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If you’re fascinated by the idea of humans traveling through space and curious about how that all works, you’ve come to the right place. This is the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
In 1969, we reached the moon. With each step on its surface, every year an astronaut orbits our planet and with every dream of the possibilities beyond – a new generation falls in love with space exploration. Fifty years after Apollo 11, today’s NASA astronauts, voices from the Apollo Era and students from the Mars generation are brought together to share their journeys and to remember an unforgettable moment.
“Share your science” is a new story collection from scientists at the NASA Ames Research Center. The Ames Science Directorate comprises of researchers from the Earth, Space, and Biosciences Divisions. We are sharing this collection to showcase the breadth of fascinating research and to capture personal stories, challenges, discussions about diversity, science communication, and special moments scientists would like to share along their journey. Our aim is to foster a welcoming space and insp ...
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, who launched to the International Space Station on April 9, 2021, shares his experiences from his first flight to the orbiting laboratory and what he looks forward to for his second flight. HWHAP Episode 190.
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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“The one scientific riddle that’s the greatest of any... is how life started on the Earth.” An interview with Dr. David Des Marais.
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Dr. David Des Marais is a senior space scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. In this interview, we talk about his research into the role of carbon on Earth and in space, what Mars could teach us about life on Earth, and the excitement of watching the Mars rovers land. Finally, we discuss how space exploration brings people together, uniting curio…
Expert scientists and researchers from NASA’s Johnson Space Center gather to highlight the scientific breakthroughs aboard the International Space Station during a recent panel discussion celebrating 20 years of continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. HWHAP Episode 189.
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"You just go wherever there are interesting patterns." An interview with Dr. Rama Nemani.
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Dr. Rama Nemani, Senior Earth Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center, works on ecological forecasting. In this interview, we discuss how Rama’s career trajectory moved from farming to supercomputing, NASA Earth Exchange (NEX), the difference between simulation modeling and data analysis, and what’s hiding in the woods in Montana.…
Bill Paloski, former director of the Human Research Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, explores the idea of artificial gravity within a spacecraft for long-duration missions and explains how it may affect the human body from what we have learned through Earth-based studies. HWHAP Episode 188.
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"I believe the future of humanity lies beyond the surface of the Earth & I want to help make this possible."
An interview with Diana Gentry
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Dr. Diana Gentry, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, studies aerobiology (microbes in clouds), biodiversity, biomaterials, and biological systems. Dr. Gentry describes herself as at the nexus of both science and engineering where she speaks both languages and translates back and forth, helping scientists and engineers better underst…
Experts of NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston recount what it has taken to support 20 years of continuous presence on the International Space Station. HWHAP Episode 187.
Cherie Oubre, Steve Platts, and Nikki Schwanbeck, expert human researchers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, discuss CIPHER, a complement of research protocols that investigates multiple aspects of the human body over varied durations of human space missions. HWHAP Episode 186.
Experts from NASA’s Mars Architecture Team gather to discuss the mechanics of returning the first astronauts from the surface of Mars back home to Earth on the final episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 185.
George Abbey, former center director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, former Expedition 1 training integrator Ginger Kerrick, and Expedition 1 crew members Bill Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko, and Sergei Krikalev gather to relive the first long-duration mission aboard the International Space Center.HWHAP Episode 184.…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"If you really enjoy it [science], all the work will be worth it." An interview with Matthew Johnson.
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Dr. Matthew Johnson's research is in atmospheric chemistry, a branch of atmospheric science, which looks at the composition and chemistry of Earth's atmosphere, such as aerosols and trace gas emissions, and how particles may impact human health. Dr. Johnson's research interest is in combining remotely-sensed, modeling, and "in situ" (meaning locall…
Mark Fernandez, principal investigator for the Spaceborne Computer-2, details the experiment on the International Space Station that will further test the capabilities of in-space computing which may help humans explore deeper into space. HWHAP Episode 183.
Chloe Sackier, entry, descent, and landing communications systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, illustrates the shortest and most intense phase of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission. HWHAP Episode 182
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“It wasn’t a big leap from there to the ocean.” An interview with Dr. Dan Whitt.
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Dr. Dan Whitt studies currents and the circulation of nutrients in ocean ecosystems. Dan describes his Ph.D. research on internal waves ‒ oscillations found where the ocean is stratified by density ‒ and compares this effect to an expertly-poured Arnold Palmer. The drink should form two layers, as the iced tea is less dense than sugary lemonade: “w…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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“Be open to change. Build a team that has all different aspects and is interdisciplinary.” An interview with Ella Sciamma-O'Brien.
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Dr. Ella Sciamma-O’Brien is a research scientist in laboratory astrophysics and planetary science. As a member of the Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center, Dr. Sciamma-O’Brien has been working on the Titan Haze Simulation (THS) experiment, developed on the NASA Ames Cosmic Simulation Chamber (COSmiC). In this inte…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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“As a 15-year-old, I was fascinated by stars and galaxies.” An interview with Naseem Rangwala.
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Dr. Naseem Rangwala is an astrophysicist and project scientist for the SOFIA mission. SOFIA, or the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a modified Boeing 747 airplane carrying a large telescope. SOFIA observes the universe through long infrared wavelengths. As project scientist, Dr. Rangwala is responsible for managing the impactfu…
Natalie Mary, spacesuit systems engineer, explains what needs to be considered in the design and operation of a spacesuit that will be used to explore the surface of the Red Planet on the tenth episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 181.
Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, breaks down the intricate planning and integrated teams that are preparing the next missions to the Moon. Sarafin details the mission profile for Artemis I. HWHAP Episode 180.
Brock Howe, Bishop Airlock program manager at Nanoracks, details the history, design, and capabilities of the permanent commercial module that is now attached to the International Space Station. HWHAP Episode 179.
Sergei Krikalev, cosmonaut and flight engineer of Expedition 1, the first long-duration mission to the International Space Station, recounts the 20th anniversary of this mission and a career of fostering international collaboration. HWHAP Episode 178.
Paul Niles, planetary geologist and analytical geochemist, describes the Mars environment, terrain, weather, atmosphere, and more that humans will face while living on the Red Planet on this ninth episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 177.
Dr. Siobhan Malany, president of Micro-gRx and associate professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, brings her expertise to discuss tissue chips containing human muscle cells that recently made their way to the International Space Station for investigation. HWHAP Episode 176.
Team science experts Noshir Contractor, Suzanne Bell, and Leslie DeChurch discuss team composition research at NASA and the role teams play in human spaceflight and space exploration. HWHAP Episode 175.
Alicia Dwyer-Cianciolo and Doug Trent, entry, descent, and landing experts at NASA, unfold the intricacies of accomplishing a successful landing for humans visiting the Red Planet on this eighth episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 174.
NASA SUITS activity manager Brandon Hargis and technical lead Paromita Mitra talk about the opportunity for students and teachers to design and create spacesuit information displays in augmented reality environments. HWHAP Episode 173.
Botany experts Gioia Massa and Anna-Lisa Paul discuss how plants in space and the research being conducted on the International Space Station are key to the future of sustainable human space exploration. HWHAP Episode 172.
Howard Hu, Orion deputy program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, gives an update on Orion, the spacecraft that will take the next generation of space explorers to the Moon and beyond. HWHAP Episode 171.
Sharmila Watkins, Jennifer Fogarty, and Serena Aunon-Chancellor, scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, share what it takes for humans to live on a multi-year journey to, on, and from Mars on this seventh episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 170.
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"I grew up in a place where I was the first to go to college - not just in my family, but in the village." An interview with Charles Gatebe.
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Dr. Charles Gatebe's research focus is on clouds aerosols, ecosystem structure and function, albedo, and feedbacks to climate. In this interview, we chat about his science journey pursuing science, starting with his interest in studying Kenya’s air pollution, and how his research eventually led him to NASA.…
Joel Montalbano, the International Space Station program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, commemorates 20 years of continuous human presence on the orbiting laboratory, highlighting the program’s milestones, its assembly, and the ground-breaking research. HWHAP Episode 169.
Bill Shepherd, former NASA astronaut and commander of Expedition 1, recounts the historic mission that started the International Space Station’s unbroken streak of continuous human presence in space. HWHAP Episode 168.
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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Measuring global change from satellites. An interview with Chris Potter.
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Dr. Chris Potter is a Research Scientist in Earth Science at the NASA Ames Research Center. In this interview, we discuss his research that is part of the collective project, the rapid response and novel research in earth science, which explores connections between COVID-19 and the environment. We also chat about field campaigns and working as a sc…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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An oceanographer and chemist working on space missions at NASA. An interview with Tori Hoehler.
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Dr. Tori Hoehler is a scientist at NASA Ames, with a background in chemistry and oceanography. He now studies the interaction of microbial communities with their environment, with an emphasis on the habitability of environments beyond Earth and the detectability of any life that may reside there.By 612009
Anthony Vareha, the lead flight director at NASA's Johnson Space Center for NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission, details the first crew rotation flight on a U.S. commercial spacecraft. HWHAP Episode 167.
Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi are NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts headed to the International Space Station for the first crew rotation flight on a U.S. commercial spacecraft. They share stories of their families, careers, training, and their upcoming mission. HWHAP Episode 166.…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"At an early age, I was exposed to all things NASA." An interview with Christina Lim.
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Christina Lim is an Experiment Support Scientist with the Cell Science Project and the Biospecimen Sharing Program at Paragon-Tech, who work with NASA Ames. She is also a passionate science communicator and has worked in public outreach and education. In this interview, we chat a bit about her research and what advice she would give to scientists c…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"Dealing with science, it's like having a detective job." An interview with Meloe Kacenelenbogen.
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In this interview, Dr. Meloe S. Kacenelenbogen discusses her expertise in ‘aerosols,’ suspended particles in the atmosphere. These small particulates can affect air quality and human health and can also impact the Earth’s radiation balance. We also discuss why she decided to move from fluid mechanics to environmental science, challenges and opportu…
Kate Rubins, NASA astronaut and flight engineer for the upcoming Expedition 64 mission on the International Space Station, details her passion for science, and her previous experience on the station, and her anticipation of conducting more research in microgravity. HWHAP Episode 165.
Dr. Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA's Advanced Food Technology at the Johnson Space Center, shares the challenges of supplying food for a trip to Mars. Douglas describes the importance of variety, preservation, and farming on this sixth episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 164.
Jamie Semple and Mike McGlone, education specialist and coordinator, respectively, based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, share how students and teachers get involved in the form of student programs and challenges that contribute to missions across the agency. HWHAP Episode 163.
Dr. Tom Williams, element scientist for human factors and behavioral performance in the Human Research Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, details a reminder called CONNECT and how it not only benefits astronauts in space but those on terra firma here on Earth. HWHAP Episode 162.
Joel Walker and Linda Spuler, NASA’s Johnson Space Center director of center operations and emergency manager, respectively, describe the daily tasks involved in running a space center and how we prepare for and respond to scenarios like hurricanes or pandemics. HWHAP Episode 161.
Chel Stromgren, Chief Scientist of Binera, Inc. and part of NASA’s Mars Integration Group, lays out the complexities and the innovative strategies needed to pack for a human mission to Mars on this fifth episode of our Mars Monthly series. HWHAP Episode 160.
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"I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a scientist." An interview with Egle Cekanaviciute.
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Dr. Egle Cekanaviciute is a Principal Investigator and Research Scientist in the Radiation Biophysics Laboratory at the NASA Ames Research Center. She is also one of the Course Directors for STAR (Spaceflight Technologies, Application and Research), an intensive training course that trains the investigators working in space biology, preparing them …
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley recount their return to Earth at their welcome home ceremony and crew news conference in Houston. The NASA astronauts made history in August as the first to splash down in an American spacecraft in 45 years, thus completing NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission. HWHAP Episode 159.
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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Examining geomicrobiology in caves and mines, with a side of space exploration and astrobiology. An interview with Penny Boston.
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Dr. Penny Boston is a woman of many talents! A notable academic with a background in microbiology and geology, Penny has investigated microbial life in the lab and in the field as a speleologist -- someone who studies cave science. Most recently, Penny was Director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute at the Ames Research Center. In this interview, we …
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"We look at life in extreme environments and learn about what life can do, how it adapts." An interview with David Smith.
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Dr. David Smith is a microbiologist at the NASA Ames Research Center. David led the design, construction, and validation of two NASA Balloon Program payloads carrying biology experiments (E-MIST and MARSBOx) as well as the use of a bio-aerosol collector on NASA’s C-20A aircraft. In this interview we delve discuss David's science journey, working ac…
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Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists
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"With Earth Observations I saw it as a great challenge and opportunity to study our planet." An interview with Vince Ambrosia.
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Vince Ambrosia is a Senior Research Scientist at NASA Ames, Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Applied Environmental Sciences, College of Science, California State University – Monterey Bay, and also serves as the NASA Applied Science Program, Associate Program Manager for Wildfire at NASA HQ. In the interview, Vince shares his career in s…
Chris Culbert and Camille Alleyne, project manager and deputy project manager, respectively, for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative explain how NASA will use commercially built and operated landers from American companies to send payloads to the surface of the Moon. HWHAP Episode 158.
Dan Hartman and Lara Kearney, Gateway Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager, respectively, detail the plans for our orbiting lunar outpost and how Gateway will serve as a docking and service station for Artemis missions as we prepare for sustainable human presence on the Moon. HWHAP Episode 157.…
