Author Andy Weir and Project Hail Mary
It is always such fun to welcome back Andy Weir. The author of The Martian and Artemis has just published his most entertaining and inventive novel yet. Project Hail Mary gives an unlikely protagonist the job of saving humanity. Andy also shares his thoughts about the Mars helicopter Ingenuity, his hopes for NASA, and his low opinion of “the goldilocks zone” for life. Someone will win the book in Bruce Betts’ space trivia contest. We also introduce new Planetary Society editor Rae Paoletta. She has written about the mysteries of lightning on Jupiter. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/andy-weir-project-hail-marySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Mai 202150min
A Conversation with Kyoto Prize Recipient James Gunn
There is no Nobel prize for astronomy, so the Kyoto Prize for Astronomy and Astrophysics may be the highest international recognition an astronomer can receive. Princeton University professor of astronomy Jim Gunn is the most recent recipient. Jim recently joined Mat Kaplan for a deep conversation about the wonder and beauty of deep space, about the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that Jim co-created and led, and much more. Is there an asteroid with Mat Kaplan’s name on it? That question is at the heart of the new space trivia contest from Bruce Betts. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/james-gunn-sdssSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Apr 20211h 19min
Is ‘Oumuamua a Piece of a Pluto-Like Planet? And Ingenuity’s First Flight on Mars
We begin with a thrilling recap of the successful first flight of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter on Mars. Then we meet two researchers who have come up with a fascinating explanation for the first interstellar object discovered as it passed through our solar system. Rock out with Planetary Society chief scientist Bruce Betts as we discover the ‘80s band that made a hit out of the first Space Shuttle flight. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/steven-desch-alan-jackson-oumuamuaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21 Apr 20211h 1min
The High Frontier: A New Documentary About Gerard K. O’Neill
Physicist and space pioneer Gerard K. O’Neil gathered a community of followers as he led planning for vast, magnificent human settlements in space. Guests Dylan Taylor, Will Henry and Ryan Stuit have produced an inspiring, feature-length tribute to O’Neill that stars space luminaries including Jeff Bezos, Frank White, Lori Garver, Rick Tumlinson, and many others. Then Bruce Betts and Mat Kaplan are joined by a special listener guest on What’s Up. Hear and discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/high-frontier-film-dylan-taylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 Apr 202155min
The First Space Shuttle Pilot: Bob Crippen on the 40th Anniversary of STS-1
Pilot Bob Crippen and Commander John Young became the first astronauts to fly a Space Shuttle into orbit on April 12, 1981. Crippen tells host Mat Kaplan about that mission and shares many more stories from his adventurous life. Mat was standing on the dry lake bed in the California desert when STS-1 returned to Earth. Planetary Society senior space policy advisor Casey Dreier brings additional perspective to this anniversary, and it’s a space poetry festival when Bruce Betts arrives with this week’s What’s Up segment. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/bob-crippen-40th-shuttle-anniversarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Apr 20211h 11min
Space Policy Edition: Biden Names His NASA Administrator
Bill Nelson, former Senator from Florida, congressional astronaut, and father of the Space Launch System, will likely be NASA's next administrator. Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan also discuss The Planetary Society's global Day of Action, which saw hundreds of Society members meet with elected officials in Washington D.C., along with the news that the National Space Council will continue, and the 40th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle launch, with new budget data. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0402-2021-spe-day-of-action-bill-nelson-nominationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2 Apr 202158min
NASA’s TESS Exoplanet Mission Finds Over 2,000 Possible New Worlds
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) team has just announced more than 2,200 new exoplanet candidates. Natalia Guerrero of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology manages these discoveries and still finds time to write plays, collaborate on musical performances and host radio shows that dig into the deeper meaning of our expanding universe. The Venusian phosphine debate continues! Space journalist Nancy Atkinson provides an update. Bruce Betts returns to expand our knowledge of the night sky and present a new space trivia contest in What’s Up. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/natalia-guerrero-tess-2200-exoplanet-candidatesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Mar 202155min
The Perseverance Rover and a Great First Month on Mars
Deputy project scientists Katie Stack Morgan and Ken Williford are living on Mars time and living for Mars. We get an update from them on the work of the Mars 2020 rover. Perseverance is already accomplishing terrific science after just 5 weeks on the Red Planet. Katie and Ken also tell us what’s ahead, including launch of Mars helicopter Ingenuity. Then it’s checkmate as Bruce Betts makes his next move across the night sky in What’s Up. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/katie-morgan-ken-williford-perseverance-first-monthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Mar 20211h
