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The Space Above Us

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education50 episodes indexed

The Space Above Us

JP Burke

Episode-by-episode narrative history of NASA’s human spaceflight missions.

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Episodes

RSS · updated 00:00Z●LIVE

—194 - STS-100 - Giving the ISS a Hand (ISS 6A: Canadarm2)The ISS is growing so much that soon the shuttle arm won't be able to help attach new modules. So let's give the ISS an arm of its own! We'll also wonder just what happened to the Command and Control computers, and try to blink our way throAug 1 · 35 min
—193 - STS-102 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Logistics Module (ISS 5A.1: Exp1/2 swap)On STS-102 it looks like we're just doing a simple crew swap, but complexity abounds. Get ready for new hardware, two spacewalks, cargo swaps, the first ISS crew swap, and a surprise cameo by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Show notes: htNov 15, 2025 · 49 min
—192 - Expedition 1 - ISS, Meet ITThe first long duration crew of the International Space Station is finally here! Let's learn about what life on the ISS was like, shake our fists at Microsoft, and wonder where to get bootleg movies on the streets of Moscow. Show notes: httJun 3, 2025 · 60 min
—Supplemental 9 - Where Does the Time Go? (Schedule Update)It's been a long time since the last episode of the podcast was posted. What's going on? Fear not, dear listener, it's all good news. Well, mostly good news. And really it's more good for me than for you but– you know what, just give the suNov 6, 2024 · 5 min
—191 - STS-98 - Destiny Manifest (ISS 5A: Destiny)On STS-98 it's time for the ISS crew to meet its Destiny. Oh wait, does everyone make that joke? How about "Destiny is on the manifest"? No, I already used that in the title. OK, let's go with "humanity's Destiny is off the planet". Yeah, tAug 31, 2024 · 58 min
—190 - STS-97 - Ratcheting Up the Tension (ISS 4A: P6)On STS-97 the Space Shuttle is delivering its heaviest ISS payload yet: the P6 truss. We'll climb high above the payload bay, consider some strange analogies, and both slack off and tense up. Most of that will make sense once you listen. AlJul 30, 2024 · 48 min
—189 - STS-92 - Over and Under (Z1 and PMA-3)After a long wait for the crew (and audience!) STS-92 is finally here. We'll be delivering the heart of the ISS external structure, the Z1 truss, as well as a new docking port, PMA-3. Along the way we'll learn a bit about the folks on the gJun 22, 2024 · 1h 1m
—188 - STS-106 - 2A or not 2b (ISS Resupply 2A.2b)On STS-106, we finally get to meet Zvezda, the Russian service module for the International Space Station. We also meet some new faces, decrypt some mission designations, move a bunch of equipment, and perform an EVA that may or may not be May 5, 2024 · 39 min
—187 - Interview with former NASA flight surgeon Dr. Kim BroadwellI think we can all agree that social media (and anything approaching it) was a mistake, but sometimes the internet decides to throw you a bone and you meet a NASA flight surgeon on Reddit. After some friendly chatting via email, Dr. Kim BroApr 14, 2024 · 57 min
—186 - STS-101 - Screens and Stations (ISS Resupply 2A.2a)On STS-101 we've got a slick new cockpit to show off, a pile of launch delays, a ton or two of new equipment and supplies and some floppy disks in the payload bay. Let's head back to the ISS! Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/epMar 24, 2024 · 34 min
—185 - STS-99 - Here Comes The Boom (SRTM)On STS-99 we'll be studying the Earth in a whole new dimension, using fancy radar tricks to scan nearly the entire planet in 3D! Close and lock your visors and put on your 3D glasses now! Show notes: http://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep185_sFeb 9, 2024 · 46 min
—184 - STS-103 - Y2K And I Feel Fine (Hubble Servicing 3A)The Hubble Space Telescope couldn't wait until the year 2000 for a visit, while the Space Shuttle's computers couldn't handle the year 2000 at all. With the clock ticking, will the crew of STS-103 be able to save the new year for scientistsDec 19, 2023 · 40 min
—183 - STS-93 - Sometimes It's Better To Be Lucky Than Smart (Chandra Deploy)On STS-93 we've got a ton of stuff to do in a mission lasting less than five days. We'll break another glass barrier, we'll put the redundancy of the Space Shuttle Main Engines to the test, and we'll explore the universe in a whole new partNov 1, 2023 · 49 min
—182 - STS-96 - Additional Supply Depots Required (ISS Resupply 2A.1)On the first resupply mission to the ISS we've got tons of stuff to transfer, a disco ball to deploy, and a surprising number of quotations from Dan Barry! Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep182_sts-96 The Space Above Us websitSep 20, 2023 · 41 min
—181 - STS-88 - A United Dawn (Zarya and Unity)The ISS era is upon us! Let's learn about Zarya, the first module of the International Space Station, and bring it a buddy: Unity! With a Russian and an American module flying, the ISS will be born. In this episode we'll wonder why it's tooAug 24, 2023 · 45 min
—180 - STS-95 - Zero-G And I Still Feel Fine (Glenn, SPARTAN, SPACEHAB)On STS-95 we've got the return of SPARTAN, the return of SPACEHAB, and the return of.. John Glenn! Let's do some science and learn how the 77 year old former astronaut found himself once again whizzing around in orbit. Show notes: https://tJul 15, 2023 · 40 min
—179 - Phase One Done (Shuttle-Mir Retrospective)We take a look back at the Shuttle-Mir program, including a whirlwind tour of all seven long duration missions and a glimpse into Mir's ultimate fate. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep179_shuttle-mir_retrospective The Space AJun 17, 2023 · 28 min
—178 - STS-91 - A Farewell to Mir (Bringing Thomas Home)On STS-91 we'll try out a new external tank, learn a little physics, and find out what Mir upper management thinks about the state of the space station. Oh, we'll also bring Andy Thomas home and wave farewell to Mir forever. Show notes: httMay 27, 2023 · 41 min
—Special Update - Don't Force ItWe take a brief break from space to consider some valuable life lessons. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/special_update_02 The Space Above Us website: https://thespaceabove.us Support the show: https://thespaceabove.us/donate May 8, 2023 · 4 min
—177 - STS-90 - Of Mice and Medicine (Neurolab)On STS-90 we've got a Spacelab full of nervous system experiments, we'll play a little catch, and we'll wonder where NASA got 2000 crickets. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep177_sts-90 The Space Above Us website: https://thesApr 17, 2023 · 38 min
—176 - NASA-7 - The Last American (Thomas on Mir)Andy Thomas is watching Space Shuttle Endeavour fade into the distance and is ready to get to work. His four month stay on Mir would close out the American presence on the Russian space station. We also wonder what that burning smell is, doMar 23, 2023 · 31 min
—175 - STS-89 - The Last of the Mir 7 (Thomas to Mir)Dave Wolf is ready to come home, which is good because Andy Thomas is ready to become the last NASA astronaut to live on Mir. So put on some nice headphones, pull up a chair next to the aquarium window, and relax with some spaceflight histoMar 9, 2023 · 30 min
—174 - STS-87 - Stranded SPARTAN (USMP-4, SPARTAN mishap)On STS-87 we've got a bunch of material science in the payload bay, a free-flying satellite, a camera that fell out of Star Wars, and 645,500 friends! We also get to the bottom of a significant mishap. Here's the link to that AERCam video! Feb 20, 2023 · 39 min
—173 - NASA-6 Part 2 - Stuck Between A Hatch And A Cold Place (Wolf on Mir)Dave Wolf's stint on Mir is going pretty smoothly, but when he performs his first EVA we find cause to go on a mini deep dive into the history of the station's airlock. That's definitely not ominous, right? Show notes: https://thespaceaboveFeb 2, 2023 · 28 min
—172 - NASA-6 Part 1 - Infinite Job List (Wolf on Mir)After much back and forth on the ground, it has been decided that Dave Wolf will remain on Mir for his full mission. So what does he do while he's up there? And who's that in the window?? Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep172_Jan 14, 2023 · 26 min
—171 - STS-86 - Does He Stay Or Does He Go Now? (Wolf to Mir)Dave Wolf didn't think he was going to Mir for another six months, but when Russia decides Wendy Lawrence is too short, schedules change. Though if Congress has anything to say about it, Wolf might not be going anywhere after all. Also, "MEDec 18, 2022 · 28 min
—170 - STS-85 - The World's Biggest Birthday Candles (CRISTA-SPAS, MFD)It's Kent Rominger's birthday, so what better way to celebrate than launching into space? Along the way we'll send CRISTA-SPAS out for one last adventure, try out a Japanese robot arm, take pictures of comets, and try to avoid Blue Screens Dec 4, 2022 · 30 min
—169 - STS-94 - Deja Crew (MSL-1 Reflight)The crew, payload, and orbiter of STS-94 all have unfinished business in low earth orbit thanks to a busted fuel cell on STS-83. Let's kick the tires, light the fires, and then light around 200 more fires, but carefully. Show notes: https:/Nov 20, 2022 · 26 min
—168 - NASA-5 Part 2 - The Specter of Progress (Foale on Mir)Spektr has been sealed off from the rest of Mir and the station's attitude is back under control, but there's still a lot of work left to do. Can the crew regain access to Spektr's solar panels? What happens to laptops left in a vacuum? AndNov 4, 2022 · 30 min
—167 - NASA-5 Part 1 - A Crash Course in Long Duration Spaceflight (Foale on Mir)Mike Foale is replacing Jerry Linenger on Mir for NASA's next long duration mission on the Russian space station. After the raging fire and near-collision by a Progress resupply ship on NASA-4, surely things will settle down for a while on Oct 22, 2022 · 38 min
—Supplemental 8 - My Second Rocket Launch (SpaceX C2+)It turns out the NASA-5 episode was taking a little more time than I anticipated, can't imagine why. But since I'll be on vacation next week, I would have had to slip by TWO weeks. Rather than leave you all hanging, I have a story about my Oct 6, 2022 · 15 min
—166 - STS-84 - Where Things Are Bright and Sunny (Linenger/Foale Mir Swap)On STS-84 we'll deliver Mike Foale to Mir, bring Jerry Linenger back to Earth, wonder how much Elektron really weighs, enjoy the music in the base block, and contemplate the mystical powers of a shouting Marine. Show notes: https://thespaceSep 24, 2022 · 25 min
—165 - STS-83 - Substack Attack (MSL-1)The crew of STS-83 is gearing up for a 16 day flight aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. With Spacelab packed full of materials science experiments, everything seemed ready to go.. so why did the flight end up only being four days long? Show notSep 11, 2022 · 26 min
—164 - STS-82 - No Trouble with Hubble (HST Servicing 2)On STS-82 we've got another ground-up rendezvous on our hands. But instead of flying to Mir, we'll be visiting our old friend the Hubble Space Telescope. It's been a few years since STS-61 fixed its optical flaw, and it's due for an upgradeAug 27, 2022 · 36 min
—163 - NASA-4 Part 2 - Close Call, Ethylene Glycol, Secret Alcohol (Linenger on Mir)We've still got half of Jerry Linenger's mission on Mir to cover, and while there aren't any fires, it's just as action packed! We've got near-misses, secret contraband, and a history-making EVA. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodeAug 7, 2022 · 23 min
—162 - NASA-4 Part 1 - A Candle-Lit Dinner (Linenger on Mir)Jerry Linenger's long duration mission on Mir was so jam-packed that I had to break it up into two parts! In Part 1, we'll heed some lessons from John Blaha, learn where to find extra photographic film, and light some candles during dinner.Jul 24, 2022 · 36 min
—161 - STS-81 - Space Deli (Blaha/Linenger Mir Swap)On STS-81 we'll deliver Jerry Linenger to his new home for the next few months, return John Blaha to Earth, and transfer a few tons of equipment while we're at it. Along the way we'll go for a run, admire a previous crew's DIY fix, and tossJul 8, 2022 · 26 min
—160 - Tom Jones InterviewWe've seen him fly on STS-59, STS-68, and STS-80.. and now we'll see him on The Space Above Us! Astronaut Tom Jones joins us and answers a bunch of questions ranging from stopwatches, travel strategies, and pranks on John Young. Thanks agaiJun 23, 2022 · 51 min
—159 - STS-80 - Space Jam (ORFEUS, WSF, EVA)STS-80 is jam packed with everything the shuttle program has to offer, which makes sense since it's the longest flight of the entire program! We've got two free-flying payloads, a troublesome EVA, and a reentry to remember. Show notes: httpJun 13, 2022 · 40 min
—158 - NASA-3 - Blaha Blast (Blaha on Mir)John Blaha is settling in for his four month stay on Mir. Science experiments, clattering fans, limited communications, 14 hour days, and the first ever NASA in-space handover await. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep158_nasa-May 29, 2022 · 36 min
—157 - STS-79 - Blaha to Go (Lucid/Blaha Mir Swap)Shannon Lucid has been waiting for her ride home and John Blaha is ready to swap in as America's next long duration spacefarer. We'll also fix our SRBs, try to heat up some metal, and enjoy some barbecue in Atlantis. Show notes: https://theMay 14, 2022 · 29 min
—156 - STS-78 - International Space.. Shuttle (LMS)On this flight we'll be setting new duration records, studying the muscles of the crew, and waking up to some on-theme music. Let's just hope there's enough fuel to make it to orbit! Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep156_sts-7Apr 28, 2022 · 29 min
—155 - STS-77 - Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Satellite (IAE, PAMS, SPACEHAB)On STS-77, we've got one of the strangest shuttle payloads I've ever seen, a satellite that's passively stabilized by aerodynamic forces (mostly), a bunch of SPACEHAB experiments, and a blast from the past. Also, here's that deployment videApr 9, 2022 · 29 min
—154 - Dan Tani Interview - Astronaut Early CareerAstronaut Dan Tani joins us once again and talks about what the astronaut interview process was like, what day to day life was like before being assigned to a mission, wearing the "astronaut suit", what makes a good team, and some sage adviMar 24, 2022 · 1h 22m
—153 - NASA-2 - M&Ms and Russian Friends (Lucid on Mir)Shannon Lucid is ready to become the second American to perform a long duration aboard the Russian space station Mir. All she'll need to do is survive Russian language class, memorize a few bolt names, and find her missing shoe. Errata: I sMar 10, 2022 · 40 min
—152 - STS-76 - Mirwalking (MEEP, Lucid to Mir)On STS-76, the space shuttle will finally shuttle someone to space! Plus the first American EVA outside a space station in 22 years, antics in the SPACEHAB tunnel, and thoughts about 1996 web design. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/epiFeb 19, 2022 · 23 min
—151 - STS-75 - Tethers in Space are a Snap (TSS-1R)On STS-75 we'll take another try at the Tethered Satellite System. It didn't work so great on STS-46, but with much of the same crew and a little luck, maybe it will go better. Also on this flight, starting fires in space, and disembodied cFeb 6, 2022 · 38 min
—150 - Galileo at JupiterAfter checking in with it for years, Galileo has finally arrived at Jupiter. For the 150th episode of The Space Above Us, let's find out what the Galileo orbiter and probe did while they were out there and why it was worth the wait. Show noJan 23, 2022 · 30 min
—Supplemental 7 - My First Rocket LaunchI'm taking my first break this week! So instead of an episode, I tell the tale of my first rocket launch, what it's like, and what you can do to make yours even better. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep149_sts-72 The Space AbJan 6, 2022 · 14 min
—149 - STS-72 - Endeavour's Hitchhiker (SFU, OAST-Flyer)On Endeavour's tenth flight, we're somehow going to deploy one satellite, but pick up two! Plus more EVA development, zero-gravity karate, and a farewell to a frequent flyer. Show notes: https://thespaceabove.us/episodes/ep149_sts-72 The SpDec 23, 2021 · 36 min

Source: Episodes via the show's public RSS feed · as of Sep 2, 2026 00:00 UTC

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