This week’s episode was an exciting one! I sat down with aerospace engineer, astrophysicist, and analog astronaut Dr. Rodrigo Schmitt. For years, he and other engineers have used the Kerbal Space Program (with the realism mods) to assist with spacecraft design and mission planning. KSP and other “sandbox games” have also been hailed as a vital educational tool for people studying to become aerospace engineers.
During our interview, we chatted about his recent paper, in which he proposes how KSP and other sandbox games could be integrated into the actual spaceship and mission design process. Based on NASA’s Program/Project Life Cycles, he explained how the software could become part of Pre-Phase A: Concept Studies, the initial design phase. Our interview also focused on how he and his team simulated the Artemis V mission and how orbital refueling will play an important role.
It was honestly one of the most fun interviews I’ve done in recent history. Check out the links below to hear more…
Where to Listen:
Stories by Williams 
Looks like you’ll hit a milestone next episode…
This is true! I wonder what I should do to celebrate…
Drink while recording. It’s what I would do!
Unfortunately, it was already recorded before I decided to make it episode 100. But I will keep that in mind for the next milestone! Or maybe a podcast celebrating the fact that I hit 100…?
Whatever sounds more fun to you. After all, it’s your podcast, man.
It’s been years since I played KSP. I crashed on “the Mun” so many times, which probably proves the real world science fact that I am not qualified to land a spacecraft on the real Moon.