On today’s show we’re getting an inside look at the design, testing and manufacturing processes at Honeybee Robotics, as they build a key component for the Orion Spacecraft, and a new lunar drill.Don your bunny suits, because we are excited to bring you inside a clean-room and experience first-hand how space hardware is made from prototype through manufacturing! Tune in to hear from Andrew Maurer and Isabel King of Honeybee, as we get a behind the scenes tour at their production facility in Longmont, CO. THIS is going to be cool!We’ve explored the Artemis program on the show before, if you missed those episodes go back and give a listen to episode 10 to hear from an Orion spacecraft engineer, and episode 21 as we compare Apollo and Artemis with former NASA Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, and historian Dr. Teasel Harmony-Muir. Key Takeaways: The Artemis Project aims to land near the southern pole of the Moon so that we can investigate and bring back samples of lunar ice. We can then test it and see how it got there and if it’s drinkable!  Orion is the name of the spacecraft that will take astronauts to space, and Artemis is the name of the overall mission.  Honeybee’s products are rigorously tested before being sent to NASA. Vibration, thermal, and human testing are just a few that help ensure safety and efficiency. They even have astronauts test and give their input!  The lunar drill that Honeybee is creating will enable astronauts to drill about 3 meters into the Lunar Surface and collect several rock and ice samples. Resources: Design and Test of the Orion Crew Module Side Hatch NASA Selects 12 New Lunar Science, Technology Investigations | NASA Apollo to Artemis: Drilling on the Moon | NASA Honeybee Robotics

This episode will dive into the world of hypersonic flight, and how new methods of heat management could help usher in a new era for high-speed flight. Join us as we look through the lens of a heat management company, Reaction Engines who is pushing the limits of technology in engines, to enable the next generation of hypersonic flight.Hypersonic flight refers to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5. Once you start talking about hypersonic speeds, there are lots of challenges that come into play from propulsion limitations to materials that can withstand high temperatures, economic feasibility, communications, physics, and more. Adam Dissel, President of Reaction Engines, helps us dive into many of these topics today, to get a better sense of the state of hypersonic flight, and where the cutting-edge of aerospace is headed.Be sure to strap in, because there is a LOT to learn in this high-speed episode!Key Takeaways: Hypersonic flight refers to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, which is about 1 mile per second. With hypersonic flight there are lots of challenges from propulsion limitations to heat, economic feasibility, communications, physics, and more. The Silbervogel was the first hypersonic weapon, developed by German scientists in the 1930s. During the first manned orbital flight in April 1961, Russian Major Yuri Gagarin became the first human to reach hypersonic speeds. Also in 1961, Air Force Major Robert White reached speeds exceeding Mach 6 as he piloted the X-15 research aircraft. A scramjet is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow. Extracting and repurposing heat from jet engines could increase efficiency and speed. Microtubes with coolant inside help to maximize surface area and cooling capability. Reaction Engines test their cooling technology at Colorado Air and Space Port using the General Electric J-79 turbo jet engine. There are many potential spinoff applications for this cooling technology including in Formula 1 cars, and manufacturing. Resources: Reaction Engines - Making Beyond Possible Hypersonics: Past, Present, and Potential Future (jhuapl.edu)

Explore the pivotal role of aviation in the Vietnam War alongside former USAF Chief of Staff General Ron R. Fogleman (Ret).Join us as we talk with Ron Fogleman, who takes us along his personal journey to becoming Chief of Staff and helps us uncover the strategic importance of aircraft during the Vietnam War. Ron has over 8,500 hours of flight time, including 315 combat missions where he logged 806 hours. During one of those missions, he was shot down while flying the F-100 Super Sabre and was rescued by clinging to the side of an AH-1 Cobra. Ron retired as Chief of Staff in 1997, after 34 years in the Air Force. He shares with us his pathway to becoming Chief of Staff, lessons he’s learned from the cockpit, and insight about aviation during the Vietnam War. THIS is going to be cool!Key Takeaways: General Ron Fogleman served for 34 years before retirement, holding positions such as Fighter Pilot, Commander of the Air Mobility Command, Deputy Commander in Chief, Chief of Staff, and more. Ron graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1963, and later became the first graduate to advance to Air Force Chief of Staff. Ron flew the F-100 Super Sabre in Vietnam as a Misty Forward Air Controller (FAC). Forward Air Controllers during the war acted as close air support for troops on the ground, helping with aerial defense, rescues, patrols, and more. Vietnam was the first war where helicopters played a pivotal role. The AH-1 Cobra was invented during this time, and was one of the first gunships to be used in Vietnam. Other helicopters acted as troop transport, medical evacuation, and more. Ron was shot down while flying a mission in his F-100. He was rescued by an AH-1 Cobra by clinging to the side of the helicopter. At the time, the Cobra was prohibited from landing anywhere in enemy territory. Luckily, the pilots did not face any disciplinary action for their heroism. As Chief of Staff in 1995, Ron created the Air Force Core Values, “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.” These values are still in use today. From 1974-1975, Ron was stationed at Lowry Air Force base. The same hangar our museum uses today! Resources: Ron Fogleman | National Air and Space Museum  Ron Fogleman Air Force Bio  Ron Fogleman Wiki  Forward Air Controllers (FAC) 

This episode will dive into the world of orbital infrastructure – both the challenges and opportunities - through the lens of an on-orbit spacecraft refueling company, Orbit Fab, who aims to create gas stations in space.Join us as we talk with Adam Harris, the Chief Commercial Officer at Orbit Fab, who gives us insight on the state of LEO (low earth orbit), orbital infrastructure, and explains how on-orbit refueling could be a key part of enabling this new era in space activity more sustainably and efficiently.Orbital refueling is not a new idea, but as space technology, and the cost of launch has come down, the possibility for this type of service at scale is closer to reality than ever before. This is going to be cool!Key Takeaways: Adam Harris is an Air Force Academy graduate, who spent several years in the military as an Intelligence Staff Member, Senior Advisor, and more. He then moved to the private sector, joining SpaceX and eventually, his current role on the Orbit Fab team. Orbit Fab is creating some of the first commercially available orbital refueling, including refueling depots and shuttles that will bring the fuel straight to the satellites! Orbit Fab is working alongside other space companies, and space agencies to help create industry standards, so that someday all spacecraft, satellites or space stations could potentially be refueled. Like how gas stations on Earth can refuel any car! The refueling depots and shuttles will be launched into the same orbit as the satellites to keep traveling between the two to a minimum. Orbit Fab has already successfully launched one refueling depot into Earth’s atmosphere. By 2025, Orbit Fab hopes to start launching more refueling depots and shuttles into Earth’s orbit. Resources: Orbit Fab Website Risk Analysis of On-Orbit Refueling (nasa.gov)

This episode will dive into the story of Kim “KC” Campbell, one of the few pilots ever to land the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” manually. Kim is a graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog and more than 100 combat missions including in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In 2003, Kim received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism, as she skillfully recovered her battle-damaged aircraft following an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. Campbell has since retired from the Air Force and now is a guest professor, speaker, and bestselling author. She shares with us her pathway to becoming an A-10 pilot, and lessons she’s learned from the cockpit. THIS is going to be cool!Key Takeaways: Kim served for 24 years before retirement, holding positions such as a fighter pilot, Deputy Chief and then Chief of the A-10 Operational Training Development Team, Commander of the 355th Operations Support Squadron, Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and more. Kim and her father both graduated from the Air Force Academy at the highest rank of Cadet Wing Commander, making them the first father daugther duo to hold that accolade. At the time, only a handful of pilots had ever tried to land the A-10 Warthog manually. Kim later was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for her bravery and airmanship while flying the A-10. Campbell is now retired and has started her new career of speaker, coach, and author, telling stories about her lessons from the cockpit and how they can be used in every day life. Kim's book, Flying in the Face of Fear, tells several stories about the missions she was on and how they can be used as learning tools for businesses and employees. Resources: Kim "KC" Campbell Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with Courage: Amazon Books