NEAF Talks Podcast

Five-time Shuttle commander Hoot Gibson joins us at NEAF 2026 for a conversation that ditches the technical résumé for the human side of flying spacecraft. He walks us through the unspoken astronaut motto ("better dead than looked bad"), the moment after every landing he'll never forget, and the harrowing inside story of STS-27 — the classified mission that took 700 tile hits, a Mission Control that wouldn't listen, and one ceramic plate standing between his crew and a Columbia-style breakup. Plus his honest take on Artemis II, the Shuttle's missing escape system, and why Tony finally got him to write the book.

In this episode of the NEAF Podcast, we’re exploring the unique and vibrant ecosystem of the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) and Space Expo. Join us as we preview the upcoming 35th annual event, set for April 11th and 12th, 2026, at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY.Imagine a place where you can grab a hot dog while standing in line with the engineers who design filters for alien life detection. NEAF is the world’s largest astronomy and space expo, a rare space where high-level theoretical science meets everyday curiosity. Produced by the award-winning Rockland Astronomy Club (founded in 1958), this event draws over 4,000 professionals and enthusiasts annually.What to expect at NEAF 2026:Massive Exhibition Hall: 90,000 square feet featuring over 120 global vendors.Teaching Hospital Dynamic: Theoretical lectures in two main theaters paired with hands-on Pro-Am workshops.Solar Viewing: Experience real-time solar flares and plasma loops through specialized Hydrogen-alpha telescopes.Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference (NEAIC): A dedicated technical conference running April 9th-10th.Kids’ Area: Featuring an exclusive "Meet an Astronaut" opportunity, raffles, and door prizes.Meet the Legends: Our 2026 roster features veteran NASA astronauts including Don Pettit, known for his ISS "zero-G coffee cup" invention, and Anna Fisher, a chemist and pioneer of the shuttle program. We also highlight five-time shuttle commander Robert "Hoot" Gibson, who shares the visceral experience of re-entering Earth's atmosphere at Mach 25.Ground Control and Safety: Go behind the scenes with legends like Apollo Flight Director Jerry Griffin, and explore the cutting edge with David McComas, principal investigator for the IMAP mission studying the heliosphere. We also take a sobering look at NASA's Lessons Learned program with manager Mike Shinnelly, discussing how past tragedies like Columbia and Challenger dictate today’s safety protocols.Whether you're a total novice or an advanced astrophysicist, NEAF bridges the gap between looking at the stars and understanding our place among them.

The astronomical landscape of March 2026 is a rare convergence of localized observational wonders and profound astrophysical paradigm shifts. Whether you are a backyard observer in Rockland County or a theoretical physicist tracking the early universe, the cosmos is currently undergoing aggressive revision.In this deep dive, we explore why everything we thought we knew about Jupiter’s size and the heart of our own galaxy is changing. We also provide a complete guide to the "Planetary Parade" and the upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse.

This month’s podcast takes us on a deep dive on what we can expect to see in the February sky plus, the latest news on the upcoming Artemis launch. Julian and Elana explain the celestial mechanics behind February’s outstanding 7 planet alignment including how best to view it.  Additionally, February is the last chance to view winter deep sky favorites such as the Orion Nebula, Rosette Nebula and the Horsehead Nebula.  Julian and Elana will explain the best way to view them as well as tips on how to photograph them.   The February podcast wraps up with the latest details on the upcoming launch of the Artemis II rocket. If you want to be the smartest one in the room, then don’t miss this month’s exciting information filled podcast! NEAF Talks Podcasts are hosted by Julian Edwards and Elana Mikhailov and are written and produced by the Rockland Astronomy Club.  For more exciting content like this, be sure to visit https://www.youtube.com/@neaftalksAll content copyright ©2026 by Rockland Astronomy Club Inc.

The January 2026 NEAF Talks Podcast, is written and presented by the Rockland Astronomy Club, and hosted by  Julian Edwards and Elana Mikhailov. This week's podcast takes us on a deep dive on what we can expect to see in the January night sky  including Jupiter at its best, along with moon transits, Saturn shining bright, meteor showers and more.    

What really happened inside Mission Control when Apollo 13 was on the brink of disaster?In this exclusive interview, a veteran NASA flight director recounts the tense hours of Apollo 13, how engineers powered down a spacecraft in deep space for the first time, and why Apollo 8 was more moving than the moon landing. He also shares thoughts on the Artemis program and whether the political will exists to keep it going.This is the story behind the headlines—told by someone who lived it.Apollo 13’s near-catastrophe and recoveryThe massive support network beneath NASAArtemis 2 and what it means for MarsThe legacy of Apollo through mission control’s lens