From radio waves to rocket launches—Chris Leslie’s journey is out of this world. Once a Houston radio guy, Chris became a NASA mission controller for the International Space Station, helped launch the Constellation Program,trained astronauts, worked with Axiom Space, and now shapes the future in NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Office. In this episode, Chris shares behind-the-scenes stories of mission control, lessons from high-stakes moments, and how a simple gold watch sparked a lifelong passion for time and exploration.

Discover how the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies (CCTS) is shaping the future of space innovation through collaboration, STEM outreach, and industry-leading events like Space Congress. A must-read for anyone looking to break into or level up in the space industry.

Join host Susan Wise on Stars LaunchPod as she speaks with Dr. Marshall Porterfield, Purdue University professor and NASA researcher, about how his team is preparing to grow plants on the Moon through the groundbreaking LEAF experiment aboard Artemis III. Discover how space biology, biosensors, and mitochondrial research are shaping the future of sustainable space exploration, food production beyond Earth, and precision medicine inspired by NASA’s GeneLab and Twins Study.