Chris McKay on the Phoenix Mission's Big Surprise

Air Date: 06/01/2009
Run Time: 0:28:52

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Guests:

Chris McKay, Famed planetary scientist, NASA Ames Research Center

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NASA Planetary Scientist Chris McKay is a Co-Investigator on the Phoenix Mars Polar Lander Mission. He returns to Planetary Radio on the first anniversary of the landing to talk about the discovery of perchlorates in the Martian soil, and why that has renewed hope of finding the building blocks of life. Bill Nye the Planetary Guy shares news of a new technique that might help discover oceans on exoplanets. It was tested by the old Deep Impact spacecraft. Bruce Betts and Mat Kaplan speculate about the night sky -- as well as the presence of teddy bears in space -- and announce a new space trivia contest.