Spacepod

Carrie Nugent

Hear stories about the alien moons orbiting our Sun, of cold stars, and the future of space exploration. Every week, scientist Dr. Carrie Nugent chats about an amazing part of our universe with an expert guest. Spacepod is the podcast that gives you an inside look into space exploration. Learn more: http://listentospacepod.com

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240 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes240

Newest first

Aug 28, 2016 · 13 min
60: Data you can see, touch, and lick with Dr. Hunt
Dr. Cynthia Hunt talks about the Carnegie Observatories' astronomical glass plate collection. The Carnegie collection includes historic plates that recorded the moments astronomers made groundbreaking discoveries.
Aug 21, 2016 · 14 min
59: Where the universe was discovered with Dr. Mulchaey
Director Dr. John Mulchaey stops by the show to talk about the history and future of the Carnegie Observatories; the place "where the universe was discovered". This episode is the first of a series on current research at Carnegie.
Aug 14, 2016 · 13 min
58: The case of the missing Moon ice with Dr. Siegler
Dr. Matt Siegler talks about ice on the Moon, and what it can tell us about the Moon's past. He also tells us about an experiment that uses astronaut-collected lunar soil.
Aug 7, 2016 · 22 min
57: Voyaging to the edge of the Solar System with Suzy Dodd
Project Manager Suzy Dodd tells us about the continuing missions of the Voyager spacecraft. These spacecraft are still collecting unique and valuable data, and Suzy explains how engineers hack the spacecraft to extend their lifespan.
Jul 31, 2016 · 20 min
56: Fiction Science with Mika McKinnon
Master of Disaster Mika McKinnon talks about how she injected real science into the sci-fi series "Stargate". We discuss how she balanced accuracy and entertainment, and how she influenced the way scientists were portrayed on that show.
Jul 24, 2016 · 17 min
55: Space is a team effort with Jan Chodas
Jan Chodas stops by the show to talk about her experience working on several pioneering NASA missions, including Galileo, Cassini, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and Juno. Note: this was recorded before Juno successfully entered into the orbit of Jupiter.
Jul 17, 2016 · 15 min
54: The granite planet with Dr. Economos
Professor Rita Economos talks about her research into magma on Earth. She recounts some of the adventures she's had searching for rocks, and explains why Earth's volcanoes appear to be unique in the solar system.
Jul 10, 2016 · 18 min
53: How big? How far? How fast? with Dr. Beaton
Dr. Rachael Beaton and I try "Grass Jelly Drink" and talk about one of the major fundamental constants of the universe; the Hubble Constant. She explains what it is and why she and her colleagues are trying to measure it better than it ever has been measured before.
Jul 3, 2016 · 15 min
52: Eternal sunshine of the Galactic Center with Dr. Ramirez
Dr. Solange Ramirez visits the show to talk galaxies, supermassive black holes, and the gravity that ties them together.
Jun 26, 2016 · 14 min
51: When Mars was the "Pink Planet" with Dr. Smith
Dr. Issac Smith visits the show to talk about one of Mars' past ice ages; a time when most of the planet was covered in ice. He talks about how he made this discovery by looking at the layers of ice deposited on the planet's North pole.
Jun 19, 2016 · 12 min
50: Ganymede and Iapetus with Dr. Singer
Returning guest Dr. Kelsi Singer talks about two of the icy moons of our solar system, Ganymede and Iapetus. She talks about the types of craters we see on their surfaces, and what they can teach us about the moons themselves.
Jun 12, 2016 · 15 min
49: Every known object in the Solar System with Jon Giorgini
Jon talks about JPL's Horizons, an amazing, publicly available system that keeps track of every known object in the solar system. Planets, moons, asteroids, spacecraft, you name it: over 715,000 in total. We discuss how this system is used by engineers, scientists, lawyers, art fans, and marine biologists.
Jun 5, 2016 · 9 min
48: Threading an asteroid through the eye of a keyhole with Dr. Chodas
This week's guest is Dr Paul Chodas, who directs JPL's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. He explains how predicting where an asteroid is going can get complicated when the asteroid gets close to a planet. He also talks about an app that lets you explore how a hypothetical asteroid could be deflected.
May 29, 2016 · 12 min
47: Punching an asteroid with Dr. Walsh
Dr. Kevin Walsh visits the show to talk about a new NASA mission that will launch later this year: OSIRIS REx! This spacecraft will visit an asteroid, grab a bit of surface material, and return the material to Earth for further study. Dr. Walsh talks about the mission and explains how you can help scientists pick the best place on the asteroid for the spacecraft to grab a sample.
May 22, 2016 · 12 min
46: Spacecraft no bigger than a breadbox with Dr. Asphaug
Professor Erik Asphaug stops by the show to discuss AOSAT-1, a tiny spacecraft that will contain experiments to study the surface of asteroids. AOSAT-1 will rotate once every minute, creating a force inside that exactly mimics gravity on an asteroid. We discuss how AOSAT-1, a cubesat, is being designed and built, and how it may launched from the space station in a "cubesat cannon".
May 15, 2016 · 12 min
45: A glimpse of the Pluto system with Dr. Ennico Smith
Dr. Kimberly Ennico Smith, New Horizons deputy project scientist, stops by the show to talk about the new data currently being transmitted to Earth, what it's like to work on this mission, and the violent past of Pluto's moon Charon.
May 8, 2016 · 15 min
44: Atmospheres in our solar system with Dr. Soto
Dr. Alejandro Soto visits the show to talk about the different atmospheres found on planets and moons in our solar system. We talk about wind on Mars, the opening scene of The Martian, Pluto's thin atmosphere, and what it is like on Saturn's moon Titan.
May 1, 2016 · 10 min
43: The Ice Giants with Dr. Soderlund
Dr. Krista Soderlund talks about the ice giants, Uranus and Neptune. She tells us about their unusual rings and moons, and how studying them can teach us about exoplanets.
Apr 24, 2016 · 11 min
42: Finding exoplanets with Dr. Christiansen
Dr. Christiansen stops by the show to talk about exoplanets and the Kepler Space Telescope. We share an Australian beverage and she explains how astronomers look for exoplanets, and how the discovery of "hot Jupiters" was a huge surprise to astronomers.
Apr 17, 2016 · 14 min
41: The last of the "great observatories" with Dr. Storrie-Lombardi
Dr. Lisa Storrie-Lombardi talks about the Spitzer Space Telescope. She tells us how Spitzer made the first observation of light from a planet outside our solar system. She also describes how engineers are constantly innovating, letting Spitzer make better and more sensitive observations.

Spacepod

60: Data you can see, touch, and lick with Dr. Hunt

59: Where the universe was discovered with Dr. Mulchaey

58: The case of the missing Moon ice with Dr. Siegler

57: Voyaging to the edge of the Solar System with Suzy Dodd

56: Fiction Science with Mika McKinnon

55: Space is a team effort with Jan Chodas

54: The granite planet with Dr. Economos

53: How big? How far? How fast? with Dr. Beaton

52: Eternal sunshine of the Galactic Center with Dr. Ramirez

51: When Mars was the "Pink Planet" with Dr. Smith

50: Ganymede and Iapetus with Dr. Singer

49: Every known object in the Solar System with Jon Giorgini

48: Threading an asteroid through the eye of a keyhole with Dr. Chodas

47: Punching an asteroid with Dr. Walsh

46: Spacecraft no bigger than a breadbox with Dr. Asphaug

45: A glimpse of the Pluto system with Dr. Ennico Smith

44: Atmospheres in our solar system with Dr. Soto

43: The Ice Giants with Dr. Soderlund

42: Finding exoplanets with Dr. Christiansen

41: The last of the "great observatories" with Dr. Storrie-Lombardi