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Small Steps, Giant Leaps

NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.

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Episode 145Jan 18, 2025

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 145: Pam Melroy: Behind the Strategy

Former NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, who departed NASA in January 2025 after many years of service, shares her approach to designing the blueprints for key NASA exploration strategies during her tenure.

Episode 144Dec 11, 2024

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 144: Mining the Moon with NASA’s IPEx Robot

What does it take to mine the Moon? Engineers behind NASA's ISRU Pilot Excavator, or IPEx are digging into the answers. The robotic excavator is designed to unearth lunar regolith and extract oxygen for fuel. In this episode, Jason Schuler, IPEx principal investigator, and Drew Smith, IPEx lead design engineer, explore the engineering challenges, innovative solutions, and the groundbreaking implications of IPEx for future lunar missions. Plus, they share what helped their idea go from paper to full-on demonstration.

Episode 143Nov 27, 2024

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 143: NASA Training Simulators

Before leaving the ground, astronauts prepare for spaceflight by immersing themselves in life-like training simulators. NASA’s Simulations and Graphics Branch makes it happen, and it’s critical to the success of humans in space.

Episode 142Nov 13, 2024

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 142: Europa Clipper: Voyage to a Water World

Could Jupiter’s icy moon Europa harbor the conditions for life in the ocean beneath its icy crust? The Europa Clipper mission is on a voyage to find out.