posted 07-10-2009 12:01 PM               

"Space Talk" broadcasts live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM.

Interactivity is a key feature of the program, which is streamed live on the Internet and recorded for download as a Podcast. Audience members from around the nation are invited to call in to the program at 321-768-1240, send e-mail to spacetalking@aol.com, or interact via Twitter.

posted 07-10-2009 12:03 PM               

Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden to Guest on July 11 Edition of 'Space Talk with Jim Banke'

Apollo 15 command module pilot Al Worden will be the featured guest on the July 11 edition of "Space Talk with Jim Banke."

Worden, a retired Air Force colonel, flew to the Moon in August 1971 with astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin, remaining in lunar orbit while his crewmates explored Hadley Rille and the Apennene Mountains. On the way home to Earth he performed the first spacewalk in "deep space."

Worden's appearance is on behalf of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and in honor of the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, which flew July 16-24, 1969.

This week's program also will feature a visit from Andrea Farmer, who will talk about Apollo 11-related events the public can attend at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. And we'll update Space Shuttle Endeavour's countdown, which is scheduled to launch that day at 7:39 p.m. EDT.

posted 07-24-2009 01:48 PM               

Apollo Author and Apollo Launch Commentator to Guest on July 25 Edition of 'Space Talk with Jim Banke'

Andrew Chaikin and Jack King, both veteran space communicators, will offer their unique perspectives of the Apollo program on the July 25th edition of "Space Talk," one day after the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 splashdown.

Chaikin is the author of the definitive book on the Apollo program, A Man on the Moon, which was the basis for Tom Hank's HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon. His most recent book about Apollo is Voices from the Moon, which includes rare insights from 23 of the 24 astronauts who flew to the Moon between 1968 and 1972.

King is now with United Space Alliance but on July 20, 1969 was working for NASA in a Kennedy Space Center firing room when Apollo 11 lifted off for the Moon. His is the voice millions heard that day, and repeated many times since, calling the historic countdown and launch from pad 39A.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC.

Listeners can participate in the program by calling into the studio at 321-768-1240. Local ATT Wireless customers can call at no charge by dialing *1240. Questions and comments also can be sent to spacetalking@aol.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/spacetalking.

posted 08-07-2009 01:20 AM               

National Space Club Florida Committee 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners To Appear On Aug. 8 Edition Of 'Space Talk' With Jim Banke

Two of the National Space Club Florida Committee's three recipients of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award will appear on the Aug. 8th edition of "Space Talk."

Committee chairman Roy Tharpe will join honorees Guenter Wendt and Jim Johnson in discussing the award and highlights of their careers. The third honoree, Gerry Oppliger, will not be available for the show. The three men will receive their awards during an Aug. 11 luncheon in Cocoa Beach.

Wendt is the legendary "Pad Fuhrer" who helped Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts into their spacecraft and author of the book "The Unbroken Chain." Johnson worked for NASA on unmanned launch vehicles, payload operations and helped manage the agency's international relations.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC.

Listeners can participate in the program by calling into the studio at 321-768-1240. Local ATT Wireless customers can call at no charge by dialing *1240. Questions and comments also can be sent to spacetalking@aol.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/spacetalking.

posted 09-16-2009 02:42 AM               

NASA's Wayne Hale To Discuss Nation's Space Program During Sept. 19 Edition Of 'Space Talk'

NASA's Wayne Hale will discuss our nation's space program and bring his distinctive and experienced voice to the conversation during the Sept. 19 edition of "Space Talk with Jim Banke."

A former NASA flight director and Space Shuttle program manager, Hale is now the space agency's deputy associate administrator for strategic partnerships. He has embraced social media such as Facebook and his blogs are considered "must read".

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC.

Listeners can participate in the program by calling into the studio at 321-768-1240. Local ATT Wireless customers can call at no charge by dialing *1240. Questions and comments also can be sent to spacetalking@aol.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/spacetalking.

posted 01-22-2010 06:48 PM               

Esteemed Author Frederick Ordway III, Age 82, Will Discuss Space History, Wernher von Braun, On Next Space Talk

One of the most respected authors of space history, who witnessed first-hand the birth of the Space Age working alongside Wernher von Braun, will be our special guest on "Space Talk with Jim Banke" on Saturday, July 23.

Ordway is the author, co-author or editor of more than 30 books and hundreds of scholarly and popular articles about the space program. His career is closely tied to von Braun and the original German rocket team in Huntsville, Ala., at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

His 1979 book The Rocket Team is one his most popular. Written with the late Mitchell Sharpe and previewed by von Braun just before his death, the book chronicles the German rocket team's origins, involvement in World War II and escape to the United States.

Looking ahead to the Jan. 30 edition of Space Talk, the guests will be NASA's Joe Delai and Boeing's Dave Cormack, who will talk about the Tranquility node flying to the International Space Station aboard Shuttle Endeavour in February.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC.

Listeners can participate in the program by calling into the studio at 321-768-1240. Local ATT Wireless customers can call at no charge by dialing *1240. Questions and comments also can be sent to spacetalking@aol.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/spacetalking.

posted 02-05-2010 09:21 PM               

From the NFL to the International Space Station, Astronaut Leland Melvin Guests on Next Space Talk

A coin flown in space with the help of NASA astronaut Leland Melvin will be used at the beginning of the Super Bowl this Sunday, and to help tell the tale Melvin will be the featured guest on the Feb. 6th edition of "Space Talk with Jim Banke."

Melvin was drafted by the Detroit Lions out of college and spent some time with the Dallas Cowboys before an injury prompted a course change that led him to making two trips to the International Space Station. His journey is a particularly inspirational story.

Also on the show will be Michael Kott, the president of The Highland Mint in Melbourne, Fla. His company minted the coin Melvin flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in November 2009.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 4 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC.

Listeners can participate in the program by calling into the studio at 321-768-1240. Local ATT Wireless customers can call at no charge by dialing *1240. Questions and comments also can be sent to spacetalking@aol.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/spacetalking.

posted 07-09-2010 08:29 PM               

Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin will be Featured Guest on July 10 Edition of Space Talk

As the 41st anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission approaches, Space Talk will welcome moonwalker Buzz Aldrin this weekend as our guest for the July 10 edition of Space Talk.

Buzz will talk about his views of the space program -- past, present and future -- and specifically concentrate on how his thinking aligns and conflicts with the plans laid out for NASA by President Obama.

We'll also take a moment to ask him about his outreach to different audiences through programs such as "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Price is Right."

Buzz will be talking to us from Washington, D.C. where he will have just finished a book signing at the National Air and Space Museum. His memoir Magnificent Desolation is now out in paperback, and his children's books Look to the Stars and Reach for the Moon are still popular.

Buzz also has an iPad version now of his successful "Buzz Aldrin Portal to Science and Space Exploration" app, which is available from the Apple iTunes App Store.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 2 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC. "Space Talk" is sponsored by United Space Alliance.

Between shows receive updates via Twitter at by visiting the "Space Talk" web page. The most recent show can be retrieved "on demand" until shortly after the next show is broadcast.

posted 07-16-2010 04:24 AM               

Space Talk To Remember Apollo 11 With Launch Manager Paul Donnelly And 'Voice Of Apollo' Jack King

It's been 41 years since the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, and to help remember that day two key members of the launch team will be guests on the July 17th edition of Space Talk.

Paul Donnelly and Jack King will join us in studio and talk about that day on July 16, 1969 when a Saturn V launch vehicle rocketed Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins on their way into the history books.

Donnelly was launch operations manager and among those who gave the final "go" for launch; while King provided the public affairs commentary, forever linking his voice to the moment the historic mission began.

Space Talk host Jim Banke also will provide his take on the space-related news of the past week, including commentary on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's compromise NASA authorization bill that was passed in committee.

"Space Talk" is broadcast live each Saturday at 2 p.m. ET from WMMB's Showcase Studio at the Florida Marketplace in Melbourne, Fla. WMMB can be heard in Brevard County on 1240 AM and 1350 AM. The show can be heard live on the Internet at wmmbam.com.

The weekly program is hosted by veteran aerospace writer and commentator Jim Banke, owner and president of MILA Solutions, LLC. "Space Talk" is sponsored by United Space Alliance.

Between shows receive updates via Twitter at by visiting the "Space Talk" web page. The most recent show can be retrieved "on demand" until shortly after the next show is broadcast.