Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

Recent episodes

1. Asteroids, Ariel 1 and Beagle 2 from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Jul 27, 20261 hr 10 min

   The Space Boffins are on holiday in Bavaria, so where better to hang out than an asteroid impact crater?! The team visit the ReisKrater Museum to find out about the massive asteroid impact that devastated Central Europe 15 million years ago and now serves as an astronaut training ground. They also celebrate Wally Funk; mark 15 years of the Space Boffins podcast; celebrate the Beagle-2 Mars Lander, and an exclusive archive find: a film about the UK's first satellite, Ariel-1... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

2. Virgin flight, rocket engines and a Moonbase from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   May 30, 202657 min

   Space traveller Trevor Beattie joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to describe his obsession with space and flight in Virgin Galactic's space plane. The Space Boffins also discuss NASA's new Moonbase plans and Richard chats to rocket scientist Helen Lewin about the incredible RS-25 rocket. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

3. Artemis II launch and two Sians from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Apr 5, 202656 min

   Richard Hollingham is at the Kennedy Space Center for the (historic) launch of Artemis II to the Moon. Sue Nelson joins him from Space Boffins HQ to hear Richard's launch day audio diary and interviews with astronaut Sian Proctor and Artemis engineer Sian Cleaver from Airbus. Plus Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman answers a listener question, and NASA (or Nasa) head Jared Isaacman answers Richard's question on Earthrise. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

4. Artemis II, Dallas Campbell and Smile from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Mar 22, 202659 min

   Broadcaster and author Dallas Campbell joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss NASA's new plans for Artemis, space culture, Alien and Clangers. Sue also meets the UK team working on the joint European and Chinese space weather mission, Smile. Plus, we hear from the producer/directors of the new Project Hail Mary film and Sue reveals what she thinks about it. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

5. Mission Control, Starliner and Space Factories from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Feb 26, 20261 hr 1 min

   How do you control a spacecraft on the way to the Moon? NASA flight director, Fiona Antkowiak, shares plans for the Artemis II mission and reveals the secrets of Mission Control. We also hear what goes on in the Orion Mission Evaluation Room (MER) from MER lead Trey Perryman; Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham discuss the 'type A mishap' that befell the Starliner mission, and Sue talks to UK companies Space Forge and Bio Orbit about the future of factories in space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

6. Emergencies, Unlucky Space Shuttles and Space 2026 from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Jan 19, 20261 hr 10 min

   Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by member of the first crew to fix a satellite in orbit, Terry Hart. He discusses this month's Challenger 40th anniversary, and the spy satellite NASA used to check for Shuttle damage. The team also talk space emergencies with the UK Space Agency's senior exploration manager Meganne Christian, and space journalists Ken Kremer and Andrew Cook look ahead to 2026 in space. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

7. Apollo 1, Frank De Winne, and Moon Museum from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Dec 3, 20251 hr 9 min

   It's the bumper end of year edition featuring the first European Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Frank De Winne. He joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to chat about his two missions, working together in space and the future of space exploration. We also meet Mark Craig, the director of the new Apollo 1 movie, visit a Moon museum in Pittsburgh and get emotional in a Wally Funk themed exhibition. All that plus Wes Anderson chat, and a postcard competition. And we'll be back in 2026!Contact us via @spaceboffins... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

8. How to build a Moon lander, Eileen Collins, and space quilts from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Nov 5, 20251 hr 17 min

   Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham get up-close with a Moon lander taking shape at Astrobotic in Pittsburgh. The first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle, Eileen Collins, discusses a new film about her life: Space Woman. Plus, two new space quilts, complete with UFOs, at the Royal Astronomical Society... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

9. Life on White Mars, and a new space from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

   Oct 3, 20251 hr 12 min

   One of the most isolated places on Earth is helping us understand how to live on a moon or another planet. Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham spoke to Nina Purvis, at the Concordia Station in Antarctica, about life on 'White Mars'. Former ESA advisor Mark McCaughrean discusses his new book, 111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss, and companies ClearSpace, Astroscale and Orbit Fab explain their plans to clean up in space... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

10. Jim Lovell, space selfies and UK launch from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Sep 4, 20251 hr 6 min

    We celebrate Apollo legend Jim Lovell in this month's Space Boffins as we mine the archives to look back on his extraordinary space career. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham talk to Andy Saunders, NASA photography expert and author of Gemini and Mercury Remastered. We also hear from rival UK rocket companies Skyrora and Orbex, plus Emily Dineley from the UK Space Agency on plans for the first UK vertical launch. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

11. UK Astronaut, ESA DG and the Forge Awakens from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Aug 6, 202555 min

    Fresh from the UK Space Conference, Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson hear from UK astronaut Rosemary Coogan on life at the European Space Agency (ESA), and waiting for her first mission. ESA boss Josef Aschbacher talks about Europe's space game and NASA's budget squeeze. Plus, jet packs with the Smithsonian's Jennifer Lavasseur and a Sat Cave update from Space Forge... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

12. NASA cuts, water mission and Skylab from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Jun 28, 20251 hr 13 min

    Will China now get to the Moon first? NASA's former head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen, joins Space Boffins to discuss the proposed cuts to NASA's science budget. Richard visits SSTL to see an innovative European Space Agency mission, HydroGNSS, that uses satellite navigation signals to measure water from space. And authors Bruce McCandless III and Emily Carney share stories and songs from their new book, Star Bound, and talk Gemini, Skylab and an angry NASA memo. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

13. Factories in space, ET, and a space paraglider from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    May 29, 202548 min

    Could factories in space be the future of manufacturing? Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham meet the head of the UK company, Space Forge, about to launch a (very small) factory into orbit. Sue also visits a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London exploring whether life could exist elsewhere in the universe, and the weird 1960s design that could have seen astronauts return to Earth on a paraglider... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

14. Two astronauts and a Shuttle from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    May 10, 20251 hr 9 min

    Dinner chat on the space station, landing in the Shuttle and flying with William Shatner! Hosts Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham chat to NASA astronaut Nicole Stott about painting in space and whether we should send politicians into orbit! They also visit Space Shuttle Discovery in Washington to meet curator Jennifer Levassuer, Sue talks to Blue Origin astronaut Chris Boshuizen who pioneered phones in space, and the proposed NASA budget and what that means for Europe goes under the microscope...Contact us @spaceboffins and podcast@spaceboffins.com Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

15. HALO, Gateway and Vigil from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Apr 7, 202553 min

    It's all about returning to the Moon and protecting the Earth this time with Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham. Sue goes to Thales Alenia Space in Italy to see HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) - the first completed module for NASA's orbiting lunar space station, Gateway and a mock up of Europe's planned lunar IHAB module. We also hear about the ESA mission Vigil to improve space weather forecasts... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

16. Biomass, living on Mars, and incoming asteroids! from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Feb 26, 202559 min

    Incoming! NASA's acting head of planetary defence, Kelly Fast, discusses asteroids, YR2 and how to protect our planet. The UK Space Agency's head of Earth Observation and Climate, Beth Greenaway, and chief scientist, Shaun Quegan, discuss the upcoming European Biomass mission to measure how much carbon is being stored in tropical forests. And Kelly Weinersmith - co-author of A City On Mars - explains why living on the red planet will be much harder than anyone thought... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

17. NASA, the BBC and the Soviet spacecraft on the Isle of Man from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Jan 27, 20251 hr 10 min

    This month, recently-retired BBC space correspondent, Jonathan Amos, and former NASA employee Herb Baker, author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories from my 50 years with NASA, discuss reporting from a rocket launch, growing up with classmates whose dads are Apollo astronauts, and how material Herb's mother used to fix an aircon unit at home helped her save a Skylab mission. Plus, Richard sees a Soviet-era VA space capsule in the Manx Motor Museum on the Isle of Man... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

18. UFOs... Is the truth out there? from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Dec 3, 202453 min

    Have we been visited by space aliens? This month space boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham delve into the history and science of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). They discuss UFOs with Pennsylvania State College professor and author of After the Flying Saucers Came, Greg Eghigian. They also talk to Thomas Zurbuchen, the longest ever serving head of science at NASA who commissioned an official report on UFOs. What does he believe? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

19. Off to Europa, and life on Mars from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Oct 2, 202454 min

    NASA's Europa Clipper mission is about to head off on a five year mission to explore one of Jupiter's largest moons. Planetary geologist mission scientist Cynthia Phillips joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss why this icy body could potentially be habitable. Plus, engineer, author and president of the Mars Society, Robert Zubrin, on his book The New World on Mars, and how societies and cities will emerge on the red planet once colonisation is underway... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

20. John McFall, Tim Peake and how to build a spaceport from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

    Aug 28, 20241 hr 3 min

    Former paralympic athlete, surgeon and European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut, John McFall joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to share his experiences of the Fly study to investigate whether people with physical disabilities could become astronauts. Also on the show, astronaut Tim Peake, who now has a new role at Axiom Space, Saxa Vord CEO, Frank Strang, and director of operations, Scott Hammond, discuss how they are building a spaceport in Shetland... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists