Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Lindy Elkins-Tanton’s wonderful new memoir is titled, “A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman.” Host Mat Kaplan talks with Lindy about this sometimes harrowing, often heroic, and adventurous chronicle of her path toward leadership of the Psyche asteroid mission. This new conversation follows their brief encounter in a Jet Propulsion Lab clean room that we presented last May. Your chance to win Lindy’s book arrives in this week’s What’s Up segment with Bruce Betts. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-lindy-elkins-tanton-portrait-of-the-scientist-bookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join host Mat Kaplan in Washington D.C. for conversations with outstanding presenters at the first in-person Humans to Mars Summit in three years. You’ll hear from Inspiration 4 astronaut Sian Proctor, chief engineer for NASA’s robotic exploration program “Hoppy” Price, and the designer of  award-winning Martian homes. NASA deputy administrator and former space shuttle commander Pam Melroy delivered a brilliant keynote. Then Bruce Betts tells us about the new STEP Grant opportunity from The Planetary Society.  Hear and discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-2022-humans-to-mars-summitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caltech planetary scientist and Planetary Society president Bethany Ehlmann was a key player in the creation of the recently released recommendations that may guide solar system exploration for years to come. SPE host Casey Dreier talks with her about the process and approach that led to this influential document. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/bethany-ehlmann-decadal-surveySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Mat Kaplan has returned from the UK and the recording of The Moons Symphony by the London Symphony Orchestra. You’ll hear excerpts from our Planetary Radio Live show celebrating this intersection of art and science with composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg and three distinguished planetary scientists. It was produced at Imperial College London before a live audience. Hear and discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-planetary-radio-live-moons-symphonySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Mat Kaplan in London for Planetary Radio Live, we bring back one of the most moving events in the history of our show. The Cassini orbiter plunged into Saturn in the early hours of September 15, 2017. Hundreds gathered to mark the end of this remarkable voyage, including former NASA chief scientists Jim Green, John Grunsfeld and Ellen Stofan. Mat talked with them and many others on that memorable morning. Then we’ll check in with Bruce Betts for a brand new What’s Up. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-cassini-eom-repriseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our in-depth, fascinating conversation with Cornell University professor Britney Schmidt touches on how we’ll recognize life when we find it elsewhere, her sub-ice exploring robotic submarine, why we need an even bigger space telescope, and the best place for ice cream at Cornell. Planetary Society chief scientist Bruce Betts goes Hollywood with this week’s space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-britney-schmidtSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perseverance, the Mars 2020 rover, has begun an exciting new phase of its mission. Project scientist Ken Farley tells us why the ancient river delta it has entered is so enticing and intriguing. Ken also salutes Ingenuity, the Mars Helicopter, as we look forward to the day when samples of the Red Planet are sent to Earth. What role did the Wright brothers, those pioneers of powered flight, contribute to the Apollo and space shuttle programs? Bruce Betts has the answer in What’s Up. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-ken-farley-perseveranceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not just the ISS partnership — commercial satellites, international cooperation, and managing space debris may all be impacted by the war in Ukraine. Professor Mariel Borowitz, an expert in international space policy and space sustainability, joins the show to discuss the immediate consequences, potential policy changes, and lessons the global community is learning from the conflict. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/mariel-borowitz-ukraine-invasion-spaceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psyche is a 279 kilometer-wide (173 mile-wide) hunk of metal in space. Psyche is also a magnificent spacecraft that will soon head toward its namesake in the asteroid belt. Host Mat Kaplan recently visited the JPL clean room where the probe was in final preparation for launch. You’ll hear conversations with mission leaders including principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton and project manager Henry Stone. We’re fresh out of metal asteroids at The Planetary Society, but you might win the rubber variety in this week’s What’s Up space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-Psyche-mission-elkins-tantonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we need to send humans into space? Won't robots soon be smart enough and capable enough to do this dangerous work for us? These and other questions are explored by Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal, and astrophysicist/science author Donald Goldsmith in their thought-provoking new book, "The End of Astronauts: Why Robots are the Future of Exploration." They present their arguments in this week’s show. Then we climb Mount Kaplan with Bruce Betts to learn who has won the weekly space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-goldsmith-rees-end-of-astronautsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.