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Failure To Launch

Failure To Launch Podcast
NASA
Space Exploration
Soviet Union
Cold War
Nazi Germany
Mittelwerk
Jack Parsons
Soviet Space Program
Apollo 1
Apollo Program
Yuri Gagarin
Conspiracy Theories
Operation Paperclip
Aerojet
V-2 Rockets
Solaris
Stalker
Soviet Cinema
Gus Grissom
Ed White

This is a podcast about all the mistakes, failures, and explosions that made space exploration possible.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes134Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AviationLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Failure To Launch

Latest Episodes

What do you have to worry about? Skin's mostly airtight.

We collaborated with Somehow You Didn't Die On Your Way To Work to talk about that period in the 60s when the Soviets got so obsessed with cramming as many people into their spacecraft as pos... more

The ISS is the greatest product of international space cooperation ever achieved. It is also a product of happening at exactly the right time to actually be possible. Today, we’re talking to space policy expert Nik Proxima about the history of the IS... more

YouTube

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, support Failure To Launch on Patreon at any tier.

A formative game from our childhoods, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, has a very controversial mom... more

YouTube

In 1947, Georg Rickhey, General Director of Mittelwerk, was charged with war crimes. He was acquitted for lack of evidence.Today, Quinn and Chris are talking about Operation Paperclip and the deliberate efforts made by its staff to protect post-war N... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nik Proxima
Space policy PhD student and managing editor of Space Scout
Space Scout
Episode: Space Policy & the ISS (w. Nik Proxima)
Ziggy Heathay
Postgraduate researcher studying the links between fascist movements and speculative fiction
Episode: Technofascism & Space
November Kelly
Host on Trash Future and other podcasts
Episode: Project 714 'Shuguang' (w. November Kelly)
Kaveh Hoda
Medical doctor, gastroenterologist and host of House of Pod
House of Pod
Episode: The Horrors of Early Space Food (w. Dr Kaveh Hoda)
Scooter Heathegg
Guest with substantial experience working with nuclear systems and historical analytics
Independent researcher / expert
Episode: Nuclear Rockets (w. Scooter)
Matt Lowne
YouTuber covering space, current news, engineering, space history, and Kerbal Space Program
Episode: Soyuz-23: Ice Fishing for Cosmonauts (w. Matt Lowne)
Randolph P. Checkers
Military historian and mercenary from Van Zandt, expert on battle mechs and Inner Sphere history
None stated in transcript
Episode: *PREVIEW* Tatsumaki Class (w. Tex Talks Battletech)
Victoria Scott
Guest, Car and Tran Girlismo Podcast Fame; Space Artifact Fame
Car and Tran Girlismo Podcast, Space Artifact
Episode: Moon Tank 2: Lunokhod 2 (w. Victoria Scott)
Ani Mejlumyan
Journalist and podcaster on The Lions Led By Donkeys, Armenian media specialist
The Lions Led By Donkeys
Episode: *PREVIEW* The Lesson (1987)

Hosts

Quinn Heahim
Chris Heahim

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 268 ratings
  • Fantastic podcast

    Well There’s Your Problem (In space!)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    not November Kelly
    United States4 months ago
  • Context Review Signed

    I’m here to confirm I received the context report and got my signature notarized. It’ll be hand delivered from the Mr.B gulag in the coming months…or never.

    Real review: Great show, super smart and funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cindy Reviews Things
    United States5 months ago
  • Great content and great banter

    Love this podcast! They dive into subjects that mainstream space history glosses over and talk about some amazing topics!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twisted_Lazarus
    United Statesa year ago
  • Really interesting podcast! Treats the topics with a lot of obvious passion and care, and goes to great lengths at times to debunk falsehoods that are just considered accepted fact to many people. Good stuff

    Podcast Addict
    5
    wonkledonkle
    a year ago
  • Excellent grain geometry

    Great show. Super nerdy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NikolaiGranakov
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The subject matter appeals to space enthusiasts who enjoy technical detail and niche topics.
Listeners describe the production as high quality.
Listeners praise the balance of humor, strong research and informative storytelling.
The irreverent tone pairs comic banter with grim histories of engineering risks and failures.
Fans value coverage of space-history subjects that receive less attention in mainstream accounts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Space Policy & the ISS (w. Nik Proxima)
Q: Could space cooperation on par with the ISS happen today, and what would have to change to bring back that level of cooperation?
Nik Proxima says current terrestrial trends favor isolation and sovereignty. He expects future cooperation to center on coalitions and common goals, and says open, honest dialogue is needed to enable ambitious projects.
Space Policy & the ISS (w. Nik Proxima)
Q: Can you explain the three eras of international cooperation relating to the ISS?
Nik Proxima identifies an initial formulation and relationship-building era from 1984 to the first ISS launches in 1998, a period shaped by uncertainty over U.S. participation from 2003 to 2020, and a continuing era of political flux beginning in 2020.
Project 714 'Shuguang' (w. November Kelly)
Q: What did we learn here today?
We learned how a highly ambitious, symbolically charged space project can be derailed by political upheaval, leadership purges, and operational shortages, resulting in enduring lessons for later programs and a clearer understanding of China's path to crewed spaceflight.
Nuclear Rockets (w. Scooter)
Q: What was the core promise of NERVA in terms of space missions?
NERVA promised a nuclear thermal rocket with much higher specific impulse than chemical rockets, enabling faster travel and larger payloads for interplanetary missions, potentially making crewed missions to Mars and deep-space exploration feasible.
Deep Sea & Space (w. Dr Alan Jamieson)
Q: How does crew comfort influence mission success in extreme environments?
Comfort evolves from a 'nice-to-have' to a performance factor; longer, more logistically demanding dives require better seating, temperature management, and reduced fatigue, which in turn improves data quality and reduces risk of human error.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Failure To Launch

What is Failure To Launch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused series about the failures, risks and odd decisions behind space exploration, from early rocketry and crewed missions to lunar rovers, nuclear propulsion and space food. Regular hosts Quinn Heahim and Chris Heahim combine researched storytelling, technical explanations and irreverent banter, often bringing in guests with relevant engineering, medical, historical or media expertise. The scope extends beyond flight hardware to the politics, institutions and ethical costs that shaped space programs, including Soviet and American projects. Occasional episodes turn to science-fiction and game worlds, applying the same interest in technology, strategy and consequences to imagined space histories. The tone is nerdy and comic witho... more

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1. Blood Work
2. Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast
3. Well There‘s Your Problem
4. The Worst of All Possible Worlds
5. Kill James Bond!

How many episodes of Failure To Launch are there?

Failure To Launch launched 5 years ago and published 134 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Failure To Launch?

Recent guests on Failure To Launch include:

1. Nik Proxima
2. Ziggy Heathay
3. November Kelly
4. Kaveh Hoda
5. Scooter Heathegg
6. Matt Lowne
7. Randolph P. Checkers
8. Victoria Scott

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