It is widely accepted that over time, humanity will need to expand its presence into the solar system. What are the challenges? Well, space and our nearby worlds have proved to be a much greater challenge than we had long thought. While the rigors of zero-g have been well researched on the International Space Station, the challenges of living in lower gravity, such as that found on the moon and Mars, has not yet been explored. And human reproduction in space, along with genetic challenges, is a complete unknown. Rice Univeristy professor and researcher Scott Solomon joins us to explore these topics in depth, and to posit possible solutions.

Headlines:

• Artemis 2 Moon Launch Faces More Delays Due to Hydrogen Leaks
• Perseverance Rover on Mars Completes First Fully AI-Driven Journey
• Study Warns of Urgent Need to Research Human Reproduction in Space

Main Topic: Becoming Martian – What It Would Take for Humans to Thrive on Mars

• Biological impacts of space and Martian environments on the human body
• Gaps in research about reproduction, growth, and development in space and partial gravity
• Ethical, social, and medical challenges of having children beyond Earth
• The complexities of transplanting Earth's ecosystems, microbiomes, and the risk of disruptive species
• Evolutionary changes and the likely divergence of human populations living long-term off-Earth
• Considerations around modifying humans versus modifying extraterrestrial environments
• Infectious disease threats and dwindling biological immunity for space settlers
• Psychological, cultural, and population dynamics for future interplanetary communities

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Scott Solomon

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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This month marks a bitter annual anniversary for NASA. On February 1, 1967, the crew of Apollo 1 was killed in a horrific fire on the pad in Florida. Years later, as the space shuttle Challenger ascended on February 28, 1986, it was destroyed mid-flight with a loss of seven crewmembers. Finally, on February 1, 2003, the shuttle Columbia was lost during reentry, again with a crew of seven. This episode is a remembrance of these tragic events with Gerry Griffin, former Apollo Flight Director and Director of the Johnson Space Center among his many other roles with NASA and beyond. Gerry brings a personal touch to these events, describing the experiences first-hand and lessons learned. Please join us for this very special episode.

Headlines:

• NASA Artemis 2 Testing and Launch Delayed by Cold Weather
• Crew 12 Launch Schedule Impacted by Artemis II Slip
• New Artemis Launch Windows and Associated Challenges
• Countdown to NASA's Next Moonshot: Updated Flight Timelines

Main Topic: Remembering NASA's Worst Tragedies and Lessons Learned

• Apollo 1 Fire: Causes, Team Reaction, and Aftermath
• Transition from Gemini to Apollo: Organizational and Technical Shifts
• Challenger Disaster: Technical Failures, Team Dynamics, and Impact
• Shuttle Safety Evolution and Lessons from Columbia
• The Resolve and Spirit of NASA Teams After Tragedy
• Evolving Risk Management and Decision-Making in Human Spaceflight
• Reflections and Advice for Today's Flight Directors as Artemis II Flight Approaches

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Gerry Griffin

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which was intended to regulate activities in space, is hard to enforce and woefully out of date. New nations and private actors are entering the spaceflight arena, and an updated mechanism with a bit more teeth is needed. Our guest, Ely Sandler, a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, has put forward the idea of using COPs—not the kind in uniform, but a Conference of Parties—as a less-formal gathering of spacefaring (and space-ambitious) entities, to discuss future treaties, agreements, and enforcement mechanisms, eventually leading to new treaties. These would be similar to the annual climate COP that has provided useful discourse on climate change. A space COP would address responsibility for and control of orbital assets, land and resource use on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids; and possibly limits to the militarization of space. Join us for a fascinating discussion!

Headlines:

• Artemis II Moon Rocket Rolls Out for Launch Preparations
• Crew-11 Astronauts Speak on Space Station Medical Evacuation
• Earth Faces Strongest Solar Radiation Storm in 20 Years
• Auroras Sparked Across Unusual Latitudes

Main Topic: Is the Outer Space Treaty Obsolete? Examining the Future of Space Governance with Ely Sandler

• Outer Space Treaty's Vagueness and Limits for Modern Space Activity
• Why New Space Policy Models Are Needed for Orbital Debris, Spacecraft Ownership, and Liability
• "Conference of the Parties" (COP) Model Proposed for Space Law Updates
• Challenges of Property Rights, Exclusion Zones, and International Consensus on the Moon
• How Commercial Space and Military Concerns Intersect Under Outdated Treaties
• Space Solar Power's Potential and Regulatory Hurdles for Energy Beaming

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Ely Sandler

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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