This Week in Space 178: Tell It to the Mountain (September 19, 2025)

Podcast Hosts:
Rod Pyle (Editor in Chief, Ad Astra Magazine)
Tarek Malik (Editor in Chief, Space.com)

Special Guest:
Col. Terry Virts (Former astronaut, U.S. Senate candidate)

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Rod Pyle and Tarek Malik are joined by former astronaut and current Texas Senate candidate Terry Virts. The trio discusses breaking space news, including Ukraine's destruction of a historic Russian radio telescope, China's rapidly advancing space program, and the latest in black hole imagery and solar eclipses. Later, Virts shares stories from his astronaut career, his Senate run, and reflects on leadership, space policy, and the significance of human presence in space.

Major Topics & Key Insights

1. News Roundup and Space Headlines

Ukraine Destroys Vintage Russian Radio Telescope

• Ukraine targeted the RT-70 radio telescope in Crimea, previously used for space exploration and military communication.
  • "It had a role to play in space exploration and Ukraine actually destroyed it last month because Russia was using it for military communications." – Tarek Malik [05:34]

China’s Progress in the 'New Space Race'

• China is making significant advances in space technology: their own space station, Mars and Moon missions, and reusable rocket development.
• Concerns raised that, unless the U.S. increases its efforts, China could surpass U.S. space leadership within the next decade.
  • "If the United States does not really step up its game in the aerospace market, that in the next five, ten years they will seed the ground." – Tarek Malik [07:27]
  • "China running away with a very Apollo 11 like mission while we're still kind of trying to get our shoelaces untied." – Rod Pyle [31:27]

Advances in Black Hole Imaging

• Updates from the Event Horizon Telescope: improved resolution and the observation of magnetic field dynamics over years.
  • "Before it was a bit of a kind of a smudge now in space. Now we can actually see some of the magnetic lines." – Tarek Malik [09:46]

Upcoming Solar Eclipses

• September 21, 2025: partial eclipse viewable in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Future total eclipses: August 2026 (Europe), 2027 (Egypt, with up to 7+ minutes of totality).
  • "This is the last eclipse of 2025, moon or sun or otherwise." – Tarek Malik [11:48]

2. Special Guest: Terry Virts

Introduction, Background, and Motivation for Senate Run

• F-16 pilot, NASA astronaut (STS-130, ISS commander), author, energy industry consultant.
• Running for U.S. Senate (Texas, Democrat):
  • Motivated by a desire to protect the Constitution, strengthen democracy, and address social and economic challenges.
  • "I care about the Constitution too much. Spent 30 years in the Air Force to support and defend the Constitution, and I can't sit by and watch it be destroyed." – Terry Virts [17:46]

Spaceflight Experience

• Describes the tight quarters of the Soyuz capsule.
  • "The Soyuz is even more cramped than you think...The one time in my life, right before we touched down in Kazakhstan...I can just sit here and be calm and be unable to move." – Terry Virts [19:13]

Childhood Inspiration

• Early fascination with Apollo and astronomy led him to pursue spaceflight.
  • "I had pictures of...the Andromeda Galaxy...and very, very, very lucky I actually got to do the things that I wanted to do when I was a kid." – Terry Virts [20:53]

3. NASA, Artemis, and U.S. Space Policy

Challenges Facing NASA

• Budget constraints, delays on the Artemis program, and risk of China overtaking the U.S. in lunar missions.
• Virts proposes a comprehensive review and overhaul:
  • Restore and increase funding for space science.
  • Protect Earth science missions.
  • Speed up commercial space station development (CLDP).
  • Revise Artemis: separate crew from cargo launches, and favor practical, affordable lunar landers.
  • "If China beats us back to the moon, it is a disaster for humanity." – Terry Virts [34:03]
  • "You go to war with the army you have. And the army we have is SLS works...use that SLS to launch a smaller, more sane lunar lander. One SLS mission, one lunar lander with a transfer vehicle, and then you launch the crew on a separate rocket." – Terry Virts [39:59]

Wider Geopolitical Stakes

• Losing the lunar race could impact U.S. global influence and economic security.
  • "The geopolitical implications are huge...If China beats us back to the moon, I feel would be the nail in the coffin of Pax Americana." – Terry Virts [50:03, 51:59]

4. Reflections on Astronaut Life & NASA Careers

Advice for Aspiring Astronauts

• "Don't tell yourself no...the first step is very important." – Terry Virts [44:22]
• "Be patient...It was painful, but it was worth it, man. It was worth it." – Terry Virts [45:15]

His Own Selection Story

• He learned he was chosen as an astronaut while debriefing an F-16 test mission.
  • "The phone rings, and I pick it up, and it was Charlie Precourt...Do you still want to move to Houston? And I was like, let me think about it. Yes." – Terry Virts [46:37]

5. Pop Culture & Star Trek Memories

• Terry discusses being a longtime Star Trek fan and shares anecdotes about appearing in the finale of "Enterprise" and connections with Star Trek actors.
• "I got this three second cameo at the last second...For a decade, if you Googled me, the only thing that came up was that I was on Star Trek Enterprise." – Terry Virts [56:04]
• Reflects on Star Trek's progressive vision and influence.
  • "Star Trek was very progressive for the 1960s." – Terry Virts [61:54]

6. The International Space Station's Legacy

• 25 years of continuous human presence in space is a major legacy.
  • "People can live and work in space for a long period of time...The international relations aspect I think was the most important." – Terry Virts [65:00]
• Despite disappointments with Russia, ISS fostered major scientific, engineering, and diplomatic achievements.

Notable Quotes

• On budget and priorities:
  "The NASA budget is not going to be exploding like it did in the 1960s." – Terry Virts [39:59]

• On Artemis and Moon landing urgency:
  "Chinese beating us to the moon is a global catastrophe for humanity." – Terry Virts [41:03]

• On advice to future astronauts:
  "Don't tell yourself no." – Terry Virts [44:22]

• On ISS's legacy:
  "It was an honor of a lifetime to be a very, very small part of it." – Terry Virts [66:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:34] — Ukraine destroys Russian radio telescope
• [07:27] — China’s space advancements and U.S. concerns
• [09:46] — New black hole imaging
• [11:48] — Upcoming solar eclipses
• [16:47] — Terry Virts’ career highlights and Senate run
• [19:13] — Soyuz capsule experience
• [20:53] — Early inspiration for spaceflight
• [31:32] — NASA/Artemis program critique and proposals
• [34:03] — Why beating China to the Moon matters
• [44:22] — Virts' advice for prospective astronauts
• [56:04] — Cameo on Star Trek: Enterprise
• [65:00] — Legacy of the International Space Station

Closing

The episode covers a critical juncture for U.S. space leadership, candid perspectives on both policy and astronaut life, and memorable intersections of science fiction and reality. Terry Virts shares both inspiration and warnings for the future of American space exploration and underscores the symbolic, practical, and geopolitical stakes of returning to the Moon.

Stay tuned next week for a special Artemis 2-centric episode.

Follow Terry Virts:
Web: terryvirts.com
Social: @AstroTerry (@Astro_Terry on some platforms)

Follow the Show:
Rod Pyle: pylebooks.com, astromagazine.com
Tarek Malik: Space.com
National Space Society: nss.org