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We’re starting a new segment on SpaceVidcast that will be highlighting a different space agency each week. Since NASA is by far the largest agency of them all, we’ll start here and show you where NASA came from, how much it spends, and how it looks on the surface in this brief 3 minute overview. NASA is so complex that we could spend hours talking about all the different areas, and we encourage you to continue the conversation in the comments section. Add your cool NASA stats or feelings there!

In 2010 the Space Shuttle retires to be replaced with the new Constellation Program. Constellation consists of the Ares I and Ares V rockets and the Orion crew module. This animation depicts what it will be like with the Ares V heavy load rocket carrying up the new lunar lander and the Ares I rocket launching Orion in to orbit to rendezvous with the lander with a safe landing on the moon.

When NASA spun the Deep Impact spacecraft around to capture shots of the Earth, they were able to capture some of the most stunning pictures I have personally ever seen. Videos like this make the world seem a very, very small place.

NASA needs your urine for Orion testing, a stewardess wins a flight to space from KitKat and CATS is gaining traction in our news. Buzz Aldrin is making a buzz about science fiction and our youth.

The nuts and bolts that hold the space shuttle to the launch pad and prevent it from tipping over are getting an upgrade for STS-125.

While I have been a regular guest on KSTP’s Twin Cities Live in the past, I have never been on to chat about SpaceVidcast… Until now!

On July 14th at 3:18pm CDT Cariann and I chatted with John Hanson and Rebekah Wood about SpaceVidcast, where we are and where we are going. As always it is a TON of fun to be on that show. The atmosphere is kept light, the topics are fun and there is always something interesting going on. Heck, in this show alone they had an electric motorcycle that looked like a green jellybean and they cooked up a serving of watermelon pie. It sure sounds gross, but holy cow did it taste good!

In this action packed, adventuresode of SpaceVidcast we cover the incredibly dangerous EVA that the Russians just completed. Exploding bolts, knives in space and ripping through thermal foam are just a few things they had to do on this unscheduled EVA. The largest solar panel installation in the US is going in Florida, and guess what space agency will be using it. We have found a star that likes to put out. Finally we chat about you, space and if you would go to space with a 1/70 chance of total crew and vehicle loss.

Like it or not, space and politics go together like peanut better and jelly and that is the main focus for this weeks show.  Which candidates support NASA, which don’t, or do any of them?

In the news we have a earthrise, sunflares, missing supernovas and catholics can now believe in aliens.  All that and more, oh so much more in this 30 minute edition of SpaceVidcast, episode 008.

Show Links:
Sun flares - http://io9.com/389753/the-sun-is-exploding
Send your name to the moon - http://lro.jhuapl.edu/NameToMoon/index.php
HD earthrise from the moon - http://io9.com/389392/kaguya-satellite-shoots-stunning-earthrise-and-earthset-videos
Missing supernovas - http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/may/HQ_08126_Chandra_Supernova.html
Buy some of Mars?  I don’t think so - http://www.marsshop.com
Lunar investment properties?  Can’t fool me! - http://www.lunarinvestmentproperty.com/
SpaceVidcast paper on space and politics - http://www.spacevidcast.com/politics/
Additional info on the candidates - http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/04/24/mccain-obama-and-clinton-on-nasa/
Why is space important? - http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/04/14/what-value-space-exploration/

NASA intern Adam Kimberlin joins us live via Skype to chat about space power and propulsion work that NASA is doing. Can’t do much in space if we can’t power or move the craft!