Astronomy Cast Ep. 805: Mission Tech Series - Gyroscopes & Servos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcn6f_PE14o

Spinney things!

Streamed live 18 Oct 2026.

Hosted by: Fraser Cain (@frasercain) and Dr. Pamela L. Gay (@CosmoQuest)

Our journey through space exploration technology continues! Today we look at the things that spin: gyros, reaction wheels, servos. Newton's laws are large and in charge today as spinning has a very useful benefit when you're in weightlessness! Today we are going to understand the nemesis of space exploration missions everywhere, get to the bottom of this, how these things works, why they fail, and maybe what's being done about it, or maybe not!

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