Keith’s note: I was just on Alhurra TV (a VOA Arabic language network) talk about space weather and the solar maximum period that has been reached by our sun. More info from NASA. Also, there is an Internet rumor that keeps popping up that says that NASA issued a scary warning that all the Internet could go out. Well, that popped up in March and Snopes et al knocked it down. But it has come back. So I did my best to place things back into context. Just remember: I am being translated into and out of Arabic in real time so, as a former interpreter myself (ASL), I adopt a way of talking that makes it easier for the translator to convert technical terms and concepts into things that a larger audience – globally – can better understand. [Audio]

Keith’s note: I just spoke with Alhurra TV about the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Starship flights. [Audio]

Keith’s note: although the clouds have prevented us from seeing the aurora here in the Metro Washington DC area the rest of the planet seems to be having a great time. I did Alhurra TV [audio] and CGTN [audio] this afternoon as an explainer guy. I also did CGTN the other day about the whole Moon exploration thing. Video below.

Keith’s note: I was just on Alhurra TV talking about the upcoming launch of the PACE mission and how it can contribute to our understanding of Earth’s climate. I lost the translator audio half way through for about 30 seconds – then it came back. The trick in doing these interviews is to speak and pause periodically so the translator can keep up (I used to be a Sign Language interpreter so I get that) and also to avoid NASA jargon and acronyms (which no one on Earth outside of NASA actually speaks), and present things in every day language for an audience who does not read NASA press releases every day. Here’s the [audio].

Keith’s note: I spoke with Alhurra TV this afternoon about the recent communications issues with NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft. [audio]

Keith’s note: A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon “Freedom” was launched on time today at 5:37 pm EDT from Kennedy Space Center with a crew of four on board which includes two Saudis. More. Earlier today I spoke with Alhurra TV about the upcoming AX-2 mission to the ISS later this afternoon. Audio.

Keith’s note: I just did an interview on Alhurra TV and talked about space radiation research on astronauts and its applicability to medical treatments on Earth. I actually said “spinoff” several times. If you listen to the audio you will hear that I had a two-way English/Arabic interpreter. I worked as a professional Sign language interpreter for a number of years – so I know how to de-jargonize things and parse my comments to facilitate translation. Add in the fact that the program is aimed at a general global audience with no background in NASAese and there you are. That said – I had no talking points in advance from NASA or anyone else – and only a general idea of what might be asked. Having had a real job once upon a time working in NASA space life sciences certainly helped. Alas, these days, NASA Public Affairs takes little interest in providing media who get in front of large global audiences (such as Alhurra, BBC etc.) with relevant talking points to help make the discussion more relevant. And when a non-NASA talking head gets something wrong then PAO gets upset and has meetings and complains within itself about the quality of space news coverage. Oh yes: an arabic-speaking astronaut is living on ISS and another is heading up soon. I mentioned them too. A little soft power projection – not that NASA OIIR cares. At this point if they are reading this they are rolling their eyes. Just sayin. Here’s the audio.