Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Looking back on 2024

Dec 25, 2024

The team reflects on 2024's best space moments, highlighting the return of lunar samples by China and NASA's Europa Clipper mission. They celebrate significant awards in planetary science and share thrilling personal experiences from a total solar eclipse in Texas. Groundbreaking missions like the Parker Solar Probe and advancements in planetary defense are discussed, alongside discoveries from Mars rovers. The podcast wraps up with a tribute to 45 years of exploration and a sneak peek into future initiatives.

59:48

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Quick takeaways

2024 witnessed pivotal achievements in space exploration, notably with the successful launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission promising exciting discoveries ahead.

The total solar eclipse in April 2024 became the most viewed eclipse in history, fostering a sense of community during the Planetary Society's Eclipsorama event.

Significant progress in planetary defense was marked by the DART mission's successful asteroid deflection test and ongoing NEOWISE efforts in object detection.

Deep dives

Celebrating Mission Achievements

2024 marked a notable celebration of achievements in space exploration, highlighted by the Planetary Society’s Best of 2024 Awards. The NASA Europa Clipper mission stood out, winning multiple awards, including for the most exciting moment in planetary science. This mission, which launched in October, is embarking on a six-year journey to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, with the promise of significant discoveries ahead. Activist efforts, such as the overwhelming 400,000 messages sent by Planetary Society members to Congress, were crucial in advocating for this mission and demonstrating the collective power of the space community.

Intro

2min

Celebrating Advocacy and Achievements in Planetary Science

5min

Experiencing the Total Eclipse

4min

Exploring New Frontiers in Space

18min

Advancements in Space Missions and Community Engagement

2min

Mars Discoveries and Planetary Defense

13min

Milestones and Mission Strategies in Space Exploration

13min

Celebrating 45 Years of Space Exploration and Moon Naming

3min

The Planetary Society team reviews the best space moments of 2024, from the China National Space Administration's return of samples from the far side of the Moon to the triumphant launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission. Kate Howells (Public Education Specialist) shares the winners of The Planetary Society's Best of 2024 awards. Then, Mat Kaplan (Senior Communications Advisor), Ambre Trujillo (Digital Community Manager), and Asa Stahl (Science Editor) team up for a rundown of the year's highlights. We close out 2024 with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, as he shares his last random space fact of the year.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-looking-back

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