Spidernauts and space dogs: What happens to the creatures of spaceflight
Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts and today creatures big and small continue to space travel advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.
Pittsburghโs ambassadors to space are ready to return America to the moon
Several private companies launching moon landers later this year from Florida will kick off a grand campaign to better understand our nearest neighbor, with big implications for when NASA returns humans to the moon in a few short years.
Are you โSpace Curious?โ This podcast, dedicated to all things outer space, is worth a listen
The Space Curious podcast is now available on all your favorite podcast platforms. Space Curious, a podcast by WKMG-TV and Graham Media Group, answers those questions and more. With some help from experts, including scientists, engineers, fellow space journalists and astronauts, Space Curious brings fascinating topics to your favorite podcast platform. AdDuring the first season of โSpace Curious,โ guests include astronomers like Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana and former NASA astronaut Terry Virts, along with scientists from leading research institutes and other space journalists. โSpace Curiousโ was created to inspire everyone, from those with a mild interest in space exploration to the space fanatics.
Thereโs more than 1 way to send a spacecraft to Venus
AdIt used to be -- in the U.S.-- NASA was the only way to fund and send a robotic mission to another world, but not anymore. The company wants to send the first robotic mission to Venus in 2023. (Image credit: Rocket Lab) (Rocket Lab)Meanwhile, NASA is considering funding its own missions to the planet considered Earthโs twin. Currently there are two Venus missions under consideration and two more equally fascinating missions, one designed to study Jupiterโs moon Io and another to Neptuneโs moon Triton. AdHereโs what launching a robotic mission to another planet looks like, in a nutshell, according to Wagner:โThis is what a typical NASA mission is.
The curious tale of searching for signs of life on Venus
You can read her piece, โPromising sign of life on Venus might not exist after allโ, at NationalGeographic.com. Listen to the full episode of Space Curious below to learn about the fascinating discovery and the process of fact-checking science. Next time on Space Curious: the possibilities and perils of sending robots to Venus. Space Curious is a podcast from WKMG and Graham Media that answers your intergalactic questions. Hosted by WKMG space reporter Emilee Speck, each episode is designed to inspire everyone, from the space curious to the space fanatics.
How scientists know weโre not going to get squashed by an asteroid
How scientists know weโre not going to get squashed by an asteroidPublished: October 22, 2020, 10:12 amA NASA spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx just collected a piece of a potentially hazardous asteroid to bring a sample back to Earth. The U.S. space agency also has several other asteroid spacecraft missions in the works and is not alone in its determination to better understand asteroids in order to deflect large space rocks but also to learn from these fossils of our solar system.
How scientists know weโre not going to get squashed by an asteroid
In a recent episode of the podcast โSpace Curious,โ planetary scientists helped us understand why this is. They also explained how we know where asteroids are, and why weโre not all going to get squashed by one anytime soon. โThe main reason we go to Bennu is because it is the most potentially hazardous asteroid,โ Campins said. โItโs a primitive asteroid,โ Campins said. Campins said when someone reads about an asteroid headed for Earth, itโs a good idea to do some fact checking.
Space Curious: The questions we ask (and forget to ask) astronauts
Their journey was also a reminder of the human side of space exploration, both of the veteran astronauts are married to fellow astronauts and have young sons. To ask the question about why we want to know about the little oddities of space life, Space Curious host Emilee Speck spoke to Koren and WMFE space reporter Brendan Byrne, along with retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts. All NASA astronauts go through public engagement and media training. โIt also helps that we just have more access to them... theyโre online, theyโre tweeting, theyโre posting on Instagram. Hosted by WKMG space reporter Emilee Speck, each episode is designed to inspire everyone, from the space curious to the space fanatics.
All the best ways to watch a space launch
Have you ever watched a rocket launch? Speck was featured in a recent episode of โThe Best Advice Show,โ and spoke about some of the best ways to take in this cool experience. โWatching a launch with a child, especially with one who has never seen a launch before, is the best experience,โ Speck said. It is so cool.โIf youโre trying to watch a launch online, put the launch feed up on the TV, maybe somewhere like your living room, for the best experience. Whatโs so cool about a rocket launch, anyway?
Astronomers are working to make sure large satellite constellations donโt forever change the night sky
A composite image of Starlink satellite trails across an image of Comet NEOWise taken in Central Florida by astronomer Derek Demeter in July 2020. (Derek Demeter)Our view of the night sky has been changing ever since the light bulb was invented. โWhen I look up at the night sky, Iโm reminded of the thousands of years of history that people have been inspired -- a lot of our traditions today stem from ancient people looking up at the night sky and feeling awe and wonder,โ he said. AdIn August, the members of an American Astronomical Society committee -- who have been working with SpaceX engineers-- released their findings about how to mitigate trashing the night sky and what the long-standing impact of these large constellations will be. Lori Allen, also an astronomer with the NOIRLab, said the astronomy working group observed Starlink satellites to determine if changes to the satellite hardware will work, what observatories can do.
Astronomers are working to make sure large satellite constellations donโt forever change the night sky
Astronomers are working to make sure large satellite constellations donโt forever change the night skyPublished: September 24, 2020, 10:25 amBy the end of the summer SpaceX had successfully launched nearly 700 satellites, known as the Starlink constellation, as part of CEO Elon Muskโs plan to create a space-based internet using a network of, eventually, up to 42,000 satellites.
Who takes out the space trash? Space debris is growing, hereโs whatโs being done about it
For more than six decades, humans have been launching spacecraft into low-Earth orbit and out into the universe, including satellites that provide GPS and weather forecasting down on Earth, but they have limited lifespans.
Space Curious: Space debris is growing, hereโs whatโs being done about it
Space Curious: Space debris is growing, hereโs whatโs being done about itPublished: September 10, 2020, 10:34 amFor more than six decades, humans have been launching spacecraft into low-Earth orbit and out into the universe, including satellites that provide GPS and weather forecasting down on Earth but they have limited lifespans. After a spacecraft is no longer serving a purpose, it becomes junk.
Talking international collaboration and haircuts on the space station
What about space station hair? That just seems kind of crazy!โWe often take for granted the modern miracle known as the International Space Station. The result: the first episode of a brand-new WKMG podcast focused on answering your space questions called โSpace Curious.โThis question brought us down the rabbit hole of the space station. โWeโve had a great relationship with the Russian Space Agency since the beginning of the space station program,โ Speck said. Listen to the full episode of Floridaโs Fourth Estate on iTunes here or on Sticher here.
Introducing Space Curious, a new podcast by WKMG News 6
Space Curious, a new podcast by WKMG News 6 and Graham Media will answer those questions and more during its debut season coming this August. Hosted by WKMG space reporter Emilee Speck and edited by Graham Media Director of Podcasts, Zak Rosen, each episode will answer space-related questions submitted from our audience. With the help from experts, including scientists, engineers, fellow space journalist and astronauts, Space Curious will bring fascinating topics to your favorite podcast platform. Space Curious was created to inspire everyone, from those with a mild interest in space exploration to the space fanatics. Check out episodes below:Subscribe to a weekly newsletter to receive the latest in space news directly to your inbox here.
Space Curious: The origin story of the International Space Station
That means most college students today have never known a day without an astronaut orbiting above them on the International Space Station. The International Space Station, or ISS, is just shy of the same length as an American football field and the largest spacecraft ever built. โI felt as an International Space Station, we needed to enter as an international crew.โAdCabana and Krikalev went into the ISS at the same time. โSergei and I enter side by side, so there was no first person to enter the International Space Station,โ Cabana said. Hosted by space reporter Emilee Speck, each episode is designed to inspire everyone, from the space curious to the space fanatics.
Are you Space Curious? Submit your intergalactic questions here
What do you want to know about spaceflight and planetary exploration in the era of a new space industry? Space exploration is fueled by the need to answer questions about the great unknown. Thereโs no need to have a background in physics or a degree in engineering; this is open for the space curious to the space obsessed. Space reporter Emilee Speck will answer your intergalactic questions with help from astronauts, scientists and engineers. Your questions could be featured on Space Curious, a podcast from Graham Media Group and ClickOrlando.com.