Episode 501: MSR China The Orbital Mechanics podcast

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26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast »
Episode 501: MSR China

6 days ago 43:17

MP3•Episode home

Spaceflight News

— China’s Mars Sample Return open to International Cooperation (cgtn.com) (spacenews.com)

Short & Sweet

— Several Russian sats on the move (sattrackcam.blogspot.com) (defence-blog.com)

— X-37B lands after record-breaking mission (arstechnica.com)

Questions, Comments, Corrections

— From the intro: leaked starship photos: (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com) (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com)

This Week in Spaceflight History

— 18 Mar, 1980. Plesetsk launch pad disaster (plesetzk.ru) (russianspaceweb.com) (bbc.co.uk) (en.wikipedia.org)

— Tangent on GRAU indices (en.wikipedia.org)

— Next week (3/25 - 3/31) in 1972: Much closer, much easier, but 53 years late

502 episodes

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

Episode 501: MSR China

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

623 subscribers

published 6 days ago

MP3•Episode home

Spaceflight News

— China’s Mars Sample Return open to International Cooperation (cgtn.com) (spacenews.com)

Short & Sweet

— Several Russian sats on the move (sattrackcam.blogspot.com) (defence-blog.com)

— X-37B lands after record-breaking mission (arstechnica.com)

Questions, Comments, Corrections

— From the intro: leaked starship photos: (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com) (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com)

This Week in Spaceflight History

— 18 Mar, 1980. Plesetsk launch pad disaster (plesetzk.ru) (russianspaceweb.com) (bbc.co.uk) (en.wikipedia.org)

— Tangent on GRAU indices (en.wikipedia.org)

— Next week (3/25 - 3/31) in 1972: Much closer, much easier, but 53 years late

502 episodes

All episodes

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 501: MSR China 43:17

6 days ago43:17

43:17

Spaceflight News — China’s Mars Sample Return open to International Cooperation ( cgtn.com ) ( spacenews.com ) Short & Sweet — Several Russian sats on the move ( sattrackcam.blogspot.com ) ( defence-blog.com ) — X-37B lands after record-breaking mission ( arstechnica.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: leaked starship photos: (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com ) (HT The Orbital Index: reddit.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 18 Mar, 1980. Plesetsk launch pad disaster ( plesetzk.ru ) ( russianspaceweb.com ) ( bbc.co.uk ) ( en.wikipedia.org ) — Tangent on GRAU indices ( en.wikipedia.org ) — Next week (3/25 - 3/31) in 1972: Much closer, much easier, but 53 years late…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 500: Quincentennial 55:45

13 days ago55:45

55:45

Spaceflight News — IM-2 lunar landing ( intuitivemachines.com ) ( spacenews.com ) ( spacenews.com ) ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( intuitivemachines.com ) ( youtube.com ) Short & Sweet — Voyager turns off further instruments ( space.com ) — A Falcon 9 loses a leg ( spacenews.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: ISS too clean ( newsbreak.com ) ( cell.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 15 Mar, 1976. Launch of Lincoln Experimental Satellite 8 and 9 (LES-8 and -9) ( skyrocket.de ) ( wikipedia.org ) ( ll.mit.edu ) — Next week (3/18 - 3/24) in 1980: Wait nine years until “openness”…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 499: Wicked Shimmy 40:30

20 days ago40:30

40:30

Spaceflight News — Starship TF7 bounced to pieces (Paywall: aviationweek.com ) ( spacenews.com ) Short & Sweet — Two payloads on IM-2 launch suffering problems on-orbit ( spacenews.com ) — Space capsule lands in Australia while first rocket readies to launch ( spacenews.com ) ( abc.net.au ) — Xona received contract to develop GPS alternative ( insidegnss.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: Blue Ghost lunar landing? (Spoiler: it did!) ( space.com ) ( spacenews.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — Feb 26, 1960: Failed launch of MiDAS 1 ( en.wikipedia.org ) (PDF: nro.gov ) (PDF: nro.gov ) — Next week (3/11 - 3/17) in 1976: Two score and nine years ago…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 498: Decimation 40:39

5 weeks ago40:39

40:39

Spaceflight News — Stoke Space reveals Andromeda 2 ( stokespace.com ) Short & Sweet — Long March 8A completes first flight ( spacenews.com ) — Germany provides funds for new launch facility ( europeanspaceflight.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: Blue Origin Layoffs ( spacenews.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 24 Feb, 1996. Launch of POLAR satellite (PDF: ntrs.nasa.gov ) ( eyes.nasa.gov ) ( nasaspaceflight.com ) — Next week (2/25 - 3/3) in 1960: The copper touch…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 497: Frustrating Frustum 1:16:34

6 weeks ago1:16:34

1:16:34

Spaceflight News — The most amazing little rocket that will have ever built ( spacenews.com ) ( aas.org ) ( aas.org ) ( aas.org ) (PDF: hou.usra.edu ) Short & Sweet — Starbase Update ( nasaspaceflight.com ) — Thales Alenia to build an airlock ( europeanspaceflight.com ) Vast reschedules Haven-1 ( spacenews.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: ThrustMe pushes into US market ( spacenews.com ) ( thrustme.fr ) — Unc’ Willy: Frustums, and NGLR ( discord.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 11 Feb, 2000: Shuttle Radar Topography Mission launched on STS-99 ( en.wikipedia.org ) ( airandspace.si.edu VIA web.archive.org ) (PDF: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com ) — Next week (2/18 - 2/24) in 1996: Goes where it says on the tin.…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

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Episode 496: Next-Gen Corner Cube 1:02:07

7 weeks ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Spaceflight News — Blue Ghost M1 ( americaspace.com ) ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( fireflyspace.com ) ( gsfc.nasa.gov ) ( baas.aas.org ) ( hou.usra.edu ) Short & Sweet — Starliner investigation nears completion ( spacenews.com ) — AstroForge announces first target ( space.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: IRNSS-1K launch failure ( thehindu.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — Feb. 6, 1995: STS-63 approaches within 11 meters of Mir ( en.wikipedia.org ) (PDF: nasa.gov ) ( thespaceabove.us ) — Next week (2/11 - 2/17) in 2000: Tail-first and burning fast…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 495: NICER than orange slices 1:00:49

8 weeks ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Spaceflight News — NICER repair on EVA 91 ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( svs.gsfc.nasa.gov ) ( science.nasa.gov ) ( svs.gsfc.nasa.gov ) ( heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov ) Short & Sweet — ESA to vote on future of Space Rider spacecraft ( europeanspaceflight.com ) — China hops higher, maybe ( spacenews.com ) ( bilibili.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: New Shepard’s lunar gravity mission ( spacenews.com ) — Hydraq via email: CH4 hydrodynamics in Starship This Week in Spaceflight History — 3 Feb, 1994: The launch of STS-60 ( americaspace.com ) ( americaspace.com ) (PDF: nasa.gov ) ( nss.org ) Next week (2/4 - 2/10) in 1995: Hey, it’s me again. I’m outside.…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

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Episode 494: Debris Cross-Range

9 weeks ago

—

Spaceflight News — Starship FT-7 ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( spacenews.com ) ( bsky.app/profile/derekdotspace.bsky.social ) ( space.com ) ( spacenews.com ) Short & Sweet — ISRO successfully docks in space ( spacenews.com ) — RFA granted license for vertical launch from UK ( europeanspaceflight.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: New Glenn First Flight ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( americaspace.com ) ( americaspace.com ) ( spacenews.com ) ( spacenews.com ) ( spacenews.com ) — DarthMooMoo: Varda launched on F9, not Electron ( discord.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 22 Jan 1997: Space debris hits a person for the first and only time on record. (HT SciKyle: en.wikipedia.org ) (PDF: deepblue.lib.umich.edu ) (PDF: apps.dtic.mil ) ( foxnews.com ) — Next week (1/28 - 2/3) in 1994: Call before you come over…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

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Episode 493: Two Satellites Enter! Five Satellites Leave! 39:36

10 weeks ago39:36

39:36

Thanks to Dennis O for naming this week’s episode! Spaceflight News — Mars Sample Return redesign ( spaceflightnow.com ) ( spacenews.com ) Short & Sweet — China tests mission extension tech on-orbit ( spacenews.com ) — X-37B’s latest mission passes one-year in space ( space.com ) — Pale Blue Propulsion ( spacenews.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: Eaton/Pallisades fire relief for JPL workers ( spacenews.com ) ( americaspace.com ) ( securelb.imodules.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — Jan. 17, 2005: US-China Orbital Debris Event ( space.com ) (PPT: celestrak.org ) ( spaceref.com ) (PDF: orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov ) — Next week (1/21 - 1/27) in 1997: A tap on the shoulder…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

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Episode 492: Lotta Scoopin' 55:09

11 weeks ago55:09

55:09

Spaceflight News — Starship TF-7 ( spacenews.com ) ( ringwatchers.com ) ( spacex.com ) ( twitter.com ) Short & Sweet — India launches space docking demo mission ( nasaspaceflight.com ) ( space.com ) ( en.wikipedia.org ) ( isro.gov.in ) — Launches gaining frequency ( spacenews.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 10 Jan, 1968: Surveyor 7 lands on the moon ( nasa.gov ) ( ntrs.nasa.gov ) ( ntrs.nasa.gov ) — Next week (1/14 - 1/20) in 2005: Was that the Aurora Australis?…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 491: Everest Space 42:41

12 weeks ago42:41

42:41

Spaceflight News — K2 Space wins contract ( spaceinsider.tech ) ( spacenews.com ) ( addtheegg.com ) Short & Sweet — Contracts awarded for NASA’s Near Space Network ( spacenews.com ) — Record breaking spacewalk set by Shenzhou-19 crew ( spacenews.com ) — Crew-10 delayed ( spacenews.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 2 Jan, 1959. Launch of Luna 1, first spacecraft to reach the Moon ( en.wikipedia.org ) ( smithsonianmag.com ) ( mentallandscape.com ) ( smithsonianmag.com ) — Next week (1/7 - 1/13) in 1968: Highlander - there can be only one (of seven)…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 490: PhageX 38:19

14 weeks ago38:19

38:19

Spaceflight News — Orion’s heat shield ( americaspace.com ) ( nasa.gov ) Short & Sweet — Tests of Russian Orbital Station core module announced ( interfax.com ) — Ingenuity’s Crash Investigation ( spacenews.com ) ( youtube.com ) ( youtube.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — Joel Rogers via email: Young and Crippen didn’t fly on Enterprise. This Week in Spaceflight History — December 17, 2012: Grasshopper makes its first real hop ( spacenews.com ) ( en.wikipedia.org ) — Next week (1/1 - 1/6) in 1959: To the moon! Uh... to the Sun!…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 489: Swirl Domination 42:00

15 weeks ago42:00

42:00

Spaceflight News — Swirl-dominated chambers ( payloadspace.com ) ( https://www.sierraspace.com ) ( Pic , from researchgate.net ) (PDF: nasa.gov ) Short & Sweet — So long Sutherland Spaceport ( satellitetoday.com ) Further delays to Artemis program announced ( spacenews.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 12 Dec, 1970. Launch of Uhuru ( nasa.gov ) (PDF: jhuapl.edu ) — Next week (12/17 - 12/23) in 2012: Ride ‘em, cowboy…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 488: Chonky Copter 44:07

16 weeks ago44:07

44:07

Spaceflight News — Epsilon can’t stop exploding ( space.com ) ( youtu.be ) (PDF: jaxa.jp ) — A Dragonfly on a Falcon Heavy ( satellitetoday.com ) Short & Sweet — Old spaceport, newish rocket ( europeanspaceflight.com ) — New rocket, new spaceport ( spacenews.com ) Questions, Comments, Corrections — From the intro: New Glenn on the pad ( space.com ) ( blueorigin.com ) This Week in Spaceflight History — 3 Dec, 2003: Shuttle Training Aircraft loses part of an engine ( iasa.com.au VIA web.archive.org ) ( en.wikipedia.org ) ( simpleflying.com ) — Next week (12/10 - 12/16) in 1970: Equatorial eyes…

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

1
Episode 487: What's that smell? 40:57

17 weeks ago40:57