An extinction-level event for NASA science
NASA's science missions have transformed our understanding of the Universe, from breathtaking images of deep space to robotic explorers on Mars. But now, a reported 50% cut to NASA's science budget th...
12 Mar 20251h 7min
Space Policy Edition: Locke, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (in space)
Philosopher Rebecca Lowe joins us to explore how the ideas of classical liberalism can provide fresh insight into humanity’s activities in space. Our conversation explores the philosophical tensions b...
7 Mar 20251h 17min
Breaking down Bennu: OSIRIS-REx finds life’s building blocks in asteroid sample
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has returned pristine samples from asteroid Bennu to Earth, and the early results are remarkable. Sample analysts have confirmed the presence of abundant organic compounds, n...
5 Mar 202558min
Genesis: The sample return mission that fell to Earth and still succeeded
Twenty years ago, NASA’s Genesis spacecraft returned to Earth carrying precious samples of the solar wind, only to crash-land in the Utah desert. But that wasn’t the end of the mission. Amy Jurewicz, ...
26 Feb 20251h 1min
Astronaut Hayley shares her brave adventure
From IV drips to rocket ships, Hayley Arceneaux has been on a journey. She joins Planetary Radio to discuss her memoir “Wild Ride” and her newly released kid's book “Astronaut Hayley's Brave Adventure...
19 Feb 202559min
Near-Earth Asteroid 2024 YR4 and NASA under a new administration
The internet is buzzing about Asteroid 2024 YR4, currently ranked as the highest-threat asteroid in our skies. But is it really cause for concern? Our Public Education Specialist, Kate Howells, breaks...
12 Feb 20251h 2min
Space Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company’s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in pl...
7 Feb 20251h 20min
Kiss-and-capture: The dance of Pluto and Charon
How did Pluto meet its largest moon, Charon? Many have speculated that Charon formed in an impact, but traditional models of planetary formation have struggled to explain many of the quirks of this sy...
5 Feb 202559min
