Best Albert Lai Podcasts (2025)

1
Epilogue: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 34:59

2y ago34:59

34:59

The first joint manned docking mission in 1975 lays the groundwork for the International Space Station. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/epilogue-the-apollo-soyuz-test-project

1
Episode 80: A Test of the System 49:06

2y ago49:06

49:06

Opinions on the lessons of the Space Race.

1
Episode 79: N1-L3 Cancelled 1:00:48

2y ago1:00:48

1:00:48

The Space Race comes to an end when the Soviet Union cancels its moon landing program in 1974. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-79-n1-l3-cancelled

1
Episode 78: Space Station Race 36:58

2y ago36:58

36:58

In 1973, the Soviet Union and the United States race to launch the first operating space station. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-78-space-station-race

1
Episode 77: Apollo 17 21:12

2y ago21:12

21:12

The last moon landing mission occurs in December 1972. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-77-apollo-17

1
Episode 76: Apollo 16 24:02

2+ y ago24:02

24:02

With the penultimate moon landing mission, NASA focuses on scientific exploration. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-76-apollo-16

1
Episode 75: Salyut 1 35:56

2+ y ago35:56

35:56

The USSR launches the first space station, but tragedy quickly follows. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-75-salyut-1

1
Episode 74: Apollo 15 27:57

2+ y ago27:57

27:57

Apollo Program matures with a lunar rover on the moon and longer stays. Hear more: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-74-apollo-15

1
Episode 73: Apollo 14 35:10

2+ y ago35:10

35:10

Golfing on the moon! Apollo 14 takes off in January 1971. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-73-apollo-14

1
Episode 72: Moonset 30:49

2+ y ago30:49

30:49

By 1970, both the Soviet Union and the United States are turning away from the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-72-moonset

1
Episode 71: Houston, We've Had a Problem 1:32:55

2+ y ago1:32:55

1:32:55

Apollo 13, NASA's finest hour, comes in April 1970. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-71-houston-we-ve-had-a-problem

1
Episode 70: SCE to AUX 47:28

2+ y ago47:28

47:28

In November 1969, NASA launches Apollo 12--a mission that nearly ended right after launch until someone in Mission Control gave the instruction, "SCE to auxiliary." Photo: spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-70-sce-to-aux

1
Episode 69: Troika 24:28

2+ y ago24:28

24:28

In response to Apollo 11, the Soviet Union launches 3 manned spacecraft into orbit. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-69-troika

1
Episode 68: Apollo 11, Pt. 2 1:16:15

2+ y ago1:16:15

1:16:15

One small step for a man! Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-68-apollo-11-pt-2

1
Episode 67: Apollo 11, Pt. 1 1:04:29

2+ y ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Prior to Apollo 11, NASA had to select the crew, build a lunar lander simulator, training astronauts and a mission control team, select a landing site, plan surface mission activities, develop quarantine procedures, and build a new laboratory to receive lunar samples. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-67-apollo-11-part-1…

1
Episode 66: Grasping at Straws 32:41

2+ y ago32:41

32:41

The USSR spends the first six months of 1969 finding a way to blunt the impact of the impending American moon landing. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/ep-66-grasping-at-straws

1
Episode 65: Apollo 10 31:08

2+ y ago31:08

31:08

In May 1969, NASA performs a dress rehearsal to land on the moon.

1
Episode 64: Apollo 9 25:43

2+ y ago25:43

25:43

In March 1969, NASA finishes flight testing the Apollo command and lunar modules in anticipation of a moon landing. Photo: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-64-apollo-9

1
Episode 63: Soviet Cover Up 36:14

2+ y ago36:14

36:14

After Apollo 8, the Soviet Union struggles to find a new objective for its space program besides a manned landing on the moon in anticipation that he United States will land astronauts there first. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-63-soviet-coverup

1
Episode 62: Apollo 8 53:52

2+ y ago53:52

53:52

On December 21, 1968, NASA launches the first manned mission to the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-62-apollo-8

1
Episode 61: Manned Spaceflight Returns 33:35

2+ y ago33:35

33:35

On October 11, 1968, NASA returns astronauts to space for the first time since the Apollo 1 fire. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-61-apollo-7

1
Episode 60: Man-Rating Soyuz (Again) 22:03

2+ y ago22:03

22:03

In October 1968, the Soviet Union is ready to launch the first earth-orbital Soyuz 7K-OK since the Soyuz 1 accident. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-60-man-rating-soyuz-again

1
Episode 59: Zond Program 22:32

2+ y ago22:32

22:32

In September 1968, the Soviet Union launches Zond 5, the first spacecraft to be recovered on earth after making a journey all the way to the moon and back. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-59-zond-program

1
Episode 58: Man-Rating Apollo 25:13

2+ y ago25:13

25:13

In early 1968, NASA finishes man-rating the Apollo lunar module and the command module during the Apollo 5 and Apollo 6 missions, respectively. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-58-man-rating-apollo

1
Episode 57: N1 Rocket Delays 27:24

2+ y ago27:24

27:24

In the aftermath of the first Saturn V launch during Apollo 4 in November 1967, the Soviet Union tried to launched its own N1 moon rocket. But repeated delays pushed the first test launch of the N1 into 1969.

1
Episode 56: Apollo 4 55:14

2+ y ago55:14

55:14

On November 9, 1967, NASA launches the first Saturn V rocket. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-56-apollo-4

1
Episode 55: Golden Jubilee of the Soviet Revolution 23:52

2+ y ago23:52

23:52

In November 1967, the fiftieth anniversary of the Soviet revolution passes without a Soviet space spectacular.

1
Episode 54: Soyuz 1 34:09

2+ y ago34:09

34:09

On April 23, 1967, the Soviet Union launches Soyuz 1, the first manned mission for its second-generation spacecraft. The mission will end in disaster. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-54-soyuz-1

1
Episode 53: Man-Rating Soyuz 41:45

2+ y ago41:45

41:45

Between late 1966 and early 1967, Vasily Mishin declares the Soyuz 7K-OK ready for a crewed mission, despite mixed results during flight testing. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-53-man-rating-soyuz

1
Episode 52: Fire 46:48

3y ago46:48

46:48

On January 27, 1967, astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee die in a fire inside Spacecraft 012. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-52-fire

1
Episode 51: The Outer Space Treaty 39:19

3y ago39:19

39:19

On January 27, 1967, the signing of the Outer Space Treaty signals the beginning of the end of the Space Race. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-51-outer-space-treaty

1
Episode 50: Lunokhod Program 34:27

3y ago34:27

34:27

By the end of 1966, Vasily Mishin was modifying the N1-L3 lunar landing program to include a flotilla of unmanned vehicles to support a crewed landing on the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-50-the-lunokhod-program

1
Episode 49: LK700 Lunar Lander 33:59

3y ago33:59

33:59

At the end of 1966, Vladimir Chelomey challenges Sergei Korolev's N1-L3 lunar landing program by proposing a landing on the moon using a UR-700 rocket and a LK700 spacecraft. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-49-lk-700-lunar-lander

1
Episode 48: The F-1 Engine 42:31

3y ago42:31

42:31

In November 1966, NASA takes a big step toward landing on the moon when it qualifies the F-1 rocket engine for manned flight. This engine, the most powerful rocket engine in history, will launch astronauts to the moon. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-48-the-f-1-engine

1
Episode 47: Gemini XII 15:34

3y ago15:34

15:34

On November 11, 1966, NASA launches Gemini XII, the last of the Gemini missions. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-47-gemini-xii

1
Episode 46: Gemini XI 24:13

3y ago24:13

24:13

On September 12, 1966, NASA launches Gemini XI, which made the highest orbital flight of any manned spacecraft up to this day. Gemini XI will also be the first mission in space to generate artificial gravity. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-46-gemini-xi

1
Episode 45: Gemini X 17:37

3y ago17:37

17:37

On July 18, 1966, NASA launches the Gemini X mission. Gemini X is when the Gemini Program enters maturity, with the first successful double-rendezvous, multiple EVAs, and the highest orbit flown during a manned mission. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-45-gemini-x

1
Episode 44: Lunar Orbiter 30:53

3y ago30:53

30:53

On August 14, 1966, NASA places the Lunar Orbiter 1 into lunar orbit. Lunar Orbiter 1 is only the second artificial satellite to be placed around the moon after the Soviet Union's Luna 10 probe launched in April 1966. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-44-lunar-orbiter

1
Episode 43: Centaur and Surveyor 57:07

3y ago57:07

57:07

On June 3, 1966, NASA makes the first soft landing on the moon with Surveyor 1, carried there on the Centaur rocket. Centaur and Surveyor were each critical pieces of technology that enabled the eventually manned lunar landing of Apollo 11. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-43-centaur-and-surveyor…

1
Episode 42: Launch Complex 39 50:28

3y ago50:28

50:28

On May 25, 1966, five years to the day that President Kennedy challenged the nation to land on the moon, Launch Complex 39, the nation's moon port, comes online when a crawler-transporter carries a 36 story tall mockup of the Saturn V rocket from a vehicle assembly building to the launch pad. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/epi…

1
Episode 41: Gemini IX 43:25

3y ago43:25

43:25

Looking to recover from the emergency that cut short the mission of Gemini VIII, NASA looks toward Gemini IX. But Gemini IX will be the mission where everything seems to go wrong. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-41-gemini-ix

1
Episode 40: Gemini VIII 41:10

3y ago41:10

41:10

On March 16, 1966, NASA encountered its first near-fatal accident in space during the Gemini VIII mission. At the spacecraft controls were Neil Armstrong and David Scott. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-40-gemini-viii

1
Episode 39: Death of Sergei Korolev 35:29

3y ago35:29

35:29

On January 14, 1966, Sergei Korolev, the instigator of the Space Race, died. In the aftermath of his death, the Soviet manned spaceflight program will change direction to place more focus in the second-generation Soyuz and unmanned vehicles. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-39-the-death-of-sergei-korolev…

1
Episode 38: Reprogramming Soyuz 40:49

3y ago40:49

40:49

In 1965, internal fighting between Vladimir Chelomey and Sergei Korolev over control of the Soviet manned circumlunar flight program will cause the Soyuz Program to split into two branches. There will be an earth-orbital version of the Soyuz known as the Soyuz 7K-OK and a revised circumlunar flight version known as the Soyuz 7K-L1. Photos: https://…

1
Episode 37: The N1-L3 Complex 30:09

3y ago30:09

30:09

In 1965, Sergei Korolev firms up his plans for how the Soviet Union would land a cosmonaut on the moon's surface. The plan would rely on the N1 rocket and the L1 spacecraft complex. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-37-the-n1-l3-complex

1
Episode 36: The Spirit of 76 47:12

3y ago47:12

47:12

On October 25, 1965, NASA loses an Agena spacecraft and cancels the Gemini VI rendezvous mission. Three days after this setback, NASA announced the single most daring mission of the Gemini Program--the rendezvous of two Gemini spacecraft. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-36-the-spirit-of-76…

1
Episode 35: Gemini V 23:05

3y ago23:05

23:05

On August 21, 1965, NASA launched its first attempt at a long-duration mission of 8 days, the same amount of time it would take to get to the moon and back. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-35-gemini-v

1
Episode 34: Gemini IV 47:52

3y ago47:52

47:52

On June 3, 1965, NASA launches the Gemini IV and performs the first American spacewalk to a live audience. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-34-gemini-iv

1
Episode 33: Gemini III 27:06

3y ago27:06

27:06

After a 20 month hiatus, NASA returns American astronauts to space with the Gemini III mission. Gemini III was the first manned spacecraft to maneuver in space, carried the first astronaut to return to space, and was the mission in which the first corned beef sandwich was ever consumed in space. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/…

1
Episode 32: Voskhod 2 37:23

3y ago37:23

37:23

On March 18, 1965, the Soviet Union launches the Voskhod 2 mission, and Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to ever perform a spacewalk. This mission was the high-water mark of Soviet achievement in the Space Race. Photos: https://www.spaceracehistorypodcast.com/post/episode-32-voskhod-2

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Albert Lai Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen