Best Podcast Episodes About Space Shuttle Atlantis
Everything podcasters are saying about Space Shuttle Atlantis — curated from top podcasts
Updated: Apr 02, 2026 – 11 episodes
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Ridealong has curated the best and most interesting podcasts and clips about Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Top Podcast Clips About Space Shuttle Atlantis
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Charlie Duke, the youngest astronaut to walk on the moon, shares his memories of Apollo 16 and addresses ongoing moon landing conspiracy theories. He emphasizes the incredible scientific knowledge gained from lunar missions and the potential benefits of future explorations, especially regarding the possibility of water at the moon's South Pole. The evidence supporting the moon landing is overwhelming, and Duke believes returning to the moon will be vital for humanity's progress.
“So, you know, one of the questions I think people have about the space program is why has it taken us so long to do this? It's been a long time, obviously, since we've put anyone, as you say, even close to the moon. And sort of until Elon Musk sort of revivified the dream for Americans. It was basically the dream had essentially died. It was a cool thing that we did a long time ago. And then a lot of people started positing conspiracy theories that we'd never done it, which, of course, is total trash. But why did …”
“So, you know, one of the questions I think people have about the space program is why has it taken us so long to do this? It's been a long time, obviously, since we've put anyone, as you say, even close to the moon. And sort of until Elon Musk sort of revivified the dream for Americans. It was basically the dream had essentially died. It was a cool thing that we did a long time ago. And then a lot of people started positing conspiracy theories that we'd never done it, which, of course, is total trash. But why did it take so long for anybody to make this sort of ambitious move again? So we can certainly talk about this all day. I personally believe the number one point is a lack of competition. Look, it's it worked really well for us in the 1960s. Right. I mean, we were able to mobilize the resources of the nation, the best and brightest from across the …”
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The renewed focus and competition in space exploration, particularly with China's advancements, are driving NASA to regain its urgency and ambition in lunar missions.
“Now, that's not to say that our country hasn't accomplished anything in the past generation. In fact, we've had some major accomplishments, even in space. Just last year, SpaceX rescued two NASA astronauts who were stranded in space for nine months, which wasn't exactly easy to do. But it's unavoidably true that a general decline in many areas of life coupled with political polarization has made collective celebration of anything almost impossible. When SpaceX saved those astronauts, the left complained because Elon Musk was involved. That's how broken and demented a large portion of the …”
“Now, that's not to say that our country hasn't accomplished anything in the past generation. In fact, we've had some major accomplishments, even in space. Just last year, SpaceX rescued two NASA astronauts who were stranded in space for nine months, which wasn't exactly easy to do. But it's unavoidably true that a general decline in many areas of life coupled with political polarization has made collective celebration of anything almost impossible. When SpaceX saved those astronauts, the left complained because Elon Musk was involved. That's how broken and demented a large portion of the population has become. It seems like an impossible problem to solve barring a civil war. But if we make a substantial, broad push back into space, if this is not the only thing we're doing, but it's just the beginning of something, if we begin exploring new worlds, harnessing their potential, then that could be unifying in a meaningful way. And when …”
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A substantial push into space exploration, like the Artemis II mission, could unify a politically polarized America by inspiring collective celebration and ambition.
“something that has never existed before. This is going to be a permanent gateway. It's a spaceport, a staging ground that first will be on the planet and then eventually will orbit around the moon that turns exploration into presence, presence into expansion. We are going to live on the moon and then we are moving to other planets. And for the first time in human history, we're not going to be just visiting another world. We're preparing to stay there. And that changes absolutely everything. You know, America talks about leadership and …”
“something that has never existed before. This is going to be a permanent gateway. It's a spaceport, a staging ground that first will be on the planet and then eventually will orbit around the moon that turns exploration into presence, presence into expansion. We are going to live on the moon and then we are moving to other planets. And for the first time in human history, we're not going to be just visiting another world. We're preparing to stay there. And that changes absolutely everything. You know, America talks about leadership and who leads in chips and who leads in the markets and who leads in military power, blah, blah, blah, and all those things matter. But they are not the measure of a civilization. This is. Exploration is. America leads the world in the one thing that has always defined the future and always defined us, the willingness to go first into the unknown. Why …”
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America's future in space exploration isn't just about landing on the moon; it's about expanding the human experience and mindset. As we prepare to stay on other planets, we redefine what it means to be a civilization—shifting focus from small arguments to grand possibilities. This boldness in exploration is what truly sets America apart and drives progress for generations to come.
“You give me a choice. I've done both now. But if I can only do one, I'm going to fly that spacecraft. That's the way I'm wired. Don't get me wrong. Spacewalks are amazing. And that one person space capsule, you know, shaped like a human inside that 180 degree, you know, bubble helmet looking and doing all that. And you're out in the vacuum, you know, no air vacuum of space. It's special. Don't get me wrong. But if I can only do it once hands on controls I going to fly that spacecraft Oh shit Yeah When is the first time you did a spacewalk …”
“You give me a choice. I've done both now. But if I can only do one, I'm going to fly that spacecraft. That's the way I'm wired. Don't get me wrong. Spacewalks are amazing. And that one person space capsule, you know, shaped like a human inside that 180 degree, you know, bubble helmet looking and doing all that. And you're out in the vacuum, you know, no air vacuum of space. It's special. Don't get me wrong. But if I can only do it once hands on controls I going to fly that spacecraft Oh shit Yeah When is the first time you did a spacewalk It was the second mission You know ironically the pilots never did spacewalks ever throughout the space shuttle history because we had the skill trained skill of landing the shuttle And spacewalks are a little more risky of an endeavor, so they wouldn't risk the pilots going out and doing the spacewalks. So we never had the opportunity. It wasn't …”
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Flying the spacecraft is the ultimate experience for NASA astronauts, but spacewalks hold their own special allure. In this segment, a former shuttle pilot shares his journey as the first pilot to conduct a spacewalk, detailing the intense mental focus required and the thrill of floating in the vacuum of space. He reflects on the unique challenges and the rigorous safety protocols that ensure astronauts don't become lost in space.
“It is interconnected. We can bring a sociologist up to space one day because as Chris and Melissa and Aaron and we've shared in this conversation, it's interconnected. You need to be able to learn from each other. So, yes, to space exploration is what I would call it. I think with that exploration, it needs to be tied, as Melissa shared, to an intention, an intention for good. And I would love to see every single company, regardless of what country you're coming from, has a pledge to do good, whether do …”
“It is interconnected. We can bring a sociologist up to space one day because as Chris and Melissa and Aaron and we've shared in this conversation, it's interconnected. You need to be able to learn from each other. So, yes, to space exploration is what I would call it. I think with that exploration, it needs to be tied, as Melissa shared, to an intention, an intention for good. And I would love to see every single company, regardless of what country you're coming from, has a pledge to do good, whether do good for space and for Earth. So whether that is helping others who, again, that barrier for entry is money. If you can put some dollars down so that we can allow space to be for everybody, because eventually you're going to need some psychologists up there and, you know, someone to help cook and all of this too. Like, that's what we want to get …”
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Space exploration must prioritize intention for good, ensuring access for all, not just the wealthy. As we move towards commercial space travel, collaboration between governments and private sectors is essential to break down financial barriers and make space a shared resource. This vision includes a diverse range of professionals, from sociologists to psychologists, contributing to the future of space missions.
“Over the weekend, you watched this live, right? Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, the CEO of SpaceX, got some folks together, gave a big keynote presentation about his vision for the future. Basically something that looked like an ultradome. It did look like an ultradome. And so you watched this, right? I did watch it. I watched a little bit of it and overall- And if you were taking a shot every time Elon said, Epic, you were not in any state to drive after about three minutes. Yeah, he's got so much going on at this point. I mean, he's …”
“Over the weekend, you watched this live, right? Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, the CEO of SpaceX, got some folks together, gave a big keynote presentation about his vision for the future. Basically something that looked like an ultradome. It did look like an ultradome. And so you watched this, right? I did watch it. I watched a little bit of it and overall- And if you were taking a shot every time Elon said, Epic, you were not in any state to drive after about three minutes. Yeah, he's got so much going on at this point. I mean, he's doing sports cars, cyber trucks, Model 3, Model Y, just consumer cars. YXL. Space internet, space data centers, space launch capacity, point to point. He's gonna take us from one on a rocket from New York to Tokyo in an hour, 30 minutes. Neuralink, brain chips, tunnels. These Elon projects have just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger. Of course he …”
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Elon Musk's recent keynote presentation showcased his grand vision for the future, featuring ambitious projects like space data centers and brain chips. However, his delivery was rough, leaving the audience struggling to engage. Despite skepticism surrounding some concepts, betting against Musk's track record remains a risky endeavor.
“… point of even having a world if you not going to pass it on to the next generation And this gets to another thing that we been talking about across Space Month that you've been, you know, centering and identifying as really crucial. And it's very present here in the story where a science, not just a scientist, but like a science teacher who, yes, has been cast out by his academic peers and fellow researchers who thought that his ideas and his disposition were not appropriate, right? Well, you don't need water to be a life form, et cetera. You know, the idea that he had like made a mockery of …”
“… because I'm like going blind and really need glasses. Have I mentioned that today? So it was that with the apocalypse looming, possibly caused by an alien life form, I stood in front of a bunch of kids and taught them basic science Because what the point of even having a world if you not going to pass it on to the next generation And this gets to another thing that we been talking about across Space Month that you've been, you know, centering and identifying as really crucial. And it's very present here in the story where a science, not just a scientist, but like a science teacher who, yes, has been cast out by his academic peers and fellow researchers who thought that his ideas and his disposition were not appropriate, right? Well, you don't need water to be a life form, et cetera. You know, the idea that he had like made a mockery of himself in the halls of knowledge, but then he's like, he's a science, a middle school science teacher, and he's going to be the one who saves the world. Rocky is a mechanic, like he's an engineer. And so the idea that you have like intellect and ability to like think about how to solve a problem and try to interrogate what is happening in the world …”
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In 'Project Hail Mary,' a school teacher unexpectedly becomes the hero tasked with saving humanity, showcasing the importance of educators and scientists. The narrative flips the traditional hero archetype, emphasizing that intellect and problem-solving skills, regardless of their context, are vital in facing existential threats. This unique perspective highlights the value of teachers and the role they play in shaping future generations, even in the face of an alien apocalypse.
“… to talk about how you're thinking about the business and also just the orbital economy more broadly. Yeah so I've been in the automotive and aerospace industries for north of 35 years and had positions everywhere from the front space agency to early at SpaceX. I was the guy that took Elon to Russia to buy Russian missiles and when that and work or start SpaceX. And after that, I am on my 12th space or automotive startup and Phantom Space is the last one of them. But several of them have gone public since then. And, you know, Phantom Space was sort of the ultimate of all these startups that …”
“Let's go, Peter. Please, you have a fascinating background. Give us a little bit of your background leading up to this company and then I want to talk about how you're thinking about the business and also just the orbital economy more broadly. Yeah so I've been in the automotive and aerospace industries for north of 35 years and had positions everywhere from the front space agency to early at SpaceX. I was the guy that took Elon to Russia to buy Russian missiles and when that and work or start SpaceX. And after that, I am on my 12th space or automotive startup and Phantom Space is the last one of them. But several of them have gone public since then. And, you know, Phantom Space was sort of the ultimate of all these startups that looking to solve the problem really needs to be done. Yeah, that that story of going to Russia to try and buy the ICBM has been has been told and written about in books. But what what what does the current narrative get wrong? What's your side of the story? What were expectations like going into that meeting? Was it seen as a long shot at the time, …”
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Jim Cantrell reveals how a meeting with Russian officials to buy missiles for SpaceX was a complete long shot. Initially, Elon Musk aimed to inspire humanity to reach Mars, but the Russians were unwilling to sell, showcasing the challenges faced in the aerospace industry. This story highlights the high stakes and unpredictability of pioneering space exploration.
“What else should people be tracking in space? Everyone's interested in space data centers. Everyone's interested in manufacturing stuff in space. Is there a next-next thing that you're starting to hear rumblings of, either in the academic community or in the early stage startup. I've seen some stuff about like put solar panels up there, beam down the energy. It feels like it's pretty useful if you have the energy up there, just do stuff up there. But what else are you interested in in …”
“What else should people be tracking in space? Everyone's interested in space data centers. Everyone's interested in manufacturing stuff in space. Is there a next-next thing that you're starting to hear rumblings of, either in the academic community or in the early stage startup. I've seen some stuff about like put solar panels up there, beam down the energy. It feels like it's pretty useful if you have the energy up there, just do stuff up there. But what else are you interested in in exploring or at least like hearing a pitch for I think one macro trend that I point out and I describe some pitches The macro trend is like look when you look at the like market caps of all space companies before today that were like publicly traded you're talking about maybe like, you know, 15, 20, 25 billion like total. Yeah. SpaceX is about to go …”
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In the next five years, we could see significant investments in lunar ice mining operations, potentially led by Founders Fund. This emerging trend is part of a larger shift in space exploration, where infrastructure like reusable rockets and space factories will pave the way for new applications. As the industry evolves, companies are also working on innovations like 24/7 internet in space and solar power beaming.
“And it's mostly empty space, and we don't know what's out there. The only reason we know it exists is because rocks, icebergs, icebergs every now and then are being sent into a trajectory a path that comes close to the sun and these icebergs basically appear as comets these are long period comets so we know that they come from far away and that are very uh mildly bound loosely bound to the sun but every now and then they they dive in because of perturbations by jupiter …”
“And it's mostly empty space, and we don't know what's out there. The only reason we know it exists is because rocks, icebergs, icebergs every now and then are being sent into a trajectory a path that comes close to the sun and these icebergs basically appear as comets these are long period comets so we know that they come from far away and that are very uh mildly bound loosely bound to the sun but every now and then they they dive in because of perturbations by jupiter for example have you heard the theory that there's a planet x out there that could be throwing throwing rocks this way yeah we as i say Even planets five times larger, this is planet X, five times larger than the mass of Earth out there are very difficult to detect. So, our cloud is still theoretical except for the few objects, yes? Well, what we see …”
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Avi Loeb, a prominent astronomer and professor at Harvard, discusses the enigmatic nature of interstellar objects and their origins. He reveals that while we recognize a population of long-period comets, the first interstellar object we detected, Oumuamua, was surprisingly not a comet, raising questions about what else lies in our solar system. This exploration of space highlights the vast and largely unknown realms beyond our immediate cosmic neighborhood.
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