Podcast
Small Steps, Giant Leaps
Hosted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · EN
NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Life Support Systems: From Space Station to Orion
1w ago00:14:34Tap to summarizeAstronauts aboard the International Space Station depend on life support systems that provide clean air, drinkable water, and a safe, livable environment. These systems are what make long-duration spaceflight not only possible, but comfortable. Today, some of these space station technologies have been adapted for Artemis – specifically, aboard the Orion crew capsule.
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Science Takes a Village (in Alabama)
3w ago00:14:50Tap to summarizeGround teams connect with astronauts aboard the International Space Station to help them carry out research and experiments. Kassandra Stephens, payload communications manager at the Payload Operations Integration Center at Marshall Space Flight Center, works with space station crews to get science done.
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Transformative Aeronautics
Jul 1000:17:10Tap to summarizeA NASA research program collaborates with universities to revolutionize the way we design, build, and operate aircraft. Angela Surgenor, deputy program director of the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program, explains.
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Calibrating Satellite Image Data
Jun 2600:19:39Tap to summarizeBefore scientists can use those satellite imagery for research, the data must be carefully calibrated to ensure measurements are accurate and consistent over time. Julia Barsi, NASA calibration scientist, explains.
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Space Nuclear Propulsion
Jun 1500:22:44Tap to summarizeSpace nuclear power and propulsion engineering could play a key role in sending robots and humans to deep space, enabling faster and farther journeys.
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Test Like You Fly
May 2700:23:31Tap to summarizeThe “test like you fly” approach is an engineering philosophy that means testing hardware, software, and flight operations as close to reality as possible. Erika Alvarez, deputy director of NASA's Space Systems Department, explains.
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Soft Skills for Tough Missions
May 1300:16:24Tap to summarizeSo-called “soft skills” like good teamwork and communication can become just as valuable as technical skills to advance exploration.
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Tracking Launches: Views from a NASA Pilot
Apr 2900:17:11Tap to summarizeNASA pilots play a critical role in launch and recovery operations. Shannon Gregory, chief of flight operations at Kennedy Space Center, shares how his team supports crewed launches from the air, capturing real-time imagery, and staying ready for the unexpected.
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How NASA's Pandora Mission Unboxes Distant Worlds
Apr 1900:12:07Tap to summarizeStudying planets in other solar systems isn’t easy, especially when their host stars keep stealing the spotlight. NASA’s Pandora mission will cut through the noise, revealing what the atmospheres of these distant worlds are really made of.
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Choreographing Astronaut Recovery
Mar 1800:14:41Tap to summarizeFor any crew returning to Earth from space, the journey home includes a carefully choreographed recovery effort to bring them safely back on dry land after splashing down in the ocean. Christine St. Germain, NASA recovery director for the Commercial Crew Program, tells us about this critical phase of flight.
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