Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

Lessons from an Astronaut

Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

Show Notes

Not one but four astronauts feature in this month's Space Boffins. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham chat to astronaut Nicole Stott about her book Back to Earth; we hear about the drama of launch, what to do when things go wrong and the challenges of interviewing other astronauts. Sue also attends a glamorous space event in London to catch up with two Apollo legends, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake, and Space Shuttle pilot Susan Kilrain. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

More from Space Boffins, from the Naked Scientists

Oct 22, 2026

European Space Agency reserve astronauts John McFall and Meganne Christian join Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss their latest training, a new private space station mission and crossing the Atlantic in winter. And, as the joint ESA and Japanese Bepi-Colombo spacecraft prepares to arrive at Mercury, they meet mission project scientist Geraint Jones to discuss this ambitious mission. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sep 25, 2026

We're back! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been launched to investigate exoplanets and the 'dark forces' that make up the universe. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by Astropartigirl Dr Sophia Gad Nasr to give an insight into the new mission. They also speak to the UK's new space minister, Liz Lloyd, and Sue reports from Wally Funk's celebratory remembrance service in Dallas with guests including astronaut Eileen Collins. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Jul 27, 2026

The Space Boffins are on holiday in Bavaria, so where better to hang out than an asteroid impact crater?! The team visit the ReisKrater Museum to find out about the massive asteroid impact that devastated Central Europe 15 million years ago and now serves as an astronaut training ground. They also celebrate Wally Funk; mark 15 years of the Space Boffins podcast; celebrate the Beagle-2 Mars Lander, and an exclusive archive find: a film about the UK's first satellite, Ariel-1... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

May 30, 2026

Space traveller Trevor Beattie joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to describe his obsession with space and flight in Virgin Galactic's space plane. The Space Boffins also discuss NASA's new Moonbase plans and Richard chats to rocket scientist Helen Lewin about the incredible RS-25 rocket. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Apr 5, 2026

Richard Hollingham is at the Kennedy Space Center for the (historic) launch of Artemis II to the Moon. Sue Nelson joins him from Space Boffins HQ to hear Richard's launch day audio diary and interviews with astronaut Sian Proctor and Artemis engineer Sian Cleaver from Airbus. Plus Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman answers a listener question, and NASA (or Nasa) head Jared Isaacman answers Richard's question on Earthrise. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

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