PODCAST · science
This is Rocket Science
by Columbia Space Initiative
"This Is Rocket Science" is dedicated to making the wonders of space accessible to all. Run by the Columbia Space Initiative and produced by Eileen Lin and Thomas Sibilly. Blasting off - see ya!
Episodes
-
Episode #38: Rocket Science, "Explained"
Inspired by the offbeat, deadpan style of Philomena Cunk, this episode takes a lighthearted look at our rocketry team through conversations with the leads! Discover the technical challenges, team culture, and the people behind the launches! This episode is meant to be silly and entertaining....
-
Episode #37: Meet the CubeSat Team Behind LionCub
Our CubeSat team recently launched LionCub, a nanosatellite designed completely by Columbia undergraduates! Tune in to hear about the journey and what this mission means to our CubeSat leadership team. Thank you to Nidhi Shah, Robbie Pendergrast, Ruimian Zheng, Moises Mata, Isaac Trost, Wesley…
more -
Episode #036: Artemis II Launch Debrief
Artemis II was launched last Wednesday, on April 1st, no joke! In this episode, Thomas and Serdar discuss the mission objectives, the launch day, and how CSI joined together to watch this historic mission.
-
Episode #035: Life on Mars, Artemis II, and the ISS
Welcome back to This is Rocket Science! We are so excited to have you here for our SIXTH season! Tune in to hear the latest space news 🚀
-
Episode #034 Mission Recap: SUITS & Micro-G
Looking to learn more about what CSI does all year? Tune in for a chat with this year's SUITS and Micro-G leads to learn about their respective missions and their individual journeys in the Columbia Space Initiative. Thank you to Josh Hegstad, Shirley Deng, and Michael Cai for joining us and...
-
Episode #033 Space in Media
What do you think about The Martian? Anyone read the original novel it was based on by Andy Weir? Listen in on this episode of This is Rocket Science to find our personal takes on space movies and books! Recorded leading up to the 2025 Oscars, we dive into plot lines, cinematography, and the...
-
Episode #032 Mythology & Astrology
Hello Space Fans! We hope you had a cosmic and love-filled Valentine's Day! On this episode of This is Rocket Science, we blast off into the fascinating worlds of mythology and astrology, uncovering some celestial wisdom from ancient civilizations! We hope you enjoy!
-
Episode #031 - Starship Failure & Policy Updates
With a new administration in office, This is Rocket Science discusses the ramifications, possible future steps, and personal thoughts about new US policy updates concerning space and NASA. Tune in to stay updated on the latest space news!
-
Episode #30 - Space Busters
Join us in this thrilling episode of This is Rocket Science as we separate fact from fiction in the realm of space! We'll tackle some of the most popular myths about the cosmos, from black holes to the hollow moon conspiracy theory to flat earthers! Our hosts will debunk common misconceptions and...
-
Episode #029 - SpaceX Falcon 9
This is Rocket Science is back with an exciting new season! Join us as we welcome our newest members, Eileen Lin and Deborah Melanie Esme McDougall! In this episode, we discuss the Falcon 9 launch to the ISS and the challenges that arose during the mission. Stay tuned for all the details, along...
-
Episode #028 - Mission: Cube Sat
Hello, This is Rocket Science Fans! We are back with the final episode of the semester! This week we are joined by one of Cube Sat’s Mission Leads, David McIntosh! David walks us through what he and his team have been working on, their accomplishments, and their future goals. We hope you enjoy…
more -
Episode #027 Post Eclipse
You come here for science but you stay for Tina's jokes! This is Rocket Science, and we're back with another one! In this episode, we share our experiences from last week's Solar Eclipse and discuss where to see the next one! Please follow the link below if you would like to donate your old…
more -
Episode #026 - Eclipse
Hello Science Fans! This is Rocket Science and we are back with another episode on.....eclipses! On April 8th we are set to witness a solar spectacle, a total solar eclipse! Join us as we dive into the world of eclipses and in particular how and where to watch the eclipse on the 8th. Cheers!
-
Episode #025 - Sci Fi & Dune 2
Hey Guys, welcome back to another installment of This is Rocket Science. Today the crew attempts to unravel the new Dune Series directed by Denis Villeneuve. Please be aware this episode may contain some spoilers! Enjoy!
-
Episode #024 - Space News
Welcome back to another episode of This is Rocket Science, today the crew explores space news and Intuitive Machine Odysseus' lunar landing! P.S. any "financial advice" heard on this podcast is not formal financial advice and should always be taken with a grain a salt.
-
Episode #023 - Space Conspiracy
The Gang is back! Join us as we explore space conspiracies, from the moon landing to UFO abductions. Do we manage to debunk these theories? Listen in to find out!
-
Episode #022 - Pulsar Timing Array
Reupload: Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! This is Rocket Science is back with another one and in this episode, we explore Pulsar Timing Arrays and the implications of the directional wave background!
-
Episode #021: Three-Body Problem
Reupload: Hello! This is Rocket Science is back with a brand new season along with our new co-host, Tina Liu! Join us as Tina navigates Sanya and Justin through a thought experiment about the Three-Body Problem.
-
Episode #20: The Video Episode
Follow the TRS crew as we force random pedestrians to answer questions about space!
-
Episode #019: The Big Bang, Incomprehensible Quantities, and Stargazing
In this episode, we take a deep dive into astrophysics: the beginning and end of the universe, the age of the Earth, and how to wrap your head around the concept of a billion years. Plus: stargazing with Sanya! (this is an official plug for the Columbia Astronomy Club)
-
Episode #018: Science Fiction Triple Feature
Today we've brought our favorite sci-fi movies to the table: Interstellar, The Martian, and Arrival. In this episode we pick apart what science fiction can tell us about humanity, religion, love, and our place in the universe.
-
Episode #017: Mineral Rights in Space, Orbital Trash, and Ancient Astronomy
An aerospace engineer, an astrophysicist, and an ex-law-student-turned-data-scientist take us through a fascinating discussion about space mining, space garbage, and space science. You came to hear about space, right? Join us for this first episode of the all-new Season 4! Music used is Space…
more -
Episode #016: Terraforming Mars and the Challenges of Space Mining
In this episode we discuss what terraforming mars would look like and the difficulties of space mining. We also talk with the audience about the movie Ad Astra and the different Hollywood representations of the final frontier. We hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #015: Interview with Chad Anderson, the CEO of Space Angels
In this episode, the first episode of Season 3, I ask Chad Anderson, the CEO of Space Angels, questions about investing in the space market, the defense industry, and Elon Musk.
-
Episode #014: Behind the Scenes (Season 2 Finale!)
For our Season #2 Finale we wanted to give the listeners a chance to hear about the behind the scenes work we do to produce and publish our podcast (it was during finals and we just didn't want to write a script so we did this instead). We hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #013: The Black Hole Image and Questions from Prospective Students
Episode 13! In this episode we talk about the recently taken image of a black hole, Sagittarius A*, and take some questions from a group of prospective students visiting Columbia University. Hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #012: the History of Space Exploration (Part 2)
In this episode we discuss the history of space exploration with a focus on the Apollo Program. We take some questions from the audience and look at some memes (as per usual). We hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #011: Questions from Reddit and the History of Space Exploration
Episode 11! In this essay we take questions from reddit on antimatter and talk about the history of Space Exploration! Editing note: In lieu of the 1 kHz bleep tone (for foul language) we are using the line "Houston we have a problem."
-
Episode #010: Russia, SpaceX and Elon's Tweets
Episode 10! In this episode we discussed Russia's beef with SpaceX's new rocket engine, Elon's tweets and other miscellaneous space stuff. We hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #009: From Interstellar to the Martian - Space in Science Fiction
Episode 9! In this episode we discuss the science behind some of our favorite movies: Interstellar, the Martian and Star Wars. We take a lot of audience questions and talk about memes (the usual). We hope you enjoy the episode!
-
Episode #008: Crazy Rocket Concepts and the Space Shuttle program (Season II Premiere)
Episode VIII! In this episode we talk about some of the craziest ideas in rocketry, discuss developments in the Chinese space program and the legacy of the Space Shuttle program. We hope you enjoy the episode. Editing note: We have replaced the 1 kHz tone (used for the suppression of foul…
more -
Episode #007: Interview with Dr. David Helfand, Dark Energy and Dark Matter (Season Finale!)
Episode VII! In this episode, we talk about dark energy and dark matter with Dr. David Helfand. Dr. Helfand is a professor of Astronomy at Columbia University whose research interests include X-ray surveys and neutron stars. This is also our season finale! We hope you enjoy the episode.
-
Episode #006: Interview with Astronaut Mike Massimino!
Episode VI! In this episode, we were graced with the presence of former NASA Astronaut, Columbia Engineering Professor and living legend Dr. Mike Massimino. We had a fun conversation about how to become an astronaut, what life is like for an astronaut, and a little bit about the future of space...
-
Episode #005: Interview with Dr. David Kipping
Episode V! This episode features an interview with Dr. David Kipping. He is a leader in the field of exoplanet research and a professor of Astronomy at Columbia University. We start by introducing some terms and vocabulary related to his research and then get right in the interview. We hope you...
-
Episode #004: Asteroids and Space Mining
Episode IV! In this episode we discuss Asteroids, Space mining and, of course, Elon Musk (praise be). We were happy to be joined by the biggest live audience to date. We hope you enjoy the episode! Music Attributions in chronological order - Chill Day by Lakey Inspired - Laidback by Fascinating...
-
Episode #003: Simulation Theory and Gravitational Waves
In this episode we discuss a couple topics with the tendency to blow our minds: the concept of a simulation and gravitational waves. We hope you enjoy it. Music Attributions in chronological order - Chill Day by Lakey Inspired (https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/chill-day) - Laidback by...
-
Episode #002: Colonization, the Space Force and Black Holes
Episode II! In this episode we try discussing the colonization of space but the audience quickly gets us off track. There are bad puns and stale memes - we hope you enjoy it. Music Attributions in chronological order - Chill Day by Lakey Inspired (https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/chill-day) -...
-
Episode #001: Megastructures and Alien Life
Episode I! Hopefully this podcast will not be a bitter disappointment, unlike another infamous and ill-fated Episode I. In this episode we discuss aliens, megastructures, space elevators and take some questions from our "live studio audience."
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
"This Is Rocket Science" is dedicated to making the wonders of space accessible to all. Run by the Columbia Space Initiative and produced by Eileen Lin and Thomas Sibilly. Blasting off - see ya!
HOSTED BY
Columbia Space Initiative
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does This is Rocket Science have?
This is Rocket Science currently has 38 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is This is Rocket Science about?
"This Is Rocket Science" is dedicated to making the wonders of space accessible to all. Run by the Columbia Space Initiative and produced by Eileen Lin and Thomas Sibilly. Blasting off - see ya!
How often does This is Rocket Science release new episodes?
This is Rocket Science has 38 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to This is Rocket Science?
You can listen to This is Rocket Science on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts This is Rocket Science?
This is Rocket Science is created and hosted by Columbia Space Initiative.
URL copied to clipboard!