Ecoatoms: AI-Powered Space Manufacturing & Payloads
The rocket gets the headlines — but the payload is the mission. Learn how Ecoatoms is building intelligent space systems that will help humans thrive beyond Earth. From drawing space shuttles as a child in Argentina to leading a NASA-partnered space company, Dr. Solange Massa shares how small “micro-aha” moments can build a future on Mars. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I'm your host, Susan Wise, and I’m thrilled to have with us Dr. Solange Massa, Founder and
Fungi in Space: How Mycelium Could Protect Astronauts from Space Radiation
What if the key to protecting astronauts from deadly space radiation isn’t metal — but mushrooms? Astronautical architect Eszter Gulacsi is pioneering an unexpected solution: using fungi and mycelium as lightweight, self-growing radiation shields for future space missions. From DIY lab experiments to testing at NASA’s Space Radiation Laboratory, her groundbreaking work could help make long-duration travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond safer than ever before. Susan Wise: Welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I'm your host, Susan Wise, and joining us
How Students Are Shaping the Future of Space Exploration | NASA L’Space & The Lucy Mission
What do tiny tardigrades, NASA’s Lucy Mission, and student innovators have in common? They may hold the keys to how humanity thrives in space. Discover how a new generation of students, engineers, and explorers is shaping the future of space — from NASA missions to research that could change life beyond Earth. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to STARS Launch Pod — Space Technology and Research Sciences — brought to you by Starsciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise. It’s an honor to have with us Peter Ulrich, a senior studying aerospace engineering
The New Space Economy: Why Commercial Space Matters — and How Everyone Can Be Part of It
A new era of space isn’t just about rockets — it’s about opportunity. Discover how the space economy is reshaping life on Earth, creating new careers, and opening the door for everyone to play a role in humanity’s next great frontier. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to STARS Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org — where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and I’m thrilled to have with us today Zaheer Ali from the University of Central Florida — yay! A respected expert on space technology and policy,
Morehead State University’s Space Trek Program is Empowering Young Women in STEM & Aerospace
Step inside Space Trek, a groundbreaking program where young women build satellites, analyze real data, and discover their place in the space industry. In this STARS Launch Pod feature, learn how hands-on learning and empowerment are shaping future aerospace leaders. This is where bold curiosity turns into limitless possibility. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and with us today are Jen Carter, Director of the Center for STEM Excellence and the Space Trek program,
Next-Gen Hurricane Forecasting & How Satellite Tech Is Transforming Storm Prediction
What if we could predict hurricanes 12 hours earlier with twice the accuracy? Dan Harkins joins the STARS Launch Pod to share the groundbreaking satellite technology making that possible. Get ready for a fascinating look at the future of weather, space, and safety. Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod—Space, Technology, and Research Sciences—brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I'm your host, Susan Wise, and joining us in the Launch Pod today is Dan Harkins. He builds spacecraft, and apparently he can control the weather. Is that right? Dan Harkins: Not