Ascending Node

What does it actually take to build a rocket? In this episode of Ascending Node, Erika McClosky, senior director of Manufacturing, Operations, and Assembly, joins hosts Tory Bruno and Tabitha Lipkin on the factory floor to find out. The conversation covers the many types of engineering behind manufacturing, from designing individual parts to engineering the systems that build them, and why that work is the lifeblood of the company. Released in celebration of National Manufacturing Week, this episode is a close look at the people and precision behind every part that leaves the factory floor.

This year marks 60 years of Star Trek, and its influence on space exploration is still just as strong today.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Rod Roddenberry, we talk about IDIC, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, and why the idea that our differences make us stronger has never felt more relevant. We also get into what Blue Origin is doing to expand human access to space and push the boundaries of what's possible, carrying forward the same spirit of curiosity and exploration that Star Trek instilled in so many of us.

Rod Roddenberry joins Tory Bruno and Tabitha Lipkin to talk about his father's legacy and how Gene Roddenberry worked with the science community to ground Star Trek's vision in real possibility. Rod also shares stories from fans whose lives were shaped by the show, and why he believes great storytelling has the power to shift how we see the world. It's a conversation about legacy, inspiration, and the true spirit of Star Trek!

General John Hyten, Executive Director of Club for the Future, joins the Ascending Node to talk about a career spent leading at the highest levels of national security and defense, from serving as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the weight of responsibility that comes with one of the most demanding roles in the U.S. military. He digs into the camaraderie forged along the way, including a lighter look back at letting host Tory Bruno take the heat in meetings over engine decisions, and how that friendship has endured. He also shares what's become one of the most rewarding chapters of his career: working with kids through Club for the Future to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. It's a conversation spanning decades of command, connection, and what it means to shape the future of space for those who will inherit it.

Steve Squyres joins the Ascending Node to talk about a career spent pushing the boundaries of Mars exploration, from serving as Principal Investigator for the scientific payloads on the iconic Spirit and Opportunity rovers to his early mentorship under Carl Sagan. He digs into how the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) will support science happening on the Martian surface, and how Blue Ring could help identify and characterize materials on asteroids. It's a conversation spanning decades of curiosity, discovery, and what's next for planetary exploration.

Welcome to Ascending Node. Our premiere episode features an in-depth conversation between Tory Bruno and Tabitha Lipkin, exploring leadership, national security strategy, and the evolution of commercial spaceflight. 

Welcome to Ascending Node, the podcast that takes you inside the world of rockets, exploration, and the people building humanity's road to space.
Your hosts, Tory Bruno and Tabitha Lipkin, bring you stories you won't hear anywhere else. Tory is a rocket scientist with decades of experience designing and building rockets and spacecraft, elevated by a career defined by serving the causes of freedom and exploration. Tabitha is a seasoned science communicator who has reported from an F-18, hosted a live show underwater, and followed researchers to Antarctica, all in pursuit of the stories that matter most.
Together, they're bridging the gap between the space industry and the curious minds who want to understand it. Each episode, you'll meet the scientists, engineers, innovators, and leaders who are actively creating history right here at Blue Origin and beyond.
Whether you're a space enthusiast, an industry insider, or simply someone who looks up and wonders, this podcast is for you.
🎙️ Ascending Node: Conversations with the change makers building a road to space, for the benefit of Earth.