Frontier of Infinity: A Space Exploration Podcast

We review all that we've covered in season 2 before diving into the final phase of the moon race in season 3. Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia

We discuss the long road Project Apollo has taken since its initial conception right up to the end of Project Gemini. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Apollo: The Early Years" by Eugen Reichl"Space Race: The Epic Battle Between the United States and Soviet Union for Dominion of Space" by Deborah CadburyWeb Sources-Project Apollo: A Retrospective Analysis (nasa.gov)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - DetailsApollo Systems Engineering Manual: Service Module And Adapter Structure : North American Aviation, Space and Information Systems Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

We examine the aftermath of Sergei Korolev's death as the Soviet Space Program struggle to pull themselves together and get back in the race against the Americans to conquer the moon. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the Moon" by James Harford"Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion of Space" by Deborah Cadbury"Soviets in Space" by Colin BurgessWeb Sources:A Soviet Moonshot: Interpreting the Diaries of Vasily Mishin | National Air and Space MuseumVasily Mishin (economist.com)Vasily Mishin | Neil Armstrong | The GuardianVasily Mishin, 84; Led Soviet Race to Moon - The New York Times (nytimes.com)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details  (Luna 9)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details  (Luna 10)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details  (Luna 11)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details  (Luna 12)

The grand finale of Project Gemini has finally come! Buzz Aldrin and James Lovell will take to space on Gemini 12 for a final attempt to master the spacewalk problem and prove that work in space can be done safely and efficiently before Project Apollo begins to fly. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research: Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen RiechlWeb Sources-NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - DetailsDr. Buzz Aldrin | NASAEdwin E. Aldrin Jr. - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)National Space Society Governor Buzz Aldrin Biography - National Space Society (nss.org)

Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon take flight on Gemini 11 in hopes of finally mastering the spacewalk enigma while also undertaking a curious and risky experiment. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Failure is Not an Option" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - DetailsRemembering Dick Gordon | NASA

Michael Collins and John Young take to space aboard Gemini 10!instagram: @foispacecastmusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Failure is Not an Option" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-Michael Collins - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)

Gene Cernan undertakes a harrowing space walk shortly after NASA loses its first astronauts. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Failure is not an Option" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-Remembering NASA Astronauts Elliot See and Charles Bassett | NASAThe Test Pilot: Neil Armstrong And GE’s Elliot See Were First Civilian Astronauts | GE NewsNASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details

In our first episode of CAPCOM, the new segment where I sit down with experts in the space field, I have a conversation with Dr. Furman Daniel, professor of strategy at the National War College to discuss his book entitled "The First Space War: How the Patterns of History and the Principles of STEM will Shape its Form." We discuss the possible motives for colonizing Mars as well as what might lead a Martian colony to rebel against the Earth and carry out a revolution.  A paperback version of the book is due to release on May 15, 2023. All views and opinions expressed by Furman Daniel in this interview are strictly his own and do not reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the United States Department of Defense, the National War College or any affiliated organizations. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia

We examine a fascinating side bar in the history of space exploration -- the life and works of Edward Mokuka Nkoloso, who endeavored to create his own homespun space program in 1960s Zambia of a mind to beat the US and USSR to the moon. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:The Zambian Space Programme | Royal Museums Greenwich (rmg.co.uk)The Zambian “Afronaut” Who Wanted to Join the Space Race | The New Yorkerhttps://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/zambia/Afronauts: Interview with Edward Nkoloso | Head of Zambia's Unofficial Space Programme | Nov. 1964 - YouTube

We return to the Soviet Union to follow Sergei Korolev through his final days as he struggles to launch a Soviet moon mission and deals with his own personal issues. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the Moon" by James Harford"Space Race:  The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion of Space" by Deborah Cadbury"Soviets in Space" by Colin Burgess

Dave Scott and Neil Armstrong take to space aboard Gemini 8, hoping to carry out the first orbital docking maneuver. But their journey will turn dangerous when a malfunction threatens to kill them both and destroy their spacecraft. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Failure is not an Option" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-Biography of Neil Armstrong | NASADavid R. Scott - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)

One of the most complex and daring missions to be undertaken up to that time flies as part of Project Gemini as NASA attempts to finally succeed in pulling off an orbital rendezvous. Instagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Failure is not an Option" by Gene Kranz"Project Gemini" by Eugen ReichlWeb Sources-James A. Lovell Jr. - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)Gemini 6, 7 & 6A - Rendezvous and Long Duration Missions - Crew Comments and Historical Footage - YouTubeHow Did Gemini 6A Survive a Launch Abort? - YouTube

We take a look at some of the most significant robotic probes launched during the first half of the 1960s which revealed new and exciting information about space and paved the way for future human missions.Instagram: @foispacecastTwitter: @FOISpacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia

Gordon Cooper and Charles "Pete" Conrad take flight on Gemini 5 hoping to further NASA's plans for an eventual moon landing. Twitter: @FOISpacecastInstagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion of Space" by Deborah Cadbury"Failure is Not an Option" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-Fuel Cell, Gemini, Cutaway | National Air and Space Museum (si.edu)BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES A. MCDIVITT > Air Force > Biography Display (af.mil)Meet the Gemini Radar Evaluation Pod | Popular Science (popsci.com)NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details

Edward White and Jim McDivitt take to space aboard Gemini 4 to carry out the first American spacewalk. Instagram: @foispacecastTwitter: @FOISpacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Soviets in Space" by Colin BurgessWeb Sources-Edward H. White II - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)Frank Borman - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)

In the second installment of space battle, we pit the second generation spacecraft of both the US and USSR against one another to determine their strengths, weaknesses, and unique features. Twitter: @FOISpacecastInstagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Soviets in Space" by Colin Burgess"Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion of Space" by Deborah Cadbury

We cover the first crewed flight of the Gemini Program with Gemini 3, during which Gus Grissom and John Young achieved some historic firsts, and even enjoyed an unorthodox lunch. Twitter: @FOISpacecastInstagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Failure is not an Option" by Gene Kranz"Project Gemini" by Eugen ReichlWeb Sources-Thomas P. Stafford - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)NASA Mourns the Passing of Astronaut John Young | NASA

We cover the entire Voskhod Program in one go, from its initial conception, engineering phases, and flights. This program saw more incredible firsts as well as one of the most hair-raising spaceflights ever conducted. Twitter: @FOISpacecastInstagram: @foispacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the Moon" by James Harford"Soviets in Space" by Colin Burgess"The Soviet Manned Space Program" by Philip ClarkWeb Sources: Boris B. Yegorov, 57, First Physician in Space - The New York Times (nytimes.com)“You Don't Know Khrushchev Well” | Journal of Cold War Studies | MIT PressWilson Center Digital ArchiveThe Nightmare of Voskhod 2 | Air & Space Magazine| Smithsonian MagazinePAVEL BELYAYEV, ASTRONAUT, DEAD - The New York Times (nytimes.com)Alexei Leonov: Spacewalk Pioneer | Space

We trace the history of the Gemini Project from its original conception through to its late testing phase. Instagram: @foispacecastTwitter: @FOISpacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books-"Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl"Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury through Apollo 13 and Beyond" by Gene KranzWeb Sources-Parasev 1-A | NASA

We are back! After a brief hiatus due to technical issues (a constant in any space program) we return to the story of the space flight, though on a somber note. This week, we discuss the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the impact it had on the space program as well as the nation as a whole. Instagram: @foispacecastTwitter: @FOISpacecastMusic: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaSources and Further Research:Books:"The American Crisis" by Thomas PaineWeb Sources: Secret Service Agent Clint Hill Vividly Recalls President Kennedy's Assassination - YouTubeJohn F. Kennedy: Death of a President | Miller CenterNovember 22, 1963: Death of the President | JFK Libraryjfk assassination - YouTube