Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Lori Garver, former NASA Deputy Administrator and author of "Escaping Gravity," shares her insights on the space policy priorities of a potential Harris Administration. She discusses Kamala Harris's role in shaping commercial space regulations and the challenges NASA faces with budget cuts and international competition, particularly from China. Garver emphasizes the balance needed between competition and collaboration in space exploration, advocating for meaningful objectives that align with societal needs and sustainable initiatives.

Joining the discussion are Michael Küppers, the project scientist for ESA's Hera spacecraft, Ambre Trujillo, digital community manager at The Planetary Society, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society. They delve into the upcoming Hera mission to study Dimorphos, exploring its significance for planetary defense. The conversation also highlights NASA's Europa Clipper challenge, blending creativity with space science. Plus, there's excitement about a potential meteor shower in 2034 and reflections on the importance of public support for NASA.

We return to the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium for part two of our coverage. Astronaut and NIAC external council member Mae Jemison honors Lou Friedman, the co-founder of The Planetary Society, for his contributions to the space community and the NIAC program. Then Kenneth Carpenter from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and his colleagues pitch their plan for an Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager. Steven Benner from the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution and his team tell us about their plan for an add-on to large-scale water mining operations on Mars to screen for introduced and alien life. We close out with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, in What's Up, as we celebrate LightSail 2 being announced as one of the winners of this year's Gizmodo Science Fair.  Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-niac-part-2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us on a journey to the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium. We'll hear from the teams behind two NIAC projects that could help us study distant planets and potentially reach them ourselves. Marshall Eubanks from Space Initiatives, Inc. and his colleagues will introduce us to their concept for a swarm of laser sailing pico spacecraft that could travel interstellar distances. Then Ryan Sprenger from Fauna Bio Inc. joins us to discuss how hibernation could help humans reach other worlds. Then, our chief scientist, Bruce Betts, joins us for What's Up and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-niac-part-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vince Ledvina, known as the Aurora Guy, shares his passion for the enchanting phenomenon of auroras and their connection to solar activity. He discusses the excitement of chasing auroras during solar maximum, the unique conditions on planets that create these light displays, and even personal experiences from his research in Alaska. The conversation also touches on the role of citizen science in aurora photography and the contrasting auroras found on Earth and Mars, making for a captivating exploration of these cosmic wonders.

Dr. Greg Autry, who served on Trump’s NASA transition team in 2016 and was nominated for the position of NASA CFO in 2020, joins the show to discuss the space policy issues facing a potential second Trump administration in 2025. We discuss the role of competition versus cooperation in space exploration, how space politics have changed since Trump’s first term, and what major issues at NASA must be faced by the next presidential administration. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/space-policy-issues-second-trump-termSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With less than two months to go until the highly anticipated launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission, we take a look back at over twenty years of Planetary Radio episodes about Jupiter's most intriguing moon. You'll hear from Elizabeth 'Zibi' Turtle, planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Bob Pappalardo, project scientist for Europa Clipper, and many more, as we reflect on all of the dreams and science it took to make the upcoming mission a reality. Then, Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, joins in for What's Up as host Sarah Al-Ahmed gears up for next week's NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts symposium.  Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-europa-in-reflectionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get up to speed on the latest in commercial space news. Mat Kaplan, the senior communications advisor for The Planetary Society, returns with an update on the fate of the Boeing Starliner astronauts, the imploding and exploding adventures of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, and a brief look forward to SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. Asa Stahl, our science editor, shares the good news about the European Space Agency's Ramses mission, which hopes to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis before its closest approach to Earth in 2029. Then our public education specialist, Kate Howells, shares some tips on how to deal with space rocks in her new article, "What would happen if we nuked an asteroid?" We end our show with What's Up with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-ramses-and-rocketsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look to build a more sustainable human presence in space, we will need to find new and innovative ways to feed our travelers. This week, we hear from Team Insecta, a group of Canadian students exploring crickets as a viable source of space food. Newton Campell Jr., a member of The Planetary Society's board of directors and co-founder of Heritage Space Food, discusses gastrodiplomacy and the importance of representation in space food. Then we close out with What's Up with Bruce Betts and a look at one of The Planetary Society's STEP grant-winning projects studying the complexities of growing plants in space.  Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-crickets-and-gastrodiplomacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bruce Betts, the chief scientist at The Planetary Society, discusses the captivating Moons Symphony, inspired by our solar system's moons. He shares insights from leading experts involved in missions like Europa Clipper and Cassini. The conversation highlights exciting discoveries about moons such as Enceladus and Titan, intertwining science and music. Betts also emphasizes the importance of planetary defense against asteroids and reflects on the emotional connections between space exploration and artistic expression.