https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-exploration-stories--7290100
Each episode explores space missions, scientific discoveries and the people behind humanity’s journey beyond Earth. From ambitious engineering to unexpected challenges, the stories reveal how exploration advances through curiosity, persistence and calculated risk. The universe keeps giving us new questions faster than we can answer them—so what might the next mission discover that changes everything we thought we knew?]]>enAstronomyCopyright OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENThttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/688e388c599d134edc6827d8b4400c11.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-exploration-stories--7290100Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:40:46 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTOBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTcreators@obomedia.comHave you ever looked into the night sky and wondered what it actually took for humans to reach beyond it? Behind every launch is a chain of decisions, risks and discoveries that transformed distant worlds from points of light into places we could...
Each episode explores space missions, scientific discoveries and the people behind humanity’s journey beyond Earth. From ambitious engineering to unexpected challenges, the stories reveal how exploration advances through curiosity, persistence and calculated risk. The universe keeps giving us new questions faster than we can answer them—so what might the next mission discover that changes everything we thought we knew?]]>false9296bf80-d38d-5a29-9781-e5413c428cc4episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-single-wrong-character-that-shut-down-phobos-1-s-sun-lock-was-there-time--74842779
The single wrong character that shut down Phobos‑1's sun lock-was there time?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of decisions, design choices, and human procedures that let one character in a maintenance upload execute a ground-only routine on a deep-space craft. The episode traces the Phobos program’s goals, the flight computer’s built‑in test command, and the ticking clock once the wrong character was sent - could human process and protocol avert disaster?

Person: Engineers and operators who handled Phobos‑1 uplinks
Date: August 29-30, 1988 (wrong character uploaded); September 2, 1988 (spacecraft stopped answering)
Event: Phobos‑1 received a maintenance command that shut down attitude control thrusters
Platform: One F flight computer with firmware-stored ground-test routine in read-only memory
Payload: Instruments from 14 nations including CNES infrared spectrometer and Swedish ASPERA

- The Phobos program aimed for orbital operations and lander deployment on Mars’s moon Phobos, carrying international instruments and the novel PROP‑F lander.
- The one F flight computer included a ground-testing routine in ROM that, if executed, disables three‑axis attitude control.
- Replacing the flight computer to remove that routine was technically possible but incompatible with the launch schedule, so the routine remained in firmware.
- The operational safeguard relied on human discipline: the specific character string that would trigger the routine was never to be sent.
- On the night of August 29-30, 1988, a maintenance upload contained a single wrong character; the transmission reached Phobos‑1, and the command executed.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842779Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA wrong character told Phobos‑1 to shut its thrusters, and engineers raced to stop a sun lock slipping away. Did they make it in time? The single wrong character that shut down Phobos‑1's sun lock-was there time? In this episode, we follow the...
The single wrong character that shut down Phobos‑1's sun lock-was there time?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of decisions, design choices, and human procedures that let one character in a maintenance upload execute a ground-only routine on a deep-space craft. The episode traces the Phobos program’s goals, the flight computer’s built‑in test command, and the ticking clock once the wrong character was sent - could human process and protocol avert disaster?

Person: Engineers and operators who handled Phobos‑1 uplinks
Date: August 29-30, 1988 (wrong character uploaded); September 2, 1988 (spacecraft stopped answering)
Event: Phobos‑1 received a maintenance command that shut down attitude control thrusters
Platform: One F flight computer with firmware-stored ground-test routine in read-only memory
Payload: Instruments from 14 nations including CNES infrared spectrometer and Swedish ASPERA

- The Phobos program aimed for orbital operations and lander deployment on Mars’s moon Phobos, carrying international instruments and the novel PROP‑F lander.
- The one F flight computer included a ground-testing routine in ROM that, if executed, disables three‑axis attitude control.
- Replacing the flight computer to remove that routine was technically possible but incompatible with the launch schedule, so the routine remained in firmware.
- The operational safeguard relied on human discipline: the specific character string that would trigger the routine was never to be sent.
- On the night of August 29-30, 1988, a maintenance upload contained a single wrong character; the transmission reached Phobos‑1, and the command executed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1269falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-restartable-agena-engine-relit-after-coast-did-the-spy-payload-live--74842775
The restartable Agena engine relit after coast - did the spy payload live?

In this episode, we trace the Agena from a cancelled weapons project to a standardized orbital workhorse and follow its role carrying both NASA experiments and secret military payloads. What happened on the flight when the engine reignited after coast, and what did it mean for the classified satellite it carried?

Person: Lawrence Edwards
Date: 1959-1987 (program flight history)
Location: Earth orbit
Topic: Agena restartable engine and classified payloads

- The Agena evolved from the cancelled Weapons System 117L upper stage, repurposed and built by Lockheed.
- The Agena-B introduced the near-miraculous capability to restart its Bell 8096-derived engine after coasting in orbit.
- The Bell 8096 lineage traces back to engineering work on a cancelled rocket-propelled nuclear warhead pod, including propellant chemistry of IRFNA and UDMH.
- In 1962, Lawrence Edwards pushed to standardize the design, producing the Agena-D which flew unchanged for 25 years.
- Of 365 flights, 33 carried NASA payloads with public records; 332 carried classified military payloads whose records remain largely sealed.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842775Sun, 25 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA restartable Agena engine fires again after a coast above Earth-one spy payload hangs in orbit; did they make it in time? The restartable Agena engine relit after coast - did the spy payload live? In this episode, we trace the Agena from a...
The restartable Agena engine relit after coast - did the spy payload live?

In this episode, we trace the Agena from a cancelled weapons project to a standardized orbital workhorse and follow its role carrying both NASA experiments and secret military payloads. What happened on the flight when the engine reignited after coast, and what did it mean for the classified satellite it carried?

Person: Lawrence Edwards
Date: 1959-1987 (program flight history)
Location: Earth orbit
Topic: Agena restartable engine and classified payloads

- The Agena evolved from the cancelled Weapons System 117L upper stage, repurposed and built by Lockheed.
- The Agena-B introduced the near-miraculous capability to restart its Bell 8096-derived engine after coasting in orbit.
- The Bell 8096 lineage traces back to engineering work on a cancelled rocket-propelled nuclear warhead pod, including propellant chemistry of IRFNA and UDMH.
- In 1962, Lawrence Edwards pushed to standardize the design, producing the Agena-D which flew unchanged for 25 years.
- Of 365 flights, 33 carried NASA payloads with public records; 332 carried classified military payloads whose records remain largely sealed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1315falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/segment-fifty-one-flashed-claiming-friendship-7-s-heat-shield-and-time-ran-out--74842773
Segment Fifty-One flashed, claiming Friendship 7's heat shield - and time ran out

In this episode, we follow the tense hours of John Glenn's 1962 Mercury-Atlas Six flight from prelaunch delays to a life-or-death sensor reading during reentry. The episode traces the decisions inside Mercury Control and asks whether the team could act fast enough to save him.

Person: John Glenn Glenn
Date: February 20, 1962
Spacecraft: Friendship 7 (Spacecraft Number Thirteen)
Controller: Don Arabian
Mission Directors: Chris Kraft, Walter Williams

- Prelaunch: seven weeks of delays, faulty bolts, ice fog, and a defective hatch that cost forty-two minutes.
- Launch timeline: Glenn entered the capsule at 06:11 ET, ignition at 09:47 ET after multiple scrubs and a heart rate reading of 110 bpm.
- In-orbit: three orbits planned; a small warning appeared on the first orbit and stayed unresolved.
- Critical moment: at 4 hours 33 minutes into flight, Segment Fifty-One lit, indicating the heat shield had unlatched.
- Decision room: Don Arabian reran checks, then Flight Director Chris Kraft and Mission Director Walter Williams confronted the impossible readout.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842773Sat, 24 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA single console light in Mercury Control claims Friendship 7’s heat shield during John Glenn’s return-did Mission Control stop a fireball in time? Segment Fifty-One flashed, claiming Friendship 7's heat shield - and time ran out In this...
Segment Fifty-One flashed, claiming Friendship 7's heat shield - and time ran out

In this episode, we follow the tense hours of John Glenn's 1962 Mercury-Atlas Six flight from prelaunch delays to a life-or-death sensor reading during reentry. The episode traces the decisions inside Mercury Control and asks whether the team could act fast enough to save him.

Person: John Glenn Glenn
Date: February 20, 1962
Spacecraft: Friendship 7 (Spacecraft Number Thirteen)
Controller: Don Arabian
Mission Directors: Chris Kraft, Walter Williams

- Prelaunch: seven weeks of delays, faulty bolts, ice fog, and a defective hatch that cost forty-two minutes.
- Launch timeline: Glenn entered the capsule at 06:11 ET, ignition at 09:47 ET after multiple scrubs and a heart rate reading of 110 bpm.
- In-orbit: three orbits planned; a small warning appeared on the first orbit and stayed unresolved.
- Critical moment: at 4 hours 33 minutes into flight, Segment Fifty-One lit, indicating the heat shield had unlatched.
- Decision room: Don Arabian reran checks, then Flight Director Chris Kraft and Mission Director Walter Williams confronted the impossible readout.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1300falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-pressurized-mating-adapter-stalled-outside-did-they-make-it--74842770
The Pressurized Mating Adapter stalled outside - did they make it?

In this episode, we follow the mission that turned an ordinary logistics task into an endurance legacy. The story tracks James Voss’s path from a boy in Alabama to an astronaut assigned a long, precise spacewalk that would test training, patience, and procedure-what happened next?

Person: James Voss
Date: March 8, 2001
Event: Relocation of the Pressurized Mating Adapter
Duration referenced: Eight hours and fifty-six minutes
Mission: STS-101 (Discovery)

- Voss grew up in Opelika, Alabama, raised by his grandparents with an early fascination for the sky.
- He worked as a Vehicle Integration Test Engineer and joined the Challenger investigation after the January 28, 1986 disaster.
- Selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1987 and qualified as a mission specialist in August 1988.
- Previous EVAs: six hours on STS-69 (1995) and six hours with Jeff Williams on STS-101 (2000) installing hardware on the station.
- On March 8, 2001, Discovery crew assigned Voss and a partner to move the Pressurized Mating Adapter from one docking port to another during a planned spacewalk.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842770Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA veteran astronaut floats outside the station to move a Pressurized Mating Adapter-did they make it in time? The Pressurized Mating Adapter stalled outside - did they make it? In this episode, we follow the mission that turned an ordinary...
The Pressurized Mating Adapter stalled outside - did they make it?

In this episode, we follow the mission that turned an ordinary logistics task into an endurance legacy. The story tracks James Voss’s path from a boy in Alabama to an astronaut assigned a long, precise spacewalk that would test training, patience, and procedure-what happened next?

Person: James Voss
Date: March 8, 2001
Event: Relocation of the Pressurized Mating Adapter
Duration referenced: Eight hours and fifty-six minutes
Mission: STS-101 (Discovery)

- Voss grew up in Opelika, Alabama, raised by his grandparents with an early fascination for the sky.
- He worked as a Vehicle Integration Test Engineer and joined the Challenger investigation after the January 28, 1986 disaster.
- Selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1987 and qualified as a mission specialist in August 1988.
- Previous EVAs: six hours on STS-69 (1995) and six hours with Jeff Williams on STS-101 (2000) installing hardware on the station.
- On March 8, 2001, Discovery crew assigned Voss and a partner to move the Pressurized Mating Adapter from one docking port to another during a planned spacewalk.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1026falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-calm-bay-that-took-a-shuttle-pilot-before-he-could-reach-shore--74842767
The Calm Bay That Took a Shuttle Pilot Before He Could Reach Shore

In this episode, we follow the life and career that led Alan Poindexter from Naval flight school to carrier decks and the left seat of Space Shuttle Discovery, and we set the scene for the afternoon in Little Sabine Bay that changes everything. What happened that July day, and why no procedure could save him, drives the episode's central question.

Person: Alan Poindexter Poindexter
Date: July 12, 2012
Location: Little Sabine Bay
Career hours: more than 4,500 flight hours
Assignments: two Space Shuttle missions (STS-122 pilot, STS-131 commander)

- Grew up near Washington, studied aeronautical engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, and trained as a Navy pilot in Pensacola.
- Served as a methodical test pilot at Patuxent River and was named Test Pilot of the Year in 1996 after proving new digital flight controls on an F-14.
- Accumulated 450+ carrier landings, logged over 4,000 hours across 30+ aircraft types, and circled Earth 441 times during two shuttle missions.
- Flew STS-122 as pilot in 2008 (12 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, 203 orbits) and commanded STS-131 in 2010 (15 days, 2 hours, 47 minutes, 238 orbits).
- Resigned from NASA in December 2010 after a career defined by procedure, precision, and missions where failure had contingency plans - except for the afternoon on the bay.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842767Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTVeteran shuttle pilot Alan Poindexter drifts in Little Sabine Bay after a family outing-can anyone get to him in time? The Calm Bay That Took a Shuttle Pilot Before He Could Reach Shore In this episode, we follow the life and career that led...
The Calm Bay That Took a Shuttle Pilot Before He Could Reach Shore

In this episode, we follow the life and career that led Alan Poindexter from Naval flight school to carrier decks and the left seat of Space Shuttle Discovery, and we set the scene for the afternoon in Little Sabine Bay that changes everything. What happened that July day, and why no procedure could save him, drives the episode's central question.

Person: Alan Poindexter Poindexter
Date: July 12, 2012
Location: Little Sabine Bay
Career hours: more than 4,500 flight hours
Assignments: two Space Shuttle missions (STS-122 pilot, STS-131 commander)

- Grew up near Washington, studied aeronautical engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, and trained as a Navy pilot in Pensacola.
- Served as a methodical test pilot at Patuxent River and was named Test Pilot of the Year in 1996 after proving new digital flight controls on an F-14.
- Accumulated 450+ carrier landings, logged over 4,000 hours across 30+ aircraft types, and circled Earth 441 times during two shuttle missions.
- Flew STS-122 as pilot in 2008 (12 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, 203 orbits) and commanded STS-131 in 2010 (15 days, 2 hours, 47 minutes, 238 orbits).
- Resigned from NASA in December 2010 after a career defined by procedure, precision, and missions where failure had contingency plans - except for the afternoon on the bay.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1169falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-remote-manipulator-arm-grabbed-the-dying-satellite-and-the-clock-began--74842765
The Remote Manipulator Arm grabbed the dying satellite - and the clock began

In this episode, we follow the mission that put an astronaut, a robotic arm, and a decaying communications satellite on a collision course with the clock. What decisions and actions did the crew take as the satellite’s orbit fell and time ran out?

Person: John Michael Lounge
Event: STS-51-I deployment and capture attempt
Date: Launch August 27, 1985
Location: Low Earth orbit
Payload mass: 15,400 pounds

- Lounge operated the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System to deploy and later approach satellites from Discovery’s payload bay.
- SYNCOM IV-3 failed to fire its perigee kick motor and was left in a decaying low orbit months before STS-51-I.
- Ground teams attempted multiple remote fixes for the dead satellite before the Shuttle mission launched.
- Discovery carried three satellites deployed successfully before the crew prepared to rendezvous with the already-orbiting SYNCOM IV-3.
- The mission timeline started with a running clock from launch, setting strict windows for rendezvous and capture operations.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842765Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Remote Manipulator Arm must grapple a dying 15,400-pound satellite in low orbit while a countdown ticks from launch - did they make it in time? The Remote Manipulator Arm grabbed the dying satellite - and the clock began In this episode, we...
The Remote Manipulator Arm grabbed the dying satellite - and the clock began

In this episode, we follow the mission that put an astronaut, a robotic arm, and a decaying communications satellite on a collision course with the clock. What decisions and actions did the crew take as the satellite’s orbit fell and time ran out?

Person: John Michael Lounge
Event: STS-51-I deployment and capture attempt
Date: Launch August 27, 1985
Location: Low Earth orbit
Payload mass: 15,400 pounds

- Lounge operated the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System to deploy and later approach satellites from Discovery’s payload bay.
- SYNCOM IV-3 failed to fire its perigee kick motor and was left in a decaying low orbit months before STS-51-I.
- Ground teams attempted multiple remote fixes for the dead satellite before the Shuttle mission launched.
- Discovery carried three satellites deployed successfully before the crew prepared to rendezvous with the already-orbiting SYNCOM IV-3.
- The mission timeline started with a running clock from launch, setting strict windows for rendezvous and capture operations.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1097falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fuel-alarm-that-forced-grabe-s-shuttle-to-burn-early--74842764
The fuel alarm that forced Grabe's shuttle to burn early

In this episode, we follow Ronald John Grabe’s path from combat pilot to test pilot to NASA astronaut and trace the moments and decisions that led to a tense shuttle launch sequence. The narrative focuses on procedures, training, and the alarm that forced an early burn-what choices did the crew and ground teams face in that moment?

Person: Ronald John Grabe
Date: born June 13, 1945
Location: New York City; later assignments include Bien Hoa, Cannon AFB, Edwards AFB, Boscombe Down
Event: selected by NASA in August 1981
Topic: combat missions, test pilot work, and a shuttle fuel alarm

- Flew 200 combat missions over Vietnam and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters
- Studied aeronautics on a Fulbright at Technische Hochschule Darmstadt before attending pilot training
- Transitioned from F-100 and F-111 operational flying to test pilot school, earning the Liethen-Tittle Award
- Served as an exchange test pilot with the RAF at Boscombe Down and became chief project pilot for the Harrier and Sea Harrier
- Was selected by NASA after accumulating systems-level experience in combat, engineering evaluation, and cross-cultural flight testing

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842764Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA NASA shuttle pilot feels a fuel alarm on approach to launch and must decide to burn early-did he make it in time? The fuel alarm that forced Grabe's shuttle to burn early In this episode, we follow Ronald John Grabe’s path from combat pilot to...
The fuel alarm that forced Grabe's shuttle to burn early

In this episode, we follow Ronald John Grabe’s path from combat pilot to test pilot to NASA astronaut and trace the moments and decisions that led to a tense shuttle launch sequence. The narrative focuses on procedures, training, and the alarm that forced an early burn-what choices did the crew and ground teams face in that moment?

Person: Ronald John Grabe
Date: born June 13, 1945
Location: New York City; later assignments include Bien Hoa, Cannon AFB, Edwards AFB, Boscombe Down
Event: selected by NASA in August 1981
Topic: combat missions, test pilot work, and a shuttle fuel alarm

- Flew 200 combat missions over Vietnam and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters
- Studied aeronautics on a Fulbright at Technische Hochschule Darmstadt before attending pilot training
- Transitioned from F-100 and F-111 operational flying to test pilot school, earning the Liethen-Tittle Award
- Served as an exchange test pilot with the RAF at Boscombe Down and became chief project pilot for the Harrier and Sea Harrier
- Was selected by NASA after accumulating systems-level experience in combat, engineering evaluation, and cross-cultural flight testing

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1479falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-thirty-one-seconds-that-saved-columbia-from-exploding--74842760
The Thirty-One Seconds That Saved Columbia From Exploding

This episode explores the near-catastrophic launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia on January 6, 1986, and the role of a payload specialist who spent years building the satellite it carried. It raises the question of what happens when a system designed to prevent failure barely catches it in time.

Event: Space Shuttle Columbia launch attempt STS-61-C
Date: January 6, 1986
Payload: Satcom Ku-one commercial communications satellite
Person: Robert Cenker
Status: Automatic hold triggered at T-minus 31 seconds

- The automatic hold was triggered at T-minus 31 seconds, preventing an uncontrolled engine ignition.
- 18,000 pounds of liquid oxygen had already drained from the external tank before the hold.
- Robert Cenker, a satellite engineer, was a payload specialist on the mission, having spent 18 years building communications satellites like Satcom Ku-one.
- Columbia's mission STS-61-C had accumulated seven scrubbed launch attempts before January 6, 1986.
- The abort protocols were designed to catch complex system failures that were difficult to predict in full simulation.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842760Mon, 19 Oct 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA space shuttle launch faces a critical engine failure, threatening an explosion on the pad. The crew is unaware of how close they are to disaster. The Thirty-One Seconds That Saved Columbia From Exploding This episode explores the...
The Thirty-One Seconds That Saved Columbia From Exploding

This episode explores the near-catastrophic launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia on January 6, 1986, and the role of a payload specialist who spent years building the satellite it carried. It raises the question of what happens when a system designed to prevent failure barely catches it in time.

Event: Space Shuttle Columbia launch attempt STS-61-C
Date: January 6, 1986
Payload: Satcom Ku-one commercial communications satellite
Person: Robert Cenker
Status: Automatic hold triggered at T-minus 31 seconds

- The automatic hold was triggered at T-minus 31 seconds, preventing an uncontrolled engine ignition.
- 18,000 pounds of liquid oxygen had already drained from the external tank before the hold.
- Robert Cenker, a satellite engineer, was a payload specialist on the mission, having spent 18 years building communications satellites like Satcom Ku-one.
- Columbia's mission STS-61-C had accumulated seven scrubbed launch attempts before January 6, 1986.
- The abort protocols were designed to catch complex system failures that were difficult to predict in full simulation.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1328falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-extra-136-kilograms-tipped-the-atlas-and-cost-shepard-s-return--74842758
The extra 136 kilograms tipped the Atlas and cost Shepard's return

In this episode, the story follows the planning and cancellation of Mercury-Atlas Ten, showing how engineering limits, program momentum, and personal ambition collided. It asks whether a mission named and crewed before its hardware was proven could have flown - and what that cost the program.

Person: Alan Shepard
Event: Cancellation of Mercury-Atlas Ten
Spacecraft: Freedom Seven-II (Spacecraft 15B)
Booster: Atlas 144D
Date: Planning began mid-1961; spacecraft delivered November 1962; renamed January 1963

- Mission profile called for roughly three days (72 hours) in orbit, far longer than any previous American flight.
- Engineers calculated an extra 136 kilograms of consumables (oxygen, water, power) to support the extended duration.
- Spacecraft 15B arrived as a backup for Mercury-Atlas Nine and was slated to become MA-10’s primary vehicle after MA-9.
- Faith Seven’s 34-hour flight exposed multiple hardware failures and stressed systems close to their limits.
- The Atlas booster assigned had minimal lift margin, making every added kilogram a critical factor in launch viability.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842758Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAlan Shepard stares at the capsule Freedom Seven-II, grounded by a decision - will a three-day mission ever lift off? The extra 136 kilograms tipped the Atlas and cost Shepard's return In this episode, the story follows the planning and...
The extra 136 kilograms tipped the Atlas and cost Shepard's return

In this episode, the story follows the planning and cancellation of Mercury-Atlas Ten, showing how engineering limits, program momentum, and personal ambition collided. It asks whether a mission named and crewed before its hardware was proven could have flown - and what that cost the program.

Person: Alan Shepard
Event: Cancellation of Mercury-Atlas Ten
Spacecraft: Freedom Seven-II (Spacecraft 15B)
Booster: Atlas 144D
Date: Planning began mid-1961; spacecraft delivered November 1962; renamed January 1963

- Mission profile called for roughly three days (72 hours) in orbit, far longer than any previous American flight.
- Engineers calculated an extra 136 kilograms of consumables (oxygen, water, power) to support the extended duration.
- Spacecraft 15B arrived as a backup for Mercury-Atlas Nine and was slated to become MA-10’s primary vehicle after MA-9.
- Faith Seven’s 34-hour flight exposed multiple hardware failures and stressed systems close to their limits.
- The Atlas booster assigned had minimal lift margin, making every added kilogram a critical factor in launch viability.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1136falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fuel-gauge-that-forced-armstrong-to-abort-the-computer-and-land-in-seconds--74842757
The fuel gauge that forced Armstrong to abort the computer and land in seconds

In this episode, we follow the final hundred seconds before the Apollo 11 landing: the guidance drift, Armstrong’s split-second decision to take manual control, and the tight fuel margin that shaped every choice on the lunar surface. What happened in those seconds changed where they touched down and what they left behind.

Person: Neil Armstrong
Person: Buzz Aldrin
Date: July 20, 1969
Location: Sea of Tranquility
Event: Lunar descent and landing

- Residual pressure in the docking tunnel and imperfect mascon maps steered Eagle four miles off the planned approach.
- At about 2,000 feet Armstrong realized the computer was flying them toward a boulder-strewn crater and chose to disengage automatic guidance.
- With roughly sixty seconds of hover fuel left, Armstrong manually searched for a flat patch and guided Eagle to an unplanned touchdown inside the mission ellipse.
- The crew had a strict surface time budget of two hours and thirty-one minutes driven by oxygen, thermal limits, and ascent fuel constraints.
- To save every possible ounce for ascent, Aldrin removed and left items like his boots on the lunar surface rather than bring extra mass back.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842757Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA fuel gauge ticked toward zero on the Moon as Neil Armstrong cut the computer and searched for a safe spot - did they make it in time? The fuel gauge that forced Armstrong to abort the computer and land in seconds In this episode, we follow the...
The fuel gauge that forced Armstrong to abort the computer and land in seconds

In this episode, we follow the final hundred seconds before the Apollo 11 landing: the guidance drift, Armstrong’s split-second decision to take manual control, and the tight fuel margin that shaped every choice on the lunar surface. What happened in those seconds changed where they touched down and what they left behind.

Person: Neil Armstrong
Person: Buzz Aldrin
Date: July 20, 1969
Location: Sea of Tranquility
Event: Lunar descent and landing

- Residual pressure in the docking tunnel and imperfect mascon maps steered Eagle four miles off the planned approach.
- At about 2,000 feet Armstrong realized the computer was flying them toward a boulder-strewn crater and chose to disengage automatic guidance.
- With roughly sixty seconds of hover fuel left, Armstrong manually searched for a flat patch and guided Eagle to an unplanned touchdown inside the mission ellipse.
- The crew had a strict surface time budget of two hours and thirty-one minutes driven by oxygen, thermal limits, and ascent fuel constraints.
- To save every possible ounce for ascent, Aldrin removed and left items like his boots on the lunar surface rather than bring extra mass back.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1355falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ninety-second-hatch-that-cost-them-the-cabin-s-only-escape--74842755
The ninety-second hatch that cost them the cabin's only escape

In this episode, we follow the last eighty-four seconds inside a Command Module on the ground as a sudden electrical anomaly becomes an expanding fire. What did the crew do in those frantic seconds, and how did one small specification - a ninety-second hatch - shape everything that followed?

Date: January 27, 1967
Location: Launch Complex 34, Cape Kennedy
Event: Plugs-out countdown demonstration
Person: Roger Chaffee
Status: Sealed command module; pure-oxygen atmosphere

- The crew sealed themselves inside the Command Module for a routine ground test called a plugs-out countdown demonstration.
- Instruments recorded a power surge at 23:30:55 GMT, with the first human voice nine seconds later.
- The cabin used a slightly above-atmospheric pure-oxygen environment during the test.
- The hatch required a minimum of ninety seconds to open from the inside under normal conditions, a documented specification.
- Seventy-two more seconds passed after the first voice before the interior wall burst outward, during which three men attempted every trained procedure.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842755Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAt Cape Kennedy a sealed command module fills with fire; three astronauts race to open the hatch-can they escape? The ninety-second hatch that cost them the cabin's only escape In this episode, we follow the last eighty-four seconds inside a...
The ninety-second hatch that cost them the cabin's only escape

In this episode, we follow the last eighty-four seconds inside a Command Module on the ground as a sudden electrical anomaly becomes an expanding fire. What did the crew do in those frantic seconds, and how did one small specification - a ninety-second hatch - shape everything that followed?

Date: January 27, 1967
Location: Launch Complex 34, Cape Kennedy
Event: Plugs-out countdown demonstration
Person: Roger Chaffee
Status: Sealed command module; pure-oxygen atmosphere

- The crew sealed themselves inside the Command Module for a routine ground test called a plugs-out countdown demonstration.
- Instruments recorded a power surge at 23:30:55 GMT, with the first human voice nine seconds later.
- The cabin used a slightly above-atmospheric pure-oxygen environment during the test.
- The hatch required a minimum of ninety seconds to open from the inside under normal conditions, a documented specification.
- Seventy-two more seconds passed after the first voice before the interior wall burst outward, during which three men attempted every trained procedure.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1215falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-100k-tool-bag-and-the-dying-space-station--74842753
The $100K Tool Bag and the Dying Space Station

This episode explores the challenges faced by the crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission in November 2008. It details the critical issues threatening the International Space Station and the crew's race against time to resolve them.

Date: November 18, 2008
Mission: STS-126
Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Crew Size: Seven
Lost Item: Tool bag

- Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a $100,000 tool bag during her first spacewalk as Lead Spacewalker.
- The International Space Station's Solar Array Rotary Joint (SARJ) had been malfunctioning for 14 months, limiting power.
- The SARJ repair required four spacewalks to clean and re-grease bearing surfaces in extreme conditions.
- The Water Recovery System (WRS), vital for expanding the crew from three to six, shut down on its first night of operation.
- The WRS was designed to convert urine and wastewater into drinking water, but its output needed ground testing before consumption.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842753Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA $100,000 tool bag drifts into space, threatening a crew and the International Space Station. Can they keep the International Space Station alive? The $100K Tool Bag and the Dying Space Station This episode explores the challenges faced by the...
The $100K Tool Bag and the Dying Space Station

This episode explores the challenges faced by the crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission in November 2008. It details the critical issues threatening the International Space Station and the crew's race against time to resolve them.

Date: November 18, 2008
Mission: STS-126
Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Crew Size: Seven
Lost Item: Tool bag

- Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a $100,000 tool bag during her first spacewalk as Lead Spacewalker.
- The International Space Station's Solar Array Rotary Joint (SARJ) had been malfunctioning for 14 months, limiting power.
- The SARJ repair required four spacewalks to clean and re-grease bearing surfaces in extreme conditions.
- The Water Recovery System (WRS), vital for expanding the crew from three to six, shut down on its first night of operation.
- The WRS was designed to convert urine and wastewater into drinking water, but its output needed ground testing before consumption.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1131falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-padlock-that-sealed-the-hatch-and-shrank-their-margin-for-return--74842748
The padlock that sealed the hatch - and shrank their margin for return

This episode explores the story behind a padlock found on the Space Shuttle Atlantis's hatch control during a 1985 mission. It delves into the intense operational pace of the American space program at the time and the unspoken implications of the lock's presence.

Date: November 1985
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Mission: STS-61-B
Commander: Brewster Shaw
Mexican Astronaut: Rodolfo Neri Vela

- The Space Shuttle Atlantis completed a record turnaround of 54 days between missions in 1985.
- Commander Brewster Shaw installed a padlock on the hatch control during the STS-61-B mission.
- Six crew members were aware of the padlock, but the seventh, Rodolfo Neri Vela, was not.
- Neri Vela was the first Mexican citizen in space, deploying a Mexican satellite and conducting experiments.
- The mission involved two spacewalks and the deployment of three satellites, achieving all official objectives.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842748Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA padlock appears on a Space Shuttle Atlantis hatch control, 300 kilometers above Earth. Six people know it is there; the seventh does not. The padlock that sealed the hatch - and shrank their margin for return This episode explores the story...
The padlock that sealed the hatch - and shrank their margin for return

This episode explores the story behind a padlock found on the Space Shuttle Atlantis's hatch control during a 1985 mission. It delves into the intense operational pace of the American space program at the time and the unspoken implications of the lock's presence.

Date: November 1985
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Mission: STS-61-B
Commander: Brewster Shaw
Mexican Astronaut: Rodolfo Neri Vela

- The Space Shuttle Atlantis completed a record turnaround of 54 days between missions in 1985.
- Commander Brewster Shaw installed a padlock on the hatch control during the STS-61-B mission.
- Six crew members were aware of the padlock, but the seventh, Rodolfo Neri Vela, was not.
- Neri Vela was the first Mexican citizen in space, deploying a Mexican satellite and conducting experiments.
- The mission involved two spacewalks and the deployment of three satellites, achieving all official objectives.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1178falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-retrorockets-that-fired-too-long-sealed-the-dogs-fate--74842718
The retrorockets that fired too long sealed the dogs' fate

This episode recounts the December 1960 Soviet space mission carrying two dogs, Pchyolka and Mushka, which faced an unexpected trajectory change. It explores the protocol that led to a swift, irreversible command.

Date: December 1, 1960
Animals: Pchyolka and Mushka
Program: Soviet space program
Spacecraft: Korabl-Sputnik two (Sputnik three)

- The Soviet space program recruited female street dogs from Moscow, preferring them for their resilience.
- Mushka was a backup for the Sputnik two mission, undergoing ground tests in a pressure chamber.
- Pchyolka and Mushka were highly prepared, experienced dogs for the Korabl-Sputnik two mission.
- The mission profile called for a single day in orbit and a controlled reentry over Soviet territory.
- Retrorockets fired longer than programmed, altering the reentry angle and trajectory.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842718Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Soviet space mission goes awry when retrorockets fail, sending a capsule with two dogs towards foreign territory. The space program faces a critical decision. The retrorockets that fired too long sealed the dogs' fate This episode recounts the...
The retrorockets that fired too long sealed the dogs' fate

This episode recounts the December 1960 Soviet space mission carrying two dogs, Pchyolka and Mushka, which faced an unexpected trajectory change. It explores the protocol that led to a swift, irreversible command.

Date: December 1, 1960
Animals: Pchyolka and Mushka
Program: Soviet space program
Spacecraft: Korabl-Sputnik two (Sputnik three)

- The Soviet space program recruited female street dogs from Moscow, preferring them for their resilience.
- Mushka was a backup for the Sputnik two mission, undergoing ground tests in a pressure chamber.
- Pchyolka and Mushka were highly prepared, experienced dogs for the Korabl-Sputnik two mission.
- The mission profile called for a single day in orbit and a controlled reentry over Soviet territory.
- Retrorockets fired longer than programmed, altering the reentry angle and trajectory.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1384falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-blok-d-2-engine-failed-to-fire-did-mars-96-make-the-window--74842688
The Blok D‑2 Engine Failed to Fire - Did Mars‑96 Make the Window

This episode recounts the launch of Mars-96, the heaviest interplanetary probe ever built, and the critical engine failure that left its fate unknown. It explores the silence that followed and the unresolved questions surrounding its disappearance.

Date: November 16, 1996
Payload: 6,180 kilograms
Radioactive Material: 200 grams of plutonium-238
Location: East of Iquique, Chile
Mission Goal: Reach Mars

- Mars-96 was Russia's return to deep-space exploration after a decade without missions beyond Earth orbit.
- The mission involved an orbiter, two surface stations, and two penetrators, with instruments contributed by multiple nations.
- Each surface station and penetrator carried radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) powered by plutonium-238 pellets.
- The pellets were engineered to survive the heat of Martian atmospheric entry and surface impact.
- The Proton 8K82K rocket's fourth stage, Blok D-2, was designed for two burns: one for parking orbit and a second for trans-Mars injection.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842688Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA heavy interplanetary probe launches for Mars, but its engine fails to fire, leaving a radioactive payload unrecovered on Earth. The Blok D‑2 Engine Failed to Fire - Did Mars‑96 Make the Window This episode recounts the launch of Mars-96, the...
The Blok D‑2 Engine Failed to Fire - Did Mars‑96 Make the Window

This episode recounts the launch of Mars-96, the heaviest interplanetary probe ever built, and the critical engine failure that left its fate unknown. It explores the silence that followed and the unresolved questions surrounding its disappearance.

Date: November 16, 1996
Payload: 6,180 kilograms
Radioactive Material: 200 grams of plutonium-238
Location: East of Iquique, Chile
Mission Goal: Reach Mars

- Mars-96 was Russia's return to deep-space exploration after a decade without missions beyond Earth orbit.
- The mission involved an orbiter, two surface stations, and two penetrators, with instruments contributed by multiple nations.
- Each surface station and penetrator carried radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) powered by plutonium-238 pellets.
- The pellets were engineered to survive the heat of Martian atmospheric entry and surface impact.
- The Proton 8K82K rocket's fourth stage, Blok D-2, was designed for two burns: one for parking orbit and a second for trans-Mars injection.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1264falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-carrier-wave-that-heard-mariner-5-and-ignored-every-command--74842672
The carrier wave that heard Mariner 5 and ignored every command

In this episode, we follow the months-long journey of a spacecraft rebuilt from a spare, sent toward Venus, and then heard again after months of silence. What changed between its June launch and that October carrier lock, and what does a probe that can hear but not respond actually mean?

Person: Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers
Date: June 14, 1967; October 14, 1968
Location: Deep Space Station 14, California (Mojave Desert)
Event: Mariner 5 launches on Atlas-Agena; later carrier wave received but uplink ignored
Topic: Mariner 5 refit from Mars spare to Venus probe

- Mariner 5 was built as a spare for Mariner 4, kept in a clean room with no original mission.
- Engineers reconfigured the spacecraft for Venus: reversed solar panels, added thermal shielding, swapped components, and relocated a UV photometer.
- Launch on June 14, 1967: Agena upper stage showed abnormal engine chamber pressure fluctuations before stabilizing and confirming Venus intercept.
- Through the cruise phase, engineering telemetry arrived but key science instruments (photometer, magnetometer, radio occultation) produced no confirmed data.
- On October 14, 1968, Deep Space Station 14 locked a clean carrier wave from Mariner 5 displaced from its predicted frequency; commands were sent but received no replies.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842672Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn operator in California locks onto Mariner 5’s carrier wave in October 1968, the probe answers but ignores every command-did they make contact in time? The carrier wave that heard Mariner 5 and ignored every command In this episode, we follow...
The carrier wave that heard Mariner 5 and ignored every command

In this episode, we follow the months-long journey of a spacecraft rebuilt from a spare, sent toward Venus, and then heard again after months of silence. What changed between its June launch and that October carrier lock, and what does a probe that can hear but not respond actually mean?

Person: Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers
Date: June 14, 1967; October 14, 1968
Location: Deep Space Station 14, California (Mojave Desert)
Event: Mariner 5 launches on Atlas-Agena; later carrier wave received but uplink ignored
Topic: Mariner 5 refit from Mars spare to Venus probe

- Mariner 5 was built as a spare for Mariner 4, kept in a clean room with no original mission.
- Engineers reconfigured the spacecraft for Venus: reversed solar panels, added thermal shielding, swapped components, and relocated a UV photometer.
- Launch on June 14, 1967: Agena upper stage showed abnormal engine chamber pressure fluctuations before stabilizing and confirming Venus intercept.
- Through the cruise phase, engineering telemetry arrived but key science instruments (photometer, magnetometer, radio occultation) produced no confirmed data.
- On October 14, 1968, Deep Space Station 14 locked a clean carrier wave from Mariner 5 displaced from its predicted frequency; commands were sent but received no replies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1189falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-r-1-capsule-s-parachute-opened-did-dezik-and-tsygan-make-it--74842661
The R‑1 capsule's parachute opened - did Dezik and Tsygan make it?

In this episode, we follow the sealed flight of two dogs aboard a Soviet R‑1 rocket in July 1951 and trace how those early biological tests became the first link in a chain that sent human‑made objects beyond Earth. What choices and risks during those minutes shaped the path from classified launches to probes leaving Earth’s gravity?

Date: July 22, 1951
Event: Suborbital R‑1 flight with biological payload
Persons: Dezik; Tsygan
Location: Classified Soviet test facility / R‑1 rocket launch
Topic: Early Soviet biological spaceflight tests

- Two dogs, Dezik and Tsygan, were sealed into a capsule atop an R‑1 rocket for a suborbital test flight that lasted minutes.
- The mission included a parachute descent intended to return the capsule and its living occupants to the ground.
- The flight was classified and unknown outside a closed Moscow facility at the time.
- Four additional similar flights followed that autumn, each adding biological data to Soviet files.
- These early tests preceded Sputnik and were part of an effort to answer whether a living body could survive being pushed past the atmosphere and back.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842661Sat, 10 Oct 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA pair of dogs sealed in an R‑1 capsule ride a classified Soviet suborbital flight; the parachute opens - did Dezik and Tsygan make it in time? The R‑1 capsule's parachute opened - did Dezik and Tsygan make it? In this episode, we follow the...
The R‑1 capsule's parachute opened - did Dezik and Tsygan make it?

In this episode, we follow the sealed flight of two dogs aboard a Soviet R‑1 rocket in July 1951 and trace how those early biological tests became the first link in a chain that sent human‑made objects beyond Earth. What choices and risks during those minutes shaped the path from classified launches to probes leaving Earth’s gravity?

Date: July 22, 1951
Event: Suborbital R‑1 flight with biological payload
Persons: Dezik; Tsygan
Location: Classified Soviet test facility / R‑1 rocket launch
Topic: Early Soviet biological spaceflight tests

- Two dogs, Dezik and Tsygan, were sealed into a capsule atop an R‑1 rocket for a suborbital test flight that lasted minutes.
- The mission included a parachute descent intended to return the capsule and its living occupants to the ground.
- The flight was classified and unknown outside a closed Moscow facility at the time.
- Four additional similar flights followed that autumn, each adding biological data to Soviet files.
- These early tests preceded Sputnik and were part of an effort to answer whether a living body could survive being pushed past the atmosphere and back.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1243falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ninety-one-year-silence-who-was-missing--74842649
The Ninety-One Year Silence: Who Was Missing?

This episode explores the American Women Quarters Program, which introduced the faces of diverse women onto circulating US currency. It delves into the historical context of the Washington quarter and the significance of these new designs.

Program: American Women Quarters Program
Period: 2022-2025
Number of coins: 20
Legislation: Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020
Original Portrait Date: 1931

- The program was authorized to mark 100 years since the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote.
- The obverse of the new quarters features a portrait by sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser, originally selected in 1931 but not used until 2022.
- The selection process for the women depicted on the reverse side involved consulting various historical and women's organizations.
- The program aimed to identify women whose contributions shaped American history but had never been represented on circulating currency.
- Many of the women depicted were the first of their communities to appear on United States currency, including Maya Angelou and Sally Ride.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842649Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA 1931 portrait designed for the US quarter was set aside for 91 years. Now, a new program asks who was missing from American currency. The Ninety-One Year Silence: Who Was Missing? This episode explores the American Women Quarters Program,...
The Ninety-One Year Silence: Who Was Missing?

This episode explores the American Women Quarters Program, which introduced the faces of diverse women onto circulating US currency. It delves into the historical context of the Washington quarter and the significance of these new designs.

Program: American Women Quarters Program
Period: 2022-2025
Number of coins: 20
Legislation: Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020
Original Portrait Date: 1931

- The program was authorized to mark 100 years since the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote.
- The obverse of the new quarters features a portrait by sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser, originally selected in 1931 but not used until 2022.
- The selection process for the women depicted on the reverse side involved consulting various historical and women's organizations.
- The program aimed to identify women whose contributions shaped American history but had never been represented on circulating currency.
- Many of the women depicted were the first of their communities to appear on United States currency, including Maya Angelou and Sally Ride.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1139falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-woodpecker-that-grounded-discovery-did-they-make-it-in-time--74842643
The woodpecker that grounded Discovery: Did they make it in time?

This episode explores the journey of Donald Thomas, an astronaut whose persistence led him to NASA after multiple rejections. It delves into the unexpected challenge posed by a northern flicker to a space shuttle launch and the kind of determination it takes to overcome repeated obstacles.

Person: Donald Thomas
Event: Space Shuttle Discovery launch attempt
Date: Summer 1995
Location: Launchpad, Florida
Animal: Northern flicker

- A northern flicker drilled approximately seventy holes into the foam insulation of Space Shuttle Discovery's external tank.
- Donald Thomas applied to be a NASA astronaut three times and was rejected before his fourth application was accepted.
- Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in physics, followed by a master's and doctorate in materials science, focusing on crystalline defects.
- He worked at&T Bell Laboratories, filing two patents, before moving to Houston to work for Lockheed Engineering and Sciences.
- Thomas joined NASA Johnson Space Center as a materials engineer, working on Space Station Freedom and the Microgravity Disturbances Experiment.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842643Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA six-ounce bird drills holes in a space shuttle's external tank - will it ground the mission and the astronaut who finally got there? The woodpecker that grounded Discovery: Did they make it in time? This episode explores the journey of Donald...
The woodpecker that grounded Discovery: Did they make it in time?

This episode explores the journey of Donald Thomas, an astronaut whose persistence led him to NASA after multiple rejections. It delves into the unexpected challenge posed by a northern flicker to a space shuttle launch and the kind of determination it takes to overcome repeated obstacles.

Person: Donald Thomas
Event: Space Shuttle Discovery launch attempt
Date: Summer 1995
Location: Launchpad, Florida
Animal: Northern flicker

- A northern flicker drilled approximately seventy holes into the foam insulation of Space Shuttle Discovery's external tank.
- Donald Thomas applied to be a NASA astronaut three times and was rejected before his fourth application was accepted.
- Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in physics, followed by a master's and doctorate in materials science, focusing on crystalline defects.
- He worked at&T Bell Laboratories, filing two patents, before moving to Houston to work for Lockheed Engineering and Sciences.
- Thomas joined NASA Johnson Space Center as a materials engineer, working on Space Station Freedom and the Microgravity Disturbances Experiment.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1249falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-flute-that-flew-past-earth-s-thin-blue-line--74842635
The Flute That Flew Past Earth's Thin Blue Line

This episode explores the remarkable life of Ellen Ochoa, from her childhood in a family without college degrees to becoming a pioneering astronaut and beyond. It examines the winding path she took to achieve her dreams and the impact she had on space exploration.

Person: Ellen Ochoa
Date: April 8, 1993
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Event: Space Shuttle Discovery launch
Mission: STS-56

- Ellen Ochoa was born in Los Angeles in 1958 and grew up in La Mesa, California.
- She pursued a physics degree at San Diego State University, graduating with highest honors in 1980.
- Ochoa earned a master's and doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University, focusing on optical systems.
- Her doctoral research led to three patents for systems designed to help machines "see" and detect defects.
- After being rejected once, she was selected by NASA for the astronaut program in January 1990.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842635Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA classical flute orbits at 17,000 mph, packed by the first Hispanic woman in space. How did her path to NASA unfold? The Flute That Flew Past Earth's Thin Blue Line This episode explores the remarkable life of Ellen Ochoa, from her childhood in...
The Flute That Flew Past Earth's Thin Blue Line

This episode explores the remarkable life of Ellen Ochoa, from her childhood in a family without college degrees to becoming a pioneering astronaut and beyond. It examines the winding path she took to achieve her dreams and the impact she had on space exploration.

Person: Ellen Ochoa
Date: April 8, 1993
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Event: Space Shuttle Discovery launch
Mission: STS-56

- Ellen Ochoa was born in Los Angeles in 1958 and grew up in La Mesa, California.
- She pursued a physics degree at San Diego State University, graduating with highest honors in 1980.
- Ochoa earned a master's and doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University, focusing on optical systems.
- Her doctoral research led to three patents for systems designed to help machines "see" and detect defects.
- After being rejected once, she was selected by NASA for the astronaut program in January 1990.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1273falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-forgotten-oxygen-valve-squandered-two-hours-and-the-clock--74842626
The forgotten oxygen valve squandered two hours and the clock

This episode explores the critical moments of a spacewalk delay aboard the International Space Station, focusing on the meticulous preparation and the unexpected hurdle that threatened a vital mission. It raises the question of how much time can be lost before a spacewalk's objective becomes unreachable.

Person: Valery Korzun
Event: Spacewalk delay
Date: October 7, 2002
Location: International Space Station
Equipment: Orlan pressure suits

- Cosmonaut Valery Korzun was selected for the Russian cosmonaut corps in 1987, but his first flight was nine years later in 1996.
- During his nine years of preparation, Korzun made 377 parachute jumps, each a rehearsal for physical control under stress.
- Korzun returned to the International Space Station for Expedition Five in June 2002, at 48 years old.
- His assignment included an extravehicular activity to install debris protection panels on the exterior hull, crucial armor against orbital debris.
- On the day of the spacewalk, October 7, 2002, Korzun and Peggy Whitson entered the airlock, but the hatch would not open due to an unopened oxygen valve.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842626Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTTwo cosmonauts are sealed inside the International Space Station airlock, suited for a spacewalk, but a forgotten oxygen valve means precious time is slipping away. The forgotten oxygen valve squandered two hours and the clock This episode...
The forgotten oxygen valve squandered two hours and the clock

This episode explores the critical moments of a spacewalk delay aboard the International Space Station, focusing on the meticulous preparation and the unexpected hurdle that threatened a vital mission. It raises the question of how much time can be lost before a spacewalk's objective becomes unreachable.

Person: Valery Korzun
Event: Spacewalk delay
Date: October 7, 2002
Location: International Space Station
Equipment: Orlan pressure suits

- Cosmonaut Valery Korzun was selected for the Russian cosmonaut corps in 1987, but his first flight was nine years later in 1996.
- During his nine years of preparation, Korzun made 377 parachute jumps, each a rehearsal for physical control under stress.
- Korzun returned to the International Space Station for Expedition Five in June 2002, at 48 years old.
- His assignment included an extravehicular activity to install debris protection panels on the exterior hull, crucial armor against orbital debris.
- On the day of the spacewalk, October 7, 2002, Korzun and Peggy Whitson entered the airlock, but the hatch would not open due to an unopened oxygen valve.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1047falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-capture-bar-grabbed-the-tumbling-satellite-and-bought-eleven-hours--74842621
The capture bar grabbed the tumbling satellite and bought eleven hours

In this episode, we follow the mission to intercept SYNCOM IV-3: how two astronauts suited up, approached a tumbling 15,400-pound satellite, and attempted manual repairs while the clock ran. What decisions, tools, and procedures made their eleven-hour-plus spacewalk possible - and what risks they faced along the way?

Person: William Fisher
Person: James van Hoften
Event: SYNCOM IV-3 capture attempt
Date: August 31, 1985
Location: Space, 400 kilometers above Earth

- Fisher spent years testing spacesuit hardware and served in EVA and spacesuit office before wearing the suit on this mission.
- The target was a 15,400-pound military communications satellite that had failed to reach operational orbit and was tumbling.
- Van Hoften used a specially designed capture bar to arrest the satellite’s tumble while Fisher stood by on the Shuttle’s robotic arm.
- The operation required precise timing in the tumble cycle: a wrong grip could transfer angular momentum to the astronauts instead of stopping the satellite.
- The repair involved replacing a faulty perigee kick motor with deliberate, tool-by-tool movements while the clock counted down.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842621Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTTwo astronauts reach out to grab a tumbling 15,400-pound satellite over Earth with a capture bar - can their spacewalk stop the spin in time? The capture bar grabbed the tumbling satellite and bought eleven hours In this episode, we follow the...
The capture bar grabbed the tumbling satellite and bought eleven hours

In this episode, we follow the mission to intercept SYNCOM IV-3: how two astronauts suited up, approached a tumbling 15,400-pound satellite, and attempted manual repairs while the clock ran. What decisions, tools, and procedures made their eleven-hour-plus spacewalk possible - and what risks they faced along the way?

Person: William Fisher
Person: James van Hoften
Event: SYNCOM IV-3 capture attempt
Date: August 31, 1985
Location: Space, 400 kilometers above Earth

- Fisher spent years testing spacesuit hardware and served in EVA and spacesuit office before wearing the suit on this mission.
- The target was a 15,400-pound military communications satellite that had failed to reach operational orbit and was tumbling.
- Van Hoften used a specially designed capture bar to arrest the satellite’s tumble while Fisher stood by on the Shuttle’s robotic arm.
- The operation required precise timing in the tumble cycle: a wrong grip could transfer angular momentum to the astronauts instead of stopping the satellite.
- The repair involved replacing a faulty perigee kick motor with deliberate, tool-by-tool movements while the clock counted down.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1213falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-twelve-thousand-pound-satellite-slipped-free-and-drained-their-eva-clock--74842612
The twelve-thousand‑pound satellite slipped free and drained their EVA clock

In this episode, we follow the tense May 13, 1992 EVA when three astronauts attempted a never-tried retrieval while the Shuttle program’s limited orbital fuel and EVA hours ticked down. What decisions and failures led them outside the spacecraft, and could their plan work under the clock NASA had left them?

Person: Daniel Charles Brandenstein
Date: May 13, 1992
Event: Unplanned satellite capture during STS-49 EVA
Location: Aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, first flight
Status: Mission constrained by finite EVA hours and orbital fuel

- Three astronauts were simultaneously untethered outside the spacecraft holding a twelve-thousand-pound satellite.
- The situation occurred amid six years of institutional pressure after the January 1986 Shuttle accident.
- Brandenstein, an experienced pilot and former Chief of the Astronaut Office, commanded STS-49.
- Prior missions under Brandenstein included retrieving large orbital hardware using the robotic arm.
- The mission faced a ticking limit: capped EVA hours and finite orbital fuel dictating every decision.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842612Sun, 04 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTThree astronauts cling to a 12,000-pound satellite over Earth with no tested tether and only limited EVA hours-did they make it in time? The twelve-thousand‑pound satellite slipped free and drained their EVA clock In this episode, we follow the...
The twelve-thousand‑pound satellite slipped free and drained their EVA clock

In this episode, we follow the tense May 13, 1992 EVA when three astronauts attempted a never-tried retrieval while the Shuttle program’s limited orbital fuel and EVA hours ticked down. What decisions and failures led them outside the spacecraft, and could their plan work under the clock NASA had left them?

Person: Daniel Charles Brandenstein
Date: May 13, 1992
Event: Unplanned satellite capture during STS-49 EVA
Location: Aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, first flight
Status: Mission constrained by finite EVA hours and orbital fuel

- Three astronauts were simultaneously untethered outside the spacecraft holding a twelve-thousand-pound satellite.
- The situation occurred amid six years of institutional pressure after the January 1986 Shuttle accident.
- Brandenstein, an experienced pilot and former Chief of the Astronaut Office, commanded STS-49.
- Prior missions under Brandenstein included retrieving large orbital hardware using the robotic arm.
- The mission faced a ticking limit: capped EVA hours and finite orbital fuel dictating every decision.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1234falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-pressure-suit-leak-delayed-jettison-and-cost-them-an-orbit-s-worth-of-margin--74842606
A pressure-suit leak delayed jettison and cost them an orbit's worth of margin

In this episode, we follow Apollo 15’s return from the Moon and the cascade of technical and human problems that accumulated before reentry. The episode traces how a new suit rule, a depressurization failure, mission delays, and physiological strain narrowed the margin for a safe splashdown - did the systems hold when it mattered?

Mission: Apollo 15
Date: July 26-August 7, 1971
Capsule: Endeavour
Crew: David Scott, James Irwin, Alfred Worden
Location: Pacific Ocean recovery zone

- A new rule after Soyuz 11 required full pressure suits for Lunar Module jettison; Apollo 15 had never done this before.
- David Scott’s suit failed its integrity check and the tunnel to Endeavour failed to depressurize, delaying jettison by one orbit.
- The one-orbit delay shifted Falcon’s impact point about 56 miles and compressed the mission timeline for surface and rendezvous tasks.
- Crew fatigue: Scott and Irwin had been awake over 23 hours before rendezvous; ground told them to take a sedative they declined.
- Medical telemetry showed bigeminy in Scott and Irwin due to potassium deficiency during EVAs, adding physiological risk to already tight margins.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842606Sat, 03 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA pressure-suit leak forces a delayed Lunar Module jettison over the Moon, shaving their reentry margin as three men head for the Pacific. A pressure-suit leak delayed jettison and cost them an orbit's worth of margin In this episode, we follow...
A pressure-suit leak delayed jettison and cost them an orbit's worth of margin

In this episode, we follow Apollo 15’s return from the Moon and the cascade of technical and human problems that accumulated before reentry. The episode traces how a new suit rule, a depressurization failure, mission delays, and physiological strain narrowed the margin for a safe splashdown - did the systems hold when it mattered?

Mission: Apollo 15
Date: July 26-August 7, 1971
Capsule: Endeavour
Crew: David Scott, James Irwin, Alfred Worden
Location: Pacific Ocean recovery zone

- A new rule after Soyuz 11 required full pressure suits for Lunar Module jettison; Apollo 15 had never done this before.
- David Scott’s suit failed its integrity check and the tunnel to Endeavour failed to depressurize, delaying jettison by one orbit.
- The one-orbit delay shifted Falcon’s impact point about 56 miles and compressed the mission timeline for surface and rendezvous tasks.
- Crew fatigue: Scott and Irwin had been awake over 23 hours before rendezvous; ground told them to take a sedative they declined.
- Medical telemetry showed bigeminy in Scott and Irwin due to potassium deficiency during EVAs, adding physiological risk to already tight margins.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1307falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-rocket-test-with-no-fuel-declared-safe-killed-three-astronauts-in-17-seconds--74842597
A rocket test with no fuel, declared safe - killed three astronauts in 17 seconds

This episode explores the events leading up to a fatal test in 1967, tracing the career of an astronaut and the design decisions that created a deadly environment. It examines the critical choices and overlooked flaws that contributed to the tragedy.

Person: Edward Higgins White II
Date: January 27, 1967
Location: Cape Kennedy
Event: Apollo 1 Plugs-Out Test
Topic: Spacecraft design flaws

- Edward White graduated from West Point in 1952 and earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.
- In 1962, NASA selected White for Astronaut Group Two when he was 31 years old.
- On June 3, 1965, White became the first American to perform a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission.
- During his spacewalk, a spare thermal glove drifted away, and the hatch later refused to close, requiring manual force to secure it.
- Apollo spacecraft were pressurized with 100% pure oxygen at 16 pounds per square inch, a condition that made many cabin materials highly flammable at sea level.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842597Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spacewalking astronaut loses a glove, then struggles to close his hatch. Two years later, a pure oxygen fire traps him in a capsule. A rocket test with no fuel, declared safe - killed three astronauts in 17 seconds This episode explores the...
A rocket test with no fuel, declared safe - killed three astronauts in 17 seconds

This episode explores the events leading up to a fatal test in 1967, tracing the career of an astronaut and the design decisions that created a deadly environment. It examines the critical choices and overlooked flaws that contributed to the tragedy.

Person: Edward Higgins White II
Date: January 27, 1967
Location: Cape Kennedy
Event: Apollo 1 Plugs-Out Test
Topic: Spacecraft design flaws

- Edward White graduated from West Point in 1952 and earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.
- In 1962, NASA selected White for Astronaut Group Two when he was 31 years old.
- On June 3, 1965, White became the first American to perform a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission.
- During his spacewalk, a spare thermal glove drifted away, and the hatch later refused to close, requiring manual force to secure it.
- Apollo spacecraft were pressurized with 100% pure oxygen at 16 pounds per square inch, a condition that made many cabin materials highly flammable at sea level.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1195falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-backup-engine-oscillation-started-a-six-hour-clock-for-rescue--74842589
The backup engine oscillation started a six-hour clock for rescue

This episode explores the Apollo Sixteen mission to the Descartes Highlands, where a scientific consensus about lunar geology faced an unexpected challenge. It delves into the crew's journey and the critical moments that began to unravel their understanding of the Moon.

Person: Charles Duke
Date: April 21, 1972
Location: Descartes Highlands
Event: Apollo Sixteen mission
Topic: Lunar geology

- A laminated photograph of Charles Duke's family was left on the Moon's surface, where it remains intact due to the lack of weathering.
- The scientific consensus before Apollo Sixteen was that the Descartes Highlands were formed by ancient volcanic activity, based on their unusual brightness and Earth analogues.
- Commander John Young, a methodical and skeptical veteran, led the mission on his fourth spaceflight.
- Command Module Pilot Thomas Kenneth Mattingly was removed from Apollo Sixteen due to rubella exposure from Charles Duke's family, only to fly with Duke two years later on Apollo Sixteen.
- Charles Duke, the youngest person to walk on the Moon at the time, had previously served as CAPCOM for Apollo Eleven's lunar landing.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842589Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn unexpected engine oscillation starts a six-hour countdown for a lunar landing crew, threatening to strand them and their mission to prove a scientific consensus. The backup engine oscillation started a six-hour clock for rescue This episode...
The backup engine oscillation started a six-hour clock for rescue

This episode explores the Apollo Sixteen mission to the Descartes Highlands, where a scientific consensus about lunar geology faced an unexpected challenge. It delves into the crew's journey and the critical moments that began to unravel their understanding of the Moon.

Person: Charles Duke
Date: April 21, 1972
Location: Descartes Highlands
Event: Apollo Sixteen mission
Topic: Lunar geology

- A laminated photograph of Charles Duke's family was left on the Moon's surface, where it remains intact due to the lack of weathering.
- The scientific consensus before Apollo Sixteen was that the Descartes Highlands were formed by ancient volcanic activity, based on their unusual brightness and Earth analogues.
- Commander John Young, a methodical and skeptical veteran, led the mission on his fourth spaceflight.
- Command Module Pilot Thomas Kenneth Mattingly was removed from Apollo Sixteen due to rubella exposure from Charles Duke's family, only to fly with Duke two years later on Apollo Sixteen.
- Charles Duke, the youngest person to walk on the Moon at the time, had previously served as CAPCOM for Apollo Eleven's lunar landing.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1242falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-s-6-solar-array-stuck-by-stiction-that-threatened-station-power--74842577
The S-6 solar array stuck by stiction that threatened station power

This episode explores the challenges faced by a space shuttle mission tasked with delivering a vital solar array to the International Space Station. It details the technical hurdles and delays leading up to the launch, and the uncertainty surrounding the deployment of hardware stored for nearly a decade.

Event: STS-119 Launch
Date: March 15, 2009
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Payload: S-6 Truss Segment
Risk Factor: Stiction

- A free-tailed bat clung to Discovery's external tank before launch, with a wildlife specialist concluding it had a broken wing.
- The S-6 truss segment, containing the final starboard solar arrays, had been in storage since before the Columbia accident.
- The International Space Station was operating at roughly half its designed power capacity in early 2009.
- Engineers identified "stiction" as a risk, where materials compressed for years can bond and resist unfolding.
- A broken hydrogen flow control valve on a previous shuttle flight and a liquid hydrogen vent line leak caused launch delays for STS-119.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842577Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTThe International Space Station needs more power, but a critical solar array, stored for eight years, risks stiction and might not unfurl. The S-6 solar array stuck by stiction that threatened station power This episode explores the challenges...
The S-6 solar array stuck by stiction that threatened station power

This episode explores the challenges faced by a space shuttle mission tasked with delivering a vital solar array to the International Space Station. It details the technical hurdles and delays leading up to the launch, and the uncertainty surrounding the deployment of hardware stored for nearly a decade.

Event: STS-119 Launch
Date: March 15, 2009
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Payload: S-6 Truss Segment
Risk Factor: Stiction

- A free-tailed bat clung to Discovery's external tank before launch, with a wildlife specialist concluding it had a broken wing.
- The S-6 truss segment, containing the final starboard solar arrays, had been in storage since before the Columbia accident.
- The International Space Station was operating at roughly half its designed power capacity in early 2009.
- Engineers identified "stiction" as a risk, where materials compressed for years can bond and resist unfolding.
- A broken hydrogen flow control valve on a previous shuttle flight and a liquid hydrogen vent line leak caused launch delays for STS-119.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1096falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-backwards-power-connector-that-started-the-five-hour-countdown--74842572
The backwards power connector that started the five‑hour countdown

In this episode, the mission team faces a ticking clock after a rotated electrical connector severs the recharge path to the EURECA satellite. The story follows the choices, waived rules, and improvised plan that set up a five‑hour window to act - could the crew fix it before the batteries died?

Mission: STS-57
Satellite: EURECA
Launch date (retrieval mission): June 21, 1993
Problem discovered: connector rotated 180 degrees; recharge circuit inactive
Key crew: David Low, Nancy Currie-Gregg

- EURECA had spent nearly a year in orbit running microgravity experiments before being captured by Endeavour's Canadarm.
- A single electrical connector, turned one hundred and eighty degrees from its correct orientation, prevented power from flowing into EURECA's batteries.
- After the Canadarm lowered the satellite, its two antennas failed to latch, creating a stowage rule violation and compounding the power problem.
- Flight controllers waived the antenna-stowage requirement so the satellite could be lowered into the payload bay despite being unsecured.
- Ground teams devised a plan requiring three people to act simultaneously across the shuttle hull, and the crew calculated they had roughly five hours and fifty minutes to restore power.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842572Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA backwards power connector leaves a European satellite in Endeavour's payload bay draining its batteries - did the crew make it in time? The backwards power connector that started the five‑hour countdown In this episode, the mission team faces...
The backwards power connector that started the five‑hour countdown

In this episode, the mission team faces a ticking clock after a rotated electrical connector severs the recharge path to the EURECA satellite. The story follows the choices, waived rules, and improvised plan that set up a five‑hour window to act - could the crew fix it before the batteries died?

Mission: STS-57
Satellite: EURECA
Launch date (retrieval mission): June 21, 1993
Problem discovered: connector rotated 180 degrees; recharge circuit inactive
Key crew: David Low, Nancy Currie-Gregg

- EURECA had spent nearly a year in orbit running microgravity experiments before being captured by Endeavour's Canadarm.
- A single electrical connector, turned one hundred and eighty degrees from its correct orientation, prevented power from flowing into EURECA's batteries.
- After the Canadarm lowered the satellite, its two antennas failed to latch, creating a stowage rule violation and compounding the power problem.
- Flight controllers waived the antenna-stowage requirement so the satellite could be lowered into the payload bay despite being unsecured.
- Ground teams devised a plan requiring three people to act simultaneously across the shuttle hull, and the crew calculated they had roughly five hours and fifty minutes to restore power.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1166falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-six-hour-delay-that-left-new-horizons-alone-to-fail-or-fly--74842563
The six-hour delay that left New Horizons alone to fail or fly

In this episode, we follow the tense months that led New Horizons to an unnamed Kuiper Belt object and the six-hour communication gap that made every onboard decision irreversible. Hear how a single astronomer’s Hubble discovery, three years of distant reconnaissance, and a high‑speed, no‑turning‑back approach set the stage for a make‑or‑break flyby.

Mission: New Horizons
Date: January 1, 2019
Person: Marc Buie
Location: Kuiper Belt / 44 AU (33 light‑minutes)
Target: 1110113Y (Potential Target One / later called Arrokoth)

- New Horizons flew within 3,538 kilometers of the object while traveling 51,500 km/h, with signals taking six hours to reach Earth.
- Discovery came from Hubble images on June 26, 2014, when Marc Buie identified a faint magnitude‑20 smear labeled 1110113Y.
- The team had to pick a target that lay almost exactly along the spacecraft’s existing trajectory because New Horizons could not slow or significantly change course.
- From 2014-2017 the team used telescopes on two continents, an aircraft over the Pacific, and mobile stations in Patagonia to search and characterize hazards.
- Key unknowns-diameter, shape, whether it was single or binary, and potential moons, rings, or debris-remained risks that could not be mitigated in real time.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842563Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spacecraft streaks past a tiny Kuiper Belt object 33 light‑minutes away-did New Horizons make it? The six-hour delay that left New Horizons alone to fail or fly In this episode, we follow the tense months that led New Horizons to an unnamed...
The six-hour delay that left New Horizons alone to fail or fly

In this episode, we follow the tense months that led New Horizons to an unnamed Kuiper Belt object and the six-hour communication gap that made every onboard decision irreversible. Hear how a single astronomer’s Hubble discovery, three years of distant reconnaissance, and a high‑speed, no‑turning‑back approach set the stage for a make‑or‑break flyby.

Mission: New Horizons
Date: January 1, 2019
Person: Marc Buie
Location: Kuiper Belt / 44 AU (33 light‑minutes)
Target: 1110113Y (Potential Target One / later called Arrokoth)

- New Horizons flew within 3,538 kilometers of the object while traveling 51,500 km/h, with signals taking six hours to reach Earth.
- Discovery came from Hubble images on June 26, 2014, when Marc Buie identified a faint magnitude‑20 smear labeled 1110113Y.
- The team had to pick a target that lay almost exactly along the spacecraft’s existing trajectory because New Horizons could not slow or significantly change course.
- From 2014-2017 the team used telescopes on two continents, an aircraft over the Pacific, and mobile stations in Patagonia to search and characterize hazards.
- Key unknowns-diameter, shape, whether it was single or binary, and potential moons, rings, or debris-remained risks that could not be mitigated in real time.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1346falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-single-camera-that-missed-the-strike-did-we-make-it-in-time--74842558
The single camera that missed the strike - did we make it in time?

This episode explores the DART mission, a historic attempt to alter an asteroid's orbit. It delves into the unexpected outcomes of the impact and the lingering questions for scientists.

Event: DART Mission Impact
Date: September 26, 2022
Target: Dimorphos moonlet
Outcome: Orbital period shortened by 33 minutes
Unanswered Question: Why did the rock change shape unexpectedly?

- The DART mission was the American half of a two-part experiment called AIDA, designed to prove a space rock could be moved on purpose.
- The European Space Agency's (ESA) contribution, AIM, was intended to watch the impact and measure the aftermath.
- AIM was canceled in December 2016 due to a 25-million-euro funding gap, despite Germany offering 35 million euros.
- DART carried a single camera, DRACO, which transmitted images in real time until the moment of impact.
- A successor mission, Hera, was approved by ESA in November 2019 and is scheduled to reach the impact site in December 2026.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842558Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spacecraft strikes an asteroid at 6 km/s, but no human watches the planetary defense test. What did it do to the rock? The single camera that missed the strike - did we make it in time? This episode explores the DART mission, a historic...
The single camera that missed the strike - did we make it in time?

This episode explores the DART mission, a historic attempt to alter an asteroid's orbit. It delves into the unexpected outcomes of the impact and the lingering questions for scientists.

Event: DART Mission Impact
Date: September 26, 2022
Target: Dimorphos moonlet
Outcome: Orbital period shortened by 33 minutes
Unanswered Question: Why did the rock change shape unexpectedly?

- The DART mission was the American half of a two-part experiment called AIDA, designed to prove a space rock could be moved on purpose.
- The European Space Agency's (ESA) contribution, AIM, was intended to watch the impact and measure the aftermath.
- AIM was canceled in December 2016 due to a 25-million-euro funding gap, despite Germany offering 35 million euros.
- DART carried a single camera, DRACO, which transmitted images in real time until the moment of impact.
- A successor mission, Hera, was approved by ESA in November 2019 and is scheduled to reach the impact site in December 2026.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1387falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-two-centimeter-chip-ran-out-of-hydrazine-and-left-them-waiting--74842550
The Two‑Centimeter Chip Ran Out of Hydrazine and Left Them Waiting

In this episode, we follow the Dawn spacecraft’s improbable eleven-year journey and the choices that kept it flying. From cancelled program decisions to years of low-thrust navigation, what did it cost to keep Dawn alive and silent above Ceres?

Spacecraft: Dawn
Person: Christopher T. Russell
Date: November 1, 2018
Location: Ceres (dwarf planet)
Event: Hydrazine depletion ended communications

- An engineer’s 1959 ion thruster concept produced tiny continuous thrust measured in millinewtons that became Dawn’s propulsion backbone.
- Dawn’s ion engines accumulated 5.9 years of thrust, achieving a delta-v of 25,700 mph-2.7 times the previous solar-electric record.
- The mission was cancelled in December 2003, reinstated in February 2004, halted again in 2005, cancelled March 2, 2006, then rescued when Orbital Sciences offered to build the craft at cost.
- Dawn’s original budget of $373 million grew to $446 million by launch as institutional fights and delays mounted.
- On November 1, 2018, JPL received Dawn’s last signal after hydrazine ran out, leaving the probe silent and orbiting Ceres with 360,000 names aboard.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842550Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA two-centimeter chip sits over Dawn’s ion thruster-did they keep the probe alive long enough to finish its mission? The Two‑Centimeter Chip Ran Out of Hydrazine and Left Them Waiting In this episode, we follow the Dawn spacecraft’s improbable...
The Two‑Centimeter Chip Ran Out of Hydrazine and Left Them Waiting

In this episode, we follow the Dawn spacecraft’s improbable eleven-year journey and the choices that kept it flying. From cancelled program decisions to years of low-thrust navigation, what did it cost to keep Dawn alive and silent above Ceres?

Spacecraft: Dawn
Person: Christopher T. Russell
Date: November 1, 2018
Location: Ceres (dwarf planet)
Event: Hydrazine depletion ended communications

- An engineer’s 1959 ion thruster concept produced tiny continuous thrust measured in millinewtons that became Dawn’s propulsion backbone.
- Dawn’s ion engines accumulated 5.9 years of thrust, achieving a delta-v of 25,700 mph-2.7 times the previous solar-electric record.
- The mission was cancelled in December 2003, reinstated in February 2004, halted again in 2005, cancelled March 2, 2006, then rescued when Orbital Sciences offered to build the craft at cost.
- Dawn’s original budget of $373 million grew to $446 million by launch as institutional fights and delays mounted.
- On November 1, 2018, JPL received Dawn’s last signal after hydrazine ran out, leaving the probe silent and orbiting Ceres with 360,000 names aboard.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1347falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-valve-that-opened-in-descent-and-bled-their-air-before-landing--74842543
The valve that opened in descent and bled their air before landing

In this episode, we tell how a routine return from Salyut one ended with a silent, sealed capsule and three dead cosmonauts. What sequence of technical choices and in-flight decisions created a situation where the crew had no suits and no obvious way to survive a loss of cabin atmosphere?

Mission: Soyuz eleven
Date: June 30, 1971
Location: Kazakh steppe
Crew: Georgy Dobrovolsky; Vladislav Volkov; Viktor Patsayev

- The prime crew (Leonov, Kubasov, Kolodin) was removed four days before launch after a chest X-ray flagged Kubasov, and the backup crew flew instead.
- Soyuz eleven had been reconfigured to carry three without pressure suits, removing individual life-support as a weight-saving compromise.
- Salyut one had launched April 19, 1971; Soyuz eleven docked July 7 and the crew spent 23 days aboard, setting a record for time in space.
- During descent the capsule’s communications went silent earlier than expected, a detail mission control did not initially treat as critical.
- On landing the parachutes and retrorockets worked and the capsule sat upright, but when recoverers opened the hatch the three men inside were found unresponsive and already dead.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842543Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Soyuz capsule lands on the Kazakh steppe; rescuers find three cosmonauts dead - did a pressure valve fail during descent? The valve that opened in descent and bled their air before landing In this episode, we tell how a routine return from...
The valve that opened in descent and bled their air before landing

In this episode, we tell how a routine return from Salyut one ended with a silent, sealed capsule and three dead cosmonauts. What sequence of technical choices and in-flight decisions created a situation where the crew had no suits and no obvious way to survive a loss of cabin atmosphere?

Mission: Soyuz eleven
Date: June 30, 1971
Location: Kazakh steppe
Crew: Georgy Dobrovolsky; Vladislav Volkov; Viktor Patsayev

- The prime crew (Leonov, Kubasov, Kolodin) was removed four days before launch after a chest X-ray flagged Kubasov, and the backup crew flew instead.
- Soyuz eleven had been reconfigured to carry three without pressure suits, removing individual life-support as a weight-saving compromise.
- Salyut one had launched April 19, 1971; Soyuz eleven docked July 7 and the crew spent 23 days aboard, setting a record for time in space.
- During descent the capsule’s communications went silent earlier than expected, a detail mission control did not initially treat as critical.
- On landing the parachutes and retrorockets worked and the capsule sat upright, but when recoverers opened the hatch the three men inside were found unresponsive and already dead.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1242falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-foam-chunk-struck-the-wing-did-columbia-make-it-back--74842535
The foam chunk struck the wing - did Columbia make it back?

This episode explores the Columbia space shuttle disaster, focusing on the overlooked warning signs and the systemic issues that contributed to the tragedy. It delves into the critical decisions and missed opportunities that left the crew vulnerable.

Date: February 1, 2003
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Crew: Seven
Debris recovered: 83,900 pieces
Wreckage weight: 84,900 pounds

- STS-107, Columbia's 28th mission, was delayed 13 times over two years due to budget cuts and scheduling pressures.
- A piece of foam insulation, 21-27 inches long, struck Columbia's left wing 81.7 seconds after launch.
- Foam strikes had been recorded on 65 of 79 shuttle missions reviewed, and specifically six times before STS-107 from the bipod ramp area.
- NASA had classified foam strikes as an accepted flight risk, a practice termed "normalization of deviance."
- A request for Department of Defense imaging of Columbia in orbit was rescinded by the Mission Management Team Chair without consulting the Debris Assessment Team.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842535Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA space shuttle launches with a hidden wound, carrying seven astronauts unaware their vessel may not bring them home. Can a space program overcome its own blind spots in time? The foam chunk struck the wing - did Columbia make it back? This...
The foam chunk struck the wing - did Columbia make it back?

This episode explores the Columbia space shuttle disaster, focusing on the overlooked warning signs and the systemic issues that contributed to the tragedy. It delves into the critical decisions and missed opportunities that left the crew vulnerable.

Date: February 1, 2003
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Crew: Seven
Debris recovered: 83,900 pieces
Wreckage weight: 84,900 pounds

- STS-107, Columbia's 28th mission, was delayed 13 times over two years due to budget cuts and scheduling pressures.
- A piece of foam insulation, 21-27 inches long, struck Columbia's left wing 81.7 seconds after launch.
- Foam strikes had been recorded on 65 of 79 shuttle missions reviewed, and specifically six times before STS-107 from the bipod ramp area.
- NASA had classified foam strikes as an accepted flight risk, a practice termed "normalization of deviance."
- A request for Department of Defense imaging of Columbia in orbit was rescinded by the Mission Management Team Chair without consulting the Debris Assessment Team.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1223falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-grease-gun-burst-that-sent-the-tool-bag-drifting-and-threatened-the-repair--74842530
The grease gun burst that sent the tool bag drifting - and threatened the repair

This episode details a critical incident during a spacewalk to repair the International Space Station's solar arrays. It explores the challenges of working in the unforgiving environment of space when unexpected problems arise.

Person: Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Date: November 18, 2008
Location: International Space Station
Mission: STS-126
Equipment: Grease gun

- Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, lead spacewalker, was tasked with repairing the grinding Solar Alpha Rotary Joint on the International Space Station.
- The mission, STS-126, launched on November 14, 2008, carrying tools and replacement hardware for the repair.
- Stefanyshyn-Piper, a mechanical engineer with prior experience on the joint mechanism, had accumulated over twelve hours of spacewalk time.
- During the spacewalk, a grease gun inside her backpack-sized tool bag ruptured, contaminating the contents with grease.
- Mission control instructed her to stop work on the joint and prioritize cleaning the grease from the contaminated hardware.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842530Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA critical repair on the International Space Station is jeopardized when a spacewalker's tool bag ruptures, sending essential equipment adrift. The grease gun burst that sent the tool bag drifting - and threatened the repair This episode details...
The grease gun burst that sent the tool bag drifting - and threatened the repair

This episode details a critical incident during a spacewalk to repair the International Space Station's solar arrays. It explores the challenges of working in the unforgiving environment of space when unexpected problems arise.

Person: Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Date: November 18, 2008
Location: International Space Station
Mission: STS-126
Equipment: Grease gun

- Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, lead spacewalker, was tasked with repairing the grinding Solar Alpha Rotary Joint on the International Space Station.
- The mission, STS-126, launched on November 14, 2008, carrying tools and replacement hardware for the repair.
- Stefanyshyn-Piper, a mechanical engineer with prior experience on the joint mechanism, had accumulated over twelve hours of spacewalk time.
- During the spacewalk, a grease gun inside her backpack-sized tool bag ruptured, contaminating the contents with grease.
- Mission control instructed her to stop work on the joint and prioritize cleaning the grease from the contaminated hardware.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1108falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-relay-that-lost-power-and-turned-the-clock-against-reentry--74842527
The Relay That Lost Power and Turned the Clock Against Reentry

In this episode, we follow the career of Steven Ray Nagel from Canton, Illinois to the Space Shuttle cockpit and back to teaching. The episode traces his path through pilot training, test flying, and multiple shuttle missions to set up a critical in-flight emergency and the decisions that followed: what happens when a relay fails during reentry?

Person: Steven Ray Nagel
Date of birth: October 27, 1946
Education: B.S. Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (1969); M.S. Mechanical Engineering (1978)
Missions: STS-51-G (Discovery, June 17-24, 1985) and STS-61-A (Challenger, October 30, 1985)
Total space time: 723 hours

- Grew up under a vast central Illinois sky in Canton, a landscape that shaped his interest in flight
- Commissioned via Air Force ROTC the same day he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1969
- Earned four major awards in undergraduate pilot training and flew F-100s with the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron
- Spent a year as a T-28 instructor at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base during wartime operations
- Logged 170 hours on STS-51-G deploying three communications satellites and operating free-flying experiments

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842527Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA shuttle commander races to fix a failing relay 400 kilometers up as reentry countdown ticks down-did they make it in time? (space shuttle) The Relay That Lost Power and Turned the Clock Against Reentry In this episode, we follow the career of...
The Relay That Lost Power and Turned the Clock Against Reentry

In this episode, we follow the career of Steven Ray Nagel from Canton, Illinois to the Space Shuttle cockpit and back to teaching. The episode traces his path through pilot training, test flying, and multiple shuttle missions to set up a critical in-flight emergency and the decisions that followed: what happens when a relay fails during reentry?

Person: Steven Ray Nagel
Date of birth: October 27, 1946
Education: B.S. Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (1969); M.S. Mechanical Engineering (1978)
Missions: STS-51-G (Discovery, June 17-24, 1985) and STS-61-A (Challenger, October 30, 1985)
Total space time: 723 hours

- Grew up under a vast central Illinois sky in Canton, a landscape that shaped his interest in flight
- Commissioned via Air Force ROTC the same day he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1969
- Earned four major awards in undergraduate pilot training and flew F-100s with the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron
- Spent a year as a T-28 instructor at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base during wartime operations
- Logged 170 hours on STS-51-G deploying three communications satellites and operating free-flying experiments

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shuttle-s-experiments-finished-he-fought-reentry-and-their-clock-ran-out--74842524
The shuttle's experiments finished-he fought reentry and their clock ran out

In this episode, we follow the career and final hours of Space Shuttle Columbia’s commander, tracking how a pilot from Amarillo rose through military test flying to lead a shuttle that completed eighty-three experiments. What choices and moments defined his path back into the atmosphere?

Person: Rick Douglas Husband
Date: February 1, 2003
Location: Space Shuttle Columbia / reentry trajectory
Event: Sixteen days of microgravity science; eighty-three experiments completed
Career: 3,800+ flight hours across 40+ aircraft types

- A seventeen-year-old at Tradewind Airport earned a private pilot license with forty flight hours, including ten solo.
- He studied mechanical engineering, joined ROTC, and was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1980.
- By age thirty he had logged 1,000 flight hours and flew the F-4 Phantom operationally and as an instructor.
- Selected to US Air Force Test Pilot School (Class 88A), he later flew every F-15 variant and served as an F-15 aerial demonstration pilot.
- NASA selected him in December 1994; he reported to Johnson Space Center in March 1995 and later commanded Columbia’s mission that completed all onboard experiments.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842524Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Space Shuttle commander fights reentry as Columbia’s crew return from sixteen days of microgravity science-did they make it in time? The shuttle's experiments finished-he fought reentry and their clock ran out In this episode, we follow the...
The shuttle's experiments finished-he fought reentry and their clock ran out

In this episode, we follow the career and final hours of Space Shuttle Columbia’s commander, tracking how a pilot from Amarillo rose through military test flying to lead a shuttle that completed eighty-three experiments. What choices and moments defined his path back into the atmosphere?

Person: Rick Douglas Husband
Date: February 1, 2003
Location: Space Shuttle Columbia / reentry trajectory
Event: Sixteen days of microgravity science; eighty-three experiments completed
Career: 3,800+ flight hours across 40+ aircraft types

- A seventeen-year-old at Tradewind Airport earned a private pilot license with forty flight hours, including ten solo.
- He studied mechanical engineering, joined ROTC, and was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1980.
- By age thirty he had logged 1,000 flight hours and flew the F-4 Phantom operationally and as an instructor.
- Selected to US Air Force Test Pilot School (Class 88A), he later flew every F-15 variant and served as an F-15 aerial demonstration pilot.
- NASA selected him in December 1994; he reported to Johnson Space Center in March 1995 and later commanded Columbia’s mission that completed all onboard experiments.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1238falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-unfitting-spacesuit-that-gave-her-the-robotic-arm--74842516
The Unfitting Spacesuit That Gave Her the Robotic Arm

This episode explores the journey of an emergency physician who pursued her dream of spaceflight, leading to an unprecedented mission to recover two stranded satellites. It highlights the critical decisions and improvisations made under extreme pressure.

Person: Anna Lee Tingle Fisher
Date: November 1984
Event: STS-51-A mission
Organization: NASA
Award: Lloyd's of London silver sea-rescue medal

- Anna Lee Tingle decided at age eleven to become a doctor in space after listening to Alan Shepard's launch.
- Her mother was a German military Morse code operator, and her father was a U.S. Army officer, leading to a childhood of constant adaptation.
- She earned degrees in chemistry and emergency medicine, specializing in high-pressure decision-making with incomplete information.
- Anna Fisher was selected for Astronaut Group Eight, the first to include women, despite a significant pay cut.
- An ill-fitting spacesuit prevented her from spacewalks, leading her to become the Astronaut Office representative for Canadarm development.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842516Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA space shuttle crew faces the impossible: retrieve two stranded satellites without grapple points, with radio contact cut off. This is space rescue. The Unfitting Spacesuit That Gave Her the Robotic Arm This episode explores the journey of an...
The Unfitting Spacesuit That Gave Her the Robotic Arm

This episode explores the journey of an emergency physician who pursued her dream of spaceflight, leading to an unprecedented mission to recover two stranded satellites. It highlights the critical decisions and improvisations made under extreme pressure.

Person: Anna Lee Tingle Fisher
Date: November 1984
Event: STS-51-A mission
Organization: NASA
Award: Lloyd's of London silver sea-rescue medal

- Anna Lee Tingle decided at age eleven to become a doctor in space after listening to Alan Shepard's launch.
- Her mother was a German military Morse code operator, and her father was a U.S. Army officer, leading to a childhood of constant adaptation.
- She earned degrees in chemistry and emergency medicine, specializing in high-pressure decision-making with incomplete information.
- Anna Fisher was selected for Astronaut Group Eight, the first to include women, despite a significant pay cut.
- An ill-fitting spacesuit prevented her from spacewalks, leading her to become the Astronaut Office representative for Canadarm development.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1126falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fuel-gauge-that-ticked-down-as-challenger-rose--74842507
The fuel gauge that ticked down as Challenger rose

This episode explores the unique career of Karol Bobko, the only astronaut in history to command two maiden space shuttle voyages. It delves into the extensive preparation and unforeseen turns that led to this unprecedented record in spaceflight.

Person: Karol Bobko
Date: October 3, 1985
Missions: Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis
Hours in space: 386
Program: Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)

- Karol Bobko was part of the first graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy in 1959.
- He spent the early 1960s flying F-100s and F-105s, gaining high-speed, low-altitude flight experience.
- In 1966, Bobko was selected for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a classified military space station program.
- The MOL program was canceled in 1969, after three years of Bobko's training, due to the government's decision to use unmanned satellites.
- Bobko joined NASA's astronaut corps as part of Group Seven in September 1969, bringing over six thousand flight hours and military spaceflight systems education.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842507Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA pilot prepares for the maiden flight of a brand-new spacecraft, but the Challenger has never flown and its systems are untested. The fuel gauge that ticked down as Challenger rose This episode explores the unique career of Karol Bobko, the...
The fuel gauge that ticked down as Challenger rose

This episode explores the unique career of Karol Bobko, the only astronaut in history to command two maiden space shuttle voyages. It delves into the extensive preparation and unforeseen turns that led to this unprecedented record in spaceflight.

Person: Karol Bobko
Date: October 3, 1985
Missions: Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis
Hours in space: 386
Program: Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)

- Karol Bobko was part of the first graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy in 1959.
- He spent the early 1960s flying F-100s and F-105s, gaining high-speed, low-altitude flight experience.
- In 1966, Bobko was selected for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a classified military space station program.
- The MOL program was canceled in 1969, after three years of Bobko's training, due to the government's decision to use unmanned satellites.
- Bobko joined NASA's astronaut corps as part of Group Seven in September 1969, bringing over six thousand flight hours and military spaceflight systems education.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1186falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-corned-beef-sandwich-that-sent-crumbs-into-the-cabin-did-they-burn-in-time--74842502
The corned beef sandwich that sent crumbs into the cabin-did they burn in time?

In this episode, we follow the Gemini III mission from launch to orbit and the unexpected problem that appears when a sandwich and its crumbs enter a weightless cabin. Can the crew complete three critical engine burns to prove orbital maneuvering while managing a tiny, floating hazard?

Person: Gus Grissom
Person: John Young
Date: March 23, 1965
Location: Cape Kennedy / orbit at ninety‑three miles
Event: Gemini III mission to demonstrate controlled orbital maneuvering

- Launch at 9:47 AM from Cape Kennedy on a Titan II; first fifteen minutes proceeded exactly as planned.
- Grissom named the capsule Molly Brown despite NASA policy against naming spacecraft after Liberty Bell Seven sank.
- John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich in a spacesuit pocket, wrapped to contain the smell, reportedly with Deke Slayton’s permission.
- At 18 minutes 41 seconds after liftoff the capsule began a slow, continuous yaw left while telemetry and thruster readouts appeared nominal.
- The mission required three planned engine burns to show orbit-changing capability, and a floating pocket of crumbs became a potential hazard to live electronics.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842502Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA crewmember unwraps a corned beef sandwich inside a Gemini spacesuit, crumbs drift toward a capsule full of electronics-did they burn in time? The corned beef sandwich that sent crumbs into the cabin-did they burn in time? In this episode, we...
The corned beef sandwich that sent crumbs into the cabin-did they burn in time?

In this episode, we follow the Gemini III mission from launch to orbit and the unexpected problem that appears when a sandwich and its crumbs enter a weightless cabin. Can the crew complete three critical engine burns to prove orbital maneuvering while managing a tiny, floating hazard?

Person: Gus Grissom
Person: John Young
Date: March 23, 1965
Location: Cape Kennedy / orbit at ninety‑three miles
Event: Gemini III mission to demonstrate controlled orbital maneuvering

- Launch at 9:47 AM from Cape Kennedy on a Titan II; first fifteen minutes proceeded exactly as planned.
- Grissom named the capsule Molly Brown despite NASA policy against naming spacecraft after Liberty Bell Seven sank.
- John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich in a spacesuit pocket, wrapped to contain the smell, reportedly with Deke Slayton’s permission.
- At 18 minutes 41 seconds after liftoff the capsule began a slow, continuous yaw left while telemetry and thruster readouts appeared nominal.
- The mission required three planned engine burns to show orbit-changing capability, and a floating pocket of crumbs became a potential hazard to live electronics.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1126falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hatch-that-blew-a-bruise-into-schirra-s-hand-bought-twelve-seconds--74842500
The hatch that blew a bruise into Schirra's hand bought twelve seconds

In this episode, we follow the moments that led a disciplined test pilot to a split‑second choice on a fully fueled rocket pad. We trace his upbringing, career, and the specific incident that forced an unlisted decision-and ask what happens next.

Person: Wally Schirra
Event: Gemini 6A pad ignition abort, December 12, 1965
Location: Launch Complex 19, Cape Kennedy
Period: 1962-1965
Topic: launch abort decision

- Schirra grew up the son of barnstormers and was born March 12, 1923 in Hackensack, New Jersey.
- He flew Mercury (Sigma 7, Oct 3, 1962), logging nine hours and landing five miles from the recovery ship by precise planning.
- During Sigma 7 Schirra activated the explosive hatch himself, taking a palm bruise from the blast that was recorded in mission logs.
- By 1965 he had flown Mercury, Gemini, and later Apollo hardware, noted for meticulous, calculated risk‑taking.
- On Dec 12, 1965, Gemini 6A’s engines ignited for under two seconds then cut out, leaving two astronauts faced with an absolute eject‑on‑ignition rule and twelve seconds to decide.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842500Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Gemini mission hears engines fail on the pad; astronaut Wally Schirra must decide in twelve seconds-did they make it in time? The hatch that blew a bruise into Schirra's hand bought twelve seconds In this episode, we follow the moments that...
The hatch that blew a bruise into Schirra's hand bought twelve seconds

In this episode, we follow the moments that led a disciplined test pilot to a split‑second choice on a fully fueled rocket pad. We trace his upbringing, career, and the specific incident that forced an unlisted decision-and ask what happens next.

Person: Wally Schirra
Event: Gemini 6A pad ignition abort, December 12, 1965
Location: Launch Complex 19, Cape Kennedy
Period: 1962-1965
Topic: launch abort decision

- Schirra grew up the son of barnstormers and was born March 12, 1923 in Hackensack, New Jersey.
- He flew Mercury (Sigma 7, Oct 3, 1962), logging nine hours and landing five miles from the recovery ship by precise planning.
- During Sigma 7 Schirra activated the explosive hatch himself, taking a palm bruise from the blast that was recorded in mission logs.
- By 1965 he had flown Mercury, Gemini, and later Apollo hardware, noted for meticulous, calculated risk‑taking.
- On Dec 12, 1965, Gemini 6A’s engines ignited for under two seconds then cut out, leaving two astronauts faced with an absolute eject‑on‑ignition rule and twelve seconds to decide.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1374falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cassette-tape-rusty-found-kept-time-from-running-out--74842492
The Cassette Tape Rusty Found Kept Time From Running Out

This episode explores the Apollo 9 mission, a crucial step in the race to land humans on the Moon. It details the challenges faced by the crew and the extensive preparations required to test the lunar module in Earth orbit.

Mission: Apollo 9
Date: March 3, 1969
Crew: James McDivitt, David Scott, Rusty Schweickart
Location: Earth orbit
Objective: First crewed test of the lunar module

- The Apollo 1 fire in January 1967 killed Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee during a routine pre-launch test.
- NASA implemented over 1,000 changes to the command module, including redesigning the hatch and rerouting wiring, after a 21-month safety review.
- James McDivitt, David Scott, and Rusty Schweickart were selected as the backup crew for Apollo 1 and continued training for over two years after the fire.
- The initial lunar module, LM-2, was found to have stress fractures and was too heavy, leading to its replacement with LM-3.
- The crew logged approximately 1,800 mission-specific training hours, including studying the Apollo guidance computer and memorizing 37 navigation stars.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842492Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTOn a critical Apollo mission, a lost cassette tape is found, but the crew faces immense pressure to test lunar module systems before time runs out. The Cassette Tape Rusty Found Kept Time From Running Out This episode explores the Apollo 9...
The Cassette Tape Rusty Found Kept Time From Running Out

This episode explores the Apollo 9 mission, a crucial step in the race to land humans on the Moon. It details the challenges faced by the crew and the extensive preparations required to test the lunar module in Earth orbit.

Mission: Apollo 9
Date: March 3, 1969
Crew: James McDivitt, David Scott, Rusty Schweickart
Location: Earth orbit
Objective: First crewed test of the lunar module

- The Apollo 1 fire in January 1967 killed Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee during a routine pre-launch test.
- NASA implemented over 1,000 changes to the command module, including redesigning the hatch and rerouting wiring, after a 21-month safety review.
- James McDivitt, David Scott, and Rusty Schweickart were selected as the backup crew for Apollo 1 and continued training for over two years after the fire.
- The initial lunar module, LM-2, was found to have stress fractures and was too heavy, leading to its replacement with LM-3.
- The crew logged approximately 1,800 mission-specific training hours, including studying the Apollo guidance computer and memorizing 37 navigation stars.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1269falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-bipod-foam-strike-pierced-columbia-s-wing-and-started-the-clock--74842487
The bipod-foam strike pierced Columbia's wing and started the clock

This episode explores the Columbia space shuttle disaster, focusing on the overlooked damage during launch and the subsequent organizational failures. It examines how a seemingly minor incident set a tragic countdown for the crew.

Event: Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster
Date: February 1, 2003
Location: East Texas
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Previous Incident: Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-27 (1988)

- A foam chunk the size of a briefcase struck Columbia's left wing 81 seconds after liftoff.
- The crew of seven astronauts was unaware of the damage during their 15-day mission.
- Engineers had documented foam shedding from the external tank on multiple previous missions.
- A 1988 incident with Space Shuttle Atlantis, which survived a similar foam strike, led to a "normalization of deviance."
- Mission managers requested satellite imagery of Columbia's wing during flight, but the request was not acted upon with urgency.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842487Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA space shuttle is hit by foam during launch, damaging its heat shield. Unaware, the crew spends 15 days in orbit, heading for a fatal reentry. The bipod-foam strike pierced Columbia's wing and started the clock This episode explores the...
The bipod-foam strike pierced Columbia's wing and started the clock

This episode explores the Columbia space shuttle disaster, focusing on the overlooked damage during launch and the subsequent organizational failures. It examines how a seemingly minor incident set a tragic countdown for the crew.

Event: Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster
Date: February 1, 2003
Location: East Texas
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Previous Incident: Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-27 (1988)

- A foam chunk the size of a briefcase struck Columbia's left wing 81 seconds after liftoff.
- The crew of seven astronauts was unaware of the damage during their 15-day mission.
- Engineers had documented foam shedding from the external tank on multiple previous missions.
- A 1988 incident with Space Shuttle Atlantis, which survived a similar foam strike, led to a "normalization of deviance."
- Mission managers requested satellite imagery of Columbia's wing during flight, but the request was not acted upon with urgency.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1408falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sealed-hornet-canister-lost-pressure-did-the-crew-get-there-in-time--74842483
The sealed hornet canister lost pressure - did the crew get there in time?

In this episode, we lay out the mission timeline and the conditions inside Spacelab-J that led to a life-sciences experiment going wrong, and we track the crew roles, decisions, and procedures that shaped the response. What did the data reveal about why most of the hornets died before anyone could open the container?

Mission: STS-47
Date: September 12, 1992
Location: Spacelab-J, 260 miles above Earth
Person: Commander Robert Gibson; crew includes Mark Lee, Jan Davis, Mae Jemison, Mamoru Mohri
Topic: life-sciences experiment with Oriental hornets; sealed pressurized canisters

- Aboard Endeavour were seven crew members working twelve-hour rotating shifts to run forty-four experiments.
- Two hundred and thirty Oriental hornets were sealed in a pressurized laboratory canister labeled as part of a Tel Aviv University study.
- At 10:23 AM EDT the Shuttle launched on schedule from Launch Complex 39B, marking NASA’s fiftieth Shuttle mission.
- The crew structure placed Mark Lee on the red team and Jan Davis on the blue team, a married couple assigned to the same flight despite NASA’s informal taboo.
- Data from the mission had to be returned to Earth to explain why two hundred and two hornets died before the container could be opened.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842483Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA sealed canister full of live hornets loses pressure aboard the Shuttle 260 miles up - could the crew get to the lab in time to save them? The sealed hornet canister lost pressure - did the crew get there in time? In this episode, we lay out...
The sealed hornet canister lost pressure - did the crew get there in time?

In this episode, we lay out the mission timeline and the conditions inside Spacelab-J that led to a life-sciences experiment going wrong, and we track the crew roles, decisions, and procedures that shaped the response. What did the data reveal about why most of the hornets died before anyone could open the container?

Mission: STS-47
Date: September 12, 1992
Location: Spacelab-J, 260 miles above Earth
Person: Commander Robert Gibson; crew includes Mark Lee, Jan Davis, Mae Jemison, Mamoru Mohri
Topic: life-sciences experiment with Oriental hornets; sealed pressurized canisters

- Aboard Endeavour were seven crew members working twelve-hour rotating shifts to run forty-four experiments.
- Two hundred and thirty Oriental hornets were sealed in a pressurized laboratory canister labeled as part of a Tel Aviv University study.
- At 10:23 AM EDT the Shuttle launched on schedule from Launch Complex 39B, marking NASA’s fiftieth Shuttle mission.
- The crew structure placed Mark Lee on the red team and Jan Davis on the blue team, a married couple assigned to the same flight despite NASA’s informal taboo.
- Data from the mission had to be returned to Earth to explain why two hundred and two hornets died before the container could be opened.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1210falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sampler-horn-fired-blind-did-five-grams-arrive-before-the-battery-died--74842480
The sampler horn fired blind - did five grams arrive before the battery died?

In this episode, we follow the tense, delayed-feed moments when Hayabusa2 closed on asteroid Ryugu and the team on Earth had to trust a blind sampling maneuver. We lay out the mission's design, the unexpected surface conditions, and the question that lingers: what did those recovered grains contain?

Date: December 6, 2020
Mission: Hayabusa2
Target: Asteroid Ryugu (1999 JU3)
Sample mass: 5.4 grams recovered (minimum design: 0.1 g)
Instrument: Sampling horn with tantalum projectile

- Hayabusa2 traveled ~300 million kilometers to impact Ryugu and collect debris using a fired projectile and explosive charge.
- Ryugu is a ~900 m rubble-pile asteroid with ~50% internal voids and surface gravity ~0.011 mm/s², complicating anchoring and sampling.
- Pre-arrival models expected fine regolith, but MASCOT lander found no dust and only two rock types during its 16-hour battery-limited mission.
- The sampling maneuver on Feb 22, 2019, was executed under an 18-minute round-trip signal delay, meaning the horn had to fire without real-time visual feedback.
- Telemetry confirmed material in sample container one after the blind firing, but the team still had to determine what the surface grains actually represented.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842480Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA sealed sampler horn fires blind into Ryugu's boulder-strewn surface in a nine-minute silence - did five grams arrive before the battery died? The sampler horn fired blind - did five grams arrive before the battery died? In this episode, we...
The sampler horn fired blind - did five grams arrive before the battery died?

In this episode, we follow the tense, delayed-feed moments when Hayabusa2 closed on asteroid Ryugu and the team on Earth had to trust a blind sampling maneuver. We lay out the mission's design, the unexpected surface conditions, and the question that lingers: what did those recovered grains contain?

Date: December 6, 2020
Mission: Hayabusa2
Target: Asteroid Ryugu (1999 JU3)
Sample mass: 5.4 grams recovered (minimum design: 0.1 g)
Instrument: Sampling horn with tantalum projectile

- Hayabusa2 traveled ~300 million kilometers to impact Ryugu and collect debris using a fired projectile and explosive charge.
- Ryugu is a ~900 m rubble-pile asteroid with ~50% internal voids and surface gravity ~0.011 mm/s², complicating anchoring and sampling.
- Pre-arrival models expected fine regolith, but MASCOT lander found no dust and only two rock types during its 16-hour battery-limited mission.
- The sampling maneuver on Feb 22, 2019, was executed under an 18-minute round-trip signal delay, meaning the horn had to fire without real-time visual feedback.
- Telemetry confirmed material in sample container one after the blind firing, but the team still had to determine what the surface grains actually represented.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1285falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-solar-arrays-degraded-faster-than-predicted-did-they-save-magellan--74842474
The solar arrays degraded faster than predicted - did they save Magellan?

In this episode, we follow the final hours and technical choices of the Magellan mission as engineers track voltage thresholds, orbit plans, and aging hardware. We trace how a repurposed Voyager bus, radar design choices, and unexpected solar-array degradation shaped the race to preserve data and signal-did their decisions buy enough time?

Person: Spacecraft Magellan
Date: October 13, 1994
Location: Venus orbit and occultation
Period: Mission operations 1989-1994
Topic: solar arrays, power thresholds, mapping operations

- Engineers monitor precise bus-voltage thresholds (24.7 V, 24 V, 23 V, 20.4 V) and plan actions around each marker.
- Magellan used a repurposed Voyager spare bus and high-gain antenna, altering thermal and power expectations for an inner-planet mission.
- Two solar panels rated for 1,200 W at start were exposed to higher irradiance and heat at Venus, causing faster-than-expected degradation.
- Mission cadence: three-hour-and-nine-minute orbit, radar sweeps to map surface, then transmission out to high altitude before next pass.
- By orbit fifteen thousand thirty-two Magellan had mapped 98% of Venus while its signal persisted through successive power-cell failures.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842474Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA failing spacecraft circles Venus as its solar arrays degrade faster than predicted - can the Magellan team keep the radar and signal alive? The solar arrays degraded faster than predicted - did they save Magellan? In this episode, we follow...
The solar arrays degraded faster than predicted - did they save Magellan?

In this episode, we follow the final hours and technical choices of the Magellan mission as engineers track voltage thresholds, orbit plans, and aging hardware. We trace how a repurposed Voyager bus, radar design choices, and unexpected solar-array degradation shaped the race to preserve data and signal-did their decisions buy enough time?

Person: Spacecraft Magellan
Date: October 13, 1994
Location: Venus orbit and occultation
Period: Mission operations 1989-1994
Topic: solar arrays, power thresholds, mapping operations

- Engineers monitor precise bus-voltage thresholds (24.7 V, 24 V, 23 V, 20.4 V) and plan actions around each marker.
- Magellan used a repurposed Voyager spare bus and high-gain antenna, altering thermal and power expectations for an inner-planet mission.
- Two solar panels rated for 1,200 W at start were exposed to higher irradiance and heat at Venus, causing faster-than-expected degradation.
- Mission cadence: three-hour-and-nine-minute orbit, radar sweeps to map surface, then transmission out to high altitude before next pass.
- By orbit fifteen thousand thirty-two Magellan had mapped 98% of Venus while its signal persisted through successive power-cell failures.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1174falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-proton-rocket-s-withdrawal-stopped-rosalind-franklin-s-launch-window--74842471
The Proton rocket's withdrawal stopped Rosalind Franklin's launch window

In this episode, we follow the story of a European Mars rover already built and tested whose planned launch window evaporated after a geopolitical event. We trace the device's design, partnerships, and the critical decisions that put its fate in someone else's hands - and ask what was lost when the launch was suspended.

Person: Rosalind Franklin
Date: March 17, 2022
Location: Saint‑Louis (French‑German Research Institute) and Stevenage (Airbus Defence and Space)
Event: ESA suspended the ExoMars launch after Russian forces crossed into Ukraine
Technical requirement: Drill depth target two metres to avoid cosmic radiation

- Engineers at the Saint‑Louis test facility fired a heat‑shield model at 4,300 km/h and watched impact telemetry in silence.
- The rover, assembled at Airbus in Stevenage, weighed 300 kg with six 25 cm wide wheels and a drill engineered to reach two metres.
- The mission architecture depended on Russian contributions: a Proton rocket, a Russian descent module, and the Kazachok surface platform.
- The mission traced back to the 1999 Red Book recommendation and evolved through ESA’s Aurora programme, NASA partnership, and later Russian collaboration.
- A public vote on February 7, 2019, named the rover Rosalind Franklin, honoring the scientist whose work sought hidden structure in matter.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842471Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA three-week political shock threatens a fully built Mars rover and its September launch window-did Rosalind Franklin still have a ride to Mars? The Proton rocket's withdrawal stopped Rosalind Franklin's launch window In this episode, we follow...
The Proton rocket's withdrawal stopped Rosalind Franklin's launch window

In this episode, we follow the story of a European Mars rover already built and tested whose planned launch window evaporated after a geopolitical event. We trace the device's design, partnerships, and the critical decisions that put its fate in someone else's hands - and ask what was lost when the launch was suspended.

Person: Rosalind Franklin
Date: March 17, 2022
Location: Saint‑Louis (French‑German Research Institute) and Stevenage (Airbus Defence and Space)
Event: ESA suspended the ExoMars launch after Russian forces crossed into Ukraine
Technical requirement: Drill depth target two metres to avoid cosmic radiation

- Engineers at the Saint‑Louis test facility fired a heat‑shield model at 4,300 km/h and watched impact telemetry in silence.
- The rover, assembled at Airbus in Stevenage, weighed 300 kg with six 25 cm wide wheels and a drill engineered to reach two metres.
- The mission architecture depended on Russian contributions: a Proton rocket, a Russian descent module, and the Kazachok surface platform.
- The mission traced back to the 1999 Red Book recommendation and evolved through ESA’s Aurora programme, NASA partnership, and later Russian collaboration.
- A public vote on February 7, 2019, named the rover Rosalind Franklin, honoring the scientist whose work sought hidden structure in matter.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1769falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fog-that-shifted-time-left-him-inches-from-the-ground--74842466
The fog that shifted time left him inches from the ground

This episode explores the life and final moments of Theodore Cordy Freeman, one of NASA's first astronauts, whose routine flight took a sudden, tragic turn. It examines the events leading up to the incident and the critical decision he made.

Person: Theodore Cordy Freeman
Date: October 31, 1964
Location: Ellington Air Force Base, Houston
Aircraft: T-38A Talon

- Theodore Cordy Freeman was a highly accomplished pilot with over 3,300 flight hours, including demanding Air Force aircraft.
- Born in 1930, Freeman developed a passion for aviation early, logging 450 flight hours and earning a pilot's license by age sixteen.
- He overcame a medical disqualification from the Naval Academy due to crooked teeth, undergoing surgery and braces to reapply successfully.
- After graduating from the Naval Academy, he chose the Air Force and steadily advanced through flight training and aerospace engineering roles.
- A routine business trip to St. Louis, delayed by fog, altered his flight path and timing for his return to Ellington Air Force Base.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842466Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA pilot descends for landing, but a sudden impact sends his jet plummeting. With only seconds to react, his choices will change NASA forever. The fog that shifted time left him inches from the ground This episode explores the life and final...
The fog that shifted time left him inches from the ground

This episode explores the life and final moments of Theodore Cordy Freeman, one of NASA's first astronauts, whose routine flight took a sudden, tragic turn. It examines the events leading up to the incident and the critical decision he made.

Person: Theodore Cordy Freeman
Date: October 31, 1964
Location: Ellington Air Force Base, Houston
Aircraft: T-38A Talon

- Theodore Cordy Freeman was a highly accomplished pilot with over 3,300 flight hours, including demanding Air Force aircraft.
- Born in 1930, Freeman developed a passion for aviation early, logging 450 flight hours and earning a pilot's license by age sixteen.
- He overcame a medical disqualification from the Naval Academy due to crooked teeth, undergoing surgery and braces to reapply successfully.
- After graduating from the Naval Academy, he chose the Air Force and steadily advanced through flight training and aerospace engineering roles.
- A routine business trip to St. Louis, delayed by fog, altered his flight path and timing for his return to Ellington Air Force Base.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1234falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-antenna-that-jammed-a-satellite-s-way-home--74842463
The Antenna That Jammed a Satellite's Way Home

This episode explores the career of Peter Wisoff, a physicist who became an astronaut and performed a critical spacewalk to secure a satellite. It examines the extensive preparation and training required for such a demanding role.

Person: Peter Wisoff
Date: October 11, 2000
Location: Fifty feet from the hull of Discovery
Device: SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue)
Satellite: EURECA

- Peter Wisoff, a physicist with a Stanford doctorate, deliberately untethered from the Discovery spacecraft to test the SAFER jetpack.
- His preparation for space began in the early 1980s, including research in short wavelength laser development and medical applications of laser technology.
- Wisoff joined NASA in January 1990 and spent seven years in ground assignments, including CAPCOM and evaluating EVA tools.
- His first spacewalk involved manually repositioning a jammed antenna on the EURECA satellite, which Endeavour's robotic arm could not reach.
- Wisoff spent five hours and fifty minutes in vacuum to secure the satellite, using tools he had spent years evaluating on the ground.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842463Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn astronaut tests a last-resort jetpack, deliberately untethering from the Discovery to see if a spacewalker can return to the ship. The Antenna That Jammed a Satellite's Way Home This episode explores the career of Peter Wisoff, a physicist...
The Antenna That Jammed a Satellite's Way Home

This episode explores the career of Peter Wisoff, a physicist who became an astronaut and performed a critical spacewalk to secure a satellite. It examines the extensive preparation and training required for such a demanding role.

Person: Peter Wisoff
Date: October 11, 2000
Location: Fifty feet from the hull of Discovery
Device: SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue)
Satellite: EURECA

- Peter Wisoff, a physicist with a Stanford doctorate, deliberately untethered from the Discovery spacecraft to test the SAFER jetpack.
- His preparation for space began in the early 1980s, including research in short wavelength laser development and medical applications of laser technology.
- Wisoff joined NASA in January 1990 and spent seven years in ground assignments, including CAPCOM and evaluating EVA tools.
- His first spacewalk involved manually repositioning a jammed antenna on the EURECA satellite, which Endeavour's robotic arm could not reach.
- Wisoff spent five hours and fifty minutes in vacuum to secure the satellite, using tools he had spent years evaluating on the ground.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1225falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-atlantis-anomaly-68-orbits-of-classified-silence--74842456
The Atlantis Anomaly: 68 Orbits of Classified Silence

This episode explores the STS-27 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a classified Department of Defense flight in 1988. It examines the unusual circumstances surrounding its return and the enduring silence from its crew, particularly astronaut Jerry Ross.

Mission: STS-27
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Date: December 2-6, 1988
Astronaut: Jerry Lynn Ross
Classification: Classified

- Atlantis launched on December 2, 1988, for a classified Department of Defense mission.
- Upon landing, engineers discovered significant damage to the heat tiles on Atlantis's underside.
- The National Reconnaissance Office confirmed in 2013 that it holds records from the flight but has declined to release them.
- Astronaut Jerry Ross, a mechanical engineer and Air Force officer, holds the record for the most spaceflights by an American.
- Ross's memoir, "Spacewalker," details his other missions but omits operational objectives for STS-27.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842456Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1988, Space Shuttle Atlantis returned with severe heat shield damage. Astronaut Jerry Ross has stayed silent-what happened during those 68 orbits? The Atlantis Anomaly: 68 Orbits of Classified Silence This episode explores the STS-27 mission...
The Atlantis Anomaly: 68 Orbits of Classified Silence

This episode explores the STS-27 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a classified Department of Defense flight in 1988. It examines the unusual circumstances surrounding its return and the enduring silence from its crew, particularly astronaut Jerry Ross.

Mission: STS-27
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Date: December 2-6, 1988
Astronaut: Jerry Lynn Ross
Classification: Classified

- Atlantis launched on December 2, 1988, for a classified Department of Defense mission.
- Upon landing, engineers discovered significant damage to the heat tiles on Atlantis's underside.
- The National Reconnaissance Office confirmed in 2013 that it holds records from the flight but has declined to release them.
- Astronaut Jerry Ross, a mechanical engineer and Air Force officer, holds the record for the most spaceflights by an American.
- Ross's memoir, "Spacewalker," details his other missions but omits operational objectives for STS-27.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1293falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-failed-mdm-stopped-responding-and-forced-a-suitless-clock-outside--74842453
The failed MDM stopped responding and forced a suitless clock outside

This episode details the silent failure of a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) aboard the International Space Station and the subsequent spacewalk required to replace it. It explores the career of astronaut Richard Alan Mastracchio, whose extensive experience prepared him for such a critical moment.

Date: April 11, 2014
Location: International Space Station
Person: Richard Alan Mastracchio
Device: Multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM)

- A backup multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) on the International Space Station failed silently, prompting engineers on the ground to recognize the problem through routine testing.
- The MDM is crucial for routing commands between computers and mechanical systems, including life support and power distribution.
- Astronaut Richard Alan Mastracchio, with 174 days on the station, was one of two astronauts tasked with replacing the failed component.
- Mastracchio spent 32 years building, testing, and writing contingency plans for system failures before his first spacewalk.
- His career included working on inertial measurement units, flight control computers, shuttle flight software, and abort procedures, specializing in ascent and entry phases of spaceflight.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842453Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA critical backup system on the International Space Station fails, leaving only the primary. Two astronauts must perform a spacewalk to replace it. The failed MDM stopped responding and forced a suitless clock outside This episode details the...
The failed MDM stopped responding and forced a suitless clock outside

This episode details the silent failure of a multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) aboard the International Space Station and the subsequent spacewalk required to replace it. It explores the career of astronaut Richard Alan Mastracchio, whose extensive experience prepared him for such a critical moment.

Date: April 11, 2014
Location: International Space Station
Person: Richard Alan Mastracchio
Device: Multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM)

- A backup multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) on the International Space Station failed silently, prompting engineers on the ground to recognize the problem through routine testing.
- The MDM is crucial for routing commands between computers and mechanical systems, including life support and power distribution.
- Astronaut Richard Alan Mastracchio, with 174 days on the station, was one of two astronauts tasked with replacing the failed component.
- Mastracchio spent 32 years building, testing, and writing contingency plans for system failures before his first spacewalk.
- His career included working on inertial measurement units, flight control computers, shuttle flight software, and abort procedures, specializing in ascent and entry phases of spaceflight.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-foam-chunk-that-pierced-columbia-s-wing-drained-their-forty-three-minutes--74842449
The foam chunk that pierced Columbia's wing drained their forty‑three minutes

In this episode, we follow the moments and decisions leading up to a reentry that was supposed to be routine. The episode traces the role Charles Hobaugh played at Mission Control and the long, specific path that put him at the console when silence answered his radio - could the earlier choices have changed what came next?

Person: Charles Hobaugh
Date: February 1, 2003
Event: UHF comm check at 08:59 during STS-107 reentry
Issue: Foam strike to Columbia's left wing during launch
Duration: Shuttle in orbit for sixteen days, landing scheduled in forty‑three minutes

- Hobaugh served as CAPCOM, the single human voice designated to speak to the crew during critical phases.
- During liftoff a piece of external tank foam struck Columbia’s left wing; the impact was captured on camera and noted internally.
- The foam strike raised a reentry risk question inside NASA that, per investigation records, was not resolved with urgent action.
- The crew continued their 16‑day science mission unaware of damage to the thermal protection system on the left wing.
- Hobaugh had a decades‑long career-Naval Academy, Marine aviator, test pilot, astronaut-building the training and composure that placed him at that console that morning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842449Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA CAPCOM in Houston calls for a UHF comm check as Columbia reenters - did he get an answer in time? The foam chunk that pierced Columbia's wing drained their forty‑three minutes In this episode, we follow the moments and decisions leading up to...
The foam chunk that pierced Columbia's wing drained their forty‑three minutes

In this episode, we follow the moments and decisions leading up to a reentry that was supposed to be routine. The episode traces the role Charles Hobaugh played at Mission Control and the long, specific path that put him at the console when silence answered his radio - could the earlier choices have changed what came next?

Person: Charles Hobaugh
Date: February 1, 2003
Event: UHF comm check at 08:59 during STS-107 reentry
Issue: Foam strike to Columbia's left wing during launch
Duration: Shuttle in orbit for sixteen days, landing scheduled in forty‑three minutes

- Hobaugh served as CAPCOM, the single human voice designated to speak to the crew during critical phases.
- During liftoff a piece of external tank foam struck Columbia’s left wing; the impact was captured on camera and noted internally.
- The foam strike raised a reentry risk question inside NASA that, per investigation records, was not resolved with urgent action.
- The crew continued their 16‑day science mission unaware of damage to the thermal protection system on the left wing.
- Hobaugh had a decades‑long career-Naval Academy, Marine aviator, test pilot, astronaut-building the training and composure that placed him at that console that morning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1200falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hatch-that-sealed-discovery-s-last-flight-started-a-two-minute-countdown--74842445
The hatch that sealed Discovery's last flight started a two‑minute countdown

In this episode, we follow the moments that link Alvin Drew's childhood dream to a spacewalk aboard Discovery, and the unseen arithmetic that made his mission uniquely timed. The narrative traces his training, the shuttle's final launch, and the ticking clock that begins when the hatch closes-what happens next demands the listener's attention.

Person: Alvin Drew
Date: February 28, 2011
Event: Spacewalk marking the 200th human EVA
Location: Space Shuttle Discovery / International Space Station
Mission: STS-133

- Alvin Drew grew up watching Apollo 7 and pursued physics and astronautical engineering to become an astronaut.
- He logged time in combat search and rescue and flew thirty different types of aircraft before selection.
- Selected to NASA in 2000 (Group 18), he waited seven years through training cycles and served as CAPCOM.
- Discovery launched STS-133 on February 24, 2011; it was the orbiter’s thirty-eighth and final flight.
- On February 28, 2011, Drew and Steve Bowen exited the Quest airlock for a scheduled spacewalk as a two-minute countdown began.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842445Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Space Shuttle hatch seals on Discovery's final flight as astronaut Alvin Drew steps into history-will the two‑minute countdown end in time? The hatch that sealed Discovery's last flight started a two‑minute countdown In this episode, we follow...
The hatch that sealed Discovery's last flight started a two‑minute countdown

In this episode, we follow the moments that link Alvin Drew's childhood dream to a spacewalk aboard Discovery, and the unseen arithmetic that made his mission uniquely timed. The narrative traces his training, the shuttle's final launch, and the ticking clock that begins when the hatch closes-what happens next demands the listener's attention.

Person: Alvin Drew
Date: February 28, 2011
Event: Spacewalk marking the 200th human EVA
Location: Space Shuttle Discovery / International Space Station
Mission: STS-133

- Alvin Drew grew up watching Apollo 7 and pursued physics and astronautical engineering to become an astronaut.
- He logged time in combat search and rescue and flew thirty different types of aircraft before selection.
- Selected to NASA in 2000 (Group 18), he waited seven years through training cycles and served as CAPCOM.
- Discovery launched STS-133 on February 24, 2011; it was the orbiter’s thirty-eighth and final flight.
- On February 28, 2011, Drew and Steve Bowen exited the Quest airlock for a scheduled spacewalk as a two-minute countdown began.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1001falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-darkness-outside-the-windows-denied-their-horizon-did-they-make-it--74842442
The darkness outside the windows denied their horizon - did they make it?

This episode explores the first night launch of the Space Shuttle program, focusing on the journey of one astronaut and the unique challenges of a pre-dawn ascent into space. It delves into the preparation and circumstances that led to this historic moment.

Date: August 30, 1983
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Challenger
Mission: STS-8
Astronaut: Guion Stewart Bluford Jr.
Launch Condition: First night launch in Space Shuttle program history

- Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. was the first African American to reach space.
- The launch window was chosen for orbital mechanics, requiring a pre-dawn liftoff.
- Bluford had logged over 5,200 hours in jet aircraft, including combat sorties in Vietnam.
- He held a doctorate in aerospace engineering with a minor in laser physics.
- NASA's Group Eight astronaut class, which Bluford joined, was recruited with the help of Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842442Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAt two minutes past midnight, the Space Shuttle Challenger launches into the first night in program history, carrying a payload and a secret. The darkness outside the windows denied their horizon - did they make it? This episode explores the...
The darkness outside the windows denied their horizon - did they make it?

This episode explores the first night launch of the Space Shuttle program, focusing on the journey of one astronaut and the unique challenges of a pre-dawn ascent into space. It delves into the preparation and circumstances that led to this historic moment.

Date: August 30, 1983
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Challenger
Mission: STS-8
Astronaut: Guion Stewart Bluford Jr.
Launch Condition: First night launch in Space Shuttle program history

- Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. was the first African American to reach space.
- The launch window was chosen for orbital mechanics, requiring a pre-dawn liftoff.
- Bluford had logged over 5,200 hours in jet aircraft, including combat sorties in Vietnam.
- He held a doctorate in aerospace engineering with a minor in laser physics.
- NASA's Group Eight astronaut class, which Bluford joined, was recruited with the help of Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1275falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-lost-fuel-that-drained-their-chances-of-getting-home--74842440
The Lost Fuel That Drained Their Chances of Getting Home

This episode explores the Gemini Ten mission, detailing the complex challenges and critical decisions made by the crew. It highlights the constraints they faced and the ingenuity required to navigate an unprecedented spaceflight.

Person: Michael Collins
Date: July 1966
Mission: Gemini Ten
Altitude: 412 nautical miles
Fuel Status: 60% maneuvering fuel depleted

- Michael Collins watched a $10,000 camera tumble away from his spacecraft, unable to retrieve it.
- The Gemini Ten mission aimed to achieve the first double orbital rendezvous and an independent spacewalk.
- Commander John Young and pilot Michael Collins were assigned to the mission, with Collins performing the spacewalk.
- The plan involved docking with two different Agena target vehicles, one of which was a silent, derelict spacecraft.
- Early engine burns consumed 60% of the capsule's maneuvering fuel, impacting all subsequent mission decisions.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842440Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spaceflight crew attempts the first double rendezvous in orbit, but a critical fuel shortage and a silent target threaten their return to Earth. The Lost Fuel That Drained Their Chances of Getting Home This episode explores the Gemini Ten...
The Lost Fuel That Drained Their Chances of Getting Home

This episode explores the Gemini Ten mission, detailing the complex challenges and critical decisions made by the crew. It highlights the constraints they faced and the ingenuity required to navigate an unprecedented spaceflight.

Person: Michael Collins
Date: July 1966
Mission: Gemini Ten
Altitude: 412 nautical miles
Fuel Status: 60% maneuvering fuel depleted

- Michael Collins watched a $10,000 camera tumble away from his spacecraft, unable to retrieve it.
- The Gemini Ten mission aimed to achieve the first double orbital rendezvous and an independent spacewalk.
- Commander John Young and pilot Michael Collins were assigned to the mission, with Collins performing the spacewalk.
- The plan involved docking with two different Agena target vehicles, one of which was a silent, derelict spacecraft.
- Early engine burns consumed 60% of the capsule's maneuvering fuel, impacting all subsequent mission decisions.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1080falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-thermostat-switch-welded-shut-and-boiled-the-oxygen-would-they-make-it--74842438
The thermostat switch welded shut and boiled the oxygen-would they make it?

In this episode, we follow the hours after a bang echoed through the hull of the spacecraft Odyssey as it raced toward the Moon, threatening every drop of breathable oxygen aboard. The story traces the technical choices, damaged systems, and decisions that set the crew on a knife-edge: could they avert catastrophe before the air ran out?

Person: James Lovell
Event: Oxygen tank explosion on Apollo 13
Date: April 13, 1970, 9:55 p.m. Houston time
Location: 205,947 miles from Earth
Cause: Thermostat switch rated 28V welded under 65V heater purge

- Engineers chose to purge Tank Two with internal heaters rather than replace it, avoiding a ~one month launch delay.
- The thermostat switch in Tank Two was rated for 28 volts, but ground support purge ran at 65 volts and welded the switch shut.
- Overheating during an eight-hour heater purge boiled oxygen and burned Teflon insulation on copper wiring inside Tank Two.
- Two days after launch, a routine tank-stir maneuver sparked across damaged wiring, ignited oxygen, and ruptured Tank Two.
- With oxygen leaking and fuel cells losing power, the command module faced no power, no heat, and no navigation while the Moon loomed two days away.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842438Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:48 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT205,000 miles from Earth, the Odyssey suffers an explosion that begins boiling its oxygen-will they make it in time to save the crew? The thermostat switch welded shut and boiled the oxygen-would they make it? In this episode, we follow the...
The thermostat switch welded shut and boiled the oxygen-would they make it?

In this episode, we follow the hours after a bang echoed through the hull of the spacecraft Odyssey as it raced toward the Moon, threatening every drop of breathable oxygen aboard. The story traces the technical choices, damaged systems, and decisions that set the crew on a knife-edge: could they avert catastrophe before the air ran out?

Person: James Lovell
Event: Oxygen tank explosion on Apollo 13
Date: April 13, 1970, 9:55 p.m. Houston time
Location: 205,947 miles from Earth
Cause: Thermostat switch rated 28V welded under 65V heater purge

- Engineers chose to purge Tank Two with internal heaters rather than replace it, avoiding a ~one month launch delay.
- The thermostat switch in Tank Two was rated for 28 volts, but ground support purge ran at 65 volts and welded the switch shut.
- Overheating during an eight-hour heater purge boiled oxygen and burned Teflon insulation on copper wiring inside Tank Two.
- Two days after launch, a routine tank-stir maneuver sparked across damaged wiring, ignited oxygen, and ruptured Tank Two.
- With oxygen leaking and fuel cells losing power, the command module faced no power, no heat, and no navigation while the Moon loomed two days away.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1124falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-budget-line-that-erased-his-launch-clock-did-he-make-it--74842436
The budget line that erased his launch clock - did he make it?

In this episode, we follow Richard F. Gordon Jr.'s path from naval aviator and test pilot to Gemini and Apollo astronaut, and trace the career arithmetic that led to a cancelled lunar command. What happens when mission rotation, merit and politics collide with a federal appropriation?

Person: Richard Francis Gordon Jr.
Date: Born October 5, 1929; NASA selected October 1963; Apollo Twelve November 1969; Apollo cancellations announced September 1970
Location: Poulsbo, Washington; lunar orbit aboard Apollo spacecraft
Event: Orbited the Moon 45 times; Apollo 18 cancellation due to budget cuts
Role: Command module pilot on Apollo Twelve; designated commander for Apollo 18

- Grew up in Poulsbo, worked through Boy Scouts to Star Scout and studied chemistry at the University of Washington
- Became a Navy test pilot, graduated Patuxent River Test Pilot School in 1957 and helped develop the F-4 Phantom II
- Set a transcontinental speed record flying the Phantom from Los Angeles to New York in 2 hours 47 minutes
- Joined NASA in 1963 as part of the third astronaut group, later flew Gemini XI and performed two EVAs as command pilot
- Flew Apollo Twelve as command module pilot, completing 45 lunar orbits while his crewmates walked on the surface, then lost a command slot when Apollo 18 was cut by budget decisions

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842436Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:44 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTRichard Gordon, orbiting the Moon, watched the surface below - a single budget line erased the launch clock for his mission: did he make it in time? The budget line that erased his launch clock - did he make it? In this episode, we follow...
The budget line that erased his launch clock - did he make it?

In this episode, we follow Richard F. Gordon Jr.'s path from naval aviator and test pilot to Gemini and Apollo astronaut, and trace the career arithmetic that led to a cancelled lunar command. What happens when mission rotation, merit and politics collide with a federal appropriation?

Person: Richard Francis Gordon Jr.
Date: Born October 5, 1929; NASA selected October 1963; Apollo Twelve November 1969; Apollo cancellations announced September 1970
Location: Poulsbo, Washington; lunar orbit aboard Apollo spacecraft
Event: Orbited the Moon 45 times; Apollo 18 cancellation due to budget cuts
Role: Command module pilot on Apollo Twelve; designated commander for Apollo 18

- Grew up in Poulsbo, worked through Boy Scouts to Star Scout and studied chemistry at the University of Washington
- Became a Navy test pilot, graduated Patuxent River Test Pilot School in 1957 and helped develop the F-4 Phantom II
- Set a transcontinental speed record flying the Phantom from Los Angeles to New York in 2 hours 47 minutes
- Joined NASA in 1963 as part of the third astronaut group, later flew Gemini XI and performed two EVAs as command pilot
- Flew Apollo Twelve as command module pilot, completing 45 lunar orbits while his crewmates walked on the surface, then lost a command slot when Apollo 18 was cut by budget decisions

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1016falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-inspection-sphere-floated-free-would-they-open-the-only-hatch-in-time--74842433
The inspection sphere floated free - would they open the only hatch in time

This episode explores the intricate preparations and unexpected challenges faced by Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-87 mission, highlighting the critical role of a free-flying satellite and the long-standing difficulty of spacewalks on this particular orbiter.

Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Columbia
Mission: STS-87
Date: November 1997
Crew Size: 7
Experiments: Spartan 201, AERCam Sprint, MEPHISTO, ELF

- Columbia launched on its 24th mission, STS-87, in November 1997, carrying a crew of seven.
- Mission specialists Takao Doi and Winston Scott were scheduled for a spacewalk, a feat never before accomplished on Columbia despite two prior attempts.
- The mission included the deployment of Spartan 201, a solar physics satellite, designed to operate independently and be retrieved on a precise orbit.
- The AERCam Sprint, a basketball-sized inspection sphere, was tested for remote operation in the cargo bay.
- Spartan 201 was released on orbit 18, but its systems failed to respond as planned, complicating its scheduled retrieval on orbit 52.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842433Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:41 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA white sphere drifts from Space Shuttle Columbia, part of a mission to test remote inspection. But then, an unexpected object floats free, threatening the entire space operation. The inspection sphere floated free - would they open the only hatch...
The inspection sphere floated free - would they open the only hatch in time

This episode explores the intricate preparations and unexpected challenges faced by Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-87 mission, highlighting the critical role of a free-flying satellite and the long-standing difficulty of spacewalks on this particular orbiter.

Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Columbia
Mission: STS-87
Date: November 1997
Crew Size: 7
Experiments: Spartan 201, AERCam Sprint, MEPHISTO, ELF

- Columbia launched on its 24th mission, STS-87, in November 1997, carrying a crew of seven.
- Mission specialists Takao Doi and Winston Scott were scheduled for a spacewalk, a feat never before accomplished on Columbia despite two prior attempts.
- The mission included the deployment of Spartan 201, a solar physics satellite, designed to operate independently and be retrieved on a precise orbit.
- The AERCam Sprint, a basketball-sized inspection sphere, was tested for remote operation in the cargo bay.
- Spartan 201 was released on orbit 18, but its systems failed to respond as planned, complicating its scheduled retrieval on orbit 52.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1416falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-controller-unit-failed-and-six-seconds-decided-if-galileo-hit-senegal--74842428
The controller unit failed - and six seconds decided if Galileo hit Senegal

In this episode, we lay out the tense sequence of delays and split‑second decisions around STS-34’s October 18, 1989 launch. You’ll hear how hardware faults, weather at abort runways, and a six‑second deployment window put a nuclear‑powered Jupiter probe and a crew on a knife edge.

Date: October 18, 1989
Mission: STS-34
Spacecraft: Galileo (carrying two RTGs with plutonium dioxide)
Crew: Donald Williams; Michael McCulley; Shannon Lucid; Franklin Chang-Díaz; Ellen Baker
Abort site at risk: Senegal (civilian airport; transatlantic abort consideration)

- A faulty main engine controller on October 12 forced a component swap and the first launch scrub.
- Rain over Transatlantic Abort Landing runways on October 17 caused the second scrub and a one-day slip.
- At T‑minus five on October 18, Ben Guerir in Morocco reported rain and the primary abort site went unavailable.
- Mission control substituted Zaragoza, Spain from the backup list in seconds to keep the countdown running.
- Galileo’s deployment depended on a six‑second release window from Atlantis’ cargo bay to avoid an off‑trajectory reentry over Senegal.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842428Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:36 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTSix seconds to release a nuclear probe from Atlantis' cargo bay - if they missed it, disaster in Senegal. Did they make it in time? The controller unit failed - and six seconds decided if Galileo hit Senegal In this episode, we lay out the tense...
The controller unit failed - and six seconds decided if Galileo hit Senegal

In this episode, we lay out the tense sequence of delays and split‑second decisions around STS-34’s October 18, 1989 launch. You’ll hear how hardware faults, weather at abort runways, and a six‑second deployment window put a nuclear‑powered Jupiter probe and a crew on a knife edge.

Date: October 18, 1989
Mission: STS-34
Spacecraft: Galileo (carrying two RTGs with plutonium dioxide)
Crew: Donald Williams; Michael McCulley; Shannon Lucid; Franklin Chang-Díaz; Ellen Baker
Abort site at risk: Senegal (civilian airport; transatlantic abort consideration)

- A faulty main engine controller on October 12 forced a component swap and the first launch scrub.
- Rain over Transatlantic Abort Landing runways on October 17 caused the second scrub and a one-day slip.
- At T‑minus five on October 18, Ben Guerir in Morocco reported rain and the primary abort site went unavailable.
- Mission control substituted Zaragoza, Spain from the backup list in seconds to keep the countdown running.
- Galileo’s deployment depended on a six‑second release window from Atlantis’ cargo bay to avoid an off‑trajectory reentry over Senegal.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1208falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-missing-comet-forced-them-to-redirect-and-race-a-fifteen-day-window--74842425
The missing comet forced them to redirect and race a fifteen‑day window

In this episode, we follow the EPOXI team's scramble after their original target vanished and the decision to redirect the Deep Impact spacecraft toward comet 103P/Hartley. The episode traces the timing, orbital choices, and the risky fifteen‑day alignment that would determine whether the flyby could capture the comet at peak activity.

Person: Don Yeomans
Date: November 4, 2010
Location: Deep Space / Comet 103P/Hartley (close approach)
Event: Deep Impact probe repurposed for EPOXI flyby
Topic: Fifteen‑day alignment of Earth approach, perihelion, and spacecraft arrival

- The original target, Comet Boethin, was observed in 1986 but could not be relocated when needed, forcing a new plan.
- Mission planners had roughly seven hundred days to find a reachable replacement or lose the extended mission.
- The team selected 103P/Hartley, a 2.25‑km, extremely dark, hyperactive Jupiter‑family comet discovered at Siding Spring in 1986.
- Three critical dates converged in a fifteen‑day span: closest Earth approach (Oct 20), perihelion (Oct 28), and the scheduled flyby (Nov 4).
- Ground radar hinted at an elongated nucleus and telescopes showed jets erupting from the dark side, creating urgent unknowns for the approaching spacecraft.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842425Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:32 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spacecraft racing a repurposed probe toward a two-kilometer comet has a fifteen-day window to catch it at perihelion - did they make it in time? The missing comet forced them to redirect and race a fifteen‑day window In this episode, we follow...
The missing comet forced them to redirect and race a fifteen‑day window

In this episode, we follow the EPOXI team's scramble after their original target vanished and the decision to redirect the Deep Impact spacecraft toward comet 103P/Hartley. The episode traces the timing, orbital choices, and the risky fifteen‑day alignment that would determine whether the flyby could capture the comet at peak activity.

Person: Don Yeomans
Date: November 4, 2010
Location: Deep Space / Comet 103P/Hartley (close approach)
Event: Deep Impact probe repurposed for EPOXI flyby
Topic: Fifteen‑day alignment of Earth approach, perihelion, and spacecraft arrival

- The original target, Comet Boethin, was observed in 1986 but could not be relocated when needed, forcing a new plan.
- Mission planners had roughly seven hundred days to find a reachable replacement or lose the extended mission.
- The team selected 103P/Hartley, a 2.25‑km, extremely dark, hyperactive Jupiter‑family comet discovered at Siding Spring in 1986.
- Three critical dates converged in a fifteen‑day span: closest Earth approach (Oct 20), perihelion (Oct 28), and the scheduled flyby (Nov 4).
- Ground radar hinted at an elongated nucleus and telescopes showed jets erupting from the dark side, creating urgent unknowns for the approaching spacecraft.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1133falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-star-30-motor-ignited-during-blackout-did-they-make-it--74842421
The STAR-30 motor ignited during blackout - did they make it?

This episode explores the CONTOUR mission, a NASA Discovery-class spacecraft designed to image comet nuclei. It delves into the advanced engineering meant to protect it from the harsh environment of space, and the unexpected event that led to its disappearance.

Mission: CONTOUR (Comet Nucleus Tour)
Launch Date: July 3, 2002
Disappearance Date: August 15, 2002
Investigation Status: Inconclusive
Motor Type: STAR-30 solid rocket motor

- CONTOUR was built to fly within 100 kilometers of three comet nuclei, returning the sharpest images ever taken.
- The spacecraft carried a 25-centimeter thick Whipple shield, engineered with four layers of ceramic fabric and seven layers of Kevlar, to survive particle impacts.
- Engineers tested the shield using a two-stage light-gas gun, firing surrogate particles at hypervelocities.
- The STAR-30 solid rocket motor was embedded in CONTOUR's structure and designed to fire on August 15, 2002, to inject the spacecraft into a heliocentric trajectory.
- The critical engine burn was scheduled to occur on the far side of Earth, out of contact with ground tracking stations, as a planned communication blackout.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842421Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:28 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTForty-three days into a NASA Discovery mission, a spacecraft vanishes during a planned engine burn, leaving behind three debris objects. The investigation points to an internal failure. The STAR-30 motor ignited during blackout - did they make it?...
The STAR-30 motor ignited during blackout - did they make it?

This episode explores the CONTOUR mission, a NASA Discovery-class spacecraft designed to image comet nuclei. It delves into the advanced engineering meant to protect it from the harsh environment of space, and the unexpected event that led to its disappearance.

Mission: CONTOUR (Comet Nucleus Tour)
Launch Date: July 3, 2002
Disappearance Date: August 15, 2002
Investigation Status: Inconclusive
Motor Type: STAR-30 solid rocket motor

- CONTOUR was built to fly within 100 kilometers of three comet nuclei, returning the sharpest images ever taken.
- The spacecraft carried a 25-centimeter thick Whipple shield, engineered with four layers of ceramic fabric and seven layers of Kevlar, to survive particle impacts.
- Engineers tested the shield using a two-stage light-gas gun, firing surrogate particles at hypervelocities.
- The STAR-30 solid rocket motor was embedded in CONTOUR's structure and designed to fire on August 15, 2002, to inject the spacecraft into a heliocentric trajectory.
- The critical engine burn was scheduled to occur on the far side of Earth, out of contact with ground tracking stations, as a planned communication blackout.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1261falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-forty-second-burn-that-proved-nerva-and-missed-mars-window--74842418
The forty-second burn that proved NERVA-and missed Mars' window

This episode explores the story of Project Rover, the United States' effort to build a nuclear thermal rocket engine, and the complex factors that led to its cancellation despite its success. It examines the journey from theoretical study to certified engine, and the political decisions that ultimately prevented its use.

Event: NERVA engine test
Date: January 28, 1969
Location: Jackass Flats, Nevada
Program: Project Rover
Cost: $1.4 billion

- Project Rover began in 1955 to determine if a nuclear reactor could heat hydrogen propellant for rocket thrust.
- The NERVA engine was designed to achieve twice the thrust efficiency of the best chemical rocket engines of its era.
- A 1957 budget cut for Project Rover was reversed after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
- Engineers at Jackass Flats built a specialized railroad for precision transport of rocket engines and a 76-meter-tall concrete structure for testing.
- The Kiwi series of test reactors, named after the flightless bird, pushed the limits of reactor performance, including a structural failure in 1964 that provided crucial data.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842418Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:24 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA nuclear rocket engine is certified for a human mission to Mars, but a political decision threatens to ground the nuclear propulsion program. The forty-second burn that proved NERVA-and missed Mars' window This episode explores the story of...
The forty-second burn that proved NERVA-and missed Mars' window

This episode explores the story of Project Rover, the United States' effort to build a nuclear thermal rocket engine, and the complex factors that led to its cancellation despite its success. It examines the journey from theoretical study to certified engine, and the political decisions that ultimately prevented its use.

Event: NERVA engine test
Date: January 28, 1969
Location: Jackass Flats, Nevada
Program: Project Rover
Cost: $1.4 billion

- Project Rover began in 1955 to determine if a nuclear reactor could heat hydrogen propellant for rocket thrust.
- The NERVA engine was designed to achieve twice the thrust efficiency of the best chemical rocket engines of its era.
- A 1957 budget cut for Project Rover was reversed after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
- Engineers at Jackass Flats built a specialized railroad for precision transport of rocket engines and a 76-meter-tall concrete structure for testing.
- The Kiwi series of test reactors, named after the flightless bird, pushed the limits of reactor performance, including a structural failure in 1964 that provided crucial data.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1210falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-warning-cone-widened-and-erased-their-seconds-to-spare--74842416
The warning cone widened and erased their seconds to spare

In this episode, we lay out how two objects in low Earth orbit arrived at the same point above the Taymyr Peninsula and what decisions and systems led up to that instant. We focus on the alert mechanics, tracking data, and thresholds that framed the choices - and the question remains: who decided not to maneuver?

Date: February 10, 2009
Location: Taymyr Peninsula, Siberia (altitude ~789 km)
Person: John Campbell
Object: Iridium 33 and Kosmos 2251
Source: CelesTrak tracking data

- Iridium 33 was an operational 560 kg communications satellite launched September 14, 1997, actively relaying voice and data on February 10, 2009.
- Kosmos 2251 was a 950 kg Russian Strela military satellite launched June 16, 1993, out of service since 1995 and drifting without propulsion or guidance.
- The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracked Kosmos 2251 and included it in conjunction reports despite its status as a dead object.
- Iridium received roughly 400 conjunction notifications per week for approaches within five kilometers, each assessed against a one-in-50-million collision probability.
- CelesTrak calculated a miss distance of 584 meters for this conjunction, a value centered in a probability cone whose uncertainty for the dead satellite was larger than the margin separating the two spacecraft.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842416Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:20 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA functioning Iridium satellite and a long-dead Russian Kosmos converge above Siberia with collision warnings ignored-did they make it in time? The warning cone widened and erased their seconds to spare In this episode, we lay out how two...
The warning cone widened and erased their seconds to spare

In this episode, we lay out how two objects in low Earth orbit arrived at the same point above the Taymyr Peninsula and what decisions and systems led up to that instant. We focus on the alert mechanics, tracking data, and thresholds that framed the choices - and the question remains: who decided not to maneuver?

Date: February 10, 2009
Location: Taymyr Peninsula, Siberia (altitude ~789 km)
Person: John Campbell
Object: Iridium 33 and Kosmos 2251
Source: CelesTrak tracking data

- Iridium 33 was an operational 560 kg communications satellite launched September 14, 1997, actively relaying voice and data on February 10, 2009.
- Kosmos 2251 was a 950 kg Russian Strela military satellite launched June 16, 1993, out of service since 1995 and drifting without propulsion or guidance.
- The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracked Kosmos 2251 and included it in conjunction reports despite its status as a dead object.
- Iridium received roughly 400 conjunction notifications per week for approaches within five kilometers, each assessed against a one-in-50-million collision probability.
- CelesTrak calculated a miss distance of 584 meters for this conjunction, a value centered in a probability cone whose uncertainty for the dead satellite was larger than the margin separating the two spacecraft.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1348falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-gloved-hand-that-slowed-a-tumbling-satellite-did-they-make-it--74842415
The gloved hand that slowed a tumbling satellite - did they make it?

In this episode, we follow the mission that sent astronauts to catch and repair the Solar Maximum Mission satellite, focusing on the people, training, and improvised choices that shaped the attempt. What did James van Hoften’s unusual path from hydraulic engineering and combat aviation bring to a crisis two hundred miles above Earth?

Person: James Dougal Adrianus van Hoften
Event: STS-41-C / Solar Maximum Mission repair
Date: April 1984
Location: Low Earth orbit (~200 miles)
Topic: EVA repair of a tumbling satellite

- Van Hoften’s early research focused on the hidden behavior of fluids in engineering systems, including artificial hearts.
- He served as a naval aviator, flying sixty combat missions in an F-4 Phantom during the Vietnam War.
- NASA selected him as an astronaut candidate in 1978; colleagues called him “Ox” for his build and demeanor.
- The mission plan relied on the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System and a Trunnion Pin Attachment Device to capture Solar Maximum.
- George Nelson’s initial attempts with the capture device failed and increased the satellite’s rotation, forcing improvised EVA decisions.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842415Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:16 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA gloved hand reaches from the shuttle and grabs a tumbling, school-bus-sized satellite - can a repair EVA and James van Hoften stop the spin in time? The gloved hand that slowed a tumbling satellite - did they make it? In this episode, we...
The gloved hand that slowed a tumbling satellite - did they make it?

In this episode, we follow the mission that sent astronauts to catch and repair the Solar Maximum Mission satellite, focusing on the people, training, and improvised choices that shaped the attempt. What did James van Hoften’s unusual path from hydraulic engineering and combat aviation bring to a crisis two hundred miles above Earth?

Person: James Dougal Adrianus van Hoften
Event: STS-41-C / Solar Maximum Mission repair
Date: April 1984
Location: Low Earth orbit (~200 miles)
Topic: EVA repair of a tumbling satellite

- Van Hoften’s early research focused on the hidden behavior of fluids in engineering systems, including artificial hearts.
- He served as a naval aviator, flying sixty combat missions in an F-4 Phantom during the Vietnam War.
- NASA selected him as an astronaut candidate in 1978; colleagues called him “Ox” for his build and demeanor.
- The mission plan relied on the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System and a Trunnion Pin Attachment Device to capture Solar Maximum.
- George Nelson’s initial attempts with the capture device failed and increased the satellite’s rotation, forcing improvised EVA decisions.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1316falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-twenty-kilos-of-film-crushed-him-and-a-grounded-shuttle-stole-their-ride--74842410
The twenty kilos of film crushed him - and a grounded shuttle stole their ride

In this episode, we follow Donald Pettit’s unplanned transition from engineer to long-duration crewmember and the choices that followed when the shuttle fleet was grounded. The story traces his improvised experiments, the decision to carry a heavy package into reentry, and the unanswered question that hangs over his descent.

Person: Donald Pettit
Date: 4 May 2003; 24 Nov 2002; 1 Feb 2003
Location: International Space Station; Kazakh steppe; Silverton, Oregon
Event: Shuttle Columbia disaster; shuttle fleet grounding; return aboard Soyuz
Topic: Saturday Morning Science; barn door tracker; twenty kilograms of scientific film

- Grew up in Silverton, Oregon, earned an Eagle Scout, and trained as a chemical engineer (BS 1978, PhD 1983)
- Spent twelve years at Los Alamos before NASA selection in 1996 and waited six years for his first mission
- Moved from backup to primary roles after crew medical changes and absorbed EVA responsibilities not originally assigned to him
- Filmed fluids experiments on station ("Saturday Morning Science") and built a barn door tracker from spare parts to capture long-exposure Earth images
- After Columbia’s breakup the shuttle fleet was grounded, extending Pettit’s mission and forcing a return via Soyuz, where he carried twenty kilograms of film taped to his chest

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842410Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:12 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man straps twenty kilos of scientific film to his chest for a Soyuz reentry after the shuttle program is grounded-did they make it in time? The twenty kilos of film crushed him - and a grounded shuttle stole their ride In this episode, we...
The twenty kilos of film crushed him - and a grounded shuttle stole their ride

In this episode, we follow Donald Pettit’s unplanned transition from engineer to long-duration crewmember and the choices that followed when the shuttle fleet was grounded. The story traces his improvised experiments, the decision to carry a heavy package into reentry, and the unanswered question that hangs over his descent.

Person: Donald Pettit
Date: 4 May 2003; 24 Nov 2002; 1 Feb 2003
Location: International Space Station; Kazakh steppe; Silverton, Oregon
Event: Shuttle Columbia disaster; shuttle fleet grounding; return aboard Soyuz
Topic: Saturday Morning Science; barn door tracker; twenty kilograms of scientific film

- Grew up in Silverton, Oregon, earned an Eagle Scout, and trained as a chemical engineer (BS 1978, PhD 1983)
- Spent twelve years at Los Alamos before NASA selection in 1996 and waited six years for his first mission
- Moved from backup to primary roles after crew medical changes and absorbed EVA responsibilities not originally assigned to him
- Filmed fluids experiments on station ("Saturday Morning Science") and built a barn door tracker from spare parts to capture long-exposure Earth images
- After Columbia’s breakup the shuttle fleet was grounded, extending Pettit’s mission and forcing a return via Soyuz, where he carried twenty kilograms of film taped to his chest

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1318falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-73-seconds-that-erased-a-commander-s-flight--74842407
The 73 Seconds That Erased a Commander's Flight

This episode explores the career of Jon McBride, a highly skilled pilot and astronaut, leading up to a pivotal moment in space exploration history. It delves into the events that shaped his path and the unforeseen circumstances that altered his future.

Person: Jon McBride
Date: October 5, 1984
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Event: STS-41-G mission

- Jon McBride, born in Charleston, West Virginia, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960.
- He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering and completed graduate work in human resource management.
- McBride completed 64 combat missions over Vietnam, earning three Air Medals and a Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat V.
- He performed over 600 carrier landings, described as controlled collisions with a moving steel deck.
- In January 1978, NASA selected McBride as an astronaut candidate, and he became a full astronaut in August 1979.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842407Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:08 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA veteran pilot is slated to command his first space shuttle mission, but a deferred decision puts his crew in jeopardy. The 73 Seconds That Erased a Commander's Flight This episode explores the career of Jon McBride, a highly skilled pilot and...
The 73 Seconds That Erased a Commander's Flight

This episode explores the career of Jon McBride, a highly skilled pilot and astronaut, leading up to a pivotal moment in space exploration history. It delves into the events that shaped his path and the unforeseen circumstances that altered his future.

Person: Jon McBride
Date: October 5, 1984
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Event: STS-41-G mission

- Jon McBride, born in Charleston, West Virginia, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960.
- He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering and completed graduate work in human resource management.
- McBride completed 64 combat missions over Vietnam, earning three Air Medals and a Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat V.
- He performed over 600 carrier landings, described as controlled collisions with a moving steel deck.
- In January 1978, NASA selected McBride as an astronaut candidate, and he became a full astronaut in August 1979.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1188falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-remote-manipulator-arm-released-hubble-would-they-make-it-back-in-time--74842404
The Remote Manipulator Arm released Hubble - would they make it back in time

In this episode, we follow Steven Hawley from Kansas to the flight deck of Discovery as he prepares to use the shuttle’s Remote Manipulator System to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. We lay out the mission’s stakes, the technical challenges, and the moments before the arm swings Hubble into orbit - but what happens after the release remains to be heard.

Person: Steven Hawley
Date: April 24-25, 1990
Event: Hubble Space Telescope deployment (STS-31)
Location: Space Shuttle Discovery at 380 miles altitude
System: Remote Manipulator System (50-foot robotic arm)

- Hawley, an astronomer turned astronaut, trained to handle precise measurements both on Earth and in orbit.
- Discovery suffered an abort at T‑0 on April 24; the crew launched successfully three days later.
- The Hubble telescope measured 43 feet and weighed 24,000 pounds when stowed in the payload bay.
- The deployment altitude, 380 miles, was higher than any prior shuttle mission and offered no rescue options.
- Hawley’s role was to lift Hubble with the Remote Manipulator System and release it into its planned orbit.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842404Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn astronaut aboard Discovery must use the shuttle’s robotic arm to lift the Hubble Telescope into space. Did they make it in time? The Remote Manipulator Arm released Hubble - would they make it back in time In this episode, we follow Steven...
The Remote Manipulator Arm released Hubble - would they make it back in time

In this episode, we follow Steven Hawley from Kansas to the flight deck of Discovery as he prepares to use the shuttle’s Remote Manipulator System to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. We lay out the mission’s stakes, the technical challenges, and the moments before the arm swings Hubble into orbit - but what happens after the release remains to be heard.

Person: Steven Hawley
Date: April 24-25, 1990
Event: Hubble Space Telescope deployment (STS-31)
Location: Space Shuttle Discovery at 380 miles altitude
System: Remote Manipulator System (50-foot robotic arm)

- Hawley, an astronomer turned astronaut, trained to handle precise measurements both on Earth and in orbit.
- Discovery suffered an abort at T‑0 on April 24; the crew launched successfully three days later.
- The Hubble telescope measured 43 feet and weighed 24,000 pounds when stowed in the payload bay.
- The deployment altitude, 380 miles, was higher than any prior shuttle mission and offered no rescue options.
- Hawley’s role was to lift Hubble with the Remote Manipulator System and release it into its planned orbit.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1447falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-runrig-cd-that-survived-re-entry-sixteen-minutes-to-land--74842402
The Runrig CD that survived re-entry - sixteen minutes to land

This episode explores the final sixteen minutes of the Space Shuttle Columbia mission, focusing on mission specialist Laurel Clark and the unexpected survival of a personal item. It delves into the events leading up to the disaster and the unique path Clark took to space.

Date: February 1, 2003
Location: Texas and Louisiana border
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Person: Laurel Blair Salton Clark
Mission: STS-107

- A Runrig album compact disc fell from the sky and landed intact in a debris field stretching over two thousand square miles.
- The Space Shuttle Columbia stopped transmitting sixteen minutes before its scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center.
- Laurel Clark, a 41-year-old mission specialist, was on her first spaceflight aboard Columbia.
- Clark sent an email to her family from orbit two days before re-entry, describing her experiences and observations.
- NASA selected Clark in the 1996 astronaut class after a diverse career including medicine, Navy diving, and flight qualifications on over thirty aircraft.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842402Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:21:00 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA compact disc falls from the sky over the Texas-Louisiana border, landing intact in a debris field. The space shuttle it came from is gone. The Runrig CD that survived re-entry - sixteen minutes to land This episode explores the final sixteen...
The Runrig CD that survived re-entry - sixteen minutes to land

This episode explores the final sixteen minutes of the Space Shuttle Columbia mission, focusing on mission specialist Laurel Clark and the unexpected survival of a personal item. It delves into the events leading up to the disaster and the unique path Clark took to space.

Date: February 1, 2003
Location: Texas and Louisiana border
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Person: Laurel Blair Salton Clark
Mission: STS-107

- A Runrig album compact disc fell from the sky and landed intact in a debris field stretching over two thousand square miles.
- The Space Shuttle Columbia stopped transmitting sixteen minutes before its scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center.
- Laurel Clark, a 41-year-old mission specialist, was on her first spaceflight aboard Columbia.
- Clark sent an email to her family from orbit two days before re-entry, describing her experiences and observations.
- NASA selected Clark in the 1996 astronaut class after a diverse career including medicine, Navy diving, and flight qualifications on over thirty aircraft.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1175falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-foam-tile-tore-a-hole-and-sixteen-days-later-the-plasma-found-it--74842398
A foam tile tore a hole, and sixteen days later the plasma found it

This episode explores the final mission of Space Shuttle Columbia, focusing on the critical, unseen damage that occurred shortly after launch and the subsequent events leading up to re-entry. It examines the human element within a complex system and the implications of an overlooked detail.

Person: Michael Phillip Anderson
Date: January 16, 2003
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Event: Foam insulation strike

- Michael Anderson, payload commander, flew a child's T-shirt from an Arizona school into orbit.
- Anderson was a decorated Air Force veteran, flying the EC-135 "Looking Glass" during the Cold War.
- He was selected for NASA from nearly 3,000 applicants and had previously flown on Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- Eighty-one seconds after Columbia's launch, a piece of foam insulation struck the left wing, tearing a hole.
- The foam strike was observed and discussed by ground teams, but the damage was not deemed fatal, and the crew was not informed.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842398Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:56 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA foam tile strikes a space shuttle at launch, creating a hidden breach. Sixteen days later the crew readies for re-entry-will they survive? A foam tile tore a hole, and sixteen days later the plasma found it This episode explores the final...
A foam tile tore a hole, and sixteen days later the plasma found it

This episode explores the final mission of Space Shuttle Columbia, focusing on the critical, unseen damage that occurred shortly after launch and the subsequent events leading up to re-entry. It examines the human element within a complex system and the implications of an overlooked detail.

Person: Michael Phillip Anderson
Date: January 16, 2003
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Event: Foam insulation strike

- Michael Anderson, payload commander, flew a child's T-shirt from an Arizona school into orbit.
- Anderson was a decorated Air Force veteran, flying the EC-135 "Looking Glass" during the Cold War.
- He was selected for NASA from nearly 3,000 applicants and had previously flown on Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- Eighty-one seconds after Columbia's launch, a piece of foam insulation struck the left wing, tearing a hole.
- The foam strike was observed and discussed by ground teams, but the damage was not deemed fatal, and the crew was not informed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1348falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glass-of-ice-water-that-froze-the-o-ring-and-doomed-challenger--74842396
The glass of ice water that froze the O‑ring and doomed Challenger

In this episode, we follow the lead-up to the Challenger launch and the decisions, data, and temperatures that shaped it. We map the engineers’ warnings, the management reversal, and the moment a simple demonstration made the stakes visible: did institutional optimism beat the physics?

Date: January 28, 1986
Person: Richard Feynman
Event: Senate hearing demonstration with glass of ice water and O‑ring
Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit at Cape Canaveral on launch morning
Case: O‑ring erosion, Morton Thiokol engineers recommended not to launch below 53°F

- Engineers at Morton Thiokol had tracked O‑ring erosion since 1977 and linked colder temperatures to worse damage.
- The primary O‑ring was required to compress and seal milliseconds before ignition; cold made that action slower and riskier.
- On Jan 27, Thiokol engineers formally recommended against launching below 53°F; management later reversed that recommendation after a private caucus.
- NASA management publicly cited a one-in-100,000 chance of catastrophe while some engineers estimated between one-in-50 and one-in-200.
- Sixteen days after the disaster, Richard Feynman demonstrated an O‑ring’s loss of elasticity by dropping it in a glass of ice water during a Senate hearing.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842396Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:52 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA rubber O‑ring stiffens in ice water during a Senate hearing - did they stop the launch in time? The glass of ice water that froze the O‑ring and doomed Challenger In this episode, we follow the lead-up to the Challenger launch and the...
The glass of ice water that froze the O‑ring and doomed Challenger

In this episode, we follow the lead-up to the Challenger launch and the decisions, data, and temperatures that shaped it. We map the engineers’ warnings, the management reversal, and the moment a simple demonstration made the stakes visible: did institutional optimism beat the physics?

Date: January 28, 1986
Person: Richard Feynman
Event: Senate hearing demonstration with glass of ice water and O‑ring
Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit at Cape Canaveral on launch morning
Case: O‑ring erosion, Morton Thiokol engineers recommended not to launch below 53°F

- Engineers at Morton Thiokol had tracked O‑ring erosion since 1977 and linked colder temperatures to worse damage.
- The primary O‑ring was required to compress and seal milliseconds before ignition; cold made that action slower and riskier.
- On Jan 27, Thiokol engineers formally recommended against launching below 53°F; management later reversed that recommendation after a private caucus.
- NASA management publicly cited a one-in-100,000 chance of catastrophe while some engineers estimated between one-in-50 and one-in-200.
- Sixteen days after the disaster, Richard Feynman demonstrated an O‑ring’s loss of elasticity by dropping it in a glass of ice water during a Senate hearing.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1330falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-260-hours-that-proved-apollo-and-saved-the-moon--74842394
The 260 Hours That Proved Apollo and Saved the Moon

This episode tells the story of Donn Eisele, an astronaut whose precise navigation during Apollo 7 helped secure the future of the space program. It explores the personal and professional challenges he faced, culminating in a unique lunar rock display.

Person: Donn Eisele
Mission: Apollo 7
Launch Date: October 11, 1968
Landing Precision: 0.3 miles

- Donn Eisele graduated from the US Naval Academy and earned a Master of Science in Astronautics.
- He was selected for Astronaut Group Three in October 1963, having logged over 4,200 flight hours.
- Eisele was initially assigned to Apollo 1 but was replaced due to a dislocated shoulder during training.
- Exactly one year after his shoulder surgery, the Apollo 1 crew died in a flash fire during a launch rehearsal.
- Eisele, along with Walter Schirra and Walter Cunningham, became the prime crew for Apollo 7, a mission critical for the space program's survival.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842394Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:48 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn astronaut logs 260 hours in space, but a shoulder injury and a tragic coincidence threaten his career and the moon landing-what will he do next? The 260 Hours That Proved Apollo and Saved the Moon This episode tells the story of Donn Eisele,...
The 260 Hours That Proved Apollo and Saved the Moon

This episode tells the story of Donn Eisele, an astronaut whose precise navigation during Apollo 7 helped secure the future of the space program. It explores the personal and professional challenges he faced, culminating in a unique lunar rock display.

Person: Donn Eisele
Mission: Apollo 7
Launch Date: October 11, 1968
Landing Precision: 0.3 miles

- Donn Eisele graduated from the US Naval Academy and earned a Master of Science in Astronautics.
- He was selected for Astronaut Group Three in October 1963, having logged over 4,200 flight hours.
- Eisele was initially assigned to Apollo 1 but was replaced due to a dislocated shoulder during training.
- Exactly one year after his shoulder surgery, the Apollo 1 crew died in a flash fire during a launch rehearsal.
- Eisele, along with Walter Schirra and Walter Cunningham, became the prime crew for Apollo 7, a mission critical for the space program's survival.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1259falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-thin-launch-window-forced-a-grieving-crew-to-fly--74842392
The thin launch window forced a grieving crew to fly

This episode explores the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-134, detailing the challenges faced by the crew and the mission's unique circumstances. It delves into the tension between loss and the drive to continue human endeavor in space.

Date: May 16, 2011
Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Mission: STS-134
Instrument: Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2)
Person: Samuel Ting

- Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight, STS-134, carried seven astronauts and a highly anticipated scientific instrument.
- Two months before launch, a United Space Alliance engineer died by suicide at the launchpad, halting work and bringing in grief counselors.
- The mission included the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2), an instrument built by Nobel laureate Samuel Ting to study cosmic ray particles.
- During pre-flight testing, engineers discovered anomalous heating in the AMS-2's superconducting cryogenic magnet.
- Samuel Ting made the decision to replace the advanced cryogenic magnet with a simpler, more reliable permanent magnet for the mission.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842392Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:44 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Space Shuttle crew prepares for a final mission, but a tragedy at the launchpad and a critical instrument malfunction threaten to ground the flight. The thin launch window forced a grieving crew to fly This episode explores the final flight of...
The thin launch window forced a grieving crew to fly

This episode explores the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-134, detailing the challenges faced by the crew and the mission's unique circumstances. It delves into the tension between loss and the drive to continue human endeavor in space.

Date: May 16, 2011
Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Mission: STS-134
Instrument: Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2)
Person: Samuel Ting

- Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight, STS-134, carried seven astronauts and a highly anticipated scientific instrument.
- Two months before launch, a United Space Alliance engineer died by suicide at the launchpad, halting work and bringing in grief counselors.
- The mission included the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2), an instrument built by Nobel laureate Samuel Ting to study cosmic ray particles.
- During pre-flight testing, engineers discovered anomalous heating in the AMS-2's superconducting cryogenic magnet.
- Samuel Ting made the decision to replace the advanced cryogenic magnet with a simpler, more reliable permanent magnet for the mission.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1083falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-day-endeavour-cut-away-two-solar-wings-over-africa--74842388
The Day Endeavour Cut Away Two Solar Wings Over Africa

In this episode, we follow the STS-72 crew as they rendezvous with Japan’s unattended Space Flyer Unit and confront a failing latching sequence that risks the retrieval. What choices did the team make under a shrinking timeline, and how did training meet the unexpected?

Person: Brent Jett; Koichi Wakata; Leroy Chiao; Daniel Barry; Winston Scott
Event: STS-72 retrieval of the Space Flyer Unit (SFU)
Date: January 11, 1996; SFU launched March 18, 1995
Location: Low Earth orbit; solar arrays jettisoned over Africa
Status: Two solar arrays jettisoned twelve minutes apart; SFU captured and stowed

- Crew launched at 4:41 AM on January 11, 1996 to rendezvous with the SFU, a Japanese research satellite left alone for ten months.
- The SFU’s two large solar arrays failed to latch during the stow sequence monitored on orbit thirty, triggering a preplanned contingency.
- Procedures called for releasing the unlatched arrays; the crew executed two jettisons twelve minutes apart, sending the arrays tumbling over Africa.
- Koichi Wakata operated the shuttle’s robotic arm to capture the 7,900-pound SFU; capture occurred about 1.5 hours after the intended stow sequence.
- The mission included two EVAs and station-assembly practice: crew rehearsed cable trays, work platforms, and connector interfaces for the future International Space Station.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842388Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:40 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA drifting Japanese satellite looms over Africa; Endeavour’s crew must cut its solar wings to bring it home. Did they make it in time? The Day Endeavour Cut Away Two Solar Wings Over Africa In this episode, we follow the STS-72 crew as they...
The Day Endeavour Cut Away Two Solar Wings Over Africa

In this episode, we follow the STS-72 crew as they rendezvous with Japan’s unattended Space Flyer Unit and confront a failing latching sequence that risks the retrieval. What choices did the team make under a shrinking timeline, and how did training meet the unexpected?

Person: Brent Jett; Koichi Wakata; Leroy Chiao; Daniel Barry; Winston Scott
Event: STS-72 retrieval of the Space Flyer Unit (SFU)
Date: January 11, 1996; SFU launched March 18, 1995
Location: Low Earth orbit; solar arrays jettisoned over Africa
Status: Two solar arrays jettisoned twelve minutes apart; SFU captured and stowed

- Crew launched at 4:41 AM on January 11, 1996 to rendezvous with the SFU, a Japanese research satellite left alone for ten months.
- The SFU’s two large solar arrays failed to latch during the stow sequence monitored on orbit thirty, triggering a preplanned contingency.
- Procedures called for releasing the unlatched arrays; the crew executed two jettisons twelve minutes apart, sending the arrays tumbling over Africa.
- Koichi Wakata operated the shuttle’s robotic arm to capture the 7,900-pound SFU; capture occurred about 1.5 hours after the intended stow sequence.
- The mission included two EVAs and station-assembly practice: crew rehearsed cable trays, work platforms, and connector interfaces for the future International Space Station.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1147falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-defective-resin-lining-nearly-broke-challenger--74842386
The Defective Resin Lining Nearly Broke Challenger

This episode details the STS-8 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, focusing on an unforeseen defect in a solid rocket booster that nearly led to catastrophe. It explores the hidden risks within the space program's accelerating schedule and the critical role of material science.

Date: August 30, 1983
Mission: STS-8
Orbiter: Challenger
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Original Lining Thickness: 3 centimeters

- An engineer discovered a solid rocket booster nozzle lining had eroded to 0.5 centimeters, far below the designed minimum of 1.5 centimeters.
- The mission, STS-8, was Challenger's third flight and set a program record for launch readiness at 62 days.
- The left-hand booster for STS-8 contained a defective batch of phenolic resin, which was not detectable by pre-launch inspections.
- Hurricane Barry caused the shuttle stack to remain on the launchpad, preserving the defective booster in its assigned position.
- During launch, the defective resin lining gave way faster than predicted, bringing the crew within 14 seconds of a rupture.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842386Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:36 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA solid rocket booster's lining erodes faster than expected during a space shuttle launch, leaving the crew just seconds from disaster. The Defective Resin Lining Nearly Broke Challenger This episode details the STS-8 mission aboard the Space...
The Defective Resin Lining Nearly Broke Challenger

This episode details the STS-8 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, focusing on an unforeseen defect in a solid rocket booster that nearly led to catastrophe. It explores the hidden risks within the space program's accelerating schedule and the critical role of material science.

Date: August 30, 1983
Mission: STS-8
Orbiter: Challenger
Location: Kennedy Space Center
Original Lining Thickness: 3 centimeters

- An engineer discovered a solid rocket booster nozzle lining had eroded to 0.5 centimeters, far below the designed minimum of 1.5 centimeters.
- The mission, STS-8, was Challenger's third flight and set a program record for launch readiness at 62 days.
- The left-hand booster for STS-8 contained a defective batch of phenolic resin, which was not detectable by pre-launch inspections.
- Hurricane Barry caused the shuttle stack to remain on the launchpad, preserving the defective booster in its assigned position.
- During launch, the defective resin lining gave way faster than predicted, bringing the crew within 14 seconds of a rupture.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1246falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-two-commands-that-crossed-and-left-minerva-drifting-did-they-arrive-in-time--74842383
The two commands that crossed and left MINERVA drifting: did they arrive in time?

This episode explores the story of MINERVA, a small asteroid rover designed to explore asteroid Itokawa. It details the ambitious mission, the rover's unique design, and the critical error that sent it off course.

Person: MINERVA
Date: November 12, 2005
Location: Asteroid Itokawa
Event: Rover deployment failure

- The MINERVA rover was a twelve-centimeter machine, the size of a hockey puck, designed to hop across an asteroid surface.
- It was a secondary payload on the Hayabusa mission, which aimed to collect a sample from a near-Earth asteroid.
- MINERVA was equipped with solar cells, three cameras, six photodiodes, and a flat patch antenna for data transmission.
- Its mobility system used internal torque motors to generate reactive force for hopping in low gravity.
- During deployment, an altitude-raise command executed before the deployment command, causing the mothership to ascend at the moment of release.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842383Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:32 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTJapan's asteroid rover MINERVA drifts into an unexpected solar orbit after two commands arrive out of order. Can engineers recover the mission? The two commands that crossed and left MINERVA drifting: did they arrive in time? This episode...
The two commands that crossed and left MINERVA drifting: did they arrive in time?

This episode explores the story of MINERVA, a small asteroid rover designed to explore asteroid Itokawa. It details the ambitious mission, the rover's unique design, and the critical error that sent it off course.

Person: MINERVA
Date: November 12, 2005
Location: Asteroid Itokawa
Event: Rover deployment failure

- The MINERVA rover was a twelve-centimeter machine, the size of a hockey puck, designed to hop across an asteroid surface.
- It was a secondary payload on the Hayabusa mission, which aimed to collect a sample from a near-Earth asteroid.
- MINERVA was equipped with solar cells, three cameras, six photodiodes, and a flat patch antenna for data transmission.
- Its mobility system used internal torque motors to generate reactive force for hopping in low gravity.
- During deployment, an altitude-raise command executed before the deployment command, causing the mothership to ascend at the moment of release.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1101falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-six-by-nine-gold-plaque-kept-spinning-until-earth-lost-its-whisper--74842380
The six‑by‑nine gold plaque kept spinning until Earth lost its whisper

In this episode, we follow the thirty-one-year journey of Pioneer Ten from its 1972 launch through the asteroid belt and Jupiter encounter to the moment its signal stopped in 2003. We trace the mission’s engineering choices, the decisions that let a dining‑table‑sized probe survive far beyond its warranty, and the mystery of a fading transmission that left a tiny gold plaque alone in interstellar night; what does it mean to lose contact while a machine keeps going?

Person: Gary Flandro
Date: March 3, 1972 (launch)
Location: Cape Canaveral Launch Complex Thirty-Six Alpha
Event: Pioneer Ten crossed the asteroid belt and measured Jupiter's bow shock
Status: Signal ceased on January 23, 2003 at ~12 billion kilometers

- A graduate student’s 1965 planetary alignment calculation set the clock for missions to the outer planets.
- NASA approved Pioneer Ten in February 1969 to test whether the asteroid belt was passable for future probes.
- TRW built a 260 kg spacecraft with a 2.74 m dish, spinning at 4.8 rpm and powered by four SNAP-19 RTGs.
- Pioneer Ten crossed the asteroid belt with no particle over 1 mm detected, opening the path outward.
- Instruments recorded Jupiter’s bow shock in November 1973 as the solar wind suddenly slowed and a pressure wall formed.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842380Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:28 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA solitary Pioneer spacecraft drifts twelve billion kilometers away, its faint radio whisper cutting out as the six‑by‑nine gold plaque keeps spinning - did Earth lose touch in time? The six‑by‑nine gold plaque kept spinning until Earth lost its...
The six‑by‑nine gold plaque kept spinning until Earth lost its whisper

In this episode, we follow the thirty-one-year journey of Pioneer Ten from its 1972 launch through the asteroid belt and Jupiter encounter to the moment its signal stopped in 2003. We trace the mission’s engineering choices, the decisions that let a dining‑table‑sized probe survive far beyond its warranty, and the mystery of a fading transmission that left a tiny gold plaque alone in interstellar night; what does it mean to lose contact while a machine keeps going?

Person: Gary Flandro
Date: March 3, 1972 (launch)
Location: Cape Canaveral Launch Complex Thirty-Six Alpha
Event: Pioneer Ten crossed the asteroid belt and measured Jupiter's bow shock
Status: Signal ceased on January 23, 2003 at ~12 billion kilometers

- A graduate student’s 1965 planetary alignment calculation set the clock for missions to the outer planets.
- NASA approved Pioneer Ten in February 1969 to test whether the asteroid belt was passable for future probes.
- TRW built a 260 kg spacecraft with a 2.74 m dish, spinning at 4.8 rpm and powered by four SNAP-19 RTGs.
- Pioneer Ten crossed the asteroid belt with no particle over 1 mm detected, opening the path outward.
- Instruments recorded Jupiter’s bow shock in November 1973 as the solar wind suddenly slowed and a pressure wall formed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1179falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-two-gram-thermometer-stayed-in-its-case-and-outlived-three-mars-launches--74842377
The two-gram thermometer stayed in its case and outlived three Mars launches

In this episode, we follow the decades-long effort to fly a tiny, two-gram thermometer and complementary atmospheric sensors to Mars. The story traces how engineers in Finland, Russia, and Spain built flight-qualified hardware only to see it repeatedly sidelined by launch failures, manifest cuts, and budget choices - could timing and politics keep it grounded?

Person: Finnish Meteorological Institute researchers
Event: MetNet penetrator development and cancellations
Date: First launch attempt in 1996; Phobos-Grunt failure on 16 January 2012
Location: Hardware remained on Earth; intended destination Mars/Phobos
Topic: Two-gram thermometer and MetBaro atmospheric sensors

- Engineers designed a two-gram thermometer that reads down to -110°C and a MetBaro pressure sensor for long-term Martian surface operation.
- The MetNet plan called for at least sixteen penetrators deploying inflatable brakes, embedding in regolith, and transmitting simultaneous meteorological data.
- A 1996 Russian launch failure destroyed early prototypes and taught the team how flight readiness can be nullified by rocket loss.
- Negotiations to hitch a ride on Phobos-Grunt succeeded then failed when mass limits removed the penetrators from the manifest.
- After Phobos-Grunt’s propulsion failure and reentry in 2012, the finalized, flight-qualified sensors remained intact in a laboratory on Earth.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842377Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:24 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA two-gram thermometer sits flight-ready on Earth while teams race to get it to Mars before another launch window closes. The two-gram thermometer stayed in its case and outlived three Mars launches In this episode, we follow the decades-long...
The two-gram thermometer stayed in its case and outlived three Mars launches

In this episode, we follow the decades-long effort to fly a tiny, two-gram thermometer and complementary atmospheric sensors to Mars. The story traces how engineers in Finland, Russia, and Spain built flight-qualified hardware only to see it repeatedly sidelined by launch failures, manifest cuts, and budget choices - could timing and politics keep it grounded?

Person: Finnish Meteorological Institute researchers
Event: MetNet penetrator development and cancellations
Date: First launch attempt in 1996; Phobos-Grunt failure on 16 January 2012
Location: Hardware remained on Earth; intended destination Mars/Phobos
Topic: Two-gram thermometer and MetBaro atmospheric sensors

- Engineers designed a two-gram thermometer that reads down to -110°C and a MetBaro pressure sensor for long-term Martian surface operation.
- The MetNet plan called for at least sixteen penetrators deploying inflatable brakes, embedding in regolith, and transmitting simultaneous meteorological data.
- A 1996 Russian launch failure destroyed early prototypes and taught the team how flight readiness can be nullified by rocket loss.
- Negotiations to hitch a ride on Phobos-Grunt succeeded then failed when mass limits removed the penetrators from the manifest.
- After Phobos-Grunt’s propulsion failure and reentry in 2012, the finalized, flight-qualified sensors remained intact in a laboratory on Earth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1323falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-near-zero-g-sensor-blocked-separation-and-left-them-racing-the-clock--74842373
The near‑zero‑g sensor blocked separation and left them racing the clock

In this episode, we hear how a perfectly correct chain of automated events turned a test launch into a live hazard and forced mission control to choose inaction over risky fixes. The episode follows the team’s decisions, the failed separation, and the eighteen‑hour wait - what saved the vehicle and what nearly didn’t?

Person: Flight Director Chris Kraft
Event: Mercury‑Redstone One (MR‑1) launch attempt
Date: November 21, 1960
Location: Launch Complex Five, Cape Canaveral
Issue: Near‑zero g sensor inhibited capsule separation while on the pad

- The Redstone engine ignited at 09:00 and the vehicle rose four inches before the engine cut off and it settled back onto the pad.
- The capsule’s abort/escape rocket fired, climbed about 4,000 feet, and landed under parachute roughly 400 yards downrange as programmed.
- The capsule’s drogue, main, and reserve parachutes deployed on the booster, funneling fabric down its side and creating a tipping hazard.
- A near‑zero‑g sensor read one g on the ground and correctly prevented the separation system from releasing the capsule from the booster.
- Engineers debated active fixes (including shooting tanks) versus waiting for batteries to drain and propellant to boil off; they chose to wait and spent the next eighteen hours diagnosing the problem.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842373Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:20 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Mercury capsule deployed its parachutes while still bolted to a fueled Redstone on the pad, leaving engineers racing-did they make it in time? The near‑zero‑g sensor blocked separation and left them racing the clock In this episode, we hear...
The near‑zero‑g sensor blocked separation and left them racing the clock

In this episode, we hear how a perfectly correct chain of automated events turned a test launch into a live hazard and forced mission control to choose inaction over risky fixes. The episode follows the team’s decisions, the failed separation, and the eighteen‑hour wait - what saved the vehicle and what nearly didn’t?

Person: Flight Director Chris Kraft
Event: Mercury‑Redstone One (MR‑1) launch attempt
Date: November 21, 1960
Location: Launch Complex Five, Cape Canaveral
Issue: Near‑zero g sensor inhibited capsule separation while on the pad

- The Redstone engine ignited at 09:00 and the vehicle rose four inches before the engine cut off and it settled back onto the pad.
- The capsule’s abort/escape rocket fired, climbed about 4,000 feet, and landed under parachute roughly 400 yards downrange as programmed.
- The capsule’s drogue, main, and reserve parachutes deployed on the booster, funneling fabric down its side and creating a tipping hazard.
- A near‑zero‑g sensor read one g on the ground and correctly prevented the separation system from releasing the capsule from the booster.
- Engineers debated active fixes (including shooting tanks) versus waiting for batteries to drain and propellant to boil off; they chose to wait and spent the next eighteen hours diagnosing the problem.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1237falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-launch-abort-system-burned-through-its-wires-and-stole-twelve-seconds--74842371
The launch abort system burned through its wires and stole twelve seconds

In this episode, we follow the moment a pad fire ignited ninety seconds before liftoff and the cascade of decisions that followed. We trace the crew’s training, the failed automatic abort, and the twelve seconds that rested on two engineers' hands - did they act in time?

Person: Vladimir Titov
Person: Gennady Strekalov
Date: September 27, 1983
Event: Pad fire and launch abort
Location: Launch pad

- Fire at the base of the pad began ninety seconds before scheduled liftoff, before the rocket left the ground.
- The automatic launch abort system burned through its own wiring and could not trigger as designed.
- Two engineers in a blockhouse had twelve seconds to send a manual abort command to the capsule.
- Inside the sealed capsule the two cosmonauts were connected only by radio and trained for manual procedures under stress.
- The capsule's recorded flight time was five minutes and thirty seconds after separation following the abort sequence.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842371Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:16 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA pad fire engulfs a Soyuz minutes before launch; two men have twelve seconds to send a manual escape - live or die? The launch abort system burned through its wires and stole twelve seconds In this episode, we follow the moment a pad fire...
The launch abort system burned through its wires and stole twelve seconds

In this episode, we follow the moment a pad fire ignited ninety seconds before liftoff and the cascade of decisions that followed. We trace the crew’s training, the failed automatic abort, and the twelve seconds that rested on two engineers' hands - did they act in time?

Person: Vladimir Titov
Person: Gennady Strekalov
Date: September 27, 1983
Event: Pad fire and launch abort
Location: Launch pad

- Fire at the base of the pad began ninety seconds before scheduled liftoff, before the rocket left the ground.
- The automatic launch abort system burned through its own wiring and could not trigger as designed.
- Two engineers in a blockhouse had twelve seconds to send a manual abort command to the capsule.
- Inside the sealed capsule the two cosmonauts were connected only by radio and trained for manual procedures under stress.
- The capsule's recorded flight time was five minutes and thirty seconds after separation following the abort sequence.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1527falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-o-ring-s-stiffness-froze-a-seal-and-cost-them-seventy-three-seconds--74842369
The O-ring's stiffness froze a seal and cost them seventy‑three seconds

This episode recounts the final moments of Space Shuttle Challenger, exploring the engineering failures and human decisions that led to its destruction, and the poignant details of what happened inside the crew cabin.

Date: January 28, 1986
Event: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Crew Member: Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Duration: 73 seconds

- The Space Shuttle Challenger launched carrying seven crew members, including Ellison Shoji Onizuka, and a soccer ball.
- The launch was delayed multiple times, pushing it into colder weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center.
- Engineers at Morton Thiokol raised concerns about the O-rings' flexibility in freezing temperatures.
- Three emergency air packs were found activated in the crew cabin wreckage, suggesting some crew members were alive after the vehicle broke apart.
- One activated air pack belonged to pilot Michael Smith, whose switch was on the back of his seat and could not have been reached by him alone.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842369Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:12 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTOn January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger launched with seven astronauts and a soccer ball. Seventy-three seconds later, the vehicle was destroyed, but three emergency air packs were activated. The O-ring's stiffness froze a seal and cost them...
The O-ring's stiffness froze a seal and cost them seventy‑three seconds

This episode recounts the final moments of Space Shuttle Challenger, exploring the engineering failures and human decisions that led to its destruction, and the poignant details of what happened inside the crew cabin.

Date: January 28, 1986
Event: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Crew Member: Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Duration: 73 seconds

- The Space Shuttle Challenger launched carrying seven crew members, including Ellison Shoji Onizuka, and a soccer ball.
- The launch was delayed multiple times, pushing it into colder weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center.
- Engineers at Morton Thiokol raised concerns about the O-rings' flexibility in freezing temperatures.
- Three emergency air packs were found activated in the crew cabin wreckage, suggesting some crew members were alive after the vehicle broke apart.
- One activated air pack belonged to pilot Michael Smith, whose switch was on the back of his seat and could not have been reached by him alone.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1176falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-match-that-ignited-an-oxygen-canister-and-started-the-14-second-fire--74842366
The Match That Ignited an Oxygen Canister and Started the 14‑Second Fire

In this episode, we follow the events aboard the aging Mir space station in February 1997, when routine procedures and failing systems collide. What decisions and improvised actions shaped those crucial minutes and the mission that followed?

Person: Jerry Linenger
Person: Alexander Lazutkin
Person: Person: Vasily Tsibliyev
Date: February 23, 1997
Location: Kvant module, Mir space station

- A carbon dioxide removal unit and an oxygen generator were both failing in close sequence aboard an eleven‑year‑old Mir.
- Alexander Lazutkin struck a match to activate an oxygen‑generating canister that instead ignited and burned.
- Smoke filled a sealed corridor two hundred miles above Earth with no quick exit or external rescue possible.
- The crew, including American physician Jerry Linenger, donned emergency oxygen masks and calculated air versus flame in the dark.
- Mir was simultaneously coping with rerouted cables, improvised repairs, and a manual docking test that brought a cargo ship dangerously close.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842366Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:09 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA match struck inside the Kvant module ignites an oxygen canister, filling Mir with molten fire and smoke-did the three crew members make it in time? The Match That Ignited an Oxygen Canister and Started the 14‑Second Fire In this episode, we...
The Match That Ignited an Oxygen Canister and Started the 14‑Second Fire

In this episode, we follow the events aboard the aging Mir space station in February 1997, when routine procedures and failing systems collide. What decisions and improvised actions shaped those crucial minutes and the mission that followed?

Person: Jerry Linenger
Person: Alexander Lazutkin
Person: Person: Vasily Tsibliyev
Date: February 23, 1997
Location: Kvant module, Mir space station

- A carbon dioxide removal unit and an oxygen generator were both failing in close sequence aboard an eleven‑year‑old Mir.
- Alexander Lazutkin struck a match to activate an oxygen‑generating canister that instead ignited and burned.
- Smoke filled a sealed corridor two hundred miles above Earth with no quick exit or external rescue possible.
- The crew, including American physician Jerry Linenger, donned emergency oxygen masks and calculated air versus flame in the dark.
- Mir was simultaneously coping with rerouted cables, improvised repairs, and a manual docking test that brought a cargo ship dangerously close.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1373falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-stubborn-bolt-that-nearly-killed-hubble-s-last-chance--74842363
The Stubborn Bolt That Nearly Killed Hubble's Last Chance

This episode explores the career of astronaut John Grunsfeld, known as NASA's go-to for fixing the Hubble Space Telescope. It delves into his background and the critical challenges faced during the final mission to service Hubble.

Person: John Mace Grunsfeld
Event: Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
Date: January 2009
Location: Earth orbit

- John Grunsfeld made a radio call from orbit in 1997, discussing his car on NPR's Car Talk.
- His grandfather, Ernest Grunsfeld Jr., designed the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, the first modern planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
- Grunsfeld earned degrees from MIT and the University of Chicago before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1992.
- The Hubble Space Telescope launched in April 1990 with a flawed primary mirror, leading to blurred images and public criticism.
- During the final servicing mission in January 2009, Grunsfeld encountered a ten-millimeter bolt that refused to budge on Hubble's outer surface.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842363Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA NASA astronaut faces a stubborn bolt on the Hubble Space Telescope, 350 miles above Earth, on what will be its final servicing mission. The Stubborn Bolt That Nearly Killed Hubble's Last Chance This episode explores the career of astronaut...
The Stubborn Bolt That Nearly Killed Hubble's Last Chance

This episode explores the career of astronaut John Grunsfeld, known as NASA's go-to for fixing the Hubble Space Telescope. It delves into his background and the critical challenges faced during the final mission to service Hubble.

Person: John Mace Grunsfeld
Event: Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
Date: January 2009
Location: Earth orbit

- John Grunsfeld made a radio call from orbit in 1997, discussing his car on NPR's Car Talk.
- His grandfather, Ernest Grunsfeld Jr., designed the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, the first modern planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
- Grunsfeld earned degrees from MIT and the University of Chicago before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1992.
- The Hubble Space Telescope launched in April 1990 with a flawed primary mirror, leading to blurred images and public criticism.
- During the final servicing mission in January 2009, Grunsfeld encountered a ten-millimeter bolt that refused to budge on Hubble's outer surface.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1328falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-spinning-satellite-they-had-to-catch-by-hand--74842361
The Spinning Satellite They Had to Catch By Hand

This episode traces the extraordinary career of Kevin Chilton, from his early life and education to his pivotal roles in space exploration and national security. It explores the unique path that led him to command the American nuclear triad.

Person: Kevin Chilton Chilton
Date of Birth: November 3, 1954
Location: Los Angeles, California
Military Branch: United States Air Force
First Space Mission: May 1992

- Kevin Chilton graduated number one from Air Force Squadron Officer School and then again from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
- He flew the RF-4C Phantom II and F-15 Eagle, conducting combat-ready and instructor missions across Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
- NASA selected him in August 1987, and he achieved full astronaut qualification a year later.
- He served as CAPCOM for multiple Shuttle missions and as a T-38 safety officer before his first flight.
- During Space Shuttle Endeavour's maiden voyage, three astronauts had to manually stop a four-and-a-half-ton spinning satellite.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842361Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:20:00 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn astronaut floats in orbit, then commands the US nuclear triad. How does one man bridge the chasm between space and the end of civilization? The Spinning Satellite They Had to Catch By Hand This episode traces the extraordinary career of Kevin...
The Spinning Satellite They Had to Catch By Hand

This episode traces the extraordinary career of Kevin Chilton, from his early life and education to his pivotal roles in space exploration and national security. It explores the unique path that led him to command the American nuclear triad.

Person: Kevin Chilton Chilton
Date of Birth: November 3, 1954
Location: Los Angeles, California
Military Branch: United States Air Force
First Space Mission: May 1992

- Kevin Chilton graduated number one from Air Force Squadron Officer School and then again from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
- He flew the RF-4C Phantom II and F-15 Eagle, conducting combat-ready and instructor missions across Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
- NASA selected him in August 1987, and he achieved full astronaut qualification a year later.
- He served as CAPCOM for multiple Shuttle missions and as a T-38 safety officer before his first flight.
- During Space Shuttle Endeavour's maiden voyage, three astronauts had to manually stop a four-and-a-half-ton spinning satellite.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1224falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-stuck-valve-that-delayed-america-s-first-space-flight--74842357
The stuck valve that delayed America's first space flight

This episode explores the story behind America's first human space flight, Project Mercury, and the critical events that led to its delayed launch. It delves into the challenges faced and the question of whether the United States could get a man into space at all.

Person: Alan Shepard
Date: May 5, 1961
Location: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Event: Project Mercury
Topic: Space Race

- Robert Gilruth led the Space Task Group, working since 1958 to determine if a human could survive space launch and return.
- The Mercury capsule, number seven, arrived at Cape Canaveral on December 9, 1960, designed for a flight under 20 minutes.
- A chimpanzee named Ham flew the MR-2 test mission on January 31, 1961, experiencing a stuck valve that caused the engine to burn hotter and longer.
- Ham's capsule overshot its landing zone by 130 miles, leading to seven mandatory modifications for the Redstone booster.
- On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin completed one full orbit of Earth while Shepard's mission was still awaiting booster certification.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842357Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:56 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA stuck fuel valve in a test rocket creates a cascade of delays, threatening America's first human space flight and its place in the space race. The stuck valve that delayed America's first space flight This episode explores the story behind...
The stuck valve that delayed America's first space flight

This episode explores the story behind America's first human space flight, Project Mercury, and the critical events that led to its delayed launch. It delves into the challenges faced and the question of whether the United States could get a man into space at all.

Person: Alan Shepard
Date: May 5, 1961
Location: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Event: Project Mercury
Topic: Space Race

- Robert Gilruth led the Space Task Group, working since 1958 to determine if a human could survive space launch and return.
- The Mercury capsule, number seven, arrived at Cape Canaveral on December 9, 1960, designed for a flight under 20 minutes.
- A chimpanzee named Ham flew the MR-2 test mission on January 31, 1961, experiencing a stuck valve that caused the engine to burn hotter and longer.
- Ham's capsule overshot its landing zone by 130 miles, leading to seven mandatory modifications for the Redstone booster.
- On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin completed one full orbit of Earth while Shepard's mission was still awaiting booster certification.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1402falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-late-application-slipped-into-the-stack-before-it-was-seen--74842356
A late application slipped into the stack before it was seen

This episode explores the early life and career of an iconic astronaut, detailing the critical moments and close calls that shaped his path to space. It raises the question of how pivotal small interventions can be in monumental journeys.

Person: Neil Armstrong
Date: July 20, 1969
Location: Moon
Event: First human footstep on another world

- Neil Armstrong carried fragments of the Wright Flyer's propeller and wing to the Moon.
- At age 20, Armstrong survived a booby-trap cable in Korea that tore six feet off his Panther jet's wing.
- He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue before joining the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
- While flying the X-15, Armstrong overshot Edwards Air Force Base by 40 miles at Mach three and had to navigate back to an unseen runway.
- His application to NASA's astronaut program arrived late, but a flight simulator expert named Dick Day slipped it into the stack.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842356Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:52 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA late application to the astronaut program could have ended everything, but one man's quiet decision changed the course of space exploration. A late application slipped into the stack before it was seen This episode explores the early life and...
A late application slipped into the stack before it was seen

This episode explores the early life and career of an iconic astronaut, detailing the critical moments and close calls that shaped his path to space. It raises the question of how pivotal small interventions can be in monumental journeys.

Person: Neil Armstrong
Date: July 20, 1969
Location: Moon
Event: First human footstep on another world

- Neil Armstrong carried fragments of the Wright Flyer's propeller and wing to the Moon.
- At age 20, Armstrong survived a booby-trap cable in Korea that tore six feet off his Panther jet's wing.
- He earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue before joining the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
- While flying the X-15, Armstrong overshot Edwards Air Force Base by 40 miles at Mach three and had to navigate back to an unseen runway.
- His application to NASA's astronaut program arrived late, but a flight simulator expert named Dick Day slipped it into the stack.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1084falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-visor-fog-that-nearly-stopped-gemini-s-last-eva-did-they-make-it--74842352
The visor fog that nearly stopped Gemini's last EVA-did they make it?

This episode recounts the journey of Eugene Cernan, from his early life to becoming the last human to leave a mark on the Moon. It explores the challenges and pivotal moments that shaped his career and the legacy of his final footprint.

Person: Eugene Cernan
Date: December 14, 1972
Location: Moon
Mission: Apollo 17
Event: Last human footprint on the Moon

- Eugene Cernan, born in Chicago in 1934, studied electrical engineering at Purdue and became a naval aviator before joining NASA.
- He was selected for NASA's third astronaut group, "The Fourteen," in October 1963, despite lacking test pilot school experience.
- Cernan's first mission, Gemini 9A, came after the original prime crew, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, died in a T-38A trainer crash.
- During Gemini 9A, a target vehicle malfunctioned, and Cernan's EVA to test the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit was cut short due to his visor fogging.
- Three years later, Cernan descended to within 15.7 kilometers of the lunar surface during Apollo 10, executing all landing approach phases except the final one.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842352Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:48 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn astronaut's visor fogs during a critical spacewalk, threatening to cancel the mission's primary objective. The Gemini program's future hangs in the balance. The visor fog that nearly stopped Gemini's last EVA-did they make it? This episode...
The visor fog that nearly stopped Gemini's last EVA-did they make it?

This episode recounts the journey of Eugene Cernan, from his early life to becoming the last human to leave a mark on the Moon. It explores the challenges and pivotal moments that shaped his career and the legacy of his final footprint.

Person: Eugene Cernan
Date: December 14, 1972
Location: Moon
Mission: Apollo 17
Event: Last human footprint on the Moon

- Eugene Cernan, born in Chicago in 1934, studied electrical engineering at Purdue and became a naval aviator before joining NASA.
- He was selected for NASA's third astronaut group, "The Fourteen," in October 1963, despite lacking test pilot school experience.
- Cernan's first mission, Gemini 9A, came after the original prime crew, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, died in a T-38A trainer crash.
- During Gemini 9A, a target vehicle malfunctioned, and Cernan's EVA to test the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit was cut short due to his visor fogging.
- Three years later, Cernan descended to within 15.7 kilometers of the lunar surface during Apollo 10, executing all landing approach phases except the final one.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1296falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hydrogen-valve-sensor-lied-and-it-bought-seven-astronauts-one-more-minute--74842347
The Hydrogen Valve Sensor Lied-and It Bought Seven Astronauts One More Minute

In this episode, we follow the countdown and the lead-up to Space Shuttle Discovery's August 2009 launch, tracking the technical hiccups, crew swaps, and cargo manifest that made this flight both routine and fragile. What happens when a single sensor can't be trusted and the decision to delay becomes the mission's pivot point?

Person: Seven astronauts
Date: August 28-29, 2009
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-128)
Payload: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo, COLBERT treadmill, science racks
Event: Liquid hydrogen valve sensor anomaly and launch delay

- Launch scrubbed twice before the final attempt: first for weather, then for a hydrogen valve sensor anomaly.
- Engineers tested the valve after the sensor reported a fault; the hardware performed normally while the sensor continued to read ambiguously.
- The launch director chose to delay and let engineers troubleshoot rather than risk ambiguous telemetry at ignition.
- Discovery carried 27,510 pounds of pressurized cargo including crew quarters, freezers, and a treadmill replacement for the ISS.
- The mission involved a seat-liner swap: Mission Specialist Tim Kopra returned home while Nicole Stott stayed aboard the station.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842347Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:44 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA hydrogen valve sensor at the pad reads wrong, stalling the launch as Discovery climbs-what happens next? The Hydrogen Valve Sensor Lied-and It Bought Seven Astronauts One More Minute In this episode, we follow the countdown and the lead-up to...
The Hydrogen Valve Sensor Lied-and It Bought Seven Astronauts One More Minute

In this episode, we follow the countdown and the lead-up to Space Shuttle Discovery's August 2009 launch, tracking the technical hiccups, crew swaps, and cargo manifest that made this flight both routine and fragile. What happens when a single sensor can't be trusted and the decision to delay becomes the mission's pivot point?

Person: Seven astronauts
Date: August 28-29, 2009
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-128)
Payload: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo, COLBERT treadmill, science racks
Event: Liquid hydrogen valve sensor anomaly and launch delay

- Launch scrubbed twice before the final attempt: first for weather, then for a hydrogen valve sensor anomaly.
- Engineers tested the valve after the sensor reported a fault; the hardware performed normally while the sensor continued to read ambiguously.
- The launch director chose to delay and let engineers troubleshoot rather than risk ambiguous telemetry at ignition.
- Discovery carried 27,510 pounds of pressurized cargo including crew quarters, freezers, and a treadmill replacement for the ISS.
- The mission involved a seat-liner swap: Mission Specialist Tim Kopra returned home while Nicole Stott stayed aboard the station.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1248falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-leaking-r1u-thruster-forced-a-live-safety-vote-with-minutes-to-spare--74842344
The leaking R1U thruster forced a live safety vote with minutes to spare

In this episode, we lay out the tense hours after Discovery launched and a primary maneuvering thruster began venting propellant. Hear how American and Russian teams ran contingency math, weighed risks to Mir, and negotiated a joint decision while the shuttle closed to within a bus-length - could they agree before the clock ran out?

Mission: STS-63
Date: February 3, 1995
Location: Low Earth orbit, near Mir
Person: Commander James Wetherbee; Pilot Eileen Collins; Mission Specialists Bernard Harris, Michael Foale, Vladimir Titov
Issue: Leak in R1U maneuvering thruster

- Discovery reached a rendezvous distance of eleven meters from Mir after a night launch and hours of orbital adjustments.
- Flight controllers in Houston modeled backup thruster configurations and mapped contingency margins with R1U isolated.
- Russian engineers calculated Mir’s limited ability to avoid an unpredictable shuttle attitude and insisted on acceptable margins for station safety.
- Commander Wetherbee held Discovery in a holding pattern while the agencies exchanged real-time risk assessments across languages and time zones.
- The decision hinged on joint protocols never tested under a live in-orbit safety call with crews already closing for a flyaround.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842344Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:40 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA leaking R1U thruster puts Space Shuttle Discovery meters from Mir as NASA and Russian engineers race a live safety vote - did they make it in time? The leaking R1U thruster forced a live safety vote with minutes to spare In this episode, we...
The leaking R1U thruster forced a live safety vote with minutes to spare

In this episode, we lay out the tense hours after Discovery launched and a primary maneuvering thruster began venting propellant. Hear how American and Russian teams ran contingency math, weighed risks to Mir, and negotiated a joint decision while the shuttle closed to within a bus-length - could they agree before the clock ran out?

Mission: STS-63
Date: February 3, 1995
Location: Low Earth orbit, near Mir
Person: Commander James Wetherbee; Pilot Eileen Collins; Mission Specialists Bernard Harris, Michael Foale, Vladimir Titov
Issue: Leak in R1U maneuvering thruster

- Discovery reached a rendezvous distance of eleven meters from Mir after a night launch and hours of orbital adjustments.
- Flight controllers in Houston modeled backup thruster configurations and mapped contingency margins with R1U isolated.
- Russian engineers calculated Mir’s limited ability to avoid an unpredictable shuttle attitude and insisted on acceptable margins for station safety.
- Commander Wetherbee held Discovery in a holding pattern while the agencies exchanged real-time risk assessments across languages and time zones.
- The decision hinged on joint protocols never tested under a live in-orbit safety call with crews already closing for a flyaround.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1190falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-retrorockets-kept-firing-and-burned-their-only-window-to-land-in-time--74842342
The retrorockets kept firing and burned their only window to land in time

In this episode, we follow the Soviet space dog program through a chain of missions that trained stray dogs for orbit, detailing the technical choices, failures, and moral trade-offs that shaped each flight. The narrative centers on December 1960 in Siberia and asks how pressure, design decisions, and timing converged in a single crisis.

Person: Laika, Dezik, Tsygan, Lisa, Belka, Strelka, Pchyolka, Mushka, Shutka, Kometa
Date: December 22, 1960; December 1, 1960; July 22, 1951; July 28, 1960; August 19, 1960; October 2002; 1998
Location: Siberian field; Moscow
Event: Soviet space dog recovery and reentry failures
Topic: retrorocket failure, self-destruct system, dog selection and training

- A converted V-2 rocket launched Dezik and Tsygan to 110 km on July 22, 1951; both returned alive.
- Female strays were selected, trained 15-20 days, and fed an orbital jelly of breadcrumbs, powdered meat, and beef fat.
- Parachute failures, pad explosions, and thermal-control breakdowns (Laika) taught the program harsh lessons about repeatability.
- Korabl-Sputnik flights alternated disaster and success: Chaika and Lisichka died on July 28, 1960; Belka and Strelka returned after August 19, 1960.
- On December 1, 1960 Pchyolka and Mushka entered orbit; by December 22, Shutka and Kometa landed in a field where a countdown to self-destruction was already running.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842342Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:36 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA capsule lies iced in a Siberian field with dogs inside, a ticking self-destruct, and hours slipping away - did they make it in time? The retrorockets kept firing and burned their only window to land in time In this episode, we follow the...
The retrorockets kept firing and burned their only window to land in time

In this episode, we follow the Soviet space dog program through a chain of missions that trained stray dogs for orbit, detailing the technical choices, failures, and moral trade-offs that shaped each flight. The narrative centers on December 1960 in Siberia and asks how pressure, design decisions, and timing converged in a single crisis.

Person: Laika, Dezik, Tsygan, Lisa, Belka, Strelka, Pchyolka, Mushka, Shutka, Kometa
Date: December 22, 1960; December 1, 1960; July 22, 1951; July 28, 1960; August 19, 1960; October 2002; 1998
Location: Siberian field; Moscow
Event: Soviet space dog recovery and reentry failures
Topic: retrorocket failure, self-destruct system, dog selection and training

- A converted V-2 rocket launched Dezik and Tsygan to 110 km on July 22, 1951; both returned alive.
- Female strays were selected, trained 15-20 days, and fed an orbital jelly of breadcrumbs, powdered meat, and beef fat.
- Parachute failures, pad explosions, and thermal-control breakdowns (Laika) taught the program harsh lessons about repeatability.
- Korabl-Sputnik flights alternated disaster and success: Chaika and Lisichka died on July 28, 1960; Belka and Strelka returned after August 19, 1960.
- On December 1, 1960 Pchyolka and Mushka entered orbit; by December 22, Shutka and Kometa landed in a field where a countdown to self-destruction was already running.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1069falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-staging-jolt-turned-on-the-cameras-two-minutes-too-soon--74842341
The staging jolt turned on the cameras two minutes too soon

In this episode, we follow the final hours and technical decisions behind Ranger six’s flight to the Moon, from program-wide failures to painstaking hardware rework, and the surprising anomaly that left its cameras silent. What exactly happened during that violent staging event, and how did telemetry hide the real damage?

Person: Albert J. Kelley
Date: February 2, 1964
Location: Sea of Tranquility; Cape Canaveral
Event: Ranger six camera failure after launch staging
Period: 1962-1964

- Eleven previous Ranger failures prompted a Kelley Board inquiry declaring design, workmanship, and redundancy problems across the program
- Remedies included abandoning heat sterilization, adding redundancy, subcontracting assembly, and shifting launch oversight to NASA and Lewis Research Center
- Ranger six carried six vidicon television cameras in two independent chains with dedicated silver-zinc batteries and individually hand-replaced diodes
- Launch on January 30, 1964 had excellent performance, but about two minutes into flight a controlled Atlas stage separation produced a violent jolt
- Telemetry showed camera activation roughly two minutes after liftoff while engineers still believed Ranger six was en route and functioning normally

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842341Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:32 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA spacecraft bound for the Moon lost its cameras two minutes after launch - did the staging jolt destroy NASA’s camera before the Sea of Tranquility? The staging jolt turned on the cameras two minutes too soon In this episode, we follow the...
The staging jolt turned on the cameras two minutes too soon

In this episode, we follow the final hours and technical decisions behind Ranger six’s flight to the Moon, from program-wide failures to painstaking hardware rework, and the surprising anomaly that left its cameras silent. What exactly happened during that violent staging event, and how did telemetry hide the real damage?

Person: Albert J. Kelley
Date: February 2, 1964
Location: Sea of Tranquility; Cape Canaveral
Event: Ranger six camera failure after launch staging
Period: 1962-1964

- Eleven previous Ranger failures prompted a Kelley Board inquiry declaring design, workmanship, and redundancy problems across the program
- Remedies included abandoning heat sterilization, adding redundancy, subcontracting assembly, and shifting launch oversight to NASA and Lewis Research Center
- Ranger six carried six vidicon television cameras in two independent chains with dedicated silver-zinc batteries and individually hand-replaced diodes
- Launch on January 30, 1964 had excellent performance, but about two minutes into flight a controlled Atlas stage separation produced a violent jolt
- Telemetry showed camera activation roughly two minutes after liftoff while engineers still believed Ranger six was en route and functioning normally

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1268falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-manual-override-switch-stopped-the-leak-did-they-flip-it-in-time--74842338
The manual override switch stopped the leak - did they flip it in time?

In this episode, we follow the morning at Cape Canaveral when an Atlas rocket began collapsing from internal pressure loss and two technicians made an unprotocolled move toward the vehicle. We trace how a single relay failure forced pad swaps, altered launch order for Mariner six and seven, and set a six-day margin that would later define the mission's fate.

Person: Jack McClure
Person: Bud Beverlin
Event: Relay malfunction causing helium pressurant leak
Date: February 14, 1969
Mission: Mariner 6 and Mariner 7

- A low metallic groan on the launchpad preceded the Atlas’s skin crumpling inward as internal helium pressure bled away.
- The electrical relay failed before fueling; the Atlas relied on internal pressurant gas for structural rigidity rather than thick steel walls.
- McClure and Beverlin, launch team technicians with no written order to do so, approached the collapsing rocket without protective suits.
- They located and activated a manual override switch that stopped the helium leak and stabilized the Atlas, but the vehicle was still damaged.
- Engineers reassigned Mariner six to the adjacent pad and swapped the launches because the 1969 Mars launch window allowed only days for such changes.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842338Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:28 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA failing relay at Cape Canaveral lets helium escape and an Atlas buckles; a technician races to flip the override-did they flip it in time? The manual override switch stopped the leak - did they flip it in time? In this episode, we follow the...
The manual override switch stopped the leak - did they flip it in time?

In this episode, we follow the morning at Cape Canaveral when an Atlas rocket began collapsing from internal pressure loss and two technicians made an unprotocolled move toward the vehicle. We trace how a single relay failure forced pad swaps, altered launch order for Mariner six and seven, and set a six-day margin that would later define the mission's fate.

Person: Jack McClure
Person: Bud Beverlin
Event: Relay malfunction causing helium pressurant leak
Date: February 14, 1969
Mission: Mariner 6 and Mariner 7

- A low metallic groan on the launchpad preceded the Atlas’s skin crumpling inward as internal helium pressure bled away.
- The electrical relay failed before fueling; the Atlas relied on internal pressurant gas for structural rigidity rather than thick steel walls.
- McClure and Beverlin, launch team technicians with no written order to do so, approached the collapsing rocket without protective suits.
- They located and activated a manual override switch that stopped the helium leak and stabilized the Atlas, but the vehicle was still damaged.
- Engineers reassigned Mariner six to the adjacent pad and swapped the launches because the 1969 Mars launch window allowed only days for such changes.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1209falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dead-satellite-charged-its-batteries-until-rescue-was-impossible--74842337
The Dead Satellite Charged Its Batteries Until Rescue Was Impossible

In this episode, we follow the timeline of NOAA‑16 from launch to sudden fragmentation and the gaps left in the official record. What happened between the moment controllers lost contact and the day the satellite fell apart into hundreds of fragments?

Person: NOAA‑16
Date: 25 November 2015
Location: 843 km polar orbit
Event: Fragmentation into 275 pieces
Topic: SARSAT emergency-beacon relay and satellite decommissioning

- Launched 21 September 2000 into a polar orbit to provide global atmospheric data and twice-daily coverage.
- Carried SARSAT to detect 406 MHz distress beacons and relay positions for search-and-rescue coordinators.
- Automatic Picture Transmission failed less than two months after launch, but core instruments continued operating for years.
- Controllers lost contact on 6 June 2014; the satellite was declared non-operational with cause recorded as unknown.
- For 17 months the silent satellite remained in sunlight, charging batteries with no ground control until a clustered internal breakup produced the debris field.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842337Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:24 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA dead NOAA satellite kept charging in polar orbit, then its hull exploded into debris-did anyone stop the cascade in time? The Dead Satellite Charged Its Batteries Until Rescue Was Impossible In this episode, we follow the timeline of NOAA‑16...
The Dead Satellite Charged Its Batteries Until Rescue Was Impossible

In this episode, we follow the timeline of NOAA‑16 from launch to sudden fragmentation and the gaps left in the official record. What happened between the moment controllers lost contact and the day the satellite fell apart into hundreds of fragments?

Person: NOAA‑16
Date: 25 November 2015
Location: 843 km polar orbit
Event: Fragmentation into 275 pieces
Topic: SARSAT emergency-beacon relay and satellite decommissioning

- Launched 21 September 2000 into a polar orbit to provide global atmospheric data and twice-daily coverage.
- Carried SARSAT to detect 406 MHz distress beacons and relay positions for search-and-rescue coordinators.
- Automatic Picture Transmission failed less than two months after launch, but core instruments continued operating for years.
- Controllers lost contact on 6 June 2014; the satellite was declared non-operational with cause recorded as unknown.
- For 17 months the silent satellite remained in sunlight, charging batteries with no ground control until a clustered internal breakup produced the debris field.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1407falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fuel-leak-that-grounded-a-rocket-but-not-its-crew--74842336
The Fuel Leak That Grounded a Rocket, But Not Its Crew

This episode recounts the harrowing experience of cosmonauts Gennady Strekalov and Vladimir Titov during a launchpad emergency in 1983. It explores the critical moments leading up to an unprecedented event in human spaceflight and the life of a man who helped build the first satellite.

Date: September 26, 1983
Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site One
Crew: Gennady Strekalov, Vladimir Titov
Event: Soyuz 7K-ST number 16L launch abort
System: Launch Escape System (LES)

- Gennady Strekalov, born in 1940, worked on the assembly of Sputnik 1 as a coppersmith before becoming a cosmonaut.
- He graduated from the Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School in 1965 and began cosmonaut training in 1974.
- Strekalov's first flight in November 1980 on Soyuz T-3 earned him the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
- In April 1983, Strekalov and Titov's Soyuz T-8 mission to Salyut 7 failed to dock due to a damaged Igla radar antenna.
- Five months later, on September 26, 1983, a fuel leak was detected at the base of their Soyuz rocket while Strekalov and Titov were already onboard.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74842336Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:19:22 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA fuel leak on the launchpad threatens a Soyuz rocket and its crew, but a launch escape system's hesitation leaves two cosmonauts strapped in with seconds to spare. The Fuel Leak That Grounded a Rocket, But Not Its Crew This episode recounts the...
The Fuel Leak That Grounded a Rocket, But Not Its Crew

This episode recounts the harrowing experience of cosmonauts Gennady Strekalov and Vladimir Titov during a launchpad emergency in 1983. It explores the critical moments leading up to an unprecedented event in human spaceflight and the life of a man who helped build the first satellite.

Date: September 26, 1983
Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site One
Crew: Gennady Strekalov, Vladimir Titov
Event: Soyuz 7K-ST number 16L launch abort
System: Launch Escape System (LES)

- Gennady Strekalov, born in 1940, worked on the assembly of Sputnik 1 as a coppersmith before becoming a cosmonaut.
- He graduated from the Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School in 1965 and began cosmonaut training in 1974.
- Strekalov's first flight in November 1980 on Soyuz T-3 earned him the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
- In April 1983, Strekalov and Titov's Soyuz T-8 mission to Salyut 7 failed to dock due to a damaged Igla radar antenna.
- Five months later, on September 26, 1983, a fuel leak was detected at the base of their Soyuz rocket while Strekalov and Titov were already onboard.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1235falsefull