Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Ed Weiler wanted to be among NASA’s first scientist astronaut. He made it through several rounds of selection, but in the end, he wasn’t chosen. He says then he was "happy to be an astronomer." Fortunately, he had another path that brought him to NASA. He went on to a 33-year career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including 20 years as chief scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, the forerunner of the James Webb. In this episode of STEM-Talk, Weiler talks about Hubble, Mars, NASA's Astronomical Search For Origins program, the New Horizons spacecraft, when we might be able to prove the existence of other life in the universe, and more. Listen today.
Ed Weiler wanted to be among NASA’s first scientist astronaut. He made it through several rounds of selection, but in the end, he wasn’t chosen. He says then he was "happy to be an astronomer." Fortunately, he had another path that brought him to NASA. He went on to a 33-year career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including 20 years as chief scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, the forerunner of the James Webb. In this episode of STEM-Talk, Weiler talks about Hubble, Mars, NASA's Astronomical Search For Origins program, the New Horizons spacecraft, when we might be able to prove the existence of other life in the universe, and more. Listen today.
