NASA’s powerful new Roman Space Telescope is complete — and will soon begin mission to find 100,000 alien worlds
NASA recently revealed the first pictures of its newly constructed Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which could soon help researchers hunt for exoplanets, map the Milky Way and unravel some of the universe's biggest mysteries, such as the true nature of dark matter. Experts have also revealed the most probable launch date for the next-generation spacecraft, confirming that it will likely lift off ahead of schedule — and could begin collecting data before the end of 2026. Roman is NASA's next flagship space telescope, following on from the Hubble Space Telescope, which launched in 1990, and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which launched in 2021. The orbital
Inside Mars Exploration: A Conversation with Sergii Iakymov, Director of Mars Desert Research Station
The dream of exploring Mars is closer than ever, and we had the incredible opportunity to speak with Sergii Iakymov, aerospace engineer and director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), on Stars Launch Pod: Space, Technology, and Research Sciences. Here’s a glimpse into his work, the challenges of space analog research, and what it takes to prepare humans for life on Mars. What Is the Mars Desert Research Station? Located in the remote deserts of Utah, the MDRS is a research facility designed to simulate the conditions of Mars. Sergii explains, “We conduct human factor research, geology studies,
Christopher Leslie on NASA’s Moon to Mars, Mission Control & Space Exploration
From radio waves to rocket launches—Chris Leslie’s journey is out of this world. Once a Houston radio guy, Chris became a NASA mission controller for the International Space Station, helped launch the Constellation Program, trained astronauts, worked with Axiom Space, and now shapes the future in NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Office. In this episode, Chris shares behind-the-scenes stories of mission control, lessons from high-stakes moments, and how a simple gold watch sparked a lifelong passion for time and exploration. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by
CCTS Spotlight: Networking & STEM Driving Space Industry Growth
Discover how the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies (CCTS) is shaping the future of space innovation through collaboration, STEM outreach, and industry-leading events like Space Congress. A must-read for anyone looking to break into or level up in the space industry. Susan Wise: Welcome to Stars Launch Pod, Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarsSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and I’m honored to have with us today Nimisha Vyas, current chair of the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies. Nimisha, welcome to the show. Nimisha Vyas: Thank you for
Exploring the Future of Space Travel at the Colorado Air and Spaceport
The Colorado Air and Spaceport is taking aviation and space exploration to the next level, and we had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Kloska, the facility’s Director, on the Stars Launch Pod: Space, Technology, and Research Sciences. Here’s a closer look at how this unique spaceport is shaping the future of aerospace. A Spaceport That’s Also an Airport At first glance, the Colorado Air and Spaceport might look like any other airport. “We’re a licensed general aviation airport and a reliever airport for the Denver region,” says Jeff Kloska. With over 500 based aircraft and 120,000 operations a
James Webb telescope confirms a supermassive black hole running away from its host galaxy at 2 million mph, researchers say
A shock wave, far away in space, might be the telltale sign of the first confirmed "runaway" supermassive black hole, escaping its host galaxy at 2.2 million miles per hour (3.6 million km/h). The potential confirmation by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), published on the preprint server Arxiv on Dec. 3, has not yet been peer-reviewed. But it has been submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letters and lead study author Pieter van Dokkum, a professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University, has published several peer-reviewed papers about candidate supermassive black holes in recent years. Van Dokkum says this is the first confirmation of a runaway supermassive