Talking Space, Storytelling, and Humanity | A Conversation w/ 'The Complete Book of Spacecraft' Creators
Release Date: 09/22/2025
Artemis Origin, Moon Flashes, and Artemis III! Space Talkers Artemis 2 RECAP PT2
Today In Space
The Space Talkers are back for part TWO, for a discussion about how Artemis was created, and some round-table talk about our favorite moments of Artemis II! We get into the space toilet that froze, the mental health protocols behind a crew locked in a capsule for days, the East Coast fireballs, why NASA canceled planned correction burns, and what all of it means for Artemis III. Along the way we talk telescopes, dark skies, Cherry Springs, and how this little community of space people found each other in the first place. Thank you to Matt, Caitlin, and Andrew for joining us live for this back...
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Artemis, AI, and Stargazing | Space Talkers RETURN! Artemis 2 RECAP PT1
Today In Space
The Space Talkers joined forces again to breakdown the Artemis II mission. Anything Artemis Program-related means lots of excitement, and so naturally AI, Technology, and Stargazing come up as we unwrap this mission and what it means as we move towards the next Artemis mission (III) Today in Space brings the team together to recap Artemis II. This discussion is for anyone following NASA moon mission progress. We analyze the key milestones and what the upcoming flight path means for the future of lunar exploration, and what's happening here on Earth in the meantime. Thank you to Matt, Caitlin,...
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I Wrote & Published a Book in 10 Months After Being Laid Off | The Return of Spaceman Alex
Today In Space
I got LAID OFF from my Engineering/Tech Day Job. 10 Months later, I've written and published my first book on 3D Printing. It's time to share that story... It's the Return of Spaceman Alex & Today in Space podcast! I share the process behind writing & publishing "The Book of Uncommon-Sense 3D Printing". If you are interested in how I managed to complete this project while navigating a major career change, this video is for you. Whether you follow my 3D printing advice or are just curious about my author journey, I hope this video provides some motivation. Writing a book taught me a lot...
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NASA Moon Base Update & New Glenn Pad Anomaly for Blue Origin
Today In Space
NASA’s Moon Base plans just got a major update — and then Blue Origin had a serious New Glenn pad anomaly at LC-36 that could shake up the timeline for upcoming lunar missions. In this episode of Today In Space, we break down NASA’s latest Moon Base update, including new awards for lunar landers, terrain vehicles, lunar drones, and the next phase of Artemis-related infrastructure. We also react to the New Glenn pad anomaly during static-fire preparations, what it could mean for Blue Origin, the Artemis architecture, and the broader push to build a permanent human presence on the Moon....
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Starship Flight 12 Is Coming — And Falcon Heavy Just Reminded Us What SpaceX Can Do
Today In Space
On this week’s episode, we break down what to expect for Starship Flight 12 coming up next week & we share the moments from our last live stream hanging out during another falcon heavy launch! There’s a lot going on in the world and the space industry and we want to get you amped up for the next big rocket launch Starship flight 12 success is success for future Artemis missions and NASA;s journey to the moon again. So wish the team’s luck and get caught up on everything since flight 11 in EP413! I'm Writing My First Book and Making My First AI! Sign up for our newsletter to follow...
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Artemis 2 Returns! Thoughts After Splashdown | One Week RECAP Since Crew Returned
Today In Space
It's been a week since the Artemis 2 Crew returned home from their Moon Mission! It feels like the world has changed since this heroic adventure around the Moon and back. We still have plenty of problems here on Earth, but hope and Moon Joy seem to be in the air. An entire generation is now growing up with an Artemis Campaign and the Moon Landings are in sight. Let's recap the incredible cultural moment where we found some humanity following these 3 heroes around the moon and back! In the age of AI and global wars, it was the hope and humanity we were all looking for... Let us know what YOU...
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NASA Artemis 2 Mission RECAP | Days 2-7 | TLI Burn, Space Toilets, and the Humanity of Moon Science Missions!
Today In Space
On this episode we recap Days 2-7 of the Artemis II Mission as the crew has broken records and learned more about the Moon than we ever knew before! This mission is more than just another spaceflight adventure, moon missions are SO SPECIAL! I recap the last week of the Moon Mission after launch, and share some of the best moments. But I also discuss what has made this first moon mission in half a century so special and unique....and why the next two missions are gearing up to be incredible! But first, the Artemis II crew and team must make it through arguably the most risky part of this...
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NASA Artemis 2 | Day 1 - Lift Off To The Moon! RECAP
Today In Space
In this episode, we’re covering DAY 1 of the Artemis 2 Mission in Earth orbit, before the TLI Burn to send the Orion Spacecraft and it’s crew of 4 to the Moon. So much has happened in only one day and there’s still so much of this mission to go! Big shoutout to everyone who joined us for the community live stream, including our co-hosts Matt Guy () and Fitting in Adventure (@FittingInAdventure on youtube). Want to stay caught up on the Artemis II mission? Check out our new page at for all the latest info, mission timer, and live links from NASA - including our coverage...
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NASA's Ignition Plan PT3 | Roman Telescope, Mars SKYFALL, and SR-1 Freedom on the Eve of Artemis 2
Today In Space
In this episode, we break down the final part of NASA's major Ignition Program Announcement on the Eve of Artemis 2. After the Artemis 2, we enter an exciting new era of NASA Future Tech that will expand science, exploration, and even the use of nuclear propulsion for space travel! From the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, to SKYFALL drones on Mars, and SR-1 Freedom demonstrating nuclear electric propulsion for the first time - there is so much to discuss. Drop your thoughts in the comments! To listen to Dr. Nicki Fox's Talk (full) watch our coverage here:...
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NASA's Ignition Plan PT2 | To Build, or Not To Build...A Space Station in LEO & Lunar Orbit?
Today In Space
In this episode we recap PT2 of NASA's ambitious plan for the moon with live reactions from Alex during last Monday's epic reveal of the Ignition Plan. This part is dedicated to orbital space stations and NASA's controversial pausing of Gateway (the planned but underdeveloped Lunar Space Station) and their plans to replace the International Space Station in Low Earth Orbit. While seemingly a difficult admission from NASA that space stations are very expensive and complicated to not only build but also maintain continuous human presence, it also was deemed controversial by the same...
info_outlineOn this episode of Today In Space, we are honored to have the creators of "The Complete Book of Spacecraft" 2nd Edition on the podcast to discuss deeply about space, storytelling, and humanity in the 3rd Age of Spaceflight!
We begin learning about each creator's origin story, Michael H. Gorn, Giuseppe De Chiara, Davide Sivolella - all who are active within the space industry in their own way. We then dive into storytelling, the 3 Ages of Space, Human Spaceflight, and their thoughts on the Space Conundrum. If you are massive space fan this book & the podcast episode are for YOU!
And like any space-nerd podcast, we also debate the current state of space exploration, the evolving definition of an Astronaut, the duality of Civilian/Private & Military Space Programs, including NASA's decline, China's progress, and SpaceX's dominance. Thankfully, we close with a little optimism for the future, the importance of teamwork in space (and on earth), and hope for humanity after we've had a hell of a year so far in 2025.
So buckle up - and let's dive in! Thanks for joining us
Here's to building a fantastic future for all of us,
Alex G. Orphanos
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & Origin Stories (Giuseppe, Michael, and Davide)
09:36 Concept and Creation of "The Complete Book of Spacecraft"
16:06 The Evolution of Space Programs & Their History
20:45 Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Space Exploration
52:45 The Role of Teamwork in Space (and on Earth)
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