NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez will share what it took to ready the spacecraft that recently carried humans around the Moon for the first time in over half a century, returned them home safely, and ultimately brought humanity farther from Earth than ever before. Hear insights on the spacecraft’s high-speed reentry at nearly 35 times the speed of sound, the incredible views of the Moon and Earth witnessed through the eyes of the crew, and what’s next for Orion on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions in 2027 and 2028.

Event Date: 09 / 23 / 2026

Neil A. Armstrong’s famous words “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” make a statement about humanity and its development. One way we can study humanity is through the Humanities. Following Armstrong’s formulation, I will discuss how Space Humanities can be a crucial and productive part of Space Study today.

We all consider space an important and all-encompassing topic: we all use space, we explore it, legislate it, love it, fight over it, and are endlessly fascinated by it. This talk will chart and analyze the humanistic dimensions of some of our existing endeavors and practices in Space Studies. I will also project some new, future dimensions of Space Humanities that directly intersect with scientific and engineering aspects of NASA’s Artemis and Mars missions.

Event Date: 11 / 6 / 2024

Human space exploration presents five major hazards that pose significant risks to astronauts: radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity fields, and hostile/closed environments. Understanding these hazards is crucial for optimizing astronaut health and performance across various space mission classes. To mitigate these risks, space agencies focus on developing comprehensive strategies that address both physiological and psychological challenges. These strategies vary depending on the mission type, duration and destination. By tailoring health and performance protocols to specific mission profiles, astronauts can better prepare for the unique occupational challenges, thereby enhancing the probability of mission success.

NASA addresses its top risks with targeted countermeasures, medical standards, technologies, and training. Key fundamentals include sleep, exercise, diet, and expeditionary behavioral skills which are important elements for enabling high performing diverse astronaut crews. Emphasis is placed on astronaut self-care, the importance of leadership and followership skills, and how to thrive in isolated, small-team environments. Contemporary topics will be introduced regarding the advent of opening spaceflight accessible to a broader population. This overview highlights the multifaceted nature of promoting astronaut health and critical skills central to mission success.

Event Date: 9 / 11 / 2024