Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Blazing a trail to the Moon

Jan 24, 2024

Blazing a Trail to the Moon features guests Casey Dreier, Jack Kiraly, and Kate Howells. They discuss the Japanese space agency's successful lunar landing, upcoming solar eclipse, and the importance of advocacy and funding for space missions. The podcast also explores NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission and the significance of mapping the moon's water resources. Additionally, it discusses the framing issue in Apollo 11 images and announces a future episode on solar eclipses.

59:14

Creator website

Episode guests

Kate Howells

Jack Kiraly

Casey Dreier

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Successful landing of the Japanese SLIM mission demonstrates a precise lunar landing technique and highlights the importance of aligning solar panels with the sun for power generation.

The Planetary Society's Day of Action provides an opportunity for space enthusiasts to advocate for space science and exploration by meeting their representatives in Congress.

NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission aims to map water distribution on the moon, understand lunar cycles, and enhance our understanding of lunar geology.

Deep dives

JAXA Successfully Lands on the Moon

Congratulations to the Japanese space agency JAXA for successfully landing their slim mission on the moon. Slim demonstrated a precise landing technique and became the fifth nation to achieve a controlled lunar landing. However, the mission encountered an issue with its solar panels not receiving sunlight. The team is hopeful that the panels will regain power once they are properly aligned with the sun.

Introduction

3min

Advocacy Event and Space Exploration

20min

The Achievements of Japan's SLIM Mission to the Moon

5min

Advocacy, Funding, and Lunar Position for Successful Missions

2min

Mission Accomplishments and Goals

7min

Exploring the Moon's Water Resources

16min

Advocating for Space Missions and Issues with Framing in NASA's Apollo 11 Images

4min

Wrapping up and Announcing Future Episode on Solar Eclipses

2min

We're celebrating lunar missions and the space advocacy that helps make them happen this week on Planetary Radio. Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly, chief of space policy and director of government relations at The Planetary Society, update you on our next Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Kate Howells, our public education specialist, shares the triumph and challenges of the Japanese space agency's SLIM lunar lander, as Japan becomes the fifth nation to make a successful soft landing on the Moon. We begin our coverage of the upcoming 2024 total solar eclipse in Mexico, the United States, and Canada on April 8th with Bethany Ehlmann, the president of our board of directors and the principal investigator of NASA's upcoming Lunar Trailblazer mission. She joins us for a mission update and a look at how eclipses affect spacecraft near the Earth and Moon. We'll top off this lunar celebration with Bruce Betts, our Chief Scientist and everyone's favorite master of random space facts, as he shares some history about an iconic Apollo image.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-blazing-a-trail-to-the-moon

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Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Blazing a trail to the Moon

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

JAXA Successfully Lands on the Moon

Upcoming Day of Action for Space Advocacy

Lunar Trailblazer Mission to Map Water on the Moon

Challenges of Powering Spacecraft During Eclipses

The Art of Framing a Moon Photo

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts