The official podcast of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, or as we call it on Florida’s Space Coast, the Rocket Ranch.

Rocket Ranch, NASA's Kennedy Space Center Podcast

Bob Crippen was a rookie astronaut in 1978 when NASA assigned him and veteran astronaut John Young to train for the very first space shuttle flight. In this episode for the 40th anniversary of STS-1, Crippen reflects on the mission and shuttle Columbia.

First Space Shuttle Flight: First Space Shuttle Flight: Astronaut Bob Crippen on the Legacy of STS-1

As we prepare to launch humans into space on new American-made rockets and spacecraft, it's more important than ever that we revisit what led to two of the most tragic days in NASA's human space flight history.

Failure is Not an Option

In this episode, hear from two powerhouses in NASA’s Launch Services Program: Mic Woltman, chief of Fleet Systems and Integration, and Launch Director Tim Dunn.

Rocket Roundup

When people think of the Kennedy Space Center, rockets are what likely come to mind. But we have more than rocket scientists here on the Space Coast. In this episode, we meet a few Ranch hands with odd jobs you may not expect to find around these parts.

Odd Jobs Around the Ranch

In this episode, we sit down with the space shuttle commander who officially began construction of the International Space Station in space. Former astronaut Bob Cabana recounts his experiences in being the first American on station and turning on the lights.

Starting Up the Space Station

As we plan to send humans farther into our solar system than ever before, there are a lot of challenges, and at the top of the heap… is trash.

Turning Space Trash into Gas

On this episode of Rocket Ranch we catch up with several members of Commercial Crew to talk about the past, present and future of the program.

Commercial Crew - Space Flight's Next Chapter

NASA has a reputation for creating history changing technology, and much of that technology is available to you right now. One of our secrets to success is that we aren’t developing all of this by ourselves. We’re leveraging industry and students to make innovative leaps.

Developing Technology

NASA looks back at the Apollo era and ahead at the Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars.

From Apollo to Artemis

In this episode, we unpack the need and value of test flights with Jon Cowart, as well as dig into the recent, successful, second test of Orion’s Launch Abort System with Carlos Garcia, the lead for the system.

When Rockets Need Rescue

Every member of the NASA team is critical to our success, even if they're still finishing school. In this episode, we hear from two of our summer interns, Amber George and Peter Henson, during their first week here and their first impressions.

The Kids of Summer

For over 20 years, NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has been the workhorse of uncrewed spaceflight, enabling exploration of Pluto, the Sun, the Earth and other worlds. In this episode, we hear from Amanda Mitskevich and Chuck Dovale - two leaders within LSP.

Jedi Masters of Launchery

From Kennedy Space Center, officials from the Launch Services Program discuss the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON mission launch. ICON was successfully air-launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket.

An ICONic Launch

Commercial and government partnerships and contracts might not sound that fascinating, but when we're talking about certifying Boeing Starliner to carry humans to space, the challenges and complexities become a whole lot more interesting.

To Launch a Starliner

Sometimes history inspires us. Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of history being made. Now we are in the middle of the most aggressive push for the Moon since we landed there the first time 50 years ago. On this episode of Kennedy Space Center's podcast, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson discusses her role as the Launch Director for the Artemis I mission.

Interview with Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

NASA's internship program now has an NFL quarterback in its ranks. Josh Dobbs of the Jacksonville Jaguars has a degree in aerospace engineering and thanks to the NFL Players Association’s externship program, he is now working as an intern at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this off season. Josh shares his unique insights on NASA and life in the NFL.

NFL Quarterback: Rocket Arm and Mind

Hear how the Kennedy Space Center Launch team has persevered through a global pandemic to get a Mars Rover named Perseverance to the pad on time.

Mars 2020 in the Midst of a Pandemic

On this episode of NASA Kennedy Space Center's Rocket Ranch Podcast, we remember Challenger, her crew and their survivors, and how we carry forward the lessons NASA learned with the director of the Apollo Challenger Columbia Lessons Learned Program.

Lessons of Loss

The rocket ranch welcomes Dr. Moogega Cooper, NASA JPL's planetary protection lead for Mars Perseverance. She'll tell us how she and her team are actually protecting Mars and she'll describe the incredibly complex maneuvers needed to land on the red planet. Plus, she'll tell us about the most exciting parts of its astrobiology mission.

Perseverance Rover: Rapid Disassembly, Martian Mission, and Beyond

The Rocket Ranch welcomes Sheldon Lauderdale, Program Analyst for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which last year returned human spaceflight to orbit from U.S. soil. Shel will tell us what it's like to be part of the NASA family. He'll share where he draws inspiration, plus, he’ll talk about his role supporting NASA’s efforts to expand diversity and inclusion to empower the next generation of explorers.

Being Black in the NASA Family, Finding Inspiration, and Becoming More Inclusive

Hello, we’re NASA. You may have seen our astronauts, rocket launches, or Mars rovers — but have you heard our sounds? From interviews with astronauts and engineers to stories that take you on a tour of the galaxy, NASA’s audio offerings let you experience the thrill of space exploration without ever leaving Earth.