Liftoff is a podcast about space, the universe, and everything. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand the major developments as explained by enthusiastic space fans Stephen Hackett and Jason Snell.

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#61: Sleepover in Space

December 5th, 2017 · 49 minutes

Elon Musk has been tweeting about payloads and Rocket Lab prepares for another launch. That, and Gemini 6, 7, 8 and 9.

#60: Crumbs Are Bad

November 21st, 2017 · 44 minutes

New spacecraft is being tested, and we had a weird visitor from outside the solar system. That, plus the first crewed Gemini missions (complete with secret beef sandwiches) this fortnight.

#59: Kinda Bananas and Super Dangerous

November 7th, 2017 · 34 minutes

SpaceX is returning to Launch Complex 40 and the GRACE mission is coming to an end while Dawn has a new lease on life. Then, discussion of the Gemini capsule and the two uncrewed launches of the program.

#58: Getting in on the Moon Money

October 24th, 2017 · 44 minutes

Blue Origin is firing up its new rocket engine as Bigelow is talking about inflatable lunar stations. Then, the recent LIGO announcement and some background on Project Gemini.

#57: A Realistic View

October 10th, 2017 · 47 minutes

LIGO is busy with gravitational waves, Elon Musk is busy talking about SpaceX's future and Mike Pence has his eye on the moon.

#56: A Guy and a Grease Pencil

September 26th, 2017 · 29 minutes

This fortnight: damage to the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico, a Mars sample return proposal and the final two Mercury flights.

#55: Fireflies

September 12th, 2017 · 45 minutes

Stephen and Jason are back to discuss the end of Cassini and Jim Bridenstine, who appears to be Trump's pick for NASA Administrator. After that, they journey into orbit with John Glenn and Scott Carpenter.

#54: Live from the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

August 22nd, 2017 · 27 minutes

Stephen and Jason both witnessed the 2017 total solar eclipse. They recorded throughout the event and sat down to compare notes the next day.

#53: More Sevens

August 15th, 2017 · 43 minutes

This fortnight, 2014 MU69 comes into focus, SLS has a new paint job and Stephen and Jason talk about the two rockets used in Project Mercury and the first two crewed American spaceflights.

#52: Missed by Half an Inch

August 1st, 2017 · 31 minutes