Planetary Radio
Planetary Radio
Each week, Planetary Radio visits with a scientist, engineer, project manager, astronaut, advocate or writer who provides a unique and exciting perspective on the exploration of our solar system and beyond. We also showcase regular features that raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Host Mat Kaplan is joined by Planetary Society colleagues Bill Nye the Science Guy, Bruce Betts, and Emily Lakdawalla. We hit the road now and then to produce a Planetary Radio Live show in front of an audience. Drop us a line or enter the weekly space trivia contest at planetaryradio@planetary.org.
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Recent Shows
Gregory and James Benford on the "Starship Century"
09/30/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Gregory Benford, Physicist and Science Fiction Author, UC Irvine
- James Benford, Physicist and President of Microwave Sciences, Microwave Sciences
“Starship Century—Toward the Grandest Horizon” is the new collection of fact and fiction assembled by Gregory and James Benford. The brothers are among the leaders of a renaissance in research and thinking about interstellar travel. They have returned to Planetary Radio to talk about this story of human destiny among the stars.
Can We Touch the Stars? Lou Friedman at the 100-Year Starship Symposium
09/23/2013 | 30:31
Guests
- Louis D. Friedman, Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
Only days after Voyager 1 reached interstellar space, forward thinkers met in Houston, Texas to consider how humans can become a starfaring species. Planetary Society Emeritus Executive Director Lou Friedman reports from the meeting.
PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: LADEE Launches for Luna
09/09/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Brian Day, LADEE Education and Public Outreach Lead, Ames Research Center
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
- David Paige, Professor of Planetary Sciences, UCLA
Planetary Radio returned to the Crawford Family Forum for live coverage of the LADEE launch on September 6th.
09/02/2013 | 49:32
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Louis D. Friedman, Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
The passing of Planetary Society co-founder and former JPL Director Bruce Murray has been marked around the world. Planetary Radio takes its turn with this special tribute.
Taikonauts on the Moon? A Conversation With Leonard David
08/26/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Leonard David, Space Journalist, Space. com
Leonard David has been writing about space exploration for more than five decades. Now he has turned his attention to China’s ambitious plans.
NASA's Charlie Bolden Visits Earth Missions at JPL
08/19/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Charles Bolden, Administrator, NASA
- Charles Elachi, Director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Two missions are coming together in a high bay clean room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. SMAP and ISS RapidScat went on display for a visit by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Mat Kaplan and Emily Lakdawalla provide special coverage.
Bleeding Edge--NIAC Chooses 12 New Out There Projects
08/12/2013 | 31:25
Guests
- Jay Falker, Program Executive, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program
They might be happy if one in ten of the projects they fund makes it in the real world…because that project just might change the world. We talk with Jay Falker, Program Executive for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program about 12 crazy and not so crazy ideas that have just received early seed funding.
08/05/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Kat Scanlon, Graduate Student and Researcher, Brown University Geological Sciences
When she was learning to forecast the weather in Hawaii, Brown University grad student Kat Scanlon didn’t suspect it would help her uncover evidence for rain or, more likely, snow that helped shape the surface of Mars billions of years ago.
Europa Report--New Science Fiction Film Embraces the Science
07/29/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Kevin Hand, Deputy Chief Scientist for Solar System Exploration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
If you’re willing to accept the premise, the thrilling new independent feature film presents one of the most scientifically and technically accurate tales ever put on screen. We’ll talk with the director and producer, and then ask science advisor Kevin Hand for a reality check.
JPL and England Wave at Saturn
07/22/2013 | 28:50
Guests
- Scott Edgington, Deputy Project Scientist, Cassini
- Earl Maize, Program Manager, Cassini Mission
Hundreds came out on the JPL mall on Friday, July 19th to salute the Cassini spacecraft as it captured a rare image of Earth from the outer solar system. Among them were the mission Deputy Project Scientist, Scott Edgington, and the Cassini Program Manager, Earl Maize.
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