Space Sustainability with Steve Wozniak, & Guests

About This Episode

How can we keep space safe? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic-environmentalist co-host Matt Winning learn about the space industry and how we can keep debris out of orbit with aerospace engineers Jenna Tiwana and Danielle Wood, with words from Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak.

This episode was filmed live at the Summit for Space Sustainability in London in partnership with Privateer Space x Omega. 

Discover the exponential growth of the space industry and what “space sustainability” means. Are the countless launches to space growing out of control? We discuss needed regulation in order to keep space safe and operational. When did space sustainability start? Why do countries even want space programs? 

Should we be allowed to dump things on the moon? Could we put a recycling facility there? We talk about making sure Indiginous cultures have a seat at the table when making decisions about the moon. Learn about Eugene Shoemaker and his burial on the moon. Should more people be allowed to be buried there? Where does Neil want to be buried? 

How high in demand will lagrange points be? Learn about these magic points in space and what sort of facilities we could operate in a lagrange point. Find out about other objects in our orbit, how to deorbit safely, and the number one step we can take to decrease space debris. What is the Kessler effect? Matt tells us about his favorite Gerard Butler movie and what sort of regulations we need to help guide the space industry. Should we build upon the current outer space treaty? All of that, and the lessons we have learned from sustainability questions on Earth that we can take with us to space. 

Thanks to our Patrons Sub Zero, Maury, Harrison Wilcox, Jim Langner, and JAYME HATTERSLEY for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.