Casual Space

Brian is the CEO of Solstar Space Company where they are working to create a 'Space Wide Web' to connect everything in space, to everyone on Earth. Solstar's mission is to build and create the tools necessary to enable 24/7 secure, economical, convenient, two-way, internet-based communications with every "thing" in space, to be the ISP of choice in Earth Orbit and beyond. "We are able to provide a Wi-Fi connection for payloads, and payload specialists, as well as future astronauts, during take off, landing and throughout their spaceflight. In 2018 we sent the first commercial Tweet from Space. Imagine the first phone call during a commercial flight, the first selfie sent from the Kármán line, and the first instant results from payloads on-board a commercial spacecraft. Solstar Space Company can make that happen." -Brian Barnett NASA has government-supplied wi-fi for the current astronauts. But what about when commercial astronauts and you and I go to space? We're going to want to be wi-fi connected, too- along with rovers, robots wi-fi enabled payloads to be connected, too. Brian's company, Solstar Space, if working on providing world-class customer service, and we believe that this will revolutionize "We enable you to do things for the first time in space. There are an infinite number of things people can do for the first time in space! We did the first commercial wi-fi in space, and the first commercial tweet in space, and I want to fly the first drumsticks in space as the first drummer!" -Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast "Solstar is providing a commercial wi-fi service that people can purchase. More and more people will be flying in space, and wi-fi will be used for things in space- laptops, smartphones, wearable devices that astronauts will want to stay connected to."- Brian Barnett from the Casual Space Podcast About Brian Barnett: Brian Barnett barnett@solstarspace.com Brian Barnett is a serial entrepreneur with 33 years' experience in commercial space, the mobile satellite services industry, as a aerospace technologies at NASA, and at KPMG Consulting as a management consultant. He is Founder and CEO of Solstar Space Co., the first internet service provider for people, Internet of things and machines in space is that is developing technologies to build a Space Wide Web. On April 29th, 2018, Solstar demonstrated the first commercial two-way data and wi-fi hotspot service in space and Tweet from space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule, using Barnett's patent-pending technology. Mr. Barnett began his career at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center where he provided Space Shuttle payload integration services at the Payloads Project Office. He also provided astronaut crew training in the Mission Operations Laboratory for Spacelab missions. At Johnson Space Center, he worked in the Missions Operations Directorate, and later worked on JSC's 1992 Strategic Plan. He also managed a contract to document all Space Shuttle operations processes as directed by Congress after the Challenger accident. Later, as a management consultant for KPMG's Space and High Technology group, he wrote dozens of business plans and market assessments for commercial space companies. This is the group that very early and accurately, predicted that GPS applications would grow into the huge market it is today. Barnett led the Team that wrote the initial business plan and helped identify the best location for the spaceport that eventually became Spaceport America in New Mexico. Solstar Space is his third commercial space start-up. He earned a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma, a Masters in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a graduate of the International Space University. Mr. Barnett is a classically-trained rock and reggae drummer and is founder and producer of DrumsAstro®, an organization Connecting Artists and Musicians of all Genres to Space and Space Exploration. About Soltar: www.SolstarSpace.com and www.Solstar.net Solstar is the leading commercial satellite communications company pioneering the use of WiFi in space. We use existing commercial communications satellite networks in Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Earth Orbit. We provide space-to-space communications on spacecraft and bi-directional two-way data services for payloaders. Solstar is: Harnessing the power of the very best existing infrastructure to facilitate constant communication with space assets such as SmallSats, Astronauts, LEO platforms, suborbital/orbital spacecraft, and eventually Lunar and Mars exploration. Revolutionizing the way people on Earth communicate and interact with their payloads in space Improving the way space research is conducted and communicated from space to the ground and back again Protecting valuable space assets through enhanced two-way communication opportunities for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving issues. Providing reliable emergency backup communications for people and things in space Helping to solve the space junk problem enabling our customers to send the "re-enter" command using our embedded space communicator and service. Providing 24/7 customer service to payloaders/researchers previously not available to the market

Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. And, Chris is the author of Alcohol in Space, a perfect look at the past, present and future of alcohol in the story of human exploration. Chris and Beth enjoy raising a glass and celebrating this rich history and look forward to how we will enjoy our libations in space, perhaps sooner than you might think. Cheers! Enjoy this lively episode as Beth and Chris talk about the Star Wars (Mos Eisley) cantina, the bar from the movie Passengers, and the wise bartender in Star Trek (Guinan)...and more: "Science fiction writers look at alcohol as a part of humanity within their stories. It's naturally assumed alcohol will be part of our future in space in most science fiction writing."- Chris Carberry from the Casual Space Podcast About the Book: Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future By Chris Carberry Forward by Andy Weir - https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/alcohol-in-space/ . Alcohol in Space is the first book on this topic and examines the history of alcohol in space, as well as dozens of companies and projects that are exploring the possibilities of alcohol production in space. Some of these companies have sent barley experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). Whiskey producers Ardbeg and Suntory have also sent experiments to ISS, analyzing how whisky ages in microgravity. "The production and consumption of alcohol has played a significant role in human society since the dawn of civilization," stated author Chris Carberry. "Will this still hold true when humanity is exploring and settling the outer reaches of space?" The book also highlights the long history of alcohol in human society, how alcohol has been addressed in science fiction, and space agriculture technologies. This volume is based on extensive research and interviews with some of the most prominent individuals in the space industry as well as the alcohol industry. About Chris Carberry https://www.exploremars.org/leader/chris-carberry/ Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. a nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars within the next two decades. Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community and has been responsible for growing many partnerships, grants and sponsorships for leading industry organizations. Currently, as CEO of Explore Mars, he acts as the main liaison for efforts and project ventures. Prior to joining Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director to The Mars Society. In his early career, he acted as a member of the Steering Committee where he organized congressional outreach efforts around the country. He also played a leadership role in congressional outreach events such as the 2007-2017 Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz and has coordinated numerous briefing panels and other events on Capitol Hill over the past two decades. In more recent years, he has organized and led successful international conferences including the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. In 2012, he represented Explore Mars as a delegate to the Mars500 Symposium in Moscow, Russia, and in 2013, he spearheaded the annual Humans to Mars Summit in Washington, DC that has become the largest annual conference in the world focused on sending humans to Mars. Carberry also helped to launch the Get Curious Campaign in 2012 and the Humans to Mars Report starting in 2015. Carberry is also a co-founder and co-chair of the Mars Achievability and Sustainability workshop series, and he recently launched the 1st AR/VR and Space workshop series. In 2018, under Carberry's leadership, Explore Mars will also launch programs in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Carberry has presented both oral and written testimony to Congress and has contributed positioning work dealing with space exploration for the Republican Party's National Platform in 2000. He is the author of scores of articles and Op-Ed pieces that have appeared in such publications as USA Today, US News and World Report, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, San Jose Mercury Times, Foxnews.com, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, The Telegram (UK), The Boston Herald and many other publications. He has been featured on national and international television and radio programs such as NBC Nightly News, Fox News, CNN, BBC World, and NPR and is frequently asked for commentary from print news outlets around the world. Prior to his space career, Carberry worked as an archivist of modern political papers and was research assistant for numerous best-selling biographers. Carberry received a B.A. degree in political science and a M.A. in history and archival methods About Explore Mars: https://www.exploremars.org/about/leadership/ Alcohol in Space on OTHER great podcasts! Planetary Radio - https://www.planetary.org/multimedia/planetary-radio/show/2019/1204-2019-chris-carberry-alcohol.htm Are we There Yet ? (Podcast) - Booze in Space? The Storied History and Bright Future of Alcohol In The Final Frontier - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/470937634/are-we-there-yet The Whisky Topic Podcast – http://whisky.buzz/thewhiskytopic What the If (Podcast) - https://whattheif.com/episodes/tag/alcohol

Jennifer Inman helps spacecraft enter the atmospheres of other worlds. She and the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team use a bunch of instruments on board a plane while it's flying, follow a space vehicle's reentry that's traveling thousands of miles an hour (think Mach 25) from space back to Earth and find it through a field of view as small as a straw. Then, the SCIFLY team has to observe and keep the spacecraft in the middle of the field of view to gather the data necessary to study. Together on the podcast, Beth and Jennifer talk heat shields, re-entry, Orion, Artemis, Hollywood film makers, and heat imaging and the surprising fact that parachutes on reentry vehicles can be quite challenging, and where she'll be watching the historic spaceflight mission scheduled for May 27, 2020! About NASA's Forward to the Moon 20204 Mission: "As we talk about going back to the moon, it occurs to me WE haven't been to the Moon… our generation has not been to the Moon..it's important for US to figure out how we're going to go to the Moon." -Jennifer Inman on the Casual Space Podcast Did you always know you would work for NASA one day? "When I was 6 years old, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut, a Mom, a teacher, and a waitress on roller skates. If it can't be MY boots on the Moon, I'm going to daydream and work towards getting others there." About studying space and science in school: "I took physics on a whim and fell in love with it. It was all the beauty of calculus with answers that had connections to the real world. Once I got to quantum mechanics and relativity, I was hooked! I just loved the way I could look at the universe around me and have my understanding expanded, and just be in awe of the understanding of the universe we find ourselves in." Where to find Jennifer and her work at NASA: https://www.innovationnow.us/index.php/2019/03/25/meet-jennifer-inman/ You've GOT to learn about SCIFLI: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/how-the-perfect-picture-advances-spaceflight https://scifli.larc.nasa.gov/team-members-organizations/ The SCIFLI team is based at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. In 2007 the HYTHIRM team was formed at the NASA Langley Research Center through the support of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in order to determine the feasibility of obtaining high quality thermal imagery data of the Space Shuttle during hypersonic atmospheric reentry flight. The outcome of that study convinced the Space Shuttle Program Office to fund the HYTHIRM team to attempt to accomplish the goal of acquiring a single thermal image of the Space Shuttle during reentry. After returning with hundreds of thousands of frames of imagery acquired over an eight minute period of reentry, and after processing that thermal imagery to show that high quality measurements were not only possible but could provide unique and unexpected results, the HYTHIRM team conducted imaging operations on six more Shuttle reentries, the SpaceX C1 Dragon capsule reentry, and more. Every mission has been successful in meeting or exceeding the acquisition and processing of the desired data. SCIFLI for Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery. The goal is to pursue the development and deployment of state of the art remote thermal, visual and spectral imaging capabilities from land, sea and airborne platforms over a multi-band spectrum. How the Perfect Picture Advances Spaceflight The researchers working on the Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team acquire engineering quality data images of spacecraft launches, reentries, flight tests, and parachute tests from aircraft- and ground-based imaging systems. The SCIFLI team comprises members from multiple NASA centers, industry, academia, Department of Defense, and international and commercial partners, and together they support human spaceflight, improve aerodynamic models, and ultimately reduce mission risk. "Our job is to get engineering data using telescopes on the ground or in the air," said Dr. Jennifer Inman, SCIFLI project manager. "The imagery acquired during a test, launch, or re-entry yields flight-truth data." The team's core capability is quantitative thermal and hyperspectral imaging using state-of-the-art imaging systems with high spatial, spectral, and/or temporal resolution. "We close the gap between ground testing in wind tunnels, computational fluid dynamics, and flight truth," Inman said. "Even with the best ground testing, we can't match every parameter of flight. A flight test allows us to interpret our ground testing data and improve our computational models." The team has been continuously improving their techniques since starting work in 2007 and has made more than 28 observations in 2019 alone, including parachute drop tests, spacecraft reentries, and rocket launches. "Not just anyone with a high-resolution camera can do this work. We're sometimes trying to acquire a target at horizon break, when the vehicle is hundreds of kilometers away; you have to get it right the first time because there are no do-overs," Inman said. Part of mission planning involves determining the best possible optics and lenses specific to the mission; in addition, radiance modelling is sometimes required to predict optimal sensor settings. To help sensor operators make these kinds of informed decisions, researcher Richard Schwartz created a virtual environment tool that takes into account parameters like focal length, relative angles between imaging target and imaging platform, exposure time, and aperture setting, to enable pre-configuration of the sensors which provides the sensor operators with a baseline plan for acquisition and tracking. He then incorporates mission-specific information like aircraft and/or test vehicle geometry, velocity, latitude, longitude, and altitude to generate synthetic imagery to allow the team to get the data every time. The needs of the customer dictate the type of datasets the researchers pursue. The team has imaged seven Space Shuttle reentries, the return of JAXA's HAYABUSA spacecraft, the launch of several SpaceX rockets, the return of SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1, the return of three Commercial Resupply Services capsules, and dozens of tests of SpaceX Crew Dragon parachute systems required for crewed operation certification. Over the last two years, the team has been conducting observations for Orion and both of NASA's Commercial Crew Program partners -- SpaceX and Boeing. Many of these tests have occurred in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, and have involved testing to qualify parachutes for returning crewed vehicles to Earth. During these tests, darts, weigh sleds, Parachute Test Vehicles (PTV, a lower fidelity version of the Crew Dragon capsule), or boilerplate capsule models, are dropped from helicopters, balloons, or out the back of a cargo aircraft. The SCIFLI team is charged with capturing imagery that reveals intricate details of how the parachutes behave. "Parachute performance is incredibly reliable under the loads and speeds involved in something like skydiving, but spaceflight occurs at higher speed and is much more challenging. The dynamic pressures are higher, so you need parachutes that can withstand higher impulse forces, and the air is thinner, which makes parachute inflation a less predictable process," Inman said. "In addition, this higher performance requires parachute systems that are far more complex, with multiple parachutes deploying in several stages." The SCIFLI team is slated to do more work in 2020 with the Commercial Crew Program as it prepares to once again launch astronauts from US soil, with JAXA on the return of Hayabusa II from asteroid Ryugu, and with the Space Launch System and Orion Programs in preparation for Artemis and NASA's return to the Moon in 2024 and journey to Mars. Kristyn DamadeoNASA Langley Research Center

Rachel is from a newspaper family and started as a journalist, teacher, freelancer and exceptional writer. Then, Rachel joined Twitter, and started writing about NASA missions and soon became a storyteller and science ambassador for the International Space Station at NASA Johnson Space Center. Her official title is Communications Managing Editor for the International Space Station Program Science Office at Barrios Technology. You're going to want to know more about Rachel and her work, so here you are: www.NASA.gov/iss/science NASA Explorers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2aBZuCeDwlQDM6x6FpHE_X0iL7hvoRpR "When you're watching a launch, you're looking at this incredible achievement of humanity and completely overwhelming visually, audibly, and then you think, 'There are people up there that I just talked to just days before!'."-Rachel Barry from Casual Space Podcast "I've learned from NASA coming from an outside perspective, having the advantage of NOT working at NASA for 20+ years- and I can approach things in a way most everyday folks would, so it's helped me be a good communicator." -Rachel "'You can't be what you can't see' is a shortened version of a longer quote from Sally Ride. It's important for me to share that there are so many brilliant women at NASA, on station, and supporting station, and that there's a place for women here at NASA. I'm excited to see what the future looks like for space exploration and how we have evolved to better reflect what our society is, and how we can all be represented." - Rachel Where to find Rachel and follow the SCIENCE on Station: Twitter | NASA.gov | Watch NASA Explorers: Microgravity

The Outer Space Treaty is vague. Rebekah believes there's a way to encourage the international community and develop education to balance opportunities for everyone to use and benefit from the resources space can provide. We talk Space Force, NASA, private space companies, international and domestic treaties and everything in between. When it comes to space law and policy, sometimes the answers can be as interesting as the questions. So let's dive in and discuss! "I think we need to be more responsible about space. I think we need to look at space as this avenue for uniting rather than dividing. In some ways, I'm a real optimist." -Rebekah Rounds on Casual Space Podcast Valuable resources Rebekah mentions on the show: A certificate program for non-lawyers (ideal for CEOs and executives of space start-up companies) at The University of Mississippi https://law.olemiss.edu/academics-programs/llm/ The American Bar Association https://www.americanbar.org/groups/air_space/divisions/divisions/ The New Space Conference https://spacefrontier.org/newspace2020/ About Rebekah: Rebekah Rounds is a Maryland and California-licensed attorney whose private practice focuses on corporate law, start-ups related to emerging technologies and industries, telecommunications, and domestic and international space law and policy. Before graduating with her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law in 2014, Rebekah served as a legal fellow for the Chairman of the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Steven Palazzo. Under Chairman Palazzo, Rebekah researched international and domestic space law, space law issues related to Federal Acquisition Regulations and Space Act Agreements, and various legal issues pertaining to NASA Reauthorization, commercial space policy, and liability and indemnity regimes for private space launch actors.In 2017 Rebekah published her paper "The Intersection of U.S. Space Policy Goals and National Security Needs: An Argument for a Regulatory Regime Oversight Commission That Balances Space-Related Policy Interests" in the Journal of Space Law. In 2018 she graduated with her LL.M. in Air and Space Law from the University of Mississippi. Rebekah believes that the future of space activity relies on a well-established education pipeline.

Dr. Sarah Imam teaches advanced physiology and environmental physiology at the Citadel. She helps describe for us on the podcast what our human body has to endure in extreme environments, including microgravity environments like the astronauts work and live in. Our future in space requires our full understanding of the space environment, and the effects it will have on us as humans. While Sarah's perspective is optimistic, the space environment is not looking like a favorable one for our human bodies. Here's are some interesting questions Dr. Sarah and I ponder together: When you go into these extreme environments (like space), there are so many detrimental effects on our human body, so understanding the impacts of microgravity is going to be more important as we humans continue explore space. Or, are we just not intended to be space travelers? Sarah asks me what I'm likely to do when I fall into the icy cold water… and the answer is the complete opposite what I would have thought… Is it possible to mind over matter our bodies into health? "When your body is aware that it will be exposed to a different environment, it helps you to be better prepared."-Dr. Sarah Wallace from Casual Space Podcast About Dr. Sarah: Sarah A. Imam M.D. www.citidel.edu (Health and Human Performance) Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. She teaches physiology-based classes, including graduate-level Environmental Physiology, which incorporates physiology of microgravity. Her training is in neurology and the neurosciences, and her current research involves the study of physical impact and activity upon the brain. She currently works on glioblastoma research at MUSC and has numerous student-based research projects. Sarah is an advisor of the health professions and has introduced and designed programs to maximize the applicant's chances of admission. She has developed a pre-health app (patent pending), and she runs one of the top healthcare study abroad program's in the nation. She will be co-presenting her study abroad work with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) conference in June 2020. Sarah started the Citadel Health Career's Society, which organizes student volunteering in the community. Sarah was recognized for her work by being the recipient of the 2019 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an award for excellence of character and service to humanity. Sarah is a board member of the Southern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (SAAHP) and a member of The Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) in the NAAHP. Sarah is a member of several associations and has numerous leadership roles.

Seeing a launch from a young age inspired a clear goal for Debi Tomek: a calling to work at NASA and help enable a sustainable human presence in space beyond Earth. Working towards this goal is exactly what Debi Tomek is doing, serving as the Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate where she leads the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM). NASA has needed to shift and change just like everyone else, being innovative and flexible is NOT a new concept for NASA- The NASA ability to innovate and bring space-based solutions to us on Earth is what keeps Debi and the NASA teams going. Applying ways to help solve the current COVID problem for humanity -whether it be using NASA's super computers and coders, algorithms, and understanding models, to the ways NASA implements new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to computation of fluid dynamic to study penetrating different materials in the masks that folks are wearing. Learn what OSAM stands for and why it will CHANGE the future of space and the Mars Perseverance rover mission launched later this summer The many ways Aretims IS SO different from Apollo "If you're life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough" is a quote that fuels Debi and her work to think beyond the Moon, Mars and even further! NASA HAS TECHNOLOGY READY TO GO. Right now today- ready to be used on the surface of Mars, and the Moon- working with commercial partners to develop the technologies- is EXACTLY the business model NASA's has been planning for! About how NASA is working within the COVID-19 challenges: "At NASA, we're used to having to figure out how to operate and live around constraints. Think of space, think of everything we've got to do up there. You can't go outside on the space station very easily without any kind of being suited up and being protected. We can't get ourselves under the surface of the moon or to Mars, without having the proper constraints and limitations and understanding risk. So even though that's extreme sense, I think our ability at NASA to innovate and just think like that is helping us with the folks that are healthy, with COVID. How can we think out of the box, what innovations do we have in our way of thinking and how can we apply that to helping solve this problem for humanity whether it be our super computers and our coders, in the algorithm, and us understanding models, whether it be in our ability to innovate new technologies that can help with everything from ventilators to other areas, and they're actually using a lot of our computation through a dynamic spokes to do computer modeling of flow through masks that folks are wearing to understand how much is actually penetrating different materials. We're shifting like everybody else, but we're really trying to take how we think, how we innovate and how we've addressed challenges in space and how can we apply that thinking to here on Earth to help with this problem. Right now, that is a little glimmer of hope that's really kept us going."-Debi Tomek from Casual Space Podcast About Debi Tomek: Deborah (Debi) Tomek began her career with NASA in 1997 at Langley Research Center. Ms. Tomek has over 20 years of research and technical management experience at NASA and Lockheed Martin. Throughout her career Ms. Tomek has served numerous roles inclusive of researcher, principal investigator, test engineer, and technical manager on numerous cross-Agency projects and programs. Ms. Tomek's research in flight vehicle dynamic stability characterization was instrumental in the development of numerous flight vehicle aerodatabases inclusive of the NASA Orion Crew Module and Launch Abort System (LAS). During the Space Shuttle Program, Ms. Tomek managed the Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements (HYTHIRM) Project that was responsible for obtaining high resolution spatially resolved temperature measurements of the Shuttle Orbiter as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere. Ms. Tomek also served as the HEOMD Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Space Radiation manager and the STMD Advanced Radiation Project manager leading teams in the development of passive radiation shielding systems, space weather forecasting codes, and integrated space vehicle hardware in support of long duration human spaceflight. Ms. Tomek spent nearly four years with NASA Headquarters leading cross-Agency technical capability assessments for the NASA Associate Administrator in support of the development of the Capability Leadership Model and the new Agency operating model. Since her return from Headquarters she has served as Chief of Staff at NASA Langley Research Center working to promote, collaborate, and evolve the projects and capabilities of the Center before moving into her current role as Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED). In this role Ms. Tomek is currently leading the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM). Ms. Tomek holds a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University in Auburn, AL, and a Master's degree in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the George Washington University in Washington D.C. Learn More about OSAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP4_Q7iIlb0 NASA Technologies https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/index.html NASA Mars Perseverance Mission: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance/overview

Anima is the Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager & xEMU Spacesuit Engineer at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Anima recently moved to Texas after 20 years in California to pursue her dream to become a NASA astronaut. Her journey has been a long one, but always determined, driven, sometimes sacrificing, and never wavering. Her steadfast and unyielding approach has finally come to fruition with a formal astronaut application when NASA opened the applications and invited candidates to apply for a 30 day window in March. Since she was a young child, Anima wanted to be an astronaut. Growing up in India, a clear path toward achieving her dream was just not available. So she moved, and made her own path towards the stars… Anima came to the US as a software engineer in 2000. Becoming a U.S. Citizen was a 12 year endeavor. She just finished her 3rd Masters Degree. Anima explains her MANY NASA adventures and endeavors, including looking for life on other planets (exoplanets), how Kepler worked, and Anima believes there is life in the universe and we are capable of finding it. "I don't want to die thinking, 'what if I tried?' I want to die with the satisfaction knowing I tried!. If I get selected (to be a NASA astronaut), I would be the happiest person on this Earth. It will be like my life has come full circle. All my life I've worked towards this goal, and it would be all worth it!"-Anima from Casual Space Podcast Advice for young students and want-to-be astronauts: "I don't know how far I will get, but I am enjoying the journey! Have a career you see yourself doing every day and enjoy it!" About Anima: Anima Patil-Sabale is an Aerospace, Software and Human Factors Engineer, currently working at NASA's Johnson Space Center for Jacobs as Orion Spacecraft Simulations Lab Manager and xEMU Spacesuit Engineer. Prior to this she has worked on NASA's Kepler Mission and in NASA's Intelligence Systems Division at NASA's Ames Research Center. She worked in the software industry for 14 years before coming to work for NASA. Anima has a Master's in Aerospace Engineering, Master's in Space Studies - Human Factors, Master's in Computer Applications and a BS in Physics. While Anima aspires to be a NASA Astronaut and is preparing herself for the same, she is also a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for commercial spaceflight research projects during her off-work hours. After selection and training, Anima has been participating in upper-atmospheric and bioastronautics research as a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate for Project PoSSUM. She has trained in the topics of Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Environment, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing and Aerospace Cinematography, Spaceflight Simulation and Operations, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Methods, Introduction to Aerospace Physiology and Life Support Systems, and Celestial Navigation and Atmospheric Scattering. She has flown several parabolas aboard a Falcon 20 aircraft while participating in the testing of a commercial spacesuit in zero-G. She has also flown a high-altitude mission in a Mooney aircraft to study noctilucent clouds. She has been in a 6-inch head-down tilt position for a NASA Simulated Microgravity Fluid Loading study. She has spun in a centrifuge and experienced up to 6-G's as she contributed to a Federal Aviation Administration study. Anima has been a Commander for NASA's HERA VII in 2015, an analog mission to an asteroid. In April 2018 she has been a Commander for a Martian Analog Mission at the Mars Desert Research Station. She has also been a First Tier Support Engineer for the Hi-SEAS Analog and Simulation missions since 2014. She has been participating and contributing towards the research required for long-duration space missions. She is a certified scuba diver, and a student pilot (105 hours logged). She has also completed the following trainings: Land and Sea Survival, Spacecraft Emergency Egress, Hypoxia Awareness and Mitigation, Spacesuit Operations, High-G Analog and Mitigation Method in addition to several others. Anima loves working with the younger generation the most, to provide them the guidance she missed out on growing up. She is an Assistant Scout Master and a STEM-NOVA mentor for the BoyScouts of America. She is a NASA Girls Mentor and a NASA Speakers Bureau member. She's also been a First Lego Robotics team coach. She has delivered several talks in the US and in India including a TEDx talk while she pursues her motto to Inspire, Guide and Motivate the younger generation. Her work has been recognized and appreciated by people everywhere. She has received the Silicon Valley Business Journal's Women of Influence 2017 award and is a "Forty Woman Over Forty To Watch Out For" honoree. Rocket-women.com, Silicon Valley Business Journal, TriValley Journal are just a few of the several publications that have published a feature on Anima's journey to share her story to inspire and motivate young and old, alike. Here is the rocket-women.com feature: https://rocket-women.com/2016/05/meet-a-rocket-woman-anima-patil-sabale-nasa/ She's also a choreographer, dancer, singer, poet artist, and a model. But above all she is a Mom to her two handsome boys. Learn More About Anima! http://www.facebook.com/animpatilsabale http://www.animapatilsabale.com Watch Anima's Ted Talk!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZv9TBPrKp0

A 6th grade science teacher, a field trip to the Cosmosphere, lots of hard work, several advanced degrees, and a NASA internship has all been a influential part of Dr. Sarah Wallace's journey. Dr. Sarah Wallace has always been in love with space, and through her work at NASA, she's found her calling. As a microbiologist, Sarah serves as the principal investigator for the Biomolecule Sequencer, allowing DNA to be sequenced in space on board the International Space Station. Talking to Sarah is like talking to your best friend, if your best friend happens to be a super-smart, yet down-to-Earth NASA microbiologist! Beth and Sarah energetically enjoy discussing: The Kansas Cosmosphere and how it fostered the joy and inspiration for Sarah to understand space How we are all just walking bacteria… What it's like to see her experiments be flown on the International Space Station, including the first ever DNA sequencer in space! AND, having a space wedding. Not just a space-themed wedding, I mean, a serious space nerd let's-take-this-all-the-way SPACE wedding. Short of actually having it IN space. About Dr. Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaEqVYw7O3g Taken from adafruit.com: Dr. Sarah Wallace is currently is the NASA Microbiologist and Principal Investigator for the Genes in Space-3 Project aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She works at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wallace conducts research to understand how the environment in space alters the behavior of microbes and runs her tests aboard the ISS. This will help us to one day identify microbes in-flight. The recent Biomolecule Sequencer (MinION) that Wallace worked on, showed that DNA sequencing in space is possible. BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES: On being a female in microbiology: "I had a pretty even split of females and males in my graduate classes, and at my lab here at NASA, we have TONS of female scientists, and it's really exciting! I have several female colleagues that started with me right out of their undergrad or Ph. D. programs and have blossomed into become these phenomenal scientists! I feel like things are really opening up for anyone who is qualified and passionate, and it's no longer a stereotypical 'man's world'. I got to meet with some of the women from the Apollo mission, and most of them were assistants. Now, females are running the divisions and the directorates, and females leading as subject matter experts in all disciplines. It's really great to see how big that change has been since Apollo. Sarah attended Wichita State and loved microbiology, and molecular biology. Determined to find a graduate program that had both, Sarah found the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The NASA connection and fellowships in the life sciences through NASA allowed Sarah to conduct most of her research at the NASA Johnson Space Center for her Ph.D. dissertation. "It's been a rewarding path, steppingstones often presented themselves to me, AND, I worked REALLY hard to make that happen. I was laser focused to get to NASA." About Being a Part of the Team to Put the First DNA Sequencer on Station: "If you just stop and think about it, something that's very complex on Earth, sequencing DNA, has become commonplace in space! We have DNA sequencing in space! We have been sequencing DNA on board ISS since 2016. To date, we've done about 30 sequencing runs with about 6 different astronauts. Why that's important: it's been not only an incredible achievement, and there are SO many applications… from my area we monitor the station (air and water microbes) and we have no way to do that unless we bring the samples back to Earth, which does not set us up very well as we try to move away from low-Earth orbit and not be dependent on sample return. My team developed a method where we could go all the way from sample to answer not only to fly the sequencer, but we developed all the preparation methods to take a swab of anything really and sequence the microbial DNA from that swab. The things we find are common and they are the same things we find in your room. ISS is incredibly clean. About What's Next: "I have colleagues who are interested in getting in the human health domain. We know humans are changing in response to spaceflight. The hows and whys and what's really going on are not widely known, so this technology can be very powerful in helping us understand this better. Based on an astronaut's genetic makeup, there could be a "eat this, do this kind of exercise" monitoring to understand if they are responding favorably or poorly to the recommendations (based on the sequencing) and really get into a precision medicine type approach. This (sequencing technology) is definitely something that I see moving into a doctor's office for everyone's benefit. On DNA and RNA sequencing and epigenetics- "Yes, there's absolutely ways that we ourselves are regulating what genes are turned on or off through these mechanisms, HOW that's happening and to what responses are the types of questions that we are looking to answer right now." On What Happens When Girls Get to Meet Sarah (as a Doctor, as a Scientist, as a NASA researcher for Station): "It's surreal." Between all of the amazing opportunities I've had since we launched the sequencer in 2016 until now, I've had more people ask for my autograph and to take selfies with me.. it's like, 'what is happening? I'm just a nerd!' It's incredible and it makes me feel so good. NASA has a video series called, "What's on Board?" and I was fortunate to talk about the DNA sequencer. There was a young girl in the audience interested in science journalism, and she came up to me after the program and said to me, 'You are NOT what I expected a NASA scientist to be!' It made me feel really good because obviously I connected with her." What's On the Horizon: "I look forward to when we can address those opportunities with cutting edge technologies, making sure we're making the environment safe for the crew, and then using these technologies to learn more about what happens to life in space. We are at the cusp of this really exciting time where we know things change, but we don't really understand the hows and the whys and the next decade is really going to start to shine light into these answers, and I'm excited to see NASA using these technologies to understand what's happening in space with cellular life." MORE!!!! On International Space Station DNA Sequencing: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/dna_sequencing https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/biomolecule_sequencer KIDS! Students! Check out Genes in Space- YOUR opportunity to fly an experiment in SPACE: https://www.genesinspace.org/ If you've ever wondered how astronauts might survive a deep-space mission or how we might use biology to transform new worlds, Genes in Space is for you: Propose an experiment that utilizes molecular biology capabilities aboard the ISS, specifically polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Test your hypothesis in the ultimate lab: The International Space Station

Kelly Larson has climbed mountains. Literally and figuratively. (Check out her TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49CaCeC4C_Y)! As the CEO of Aquarian Space, there's always challenges to be overcome, just like the challenges we must overcome within our universe. Major space weather events. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections. Don't worry, Kelly's working on it. Beth and Kelly share a casual conversation that answers: What's more difficult? Being a CEO to a space start-up, or completing a Ph.D.? What motivates Kelly to climb mountains when it can be SO DIFFICULT? A LOT of our asteroid detection is done by volunteers. This global threat has some great people working on this and they're doing a great job. Is it enough? Which leadership traits can be implemented from years of yoga practice and instruction? "This industry is a key essential about life… our capacity to be in touch with the wonder and the awe that space reminds us of. To be in touch with that, I believe, makes us better humans."-Kelly Larson from Casual Space Podcast About Kelly Larson: CEO of Aquarian Space, TEDx speaker and a serial entrepreneur, Kelly Larson, ABD, is an innovator at the intersection of business, science and leadership. As a farm girl grown into a Yoga and transformation entrepreneur turned space CEO, she trail-blazes new business ventures and connects people and ideas across the globe. Kelly is widely known for her innovative approaches to business and her strategic range. She currently specializes in aerospace market-ready development strategies with an emphasis in collaborative international partnerships and high-level entrepreneurial ventures. Kelly sees that we can only develop a strong interplanetary economy together. "We're going to network the solar system so that people going to Jupiter, anybody that wants to go out into space can send a signal back to Earth- we're offering a higher data capacity option." About Aquarian Space: https://aquariandevices.com/ Aquarian Space (formerly Devices) is the world's first commercial Space Based Interplanetary Communications Provider. Their Space Based Relay Network allows customers to send and receive high volumes of uninterrupted streaming data quickly and reliably, 24/7. Aquarian Devices is building the foundational infrastructure for a fully networked Solar System that will relieve a major bottleneck in lunar and deep space communications and open the door for humanity's expansion into the next frontier. PS- Aquarian Devices is currently looking for a CTO, and a COO! More details at the end of the show notes. BONUS SHOW NOTES & QUOTES: On being a female CEO: "During today's space conference, I've been noticing on the panels where both male and female CEO's are presenting, the females are asked about risk, and the males are asked about their upsides." I feel like I'm paddling upstream sometimes. I prefer to be kind, and a relational-based person. That means that (at times) people tend to often underestimate me. I have advantages: I can relate with people really well. I have a fresh energy. What I see in my future is an adventure. To me, being a woman and being a leader is not just about breaking stereotypes, it's also about bringing the gifts that are innate. I have different hormones in my body and I'm wired differently, so I feel delighted in trailblazing as one of many women that's about femininity that's really powerful in leadership." About Being a CEO: "I've done start-ups before. The bootstrapping. It's hard. I mean, it's really hard. Raising capital is a whole other level with the team. Doing a start up with one of the more audacious technologies, and one of the most 'out there' industries, it was so hard. It was so challenging. I just listened to my gut and I just knew that this was going to be a long-term thing for me. I got through the first layer of fire, and now it's really fun." "I never questioned that I was supposed to be doing this. When I'm committed, I'm committed. What kept me climbing mountains and walking through fires (as a CEO)? The answer today, is that it's FUN. I'm not just getting to create a really cool company in an incredible industry, but a company that's going to make a major impact on the space industry AND, one of the technologies our company makes possible are space weather and asteroid detection, which are two of the biggest threats to human kind. I get to literally and very functionally contribute to the preservation of our species!" "I get to speak about space, and get people re-connected to space and the beauty & magnificence of it. It feels like a privilege and an honor. It is so hard and it's great." About Solving the Problems of Space Threats: "NeoCam Near-Earth Object Camera is coming, and it will help, but it doesn't help cover all of the problems. So what we can do at Aquarian Devices is the first high-data rate deep space communication, to help with space weather and asteroid detection. Through 360 degree cameras and AI, we are able to get the data so that the brilliant scientists on Earth can predict and track the threats." On the Space Exploration Industry from Kelly's Unique Perspective: "Space right now is in this profound moment of growth and change. It is THE time that start-ups are starting to thrive and take off. Everything is changing right now." Aquarian Devices: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Salary Upon Funding • Co-Founder equity position to vest with milestones Aquarian Space is an interplanetary communications start-up company offering 24/7 high data rate, high speed delivery relay satellites between the Moon, Mars and Earth. The targeted customer markets are international space agencies, international defense agencies and commercial space explorers. Aquarian Space is a growing startup seeking a full-time executive to develop and execute key technology plans. We have strong innovative designs and customer interest, solid partnerships forming and dedicated cofounders to build with. Initially, the compensation will be equity-only. However, with the execution of near-term plans to acquire both revenue and funding in the next quarter, a salary will be immediately introduced. The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the company. The CTO works closely with the CEO and executive management and reports to the CEO. Using an active and practical approach, the CTO will direct all employees in Engineering Department to attain the company's established strategic goals. The company is young, so incoming CTO will also help define the position itself. To ensure success you should have a clear understanding of our company's core values and culture. Top candidates will be experienced in the aerospace start up industry, exemplary leaders, have superb technical and business acumen and have sound understanding of lunar and deep space communications. CORE VALUES: Trust, integrity, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, co-creation, service, respect, honor, playfulness, freedom to do it differently, simplicity and boundaries. CTO RESPONSIBILITIES: Works with CEO and Chief Inventor to establish the company's technical vision and leads all aspects of the company's technological development. Directs the company's technical strategic direction, development and future growth. Works in a consultative fashion with other department heads, such as sales and operations, in service of collaborative support. Provide leadership in a fashion that supports the company's culture, mission and values. Coordinates with Chief Inventor on research and case studies on leading edge technologies and makes determinations on the probability of implementation. Acts as a good steward of Aquarian Space by co-creating an economically efficient, culturally inspiring company that produces robust technology with integrity. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Co-Founder equity position Aquarian Space is an interplanetary communications start-up company offering 24/7 high data rate, high speed delivery relay satellites between the Moon, Mars and Earth. The targeted customer markets are international space agencies, international defense agencies and commercial space explorers. Aquarian Space is a growing startup seeking a full-time executive to develop and execute key technology plans. We have strong innovative designs and customer interest, solid partnerships forming and dedicated cofounders to build with. Initially, the compensation will be equity-only. However, with the execution of nearterm plans to acquire both revenue and funding in the next quarter, a salary will be immediately introduced. We are looking for a seasoned COO to create and refine our company's operational processes. The COO will assist in compiling the company's budget and employ strategies to safeguard assets, compile financial reports, and control financial policies and procedures until the CFO comes on board. The COO will team up with management to implement business strategies. The company is young, so incoming COO will also help define the position itself. To ensure success you should have a clear understanding of our company's core values and culture. Top candidates will be experienced in the start up aerospace industry, exemplary leaders, have superb business acumen and have sound understanding of tech industry business strategies. CORE VALUES: Trust, integrity, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, co-creation, service, respect, honor, playfulness, freedom to do it differently, simplicity and boundaries. COO RESPONSIBILITIES: • Assist the CEO to scale business and grow through Seed & Series A rounds. • Work with executive team to build company culture. • Work together with key participants to refine operations budget. • Spearheading strategies to steer the company's future in a positive direction. • Driving the company's operating capabilities to surpass customer satisfaction and retention, and company goals. • Implement better business practices. • Delegate responsibilities to ensure staff members grow as capable participants. • Employ various initiatives to coach employees to optimize their capabilities.