This week on Today In Space...space nerds leave Florida disappointed as Artemis II is scrubbed until March — and cryogenic hydrogen does what it does best: leak.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why liquid cryogenic hydrogen is both an incredible and deeply frustrating rocket fuel
• How Artemis I scrubbed three times in 2022 due to hydrogen leaks
• The forgotten history of the "Summer of Hydrogen" (1990) during the Space Shuttle era
• Why SLS inherits many of the same strengths — and weaknesses — as the Space Shuttle
• What this means for Artemis II launch timing in 2026 Hydrogen rockets are powerful, elegant, and environmentally cleaner — but they are also notoriously fickle.

If you want to understand why scrubs are normal, why patience is required, and why Artemis II will eventually fly, this episode is for you.

#Artemis2 #NASAArtemis #SpaceLaunchSystem #ArtemisScrub #TodayInSpace

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing (go to ag3d-printing.com to learn more & start 3D printing today!)

Support the podcast:

• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - http://ag3dprinting.etsy.com

Today In Space Merch: James Webb Space Telescope Model (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1839142903

SpaceX Starship-Inspired Rocket Pen (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1602850640

• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at http://ag3d-printing.com

• Donate at todayinspace.net

In episode 402 of Today In Space, Alex G Orphanos discusses the rapid return of NASA's Crew 11 due to a medical emergency, highlighting NASA's swift response.

The crew, including astronauts from NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos, safely undocked from the International Space Station, Reentry plash down off the coast of San Diego. Alex also announces the launch of our Substack newsletter, offering updates on space exploration, 3D printing, Al, and technology.

We close the episode with clips from our live coverage of the Crew 11 undocking.

#SpaceMedicine #NASA #SpaceSafety #HumanSpaceflight #TodayInSpace

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing (go to ag3d-printing.com to learn more & start 3D printing today!)

Support the podcast:

• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - http://ag3dprinting.etsy.com

Today In Space Merch: James Webb Space Telescope Model (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1839142903

SpaceX Starship-Inspired Rocket Pen (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1602850640

• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at http://ag3d-printing.com

• Donate at todayinspace.net

This week has been BUSY with activity in Low Earth Orbit on the Space Station! This episode is a recap from our LIVE Hangout broadcast on social media during NASA's International Space Station Update. We hear from the new NASA Administrator (Jared Isaacman), the Associate Administrator (Amit Kshatriya), and the Chief Space Medical Officer (Dr. James D. Polk) as they answer questions from NASA HQ in Washington, D.C. as the ISS operation teams at JSC in Houston were prepping Crew 11 to come home.

Hear my thoughts at the start and close - this conference was really good and a sign of the kind of leadership Jared Isaacman is bringing to NASA. One major takeaway, aside from wishing the now stable Astronaut gets home safetly, is that NASA really has a good head on it's shoulders. There is a lot of work to do - but in this I feel confident there are good winds of change under NASA's wings. Looking forward to the rest of 2026!

#SpaceMedicine #NASA #SpaceSafety #HumanSpaceflight #TodayInSpace

Timestamps:

00:00 ISS Update and Initial Reactions

02:04 Background and Initial Information

08:04 NASA's Response and Transparency

08:28 Details of the Medical Incident

09:56 Q&A Session with NASA Officials

13:23 Further Questions and Clarifications

19:20 Crew's Training and Medical Capabilities

32:10 Impact on ISS Operations and Future Missions

50:19 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AG3D Printing (go to ag3d-printing.com to learn more & start 3D printing today!)

Support the podcast:

• Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - http://ag3dprinting.etsy.com

Today In Space Merch: James Webb Space Telescope Model (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1839142903

SpaceX Starship-Inspired Rocket Pen (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1602850640

• Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at http://ag3d-printing.com

• Donate at todayinspace.net