Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

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Perseverance Perseveres: A Mars rover update from Ken Farley May 11, 2022

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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-perseverance

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Space Policy Edition: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Has Changed Space, with Mariel Borowitz May 06, 2022

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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-space

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Heavy Metal: An encounter with the Psyche spacecraft May 04, 2022

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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-tanton

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The End of Astronauts? Apr 27, 2022

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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-astronauts

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Yuri’s Night: Join the party! Apr 20, 2022

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Host Mat Kaplan joined the Los Angeles celebration of humanity becoming a spacefaring species. He talked with the Yuri’s Night founders and others under the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The much-anticipated Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey was issued as we finished this week’s show. Planetary Society senior space policy adviser Casey Dreier will give us a brief overview of its recommendations. We’ll close with Bruce Betts and your chance to win a r-r-r-rubber asteroid in the space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-yuris-night

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Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise Apr 13, 2022

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“Never panic early” is both Fred Haise’s motto and the title of his new memoir. Join us for a wonderful hour of stories about the Moon mission that almost didn’t make it home, along with Fred’s memories of the early days of the space shuttle, the International Space Station and much more. You’ll also have the chance to win a copy of his book when Bruce Betts arrives for What’s Up. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-fred-haise-never-panic-early

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Space Policy Edition: NASA's 2023 Budget Request Apr 08, 2022

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The Biden administration is proposing $26 billion for NASA next year, with significant increases benefiting the Artemis program, Mars Sample Return and Earth Science missions. But not everything is good news: NEO Surveyor and Mars Ice Mapper are both slated for significant cuts, and inflation may take a bite out of any increases NASA would receive on paper. With Congress facing elections in the fall, how likely is it that NASA will get this funding? What consequences will this have on Planetary Society priorities? And what does this mean for the future of exploration? Chief Advocate Casey Dreier and host Mat Kaplan are joined by The Planetary Society's Chief of D.C. Operations, Brendan Curry, to explore NASA's next big budget. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/nasa-budget-request-brendan-curry

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Neptune Odyssey: why we need to visit an ice giant Apr 06, 2022

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Recommendations made in the 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey will be revealed on April 19. One of the 11 design studies commissioned for the survey explores a flagship mission to Neptune. The Neptune Odyssey project engineer is Brenda Clyde. Her colleague, Kirby Runyon, is the project scientist. They’ll take us inside this exciting concept and remind us of why an ice giant orbiter is long overdue. Even Bruce Betts and Mat Kaplan were surprised by the answer to this week’s space trivia contest. You’ll hear it and more in What’s Up. Hear and discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-brenda-clyde-kirby-runyon-neptune-odyssey

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X-raying the universe with Martin Weisskopf Mar 30, 2022

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He helped invent X-ray astronomy more than 50 years ago. Martin Weisskopf still leads the field as project scientist for the spectacular Chandra X-ray Observatory and principal investigator for the brand new Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer or IXPE. He’ll help us zero in on the most energetic and enigmatic objects in the cosmos. NASA’s fiscal year 2023 budget proposal has just been unveiled. Chief advocate Casey Dreier will break it down. We’ll close with the first words from the Moon in this week’s What’s Up. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-martin-weisskopf-xipe-x-ray-astronomy

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Legendary Space Physics Pioneer Margaret Kivelson Mar 23, 2022

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At 93, Margaret Kivelson is still at the center of space science and policy. In this charming conversation she shares anecdotes about her early life, how she entered the new field of space physics and some of her groundbreaking work, including discovery of convincing evidence for a saltwater ocean under the ice on Jupiter’s moon Europa. Bruce and Mat offer another great prize from Chop Shop in this week’s What’s Up space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-margaret-kivelson

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