemp took Astra public in 2021 with a bold vision: low-cost rockets launching daily, bringing sovereign space access to every country on Earth. At its peak, the company was worth over $2 billion. Within two years, that valuation collapsed by 99%. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we go inside one of the most dramatic flameouts and attempted…

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Fighting Wildland Fires with Drones 11:19

3M ago11:19

11:19

Fighting wildland fires by air at night is especially hazardous. NASA’s ACERO Project aims to make firefighting safer, day or night, with drones and smarter airspace management.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Rapid Maneuverability, with Jeff Thornburg (CEO of Portal Space Systems) 59:51

4M ago59:51

59:51

Jeff Thornburg helped build Raptor at SpaceX. Now he’s building something new: a spacecraft designed for rapid maneuverability across orbits powered by solar thermal propulsion. In this episode of Valley of Depth, we get into the technical, strategic, and commercial implications of in-space mobility and why it matters now. Topics include: The harde…

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Mars is Hard. Here's Why. 46:03

4M ago46:03

46:03

NASA astronaut Stan Love discusses the challenges of sending humans to Mars and what it will take to get us to the Red Planet. HWHAP 391.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Strategic Nuclear Energy, with Jordan Bramble (CEO of Antares) 48:21

4M ago48:21

48:21

In the wake of new executive orders elevating nuclear energy as a national security priority, there’s growing momentum—and urgency—behind advanced fission technologies. Few are better positioned to talk about this shift than Jordan Bramble, co-founder and CEO of Antares Nuclear, a startup building microreactors for defense and space. In this episod…

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A New Era of X-ray Astronomy with IXPE 26:32

4M ago26:32

26:32

IXPE, or the Infrared X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, is NASA’s first space telescope dedicated to studying X-ray polarization from extreme objects like black holes and quasars.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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How Lying In Bed For 60 Days Helps Astronauts 27:17

4M ago27:17

27:17

In space, microgravity changes the body. Body fluids shift from the legs toward the head, the back of our eyes flatten, we lose muscle strength, our bones lose some of their density, and even the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat drops. To learn more about how microgravity affects the human body and develop new ways to help astrona…

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Exploration Park 39:13

4M ago39:13

39:13

Two NASA experts talk about Exploration Park, a research facility near Johnson Space Center will enable collaboration with the agency on space hardware development. HWHAP 390.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Runway to the Stars 34:54

4M ago34:54

34:54

A NASA aircraft operations expert discusses the aviation history and work being done at Ellington Field in Houston as a training ground for astronauts. HWHAP 389.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Future of Supersonic, with Blake Scholl (CEO of Boom Supersonic) 56:28

4M ago56:28

56:28

In a major shift, the U.S. government is moving to overturn a 50-year ban on civilian supersonic flight over land—a regulation that’s defined the boundaries of commercial aviation since 1973. It’s a pivotal moment for aerospace, and a timely one for this conversation with Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. In this episode of Valley o…

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Risk Management at NASA 33:38

4M ago33:38

33:38

Big or small, we all take risks nearly every day. But how does NASA manage it? Dr. Mary Skow, NASA’s first agency risk management officer, explains.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Private Astronaut Mission Management 53:28

4M ago53:28

53:28

NASA and Axiom Space mission managers discuss how they work together to enable private astronaut missions ahead of Axiom Mission 4’s launch. HWHAP 388.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Space Superiority, with Even Rogers (CEO of True Anomaly) 1:00:37

5M ago1:00:37

1:00:37

If the next great war is fought in space, Even Rogers wants the U.S. to be ready. On this episode of Valley of Depth, the True Anomaly CEO and former Air Force weapons officer joins us to break down how he’s building autonomous systems for space superiority and why space is the next warfighting domain. A graduate of the Air Force Weapons School, Ev…