Ares 1 & 5

Guest: Robert (Bob) Zimmerman. Topics: Apollo 8 Genesis Christmas eve flight around the Moon 42 years ago, 2010 in review, 2011 forecast. Please note that you are invited to comment, ask questions, and rate this program on the new Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. For more information, visit Bob's blog, Behindtheblack at http://behindtheblack.com. We started our program by remembering the Apollo 8 flight which flew around the Moon 42 years ago today.

Guest: Tim Pickens. Topics: Orion Propulsion, Inc, rockets, commercial space, NewSpace, business models and risks. Tim Pickens, President of Orion Propulsion, Inc. in Huntsville, AL was the guest for today's Space Show program. Tim started the discussion by updating us on some of the Orion project which can be found on their website at www.orionpropulsion.com. Of the projects discussed, we spent most of our time on the Bigelow Aerospace Sundancer program and the Boeing Ares 1 first and second stage RCS.

Guest: Guenter Wendt. Topics: Flight crew safety, space tourism, Shuttle, Ares 1 & 5, safety checklists, STEM education, technical training & items. Guenter Wendt was our guest today to talk about the new release of the paperback version of his book published by Apogee, "The Unbroken Chain." As Mr. Wendt was the man in charge of flight crew safety for all manned missions, he outlined safety protocols, what was involved in maintaining safety, and the use of lists detailing credible events that could happen and then what they would do if one of those things did happen.