Houston, we have a podcast
2017-07-07
Some of the most memorable moments in human spaceflight have been captured through spoken word. “The eagle has landed,” “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” and “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
NASA’s Johnson Space Center is continuing to foster this rich oral history with a new External Relations Office project, “Houston, We Have a Podcast.” The result is a weekly podcast that will focus on different areas of Johnson, piecing together the story of how human spaceflight comes to fruition.
“It’s going to be really interesting, because it’s a unique form of digital media,” said Gary Jordan, program specialist and creator and host of the podcast. “You have a captive audience willing to listen for longer periods of time, so you can really get into some great conversations and dive deep into all the different elements that make human spaceflight possible.”
The first episode, which was released on July 7, focuses on a variety of subjects ranging from life on the International Space Station to what it may be like to one day walk on the surface of Mars. To help tell the story, Jordan will host a variety of guests every week. Some guests have already included astronauts Jack Fischer and Shane Kimbrough, scientists Takiyah Sirmons and Tara Ruttley and engineers Mary Lawrence and Bill Foster.
Jordan had the idea to create a NASA podcast after noticing through his personal listening that there was a need for a podcast that focuses on science in a way that people of all ages can understand. With easily consumable science in mind, Jordan reached out to subject-matter experts across Johnson to be guests on the show and share their expertise.
“People crave science,” Jordan said. “This show allows NASA to take some of the most fascinating scientific accomplishments of all time and break it down to the level that is fun to listen to and also informative. I figured this would be a great way to bring human spaceflight into their everyday lives. ”
Another factor that led Jordan to create the podcast is the huge audience that the show will have the opportunity to reach. While TV has seen a steady decline in viewership, podcasts are on the upswing. About 67 million Americans listen to a podcast at least once a month, with 42 million of them listening weekly according to data from Edison Research.
“There is definitely an audience that wants to hear this information, and I’m excited that NASA is entering the podcast space,” Jordan said. “It will also be great for NASA employees at JSC and other NASA centers to learn about what their co-workers are doing, so that they can understand other pieces of the puzzle that lead to human spaceflight.”
“Houston, We Have a Podcast” will be available soon on iTunes and Sound Cloud, and is available now at nasa.gov. New episodes of the podcast will be released every Friday, and you can take a sneak peek at the upcoming episodes below.
Episode preview:
Episode 1: International Space Station with Dan Huot
Episode 2: Your 2017 Astronaut Class with Anne Roemer and the 2017 Astronaut Class
Episode 3: Landing From Space with John Charles and Shane Kimbrough
Episode 4: Space Food with Takiyah Sirmons
Episode 5: Astronaut Training with Randy Bresnik
Episode 6: Eclipse with Mark Matney
Episode 7: Podcast from Space with Jack Fischer and Dan Huot
Noah Michelsohn
NASA Johnson Space Center
NASA’s Johnson Space Center is continuing to foster this rich oral history with a new External Relations Office project, “Houston, We Have a Podcast.” The result is a weekly podcast that will focus on different areas of Johnson, piecing together the story of how human spaceflight comes to fruition.
“It’s going to be really interesting, because it’s a unique form of digital media,” said Gary Jordan, program specialist and creator and host of the podcast. “You have a captive audience willing to listen for longer periods of time, so you can really get into some great conversations and dive deep into all the different elements that make human spaceflight possible.”
The first episode, which was released on July 7, focuses on a variety of subjects ranging from life on the International Space Station to what it may be like to one day walk on the surface of Mars. To help tell the story, Jordan will host a variety of guests every week. Some guests have already included astronauts Jack Fischer and Shane Kimbrough, scientists Takiyah Sirmons and Tara Ruttley and engineers Mary Lawrence and Bill Foster.
Jordan had the idea to create a NASA podcast after noticing through his personal listening that there was a need for a podcast that focuses on science in a way that people of all ages can understand. With easily consumable science in mind, Jordan reached out to subject-matter experts across Johnson to be guests on the show and share their expertise.
“People crave science,” Jordan said. “This show allows NASA to take some of the most fascinating scientific accomplishments of all time and break it down to the level that is fun to listen to and also informative. I figured this would be a great way to bring human spaceflight into their everyday lives. ”
Another factor that led Jordan to create the podcast is the huge audience that the show will have the opportunity to reach. While TV has seen a steady decline in viewership, podcasts are on the upswing. About 67 million Americans listen to a podcast at least once a month, with 42 million of them listening weekly according to data from Edison Research.
“There is definitely an audience that wants to hear this information, and I’m excited that NASA is entering the podcast space,” Jordan said. “It will also be great for NASA employees at JSC and other NASA centers to learn about what their co-workers are doing, so that they can understand other pieces of the puzzle that lead to human spaceflight.”
“Houston, We Have a Podcast” will be available soon on iTunes and Sound Cloud, and is available now at nasa.gov. New episodes of the podcast will be released every Friday, and you can take a sneak peek at the upcoming episodes below.
Episode preview:
Episode 1: International Space Station with Dan Huot
Episode 2: Your 2017 Astronaut Class with Anne Roemer and the 2017 Astronaut Class
Episode 3: Landing From Space with John Charles and Shane Kimbrough
Episode 4: Space Food with Takiyah Sirmons
Episode 5: Astronaut Training with Randy Bresnik
Episode 6: Eclipse with Mark Matney
Episode 7: Podcast from Space with Jack Fischer and Dan Huot
Noah Michelsohn
NASA Johnson Space Center
Cover art for the first podcast episode, "International Space Station with Dan Huot." Image Credit: NASA