WeMartians Podcast

Latest Episodes:

80 – The Summer of Mars Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

The Summer of Mars is here! Three missions are launching to Mars in the next few weeks from three different space agencies. We’ve got the definitive preview of these missions, from UAE’s Mars Hope, to China’s Tianwen-1, and of course, NASA’s Perseverance Rover. Get caught up on all the facts before you watch the launch!

Mars Hope

Follow Mars Hope

Mars Hope Twitter (@HopeMarsMission)

Tianwen-1

Perseverance

Follow Perseverance

NASA Perseverance Twitter

Follow Jake & WeMartians

Support WeMartians on Patreon

Help Make Space Better

Here at Off-Nominal, we’ve been following the demonstrations against racial inequality and police violence in the United States, Canada, and around the world with concern. These events have highlighted deep problems with how we treat each other in many domains, and space exploration is not exempt.

While we have been processing this in real-time, it has become obvious that we must do our part and use our platform to speak up against these inequalities and take action to stop them. We have been engaging with our Discord community this past week to come up with a plan.

Many of these initiatives were developed not just by Jake and Anthony, but in partnership with the Patrons and listeners of our three podcasts. We’re proud that this is a community-led effort. We’re also really proud that some of our listeners and colleagues have joined in to make this an even stronger initiative.

Together, we’re putting on a fundraiser to support Black organizations whose missions we believe in.

All of the sponsors, including Jake and Anthony, will be matching contributions the community makes to both of these organizations through July 10. Jake and Anthony will match up to the total of this month’s revenue from Patreon (WeMartians, MECO), and other sponsors may have different max amounts.

Thank you for helping us work together to make space better.

**79 – Preparing for a Martian Launch (feat. Tory Bruno)** Jun 02, 2020
Show notes

NASA’s Mars2020 Rover is set to launch this summer on an Atlas V rocket from the United Launch Alliance. But it is no trivial payload, and a lot of work goes into preparing a rocket for this kind of journey. ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno joins Jake to talk about those preparations as they get close to this historic mission.

We talk Atlas V and Perseverance

Atlas V assembly begins

The Mars2020 Website

NASA Perseverance Rover Twitter

Follow Tory

Tory on Twitter (@ToryBruno)

ULA’s Website

ULA Twitter (@ULALaunch)

Follow Jake & WeMartians

Website (www.wemartians.com)

**Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians)**

WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)

Twitter (@we_martians)

Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)

Off-Nominal Podcast

Most Recent Episode: 30 – There’s Always Money in the VAB

Support WeMartians on Patreon

Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches

Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.

You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!

Get your Mission Patch now!

WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

77 – Persevering through ATLO (feat. Christina Hernandez) May 05, 2020

Show notes

The ATLO phase of a planetary mission (Assembly, Test and Launch Operations) is the most intense of any part of its development. Amid a global pandemic, Perseverance’s time at it is even more remarkable. NASA JPL’s Christina Hernandez, a systems engineer on the rover team, joins us to talk about what it’s like getting a flagship mission out the door and to the launch pad.

We talk ATLO for Mars2020 Perseverance

Follow Christina

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

Support WeMartians on Patreon

WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

76 – A New Science Paradigm (feat. Elizabeth Frank) Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

For a long time, planetary science missions have been the exclusive domain of space agencies like NASA. But in the 21st century, things are changing, and commercial actors are increasingly involving themselves not just as suppliers to governments, but as mission leaders themselves. Elizabeth Frank from First Mode joins Jake to talk about a new paradigm for planetary science.

We talk Government, Industry, and Planetary Science

Elizabeth’s rejected LPSC abstract

Follow Elizabeth

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

75 – Virtual LPSC (Part 2) Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

The annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference is the premier gathering for planetary scientists worldwide. But, like many events, it was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve covered it every year, and despite viral concerns, this year is no different. We speak with six planetary scientists about the work they were going to present by creating a virtual, simulated audio poster session. Stop step in, grab a drink, and learn about some cool space science.

We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC

Corbin Kling (@planetarydrone)
- Abstract on Noctis Labyrinthus
Justin Cowart (@jccwrt)
- Abstract on THEMIS data
Paul Niles (@PBNiles)
- Abstract on Jarosite formation
Shoshanna Cole
Szilard Gyalay (@szizygy)
- Abstract on porosity at InSight’s landing site
Peter Fawdon (@DrPFawdon)
- Abstract on Oxia Planum Crater Dating
- Abstract on Oxia Planum Landing Site

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

74 – Virtual LPSC (Part 1) Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC

Joe Levy (@colddirt)
- Abstract on Glaciers and Boulders
Frances Butcher (@fegbutcher)
- Abstract on Glaciers and the Gully
- Previous WeMartians Appearance: Episode 23
Stefano Nerozzi (@Micascisto)
- Abstract on the North Polar Layer Deposit Basal Unit
Chimira Andres (@RocksNRockets)
- Abstract on Ground Penetrating Radar in the Canadian Arctic
Catheryn Ryan (@geochemystery)
- Abstract on UV-LIF Instrument
- Previous WeMartians Appearance: Episode 39
- More on the BASALT program with Astronaut Stan Love
Andrew Annex (@AndrewAnnex)
- Abstract on Arabia Terra

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

73 – Moving ExoMars (feat. Natalie Panek) Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

The ExoMars mission will be Europe’s first Mars rover, and when it drives off the platform on Mars to begin operating, it will do so on chassis and wheels made in Canada. Natalie Panek from MDA joins Jake to talk about the Rosalind Franklin’s mobility system, and how the rover will move around on the Red Planet.

We talk Rover Mobility Systems

Wheel walking Tests
More Wheel Walking!
Video shows deployment sequence of wheels and rover (you can also hear the clinking sounds of the metal treads)

Follow Natalie

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

72 – Taking Stock of Planetary Protection (feat. Wendy Calvin) Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

Planetary Protection is the framework by which we protect the worlds we explore from our own environment, and Earth from the worlds we explore. And while it’s purpose is important, its specifics can get out of sync as we learn more about science, technology, and when our priorities for exploration and development of space change. Dr. Wendy Calvin, a member of the Planetary Protection Independent Review Board, joins Jake to talk about her assessment of the current policies and the recommendations they made to NASA.

We talk Planetary Protection

The PPIRB Report

Follow Wendy

Wendycalvin.com

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

Ask me Anything! – Patreon Milestone Episode Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

In December we launched our #GoingPro campaign and you, the listeners, really stepped up! We hit our 200 patron milestone with hours to spare. And that means Jake’s on the hook for an Ask Me Anything podcast! So here it is.

Patrons from around the world submitted questions and we’ve asked Anthony Colangelo from Main Engine Cut Off and Off-Nominal to come by and read them. It is a fun filled episode with questions spanning space and non-space areas.

Thanks so much for your support in this endeavour. We hope you have fun listening.

Tidbits from the Show

Follow Anthony & Main Engine Cut Off

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro – What’s Next?

There’s lots more to do! We’re going to keep working towards the next goal of 250 patrons. Once we reach it, I’ll make a bonus audio documentary about the Atlas Rocket, a storied launch vehicle that has sent a lot of really important payloads to Mars.

Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!

Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Mars Hope

Follow Mars Hope

Tianwen-1

Perseverance

Follow Perseverance

Follow Jake & WeMartians

Help Make Space Better

We talk Atlas V and Perseverance

Follow Tory

Follow Jake & WeMartians

Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches

We talk Sample Science for Mars2020 Perseverance

Follow Chris

Follow Jake & WeMartians

Now Available – Dragon Worm T-Shirt

We talk ATLO for Mars2020 Perseverance

Follow Christina

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

We talk Government, Industry, and Planetary Science

Follow Elizabeth

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

We talk Rover Mobility Systems

Follow Natalie

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

We talk Planetary Protection

Follow Wendy

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!

Tidbits from the Show

Follow Anthony & Main Engine Cut Off

Follow Jake & WeMartians

#GoingPro – What’s Next?

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6