TWiS 201: Born to Explore - With Jay Gallentine

What this episode covers

When most people think about deep space exploration, management acumen is generally not the first thing they settle on—but without it, no robotic mission would ever succeed. This week we are joined by Jay Gallentine, author of multiple books on the robotic exploration of space. Each of these tomes is a somewhat of a masterpiece; a deep dive into a topic that few explore in such detail. His newest book, "Born to Explore," started off as a book about robots exploring Mars, but his interviews with former JPL manager John Casani was so compelling that he transformed it into a biography. John Casani is a legend at JPL and NASA, and his story reads like a combination of a spaceflight adventure, personal memoir, and a pirate's tale. You'll love the book, and you'll love hearing about it from Jay. Join us! Headlines: Artemis II Sets April 1st Launch Date Amid Technical Fixes NASA Discusses Risks and Media Reactions Around Artemis II Mission Breifing OIG Report Reveals Delays and Issues with Artemis Moon Landers NASA's Human Landing System Development Faces Setbacks Blue Origin and SpaceX Landers Compared for Progress and Outlook Starship's Next Launch and Orbital Refueling Plans Delayed Again Main Topic: Jay Gallantine on His Book, Born to Explore, and John Casani's NASA Legacy Jay Gallantine Shares Origins of His Space Research and Writing Career Unpacking John Casani's Crucial Role at JPL and Mission Leadership Casani's Unique Team-Building Tactics and the Legendary Goat Story Galileo Mission's Hurdles, Constant Redesigns, and Casani's Problem-Solving Budget Cuts and Hard Choices on Casini Mission Management How Casani's Leadership and Philosophy Shaped NASA Spacecraft Teams Sneak Peek: Gallantine's Upcoming Book on the Evolution of Mars Rovers Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Jay Gallentine Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com/twit Melissa.com/twit

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How long is this episode of This Week in Space (Audio)?

This episode is 1 hour and 10 minutes long.

When was this This Week in Space (Audio) episode published?

This episode was published on March 13, 2026.

What is this episode about?

When most people think about deep space exploration, management acumen is generally not the first thing they settle on—but without it, no robotic mission would ever succeed. This week we are joined by Jay Gallentine, author of multiple books on the...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

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