Direct 2

Guest: Jim Muncy returned for this Space Show program to discuss space policy in 2008 and its transition to 2009. We talked about the current Administrator Dr. Griffin and his efforts to remain at NASA plus what this would mean for continuing with the VSE and Aries as planned. Jim also mentioned some important public sector 2008 milestones, including the Zero G contract, the recent Cargo Resupply Services Contract, and improvements in DOD and Space Command.

Guest: Robert Zimmerman returned to this Space Show program to honor Apollo 8 on its 40th anniversary and to discuss the state of the space industry as we wind down 2008 and look forward to 2009. Bob suggested that perhaps Apollo 8 and the reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve forty years ago as Borman, Anders,and Lovell orbited the Moon was perhaps the most important space mission of its time. You will want to hear Bob tell the story of Apollo 8, how Genesis was selected to be ready by the astronauts, and the role of NASA PR at the time in the selection of the reading passage.

Guests: Leonard David was the guest for three segments of our program, followed by Barbara David joining us for the last segment. We did much forward-looking during this show given the changes taking place in government, the economy, and the space community. We talked about the incoming administration and what it might mean for space, the Space Coast of Florida, and its commitment to human space flight, the economy, viewing the Space Shuttle, and much more. Leonard reported on the recent Lunar Lander Challenge and Armadillo Aerospace at the X-Prize in Las Cruces, NM.

Guest: Ross Tierney was the guest for this in-person taped interview conducted here in Cocoa Beach on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. This was a very hard-hitting interview with Ross about Direct 2, its technology, its likelihood of being adopted by NASA as an alternative to Ares 1, and more. I asked Ross why we should have confidence in Direct 2 when it was basically a PowerPoint presentation given that it has not yet undergone any metal bending, any development or testing. I asked why there would not be design problems with it as there are with Ares and the NASA selected hardware.

Guest: Dr. Marshall Kaplan was our guest for today's show. We started our discussion with an introduction to his teaching, training, and education company, Launchspace (Please see http//www.launchspace.com/ ). We talked about his upcoming classes, Space Principles and Space Vehicle Mechanisms, plus other courses offered. Dr. Kaplan told us about the market for these courses, who teaches them, and many of the topics taught. In addition to talking about Launchspace, we talked about U.S. space policy, its importance, the risks it faces, and more.

Guest: Greg Zsidisin returned for this Space Show program to discuss the SpaceContest.org site and the program for winning $1,000 with the best 3 minute YouTube space video of why support the human space program. You can get the rules and all the needed information for entering this contest at the website, www.spacecontest.org. Greg responded to several listener questions about the contest rules and format, so if you are thinking of entering, make sure you listen to the added information provided by Greg.

Guests: Ross Tierney, Chuck Longton, Stephen Metschan. Ross Tierney, Chuck Longton, and Stephen Metschan returned to The Space Show for an important discussion about the Direct 2 alternative to the NASA ESAS approach for returning to the Moon. To follow along with this discussion, please visit www.directlauncher.com and up near the top, you will see a link to download this special Space Show presentation material in the format of your choice.

This is the second and final AIAA Space 2007 program and it features Stephen Metschan, CEO of TeamVision and Rex Ridenoure of Ecliptic Enterprises. Stephen was at AIAA promoting and presenting papers re the Direct 2 program which we have discussed on The Space Show. In this segment, he gives his impressions of what is happening at Space 2007 re Direct 2 and the NASA program, plus he compares and contrasts talks given by Dr. Scott Horowitz and Dr. Michael Griffin here at the conference.

Robert Zimmerman returned for this Space Show program. This time our conversation went across many subjects from NASA culture, to NASA award giving, credibility with the public, Administrator Griffin and his global warming comments, the ISS computer issues, the Shuttle, Direct 2, the Hubble, and much more. Bob went into depth about the importance of returning to the Moon, congressional funding, how the public feels about the VSE program, private sector versus public sector and taxpayer funding of space programs.

Rick Sterling was the guest for this Space Show program. He came in at the last minute as a standby when the regularly scheduled guest was unavailable and The Space Show thanks Rick for standing in and for a job well done. We spent a good portion of the program talking about the alternative hardware program for returning to the Moon, Direct 2. Rick explained Direct 2, answered listener questions about this program, including some engineering questions about first and second stages, engines, fuel, the political and budget realities of the program for returning to the Moon and more.