Humans of Space

In this season finale, it's apt that we end with another astronaut. I speak with Soyeon Yi, South Korea's only astronaut who flew to the International Space Station for 10 days in 2008. A biotechnologist by training, she applied to astronaut selection as an afterthought, and was soon selected as the back-up to primary astronaut candidate Ko San. But a month before launch, Ko was swapped out and on April 8th 2008 Soyeon launched to the Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. After her 10 day science mission, she returned to Earth joined by ISS crew members Peggy Whitson (NASA) and Yuri Malenchenko (Roscosmos). Due to a malfunction with the Soyuz vehicle, the craft followed a ballistic re-entry which subjected the crew to severe gravitational forces up to 10 times the amount experienced on Earth. Soyeon's energy and enthusiasm are infectious, she is a fantastic role model for young girls everywhere to commit fully to every activity you engage in. She motivates me always and I'm sure you will enjoy and learn from her story in this last episode of 'Humans of Space'.   If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Barbara Imhof is that perfect blend of artist and logical, which compliments her passion for space architecture. She has the capability to take the conversation in any direction. There aren't many artists in the space sector and Barbara articulates so well the necessity to include the humanities within all future human space missions. As well as being an internationally active space architect, design researcher and educator, Barbara is co-founder and CEO of LIQUIFER Systems Group, an interdisciplinary team comprising engineers, architects, designers and scientists.     If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Fabio Teizeira is a highly motivated big thinker with a genuine desire to make the world a better place through business and the technologies afforded by space. CEO of Hypercubes, he is applying satellite imaging to combat climate change. We met back in 2015 on the Space Studies Programme and I instantly knew that this guy was going to make a positive lasting change on our planet. I hope you enjoy our conversation.     If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Kalle, a pig farmers son, former military trainer and private sector educator and Mazdak, an Iranian refugee and award-winning film director have been friends for many years. And it was a conversation they had one day in passing that began their dream to establish Spacenation, a company that describes itself as ' A movement, a philosophy, a universal community creating transformational astronaut adventures' I met them in Moscow in 2017, when we experienced together the Zero Gravity parabolic flight. Their vision and understanding of the societal benefits of human space exploration resonated with me. Their story of building the company together, their friendship and shared ideals to leave a lasting legacy on the world is shared with me with humility and wonder. And then of course, there is the word 'nonin', which will always remind me of Kalle and Mazdak. I hope you enjoy our conversation.     If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Josh has been pushing himself to the limits pretty much all of his life. He's been a British commando, worked in bomb disposal in the Australian army, a stand-up comedian, then a Mars One astronaut candidate and most recently a cave diver, and in all of that, he's been avidly writing about his experiences. I met him back in 2014 while I was embarking on my own space quest and we've remained friend ever since. Brutally honest in all his dealings, Josh seeks out extremes of living, and when mastered, moves on the next challenge. He lives a life that is unique to him and his priorities, which is to be commended. At his core, he is artist and explorer with a keen desire to help others, even at the mercy of his own well-being. His second self-published book 'Cosmic Nomad' launched Sept 17th.    If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Paul Dye has over 40 years of aviation experience as an engineer, builder and pilot. And as a writer, he's also a terrific communicator. His love of flying machines dates back to early childhood, and he became involved with full-sized aircraft as a teenager. He worked in increasingly responsible roles within the US Manned Space Program at NASA both as a technical expert in spacecraft systems and eventually as the overall lead of many human missions to space. 'Ironflight' retired from NASA in 2013 as the longest-serving Flight Director in U.S. history. His ability to share the world of mission control at NASA Johnson Space Centre is quite brilliant. A fascinating guest, Paul recently published his memoir 'Shuttle, Houston' from Hachette books. Well worth the read.   If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Jackelynne is an aerospace engineer working at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. Originally from Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, and once capital of the Inca Empire, Jacky dreamed from a very young age of becoming an astronaut. Married with two small children, she has two degrees from Rutgers University (one in Aerosapce engineering and another in spanish translation), two masters degrees in aerospace science and engineering (from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University & Georgia Inst. of Technology), Jacky has worked very hard to get to NASA.  But it is Jacky's determination and family support network that appealed to me most when we spoke. She is an inspiration for women and men who dare to dream big, reminding us that if the heart is willing there are no obstacles, only those we tell ourselves. If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Aidan Cowley, is Science officer at the future missions lab in the European Space Agency’s Astronaut Centre. He never believed that he could be a part of space activities growing up, as much as he loved that idea.  He attributes the change in his career path to his professor and mentor at Dublin City University where he earned his PhD in Materials Science. Focussing on future lunar missions, Aidans leads a team who research how to make best use of the resources on the moon for human survival. Niamh believes that Aidan is Ireland’s likeliest candidate for astronaut if the country invested in ESA’s Human spaceflight programme. In this weeks episode this humble, talented scientist chats with Niamh from his home in Cologne (due to lockdown) about the importance of having mentors and keeping dreams alive.   If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Romain Charles participated in the longest ever simulated Mars mission, Mars500, an ESA mission in partnership with the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP). Six men spent 520 days in a sealed isolation chamber in a warehouse in Moscow to simulate a human return mission to Mars. Romain is also crew support for ESA astronaut corp, where he coordinates the development of space food, accompanies astronauts into quarantine, and to their launches (and some landings too). But it’s Romain’s wit and keen aptitude for storytelling, that allows us to enter his busy but never boring life.  If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third-party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Michael’s fascination for space began at a young age, it was the spacecraft design and engineering that caught his attention. A flight controller for the Space Shuttle programme, Moonshot Navigator and now innovating ideas for the Human Lunar Lander which will return humans to the Moon as part of the artemis mission, his career is the stuff of science fiction. Mike’s a fast-talking Bostonian with a mind that works even faster. In this episode he speaks about career highlights and the people who nurtured his lifelong curiosity for all things space.   If you're enjoying 'Humans of Space', support Niamh's work in bringing human stories of science and space to the public. From as little as €1.99 become a patron of her work at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NiamhShaw   ‘Humans of Space’ is a new podcast series from Niamh. To find out more, and to subscribe for further episodes, go to her website www.niamhshaw.ie for further details.  Follow her on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw. Humans of Space was produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley.   About Niamh: Dr. Niamh Shaw is a writer/performer, scientist and award-winning communicator with a mad passion for sharing space with the public. Combining science in the arts, she explores the human side of science and daring to dream big. She’s on a mission to get to space as an artist and storyteller. She wants to see if she can share a different story, about how hard space is on our bodies and how lucky we are to have such a beautiful planet that protects us. Her latest book ‘Dream Big’ about her journey so far is published by Mercier Press. To find out more go to her website www.niamhshaw.ie for further details. Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Michaela, originally from Slovakia, has participated in over 20 analogue Mars/Moon missions across the world. Her fascination for living systems that can survive in extreme environments (including space) has been a lifelong passion, gaining scholarships in leading universities and research centres to advance her studies and specialisms in astrobiology.   A highly respected analogue astronaut among her peers, she continues on Earth for now to seek answers to whether there is life in our Universe. But in the future when there’s a human mission to Mars, she explains why she’s the right candidate for the job. Humans of Space was created by Niamh Shaw, produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley. About Niamh: Dr. Niamh Shaw is a writer/performer, scientist and award-winning communicator with a mad passion for sharing space with the public. Combining science in the arts, she explores the human side of science and daring to dream big. She’s on a mission to get to space as an artist and storyteller. She wants to see if she can share a different story, about how hard space is on our bodies and how lucky we are to have such a beautiful planet that protects us. Her latest book ‘Dream Big’ about her journey so far is published by Mercier Press. To find out more go to her website www.niamhshaw.ie for further details. Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.    Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

In this first episode, Niamh chats with Robert Thirsk, retired astronaut from Canadian Space Agency, engineer, physician and now Chancellor of the University of Calgary about his early beginnings in British Columbia in Canada and where his curiosity originated.   Growing up in a life surrounded by nature, Bob explains how these two elements have been key to his career and work life balance. As astronaut and advocate for curiosity, Bob understands unequivocally the wider relevance of space exploration to society. Sharing stories from his time onboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, we learn why the entire human race needs to see the Earth from space.   Humans of Space was created by Niamh Shaw, produced by Catherine Cunning and Mark Gardener of Ox4 Studios, Oxford and music by Tom Beasley.   About Niamh: Dr. Niamh Shaw is a writer/performer, scientist and award-winning communicator with a mad passion for sharing space with the public. Combining science in the arts, she explores the human side of science and daring to dream big. She’s on a mission to get to space as an artist and storyteller. She wants to see if she can share a different story, about how hard space is on our bodies and how lucky we are to have such a beautiful planet that protects us. Her latest book ‘Dream Big’ about her journey so far is published by Mercier Press. To find out more go to her website www.niamhshaw.ie for further details. Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.   Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

‘Humans of Space’ is a new podcast from Dr. Niamh Shaw, a blend of space, curiosity and creativity for ears of all kinds.   Dr. Niamh Shaw is a writer/performer, scientist and award-winning communicator with a mad passion for sharing space with the public. Combining science in the arts, she explores the human side of science and daring to dream big. She’s on a mission to get to space as an artist and storyteller. She wants to see if she can share a different story, about how hard space is on our bodies and how lucky we are to have such a beautiful planet that protects us. Her latest book ‘Dream Big’ about her journey so far is published by Mercier Press. To find out more go to her website www.niamhshaw.ie for further details. Follow Niamh on Twitter & Instagram at @dr_niamh_shaw.   Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Humans of Space podcast is clearly and accurately provided.