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Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM

The Astro Ben Podcast by Ben Gamble

May 9, 202537:43Science & Medicine

In Episode 117 of The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben sits down with Mamta Patel Nagaraja, former Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at NASA, who recently left the agency amid its office closures in F...

About This Episode

Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM is an episode from The Astro Ben Podcast by Ben Gamble. In Episode 117 of The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben sits down with Mamta Patel Nagaraja, former Associate Chief Scienti...

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Episode Details

Published May 9, 2025, 37:43 long, audio available.

Questions About This Episode

What is Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM about?

In Episode 117 of The Astro Ben Podcast , Ben sits down with Mamta Patel Nagaraja, former Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at NASA, who recently left the agency amid its office closures in February 2025. Mamta reflects on her career leading biomedical and physical sciences for the ISS, Artemis, and commercial space missions, while sharing candid insights on NASA's challenges and opportunities in 2025. From streamlining science communication to navigating a toxic work environment, her story is one of resilience and reinvention. Now a free agent in STEM, Mamta discusses her future plans and offers some advice to the new NASA administration. OUTLINE: Here's approximate timestamps for the episode. 00:00 Intro to Mamta Patal Nagaraja 00:57 Mamta's passion for Space 03:20 Working for NASA 06:12 How to/can you quantify "is a mission worth it?" 08:30 NASA cuts and how it was done - the timing of Manta's departure from NASA 12:15 Jared Isaacmans involvement? 15:00 What is NASA's mission? 17:45 How to predict/predict other committed programs? 22:17 Space science communication 24:52 Whats next post NASA? 27:54 Mamta's advice to new leadership at NASA 33:49 Whats next for Mamta? 36:57 Wrap Ups and Socials Follow Mamta on Social: Threads: Tik Tok: mamta2002 Linkedin: Stay connected with us! Use across various social media platforms to engage with us! Youtube: Website: Instagram: X: Tik Tok: LinkedIn:

Where can I listen to Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM?

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Which podcast is Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM from?

Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM is an episode from The Astro Ben Podcast by Ben Gamble.

How long is this episode?

This episode is 37:43 long.

When was this episode published?

This episode was published on May 9, 2025.

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Are there related episodes from The Astro Ben Podcast?

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Where can I listen to Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM?

You can listen to Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM on this page when the episode audio is available from the podcast feed.

Which podcast is this episode from?

Mamta Patal Nagaraja: Ex-NASA (24 years), currently free agent in STEM is from The Astro Ben Podcast by Ben Gamble.

What are the episode details?

Published May 9, 2025 and 37:43 long