*NSYNC’s Lance Bass Returns To Space Exploration In New Podcast

Singer Lance Bass is most well-known for his time in the pop culture-defining band *NSYNC. However, Bass has also had a lifelong interest in space exploration, a passion that led him, years ago, to becoming certified as a Russian cosmonaut. Now, Bass returns to the topic to uncover the historic journey of one famed spacefarer he’d heard much about while in Star City.

In 1991, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev was above the Earth manning the world’s only space station when as Soviet Union was collapsing. So, as the Soviet space agency fell, he was given a choice: Come home and abandon the station, or stay and protect it for however long it takes. Krikalev chose the latter, resulting in a 313 day journey that made history.

The Last Soviet, a new podcast from Kaleidoscope, iHeartPodcasts, and Samizdat Audio, features Lance Bass diving into this history, exploring lesser known details, and comparing his own space aspirations with Krikalev’s story. And, after learning this much about that story, Bass imagines he would also follow in Krikalev’s footsteps if given the same choices.

“I would probably react like he did, I would want to stay,” said Bass. “Having a permanent station is bigger than yourself…You’re doing this for planet Earth. This is for the betterment of humanity.”

Decades ago, Bass’ own attempts to go into space involved rigorous training, dangerous encounters, and health scares before ultimately fizzling away due to issues around funding. So these days, Lance considers going into space himself a distant dream he’s long put behind him.

However, he’s not against trying once more, should someone out there be willing to give him the opportunity.

“It’d be a dream of mine if a pharmaceutical company said we have an experiment that we need to do on the ISS and we’re going to choose you, Lance. Because, you know what, you deserve to go!” said Bass.

But until that happens, Bass hopes that audiences can hear about epic stories of space like this one, learn about the history, and from that come away with lessons about the common human goals of exploration and discovery.

I recently spoke further with Lance Bass about what he finds most fascinating about Krikalev’s story and what he hopes the impact of this podcast will be.

Anhar Karim: What drew you personally to the story of Sergei Krikalev?

Lance Bass: Yeah, you know I heard bits of Sergei’s story when I was training over in Russia. They’re very proud of their cosmonauts and what they created over there, so they love talking about their heroes. But I didn’t know the details.

I knew that he was stuck in space. I knew communism was falling, the Soviet Union. And he had to make this decision: Do I stay in space and man this station, the last outpost of the Soviet Union? Or do I go home and deal with what is happening with my country and take care of my family?

So it was fascinating to see why he stayed up in space. And it was interesting to see the parallels between my training and his training. You know, nothing really has changed since the sixties and the Gagarin flight. The same people are there. The same people that made his suit made my suit. Sergei is still there to this day, about to head up this ISS rescue mission. Nothing has changed. It really does feel like you went back in time to the ‘60s-’70s when you live there in Star City.

Karim: Sergei’s story begins with this pivotal choice: He can come back down or he can choose to stay and be there with the station. Do you have thoughts on how you would react to that choice?

Bass: I would probably react like he did, I would want to stay. You know, you spent so much building a station like that and all the advances that we could potentially have with experiments. You know, having a permanent station is bigger than yourself. You’re doing it for, as cheesy as it sounds, you’re doing this for planet Earth. This is for the betterment of humanity. So yeah, I would hope to think that I would stick with it, and want to protect the station, and make sure that we had something there that could advance humanity.

Karim: Better man than me, I’d be too terrified.

Bass: (laughs) Yeah, a bit of the space madness would hit in and I’d be like, ‘Okay take me down, get me down now!’

Karim: Is there anything specific about Sergei’s story that you think is not well known that you’re excited for people to encounter?

Bass: I mean there were so many details I didn’t know at all. Like for instance I didn’t know that the only way he was getting information was from a ham [radio] operator in Australia, from this woman in a very small town. It didn’t surprise me that secrets were kept from him, being a cosmonaut from his country, especially when turmoil was happening down on Earth. But it did surprise me that he was able to talk to this random woman in Australia kind of secretively and learn about what is really happening, so he could really make his own decisions.

Karim: What do you want people to take away after listening to this series?

Bass: You know, I love history. And I think we learn a lot from learning and re-learning our history, because we all forget. But really learning that space and exploration of the unknown is a shared, global goal of everyone, and [how] it’s not about citizens from different countries, [but] it’s all about coming together and doing something together. And space has always been that, as political as it can get. The astronauts and cosmonauts, they’ve all been in it for one reason, and that is to work together and advance things for this planet.

Karim: Do you think part of this is you still campaigning to get up there [to space] one day?

Bass: (laughs) I am now. Through this podcast I guess I’m starting to campaign. It’s not—you know it’s something I [had] kind of put out of possibility because there’s so many people going up now with Blue Origin and Virgin and all this. But this has really invigorated me again to use my diploma that I got. You know, I would love to be able to go on the Soyuz, and obviously not do the experiments I was going to do 20 years ago, but have new experiments to do.

You know, I have no interest in just going up and floating around and coming back down. It would be fun if someone wants to—Jeff Bezos if you want to give me a free flight, sure. I’m not going to pay for it.

But no, it’d be a dream of mine if a pharmaceutical company said we have an experiment that we need to do on the ISS and we’re going to choose you, Lance. Because, you know what, you deserve to go! You’ve worked so hard. And it would bring a lot of attention to this experiment and the company. So, I’ve put myself out there people, choose me (laughs).

Karim: Well, we’ll see if my article floats over to Jeff Bezos and—

Bass: All on you, it’s all on you man! (laughs)

Karim: Last question—is there any other podcast currently out there that you admire?

Bass: Oh my gosh. Good question, and the answer is really no (laughs). I mean I love podcasts, and I do my own.

I’m really into the scripted podcasts now. I love being able to immerse myself with my headphones, and this is a great example, The Last Soviet. To hear the sound effects and hear these old, historic interviews. It’s just—I Iove it. It gives me chill bumps all over.

So I love stories like that, and I hope we are able to bring more stories like this to life. Because then Kaleidoscope and Samizdat [Audio] do such a beautiful job of entertaining people as you learn history. And there’s several stories that need to be told from the Russian side, American side, China’s side. I mean there’s so many amazing astronauts out there and historical figures that I think this is such a wonderful way to educate yourself with.

Karim: Sounds like you already have seasons 2-5 planned out in your head there.

Bass: Well, I have some ideas that’s for sure.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

The first two episodes of The Last Soviet are now available here, with six more to come. The podcast is hosted by Lance Bass and is a production of iHeartPodcasts with Kaleidoscope and Samizdat Audio.

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