The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

A quick Falcon update, progress from Firefly, big hopes from SLS, and a group of space nerds who are working on STEM outreach.

Lots of SpaceX talk this week as they prepare to return to flight… eventually. We also discuss SMAP’s name getting shorter, and CST-100’s getting longer.

Saturn I was the first big step towards the moon, and this week in 1958 the design was begun. Also, a 3D printed turbo, another Chinese engine destroys a house, we get a good look at an ASDS, and we have a White Stork mystery.

HTV-5 head uphill, a green fuel gets a green light, a rumor about an earlier than expected SpaceX return to flight, an even crazier rumor about Russian reusability and a quick conversation with IndySpace!

VASMIR contract extended, space crops and a Walloping big engine.

In our first weekly episode, we have a big announcement! 55 years later, we’re still safely bringing things back from space. Also, a contract extension from NASA, a spaceplane from DARPA, and an impressive recovery from JAXA!

There are lots of consumer products on the space station. In this show, we interview the creators of a brand new one: the Astro Pi! They’ll be sending student-written programs to Station on a small computer. Also, CRS-7 gets explained, SETI picks up a bundle, Intelsat gets grumpy, a solar panel needs a swift kick, SABRE secrets get revealed, NTSB releases their report on a fatal crash, and a big announcement about the show!

Back in the days before we could take digital photos and encrypt them, we had to figure out another way of transmitting home imagery that no one else could see. The Corona program did just that. Also, Commercial astronaut selection, New Horizons, a NASA budget proposal, STEMBox and an evacuation on Station.

Staying put in a particular orbit requires constant adjustments. Let’s talk about some of the basic things you can do to be where you want to be in space. Also an Falcon 9 explosion, the largest commercial launch in history, an impending SpaceX mars announcement, and New Horizons encounters a last-minute speedbump.

Firefly Space Systems wants to build an innovative launch vehicle and send small payloads to orbit for an incredibly low price. We talk to four of their engineers about everything from their aerospike engine to fuel tank construction. Also LDSD could use a third try, Philae needs a cup of coffee, New Horizons doesn’t need a blanket and SES goes to the thrift store.

There are plenty of liquid rocket fuels to choose from, all with pros and cons. We talk about which is best in what situation, and why that choice is more difficult than it might seem. Also, criminal charges, the return of RS-25, LightSail, SpaceX’s internet satellites, and the new Adeline reusabili

We sit down and talk with the other “silent” member of the show, research assistant Steve Pestana. Also, Proton failure, reboost failure, show host failures and ISS orbital parameters.

Arguably the most testing environment a spacecraft can experience is atmospheric reentry. Let’s take a look at historical solutions that allowed us to get humans in space safely back to the ground. Also Progress, New Shepard, SMART reuse, CE20 and the Dragon 2 pad abort

It's our first interview episode! Let's get to know one of our research assistants better. Also: Blue Origin, Vulcan, Barge landings, Rocketlab's Rutherford engine and the completed D2 in-flight abort assembly.

Single Stage to Orbit has long been a fantasy confined to tales of fiction. What would it take to actually build and operate such a machine? Also VASMIR flies, Canadian eyes, and MESSENGER dies.