Return From Ryugu: The Hayabusa2 Leader on His Mission’s Success
Hayabusa2 project manager Yuichi Tsuda and his team learned a lot from Hayabusa1, Japan’s troubled-though-successful mission that returned a sample from asteroid Itokawa. Now they are celebrating the recovery of a much larger sample from a different world: asteroid Ryugu. Dr. Tsuda joins Mat Kaplan for a fascinating, exclusive conversation about the mission’s 5-billion-kilometer journey and the great science to come. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/yuichi-tsuda-hayabusa2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Mar 202151min
InSight’s Mole: A Martian Science Odyssey
Troy Hudson and a brilliant international team created a device that would hammer its way below the surface of Mars. Mars had other ideas. The Jet Propulsion Lab engineer and scientist returns to tell us the heroic tale of the InSight lander’s Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package, also known as the mole. Stay with us for a tour of the current night sky and a new space trivia contest from Bruce Betts. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/troy-hudson-insight-moleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Mar 202155min
Space Policy Edition: SpaceX's Early, Desperate Days (with Eric Berger)
The SpaceX of today reuses rockets and launches people into space. But 15 years ago, the future of the company was in doubt as its Falcon 1 rocket repeatedly failed to reach orbit. Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, joins the show to discuss his new book, Liftoff, which chronicles these early, formative years of the company in which it nearly collapsed. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0305-2021-spe-eric-bergerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Mar 20211h 1min
Spinoffs: How NASA Technologies Benefit Life on Earth
Cleaning up water pollution, inventing inexpensive ventilators for hospitals, turning waste plastic into sidewalks, and making baby formula more nutritious—these and thousands of other innovations have come directly from research and development for space exploration. NASA technology transfer program executive Daniel Lockney takes us on a tour of Spinoff 21, the agency’s fascinating new report. Bruce Betts reminds us that a spin past Venus is sometimes the best way to head to far more distant worlds. That’s the inspiration for this week’s What’s Up space trivia contest. There’s much more to hear and discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/dan-lockney-nasa-spinoff-21See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 Mar 202151min
Touchdown! The Sights and Sounds of Perseverance on Mars
The Mars 2020 rover is on Mars. We have collected the most thrilling moments from the landing and the revelations that followed, including the first sounds recorded on the Red Planet. Bill Nye congratulates the entire Perseverance team and explains why this audacious mission is so important. Then Bruce Betts and Mat Kaplan welcome special guests as they read the winners of the What’s Up Mars poetry contest. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/perseverance-landing-highlightsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Feb 202152min
Planetfest ’21: To Mars and Back Again
The Planetary Society’s Planetfest ’21 celebrated Mars and the newest visitors to the Red Planet. Mat Kaplan shares some of his Planetfest conversation with Andy Weir, author of The Martian. We also sit down with the leader of the United Arab Emirates’ Hope mission that entered Mars orbit a few days ago. Planetary Society contributing editor Andrew Jones provides an update on China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft that arrived within hours of Hope. We’ll also join preparations for the landing of NASA’s Mars 2020 rover Perseverance as we hear a media briefing from mission leaders. There’s more to discover at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/planetfest-andy-weir-omran-sharaf-andrew-jonesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Feb 202143min
The Big Book of Mars: Our Obsession with the Red Planet
Mars has commanded our attention and stimulated our imaginations for millenia. Now, as 3 more spacecraft arrive, we talk with author Marc Hartzman about his new book that documents the fascination and fancy generated by the Red Planet. Planetary Society Chief Advocate Casey Dreier gives us a taste of the Society’s recommendations for the Biden administration regarding space exploration. Bruce Betts provides one more opportunity to win a Planetfest ’21 t-shirt! There’s more to discover, including a link to Planetfest ’21, at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/marc-hartzman-big-book-of-marsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Feb 20211h 1min
Space Policy Edition: The Big Picture on U.S. Science Funding
Matt Hourihan is perhaps the world's most knowledgeable expert in how the U.S. government funds basic science and development activities. He joins the show to talk about the big picture of where the money goes, how the focus has changed over time, and the consequences of budget cuts to critical science investments. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0205-2021-spe-matt-hourihanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Feb 20211h 18min
