We've all heard of it, and some of us have seen the Netflix comedy series, but what exactly is the U.S. Space Force, and what do they do?
On Episode 157 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik invite USSF Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna to the podcast to discuss the founding of Space Force, what they are charged with overseeing, their role in continuously monitoring U.S. orbital assets and possible threats to them, and their future role in guarding the space lanes.
We also look at the controversy surrounding the recent Blue Origin flight with Katy Perry and other women of note, a recent explosion at a Northrop Grumman facility, and the announcement of a possible detection of life on exoplanet k2-18b!
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Space news of the week
- Possible signs of alien life found on nearby exoplanet, study reports
- ‘It is the highest high’: Here's what Katy Perry and the 5 other women of Blue Origin's historic all-female flight felt after liftoff
- Katy Perry just became the 1st pop star to sing in space — but Lance Bass, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Sarah Brightman and Justin Bieber had their chance
- Explosion destroys building at Northrop Grumman rocket test site in Utah
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna
- U.S. Space Force
- Space Force Officer Guardians
- U.S. Space Force defines path to space superiority in first Warfighting framework
Model Falcon 9!

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Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.
About This Week In Space
This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?
Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.