Best Gurbir Singh Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 110 – Humanity’s spiritual destiny and the 100 year starship 34:08

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2y ago34:08

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The 100 year starship project @100YSS aims to get humanity to develop the capability to travel to the stars in one hundred years time. It started in 2012 headed by Dr Mae Jemison the first woman of colour to fly in to space in STS 47 in 1992.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 109 – The Antikythera Mechanism with Prof Xenophon Moussas 45:21

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I first came across the Antikythera Mechanism just over a decade ago. It is still the most incredible artefact from history. It is as out of place in our time as William Shakespeare using an Iphone or Vasco De Gama travelling in a speedboat. The Antikythera Mechanism is a complex mechanical (clockwork) device that can determine the position of the …

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Episode 108 – NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission 25:49

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The Clarke Exobelt is the name that Dr Hector Socas-Navarro has given to perhaps the largest structure humans have built. A collection of satellites in earth orbit (geosynchronous) 36,000 km radius. All circling the earth at the same speed in the same direction. The density of this orbit has been increasing since the 1960s but is not yet sufficient…

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Episode 107 – SETI’s new tool – Technosignatures 40:25

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The Clarke Exobelt is the name that Dr Hector Socas-Navarro has given to perhaps the largest structure humans have built. A collection of satellites in earth orbit (geosynchronous) 36,000 km radius. All circling the earth at the same speed in the same direction. The density of this orbit has been increasing since the 1960s but is not yet sufficient…

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Episode 106 – ESA’s new science missions 43:00

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European Space Agency's Dr Paul McNamara was studying low-frequency gravitational waves just before they were discovered in 2015. Now he is the astronomy and astrophysics coordinator for the European Space Agency. In this interview, recorded in Athens during Cospar2022, he speaks about some of the exciting science missions that ESA will be launchin…

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Episode 105 – Return to Titan – Dragonfly 44:04

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Dr Ralph Lorenz speaks about Dragonfly, a return mission to land on Titan. This mission, for which he is the mission architect, is like no other. It is not really a lander or rover but a quadcopter that will sample different regions near the landing site during its 3.3-year lifetime.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 104 – William Leitch. The forgotten Scottish Rocket Pioneer 1:09:01

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When it comes to the pioneers of rocketry, tradition has it that it was Tsiolkovsky, Goddard and Oberth. in this episode, author Rob Godwin talks about William Leitch from Scotland. He was writing about rocketry from the 1850sBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 103 -Observing the Solar System with the JWST 35:21

3y ago35:21

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Astronomer Dr Connor Nixon @shamrocketeer speaks about the @nasawebb program to observe solar system objects using the #JWST led by @hbhammelBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 102 – Martian Geology with Prof Sanjeev Gupta 30:08

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In 1972, Harrison Schmitt became the first (and so far only), scientist to walk on the surface of the Moon. Since then many scientists have brought their scientific insights to understanding to the solar system and their moons. geologist @sanjeevgupta45 from @imperialcollege talks about MarsBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 101 UNOOSA – Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 30:26

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Niklas Hedman, the Acting Director of the @UN Office for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNOOSA) talks about @UNOOSA ongoing role in facilitating and promoting the peaceful uses of space in Low Earth orbit and beyond.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 100 Sandra Benitez Herrera – ESA Education Outreach 27:08

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Sandra Benitez-Herrera talks about the opportunities for teachers and students made available by the European Space Agency 's CESAR (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research) program. @esaBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 99 Professor Stamatios Krimigis – Exploring the Solar System with Voyager 40:42

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A chance meeting with James van Allen led Stamatios Krimigis to build instruments for Mariner 3 and 4. Eventually became a Principle Investigator for the charged particle instrument on voyager which was initially known as Mariner Jupiter Saturn 77 programBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 98 Astrophotography with Nik Szymanek 1:00:11

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Astrophotographer Nik Szymanek shares his unique perspective on how astrophotography has evolved since the 1980s when he first started. We speak about software and robotic telescopes @telescopelivehq @APinSpain & @astronomynow get a mention.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 97 Bob Heil’s Moon Bounce Experiment with NASA 53:41

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Following an unexpected meeting with USA's first Astronaut, Alan Shepard in around 1962. In this episode he recounts a Moon-Bounce experiments with @Nasa.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 96 Seti – The search so far with Jill Tarter 35:04

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Since the beginning of human civilisation, people have looked up at the night sky and wondered – are we alone? Science and technology of the 20th century has made it possible to try to address that question. So how is are we doing? With Jill Tarter from @SETIInstituteBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 95 European Space Cooperation DeGaulle to ExoMars with Brian Harvey 1:03:07

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The latest book from author Brian Harvey @BrianHarveyAut1, this is probably the first English language analysis of the individuals, institutions and early space projects that would eventually lead, not just France, but Europe to its status as a leader in designing, building and operating complex space infrastructure.…

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Episode 94 Seti – Techniques and Technology with Jill Tarter 31:04

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How has the ¢SETI evolved over the last 6 decades and especially what can modern technology allow today that was not possible then? With Jill Tarter from @SETIInstituteBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 93: Exploring the surface of Titan 59:42

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On 14th January 2005, the Huygens probe landed on Titan. Saturns and the solar systems largest Moon. This was a joint NAS/ESA mission called Cassini-Huygens. Whilst Huygens landed on Titan, Cassini continued to orbit Saturn.Professor John Zarnecki, the prinicpal investigator for the Surface Science Package, recalls the experience of that mission an…

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Episode 92: Revisiting Panspermia with Prof. Wickramasinghe 1:15:03

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The idea of Panspermia, that life exists throughout the universe and spreads via asteroids, comets and cosmic dust, has been around for a long time. Two of the strongest advocates were Professor Fred Hoyle and Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 91 – ISRO and the Spy who was not 47:52

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In 1994, Narayan Nambi an ISRO aerospace engineer was falsely arrested by the Investigation Beuro on charges of espionage. He was accused of passing on confidential launch vehicle flight test data to foreign nationals. In 1996 he was cleared by the Central Investigations Bureau and India's Supreme Court found him not guilty in 1998. In 2019 he was …

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Episode 90 – An update on ISRO’s activities with S Somanath and R Umamaheshwaran 50:35

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This interview with S Somanath (director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) and R Umamaheshwaran (Scientific Secretary) was recorded on 24th October 2019 during the International Astronautical Congress in Washington DC. It was not focused on a specific theme but rather an update on all things @ISRO - current and future activities.…

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IAC2019 Heads of Space Agency – Press Conference 41:37

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This audio recording captures most of the Q&A that took place on Monday 21st October #IAC2019. The audio quality is variable. The agencies represented included #isro #nasa #jaxa #china #RussiaBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 89 – Carbon Nanotubes 42:58

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In his 1979 novel, Fountains of Paradise, Arthur C Clarke imagines a cable stretching from the Earth's equator to Geosynchronous orbit. He called it a "space elevator" and imagined it would be constructed from continuous pseudo-one-dimensional diamond crystals. Bangalore based NoPo Technologies is now commercially producing Carbon Nanotubes. Could …

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Episode 88 – India’s Private Space Sector 1:25:03

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As in other nations, the private space sector is now emerging in India. One name that pops up when discussing private and commercial space in India is Narayanan PrasadBy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 87 – Apollo Era recollections of a Brit working in NASA 52:44

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Episode 87 - Apollo Era recollections of a Brit working in @NASABy Gurbir Singh

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Episode 86 – Moon: Art, Science, Culture 42:55

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Moon: Art, Science, CultureThe 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing was a momentous event and expected to be marked by numerous publications. Most books cover the technologies, events, personal recollections and politics of the first human voyage to another world. One book jointly authored by an art historian and an astronomer has a fresh pers…

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Episode 85 – Russia’s Space programme with Brian Harvey 43:50

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Brian Harvey is a Dublin based writer who has authored more than 14 books the space programmes of USSR/Russia, USA, India, Korea Japan and China. He has a deep understanding of the motivations and politics as well as the space technology that has emerged.By Gurbir Singh

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Enabling democracy through an App? 51:37

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GovernEye and is designed to facilitate democratic engagement by allowing voters elected politician and all stakeholders. @GovernEye founder Anant Ahuja talks about how Governeye works and what motivated it.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 84: NASA after the Shuttle. SLS and The Gateway 30:55

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Why has NASA not been able to launch American astronauts to space on American rockets since 2011? What is the SLS and the Gateway? Will China and US cooperate in space?By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 83: India’s Human Spaceflight Programme with R Umamaheswaran 18:32

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Astrotalkuk.org - Episode 83 - India's Human Spaceflight Programme. R Umamaheswaren talks about @ISRO Human Space Flight Programme #gaganyaan and thinks the chances of a woman as a member of the first crew "highly likely". recorded at #IAC2018By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 82: Jaxa and International Collaboration with Professor Fujimoto Masaki 22:35

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A conversation with Prof. Fujimoto Masaki about @JAXA current and future plans to explore the inner solar system and #samplereturn missions. Recorded in Bremen just after #IAC2018By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 81: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs 25:12

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Astrotalkuk.org. Episode 81 - United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of UNOOSA# talks about some of UNOOSA's current projects. recorded during #IAC2018By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 80 – S Somnath Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 27:23

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Astrotakuk.org Episode 80. S. Somnath joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala in 1985 and today he is its director. Recorded at #IAC2018By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 79: satsearch.co – A single digital marketplace for the global space supply chain? 27:36

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Astrotalkuk.org - Episode 79 satsearch.co A digital marketplace for the global space supply chain? With @satsearchco. Recorded at #iac2018.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 78: ISRO’s early Earth Observation Cameras with former chairman Mr Kiran Kumar 52:12

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Dr Kiran Kumar. Credit ISROMr Kiran Kumar studied physics, physical engineering and electronics in educational institutions in India including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. He specialised in electro-optical imaging systems and in 1975 was recruited by Dr Yash Pal (one of a few key individuals who played a pivotal role in the …

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Episode 77: Satellite tracking – the early days

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Sven Grahn has been working in the space field in one way or another for over fifty years. Officially retired, he continues to work as a project leader of a student satellite at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.He is perhaps best known for his work in tracking satellites launched by the secretive Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970…

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Episode 76: Space law

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Bayar GoswamiOne of the earliest characteristics of human civilisation (large populations living together in organised cities) was the creation of rules or laws that everyone who lived there agreed to abide by.The 50th anniversary of first humans to visit the Moon is celebrated later this year. In 1968 it was pretty much just two countries and a fe…

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Episode 75: China -back to the Moon with Chang’ E 4

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One mission two spacecraft, China is going back to the Moon with Chang'E 4 mission that I think is the most exciting lunar mission since the 1970s. By the end of 2018, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) will launch Chang'E 4 that will explore the far side of the Moon with a lander and a rover. Since it is on the other side of the Moon, …

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Episode 74: Space Debris and Sustainable use of Space

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Dr Brian WeedenSpace, as the author Douglas Adams said "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is". After 6 decades of launching spacecraft, some orbits are now congested with space debris from collisions and poor end-of-life mission management. This has now become a serious hazard and even a danger to…

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Episode 73: Using Commercial Of the Shelf (COTs) Components to build spacecraft

7+ y ago

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If you follow this podcast, you will notice a very long pause since the previous episode. I have been busy writing my second book, the Indian Space Programme which is now finally complete. So I am now back to my familiar but irregular podcasting mode.The growth in the space sector now widely estimated to be worth annually over 300 billion USD globa…

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Quick Update

7+ y ago

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Its been a while since I posted episode 72. Now that the book The Indian Space Programme has been published, I am resuming the podcasting. You can see some Amazon Reviews and if you have one, add your own too. More about that book on this short BBC radio interview here. .If you want you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter. The previous newslette…

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Episode 72: Satish Dhawan Space Centre

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Located about 80km from Chennai on India's east coast, Satish Dhawan Space centre is used by ISRO to launch all of its satellites including those to the Moon and Mars. Also known as Sriharikota, it was established during the late 1960s but today it has a vehicle assembly building, two launch pads and a state of the art mission control centre…

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Episode 71: TATA Institute for Fundamental Research

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The Indian Space Program was initiated by a brilliant nuclear physicist Homi Bhabha who pretty much immediately handed over the space program to Vikram Sarabhai. Bhabha himself pursued the goal of bringing institutionalised fundamental research to India. At the time he saw that as essential for the new emerging independent India.…

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Episode 70: India’s Deep Space Network and ISRO Satellite Centre

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India's space program is now over half a century old. During this time its Infrastructure has evolved. This episode looks at the current communication capabilities used to support space vehicles during launch, in Earth orbit or on a interplanetary missions.ISRO has an extensive network of ground stations on the Indian mainland, off-shore and neighb…

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Episode 69: Mars Orbiter Mission

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Interview recorded at ISRO's satellite Centre in Bangalore with Mars Orbiter Mission program director Dr Mylswamy Annadurai. This interview was recorded on 26th March 2014 after MOM was launched but before it arrived at Mars.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 68: Stephen H Smith – India’s forgotten rocketeer 30:46

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Contribution of Stephen H Smith to development of rocketry and the Anglo Indian community in India of which he is a member.By Gurbir Singh

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Episode 67: Technik Museum Speyer

12y ago

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This episode is a preview of some of the space related exhibits in Europe's largest aerospace museum - Speyer Technik Museum, in Germany. If you ever go and the following may entice you to do so, four space exhibits to look out for include the following:Soyuz TM19 - The landing capsule Soyuz TM-19 was used by the German astronaut Ulf Merbold to ret…

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Episode 66: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

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November 21st 2013 was the 50th anniversary of a rocket launched from India in to space. The launch itself was an all Indian affair but with lots of international support. The rocket was American, carried a French Sodium Vapour payload with assisted by a computer and a helicopter from the Soviet Union. From this meagre beginning, India has become a…

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Episode 65: ISRO – The early years

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Prof. UR RaoThe Indian Space Research Organisation formally came in to being in 1972. By then, India had been developing its space program for almost a decade. The first launch to space from Indian soil was a two stage Nike-Apache rocket supplied by USA with a sodium payload from France. The rocket delivered a vertical trail of sodium vapour in spa…

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Episode 64: Bangalore Astronomical Society

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BAS Coorg Start Party 27 Mar 2011 Photo credit- BASAnother episode in the current series about space and India. Bangalore Astronomical Society (BAS) is probably the most industrious astronomical societies in India. Founded in 2006, it has nearly 200 paid up members based in and around Bangalore but a huge number of national and international follow…