Episode 2: Creating Ingenuity

Do you think you know how planes fly? Believe or not, scientists are still learning about the fundamental principles behind aerodynamic lift. Two experts from different corners of the industry discuss the topic.

Host:
Ben Iannotta, editor-in-chief of Aerospace America

Guests:
Paul Bevilaqua, a former chief engineer of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
Haithem Taha, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at University of California, Irvine

The International Space Station won’t last forever. Over time, the modules will become more expensive to maintain, and the political will to do so is likely to falter, despite the promising research that happens up there, including aboard the ISS National Lab. Aerospace Insider spoke to microbiologist Michael Roberts about why this unique, space-borne national laboratory has proven to be such a draw, particularly for pharmaceutical and other researchers, and what should become of this research in the post-ISS era.

Guest: Michael Roberts, interim chief scientist, United States International Space Station National Lab

Although NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars, it can’t begin its task of analyzing and caching samples of Martian rocks and soil until it dispatches the little hitchhiker in its belly, known as the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity. This tiny rotorcraft could point the way toward a whole new way to explore the red planet. Cat Hofacker spoke to Bob Balaram, the chief engineer for Ingenuity.

Members of NRO’s workforce cadre give us a rare behind-the-scenes account of what it’s like to work at the secretive agency that acquires and operates U.S. imaging and signals intelligence satellites. Hear about their motivations, career paths and why they wouldn’t choose to work anywhere else.