p6.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf8 -*-

from re import compile

x = compile(r"(\S+)\)(\S+)")
orbits = [x.match(r).groups() for r in open('6.in','r').read().split('\n') if x.match(r) is not None]

def orbit_checker(all_orbits, center, depth):
    s = [orbit_checker(all_orbits, j[1], depth+1) for j in [x for x in orbits if x[0] == center]]
    return sum(s) + len(s)*depth

def upwards(all_orbits, from_node):
    return next(([x[0]] + upwards(all_orbits, x[0]) for x in orbits if x[1] == from_node), [])

srco = upwards(orbits, "YOU")
dsto = upwards(orbits, "SAN")

print("Pt 1:", orbit_checker(orbits, 'COM',1))
print("Pt 2:", min([i + dsto.index(o) for i,o in enumerate(srco) if o in dsto]))