Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

12.2.14: The Mental Impact Of Space Travel & The Cruise Ship Of The Future

David Malkoff via flickr Creative Commons

The recent disintegration and crash of a Virgin Galactic suborbital space plane raised questions about the safety and viability of space tourism. On today’s show, we consider another issue for commercial spaceflight: the psychological effects of leaving earth.

Then, touted as the world’s most advanced ship, Royal Caribbean’s cruise-liner Quantum of the Seas is outfitted with virtual balconies, robot bartenders, Bladerunner-esque elevators, and smart apps. While the ship’s technology is impressive, we’ll find out where it all falls short.

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

The Mental Effects of Space Travel

  • Sydney Brownstone is a staff writer at Fast Company’s Co-Exist, where she wrote about the often-ignored mental side of space travel. You can read her article here: "The Break-Off Effect."
WOM12022014A.mp3
The Mental Effects of Space Travel

Cruise...OF THE FUTURE!

WOM12022014B.mp3
Cruise...OF THE FUTURE!

New Hampshire Made Liquor

  • These days you won't have much trouble finding a locally-made beer or wine at your neighborhood bar or restaurant. But what about a New Hampshire made whiskey or vodka? As NHPR's Sean Hurley recently discovered when he visited the Tamworth Distillery, the hard spirits movement is fast underway in The Granite State.
  • You can find photos and a transcript of this segment at this link.
WOM12022014C.mp3
New Hampshire Made Liquor

Billboard's New Way to Rank Albums

WOM12022014D.mp3
Billboard's New Way to Rank Albums

Song Exploder - Episode #16

  • Each episode of Song Exploder takes a piece of music and interviews the songwriters or composers to break it down into its separate parts, the process in which it was created, and the influences that helped shape the piece. Song Exploder is produced by Hrishikesh Hirway, and is part o the Maximum Fun Podcast Network. Episode #16 features the band Spoon.
  • You can listen to more Song Exploder and Episode #16 in its entirety at songexploder.net. You can also subscribe to the podcast atiTunes or at maximumfun.org.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.