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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Fla. - As the end of the shuttle program fast approaches it seems that the pace of events taking place at the space center have reached a fever pitch. Just a week after Atlantis was rolled from her OPF to the VAB and then lifted into the air and mated to the last External Tank - the next STS-135 milestone took place - rollout. As with the 24 period around rollover, rollout would also prove to be frenetic. Within a thirteen-hour period Kennedy Space Center saw the final rollout of the shuttle program as Atlantis headed to Launch Complex 39A, the final landing of space shuttle Endeavour as well as Endeavour's tow back to her OPF. However for members of the media this was just the start of the day. Atlantis' rollout kicked off around 8 p.m. EDT with the lumbering crawler-transporter carrying its precious cargo out to the pad at a blistering mile an hour. Workers and their families formed a precession that escorted the venerable orbiter to her date with history. The crew of the final shuttle mission was all on hand as well and conducted interviews across from the Vehicle Assembly. The press either hunkered down or went to go get something to eat before Commander Mark Kelly and the crew of STS-134, Pilot Greg Johnson and Mission Specialists Greg Chamitoff, Mike Fincke, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori landed Endeavour one last time. For photojournalists present the night landing wasn't what they were waiting for. The orbiters are towed back to their OPFs and photographers are allowed to shoot images as the shuttle moves by. Most want to get a shot of the shuttle as it passes by a small pond along the route providing for beautiful reflection shots. NASA also has what is known as a “Sunrise Photo Opportunity” where reporters are taken out to periphery of the launch pad and shoot video and pictures. I had to leave a little early and returned to my hotel room to begin uploading video and images as well as file stories. I skipped being at KSC for the landing as; in all honesty, there really isn't much I can do. Having covered the sunrise opportunity on a number of occasions I passed on this as well. I was waiting for what I've dubbed “Sunrise Photo Op - on Steroids.” Whereas with the sunrise event takes you at the base of the launch pad, for this tour you go onto the pad itself, and are taken to various destinations on LC39A, in short, you get to walk in the footsteps of the astronauts themselves. However, if you have a fear of heights - one should not go on this tour. To add to the drama a storm blew in dousing the pad with rain and sending photographers scrambling to save their equipment. Most (myself included) of the journalists that attended this were honored to be allowed to be included on this historical event. On the way back one photographer mumbled and grumbled about how bad it was and how he felt cheated due to the rushed nature caused by the weather. I held my tongue, but was glad when another journalist looked at him and asked him point blank, “Are you high?” The pace takes its toll. The changing and odd hours mean little sleep, a lot of junk food and stress. A couple key themes have emerged as this period unfolds, you will get the common expressions of irritation - until the media has the opportunity to see what they have collected - and then that frustration turns to joy. But one theme although not openly stated is openly acknowledged - this must be done - history is taking place and we must chronicle it. What we are living now - is just the storm before the calm. The tour of the launch pad was short, but some of the interviews, lift and mate as well as rollout has additional content that hit the cutting room floor. Sign up for Spacevidcast epic today for your chance to see exclusive footage only for members as well as industry interviews and additional tours. Spacevidcast epic helps us pay for the show and keeps the great content coming.

The worlds largest space agency is in the midst of change. The Space Shuttle is retiring this year. NASA is shifting its focus to build a space industry and spur a new space enconomy rather than just run a single manned space program. Of course with this change comes some pain, and people resistant to new things. In this live show we cover ways you can participate in the ending of the Space Shuttle Program as well as why you shouldn't fear change. The future for manned space exploration has never been brighter, we just have to illuminate the path for those who don't see it yet. Want to help us spread the message? Subscribe to Spacevidcast epic today! You'll get a Google Ad free experience as well as exlusive member-only content. Spacevidcast epic subscriptions start for as little as $8.33/mo and if you're uber cool you can even be a part of our affiliate program! Sign up today at http://www.spacevidcast.com/epic flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

Right after the final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour, we were fortunate to get a personal tour of Juno, the next NASA Spacecraft to go to Jupiter. Dr. Steve Levin sat down with us to talk about the science behind the mission and why Juno is so awesome! Juno is slated to lift off from Kennedy Space Center later this year. You can follow the mission on their Twitter account @NASAJuno. A special thanks to @NASAJim for setting this up and getting us access to this awesome craft. Spacevidcast epic subscribers have access to the full 10 minute interview featuring additional data on the science and people behind Juno. Head over to Spacevidcast.com/epic to sign in to your account or sign up today. In addition to getting more of this interview we have gigabytes and gigabytes of additional content from interviews to mission downloadables and more! Spacevidcast epic helps keep the videos from Spacevidcast flowing! Get your space geek on and sign up today! The epic enhanced version of this SpacePodis in the large video window above. If you would like to see the public version of this video, it i embedded below:

Spacevidcast's Jason Rhian had a chance to go behind the scenes with the Google Lunar X PRIZE team Omega Envoy to take a peek at their new facility and the progress of their lunar rover. Omega Envoy is one of nearly 30 teams competing to win part of the $30 million dollar pot for sending a rover to the moon and completing specific tasks. For more information on Omega Envoy you can visit their Twitter account @OmegaEnvoy or their web site at www.OmegaEnvoy.org. For more information on the Google Lunar X PRIZE you can visit their Twitter account @GLXP or their web site at www.GoogleLunarXPRIZE.org. This SpacePod features a special 9 minute walk through for Spacevidcast epic subscribers. If you would like to see the full video sign in to your epic account or sign up today! Accounts start at as little as $8.33/mo and help us bring you great space content from around the globe! Get your space geek on and help keep Spacevidcast running at the same time, visit www.Spacevidcast.com/epic and sign up today. The epic enhanced version of this SpacePod is available in the large video window above. If you would like to watch the 5 minute public version you may do so below:

In tradition of not wanting a launch (or live show) to end in the number 13, this episode has been re-named to SVC-12M. Why that numbering system? Well, we explain it in the open of the show! A lot of amazing stuff is happening within America's Space Programs on the 50th anniversary of JFK's iconic moon landing speech we talk about people stuck in the past of Apollo and some of the advantages of moving forward with companies like SpaceX. After the break we have some awesome video from Endeavour's solid rocket booster cameras as well as a Soyuz station flyaround with the Space Shuttle stuff attached to the International Space Station For more details on each story covered in this episode, visit the wiki article: http://wiki.spacevidcast.com/en/SVC-12M and remember that if you would like to get your hands on the Spacevidcast After Dark SVCAD-12M episode you can sign up for Spacevidcast epic to get your hands on that and other amazing content. http://www.spacevidcast.com/epic flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

CAPE CANAVERAL – The manner in which Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) handles its operations is all about reducing cost while maintaining efficiency. A large part of this is displayed in the use of horizontal as opposed to vertical integration. This however is just one of many technical innovations that the company employs at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket rests on two dollies that have wheels that allow for the Falcon 9 rocket to be rotated around much in the same manner as a rotisserie chicken. Moreover, the entire rocket can be moved without electrical power – with as little as four people required to move it. If something where to fall (and in many cases has fallen) from the upper decks of Launch Complex 39A (the space shuttle launch pad) damage can and has occurred to the vehicle being serviced on the pad. The likelihood of that happening at SLC 40 – is highly unlikely. If a tool was to fall – it would fall at maximum approximately 15 feet – as opposed to potentially hundreds of feet at LC39A or other vertical integration-based structures in the surrounding area. The Liquid Oxygen (LOX) tank is another example of the company's ability to cut cost. The tank was purchased for one dollar over the cost of scrap value. But the efficiency doesn't stop there. It turned out that the flame trench needed to reduce the risk of damage to the rocket due to acoustic vibration was too short. One estimate from a traditional source put the cost to refurbish the site in the millions of dollars. SpaceX consulted a young engineer who created a more efficient method – for $65,000. The more one spends out at SLC 40, the more one can tell that the firm is working to reinvent the manner in which rockets are sent into orbit. SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk, pushes his workers to do it better, faster and at less cost than traditional methods. "We've been tasked by Elon to get the Falcon 9 out of the hangar and ready to launch within an hour," said SpaceX's Vice-President of Communications Bobby Block. "We're not there yet – but we're working on it." The full 10+ minute tour is available to Spacevidcast epic subscribers. Additionally epic subscribers have access to exclusive member-only content such as an interview with SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk. Help Spacevidcast continue to bring you the space geek content you want! Subscribe to epic today at http://www.spacevidcast.com/epic The full 10 minute tour of Space Launch Complex 40 is available above. If you would like to watch the public YouTube version you may do so below: As an epic subscriber you also have access to our full interview with SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk. Click here to go to that post, or click here to see all posts that have exclusive epic content.

During and after the successful launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-134 we got a ton of questions. Too many to answer during our live coverage. We decided to take an entire live to to talk about some of the more common questions and answer them as best we can. Of course our amazing live community was there to help out both during the regular show and the after dark show (epic subscribers only). Speaking of After Dark, if you want some insight in to the new Disney Star Tours ride, you'll want to watch this episode! We also chat more about the future of space and an amazing gift from one Spacevidcaster! Additional information on this episode is available in our Wiki flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

I may be in my hotel room, but it's time to get some SpacePods started again and explain exactly why Endeavour scrubbed today!

STS-134 is going to be awesome, busy and more awesome! NASA Awards over a quarter billion to next generation space companies to develop spaceships capable of sending humans to the International Space Station. Lockheed Martin details plans to go to Mars, well, close to Mars. China may get Space Race 2.0 going, but is that a good thing? flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

States that didn't get a retired orbiter are upset. States that did get a retired orbiter but may not have deserved it are upset. And people are just plain grumpy about where the 4 remaining space shuttles will go. We also chat about delays in next generation rockets and how to INSPIRES kids. flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

We have an interview with author Andrew Kessler about "Martian Summer" and his experience working at NASA. In honor of the 50 year celebration of human space flight, April 12th a preview copy of "Martian Summer" will be given away for free! We also chat about the upcoming Yuri's Night World Celebration, how space needs to tell a story, the all new Falcon Heavy from SpaceX and much more! Additional information on this episode can be found on the wiki article. flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

The wiki article containing links and additional information on each story can be found here: http://wiki.spacevidcast.com/en/4.08 Stories covered: NASA Tweetup Nerds ZOMGDUDELOLZ! Possible delay of STS-134 to April 29th, 2011 The stacking of the final Space Shuttle SRBs is underway Ariane 5 rocket failed to lift off from it's launch pad. First images of Mercury from MESSENGER The Aurora from Norway Yuri's Night Contests deadline EXTENDED! BBC has the first journalist allowed inside of SpaceShip 2 SpaceX video touts Something Big is Coming And as a reminder, this was our April 1st show. While it would be awesome to be a part of Masten Space Systems, that was our little prank. Hope everyone enjoyed it! flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

Kelly Brothers not taking media interviews, Armadillo Aerospace's plans looking good for 100,000 foot flight, Rocketdyne tests it Bantam engine, Senators Crippling Rockets and a short movie of NanoSail-D in orbit.

While the Tsunami in Japan may be working its way out of the national news circuit, the devastation remains. In the intro of the show we explain what you can do to help. After the break we look at a way to send the ashes of your loved ones to orbit or even the moon, the Cassini Saturn flyby IMAX movie that one man is working on, MESSENGER entering Mercury's orbit and the success of New Space companies thus far. We end with a special surprise showing a bit of the magazine ad we will have published in NewSpace Magazine. Full show links and additional information on all of these stories are available on our wiki at http://wiki.spacevidcast.com/en/4.06 flowplayer("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.2.7.swf");

Space Shuttle Discovery has flown her last mission. Endeavour is on deck next. GLORY launch doesn't go as expected but the military's X-37B super secret unmanned shuttle launches without a hitch. Getting the world excited about space with YouTube. All of these stories and more on our latest live show!