Made of Stars

Made of Stars

Made of Stars is a look at everything in space exploration from programs and vehicles on Earth to discoveries made just out of our atmosphere and into deep space. Space enthusiast Wes Carroll interviews executive director of CSU's Coca-Cola Space Science center Dr. Shawn Cruzen each week with new episodes published Thursday mornings. Georgia Association of Broadcasters winner for Best Podcast Series at the 2022 Gabby Awards Support the Podcast https://www.patreon.com/Wescarroll Voice Over: Joe Earl Williams Original Music: Graham Hobson Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.

Episodes

October 16, 2025 35 mins
Jared Isaacman could actually head NASA after being dropped from consideration. SpaceX successfully launched the final Version 2 Starship Super Heavy this week. A NASA payload unintentionally landed on a West Texas ranch. Aurora could be coming to the US tonight!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
NASA and Blue Origin are preparing to launch two spacecraft to Mars. Dream Chaser is preparing to debut as a free-flying spacecraft in 2026. ESA's TGO has gotten some slightly closer images of 3I/Atlas. And we have new evidence that Enceladus has favorable conditions for life. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
NASA has announced its next ten candidates for astronaut. STEVE has returned. Strong solar flares are possible over the next few days. Axiom has selected its first Project Astronaut. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
September 25, 2025 37 mins
NASA says the Artemis II Moon mission could happen in six months and there's a way your name can travel with it. NASA and SpaceX sent up three probes to study space weather. NASA's VIPER mission has come back to life. And stars have been spotted eating things. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
September 18, 2025 29 mins
Northrop Grumman's  Cygnus XL has reached the ISS. Space Weather announces upcoming solar activity. Scientists discover evidence of liquid water on Ryugu's parent asteroid. Ukraine has destroyed the RT-70 telescope.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
The Perseverance rover has given some evidence of what could be a sign of a past life on Mars, but it's too early to confirm. There's a large hole in the Sun's atmosphere and there's a chance it could impact our skies on Earth. SpaceX had a successful launch of Starship 10 and prepares for 11's launch. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
September 4, 2025 25 mins
Astronomers are using the JWST to determine if the morning star us even a star. Blue Origin is set to launch their 2nd New Glenn rocket as soon as the end of the month. New research from JWST says that the oldest known black hole is more than 13.3 billion years old. Plus the most massive black hole ever found is 36 billion times the mass of our sun. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars-...
Mark as Played
Wes and Shawn are joined by Chief Technologist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and author Les Johnson to talk about the symbiotic relationship of science and science fiction and his upcoming appearance at Dragon Con as both a scientist and an author. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
SpaceX is set to launch the X-37B tonight if the weather allows. A fireball exploded above Japan this week lighting up the night sky. Arctic aurora season has begun. Comet 3I/ATLAS has a backward tail. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
August 14, 2025 39 mins
NASA astronaut Jim Lovell passed away at the age of 97 and his story is more than just Apollo 13. Artemis 2 is doing more preparation for a February to April launch next year. The meteorite that crashed into a Georgia home is older than Earth. And the Perseid meteor shower isn't quite done yet.  

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
August 7, 2025 26 mins
It's a crowded house aboard the ISS with 11 crew members on board. Crew-10 is preparing to leave and make things a little less crowded. Bitch Wilmore has decided to retire from NASA after 25 years. A CME is pointed at Earth and could bring aurora to high latitudes. Plus, a dead star is sending out radio signals. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
July 31, 2025 39 mins
NASA's Crew 11 scheduled to launch today. NASA and JPL have announced their plans for a sequel to the Ingenuity helicopter. The recently discovered interstellar comet is massive. An asteroid that has a very small chance of colliding with the Moon could send a lot of lunar debris to Earth. It seems that the long speculated companion star to Betelgeuse has been confirmed. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/p...
Mark as Played
NASA's Crew-10 will hold a press conference to update their mission and talk about their return home. Scientists have discovered a new giant molecular cloud in the center of the Milky Way. A 3rd interstellar comet has been observed entering our solar system. Plus an asteroid will make a pass by the Earth but it's nothing to worry about. And there's no solar eclipse on August 2 of this year that will cause the planet to go completel...
Mark as Played
Wes recaps stargazing in Australia before talking about the Bogong Moths that use the stars to navigate their migration patterns. Plus, Ax-4's crew is now back on Earth after making history for three countries. The DART mission has more fruit to bear. Apollo Soyuz celebrates 50 years and it's been 25 year since the Bastille Day Event. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/suppor...
Mark as Played
July 10, 2025 38 mins
Venus Aerospace successfully flew the world’s first atmospheric test of a rotating
detonation rocket engine that could eventually lead to a 55 minute trip from NY to Paris. Why does the Moon have magnetic rocks? Scientists have a new strongest solar storm ever recorded. Scientists now know how the lights turned on at the bebinning of time.   

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/...
Mark as Played
This week we honor an American hero who walked and drove a car on the moon. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
Wes and Shawn interviewed Col. Al Worden in 2011. He passed away in 2020. This week we look back to that interview. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 33 mins
Cancer treatments and cures may come from studies done in space. Scientists are taking the mystery out of the sun's poles. Scientists have a new look at the tiny glass beads found on the Moon during the Apollo era. A new study has given us information about the Milky Way's galactic center. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played
June 12, 2025 39 mins
The Strawberry Moon's name doesn't come from it's color but from what time of year strawberries are at peak ripeness. Japan's Resilience spacecraft has slammed into the Moon. Astronomers have dicovered an object "unlike anything we've seen before". Axiom's Ax-4 has been delayed again. Axiom has partnered with NASA to study DNA of fruit flies. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--474626...
Mark as Played
June 5, 2025 42 mins
Jared Isaacman will not be NASA's next administrator. Active region 4100 has ended. Axiom's Ax-4 launch has been delayed to June 10. New research says the Milky Way and Andromeda won't be colliding after all. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

    It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.