Space Shenanigans and the Future of Human Spaceflight

Space Shenanigans and the Future of Human Spaceflight

From Podcasts – Weird Things by Andrew Mayne

January 30, 2026

About this episode

The episode discusses a medical emergency on the ISS, the Artemis II mission, future space stations, and critiques the new Starfleet Academy show.

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood kick things off with a discussion about a medical emergency that led to an astronaut’s early return from the International Space Station, sparking rumors of the first space pregnancy. They then shift gears to the Artemis missions, highlighting the Artemis II mission’s goal of sending humans around the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The conversation takes a turn towards the future of space stations, with companies like Vast Space and Axiom Space aiming to build modular, next-generation stations to replace the ISS. The episode wraps up with a critique of the new Starfleet Academy show, expressing disappointment and questioning its target audience. Picks: Brian Brushwood: Fallout Season 2 Justin Robert Young: Tár Andrew Mayne: Dune Part Two

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Mayne

Guests: Justin Robert Young, Brian Brushwood

Topics covered

  • spaceflight
  • medical emergency
  • Artemis missions
  • future of space stations
  • Starfleet Academy critique

Keywords

  • space pregnancy
  • Artemis II
  • Vast Space
  • Axiom Space
  • Starfleet Academy
  • Fallout Season 2
  • Tár
  • Dune Part Two

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Space Station, Artemis, Vast Space, Axiom Space

Books & works: Starfleet Academy, Fallout Season 2, Tár, Dune Part Two

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