Space X

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: Jim Lewis, followed by Brian Mosdell, are the two guests for this recorded set of interviews made while at Cape Canaveral on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19, 2008. In the first segment, Jim Lewis of Communications Concepts talks about the special documentary now playing on the Documentary Channel, "One Giant Leap - 50 Years of the American Space Program." I have seen this documentary and its one of the best documentaries commemorating the 50th anniversary of America in space.

Elon Musk was the guest for this special Space Show program. Mr. Musk was with us for half an hour, the balance of this hour long program was open lines. During Elon's visit with us, he brought us up to date with Falcon 1 with an expected launch date for first quarter 2008. We also talked about the challenges of rocket building, we compared Space X to the complexity of Pay Pal and Elon talked to us about the Russian Roulette characteristic so strongly present with rocket building.

Gwynne Shotwell was the guest for this Space Show program. Ms. Shotwell began our discussion with a brief introduction and history for Space X and the Falcon rocket. We then discussed Space X and the Falcon is a most comprehensive way including listener questions and participation. Gwynne talked about COTS, Dragon, the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, launch locations and spaceports. She was asked about employment opportunities with Space X and fielded many listener questions on this topic, including several from students who would like to work at Space X.

Dr. Charles Lurio was the guest for this special Space Show program. As today marked the sixth year birthday for The Space Show, I started the discussion by asking Charles about the progress/changes he has seen in space development over the past six years. Charles addressed the changes both from a private sector perspective and the public sector. You will certainly want to hear his assessment of both. Charles went on to discuss the importance of R&D programs and having a good X-vehicle program which we do not have right now.