Podcast Summary: This Week in Space 192 — "Space, 2026!"

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Rod Pyle (Editor-in-chief, Ad Astra Magazine), Tarek Malik (space.com)
Episode Theme:
A comprehensive, humorous, and insightful look at what’s ahead in space exploration for 2026—including NASA milestones, Artemis 2, new leadership, international efforts, funding, commercial launches, and the latest on crew health issues aboard the ISS.

Main Talking Points

1. Medical Evacuation on the ISS

Timestamps: 03:32–10:41

• First-ever declared non-emergency medical evacuation on the ISS U.S. side.
• Crew-11 (Mike Fink, Zena Cardman, Kimiya Yui, Oleg ??) to return home early due to a medical issue (details unknown, not injury, not spacewalk-related, related to microgravity).
• NASA’s new chief, Jared Isaacman, gave his first public briefing, handling uncertainty with clarity and composure.
• Crew-12 launch possibly moved up after Russian cosmonaut pulled from crew.
• No impact expected on Artemis 2, as launches use adjacent pads (39A for Artemis, 39B for Crew Dragon).
• Chris Williams will remain as the only NASA astronaut on the US side of the station until the next crew change.
• Notable quote:
  • “In 25 years of continuous crewed operations on the International Space Station, there is a medical issue. ... It's a medical evacuation, but not an emergency deorbit…” — Tarek Malik (04:16)
  • “Isaacman really did well...calm, collected, and had clearly done his homework...” — Rod Pyle (07:05)

2. Artemis 2: Will It Go in Early 2026?

Timestamps: 14:36–24:43

• Artemis 2 is officially tracking for a February 2026 launch, window Feb 5–11.
• Final “go” depends on SLS and Orion rollout and testing at the pad.
• NASA believes issues with the Orion heat shield are addressed: new, shallower reentry profile to reduce ablation.
• Isaacman and NASA are reportedly satisfied with fixes; attention to differences from Apollo shield—EPA-forced formulation changes, modular vs. honeycomb construction, earlier issues.
• Crew: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen. Already did a pad rehearsal; more tests to come, including leak checks.
• Historic significance: First people to the moon in over 50 years, with 27+ cameras for spectacular coverage.
• Notable quote:
  • “That’s going to be our biggest mission of the year. I don't think you can beat sending people around the moon for the first time in over 50 years.” — Tarek Malik (22:30)
  • “When Apollo did this, we had...crummy black-and-white overexposed TV. This will be glorious television. I’ll probably start bawling like an infant.” — Rod Pyle (22:47)

3. NASA’s 2026 Budget: Crisis Averted

Timestamps: 26:14–32:43

• NASA allocated $24.4 billion—less than prior years, but far above prior Trump administration proposal ($18.8B).
• Drastic proposed cuts to Earth Science, Hubble, JWST, etc. were thwarted.
• Not technically law yet, but strong bipartisan support means a veto would likely be overridden.
• National Science Foundation and NOAA included in “minibus" appropriation bill.
• Survival of US-lead telescopes (Magellan, Thirty Meter) remains uncertain; China building world’s biggest optical and radio telescopes.
• Notable quote:
  • “No bucks, no Buck Rogers.” — Rod Pyle quoting Tom Wolfe (26:17)
  • “...in NASA budget terms in general, we're spending a tenth to do ten times as much as we were in those [Apollo] days.” — Rod Pyle (32:43)

4. Mars Sample Return and Scientific Priorities

Timestamps: 32:43–36:00

• Mars Sample Return (MSR) as originally planned appears to be canceled due to cost and complexity.
• Hope remains for commercial solutions (e.g., Rocket Lab interested). MSR budget savings may revive other planetary or Venusian missions.
• China’s simpler approach may allow them to bring Martian samples to Earth first.

5. SpaceX Starship & Artemis 3 Human Landing System

Timestamps: 36:00–41:00

• Starship aiming for full orbit and (possibly) refueling test flights in early 2026 (version 3 vehicle ready).
• Demonstrations needed to meet Artemis 3 HLS contract; progress must pick up to allow in-orbit refueling at required cadence.
• Two pads in development to increase flight rate; ongoing upgrades for booster and pad.
• Notable quote:
  • “If we're going to do refueling for the HLS, they got to be able to launch within hours or days. So they got a long way to go in a short time…” — Rod Pyle (38:46)

6. Blue Origin's Blue Moon Lander

Timestamps: 41:47–45:53

• Blue Moon Mark 1 (uncrewed prototype) to attempt lunar landing in 2026, after delays.
• Not human-rated or fully equipped yet; competitive development with SpaceX; Blue Origin tends to launch only when tech is highly mature.
• If successful, human-rated "Mark 2" could be largest lander on Moon, except Starship.
• NASA requires uncrewed lander demonstration before carrying astronauts.

7. China’s 2026 Space Highlights

Timestamps: 45:53–50:44

• Major plans for 2026:
  • Test flight of Mengzhou, their next-gen Apollo-class crew vehicle, via new Long March 10.
  • Chang’e 7 mission: South polar landing (Shackleton crater), with lander, rover, and hopping probe for volatile prospecting.
  • Servicing of new orbital telescope (human-tended, can rendezvous with space station).
  • Sample-return attempt from near-Earth asteroid (Tianwen-2, arrival July 2026).
• China’s steady, multi-pronged cadence on lunar, planetary, telescope, and space station operations noted.

8. Starliner and Commercial Crew/Launchers

Timestamps: 50:54–53:40

• Boeing’s Starliner targets “cargo only” operational flight to ISS in April.
• Astronaut flights (Williams, Wilmore) follow once thruster issues fully resolved.
• Sierra Space “Dream Chaser” aiming for first cargo mission in '26.
• Rocket Lab Neutron debuting as large Virginia-based medium-lift (not crewed yet).
• Notable quote:
  • “I think they [Boeing] showed that they can do it...when these commercial space stations take root and need more than just SpaceX to get people there.” — Tarek Malik (51:43)

9. Rapid-Fire 2026 Space Missions to Watch

Timestamps: 53:40–56:46

• Intuitive Machines targets third CLPS moon landing (aims for lunar “swirl”)
• Firefly “Blue Ghost” lander to deploy comm relay and ESA orbiter to Moon
• India’s Gaganyaan uncrewed capsule test
• Japan launching Martian Moons Explorer (MMX) for sample return
• Europe’s Hera spacecraft to visit asteroid Didymos (post-DART impact)
• JWST turns five; Spitzer rescue & reboost attempt (deadline September).
• NASA X-59 supersonic X-plane main test phase
• Boom Supersonic aims for commercial flights
• Nancy Roman Space Telescope may also launch

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“He went ballistic.”
— Rod Pyle, delivering the annual bad space joke (02:25)

“I plan to enjoy at least the first look [of Artemis 2 live moon flyby video] somewhere in private because I’ll probably start bawling like an infant.”
— Rod Pyle (22:47)

“No bucks, no Buck Rogers.”
— Rod Pyle quoting Tom Wolfe (26:17)

“China is...committed to building the largest optical telescopes as well...That competition is there in that arena as well.”
— Tarek Malik (30:17)

“He's kind of the closest thing we have to another Elon without the ketamine, don't you think?”
— Rod Pyle on Peter Beck/RocketLab (53:18)

Engaging Banter

• Light ribbing about age and “old man cards” between Rod and Tarek—especially regarding Apollo-era memories (15:09, 22:55)
• Playful discussion of astronaut privacy with 27 cameras on Artemis 2 ("imagine the desire to pick your nose around the moon..." — 24:08)
• Rapid-fire "what to watch" list, moon mission dessert preferences (“I prefer a Dairy Queen swirl myself...” — Tarek, 54:39)

Final Thoughts

2026 is shaping up as one of the most ambitious years in recent space history, with critical U.S. and international crew, robotic, and commercial milestones on the horizon. Artemis 2’s lunar flyby is the clear headline, but major steps from China, Europe, India, and the commercial sector signal a global, multi-vector “space race” is heating up—albeit with collaborative and competitive angles. The resilience of NASA’s budget and progress on crewed and robotic moonshots makes for an exhilarating but unpredictable year.

Episode End / Where to Find the Hosts

• Tarek Malik: space.com, @tarekjmalik on social, YouTube @spacetronplays
• Rod Pyle: pylebooks.com, adastramagazine.com

Contact & Feedback: twistwit TV

Navigation Timestamps

• [00:00]-[03:32] — Banter, jokes, and set-up
• [03:32]-[10:41] — ISS Medical Emergency & Crew-11 Evacuation
• [14:36]-[24:43] — Artemis 2 Preview
• [26:14]-[32:43] — NASA Budget
• [32:43]-[36:00] — Mars Sample Return & Science
• [36:00]-[41:00] — Starship
• [41:47]-[45:53] — Blue Origin Blue Moon
• [45:53]-[50:44] — China’s Plans
• [50:54]-[53:40] — Starliner, DreamChaser, Neutron
• [53:40]-[56:46] — Missions Rapid Fire
• [56:46]-[End] — Banter, closing, and contact info

For Further Listening:

Check out future episodes for updates as 2026 missions unfold, especially Artemis 2 launch coverage and international moon landing news!