Podcast•Mar 30, 2026•44 min
2026.03.18 | Closing the Loop: An Excremental History of the Space Age
The episode explores NASA’s massive infrastructure overhaul at Kennedy Space Center to support the Artemis moon missions and the future Mars journey, featuring 2014 insights from Mike Bolger on launch pad upgrades and from Chris Crumbly on the evolving Space Launch System (SLS). Bolger details the transition to a flexible, “clean pad” architecture at LC‑39B, new lightning towers, universal flame deflectors, modular work platforms, upgraded VAB systems, and a multi‑user launch control room. Crumbly outlines the SLS’s unprecedented thrust—10% greater than the Saturn V—and its evolvable design, including larger boosters, advanced upper stages, and modern manufacturing techniques aimed at boosting payload capacity for deep‑space missions. Together, they illustrate how these technical upgrades are laying the groundwork for sustainable human exploration beyond the Moon.
