We review all that we've covered in season 2 before diving into the final phase of the moon race in season 3. Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester GarciaDoor Frontier of Infinity

We discuss the long road Project Apollo has taken since its initial conception right up to the end of Project Gemini. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Apollo: The Early Years" by Eugen Reichl "Space Race: The Epic Battle Between the United States and Soviet Union f…

We examine the aftermath of Sergei Korolev's death as the Soviet Space Program struggle to pull themselves together and get back in the race against the Americans to conquer the moon. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Be…

The grand finale of Project Gemini has finally come! Buzz Aldrin and James Lovell will take to space on Gemini 12 for a final attempt to master the spacewalk problem and prove that work in space can be done safely and efficiently before Project Apollo begins to fly. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and…

Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon take flight on Gemini 11 in hopes of finally mastering the spacewalk enigma while also undertaking a curious and risky experiment. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Failure is Not an Option" by Gene Kranz Web S…

Michael Collins and John Young take to space aboard Gemini 10! instagram: @foispacecast music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Failure is Not an Option" by Gene Kranz Web Sources- Michael Collins - New Mexico Museum of Space History (nmspacemuseum.org)…

Gene Cernan undertakes a harrowing space walk shortly after NASA loses its first astronauts. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Failure is not an Option" by Gene Kranz Web Sources- Remembering NASA Astronauts Elliot See and Charles Bassett | …

In our first episode of CAPCOM, the new segment where I sit down with experts in the space field, I have a conversation with Dr. Furman Daniel, professor of strategy at the National War College to discuss his book entitled "The First Space War: How the Patterns of History and the Principles of STEM will Shape its Form." We discuss the possible moti…

We examine a fascinating side bar in the history of space exploration -- the life and works of Edward Mokuka Nkoloso, who endeavored to create his own homespun space program in 1960s Zambia of a mind to beat the US and USSR to the moon. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: The Zambian…

We return to the Soviet Union to follow Sergei Korolev through his final days as he struggles to launch a Soviet moon mission and deals with his own personal issues. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet Drive to Beat America to the …

Dave Scott and Neil Armstrong take to space aboard Gemini 8, hoping to carry out the first orbital docking maneuver. But their journey will turn dangerous when a malfunction threatens to kill them both and destroy their spacecraft. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project …

One of the most complex and daring missions to be undertaken up to that time flies as part of Project Gemini as NASA attempts to finally succeed in pulling off an orbital rendezvous. Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Failure is not an Option" by Gene Kranz "Project Gemini" …

We take a look at some of the most significant robotic probes launched during the first half of the 1960s which revealed new and exciting information about space and paved the way for future human missions. Instagram: @foispacecast Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia…

Gordon Cooper and Charles "Pete" Conrad take flight on Gemini 5 hoping to further NASA's plans for an eventual moon landing. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet …

Edward White and Jim McDivitt take to space aboard Gemini 4 to carry out the first American spacewalk. Instagram: @foispacecast Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Soviets in Space" by Colin Burgess Web Sources- Edward H. White II - New Mexico M…

In the second installment of space battle, we pit the second generation spacecraft of both the US and USSR against one another to determine their strengths, weaknesses, and unique features. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "S…

We cover the first crewed flight of the Gemini Program with Gemini 3, during which Gus Grissom and John Young achieved some historic firsts, and even enjoyed an unorthodox lunch. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Failure is not an Option" by Gene Kran…

We cover the entire Voskhod Program in one go, from its initial conception, engineering phases, and flights. This program saw more incredible firsts as well as one of the most hair-raising spaceflights ever conducted. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- …

We trace the history of the Gemini Project from its original conception through to its late testing phase. Instagram: @foispacecast Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Project Gemini" by Eugen Reichl "Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury through Apollo 13 and …

We are back! After a brief hiatus due to technical issues (a constant in any space program) we return to the story of the space flight, though on a somber note. This week, we discuss the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the impact it had on the space program as well as the nation as a whole. Instagram: @foispacecast Twitter: @FOISpace…

This week, season one draws to a close, and we see it off with a full review of everything we've covered thus far. It's been a fun ride thus far, and I hope all of you decide to stick with me on this journey through the history of space exploration. Thanks for listening! CORRECTION: I misspoke in the last section and said we were on Project Mercury…

The X-15 was the world's first space plane and holds the world record for fastest crewed flight of an aircraft. This incredible machine was a precursor to Project Mercury and allowed NASA as well as its affiliates to learn valuable information about hypersonic and space flight. In this episode, we cover an overview of the project from its design, r…

The Vostok Program comes to an end with a record-setting dual flight that also carries the first woman in history to reach space. I misspoke and said this was episode eighteen in the episode. It is indeedn episode nineteen. Sorry about that. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: @foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and F…

This week, we cover the final flight of Project Mercury. Gordon Cooper is slated to fly the most ambitious mission of the program so far, spending more than a full day in orbit. It will be the longest American manned mission yet, but it will also see the direst crisis of Project Mercury. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram" foispacecast Music: "Crossi…

We stay planted on the ground for an episode to discuss the Cuban Missile Crisis, which constituted the nearest the US and USSR came to open war. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: "Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and the Soviet Union for Dominion o…

With the Soviets fresh off a massive success with Vostoks 3 and 4, the Americans prepare to fire back with a bold new Mercury Mission. But before Wally Schirra can take flight aboard Sigma 7, President Kennedy will deliver a famous speech to galvanize American drive in outer space. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: foispacecast Music: "Crossing the…

It's been roughly a year since the Soviets have launched a manned mission. They've watched from the sidelines as John Glenn and Scott Carpenter have orbited the Earth, and now it's time for them to respond with a new type of mission that has never been attempted before. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Instagram: foispacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" b…

The Mode Decision is finally settled, and the next Mercury-Atlas launch is readied to go; but one of the Mercury 7 receives some devastating news resulting in a shakeup in the next mission's crew. CORRECTION: When describing the changes made to the Mercury Capsule, I misspoke and called the Earth Path Indicator a Flight Path Indicator. The former i…

John Glenn launches aboard Friendship 7, attempting to finally place an American in orbit and grant the US a fresh victory in the space race. Hey folks! The day that this episode goes up, NASA is due to launch Artemis 1, the first mission of their new moon project. This mission will be unmanned but will serve as a full test of the Orion Spacecraft.…

Both Korolev and von Braun race to assemble moon missions while the Atlas launch vehicle faces a gauntlet of tests to ready it for a manned flight. But Korolev's personal struggles will severely hamstring his efforts. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books - "Failure is Not an Optio…

Following Alan Shepard's successful flight aboard Freedom 7, the US Congress make big moves to strengthen NASA while Korolev meets resistance in the USSR to his plans for a moon mission. Both the US and USSR launch their second men into space, but both of them are met with challenge and danger on their flights. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossi…

The fallout from Yuri Gagarin's first manned flight rocks the United States, followed shortly by another crushing failure on the world stage for the Kennedy Administration. When a plan to overthrow the Castro Regime in Cuba goes wrong, the stakes rise even higher for the American Space Program as NASA prepares to launch Alan Shepard into space aboa…

This week, we reach a major milestone: Yuri Gagarin takes flight on Vostok 1. We ride along on his historic mission while the Americans likewise make strides toward placing a human being in space. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Esther Garcia Sources and Further Research: Books- "Korolev: How One Man Masterminded the Soviet…

In the first (and possibly last) episode of Space Battle, we compare the Mercury-Redstone to the Vostok K, the first two spacecraft that put humans into space, representing the United States and Soviet Union respectively. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Esther Garcia Sources and Further Research: "The Soviet Manned Space Pr…

The worst rocket disaster in history strikes the Soviet Union as Sergei Korolev struggles to launch a human into space. Meanwhile, in the United States, testing issues plague Project Mercury. But even amid the tragedy and the setbacks, both the NASA and the Soviets choose who will be the first from their nation to fly into space. Twitter: @FOISpace…

This week, the space race continues as the Mercury Seven continue to train and make ready to voyage into space. Meanwhile, the Soviets make preparations to compete, searching for their own cosmonaut corps while also shocking the world with a pair of highly successful lunar probes. CORRECTION: The Mercury Capsule weighed closer to 3,000 lbs rather t…

We take a look at what drove the Mercury Seven to become astronauts as well as how they came together to work as a team after they were selected by examining a collection of essays written by the astronauts themselves. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia Sources and Further Research: "We Seven" by The Mercury Seven…

NASA begins work on the Mercury Program, striving to place a human in space. There's plenty to do. Spacecraft to design, launch vehicles to choose, and space pilots to find. We ride along as they select their first class of astronauts and reveal them to the world. Meanwhile, Sergei Korolev launches another lunar probe and struggles to get his own m…

The Space Race is on! Wernher von Braun and the U.S. Space Program compete against Sergei Korolev and his team in the Soviet Union to win dominance in space throughout 1958. The Soviets went into this year with a huge lead, but the Americans aren't out yet. This year would see triumphs and failures on both sides as well as one of the most significa…

We travel to the Soviet Union, where we get to know Sergei Korolev, the man who will serve as the Chief Designer for the Soviet Space Program. However, before becoming a pioneer in space, he must endure many hardships and injustices. Then, we witness one of the most critical moments in space history: the launch of the first artificial satellite -- …

In our second ancillary, we briefly discuss the mechanics of orbits, how spacecraft and other objects circle a body in space without falling into it or flying away. This is a critical concept in spaceflight and will be important to understand as we move forward with the story. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia So…

In the first half of this episode, we explore the wider historical context in which the rest of our story is nested, taking a look at the Russian Revolution, the rise of the Soviet Union, and the opening phases of the Cold War. In the second half, we return to von Braun and his team as they make landfall in the US and begin to work on new projects …

In our first ancillary, we discuss the history, features, and legacy of the V-1 flying bomb, the first proper cruise missile. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music: "Crossing the Universe" by Ester Garcia (You can listen to the full track on Spotify) Sources and Further Research: The V-1 Flying Bomb: The Nazi Cruise Missile - YouTube Why the V1 Flying Bomb …

We delve into a particularly dark chapter in the history of rocketry as Wernher von Braun is inducted into the German military to work on rocket projects just as the Nazi Party is coming to power. Von Braun will develop a rocket unlike any the world has seen but at the behest of one of history's most murderous regimes. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Music:…

Welcome to Frontier of Infinity! In this prelude, we introduce the show and establish some basics about it. If you want to get right into the main content, feel free to skip ahead to episode one.Door Tom

The adventure begins. In the introduction, we ride alongside the first human to leave the Earth behind before we discuss the three founding fathers of rocketry -- the engineers who formulated the essential math needed to build spacecraft. In this episode, we also meet one of the principal characters in the story to come. Twitter: @FOISpacecast Musi…